Operation Commence!

Father sat and watched the two figures, the man called Spark and the girl called Kitty.

"Try me." he said. "Let's see if you live up to your claim."

"Right." Spark replied. "Let the show begin!"

As he called that, Spark opened the bag and pulled out a deck of cards. He held them up high.

"Ignite!" he called as her threw the cards down. They burst into flames and seemingly vanished from sight. Father looked surprised.

"Magic…" he whispered.

"That's not all!" Spark raised his hand. "Return!"

Suddenly the cards flew from all corners of the room and back into his hand. Not even singed. I heard a small clapping from Erik as Spark displayed his magic tricks.

"Next up is Kitty and the Ring of Flame!" Spark called as he made a full ring of fire flash into life in front of everyone. He lifted it into the air without burning his own hand and Kitty leapt through the ring, again and again. She did a different trick every time. From flips to corkscrews to some inhuman-looking contortions as she braved each leap. Not even burning her cape once.

Fredrick and Erik looked amazed by the skill of the performance. Though Father was yet to be fully impressed yet.

"Now then." Spark announced. "For this next trick. I need a volunteer! How about the young lady over there?" he asked as he looked my way.

"Me?" I asked.

"If you aren't afraid that is!" Spark replied.

I nodded. "I'm not afraid." I responded as I came closer. I still couldn't see much. But I could see a bunch of black hair coming from Spark's hood.

"Right then." Spark called out. "Now for this. We're going to have the young lady disappear from sight. Are you ready to be amazed?"

Father seemed intrigued by the thought of this. In all honesty, could he actually make me vanish? I haven't known many magic users who make someone disappear entirely.

Suddenly Spark pulled out a book and raised his hand above my head.

"Now vanish!" he chanted as smoke filled my vision.

I could feel myself being pulled by something quickly. I was surprised. This wasn't magic, it was just an illusion.

Soon I found myself sitting on what seemed to be a rafter. Down below I could see Father look in confusion. But there was something behind me. Someone was keeping me from falling off of the rafter.

"Keep quiet." they whispered to me. "He'll see the trick if ya speak."

I recognised that voice right away. It was Rissa. But why was she here?

More importantly if Rissa is here, then that means…

Well this will be fun.

"Where did she go?" Father asked.

"That's a magician's secret." Spark replied.

"Wait." Father said. "That was no magic."

"I'm sorry sir?" Spark asked.

"That wasn't magic." Father said. "That was just normal smoke. Just who are you? You know a bit of magic but no-one could make someone vanish instantly like that."

"As I said." Spark replied. "My name is Spark and I'm an entertainer."

"Lies." Father responded. "If there was really a mage entertainer like you around I would have heard about it."

I could see the look in Father's eyes. 'Spark' has been figured out.

"Alright. Alright." Spark said. "You got me. That wasn't magic. In truth I've only been using basic spells to conserve my mana. I think it's time you learned something."

"What might that be?" Father questioned.

"That you should never tear a knight from his master!" Spark called as he pulled back his hood. Under it was Keita's face. "Kitty! It's time for plan B."

"Got it!" Rissa called from above as she kept me up on the rafters and jumped down.

From there Keita pulled his sword straight from his bag and readied himself for a fight.

*****

I stood before him now. A greying man with some expensive clothes sat on a throne. The lord of this town and Azraea's father. I kept my sword close at hand as Rissa backed me up.

"I see." the baron laughed. "So Azraea made a friend out there did she? A child playing knight. Children need to be punished for insolence."

"I am not a child." I told him. "I've heard things about you. They call you a war hero. They call you their lord. Well I don't see you as either. All I see in front of me is the enemy of my lady!"

"I'll give you one chance." the baron responded. "Return my daughter and leave this place. I would hate to have to bloody a child."

"I said I'm not a child!" I shouted. "I am Keita Kuro, Knight of Azraea Alaric von Sherpstal. I will be walking out of here with my lady, or not at all."

With that I started to channel my mana. A technique that I learned while fighting. Without much effort, my sword's blade burst into violet flames.

"Now then." I said. "Here are my demands. You will release Lady Azraea from your custody and never attempt to control her again!"

The baron simply started laughing.

"You think that you, a mere peasant, can order me around?" the baron questioned. "It's laughable that you think you could even attempt to trick me in my own home!"

"I'm far stronger than you think." I replied. "If I was to be weak, I wouldn't have any place calling myself a knight. If I was to simply abandon my lady to you, I would not be worthy of her. If I was to back down now to some simple menace like you, then all my effort would be for nothing!"

I stopped when I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was a strong grip, and rough.

"That is enough." it said in a masculine and young voice. "You have made your point clear."

As soon as he said that, he walked past me up to the baron. It was a boy with night black hair and almost wolven yellow eyes that eyed me with interest. He wore noble clothing with a silver rapier at his side. His gaze turned to the baron.

"Lord Alfric." he said. "I would like for you to allow me to handle this situation. I know how best to deal with this."

Alfric looked at the boy and nodded.

"Go ahead." Alfric replied. "He isn't worth my time anyway."

The boy grinned and looked over my way, eyeing me once more with his lupine eyes.

"Keita…Kuro was it?" he asked. "I have heard about you from Lady Azraea."

"Then you should know that you shouldn't get in the way." I responded.

"Now now." the boy replied. "No need to act that way. I have a deal for you."

What could he be planning? A deal? Maybe he's smarter than he looks.

"What kind of deal?" I asked.

"A very simple deal." the boy answered. "You call yourself a knight. But you must prove yourself to be as such. Show that resolve to me. Prove that you are indeed worthy of defending Lady Azraea with all you have. Do that and I shall take your side in this quarrel."

"Why do you want to see that?" I questioned.

"Because Lady Azraea has captured my own heart." the boy announced. "I wish to stay with her. I am willing to let her go if she doesn't wish to be here. But I must know your calibre to make that decision. I will not entrust the life of one so dear to anybody. Prove to me that you are worthy of standing at her side!"

"That's all I've got to do?" I asked. "That's exactly why I came here. To keep to my promise. You talk about calibre and worthiness to stay. But I bet you never felt a true connection."

The boy sighed and drew his rapier. "I admit that my love is one sided. That I do not truly understand her as a person. But I will not allow myself to knowingly put her in danger."

"She's in danger all of the time." I retorted. "From monsters, bandits, her own father…even from herself…But I made a promise to her and to myself. I am the shield that keeps her safe. I am the sword that defends her from all that threaten her, and I would even battle the gods themselves if she so ordered it. Can you say the same? You who doesn't know her enemies. You who doesn't understand the pain of her heart. Can you say that very same oath that I have made to her?"

I sheathed my sword.

"I have nothing to prove to you other than my loyalty and integrity." I told the boy.

He started clapping.

"Lady Azraea really was right about you." he said. "You truly have spirit unbreakable. I have no doubt that you would crawl out of your very grave just for her sake. Very well. I shall back your claim as a fellow knight."

The baron seemed concerned. I feel like that boy was important to whatever he was planning.

"What do you have to say Baron Alfric?" I asked. "Are you concerned about your daughter's safety too? Or maybe you just hate losing to a 'mere peasant'."

From the look on his face. I think I succeeded in ticking him off. He looked ready to burst in anger.

"What's the matter?" I pushed. "You're looking a little red there. Is it because you lost to a kid?"

"Shut it!" he shouted. "I could have you executed right here and now you brat!"

"Go ahead and try." I told him.

"Keita stop!" Azraea caught my attention from the rafters. "He really could kill you!"

"Let him try." I answered. "I know a sore loser when I see one."

I'm not going to let myself die like that again. I've proven that I'm better and he knows it.

"So what's it gonna be Alfric?" I kept pushing. "You gonna kill me or what? Are you scared?"

"That's it!" Alfric growled and stood up. "I'm going to deal with you myself!"

With that he drew a fine longsword and aimed it directly at me.

"For your crimes against my house and myself, I shall end you myself!" Alfric barked.

"Then come try it." I smirked and taunted him.

I heard him growl in anger before he charged forth at me with the tip of his blade aiming at me.

"You're unfocused!" I called as I drew my sword and sidestepped his charge. He twisted around and struck out at me.