return of death

The Knight's Visit

The sun was already setting when Asura finally left the festival and began walking home.

The day had been unlike anything he had ever experienced.

For the first time in his life, he had seen the world beyond the great wall.

For the first time, he had enjoyed a real festival.

For the first time, he had laughed after getting beaten up.

A small smile rested on his face as he walked along the dusty road leading back to the settlement.

The colorful lights of the city slowly disappeared behind him while the familiar sight of worn-out houses and dirt paths returned.

Yet despite returning to the slums, his heart felt strangely light.

Asura (internal):

"Today was fun."

"Leon was right."

"The world is much bigger than I thought."

He thought about the food they had eaten.

The music.

The performers.

The dreams they had talked about.

For a brief moment, he forgot about the harsh realities of the world.

Forgot about slaves.

Forgot about nobles.

Forgot about the pain hidden behind society's walls.

Then he saw her.

A woman wearing shining silver armor stood outside his house.

The setting sun reflected off her armor, making it glow with golden light.

A sword rested at her waist.

A white cloak bearing an unfamiliar emblem fluttered behind her.

Even from a distance, Asura could tell she wasn't an ordinary soldier.

She carried herself differently.

With confidence.

Authority.

Power.

The knight stepped away from the house and mounted a horse waiting nearby.

Without looking back, she rode away toward the main road.

Asura stopped walking.

A strange feeling suddenly appeared in his chest.

Asura (internal):

"A knight?"

"Why would a knight visit our home?"

His family had nothing.

They were poor miners living in a forgotten settlement.

No knight would ever come here without a reason.

The uneasy feeling inside him grew stronger.

Without thinking, Asura began running.

The closer he got to the house, the faster his heartbeat became.

Dust rose beneath his feet as he rushed toward the door.

He pushed it open.

The moment he entered, he froze.

His mother sat near the small wooden table.

Her face was pale.

Far paler than normal.

Her hands trembled slightly.

She looked as though she had just received the worst news of her life.

The smile that usually greeted him whenever he came home was gone.

Asura immediately rushed toward her.

Asura:

"Mother?"

The moment she saw him, her eyes widened.

Then suddenly—

She pulled him into a tight embrace.

So tight it almost hurt.

Asura blinked in surprise.

Mother:

"My child..."

Her voice trembled.

Mother:

"My precious child..."

She held him even tighter.

Mother:

"I won't let anyone take you away."

Asura's eyes widened.

Take him away?

He didn't understand.

What was she talking about?

Asura:

"Mother... what happened?"

But she didn't answer.

Instead, she simply continued hugging him.

Almost as if she was afraid he would disappear the moment she let go.

The fear in her eyes unsettled him.

This wasn't normal.

Something had happened.

Something serious.

Before he could ask again, the door opened.

His little sister ran inside.

Covered in dirt from playing outside.

A bright smile on her face.

Completely unaware of the tension filling the house.

Sister:

"Brother!"

But before she could run toward Asura—

Their mother rushed forward.

And hugged her too.

Tightly.

Desperately.

The little girl blinked in confusion.

Sister:

"Mother?"

Their mother buried her face in the girl's hair.

Tears slowly forming in her eyes.

Mother:

"I won't let anyone take you either."

The little girl didn't understand.

Neither did Asura.

The room felt strange.

Heavy.

As though a storm was approaching.

Time passed in uneasy silence.

Then the door opened once more.

Asura's father returned from the mines.

His clothes were covered in dust.

His shoulders slumped from exhaustion.

But the moment he entered and saw the scene before him—

He stopped.

Father:

"What happened?"

His gaze moved between his wife, Asura, and his little daughter.

Father:

"Why is everyone acting like this?"

The mother slowly looked up.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then something changed in the father's expression.

As though he already knew.

As though he feared the answer.

Mother quietly lowered her head.

The father's face immediately lost color.

Father:

"...She came, didn't she?"

The mother nodded.

Silence.

A terrifying silence.

Then the father slowly sat down.

His hands clenched into fists.

Father:

"So it finally happened."

Asura's heart sank.

He stepped forward.

Asura:

"What happened?"

No one answered immediately.

His father stared at the floor for several long moments.

Then he looked toward Asura.

Toward his son.

Toward the child he loved more than anything.

And for the first time, Asura saw fear in his father's eyes.

Real fear.

Father:

"Asura..."

His voice was heavy.

Father:

"No matter what happens..."

He stood and placed a hand on his son's shoulder.

Father:

"I won't let them take you away from us."

Those words struck Asura like a hammer.

Again.

The same words.

Take you away.

His mother had said it.

Now his father was saying it too.

Asura slowly looked between them.

His mind began piecing things together.

The knight.

The visit.

Their fear.

The strange conversation.

Someone wanted him.

Or perhaps...

Someone wanted both him and his sister.

But why?

They were only children.

Children of slaves.

They had nothing.

No money.

No status.

No influence.

So why would anyone care about them?

Asura:

"Who wants to take us?"

The question hung in the air.

His mother looked away.

Unable to answer.

His father closed his eyes.

Father:

"I don't know everything yet."

That answer surprised Asura.

Father:

"But whatever this is..."

His voice hardened.

"It involves the kingdom."

Asura's heart skipped a beat.

The kingdom.

That meant this was bigger than their family.

Bigger than their village.

Far bigger.

Outside, darkness slowly covered the settlement.

The sounds of workers returning home echoed through the streets.

The world continued moving.

Unaware that a quiet miner's family had just received news capable of changing their lives forever.

That night, no one slept peacefully.

His little sister eventually fell asleep in their mother's arms.

Still too young to understand anything.

But Asura remained awake.

Lying on his bed.

Staring at the ceiling.

Questions filled his mind.

Who was the knight?

Why had she come?

Why were his parents so afraid?

Why would anyone want to take him away?

And most importantly...

What was going to happen next?

Outside, the cold wind howled through the darkness.

Inside the small house, a family clung tightly to one another.

As though trying to protect something precious from an approaching storm.

And somewhere beyond the great wall...

Unseen forces had already begun moving.

For reasons Asura could not yet understand.

The peaceful days beneath the old tree were slowly coming to an end