Cain always wanted to be a knight. Ever since he was small, he watched the knights march through the city road every morning. Their armor was shiny, their swords looked strong, and their steps made loud clanking sounds that he liked. He always followed them with his eyes until they turned the corner and disappeared. Every time he saw them, his chest felt warm and excited.
Cain was fifteen now, but still a bit short compared to other boys. He didn’t care much. He believed he could still be a knight someday. The only problem was something he couldn’t beat no matter how hard he tried: money. The Knight Academy cost a lot, and his family didn’t have anything close to what they needed.
His mother worked at the dye stalls, mixing colors all day until her fingers were stained red and blue. His
