the swift shadow

The morning sun cast a golden glow over the training grounds outside Eldermere, but Díkē's focus was entirely on the new knight standing before him. Lady Seraphine the Swift was a stark contrast to Sir Calian the Thoughtful. Where Calian was a towering figure of strength and strategy, Seraphine was lithe, agile, and exuded an air of quiet intensity. Her midnight-blue armor shimmered in the sunlight, and her twin daggers gleamed with a faint, icy light. Díkē couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and curiosity as he studied her.

"So," Díkē began, breaking the silence, "what exactly are your abilities, Seraphine? Calian's greatsword and defensive skills are incredible, but I get the feeling you're… different."

Seraphine tilted her head slightly, her piercing eyes locking onto his. "I am a knight of speed and precision," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Where Sir Calian excels in strength and strategy, I excel in agility and stealth. My daggers are not just weapons—they are extensions of my will."

Díkē raised an eyebrow. "Stealth? So you're more of a… shadow knight?"

Seraphine's lips curved into a faint smile. "You could say that. My abilities allow me to move unseen, strike swiftly, and vanish before my enemies can react. I am at my best in the chaos of battle, where speed and unpredictability are key."

Calian, who had been standing silently nearby, stepped forward. "Lady Seraphine's skills complement my own. Together, we can cover a wide range of combat scenarios. But to truly understand her abilities, you will need to see them in action."

Díkē nodded, his excitement growing. "Then let's get started. Show me what you can do."

---

The training session began with Seraphine demonstrating her speed. She moved like a shadow, her movements so fluid and precise that Díkē could barely keep up with her. One moment she was standing in front of him, and the next she was behind him, her daggers resting lightly against his back.

"Speed is my greatest asset," Seraphine explained as she stepped back, her daggers vanishing into sheaths at her sides. "In battle, I can close the distance between myself and my target in an instant. My enemies rarely see me coming."

Díkē blinked, still processing what had just happened. "That's… incredible. But what about your daggers? They look different from any weapons I've seen before."

Seraphine drew one of her daggers, holding it up to the light. The blade was thin and curved, with a faint, icy glow emanating from its edge. "These are **Frostfang Daggers**," she said. "They are imbued with the power of ice, allowing me to freeze my enemies in place or slow their movements. A single strike can turn the tide of battle."

Díkē's eyes widened. "Ice magic? That's amazing. But how does it work? Do you have to channel the magic yourself, or is it part of the daggers?"

"Both," Seraphine replied. "The daggers are enchanted, but they require my energy to activate their power. The stronger my bond with you, the more potent their effects."

Calian stepped forward, his greatsword resting on his shoulder. "Lady Seraphine's abilities make her an invaluable asset in battle. But her true strength lies in her ability to adapt. She can assess a situation quickly and act accordingly, making her a formidable ally."

Díkē nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. "So if we're up against a fast enemy, Seraphine can match their speed. And if we're up against a strong enemy, Calian can hold the line while Seraphine flanks them. That's… that's perfect."

Seraphine's faint smile returned. "Precisely. But remember, Summoner, my abilities are only as strong as our bond. The more you trust me, the more I can do."

---

As the training session continued, Díkē began to understand the full extent of Seraphine's abilities. She demonstrated her **Shadowstep** technique, allowing her to vanish from sight and reappear behind her target in an instant. She also showed him how her Frostfang Daggers could create icy barriers or freeze enemies in place, giving her team a tactical advantage.

But the most impressive display came when Seraphine and Calian fought together. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, with Calian's powerful strikes creating openings for Seraphine to exploit. Díkē watched in awe as the two knights moved as one, their combined strength and speed overwhelming even the most challenging opponents.

"This is incredible," Díkē said as the training session came to an end. "With you two by my side, I feel like I can take on anything."

Calian nodded, his expression serious. "But remember, Díkē, our strength comes from our bond with you. The more you trust us, the stronger we become."

Seraphine stepped forward, her piercing eyes locking onto his. "And the more you understand our abilities, the better you can use us in battle. Do not underestimate the power of strategy."

Díkē smiled, his resolve hardening. "I won't. You two are amazing, and I'm lucky to have you by my side."

---

As the sun began to set, Díkē sat by the campfire, his mind racing with thoughts of the future. 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 9**