The morning sun filtered through the canopy as Kai and Juno faced off in their familiar training clearing. Three days of relentless practice had transformed what began as a one-sided beatdown into something resembling actual combat training. Kai's movements were sharper now, more confident, and his sound magic had evolved from pathetic squeaks to genuinely useful sonic pulses.
"Better, Atsuya-kun," Juno called out, casually sidestepping another of Kai's improved attacks. "You're starting to fight like someone who might survive his first real encounter with danger instead of someone destined to become monster food within five minutes."
Kai grinned, wiping sweat from his forehead as he adjusted the oversized Lichtritter pants that still hung loosely on his frame. Despite their baggy fit, he'd grown fond of them—they were sturdy, comfortable, and served as a tangible reminder of how far he'd come since that first terrifying day in the forest.
"I can actually hear your breathing patterns now, Juno-san," Kai said, settling into his combat stance. "Sometimes I can even predict where you're going to attack next!"
"Sometimes being the operative phrase," Juno replied with his characteristic smirk. "Your sound detection has improved dramatically, but you're still relying too heavily on obvious audio cues. A truly skilled opponent won't give you such clear signals."
To demonstrate his point, Juno launched into a series of attacks that flowed together like a deadly dance. Kai managed to dodge the first three strikes, his enhanced hearing picking up the subtle whistles of displaced air and the nearly inaudible shifts in Juno's stance. But the fourth attack came from an angle his sound-sense hadn't anticipated, and he found himself flat on his back once again.
"See what I mean?" Juno extended a hand to help him up. "You're getting better, but there's still room for—"
Juno's words cut off abruptly. His entire posture shifted, casual confidence replaced by razor-sharp alertness. His violet eyes swept the forest around them with predatory intensity.
"What is it?" Kai asked, automatically dropping into a defensive position despite not hearing anything himself.
"We have company," Juno said quietly, his voice carrying an edge that made Kai's newly developed danger-sense tingle with alarm.
Behind Juno, seemingly materializing from empty air, a figure emerged from the shadows between the trees. The newcomer wore pristine white armor that gleamed despite the dappled forest light, every piece perfectly fitted and maintained. A helm covered his face completely, leaving only darkness visible through the eye slits. The overall effect was both impressive and deeply unsettling.
"You have been summoned by the Lumen Council," the white knight announced, his voice carrying the formal authority of an official proclamation.
Juno's expression shifted to something that was part resignation and part grim satisfaction, as if he'd been expecting this moment for some time.
"Prepare a chariot for Hellmund," Juno commanded with the casual authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed.
"At once," the knight replied, bowing formally before vanishing back into the forest with the same supernatural silence he'd used to arrive.
Kai stared at the spot where the messenger had disappeared, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. "Juno-san, I couldn't hear him at all! Even after all this training, even when I was actively listening for danger—it was like he wasn't there until you noticed him!"
"That's because he's a Special type of Lichtritter—a shadow knight in service to the empire," Juno explained, beginning to gather his scattered equipment. "They're trained in techniques that make them nearly undetectable to most forms of magical sensing. Your sound magic is impressive for a beginner, but it's not going to catch someone who's spent decades learning how to move without creating audio signatures."
"But you detected him before I did, and you use fire magic, not sound!"
"Experience, Atsuya-kun. When you've been fighting as long as I have, you develop instincts that go beyond any single magical ability." Juno's tone was distracted, his attention focused on preparing for whatever was coming next. "Besides, I've been expecting this summons for days."
"Expecting it? What's going on?"
Juno paused in his packing, those violet eyes meeting Kai's with an expression that was equal parts serious and apologetic.
"This is where we part ways," he said simply.
The words hit Kai like a physical blow. Despite knowing that their time together couldn't last forever, despite understanding that Juno had his own responsibilities and duties, the reality of separation felt devastating. In this strange world where everything was alien and dangerous, Juno had become his anchor—the one constant that made sense when nothing else did.
"But... but I'm not ready yet!" Kai protested, hating how desperate his voice sounded. "I can barely hold my own in practice fights, and you said yourself that real enemies won't give me obvious audio cues. What am I supposed to do without you?"
"You're going to survive," Juno replied matter-of-factly, continuing to organize his gear. "You're stronger than you think, Atsuya-kun. More capable than you give yourself credit for. Don't worry—you'll be just fine."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because you have to meet someone."
Kai blinked, confused by the cryptic response. "Who? How?"
Before Juno could answer, the sound of approaching hoofbeats echoed through the forest. The chariot that emerged from the treeline was unlike anything Kai had ever seen—a masterwork of craftsmanship that looked more like a mobile palace than a simple means of transportation. Gilded decorations covered every surface, the wheels were inlaid with precious metals, and the horses pulling it looked like they'd been bred specifically for royalty.
"Do all knights get treatment like this?" Kai asked, awed despite his growing anxiety.
"Not even close," Juno replied, climbing into the ornate vehicle with practiced ease. "This is reserved for very specific circumstances or in in cases of urgent meetings with a certain Group of people."
As they began moving through the forest, Juno continued his explanation. "The Lumen Council consists of five individuals who assist the Empress in governing the empire. They're the ultimate ruling authority in Lichtreich, and when they summon someone, it's never for trivial reasons."
"Are they really old bastards like you said before?"
"Most of them, yes. Though calling them bastards to their faces would be inadvisable if you value your continued existence." Juno's grin returned briefly. "I am heading to Hellmund—the capital city and seat of imperial power. It's where all the important decisions are made and where all the dangerous politics happen."
Kai looked down at his current attire—still shirtless, still wearing oversized Lichtritter pants, still looking more like a vagrant than someone who belonged anywhere near imperial politics. "Can I really come looking like this?"
"You won't be coming," Juno said casually, as if he hadn't just delivered another emotional bombshell. "After two days of travel, I'll be leaving you in a town near the capital called Rubery."
"Rubery? Why there?"
"Because that's where you need to be." Juno's expression grew thoughtful. "I have a task for you, Atsuya-kun. When you reach Rubery, I want you to find a woman with starry blue eyes and orange hair. When you meet her, you'll understand what needs to happen next."
Kai's imagination immediately conjured an image of some kindly grandmother figure who would take pity on his circumstances and provide a safe place to stay. The mental picture was disappointing but practical—certainly better than wandering around a strange town with no money, no connections, and no plan.
"There's one more thing," Juno continued, his tone growing more serious. "Don't mention anything about what happened in the forest to anyone. Don't tell anyone that you're not from this region. As far as anyone else is concerned, you're just another traveler who happened to end up in Rubery."
"Why the secrecy?"
"Because the truth about who you are and where you came from could get you killed," Juno replied bluntly. " People won't believe you if you told them about your true origins , they would just assume you would be bluffing or in a worst case even if some did believe you ,they would see your existence as either a threat to be eliminated or an opportunity to be exploited. Until you're strong enough to protect yourself, anonymity is your best defense."
The next two days of travel passed in a blur of changing landscapes and uncomfortable silences. Despite Juno's attempts to maintain their usual banter, both of them could feel the weight of impending separation. The easy camaraderie they'd developed was being strained by the knowledge that their paths were about to diverge dramatically.
When they finally reached Rubery, Kai was surprised by how normal it looked. After days in the magical wilderness, the town's mundane buildings and ordinary people felt almost surreal. Street vendors hawked their wares, children played in dusty squares, and the general atmosphere was one of peaceful routine.
"This is it," Juno announced as their chariot came to a stop at the town's outskirts. "Your new temporary home."
Kai climbed down from the ornate vehicle, his feet touching solid ground for what felt like the first time in forever. The reality of the situation was finally sinking in—Juno was actually leaving him here, alone, in a strange town where he knew no one and had no idea what he was supposed to do next.
"Juno-san," he began, then stopped, struggling to find words adequate for everything he was feeling. "I... I want to thank you. For everything. For saving my life, for training me, for putting up with my complete ignorance about this world. I know I've been nothing but trouble since the moment we met."
"You've been educational," Juno replied with characteristic deflection, though his smile seemed warmer than usual.
"More than that," Kai continued, his voice growing stronger as he found his emotional footing. "For the first time in my life, someone recognized me. Someone saw potential in me that I didn't even know existed. I've spent seventeen years being invisible, being dismissed, being told I wasn't worth anyone's time or attention."
He met Juno's violet eyes directly, no longer the confused and terrified boy who had been found naked in the forest just days ago.
"I promise you that I'll use everything you taught me for good. I swear that I won't give up before trying like I did in my past life. I will become stronger—strong enough that when we meet again, you'll be proud of who I've become." Kai's voice carried absolute conviction. "And someday, I'm going to be a knight like you."
For a moment, something flickered across Juno's face—surprise, perhaps, or maybe something deeper. Then his characteristic smirk returned, though it seemed somehow softer than before.
"Better not die and cause trouble," he said, settling back into the chariot. "I'd hate to have wasted all that effort training you just to have you get yourself killed by something stupid."
The chariot began moving again, carrying Juno toward whatever destiny awaited him in the capital. Kai watched until it disappeared around a bend in the road, feeling simultaneously sad and determined.
When he finally turned toward Rubery, he found himself genuinely excited for the first time since his arrival in this world. The town spread out before him looked inviting, full of possibilities and new experiences. He was half-naked, broke, and completely alone, but for the first time in his life, he felt truly free.
Behind him, invisible in the distance, Juno's expression had undergone a dramatic transformation. The easy smile had vanished completely, replaced by something cold and deadly serious. His violet eyes stared ahead toward Hellmund with the focus of someone preparing for war.
Whatever the Lumen Council wanted with him, whatever crisis had prompted this sudden summons, Juno knew it was connected to everything he'd been dreading , the growing sense that their world was approaching some kind of catastrophic tipping point.
The pleasant interlude of training an ignorant but determined student was over. Now came the hard part.
As both Kai and Juno moved toward their respective futures, neither of them could have imagined how drastically their lives were about to change, or how the events set in motion by this separation would reshape not just their own destinies, but the fate of the entire world.