Human: i Will become a knight

Journey to the Kingdom of Asran

The cold wind brushed against Satya's small face as he sat on a horse led by Leon, a large man with a hardened face and hair that had begun to turn white. The two-week journey had been exhausting for Satya, an 11-year-old boy who had just lost his family in a demon attack. His eyes were still swollen from crying too much along the way.

Leon, a 50-year-old man accompanying him on this journey, showed no sign of empathy. With his deep and stern voice, he said, "Satya, how much longer are you going to cry over your family? Tears won't bring them back."

Satya, sitting in silence, turned to him with a glare filled with anger. "But they're my family, Leon! They were all I had!"

Leon looked at him coldly, his eyes reflecting the countless tragedies he had witnessed in his life. "Your family is gone. They won't come back, no matter what you do. If you keep crying like this, you're only wasting time. Turn your grief into something useful—like vengeance against the demons. Don't you want revenge?"

Satya fell silent. The words felt harsh, but there was truth in them. He nodded slowly, though his eyes were still wet. "How, Leon? I don't even know where to start."

Leon gave a small grin, the wrinkles on his face adding to his rugged appearance. "That's the next step, kid. But first, let's get to the Kingdom of Asran."

---

Arrival at the Gates of Asran

After the long journey, Satya and Leon finally reached the grand gates of the capital city of the Kingdom of Asran. Satya's eyes widened as he beheld the towering walls, standing over 50 meters high. The walls were solid and fortified with steel in several places, engraved with the kingdom's emblem, symbolizing strength and eternity.

"Wow..." Satya could only stare in awe. The sight was nothing like his small, simple village.

Leon smirked slightly, proud to see the boy's amazement. "These walls were built to protect the capital from demon attacks. Nothing can penetrate them, except maybe something that can fly."

As they approached the gates, the knights on duty immediately stood at attention and saluted Leon. "Fang of the Kingdom," one of them said with respect. The massive gates swung open, allowing them entry without inspection.

Satya turned to Leon, surprised. "Why are they so respectful toward you?"

Leon grinned broadly, showing teeth that were still strong despite his age. "I'm famous here, kid. I'm the 'Fang of the Kingdom of Asran.' One of the best warriors in this kingdom. My presence alone is enough to make people stand tall."

Satya looked at Leon with a sense of awe and newfound respect. "Then, can you teach me how to fight, Leon? I want to be strong like you."

Leon paused for a moment, then looked at Satya with a sharp gaze. "We'll see if you have talent. If it turns out you don't, then accept the reality that your family was killed and there's nothing you can ever do about it."

Satya remained silent, the words feeling like a heavy blow to his chest.

Leon, seeing the boy's expression, patted his shoulder with his large hand. "Don't think too much about it, kid. Come on, follow me to my house. Let's rest first. You need food and proper sleep before we talk about training."

---

Leon's Residence in the Capital

After passing through the bustling streets filled with merchants and townsfolk, Leon led Satya to a large house in the center of the capital. The building had a simple yet sturdy design, with the Kingdom of Asran's emblem carved into the large wooden door.

"This is your house?" Satya asked, his eyes wide.

Leon nodded casually. "Yeah, this is one of the perks of being a famous warrior. Not luxurious, but it's comfortable enough."

As they entered, servants immediately came to greet them. They carried Leon's and Satya's belongings, offered warm drinks, and prepared food in the dining room.

"Satya, eat first," Leon ordered as he sat in a large chair in the living room. "You need energy. After this, you'll stay here with me. Tomorrow morning, I'll take you to my training room and see if you're worthy of being taught."

Satya, still in awe of Leon's house, simply nodded. He knew that his journey had just begun. If he wanted revenge, he had to grow stronger. And to do that, he needed to prove himself to Leon.

An Unexpected Encounter

A cheerful yet firm voice suddenly broke the silence in the dining room. "Grandpa! What are you doing here without telling me first?"

Satya, who was enjoying his meal, flinched in surprise and turned to the source of the voice. A young girl with long black hair, about 9 or 10 years old, ran toward Leon with an expression full of complaint. She wore a beautiful blue dress that clearly showed she was no ordinary child.

Leon, who had been looking relaxed, immediately smiled broadly, his hardened expression softening in an instant. "Alicia, my little girl! What are you doing here?"

Alicia stopped in front of Leon, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at him sharply. "Of course, I'm here! I came with Mother and Father. Why didn't you tell me you were back in the capital?"

Leon chuckled and ruffled the girl's hair affectionately. "I've been too busy, my sweet granddaughter. But I'm glad you're here today."

Alicia sighed, but her gaze then shifted to Satya, who sat quietly with a confused expression. With a slightly mocking tone, she asked, "And who's this boy? Why is he eating at my grandfather's table?"

Satya froze, unsure of what to say. The little girl looked at him with curiosity, but her tone was clearly unfriendly.

Leon, noticing the interaction, quickly explained, "His name is Satya. He's under my protection now. He's a good boy, so try to get along with him, Alicia."

Alicia narrowed her eyes, looking unconvinced. "Get along? With him? Why should I—"

Before she could finish her sentence, a servant entered and bowed politely to Leon. "Master Leon, pardon the interruption, but Lady Adelea and her husband are in the living room. They've come to visit."

Leon was briefly surprised, then smiled widely. "Adelea? She's here?"

The servant nodded. "Yes, sir. They brought Princess Alicia with them."

Leon glanced at his granddaughter with a loving smile. "Ah, so that's why you're here today. Alright, I'll meet her shortly. For now, sit still, Alicia."

Not long after, a graceful woman with long black hair entered the room. Her elegant dress emphasized her poise and authority. She smiled warmly at Leon. "Father, it's been a while since we last met."

Leon stood up and laughed, greeting his daughter with a brief hug. "Adelea, you truly remind me of your mother. It's so good to see you."

Adelea smiled softly, then looked at Alicia. "Alicia, let's leave your grandfather to rest. Don't bother him for too long."

Alicia sighed softly, then glanced at Satya once more before following her mother out of the room. However, before leaving, she gave Satya a sharp look, making the boy feel even more uneasy.

---

Time to Rest

After they left, the atmosphere in the room returned to calm. Leon instructed a servant to escort Satya to his bedroom so he could rest after the long journey.

Satya's room turned out to be quite comfortable, far better than he had imagined. A soft bed, warm blankets, and a small window overlooking the garden in Leon's backyard. Satya sat on the edge of the bed, still thinking about what had happened in the dining room earlier.

"Alicia... Leon's granddaughter..." he muttered softly. The girl's sharp look still lingered in his mind.

But Satya knew that if he wanted to survive in this place and prove himself, he would have to deal with people like Alicia—and far greater challenges ahead. With that thought, he finally lay down on the bed, trying to close his eyes and prepare for the next day.

Satya's First Training

The next day, Satya went to the training grounds with Leon and Alicia. The place was a large training hall equipped with various war tools—swords, spears, shields, and wooden dummies for practice. The room was filled with the sound of clanging metal, the stomping of feet, and the loud commands of instructors training young soldiers.

Leon handed a sword to Satya. It wasn't too big, but it was heavy enough for someone Satya's age. "This is a basic sword. Use it to learn," Leon said while demonstrating the proper way to hold it.

Satya tried to lift the sword, but it was too heavy for him. His small hands trembled, and he almost dropped it. Alicia, who stood nearby, stifled a laugh. "How are you going to fight demons if you can't even lift a sword?" she said mockingly.

Satya took a deep breath, trying to suppress his embarrassment. He looked at Leon and said honestly, "I'm sorry, Master Leon. I come from a farmer's family. It's only natural that I don't know how to use a sword."

Leon gave a faint smile. "That's alright, kid. Everyone has a beginning. You just need practice."

Leon then started teaching Satya the basics of using a sword—how to hold it, how to swing it, and how to maintain balance. At first, Satya struggled, but Leon patiently guided him. Before long, Satya began to show remarkable progress. His movements became more fluid, and he could swing the sword better.

Leon smiled proudly. "Hmm, maybe you have talent. If you keep learning, I'm sure you can become a soldier."

Hearing that, Satya felt overjoyed. "Really, Master Leon?" he asked, his eyes sparkling. But his joy was quickly interrupted by Alicia's laughter.

"Why are you so happy? Just becoming a soldier? That's not impressive," Alicia said with a disdainful tone.

Satya, unable to hold back anymore, snapped, "At least I'm trying! What do you know about being a soldier?"

An argument broke out between them. They exchanged heated words, with Satya defending his honor and Alicia continuing to mock him. Leon sighed deeply, then walked between them to separate them.

"Alicia, enough," Leon said firmly. "And Satya, don't let yourself be provoked. There's no point in arguing like this."

Alicia turned away with a pout and went to a corner of the room, playing with a small sword lying there. Leon looked at Satya and said, "You should apologize to her."

"But it wasn't my fault," Satya replied softly.

Leon shook his head. "Satya, sometimes apologizing isn't about who's right or wrong. Especially to a lady, it's a sign of respect."

Satya paused, then finally nodded. He approached Alicia hesitantly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," he said softly.

Alicia, still pouting, eventually gave a small smile. "Alright, I'm sorry too. You can be my friend if you want."

Satya was surprised to hear that, but he could only nod slowly.

---

A Sensitive Question

After training, they returned to Leon's residence. During dinner, Satya, feeling closer to Leon, gathered his courage to ask.

"Master Leon, I'm curious... where is your wife? Why haven't I ever seen her?"

The question made Leon fall silent for a moment. His expression turned serious. "That's not something you need to ask," he replied coldly.

Satya felt guilty, but before he could apologize, Leon continued, "However, since you asked, I'll tell you. My wife passed away about ten years ago. She was killed by demons."

Satya gasped. "I... I'm sorry, Master Leon. I didn't know..."

Leon shook his head. "It's alright. It happened a long time ago. But that's why I train tirelessly. I don't want the same thing to happen to anyone else."

Satya lowered his head, feeling remorseful for his question. However, deep inside, he felt a growing anger toward the demons. In a quiet voice, he asked, "How can I destroy all the demons, Master Leon?"

Leon gave a faint smile, his eyes gazing far away as if recalling the past. "It's not easy, Satya. First, you must become a soldier. After that, you need to gain recognition from the kingdom and earn the title of Holy Knight. With that title, you can lead your own army and launch an attack on the demons. But that path is full of challenges."

Satya clenched his fists, his eyes filled with determination. "Then I'll become a Holy Knight! I'll destroy all the demons and protect the people I care about!"

Leon chuckled softly. "Your spirit is admirable, kid. But we'll see if you have what it takes."

Satya nodded, deciding that this would be his life's purpose. He vowed to himself that one day he would become strong enough to eradicate demons and protect the world from darkness.