**Chapter 54 – Oaths Beneath the Stars**
**[KEND – "JOY IN THE HEIGHTS" INN – BALCONY]**
Night **transformed** Kend into an impossible spectacle — a city already beautiful under sunlight became utterly **transcendent** when the stars emerged and the twin moons rose above impossible mountains. Permanent illumination crystals installed at regular intervals along the main streets **glowed** with white-blue light, creating a terrestrial constellation that rivaled the sky itself. Thousands of them turned the city into a sea of floating lights reflected in windows and mist-dampened stone, creating a visual depth that stole the breath.
**Julia** leaned against the carved wooden railing — hands resting on the surface still warm from retained daytime heat, eyes **wide** absorbing the impossibility before her, dark-brown hair loose falling over her shoulders, wearing a simple light-blue tunic provided by the inn in place of the heavy armor neatly organized in her room.
**San** three meters to her right — posture less relaxed even off-duty because his mind never truly shut off, but eyes equally **captured** by the spectacle below, simple gray tunic, hair disheveled after a rare bath.
**Jessica** between them — observing with analytical interest while mentally calculating the costs of urban illumination, impeccable white tunic, pink hair perfectly arranged.
---
And **below**, three floors down — a **parade** snaked along the main street.
A massive, elaborately constructed **dragon**: wooden frame covered in fabric painted with individually detailed red and gold scales, head the size of a cart with jaws that **opened** and **closed** via internal mechanism, red glass eyes **glowing** from inner candles, wings spread ten meters on each side held by bamboo poles making them appear to flap as the structure moved, tail dragging fifteen meters undulating like a living serpent.
**Twenty adults** hidden beneath the fabric operated the structure in perfect coordination, making the dragon appear to **swim** through the air.
**Fifty children** flanked the dragon wearing scarlet tunics with cardboard scales glued on, dragon masks covering their faces but eyes **shining** through, small wings tied to their backs flapping enthusiastically, each holding a **rope** connected to a massive balloon floating five meters above.
The **balloons** — translucent fabric spheres one and a half meters in diameter in various colors, each containing a suspended **magical flame** heating the air, glowing like living lanterns turning the procession into a river of floating light, occasionally releasing a spark that spiraled upward in golden arcs before extinguishing, creating miniature falling-star showers.
And **vibrant music**: ten marching musicians with drums creating a rhythm that resonated through the stone, vibrating all the way up to the balcony, flutes weaving complex harmony, lutes adding rich melody, voices singing an ancient tale of a dragon protecting the city.
The **sound** rose in waves reaching the balcony — not merely heard but **felt** physically, resonance penetrating the chest, making hearts beat in synchrony.
And along the street — **hundreds** of spectators: families on balconies waving, children watching wide-eyed, elders smiling with nostalgia, merchants temporarily closing shops to observe.
The **atmosphere** was pure, genuine joy — unforced.
---
**Julia** watched the dragon pass directly below — flames reflecting in eyes that **shone**:
"This is the **best** city I've been in since arriving in this world." — Voice almost a whisper, reverent.
She turned to San and Jessica:
"Ellis is magnificent architecturally. But **this** is **life** — pure and simple."
---
**Jessica** nodded — for the first time in days without cynical analysis:
"True. Ellis is more **developed** and technically **organized**." — Pause. — "But Kend is more **alive**. It possesses a vitality Ellis lost under the weight of bureaucracy."
---
**San** pointed at the laughing children:
"Yes. Here children are **smiling**, **having fun** as if nothing were threatening them."
Bitter pause:
"Even knowing monsters attacked ten days ago. That fifteen died. They still celebrate. It's a **conscious choice** to live fully even under the shadow of death."
---
**Julia** looked over the entire city — lights stretching until they vanished into upper levels:
"That's **exactly** why we need to eliminate these monsters threatening the peace of these children." — Voice filled with **absolute conviction**. — "Not for the Church. Not for tribute. But because the **people** here deserve to live without fear. Children deserve to laugh. This **beautiful** city deserves to exist."
Pause — eyes shining with unshed tears:
**This** is why I became a knight. To **protect** moments like this.
---
**Jessica** yawned:
"Philosophically true." — She stretched her arms. — "But I'm already feeling sleepy. My regulated rest time is approaching."
She turned toward the door:
"I'm going to sleep. **Wake me** tomorrow without fail because I can't wake up autonomously."
---
**San** irritated:
**Hey**! Make sure you don't **oversleep** like always! I don't want to spend fifteen minutes waking you up!
---
**Jessica** already crossing the threshold:
"I'm **used** to it." — Casual voice. — "My employees always woke me. Now it's **your responsibility**, San."
Pause at the door:
"Black coffee. Two spoons of sugar. No milk. Eighty-five degrees Celsius. Don't forget."
She disappeared.
---
**San** stared at the door in disbelief:
"I am **NOT** your employee, you **crazy** CEO!"
He sighed:
"Impossible woman."
---
**Julia** **laughed** — a genuine burst that started as a smile and expanded until tears appeared, sound bubbling through her throat in uncontrollable waves, hand uselessly covering her mouth.
"Only you two could be like this." — Voice trembling with laughter. — "Jessica treating everything like a corporate operation. San complaining but always waking her anyway. You two are…"
She smiled — genuinely, without masks.
The first moment in days where she **completely relaxed**.
---
She turned her attention back to the parade — music still audible, echoing.
**San** remained — three meters away, observing in comfortable silence.
Five minutes without words.
Just music and wind carrying the scent of spices and bread.
---
**San** — voice directed toward her:
"Julia… you still haven't **forgotten** the massacre with the Maestro, have you?"
Genuine concern.
---
**Julia** **froze** — shoulders tensing, breath stopping.
She turned **abruptly** — eyes wide:
"Only **you** would notice and figure out the things I try to hide." — Gratitude and frustration mixed.
Forced an unconvincing smile:
"I thought I hid it well."
---
She turned her gaze back to the parade — posture tense, hands gripping the railing so hard the wood **creaked**:
"Since that massacre I feel like part of **me** disappeared. Like a piece of my soul was torn out."
Trembling breath:
"I wake up every night. Same dreams. Same memories. Same **screams** of comrades I couldn't save."
---
**San** turned toward her — serious expression:
"That's already **over**. You shouldn't think about it so much. It doesn't help."
---
**Julia** shook her head — vehement denial:
"It's not **easy** when we were **ten** who came together from the real world. And we **lost** seven in a **single** twenty-minute battle."
Fist striking the railing:
"And if it weren't for Austin and the Church group sent… maybe you would be **dead** too. And I'd be alone or dead."
She looked at San — eyes shining:
**Seven** people, San. Seven. Faces I see every night.
"All **dead**. Because of my incompetence."
---
**San** stepped closer:
"It wasn't **your fault**. We were weak. Low level. Inadequate equipment. Against a far superior enemy."
Pause:
"But now we're **different**. And if we ever find the Maestro… we'll **end** him."
Hesitated:
"But is that **all**? Or is there something **more**?"
---
Julia paused — processing.
She sighed:
"There **is** something more." — Distant voice. — "In the real world I was a hardcore **video game addict**."
Nostalgic, embarrassed smile:
"I spent the **majority** of my time gaming instead of being with my family. And if friends wanted to talk? — laughed without humor — …it was inside **online matches** where I stayed connected twenty-four hours."
Pause:
"And I thought: 'My **true home** is the fantasy world.' I didn't care about family. Spent minimal time. They invited me to **go out**? I refused. **Travel**? Refused. Anywhere? Always **refused** because my world was video games."
---
Deep breath:
"Until facing the Maestro… he used magic to show **corrupted** versions of important people. I saw my brothers and parents. But distorted. **Blaming** me. Calling me **selfish** for only thinking about games."
Tear escaping:
"And the **worst** part? They were completely **right**. Every accusation was a **truth** I didn't want to admit."
---
She wiped the tear:
"Seeing that **hit** me deeply. And realizing I could **die** without ever having the chance to go back and spend time with my brothers, my parents, take that family trip I always refused."
She looked at San — absolute intensity:
"So I'm **grateful** to have been saved by Austin and the knights. And I'm grateful to the **Goddess** because now I know exactly what I want."
---
Voice filled with **conviction**:
"I want to **return** to the family that loves me despite my neglect. And spend days making **beautiful** memories I wasted gaming."
Genuine, determined smile:
"But I also want to **enjoy** this world because it's been part of my dreams since I was a child. Protect places like Kend. Save children. Make a **real difference**. And return as a **better** person who deserves the family she has."
---
She raised her right hand — placing it over her **chest**, over her heart.
Warrior's upright posture making a sacred oath.
Eyes closing.
Voice **clear**, **strong**, **absolute**:
**No matter what happens**… I, **Julia Silva**, swear by my **Honor** as a knight, by my **Faith** in Goddess Nellis, by my **Conviction** to protect the weak…
Deep breath pause:
…that I **will return** to my true home with my family. That I **will survive** the remaining days in this world. That I will become a person **worthy** of the love I received but did not value.
She opened her eyes — shining with determination that made the stars seem pale:
**This is my oath**. I will fulfill it even if it costs everything.
---
Absolute **silence**.
Only wind and distant music.
---
**San** — hoarse voice:
"That's why I admire you so deeply, Julia. And why I **like** you beyond just comradeship."
Genuine confession.
---
**Julia** turned **abruptly** — face **blushing**:
**Stop** that, San! Don't say those **weird** things!
She covered her face:
"You're being ridiculous!"
---
**San** smiled — small, sad:
"Only you wouldn't understand what I'm clearly saying."
He turned to walk away:
**Good night**, Julia. Sweet dreams.
He disappeared.
---
**Julia** remained alone — hands covering her burning face.
She lowered them — looking at the city where the parade continued.
Small smile:
"I wish my family were here to see this together."
---
Something **flashed** — system notification in the HUD.
Translucent interface materialized:
```
╔════════════════════════════════════╗
║ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ║
║ ──────────────────────────────── ║
║ CLASS AFFINITY PARTIALLY ║
║ UNLOCKED ║
║ ║
║ [CLICK FOR DETAILS] ║
╚════════════════════════════════════╝
```
Flashing **green**.
---
Julia blinked:
"Class affinity? I've never seen this before…"
She opened the basic interface:
```
╔════════════════════════════════╗
║ USER: JULIA SILVA ║
║ CLASS: SWORDSMAN (MASTER) ║
║ LEVEL: 30 ║
║ ──────────────────── ║
║ HP: 3000/3000 ║
║ MANA: 500/500 ║
║ STAMINA: 250/250 ║
╚════════════════════════════════╝
```
**Green** pulsing indicator.
---
She tapped the icon — summoning the assistant.
A small **digital fairy** materialized — no larger than a palm, body of golden light, sky-blue butterfly wings, floating hair, enormous eyes, name **JUN** floating above her head.
She crossed tiny arms:
"Long **time** no see, Julia! I thought you **forgot** about me!"
She floated in a circle:
"A **week** without calling me! I was so bored!"
---
**Julia** smiled:
"**Imagine**! I could never forget you, Jun. I was just busy and forgot I could call you. Sorry."
---
**Jun** smiling:
"Forgiven! But **tell me**: what's this weird green indicator?"
Eyes shining as she accessed information:
"Ah! It's a **new skill** you unlocked through Class Affinity!"
---
**Julia**:
"But I didn't do anything special. How did I unlock it?"
---
**Jun** gesturing:
"Every **class** has different ways of awakening abilities based on unique requirements!"
Counting on tiny fingers:
"This particular Affinity only awakens between levels twenty-eight and thirty-five based on fulfilling your class's core requirements."
Pause:
"So to activate it **now**… you did something **aligned** with the fundamental qualities the System recognized!"
---
**Julia** — remembering the oath:
*Honor. Conviction. Protection.*
*Did the System hear?*
---
**Jun**:
"Exactly! Probably something in the last few minutes!"
She floated:
**Click** it to see details! I'm curious too!
---
Julia tapped the notification.
Interface **expanded** — revealing a diagram.
---
Perfect **hexagon** slowly rotating.
In the **center**:
**[CHIVALRY]**
At the **six vertices**:
```
[HONOR]
▲
/ \
/ \
[LOYALTY] [COURAGE]
| X |
| / \ |
[PROTECTION [DISCIPLINE]
OF THE WEAK
[HUMILITY]
```
**Five** vertices glowed **golden** — activated.
Only **HONOR** remained **gray** — partially blocked.
---
Explanatory text:
```
╔════════════════════════════════════╗
║ CHIVALRY AFFINITY ║
║ ──────────────────────────────── ║
║ ACTIVATED ATTRIBUTES: 5/6 ║
║ ║
║ ✓ COURAGE: Activated Level 12 ║
║ ✓ DISCIPLINE: Activated Level 18 ║
║ ✓ PROTECTION OF THE WEAK: Level 22 ║
║ ✓ LOYALTY: Activated Level 26 ║
║ ✓ HUMILITY: Activated Level 28 ║
║ ║
║ ✗ HONOR: Partially Blocked ║
║ └─ Requirement: Sacred Oath ║
║ └─ Progress: 87% complete ║
║ ║
║ CURRENT BONUSES: ║
║ +15% Damage vs Monsters ║
║ +10% Mental Resistance ║
║ +20% XP on Rescue Missions ║
╚════════════════════════════════════╝
```
---
**Julia** — eyes widening:
"The System **tracks** my… **actions**? It evaluates whether I act in accordance with chivalry?"
---
**Jun** nodded:
"Exactly! Your class is **Knight** in essence!"
Pointed at vertices:
"You demonstrated **Courage** facing superiors. **Discipline** in training. **Protection** by saving others. **Loyalty** by keeping comrades safe. **Humility** by treating everyone with respect."
Pause on the gray:
"But **Honor** is harder. It requires an **oath** binding your soul to absolute principles."
Looked at Julia:
"The System detected that you **began** the process minutes ago with your oath."
Pointed at text:
"But it only fully completes within your **level thirty to thirty-five** range when the oath is **tested** through **actions** — not just words."
---
Julia looked at the diagram — something warming in her chest.
Responsibility.
*The System is judging me.*
*Rewarding me when I act accordingly.*
---
**Jun**:
"Impressive! Most people never unlock it because it requires **living** the principles — not just pretending."
She winked:
"Keep going like this and when you meet the main requirement… something **special** happens when Honor activates."
---
Julia nodded:
"Thank you, Jun."
---
**Jun** made a tiny bow:
"You're welcome! And don't forget me for another three weeks! Call me to chat! I get bored!"
She disappeared in a sparkle.
---
Julia remained alone.
She looked at the diagram — five vertices shining, one waiting.
**Honor**.
Level thirty-five.
Seven levels away.
---
She closed the interface.
Looked at the city — parade ending, lights dimming.
Deep breath — cold air filling her lungs.
She whispered to the stars:
"I will return to my family. **I promise**. No matter what happens."
She turned — walking back inside.