The Second Knight
The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the training grounds outside Eldermere. Díkē stood in the center of the field, his left hand resting on the hilt of his sword, the ruby embedded in his palm glowing faintly. Sir Calian stood nearby, his greatsword planted firmly in the ground, his silver armor gleaming in the sunlight. The two had been training for hours, Díkē honing his skills with the Knight's Heart under Calian's watchful eye.
But today was different. Today, Díkē felt a strange pull from the ruby, a sensation he hadn't felt since he first summoned Calian. It was as if the Knight's Heart was calling to him, urging him to reach deeper, to unlock its full potential.
"Calian," Díkē said, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "I think… I think I can summon another knight."
Calian's eyes gleamed with interest. "The Knight's Heart is a powerful artifact, Díkē. It is possible that you have grown strong enough to summon a second knight. But be cautious—summoning is not just about strength. It is about understanding the bond between summoner and knight."
Díkē nodded, his resolve hardening. "I'm ready. I can feel it."
Calian stepped back, giving him space. "Then focus. Reach out to the Knight's Heart. Let it guide you."
Díkē closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He focused on the ruby's pulse, letting it guide him. The rhythm was steady and reassuring, like a second heartbeat. He imagined the energy flowing from the ruby, through his arm, and into the air. He pictured a new knight, their form materializing before him, their presence strong and commanding.
"Summon," he whispered.
The ruby's glow flared, and the runes on his arm lit up, their light spreading up to his shoulder. The air grew heavy, charged with an electric tension, and a faint, melodic hum filled the air. Then, with a sudden burst of light, a figure materialized before him.
Díkē's eyes snapped open, and he stared in awe at the new knight. She was tall and lithe, her armor a deep, midnight blue adorned with silver accents. Her helmet obscured her face, but her eyes—sharp, piercing, and filled with determination—locked onto Díkē's with an intensity that made his breath catch in his throat. In her hands, she held a pair of twin daggers, their blades gleaming with a faint, icy light.
"I am **Lady Seraphine the Swift**," the knight said, her voice calm but firm. "Bound to the Knight's Heart and sworn to serve you, Summoner."
Díkē felt a surge of pride and excitement. He had done it—he had summoned a second knight. "Welcome, Seraphine. I'm Díkē Aegis. It's an honor to have you by my side."
Seraphine nodded, her expression unreadable. "The honor is mine. But know this—I will not follow blindly. You must prove yourself worthy of my loyalty."
Díkē met her gaze, his resolve unwavering. "I will. I promise."
---
As Díkē and his knights trained together, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He had come so far since leaving his family's estate, and the Knight's Heart had given him a purpose he had never known before. But his newfound success did not go unnoticed.
---
Aegis Lyra stood at the edge of the training grounds, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. She had been watching Díkē for days, her jealousy growing with each passing moment. Her little brother, the one she had always dismissed as weak and incompetent, had become a summoner—a wielder of the Knight's Heart. And now, he had summoned a second knight.
Lyra's jaw tightened as she watched Díkē and his knights train. Their movements were synchronized, their strikes precise and powerful. It was clear that Díkē had grown stronger, both in body and spirit. But Lyra couldn't bring herself to feel proud. Instead, she felt a burning resentment, a jealousy that gnawed at her from within.
"How?" she muttered under her breath. "How did he become so strong?"
Lyra had always been the golden child of the Aegis family, the one destined for greatness. She had trained harder, fought smarter, and achieved more than anyone else. But now, her little brother was surpassing her, and she couldn't stand it.
"Díkē!" she called out, her voice sharp and commanding.
Díkē turned, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw his sister approaching. "Lyra. What are you doing here?"
Lyra's expression was cold, her eyes blazing with barely concealed anger. "I came to see for myself what all the fuss is about. And now I see it—you've become a summoner. How quaint."
Díkē frowned, his grip tightening on his sword. "It's not just about being a summoner, Lyra. It's about proving myself, about becoming stronger."
Lyra scoffed, her smirk returning. "Stronger? You? Don't make me laugh. You're still the same weakling you've always been. You just got lucky with that ruby."
Díkē's anger flared, but he forced himself to stay calm. "I'm not the same person I was when I left, Lyra. I've changed. And I'm not going to let you belittle me anymore."
Lyra's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on her sword. "We'll see about that."
---
The tension between the siblings was palpable as they faced each other, their swords drawn. Calian and Seraphine stood to the side, their presence a silent reminder of the bond they shared with Díkē. The training grounds seemed to hold their breath, the usual sounds of nature fading into an eerie silence.
Lyra was the first to move, her blade flashing as she lunged at Díkē. He dodged, his movements fueled by the ruby's energy. He countered with a swift strike, but Lyra blocked it with ease, her smirk never wavering.
"Is that all you've got?" she taunted, her voice dripping with disdain.
Díkē gritted his teeth, his anger fueling his strikes. He attacked again and again, his sword flashing in the sunlight. But Lyra was faster, her movements precise and calculated. She dodged and parried with ease, her smirk never faltering.
Finally, with a powerful strike, Lyra knocked Díkē's sword from his hand, sending it clattering to the ground. He fell to his knees, his chest heaving, his body trembling with exhaustion.
Lyra stood over him, her sword pointed at his throat. "Pathetic. Just like always."
But Díkē wasn't done. He clenched his fists, the ruby's glow intensifying. "Seraphine!"
With a burst of light, Seraphine materialized beside him, her twin daggers at the ready. Lyra's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly recovered, her smirk returning.
"Another knight? How interesting."
The battle resumed, but this time, Díkē and Seraphine fought together, their movements synchronized as they traded blows with Lyra. The Aegis heir was strong, but even she struggled to keep up with the combined might of the summoner and his knights.
Finally, with a powerful strike from Seraphine's daggers, Lyra's sword was knocked from her hands, clattering to the ground. She raised her hands in surrender, a grin spreading across her face.
"Alright, alright. I yield. You've proven your point."
Díkē let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding, his body trembling with exhaustion. But despite the fatigue, he felt a surge of pride. He had faced his sister and emerged victorious.
Lyra clapped him on the shoulder, her grin widening. "You've got potential, kid. With the right training, you could become one of the guild's best. Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild."
Díkē smiled faintly, his gaze fixed on the ruby in his hand. Its glow was steady and reassuring, a constant reminder of the power he now wielded—and the responsibility that came with it.
"Thank you," he said, his voice firm. "I won't let you down."
Lyra nodded, her expression serious. "See that you don't. The life of an adventurer isn't easy, but it's rewarding. And with those knights of yours by your side, I think you'll do just fine."
---
As Díkë and his knights left the training grounds, he felt a sense of belonging that he had never experienced before. He was no longer the disgraced son of the Aegis family—he was an adventurer, a summoner, and a member of the guild.
But as he looked at the ruby in his hand, he knew that his journey was only just beginning. The Knight's Heart had chosen him for a reason, and he was determined to uncover its secrets—and his own destiny.
---
**End of Chapter 8**