The legend of the dragon knight

The summoning

Deep within the capital city of the great Thaedorian Kingdom, King Alexander stood on the upper balcony situated on the fifth floor of the royal palace. He overlooked the city while gazing toward the eastern part of the kingdom.

Behind him stood the Royal Guard Captain, Jogan an immortal being known for his wickedness and cruelty. He was also regarded as the greatest swordsman in the world. Upon his head rested a black metal helm capable of detecting and destroying any physical threat. At his right side hung a dark magical sword attached to his black gown, a weapon said to be capable of cutting through both physical and spiritual beings.

---

"My King, you sent for me. I hope there is no problem?" Jogan said as he knelt before King Alexander.

"Of course there is a problem," the king replied, his eyes still fixed on the eastern horizon and his hands folded behind his back. "That is the reason I created you. Because I know you will always protect your master and serve your creator."

He turned to face Jogan and smiled.

Jogan smiled back, his crimson eyes locked onto the king.

"You may stand," Alexander said.

Jogan rose to his feet.

---

"I can sense a threat coming from the eastern city of this kingdom."

The king turned back and stared in the direction of the eastern city once more.

"Something ancient. Something powerful. Something I thought I had destroyed centuries ago has returned to challenge me."

He clenched a fist against his chest before turning to Jogan again.

"And what could that be, my King? Tell me, and I shall destroy it," Jogan replied, confusion crossing his face.

"I do not know yet. But I can feel it. I can sense it coming from the city of Queensville."

"Really? Then allow me to go and discover the source of this threat."

Jogan drew his sword from the scabbard at his hip and pointed its tip toward the floor.

---

"No. Not yet," the king replied with a smile. "I have a plan and a solution. I always do. So relax for now while I figure that bastard out."

Immediately, King Alexander turned to his left and stretched out his middle finger. A tiny black flame appeared on its tip. He bent down and used it to draw a magic circle on the ground. Then he stood up and began speaking in an ancient demonic language while staring at the circle.

Suddenly, dark smoke burst from the magic circle. Within six seconds, the smoke gathered together and transformed into a huge, terrifying demon. It stood eight feet tall and had a long, metallic glowing horn protruding from its forehead. Its long tail coiled around like a snake.

The demon stood before the king.

---

"The Lich King," it said reverently. "The ancient leader of legions. The supreme ruler of witches and wizards. The creator of demons. I bow before you, my lord."

The demon lowered its head in respect.

"You are welcome, my child," the king replied with a smile.

"You have summoned me. What can I do to serve you, my lord?" the demon asked politely.

"I want you to send one of the lower demons to the Deep Forest of Queensville," the king said. "I want it to locate and eliminate a threat."

"A threat? And what threat is that, my lord?" the demon asked, confusion crossing its face.

---

"A Dragon Knight in the form of a young man," the king answered. "He is the reincarnation of the most powerful and ferocious Dragon Knight I killed twelve thousand years ago."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"He is back. And how he returned is something I do not understand."

"My lord, I believe the Primordials are involved once again," the demon said. "But do not worry. Your creations stand behind you. Allow me to go and carry out your command."

"Of course. You may leave," the king replied.

The demon vanished, dissolving into a cloud of black smoke.

King Alexander and Jogan stood there, watching the smoke until it faded completely.

---

That evening, the king summoned one of his kingdom's allies, Dibara a highly skilled and powerful female soldier. She possessed the ability to manipulate matter and shapeshift at will.

He sent her to the city of Queensville with a mission: to kill the city's most renowned hunter and assume his identity.

After tracking down the hunter in the Deep Forest, where he had gone hunting with his friends, Dibara killed them all. She then shapeshifted into the hunter and hurried to the city's castle.

---

"My lord!" she cried out to the duke. "I have seen a strange creature in the forest!"

Her report alarmed the duke. He immediately dispatched a messenger to the kingdom's training grounds with instructions for the chief trainer. The message was simple: select the five strongest trainees and send them to hunt down and kill the mysterious creature.

---

The next morning, Trainer James summoned all the trainees to the yard and gathered them in a large hall located at the entrance of the training ground.

"A strange creature has been found in the deep forest of this city," he said in a loud voice.

A murmur spread through the hall.

"The Duke has ordered that it be killed," he continued. "I want five trainees to embark on this mission."

He began walking through the crowd, observing their faces one after another.

---

"William, come forward," he said as he spotted him among the trainees. "You are the strongest among them."

Upon hearing that, Hermes nearly burst into laughter where he stood, remembering what Vivienne had done to William the other day.

"Look at the crowd and choose the trainees of your choice those you know are strong like you," Trainer James told William.

William walked into the crowd and selected his three friends. After that, he scanned the hall as if searching for someone. Soon, he spotted Hermes and immediately pointed at him.

"You. Come out."

---

Trainer James was shocked. The Hermes he knew would surely die if he followed them into the forest.

"William," Trainer James called. "Hermes is not fit for this mission. I hope you know that?"

"I know," William answered. "But that doesn't mean he's useless."

He turned and looked at Hermes in disgust as the boy stepped out of the crowd, confused and speechless.

"He can carry our supplies," William continued. "And if the creature attacks us unexpectedly..."

He paused before a cruel smile appeared on his face.

"...he can serve as bait."

---

Upon hearing that, Trainer James and the rest of the hall burst into uncontrollable laughter. Everyone laughed except Vivienne, who stood at the back.

"You're right," Trainer James said between laughs. "I forgot he's useless. I'm so sorry, my dear."

He patted William on the shoulder as tears of laughter rolled down his cheeks.

But Vivienne was not amused.

She had tried to endure the constant mistreatment of Hermes, but she had finally had enough.

---

She stepped forward and headed straight toward Trainer James, William, and Hermes. Stopping before them, she fixed her glowing eyes on Trainer James.

"You are evil. I hate you," she said coldly.

Trainer James's expression darkened.

"How dare you speak to me like that? Leave this hall at once before I unleash my anger on you."

"And what will you do?" she asked loudly.

Her glowing eyes were already beginning to turn red.

"Tell me. What will you—"

---

Sensing the chaos that was about to erupt, Hermes quickly stepped between them and interrupted her.

"Enough. Enough. I'll go," he said.

Vivienne stared at him in disbelief.

"You must be sick. You'll die if you go," she said angrily.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine."

"Really?" she asked in shock.

"Please... just stop this," Hermes begged softly.

Vivienne felt deeply disappointed by his response.

Slowly, she walked closer to him and looked him straight in the eyes.

"Don't think this is over," she whispered.

Then she turned around and walked out of the hall.