A Seemingly Ordinary Knight

The following events take place after Sir Francis's convoy went their separate ways from Sir William's group.

...

Inside the carriage led by Sir William, Aki sat quietly, his eyes trailing after Sir Francis's convoy until it faded into the distance.

The evening sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the open fields. The female maid seated next to him, noticed his silence.

"Young Master?" she asked softly.

Aki turned to her and offered a gentle smile.

"I'm fine," he said.

With a quiet nod, the maid said nothing more, understanding his mood. The rhythmic sound of the horses' hooves and the slight sway of the carriage lulled the travelers into a sense of calm as the landscape gradually changed from open plains to more forested terrain, leading toward the Magic Academy.

The journey continued without interruption, and by the time they reached the gates, the sky had turned a deep, starless blue. The air was cool, and a light mist had begun to settle over the cobblestone roads leading into the Academy grounds.

The Academy loomed ahead, its towering spires and arched entrances illuminated by faint, glowing orbs suspended in the air. As they approached, the gates slowly creaked open, revealing the vast courtyard beyond, where dim lights from the buildings flickered like stars.

Awaiting them at the entrance stood a tall woman in a dark mage's robe, her long hair flowing down her back.

Seraphina, Angus's right hand, greeted Sir William with a formal nod, her voice calm and composed.

"Welcome, Sir William," she said, her presence commanding yet serene amidst the quiet night.

Around them, the evening had fully settled, and servants were already moving to unpack items from the carriages, the soft clinking of equipment and hushed exchanges blending into the night's stillness. The journey had been long, but they had finally arrived.

Aki was led into his bedroom by the Academy servant, the soft glow of lanterns casting long shadows along the stone walls. The room itself was modest yet grand in its design. The canopy bed stood at the center, draped with heavy curtains, intricately carved with dark wood that gave it a regal, almost imposing air.

The stone walls were rough but sturdy, giving the room a sense of quiet strength. A narrow, arched window allowed the faintest trace of moonlight to filter through, while a pair of dimly lit lamps on either side of the bed added warmth to the otherwise cold space.

His belongings from the carriage were neatly stacked beside the bed, their shadows stretching across the uneven stone floor. After offering his thanks to the servant, Aki moved toward the door, ready to close it when his maid, who had accompanied him throughout the journey, appeared once more.

"Young Master," she said softly, standing just outside the door, "if you need anything, just summon me."

Aki gave her a gentle smile, a touch of shyness behind his expression. With a nod, he replied, "I will."

The maid bowed slightly before excusing herself, leaving Aki alone as he quietly shut the heavy wooden door behind her, sealing himself within the stillness of the ancient room.

The night sky gleamed with stars, the crescent moon illuminating the heavens with a soft, pale glow. Occasionally, clouds drifted across, veiling the moon in shadow before they passed, leaving the sky open and serene once more. Inside the academy, Aki lay on his bed, his body still, but his mind restless. His eyes were fixated on the wooden canopy above him, tracing the delicate carvings as thoughts swirled within his head. He seemed to be drifting in and out of awareness, thoughts merging with the quiet of the night. Slowly, his eyelids grew heavier until he faded into slumber.

.....A dream, more like a memory....

Air hummed with the low buzz of city life—tall buildings stretched into the sky, their windows lit against the evening backdrop. Streetlights glowed at every corner, casting their artificial light on the people below. Cars rushed by, their engines roaring, and the sounds of distant honking echoed through the busy streets. Among the sea of people, standing at a corner next to a traffic light, was Aki. He wore a typical high school uniform, his white shirt slightly rumpled, dark pants hanging loosely, and white shoes that looked worn from use. He stood there, slightly slouched and his gaze distant.

The light turned green, and people around him began to move, crossing the street with hurried steps. Aki, however, lingered in place, lost in his thoughts. His face, though calm, carried a subtle weight. The countdown appeared on the traffic light, signaling the end of the green light, but Aki remained still. Only when the red light appeared and a red hand blinked on the crossing signal did he start to move, half-aware of his surroundings.

The world seemed to blur as his thoughts wandered, unaware of the screeching sound in the distance. Suddenly, his senses jolted to life—a sharp, metallic screech as a truck slammed its brakes. His eyes widened, and he turned toward the noise, but it was too late. The truck was already barreling toward him. Everything moved in slow motion—the shock, the realization, the impending collision. He froze, the massive vehicle rushing toward him, and in an instant, the world went blank.

Aki blinked, and when his eyes opened, he found himself in a void. There was no sound, no light, just an endless, dark expanse stretching in every direction. He floated there, suspended in the blackness, with nothing beneath his feet and nothing above. The vastness of the void seemed to consume him, and he drifted in silence, his mind spinning in confusion, yet eerily calm in the emptiness.

Suddenly a ray of light pierced through the dark void before Aki, starting as a small, flickering spark and then growing brighter and warmer, filling the emptiness around him. Yet, the light did not overwhelm his sight. Instead of blinding him, it radiated a soft, gentle glow, and his eyes adjusted to it naturally, as though it were meant for him alone.

From within the light, a figure slowly took shape—a human-like silhouette, distinctly female, though her features remained obscured by the brightness.

Before Aki could even react to the surreal vision before him, the figure spoke. Her voice was soft, warm, and comforting, like a distant lullaby.

"It's finally nice to meet you."

The voice seemed to echo within the void, enveloping him in a strange sense of calm. Still floating, still in awe of the ethereal presence before him, Aki's mind struggled to grasp the situation.

He opened his mouth, his words barely forming as he muttered, "W...who?"

Before he could finish, the figure cut him off, her tone soothing yet firm.

"My name is Athia. It was I who brought you here, to this world in which you currently reside."

The revelation hit him like a wave, yet Aki found himself unable to fully process it. His mind raced, but his body remained still, suspended in the glowing void.

Aki snapped out of his confusion, his voice trembling as he stammered, "Yo...you're Athia! The Goddess Athia." Though her form remained obscured, Aki could sense the warmth of a smile radiating from her presence.

Her answer came soft and serene, "Yes, I am."

Aki's heart pounded in his chest. He clenched his fists as a whirlwind of questions swirled in his mind, threatening to burst forth. But he held himself together, focusing on the one question that clawed its way to the surface.

In an instant, he asked, "Why? Why me? Why am I here?"

The Goddess, ever brilliant in her celestial existence, responded calmly, her voice like a gentle breeze, "You are the savior, the one destined to bring balance to this world."

Aki's confusion deepened. His voice faltered, as he replied, "But that doesn't answer my question. Savior? Me? You must be mistaken. I'm not who you think I am… or who anyone thinks I am."

The Goddess sense his confusion extended a radiant tendril of light. It gently touched Aki's face, the soft glow forming a wave of weaving light that seemed to cradle his emotions. The warmth of the light was more than comforting—it seeped into his very soul, and the turmoil inside him began to settle. His racing thoughts slowed, and the storm within him ebbed.

Without a word spoken, something incredible happened. The radiant figure before Aki grew even brighter, its light intensifying to the point that it felt as though the goddess and Aki were becoming one, their consciousness intertwining. A flood of revelations coursed through Aki's mind.

This is what he witness:

When Alŭhiem, the Creator of the universe, fell into a deep slumber, its essence scattered throughout the boundless realities, merging with the fabric of existence itself. In some instances, this essence transcended, forming into various entities across different dimensions and realms. In its infinite variations, the essence of Alŭhiem took shape, sometimes as stars, sometimes as cosmic winds, but occasionally... as a living being.

And in one such reality, in a distant world, that very essence was born into a human child. A child who came from the Land of the Rising Sun. A child who was given the name Akimitsu.

Aki muttered, "I was…" but before he could finish, the goddess Athia interrupted, her voice calm but firm.

"You are who you are, and who you always will be," she said.

Aki hesitated before continuing. "I remember… back in my own world just before everything went dark… I was about to be hit by a truck."

Athia in an acknowledgement tone spoke,

"yes, that moment really did happen—it was in fact engineered by the Goddess Nishay herself."

Aki's eyes widened.

"Nishay?" he muttered.

Aki remembered from a tale that Princess Alicia had told him before, Nishay was the Goddess that dwelt in the darkness of night.

Athia then explained further, "The incident in your world, where you were almost hit by a truck, was actually orchestrated by Nishay herself. Our world and every other known world are intertwined. Since you are the direct manifestation of Alŭhiem's essence, Nishay was able to sense your existence and sought to destroy you. She manifested her presence in your world and attempted to alter your reality in an effort to erase you from existence."

The revelation stunned Aki for a moment. He muttered, "She..." but before he could finish, he snapped, urgently asking,

"What happened to my world?"

Thoughts of his family, friends, and everyone he cared about flooded his mind, and worry gripped him.

Had Nishay done something terrible to harm his world?

Athia, her tone calm and collected, reassured him, "No matter how powerful Nishay is, she cannot harm your world. She may have been able to manifest her presence, but not for long. Unlike Alŭhiem, we were created in this universe, different from yours."

A sense of relief washed over Aki. But then, he asked again, his voice hopeful,

"Can I really go back to my world?"

Athia's response, however, carried a note of sorrow. "Unfortunately, I've used much of my power to save you and bring you here. I can't risk sending you back while Nishay's presence still lingers in your world."

Aki, his voice heavy with sadness, whispered,

"I really can't go back."

Athia, noticing his expression, softened her tone.

"Nishay's resurrection from the void was inevitable," she explained. "After our battle, I was weakened and needed time to recover. For thousands of years, I continued to shine my light within human hearts, where hope and love lingered. But the hearts of men are easily swayed. Darkness crept in, and as despair and hatred grew, so did Nishay's power, feeding off the shadows within them. Soon, her darkness will sweep not only through this world but yours and beyond. We must stop her from engulfing the light within human hearts."

Aki's determination grew as a resolute expression spread across his face. "But I don't know how to stop Nishay's resurrection," he said, "however to save my world and the one I now inhabit, I'm willing to do whatever it takes."

Seeing his resolve, Athia's light brightened, her ominous presence now exuding relief and admiration. Her tone was brighter as she spoke, "Though my power remains weak, I will always be here to guide you. As the manifestation of Alŭhiem, you carry the universe's power, known in this world as Magic."

Aki hesitated, admitting, "I'm not ready. I still can't fully grasp Magic. The concept is new to me since it doesn't exist in my world."

Athia reassured him, "In time, you will learn to wield it. We still have enough time before Nishay fully resurrects." She then extended both arms and began to rise, her light intensifying. A surge of energy flowed through Aki, filling him with newfound strength.

"I have bestowed upon you the ability of 'foresight,'" Athia declared. "This gift will allow you to sense Nishay's dark influence and the presence of dark magic."

As her light gradually dimmed, Athia added, "My power is not yet fully restored, but I hope you will become the beacon of light that will shine through every human heart."

Aki, now filled with a mixture of hope and resolve, asked,

"Will we ever meet again?"

With a soothing voice, Athia replied, "We will." And as the void around them faded into darkness, Aki's eyes opened.

He found himself back in his chamber at the Magic Academy, sunlight streaming through the nearby window. Still lying on the bed, Aki raised his hand, clenched his fist, and bore a new sense of confidence and enlightenment.

He had found his purpose.