The Awakening Of The Last Knight.

Chapter 7, Officially A Knight.

Days later, the Knights of Askalan summoned him.

Ali was chilling in the quiet of his home when a firm knock echoed at his door. He set the blade aside and opened it to find Laith standing there, clad in the distinctive silver-and-blue cloak of the Knights.

“Laith?” Ali blinked in surprise. “What brings you here?"

Laith’s expression was as cheerful as the last time they met, there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “You’ve been summoned,” he said. “The Knights request your presence immediately

Ali’s breath caught. “Me? Why?”

A slow grin spread across Laith’s face. “Starting today, you’re one of us. An official member of the Knights of Askalan"

For a moment, Ali could only stare. His mind flashed back to his childhood, to the legends he’d grown up hearing the Knights’ valor, their legendary battle that had shaped the city. He had idolized them for as long as he could remember.

“You’re joking,” Ali finally managed.

Laith crossed his arms. “Do I look like I’m joking?"

Ali let out a disbelieving laugh, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to say"

“Say ‘thank you, and hurry up and come with me, we have no time to waste,” Laith said, clapping him on the shoulder. “The others are waiting."

Ali nodded, his heart pounding. He turned back to retrieve his blade, still half-convinced this was a dream. But as he fastened the scabbard to his belt, the weight of it felt real. This was happening. He was a Knight of Askalan.

The two walked through the winding streets of the city of Askalan, the morning sun casting long shadows behind them. Ali’s mind raced with questions, but one burned louder than the rest.

"How did you join the Knights?” Ali asked, glancing at Laith. You're too young, how did you make it?"

Laith smirked, kicking a loose stone down the path. "Would you believe me if I said I walked in and demanded a spot?"

Ali snorted. "No."

“Fair.” Laith’s tone grew lighter, but there was something guarded beneath it. "Truth is, I joined because of my older brother, he's the red Knight, I've always looked up to him and asked him to train me and let me join.

He refused at first but after terrible nagging he gave up and let me join."

Ali stopped walking.

The red Knight, he knows him.

He's always admired him. His brother was nicknamed the Phoenix Knight.

The name hit him like a blow. Every child in Askalan knew the legend of how the Phoenix Knight had stood alone against a horde of Ghouls, how his body had been broken, his vision nearly stolen, yet he had refused to fall. By the battle’s end, he was drenched in so much blood that the dying sun turned his armor crimson. The Red Phoenix.

“Your brother is...” Ali’s voice dropped. "Him? The red Phoenix?"

Laith proudly smirked, just for a moment. “Yeah.”

Ali exhaled sharply. "and he trained you?"

"Yes, he did. He broke my bones many times but it was worth it" Laith sarcastically said.

Ali opened his mouth, then shut it. He thought about the things he heard about the red phoenix, about how strong he was, looking at Laith he looked like a normal boy, he wouldn't have imagined that he's a well trained Knight.

“but I don't want to forever be in the shadow of my cool older brother, I want to create a name for myself too,” Laith admitted, quieter now. “I don't want to be the Phoenix Knight’s little brother forever.”

Ali studied his friend, the easy confidence, the sharp wit, the way he carried himself like a man who’d earned his place. And he had, Ali realized. Laith was no shadow, he was also a storm all his own.

“Well,” Ali said at last, clapping him on the back, “I'm looking forward to that, but you better watch it because I'll catch up to you in no time.”

Laith's eyes lit up and he laughed. “Good. Because if you start slacking, I’m kicking you out of the group myself.”

Ali grinned. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

As they turned the corner toward the Knights’ hall, Ali’s pulse quickened. Ahead stood the man who had shaped legends.

And he was about to meet him.