The knight

Not even a second after the words left her mouth, Natalia’s magic reacted before she did. Creating a golden shield wrapped around them It pulsed violently around her, knocking both her and Edmund back a step—just as something slammed into the shield with a deafening boom, making the trees outside quake like they’d been hit by a hurricane.

Natalia’s heart froze as the dust settled. Her eyes adjusted to the haze, and then she saw it.

A figure, covered head to toe in armour black as night, streaks of red bleeding across the plating. No face could be seen, a full-face plate concealing any identity. The figure kneeled, unmoving.

A longsword, dark as obsidian, was drawn. Its golden hilt glinted faintly in the fading light as the armoured knight remained crouched in silence.

Natalia and Edmund didn’t wait. Weapons were drawn, both of them aiming at the still-kneeling figure. When it rose, Natalia took in its full height—easily over six feet, towering over her. The shield she had conjured still surrounded herself, Edmund, and the two carriages with the children.

“Go!” Natalia snapped before Edmund could speak, her voice sharp and final.

The children were their priority.

“Just don’t do anything stupid!!” Edmund shouted back, reluctantly turning to run. He mounted his horse and led the carriages away, his eyes flicking between Natalia and the armoured knight.

"Dont worry your taken the stupid with you" Nat whispered, as she keep her gaze on the knight who didn't move. Its gaze, though hidden, never left Natalia.

She ignored the shouted protests from the children behind her. Her focus stayed locked on the figure.

“Who are you!?” she called out.

Nothing.

“Listen. Whoever you are! I’m tired, I’m hungry, and maybe just a little bit pissed off. My arm’s stinging like hell, so if you’re here to fight, then fight. I haven’t got all day.”

Natalia huffed and rolled her shoulders, her eyes flashing red with restrained fury. Still, the knight said nothing.

“Fine, have it your way.”

Magic surged around her as the earth answered her call. The forest came alive. Trees groaned as roots snapped, and chunks of stone ripped from the ground, all of them hurtling toward the knight like missiles.

And still, he stood.

Motionless. Silent.

But the second Natalia sent her magic hurtling toward the knight, everything just... stopped.

No noise.

No wind.

No birds.

Nothing.

Her magic froze midair, seconds from the knight.

Frozen.

Before Natalia could move, before she could even register that someone else was using magic, the air shifted again.

Her own magic turned darker the knight didn't even raise his arm and her magic turned against her. Her power whipped back around with terrifying speed, slamming into her chest and knocking her back. She staggered, nearly collapsing, only just catching her balance before....

CLANG!

Steel slammed against steel. The knight was suddenly there, towering over her Nat as the knight slammed his blade down with monstrous strength making Nat close to kneeling on the ground her arms were aching with the weight. As she gripping her sword. Her non-dominant hand slid over the sharp edge of her blade as she tried to block, blood began to seep between her fingers from her balm, making her grit her teeth as more and more weight pressed down.

Then she realised too late that he was only using one hand.

Her focus broke as the pain happened before she even felt it as his free fist crashed into her chest. The impact knocked the air from her lungs, her grip failing. Her sword dropped from her hands as she rolled to the side, landing hard on her palms and knees.

A moment later, the knight’s blade slammed into the spot she had just been, kicking up dirt and debris.

The attack to her chest made her cough up her lungs as tears swelled in her eyes, the pain in her chest from whatever magic the knight had used, as well as the strength, doubled the amount of pain she felt

She didn’t see him approach until it was too late.

A brutal kick to her ribs sent her onto her back making a cracking sound. Her breath caught, her limbs screaming in protest. She blinked hard, eyes bleary, just in time to see the knight raise his blade again. She rolled left-just in time. The blade hit the dirt where her face had been. With a shaky hand, Natalia sent a wave of fire at him, but whatever armour the knight wore allowed him to walk through it. Unfazed.

“oh for fuck sake” Nat grouned,

Panic bubbled up as she tried to shuffle away, clutching her stomach, her breath ragged.

And then... he stopped.

Just like that.

Frozen mid-stride.

Natalia held her breath, heart pounding in her ears. Then, without thinking, she scrambled forward, lunging for her sword. She snatched it up, spun around-blade raised....

Nothing.

The knight was gone.

The space where he stood was empty. No sound. No trace.

“…Ow,” she muttered, her voice raw.

…

Edmund had barely made it back to the town with the children when he was surrounded by the townspeople. Thankfully, it was the ones who didn’t completely hate his guts.

He slid off his horse, breath ragged, as villagers rushed to hand water to the youngest children—most of whom still looked terrified and unsure. The brave girl who had helped them stood near the same boy Edmund had noticed earlier. Both tried to look strong, but their eyes betrayed the fear still lingering behind the bravado.

“Ed!!”

Two voices called out at once as a half-giant and his daughter came walking quickly toward him. Edmund was half-leaning on his horse, trying to catch his breath, when Maria cupped his face her hand were gentle as she checking for any serious injuries. Thankfully, he only had cuts and bruises.

“What happened? Where’s Nat? It’s been two days since you left!” Her questions came fast, sharp, relentless.

“I need to go back for her…” Edmund rasped, fumbling with the saddle straps to unclip his horse from the carriage. Maria grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to stop and turn.

“Ed, calm down. Where is Natalia?”

“We were stopped in the woods, the road was blocked. Nat said she felt something. Like we were being watched. I don’t know… it just showed up. Out of nowhere. And attacked us.” His words tumbled out, fast and disjointed. His hands were shaking. His head felt like it was spinning.

“Okay,” Maria said gently, stepping closer. “Calm down. Breathe, Edmund. We’ll go find her—but first, these children need help.” She turned to glance at the little ones being led into the building for orphaned children. Each one of them was tiny, barely able to walk. Pale. Silent. Shell-shocked.

“They’re so small,” Maria whispered, her voice cracking. Her father stood beside her, his eyes never leaving the children. He said nothing—what could he say? He’d seen that look too many times. The same shadows. The same stolen childhood. He’d watched too many kids forced to make choices no one should.

“I’ll send some men out to find Natalia…” he began.

“No.” Edmund’s voice cut through the air, loud and final. “I’m going. She’s my partner. My sister. I’m going.”