The training field still smoked from the remnants of the test. Baka Sensei stood with arms crossed, the empty beer bottle at his feet, watching his students with a piercing gaze.
The trio exchanged confused glances.
"We all passed. You're not being sarcastic, right?" Seig asked, still skeptical.
Baka gave a slow nod. "You all passed. The exercise wasn't about raw power—it was about teamwork and skill. But I almost failed you three. Let me point out your weaknesses."
He turned to Miki first.
"Miki," Baka said, his voice almost thoughtful, "earlier, you were too timid to attack me. Being shy isn't a problem… until it gets you killed in real battle. Your healing and enhancement magic drains your mana fast—dangerous if Seig and Athuria go down. You need to learn self-defense. Healing Impact is solid, but if that's your only offensive move, it won't work twice."
Miki looked down, nodding quietly, feeling the weight of his words.
Baka turned to Seig. "You, hothead—your temper, violence, outbursts. Power isn't always the answer. A magic knight thinks first. Control yourself before someone gets hurt. You're the boy in this squad; take more responsibility."
Seig clenched his fists, cheeks burning, but nodded silently.
Baka's gaze shifted to Athuria. "And you, Princess—don't think I didn't notice you trying to go solo. Teamwork is everything in a three-man cell. You learned that today, so you passed. But never forget: those who disobey the kingdom's rules are scum… but those who betray or abandon their comrades are worse than scum."
Seig stared at Baka, eyes wide.
"He's… kinda cool," Seig muttered, a tiny smile tugging at his lips.
Baka gave a thumbs-up. "That's it for the test. Team 7 starts official missions tomorrow. Who wants a bottle of booze?"
Miki blushed and stammered, "Um, Sensei… I think we're still a little too young for alcohol."
Baka laughed heartily. "Oh yeah… guess you're right. My bad."
Athuria sighed in exasperation. "Seriously, Baka Sensei… you're such an irresponsible adult I wonder how you even became a Rank 1 Magic Knight."
The next day, Camelot's Mission HQ buzzed with activity. Knights and scribes and civilians moved between desks, eyes focused on the endless request boards and mountain pile of papers.
Mrs. Lily stood at the front desk, assigning duties with a serious expression.
"Team 7's first mission: an errand to the neighboring town. Babysit a cat, help dig potatoes—"
Seig interrupted her immediately. "Hell noooo! No thank you! Give us something exciting, meaningful!"
Athuria crossed her arms. "He's got a point we need something more daring to help us get the experience that we need.
Lily's patience was running thin. "You fools are bottom Rank 3 rookies. Everyone starts at the bottom, gaining experience from simple missions like these."
Seig's voice grew louder, filled with frustration. "But it's been nothing but boring, blah missions! How do I gain experience digging potatoes?!"
THWACK! Baka's knuckle rapped Seig's head with a force that made everyone wince.
"Quiet down, you're giving me a headache. Listen—requests flood in daily. They're ranked A, B, C, D by difficulty. Success means payment from the client."
Lily added, "You're Rank 3. D-rank is your limit. Understand?"
Miki and Athuria zoned out as Seig rambled on about meat types.
"Hey! Listen and stop being stubborn," Lily snapped.
Seig groaned. "Aww man, you always lecture me, Big sis… but I'm not that little prankster anymore."
Lily sighed and smiled faintly. "Okay, fine. If you insist… I'll bump you to C-rank. Bodyguard duty. Please come in."
An old man, weathered by age and hauling massive luggage, stepped forward, sipping a beer.
"Iroh," the man said, looking them over. "What's this? Just a bunch of 13-year-old brats? Especially you—the smallest one with the idiot face and that ugly green jacket tied around your waist."
Seig's temper flared. "I will kill him!"
Baka grabbed Seig's black T-shirt collar, his grip like iron. "What good would killing the client do? You're supposed to protect him. Seriously, headache incoming, hyperactive moron."
Iroh smirked. "Name's Iroh. Veteran bridge builder. You'll guard me with your lives until I finish my bridge back home."
They geared up and headed out the gates of Camelot.
Outside, Seig pumped a fist. "All right! Let's do this!"
Athuria glared. "What are you so excited about?"
Seig grinned wide. "I've never left the kingdom before!"
Iroh raised an eyebrow. "Hey, am I really safe with this brat?"
Baka waved a hand dismissively. "I'm Rank 1 and their sensei. I'll watch over them. Don't worry."
Seig puffed out his chest. "Hey, old man—don't mock magic knights! I may be a kid now, but I'm gonna be called the King of Knights one day. Everyone will acknowledge me—Seig Pendragon!"
Iroh took a sip of his beer. "King of Knights rules Camelot, right? You sure don't look like you could be King of anything to me.
Seig clenched his fists. "Shut up! I'll do whatever it takes. You'll have no choice but to acknowledge me then."
Iroh just snorted. "Keep dreaming, kid. I'll never acknowledge you—even if you become King of Knights."
Miki interrupted their little argument "Mr. Iroh… you're from the Lightning Kingdom, right?"
Iroh didn't look at her. "Yeah. So what?"
Miki's curiosity was piqued. "Baka Sensei, are there magic knights there too?"
Baka nodded. "Yeah—each of the five kingdoms has them. Cultures differ, they're still little places like villages but the Five great kingdom's dominate the continent: Camelot in the east, Water Kingdom in the south, Earth Kingdom in the west, Lightning Kingdom in the north, and the Spade Kingdom at the center of the continent. Massive territory, immeasurable power—each of these five kingdoms has a King of Knights ruling over ten thousand magic knights." Think of the five kingdoms as countries but they're also some lands that have different cultures.
Miki's eyes widened in awe. "No way… so the Kings of Knights are that incredible?"
Baka shrugged. "Yeah, they're the real deal. But don't get too cocky just because you know the names. Each of those kingdoms has its own dark corners. Magic knights are as much about survival as they are about power."
The group fell into a thoughtful silence, the road stretching ahead like an endless path. Baka, ever vigilant, scanned the surroundings. His gaze never left the horizon.
Suddenly, two figures erupted from the forest pathway chains flying toward Baka wrapping his body and letting of a sudden explosion,The explosion engulfed the spot where he stood.
Miki and Seig froze in terror. Athuria, however, remained calm, her eyes already narrowing.
Before the smoke could settle, the enemies blinked behind Seig, chains raised high, ready to strike.
Athuria reacted instantly. Ice shot from her palms, freezing the chains to the ground and pinning them to a nearby tree. In the same fluid motion, she leaped forward, her leg delivering a perfect split kick to one of the assassins' faces. The impact sent him stumbling back.
But the assassins weren't down for long. They recovered quickly, charging toward Iroh, intent on finishing the job.
Miki hesitated for a heartbeat, then stepped in front of Iroh, her dagger drawn. "Get behind me, Mr. Iroh!" she shouted, her voice trembling but firm.
Athuria dashed in to help—but she was too far.
Then, with a loud bam, Baka's muscular arms shot out, clotheslining both assassins in a single swift motion. They crumpled to the ground, knocked unconscious.
Baka casually waved. "Yo."
Miki gasped. "Baka Sensei! He's alive!"
Athuria scoffed, clearly unphased. "Hmm. Show-off."
Seig stood, shaken, his voice quivering. "But… we thought you exploded and died…"
Seig glanced at the remnants of the explosion. He noticed logs in the blast crater—substitution/transformation magic. It was a basic technique anyone with mana could learn.
Baka smirked. "You think one little explosion kills me? I'm Rank 1 for a reason."
Iroh, still breathing heavily, nodded as he processed the situation. "Somehow… I'm still alive."
Baka patted Iroh on the shoulder, his grin widening. "Good job, Athuria. And you too, Miki—you guarded Iroh well."
Seig, however, stood silent, his mind swirling with confusion and frustration. I couldn't do anything… just trembled like a weakling. Athuria—it was her first real battle. Didn't she feel scared? She saved us like it was nothing... no dirt on her clothes.
Athuria glanced back with a cold smile. "Hey, are you hurt, loser?" she teased, her voice laced with mockery.
Seig swallowed his pride, annoyance creeping into his expression. But he said nothing.
Baka turned to Seig. "These kusarigamas are poisoned. Open the wound, drain it."
Seig winced as the sharp sting in his arm flared up. He had been so focused on the fight, he hadn't even realized the true extent of his injury.
"Don't move, or the poison spreads," Baka warned, his tone serious.
Miki stepped forward, concern evident in her eyes. She gently began to tend to Seig's wound, her healer magic swirling around him. As she bandaged the wound, she spoke softly, her face flushed with embarrassment.
"This mission's too soon… we should turn back. I healed Seig, stopped the bleeding, and closed the wound, but traces of poison might remain. We need kingdom treatment."
Baka scratched his head, looking at the injury. "Burden… but yeah, let's check Seig for poison traces. Back to the capital?"
Seig, however, gritted his teeth. His eyes were determined, though the pain was clearly getting to him. He clenched his fist tightly, looking at his blood-stained hand.
Seig's voice was strained, full of frustration. "Why am I so different? Why is it always me, damn it!" He stabbed his dagger into his healed hand again, forcing blood to spill from the wound.
Miki gasped. "Seig! You're opening it again!"
Seig was beyond caring. "I should be getting stronger... doing missions, special training alone and with Big Sis Lily. From this day—I swear on my left wrist, my pride, my magic knight badge—I'll never need rescuing again. Never be afraid, never a coward. And I won't lose to Athuria. I'll protect everyone!"
Baka shook his head. "Seig, I like the determination… but any more and you'll bleed out, numbskull."
Seig, dizzy from blood loss, gave a sheepish grin. "Well… come to think of it, I'm getting dizzy. Miki, heal it again?"
Miki, though worried, shook her head gently. "Sorry… I'm out of mana."
Baka, ever observant, squinted at Seig's arm. "It's already healing… Could the Dragon King mana be doing it? Rumors are true—he's Acnologia's vessel…" Baka muttered, his thoughts darkening as he scanned the young knight's wound.
Seig glanced at him, nervous. "Sensei… am I gonna be okay? That look's scaring me."
Baka gave a reassuring, albeit uncharacteristic, smile. "Yeah… you'll be fine. Let's continue. I called Camelot knights for these two.He looks at Iroh with a doubtful stare and Iroh—you've got explaining to do."
Meanwhile, in the Lightning Kingdom
A dark, abandoned building stood shrouded in moonlight, the roof broken and crumbling. Inside, a spy kneeled before a shadowy figure, a report ready in hand.
"The two killers were defeated... taken to Camelot prison," the spy reported, trembling slightly.
The shadowy figure, a tall and imposing presence, rose from a crate, his dark cloak billowing around him. His cold, calculating gaze settled on the spy.
With a swift motion, the figure unsheathed an executioner blade, and the spy's head fell to the ground in one clean strike.
The shadowy figure smirked, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Useless henchmen… I'll visit those Camelot knights personally when they step into Lightning Kingdom. My blade will be the last thing they see."
He laughed darkly as he sheathed the blade. "I am Green Phoenix… the demon of the Lightning Kingdom."