CHAPTER 2 — The Knight Who Shouldn't Exist
Leon stayed curled behind the shattered stone, chest rising and falling like he was running out of time.
The explosion had ended—
but the screams hadn't.
He pressed his hand against his chest.
His heartbeat was too fast.
His breathing too tight.
"I'll die… if this keeps up…" he whispered.
He reached for his inhaler again—
SHING.
Cold metal touched his neck.
Leon froze.
A sword—
A real sword—
rested against his throat.
He slowly lifted his eyes.
A knight stood over him.
Armor scratched.
Cape torn.
Blood splattered across his chest—none of it his.
The man's eyes were sharp, tired, and way too calm for someone surrounded by monsters.
Behind him—
a demon lunged.
The knight didn't even turn his head.
SLASH.
The demon fell in two halves.
Leon's eyes widened.
He didn't… even look…
The knight kept his sword pointed at Leon.
"You," he said.
His voice was low, gravelly, annoyed.
"What unit are you from? How did you end up in the blast zone?"
"I—I'm not—" Leon stuttered.
Another demon shrieked from behind.
The knight sighed like he was tired of the world.
SWING.
One slash.
Another corpse.
Leon realized something terrifying:
This man wasn't just strong.
He was used to this.
Like killing demons was part of his morning routine.
The knight looked down at him again.
"You don't have armor. No crest. No weapon."
His eyes narrowed.
"And you're carrying… an inhaler? Is this some kind of demon relic?"
Leon's brain screamed:
Lie or die.
"N-No! It's just… to breathe! I have asthma—"
"Ast… what?" the knight muttered.
"Enough talking. Get up."
He grabbed Leon by the collar and hauled him up effortlessly.
"W-Wait—!! I can walk—!"
"Good," the knight said.
"Walk to the camp then. If you're human, they'll decide what to do with you. If you're not…"
He glanced at his sword.
"I'll handle it."
Leon swallowed hard.
---
The Human Camp
The knight dragged him across the battlefield like a prisoner.
Demons tried to intercept—
none survived for more than three seconds.
Leon stumbled behind him, trying not to breathe too much smoke.
His lungs already hurt again.
After what felt like forever, they reached a makeshift wooden fortress surrounded by spiked barricades.
Guards shouted:
"Sir Rowan! You brought someone?"
"Is he a spy?"
"Does he even look like a soldier?!"
Leon wanted to scream:
IM A STUDENT BRO LET ME GO HOME—
But the knight—Sir Rowan—just shoved him forward.
"Found him in the blast crater," Rowan said.
"He's suspicious. Lock him up."
"W-wait—!!" Leon tried to run.
A guard grabbed him.
Another tied his hands.
And before he could even argue—
THUD.
The cell door closed.
Darkness swallowed him.
Leon leaned against the cold wall, holding his inhaler close.
He wasn't dead.
But he wasn't free either.
And somewhere outside…
In the burning smoke of the battlefield…
A hooded figure watched the human camp quietly.
Its eyes glowing faintly.
As if waiting
for Leon.
---