Summary: Max was just a simple village boy, with dreams of being a knight. He wished to train with the best of them, and become a Knight of Seiros. He is suddenly thrust into the life of a knight when his village is attacked. Despite what's happened, he vows to achieve his dream and become a true Knight. But things aren't as it seems in the Church of Seiros. There are hidden secrets, and things that are happening behind the scenes. The world isn't as peaceful as he once thought it to be. Can he truly become a knight? Or will he fall to the ones that Slither in the Dark?

A True Knight of Seiros

Part I

White Clouds

Savior

xxx

"Day 14 of the Great Tree Moon

What a boring day. It started off as usual, the cold winds of Faerghus were slowly receding for the year, as the world got ready for spring. Since I live in a small village, that meant that I would be saddled with the clearing efforts. After all, our main export is wheat so we needed to have our fields ready for plantation. That meant back breaking work preparing the soil for the following months. It was a total drag.

My father finally returned from his trip to the Empire. The seed that he gets for our crops can only be purchased there at this time of year. Meaning he would have to leave for Enbarr for a two week period. That left my mother, my sister and myself all alone in our home. Our village only had a few people in it, around 50 or so with a few being elders and others being children. That meant that the moment someone became old enough, they would be given the task of tending to the fields. The girls got lucky, they didn't have to work for as long as the boys did.

It isn't that it bothers me, in fact I think the work is alright. It keeps me fit at the very least. I get enough sunlight and the heavy lifting at least keeps me strong. No, there are just other things I would rather do. Being a knight for example.

My mother told me a story once. The story of the first Knight of Seiros, a young man who had come from a village just like mine. This was before the Church had been established, during the early days of the Adrestian Empire. He was known for his strength, how he helped people in need no matter the cost. If an old woman needed help tending her fields, he would take off his armor and tend those fields by himself. If he needed to take on bandits, he would gladly do it. He was among the many loyal people that protected Saint Seiros. He was there during her fight against the old king, Nemesis. He was a man that came from humble beginnings. He went on to become one of the very first Knights of Seiros, the one who started the order that carries its traditions down to this very day.

They were traditions that I wanted to be a part of. It may be silly to have dreams of being a Knight of Seiros. I mean… almost everyone wants to be a knight, or involved with the church in some way. I remember one of my cousins left on a pilgrimage a few years ago. She hadn't returned and the church hadn't sent any news about her. I could only surmise she was killed along the way. Things in Fodlan aren't exactly peaceful in certain areas. Areas that I was taught to avoid if I was ever traveling to another city.

Still I could dream. Most people that want to become knights want nothing more than recognition, money and titles. I however, just wanted to help people. Just like the first Knight. There was nothing else I wanted to do. There were times I wanted to tell my father this, that I wanted to head to Garreg Mach and join the order. But there were times where I chickened out. He was already becoming old. He wouldn't be able to tend the fields like he used to, and mother wouldn't be able to pick up his slack.

I was stuck here. And I'm certain my dream of being a Knight would be just that. A dream. Perhaps that's why my mother named me after the great knight. Who knows really?

Oof… I've been writing in this journal for a while. I need to get started on my chores. I guess I'll write another entree tomorrow."

He let the ink dry for a few moments before closing the small leatherbound book. He placed it in the small drawer next to his bedside table sighing softly to himself. Moving toward the window, he glanced through it, seeing the small village around him. Limestone houses dotted the area, all of them being quite aways from each other. In fact, his nearest neighbor was almost two city blocks away from him. It was quite calming actually, especially because it wasn't as noisy as other places around the world.

He wasn't an imposing person, in fact he was rather short for his age. His little sister Maya was taller than him and she was only fourteen years old. It often made him a focal point of ridicule, which he tried to ignore. But when you lived in a small village where everyone knew everyone, it made ridicule quite hard to avoid.

Having donned his tunic, the young man slipped on his boots making sure they were tightly laced before heading down stairs. Rather than finding his mother or his sister at the kitchen table, he was met with his father. His name was Marshall, he was a tall man, the tallest person he had ever met in fact. He had lightly tanned skin from working in the sun, along with a few scars on his arms from a few fights he had in his youth. Despite only being a farmer, the man was very well built. He was quite strong, being able to lift carts with ease, carts that would usually take three men to lift. He always gave the youngsters a hearty laugh, telling them to work hard if they wanted to be as strong as him. He was wearing some newsprint, something that didn't arrive in the village as often as in the city.

"Good morning father."

"Ah, it's good to see you getting up early Max. But I know you got in late last night, you could have slept in." his father replied, folding the paper in his hands, laying it on the table. The expression on his face was one of joy. He had quite the chiseled face, with a dark stubbly beard that was beginning to set in. His dark blue eyes gave his son a once over.

"It's quite alright. I know you've instilled these routines in my head since I was seven. I would rather get to work early. That way I can finish before the sun sets and have the afternoon all to myself." Max replied, moving toward the stove top. The water was still thankfully warm, enough for him to prepare a bit of tea. "Besides, maybe we could have a family game night like we used to when I was younger."

"Ha… that would be fantastic. It's been quite a long time since we've spent time as a family. Alas, your mother and sister headed toward Fhirdhiad. Your poor old grandmother suffered a fall, your uncle sent for Yuliana right away. Maya was all but insistent on coming with her, something about not tending the flower garden."

Max sighed audibly. If Maya was gone that meant her work would be saddled onto his shoulders. That meant he would have to tend the garden while preparing the fields. He would also have to clear the leaves, broken branches and whatever else was left behind from the Winter storm. He glanced back at his father, a frown on his face.

"Is it too late to join them on the journey to the capital?"

"They left at dawn, so yes."

"Damn."

"Oh, it won't be so bad son! Don't you worry, Maya convinced Tatiana to stop by and tend to the flowers for her. So you won't have to get your hands too dirty." his father said, holding back a laugh. Max rolled his eyes, sitting down across from his father. He grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl, sinking his teeth into the soft flesh of the fruit.

"So… anything interesting happen in Fodlan?" he asked, eyeing the paper his father had been reading. His joyous expression shifted into one of sadness as he placed a hand on the paper.

"Yes. There have been reports of a Bandit gang being active around this area. The Holy Knights have teamed up with the Knights of Seiros to search for them but there are no reports of their exact whereabouts. There is also one man among them that seems to be kidnapping young girls for one reason or another. I've already let the others know so they keep their daughters away from the reaches of the village. They shouldn't come here but you can never be too careful. That's why I want you to start carrying your sword, just in case."

"Okay." he said, once he had swallowed his fruit. He glanced at his tea cup, a brief look of excitement on his face. "Did the Archbishop dispatch any of the Knights to the village? I'd like to lend my sword to them if they need it."

"No. The Archbishop hasn't sent her knights here, along with that Bandit Ring, there seems to be another one active in Empire Territory, near Remire Village. There are no connections but again you can't be too careful." the man said. He finished his breakfast, standing up from his seat. "I'll let you finish up here son. You are to tend the eastern fields with Gregory's family today. We need to get them ready before the end of the month, think you can manage?"

"Yes, even though I find Gregory entirely annoying, I'll help out in the eastern fields." he said, sounding dismissive. The man clapped his shoulder, giving him a smile.

"Remember, we finish those fields early and all we have to do is plant and water them for a while. It won't be long before the wheat starts growing and we can take a bit easier."

With that, the man left, grabbing the large axe that rested by the door. He was out in a second, leaving Max alone to his thoughts. He glanced at his reflection in the tea, frowning a bit. The way his father spoke about the bandit ring made it seem a lot less serious than it was. But there had been bandits that attacked his village before. Every time they had managed to fend them off, but there were times where they were cutting it close. He was worried about what may happen especially when the Knights hadn't been dispatched.

The only way they had made it out fine the last time was because of the detainment of Knights that Archbishop Rhea had sent. If she hadn't sent some out this time, that either meant they weren't a threat, or the Holy Knights would take care of it. He couldn't very well worry about it, not when he had things to take care of.

Once he had finished his breakfast of simple fruits, he washed his lone tea cup placing it in the dish rack. He walked toward his room, grabbing the sword he kept in his closet. It was a simple iron sword, one that he had been taught to use by his father. He didn't train as often as he needed to but he could at least swing it. He took care of this weapon as if it were his child. A Knight needed to keep his sword sharp and ready in case a damsel needed to be saved. That always made him laugh, the way his mother painted it made it sound a lot sillier than it was. He took a brief moment to change his outfit, just in case.

He now wore a pair of black pants, which was made out of a stronger material. He wore a pair of armored boots, nothing fancy, just something to protect his legs. He grabbed a long sleeved shirt and placed it over his tee shirt, grabbing a pair of fingerless gloves from his dresser. Finally, he grabbed his belt, slipping it through the loops of his pants. He didn't need it, but it held the attachment of his sheathe so he needed to have it. Once he had his sword strapped to his waist, he headed off, keen on starting his chores for the day.

Despite the sun shining brilliantly over the village, it was still quite chilly. The winds of the north always made the southern parts of Faerghus cold, even into the early spring. He had grown used to it after living there for his entire life.

It didn't take him long to make it to the eastern fields. The village he lived in was all farmland, being inhabited by travelers quite a long time ago. They had four fields that needed to be tended, the eastern and western fields were left for their main crop, wheat, while the other two, the north and south fields were for fruits and vegetables. His favorite fruits were peaches while his sister adored strawberries. It always made him smile, how excited she got for simple fruits. It made him strive to tend the fields as best as he could so that only the best fruits could grow there.

"Hey Max! About time you got here!"

The sudden call pulled him out of his own thoughts. He looked up, seeing one of his friends, another villager Gregory, calling out to him. He was a young man of sixteen, with a mess of sandy hair atop his head. He was wearing a brown shirt with a leather vest over it, and a simple pair of pants and boots. He noticed a belt around his waist, holding a dagger. It seemed he was also armed, like some of the other villagers he had passed earlier. He broke into a sprint, shortening the distance between them.

"Hi Greg, I see you are prepared to fight the good fight." he said jokingly. Gregory chuckled, patting his friend's shoulder, eyeing the iron sword at his hip.

"So are you. My old man told me about these feral bandits, who're coming to take our little sisters! No way in hell I'm letting that happen. I would sooner die before those disgusting brigands some to take my little Trula!"

"Yeah well, for her sake I hope you can fight them off."

Max walked toward the nearby wheelbarrow, which contained some of the tools he would need to till the soil. He placed them on his shoulder, looking out into the fields. There were two others there, older boys who happened to be Gregory's brothers. He sighed, choosing a quadrant of the field to start. Gregory grabbed the same tools, following after his friend.

"Something wrong?" he asked. Max shrugged, glancing up at the sky.

"I was kind of hoping the Knights of Seiros would show up. The last time bandits were in the area, Lady Rhea sent a detainment. I wanted to hear some new stories you know?" he asked. Gregory nodded in understanding, taking a breath.

"You know… if you really want to be a knight then why don't you talk to your old man? I'm sure he would understand."

"I can't do that to him Greg. My father always taught me to be a responsible person. I can't just go to Garreg Mach and join the Order. Who would tend to the fields? Who would help with the harvest season? Who would go to Fhirdhiad and sell said harvest?" he asked firmly. He sighed, placing the tools down on the ground. He grabbed one of them, heading toward the end of the field. "Let's face it, my duties here are going to be my entire life. I've already made peace with that."

"Max dude… listen." Greg said, causing his friend to stop. He brushed some of his white locks out of his eyes. "You need to focus on your own happiness. I get that you want to work here and help your family, I do too. But even I've thought about leaving the village. Imagine the money you'd be making as a knight. You could support your family that way, limit how much they have to work in the fields. That way, they can still get things they need."

"I can't do that. I'd feel like I'm letting my old man down." he said with a shrug. "Let's just get this work done."

Gregory said nothing, deciding to do as his friend was doing. Getting their work done took priority after all.

Many hours had passed, and Max was finally done for the day. He and Gregory had finished two quadrants of the field, having cleared the soil of all debris. They had filled their wheelbarrows with broken branches, dried leaves, rocks and roots from the previous years crop. He and his friend sat back, drinking from their canteens as they watched the sun begin its final descent beneath the horizon. Gregory sighed happily as he corked his canteen, leaning back against the recently emptied wheelbarrow.

"Well, it's been a hard days work. We got two quadrants done, we're well on our way to beating my brothers. Hey, maybe we'll be 1000 gold richer by the end of all of this." he said jokingly. Max wiped the sweat from his brow, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Yeah maybe. I could use the gold to get some cleaning supplies for my sword."

"Ah there you go. You care about that weapon a lot you know, where did ya get it?" his friend asked curiously. Max shrugged, glancing down at his sword.

"I didn't, my dad gave it to me. He refused to tell me where it came from. All I know is that my mother was really angry with him when he handed it to me. I was ten after all, and a ten year old with an iron sword isn't exactly a good idea. It's a health hazard if anything."

"I see… I wish my old man would give me something cool. Nope, all I got was a hand me down dagger from my older brother. It's an over glorified knife." he said jokingly, patting the weapon at his hip. "Still, it's quite useful. I don't need to go far whenever I want to peel an apple."

"You should treat your weapon with respect you know. They are an extension of yourself, and the things that will save your life." the white haired lad said, causing his friend to roll his eyes.

"Yeah yeah. Anyway, the sun is down. My ma probably has food ready, you should get going. Your mom and sister are in Fhirdhiad right? That means you'll have to make your own food."

"Nothing I can't handle. See ya tomorrow, maybe we can hurry up and finish the last four quadrants so we don't have to keep wasting time here." the boy said, giving his friend a wave as he headed back toward his home.

"Another boring day crossed off the calendar. At least we're closer to finishing up. That will always make me a lot happier." he thought to himself.

The road home was filled with silence. Each home he passed was candle lit, the flickering flames casting shadows on the glass. He noticed a few of the other families happily sitting together at the dinner table. Some of the kids were far too young to work the fields, so they had to stay at home to be schooled. He didn't have the best education, but thankfully his mother always brought books from the Capital filled with knowledge. Among the few she did bring were books on swordplay, which he read extensively. Whenever he had the chance to hone his skills, he would. He wasn't the best fighter in the village but he could at least hold his own. It didn't take him long to make it home, it was darkened inside, meaning his father hadn't made it home yet.

"Dad? Are you home yet?" he called out. He was of course greeted with silence. He shrugged, closing the door after himself. He walked to the kitchen, grabbing a hold of the fire tome that his mother left on the table. He flipped through some of the pages, finding an easy spell to cast. Once he had readied the lamps, he uttered a small chant, directing the magic at each one.

"Ah… lovely fire light. Now that I can see, I can cook!" he mumbled to himself.

Thankfully, his mother had prepared for the trip, having left some food ready in the cooler. He read the note she had left, smiling to himself. He didn't have to spend time thinking of something to eat, all he would have to do was reheat what was already made. Or he would have, if the oven would light.

"I wish dad would get rid of this damn thing. It's about time we got a new one, this has been here since this house was built." he thought to himself. Grabbing one of the candelabras, he walked over to the cellar. He unlatched the door, pulling it open.

He held a hand over his mouth as he walked down the stairs. It was quite dusty in there, he briefly wondered if his mother even cleaned down there. Then again, his father was adamant about having no one going down there. Whenever he needed to replace the magic coil within the oven, he would attempt to head down into the cellar, only for his father to insist he go instead. He had always shrugged it off, deciding that it was a job suited for him. The man knew how to replace the coil so he wasn't going to stop him. But now that he wasn't around, he needed to go down there himself.

He shone his light around, briefly wondering where the spare parts for the stove were. He moved further into the cellar, setting the candelabra down on a crate. He pulled a tarp off of a larger crate, revealing the items inside. He dug around for a moment, seeing a few spare parts resting within. He sighed audibly, covering the box with the tarp. He moved toward the next one, finding it was completely sealed. The words "Don't Open" were written on top. He hummed to himself, rubbing his chin in curiosity.

"Now why would there be a box here with those words written on them? Guess it's time for me to find out." he said, drawing his sword. He wedged the tip of it at the corner, pulling it down with all his strength. A soft pop filled his ears as he continued forcing the lid off the box. Once he had gotten most of it off, he sheathed his sword, pulling the rest of it off. He peered inside, eyes widening a bit. "This is…"

He reached inside, pulling what looked like a cape from within. It was made out of a finely made silk, with golden embroidery around the edges of it. The top of the cape had golden laces, decorated with glittering white crystals. He continued pulling the cape out, taking in all of the details until he finally saw the crest in the middle of the garment. It was the crest of Seiros, the mark that the knights proudly wore. He let the cape go, peering inside the box, finding a full set of armor inside. Shoulder guards, arm guards, gauntlets, a large chest and back plate and shimmering greaves. The entire set was there and in immaculate condition. He looked around for a moment, hoping to find a sword but he didn't.

He took a step back, peering at the cape. Was this real? Was this really the armor of a Knight of Seiros? It couldn't be. Why would his father have this here of all places? He tried to recall the last time the Knights had been in their quaint little village. Some of the senior knights had been chatting amicably with the man but he couldn't really hear their conversation. The junior knights seemed to follow him everywhere and were sad when they had to go. He had only assumed the man had been an excellent host.

Max jumped a bit when he heard a creak coming from the wooden steps. He grabbed the candelabra, shining it toward the stairs. He cringed slightly when he saw it was his father. The look on his face told him everything he needed to know. He was surprised and disappointed. He bowed his head slightly, feeling bad about unintentionally upsetting the man. They remained silent for a moment, before the man finally broke the silence.

"So… you found that old suit of armor eh?" Marshall asked, forcing a smile onto his face.

"Dad… what's the meaning of this? Were you once a Knight of Seiros?" Max asked. He wanted to cut right to the chase. No use beating around the bush. The man remained silent, as he grabbed a hold of the cape, neatly and respectfully folding it before closing the box.

"Let's head upstairs, I'll tell you about it."

The silence was awkward. Due to the broken oven, they hadn't been able to reheat the food his mother had prepared. His father had brought some freshly made bread from the baker down the street so it would have to do. Normally, the man wouldn't condone drinking but he could tell they would need it. He poured some whiskey out for his son handing him the cup.

"To answer your question, yes. I was once a Knight of Seiros."

"I see… what happened, why did you quit?" the boy asked curiously. He finished eating his bread, and grabbed the alcohol his father had handed him. He didn't care much for whiskey, but the brand his father got always tasted good, especially after good bread. "The knights help people all over Fodlan. They bring peace everywhere, it's a good cause to be a part of."

"Yes they do. And for a long time, I had thought the world of them. The Knights saved our lives countless times in the past. When I was around your age, I wanted nothing more than to be a knight. My father before me, had been a Holy Knight working in Fhirdhiad with the late king's father. He was a hardass." the man chuckled, sipping his drink. "However, he taught me everything I needed to know. How to handle a sword and how to use the Royal Family's signature weapon, the spear. It was back breaking work, but it was worth it."

"So that's how you were able to teach me and Maya how to use our weapons." Max asked, earning a nod from the man. "Well… you've been training me since I was twelve, even though we don't train as much anymore."

"I'm sorry son. The reason why we don't train as much anymore is because I've taught you all of the basics. If I had started training you in advanced techniques, you would have gotten curious. You would have certainly found out about my past."

"Would that be a bad thing?" the white haired lad asked, taking a gulp of his drink. He shuddered a bit from the strength, but continued talking. "Wouldn't it be good to tell us that you were a knight?"

"I wanted to keep that life secret from you. The only one that knows that I was once a knight is your mother. There is nothing I can hide from that woman after all." he said with a laugh. He sighed, taking another sip of his drink. "My father trained me well, once I had finished my training, his superior recommended that I head to Garreg Mach Monastery to train formerly with the knights. It had been a dream come true to me. I used to idolize the knights, but now not so much."

"Why is that? What changed?" Max asked curiously.

"It was something that happened 20 years ago. My boss, Sir Jeralt had a daughter. He had fallen in love with one of the nuns in the Church. It was a birth that was kept secret from everyone, only a select few knew. It never sat well with us… Jeralt had been excited to meet his daughter, we chatted about how he would raise her. Teaching her how to use a sword and what not. We even joked about our children being best friends."

"Okay… what does your friend having a daughter have to do with you leaving?"

"I'm getting to it. Once the child was born, things became… weird. Lady Rhea had supervised the whole thing. Once the medic had checked the child over, he handed it over to her. Jeralt's wife sadly didn't make it through the birth. So she never met her child. It was a tragedy but at least the child was alive. The odd thing about the baby was well… everything. She didn't smile, she didn't cry, she always had this neutral face. Even when she was being fed she didn't seem to show disgust at the food. It was all so… unexplainable." Marshall said, finishing his drink. He reached for the bottle, pouring himself another drink.

"Lady Rhea kept saying the child would be alright. Whenever Jeralt wanted to spend time with his daughter, she would quickly whisk her away. Coming up with some sort of excuse for Jeralt not to see her. There were whispers around the monastery about the child being cursed, among other things. Everything came to a head one night when a deadly fire broke out. There had been reports of a few deaths happening. Jeralt used that as a distraction to take the child with him. To this day, I don't know where they have gone." he said, finishing the story. Max remained silent, letting his mind process what he had heard. Finally after a few moments, he decided to speak.

"This… led you to leave the Order?" he asked curiously.

"It planted the seeds. Lady Rhea was hiding something from the knights. Something that had caused Jeralt to leave. When he did leave, she made me the captain but my trust in her was beginning to waver. The bishops in the church were acting even stranger than before, and she had dispatched us to the villages around Garreg Mach following the fire. It was obvious to me that she was searching for that child. I asked her a few times but all I got was the same reply. "You needn't worry, I only wish to make sure Sir Jeralt and the child are found and brought back safe and sound." it was almost as she had gone crazy. Eventually, she gave up the search." he paused for a drink, looking up at his son.

"I met your mother when I was visiting my father in Fhirdhiad. She was the late king's personal maid, and quite a ravishing little thing. It was love at first sight."

"Ew, dad!" Max cried, earning a laugh from the man.

"What can I say? You're mother was and always will be the loveliest flower in the world to me. Having met her, I wanted nothing more than to spend my life at her side. So the final thing I asked of Lady Rhea was to marry us in holy matrimony. We held our wedding in the Church of Seiros, and I hand delivered my resignation shortly after. I used my funds to purchase an old house in this village and we've been here ever since. Lady Rhea allowed me to keep the armor, in case I ever wished to return, but my faith in her had been broken by her actions. We haven't spoken in years."

"Oh." Max quipped, sipping the watered down whiskey. He set the empty glass down, a frown on his face. "Do you ever think about going back?"

"A few times. I spent twenty years in the order, how could I not think about going back? But every time I think about going back, I remember how odd the birth of my friend's child had been. How many secrets Rhea is hiding from everyone. Sometimes, I wonder why she hides them and then wonder about the things she keeps on hiding. It's best if we just stay here in our small little village."

"Where's your sword?" the boy asked, taking his father by surprise. "You have one don't you?"

"I… well I did." the man replied, rubbing his neck. "It was a special weapon that was given to me by the Church. Not everyone can wield it, I happened to be the only one capable of wielding it. So I had to leave it when I left the Church." he said.

"You have a Crest then? I've heard stories about magical weapons being wielded by people who have special crests. That means that weapon you had was a Holy Relic, like the sword that the legendary Knight Maximus had! The one given to him by Saint Seiros!" the boy said excitedly.

"Yes, except that sword needed someone with the Crest of Seiros to wield it. I don't have that Crest. I have a Minor Crest of Ernest. Quite a useful crest to bear, especially due to its effects. Stunning bandits with it was always a good pastime." the man joked. He cleared his throat, seeing the mild disappointment on his son's face. "You really like the Knights don't you?"

"Y-yes. My mother read me that story a lot when I was a kid, the story of Sir Maximus Decimus Meridius, the first Knight of Seiros. The man who along with the Ten Elites and the Four Saints faced the wrath of the fallen Hero King, Nemesis! How he went on to form the first Order of the Knights of Seiros. It's such a wonderful story, it always inspired me to do my best. Besides, didn't you name me after Sir Maximus because you believed in the core values he established?"

"I… well that's true. But the Church isn't what it was back then, 995 years have passed son. Things have changed." Marshall said, earning a sigh from the boy.

"You aren't wrong there, but those core values do exist, in the history books. The texts show Seiros and Maximus lived long happy lives. I've longed to be just like him!" the boy said firmly. He let out a small gasp, bowing his head. "I'm sorry dad, I shouldn't have said that."

"No… it's alright. Son, I know how you feel… about being here. Being a knight is in your blood I'm afraid. I was a knight, and my father before me was a knight. Our grandfather before him was also a knight. Your mother can read your emotions quite well it seems, she's been asking me with frequency about a recommendation." he said. Max's brows furrowed in confusion.

"A recommendation for what?"

"For you to head to Garreg Mach of course" Marshall said, pulling a folded piece of paper from inside his jacket, sliding it over to his son. "The two of you could use the training, your sister is quite adept with healing magic. You've shown a great aptitude as well, despite the two of you being unable to bear your own crests. I gave your sister a letter so she could enter the Magic School in Fhirdhiad. You on the other hand, are ready for the advanced course, something I can't teach you in my advanced years." he said jokingly. Max's eyes lit up, as he jumped out of his seat.

"Are you serious? You're seriously writing a letter, so that I can join the Knights of Seiros?" he asked. The man gave him a nod. Max sighed, shaking his head. "No I can't… what about the fields? Someone has to tend to them, I can't just leave and let the people of our village be shorthanded. I've… already made peace with being here. It's my task to make sure those fields are ready for the wheat."

"Son it's alright. There are more than enough people here to tend the fields. I may be old but I'm not weak. I don't mind tending the fields. I'm sure the other kids will pick up the slack knowing you are gone. Despite my apprehension with Rhea, I do know that being a knight pays well. You could help us that way." Marshall said.

"Greg said the same thing, but I just… can't leave dad. I've lived here my whole life, it would feel weird leaving."

"I felt the same way when I left Fhirdhiad you know. For weeks I kept thinking about home and worrying about my father. But I knew the man could handle himself just fine. I was a former knight, I know how to fight. If protecting your mother is what's worrying you, believe me, she can defend herself." he said, making the boy laugh.

"I guess that's true. I've always wanted to be a knight, I've longed to be one for my entire life. I guess if you really are allowing me to, then I'll head to Garreg Mach as soon as I can!" Max said, sounding excited. "This is going to be awesome, I can't wait to see the knights and train alongside them!"

Marshall couldn't help but smile. He had noticed his son had been depressed as of late. He had seen him smile more in the last few minutes than he had in the past few months. Even though he was wary about the Church, he knew he couldn't hold his son back from the world forever. He placed a hand on the table grabbing his son's attention.

"Maximus, I will give you one warning. The church is hiding many secrets from the public, even from the knights themselves. Only the higher ups know about the most important things. Sometimes, not even they know a thing. Lady Rhea is an imposing woman, I'm not sure how much she's changed during the time I haven't seen her. Be careful with her alright? Make sure she doesn't know what village we live in, she's known to make periodic visits to the homes of former knights."

Max gave his father an odd look. The story he had been told was still fresh in his mind. Was Lady Rhea that much of an imposing force? Was she actually a bad person? All he had ever heard about her were good things. The people adored her, everyone praised her. Hearing his father speak that way about her was odd. Then again, his family had never been too religious. In fact, his family had strayed away from the teachings of the Church. The village they lived in was as remote as possible. He gave his father a nod, followed by a hug.

"I promise dad, I'm not going to let the mean Archbishop of the Church know where we live. That way she won't harvest our organs." he said ominously, making the man laugh.

"I doubt she's doing that kind of thing. She may act shady, but she's genuinely a nice person. Don't fall for her charms though, you'll be cleaning her bookshelf the moment she gives you a smile."

"Don't worry, I won't fall for her charms, sir!" he said, giving his old man a salute. Marshall chuckled, giving the boy a firm pat on the shoulder. He was going to be a great knight, he could already tell.

A shrill scream broke the silence, causing the two men to jump. Max looked around for a moment, heading toward the nearest window. His eyes widened when he saw a plume of smoke rising into the sky. The wounds of windows shattering filled the air followed by even more screams. Marshall grabbed his axe, giving his son a nod.

"Looks like those Bandits did show up. Dear Goddess how I wish Rhea had sent knights here."

"Aw, come on dad. We gotta pair of knights right here! Let's go save our village!" he said firmly. His man nodded, heading toward the door.

"Stay close son, if you don't think you can take down an opponent than don't. Come back here and go into my room. Under the bed there's a box that contains our savings. Our little nest egg. Just run for it and don't look back."

"I'm not going to do that dad. I'm going to fight to save our home. Now let's stop wasting time!"

With that, the two men left the safety of their home, heading toward the center of the village. Some of the nearby homes had been lit ablaze. The sounds of battle echoed through the cool night, filling the air was the dull clangs of swords. Max was quick to draw his sword, moving toward the nearest bandit, who was about to bring his sword down on one of the elders, the baker who had made the bread his father had brought home. He pulled his sword back, driving it straight through the man's back. He gasped in pain, a soft gurgle filling his throat before he dropped to the ground. Max pulled his sword free, checking on the woman.

"Are you alright Mrs. Henderson?"

"I'm fine deary, but you have to check on the others. There are a lot of them!"

"Don't worry, we'll handle it!" he proudly declared, heading toward the center of the action.

"Hahaha! You crossed paths with the wrong person boy! I'm going to steal everything you own!" the bandit cried. Gregory laughed as he closed the distance, delivering a few quick slashes with his dagger.

"I seriously doubt it! You can barely hold that sword in your hand, what are you a thief or a jackass?" he taunted, making the man growl in anger. Gregory was pushed back as the Bandit got a new surge of strength. He ran forward, planning to end his life only for his hand to go flying. He screamed for a mere moment before a sword struck the side of his head, ending his life. Gregory sighed, turning to his friend. "That one was mine."

"You shouldn't act that way Greg. These guys are thieves and vagrants, but they're still people." Max said, wiping the blood from his sword. He looked around the village, frowning. Most of the houses were burning, and a few of their friends had tragically lost their lives defending their homes.

"Look around you. These bastards lit some of our houses on fire, stole our money and kidnapped a few girls. We cannot let them escape!" his friend said, sounding rather angry. He looked up, having heard some nearby shouts. He spotted a few hooded men running away from the village, heading towards the woods. He grinned. "Looks like the survivors are leaving, it's time for us to mount a daring rescue."

"We shouldn't do that! We need to regroup and plan a counter-attack. They have to be stationed around here if they were able to attack us this fast."

"Yeah… you go back and regroup, I'll scout ahead." Gregory said, sheathing his dagger as he raced towards the woods. Max grit his teeth, briefly glancing over his shoulder before trailing after his friend. He wasn't going to let another person, especially his friend, die.

It didn't take him long to catch up with his friend. Gregory was kneeling down next to a tree. He placed a finger on his lips, gesturing for him to look ahead. The Bandits weren't that far from them, a few paces in fact. It seemed a small group, about 5 had managed to get away. Max didn't know how many had attacked originally, but he had taken four down by the time he had met up with Greg. He hadn't seen his father in that time either, so he didn't know if he was alright or not. The two boys nodded, deciding to move up a few paces. As they did, they started to catch bits of the conversation the group was having.

"We hit paydirt with this little hick village. Not only did we score some decent money, but we managed to get our hands on a couple girls." one of them said happily.

"Did they ever tell you what they need so many girls for? Doesn't it seem excessive that we have to keep going through villages just to grab them all?" another, a seeming voice of reason asked. "I mean, I get we're taking money and shit, but I just-"

"Don't get all moral compass on me. We've been doing this for far too long, this isn't the time for you to start going soft. Just grab the squirt and let's go. We have to move before the survivors of that village come back for us." the first said firmly. One of the silent bandits knelt down, grabbing a small child from the ground, swinging her over his shoulder. Gregory's eyes widened a bit as he recognized her.

"Trula." he mumbled. Max took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. He looked at his friend, a hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Stay calm, let's trail them for now. They have others that need to be saved, if we kill them here we won't be able to save those other girls." Max said. Gregory remained silent, deciding to go along with this plan.

Max didn't know what he was going to do. He had an idea of what he wanted to do but not how to execute it. He just knew that these guys were bad news. He remembered all of the training his father had given him when he had first gotten his sword. He was confident that he would be able to handle himself. He noticed the Bandits were heading towards a nearby cave system, one that his mother and father had warned him not to go in there. It wasn't a sprawling system of caverns, but it was still dangerous for younger kids. It was also the perfect hideout for a group of Bandits. The two made it to the edge of the clearing, seeing the caves not far from where they stood. There was a small fire in the center of the clearing, the two young men also noticed the large carriages that were situated in the clearing.

It wasn't hard for him to figure out what said carriages contained. Cages, several large cages, all filled with little girls. He could hear their sniffles from where they stood. The brolic looking Bandit who was holding Trula stopped at a cart closer to the clearing. He witnessed him tossing her into the cage, right into the arms of another girl. She growled angrily at the man as he slammed and locked the cage closed. Max kept his cool, his eyes carefully scanning his surroundings.

"Three carts, all filled with cages. Five Bandits, all of them are weak, and then there's me and Greg. We are still raring to go, but this could be an issue." he thought, as he tried to think of a solution. Greg however decided to jump the gun, waiting until the Bandits had their backs turned before moving toward the carts. Max reached a hand out to try and stop him but he was too fast for him to do anything. He hid behind the tree just in time to hide from one of the Bandits that was looking in his direction.

"This fucking idiot!"

Max steeled his nerves, using the treeline as cover as he tried to move to where his friend was. Thankfully, the cart was large enough to hide the two of them. Max closed the distance, grabbing a hold of Gregory's arm.

"What the hell are you doing?" he hissed, glaring at his friend. "Do you wanna get killed?"

"If it means I can save my sister, then yes!" he replied, looking through the bars. Trula was still unconscious, being cradled by another young girl, he looked at her, meeting the look on her violet eyes. "She's okay right?"

"She's okay, but I would recommend she gets medical help. If I had my stone, I could probably do something about this." she softly said, a look of anger on her face.

Max took her appearance in, she didn't look much older than the other girls, around ten years old in fact. She had long, unruly hair tied into a ponytail, with an ahoge near the front of her head. She was wearing quite the revealing outfit, two pieces of green cloth held up by a pink bow in the center of her chest. It left her abdomen and most of her lower back completely exposed. She wore powder puff pink shorts, with crossing white belts and two large pink ribbons on either side. Long, violet heeled boots were on her legs, which had light pink heart shaped brooches. She was running her glove clad hands through Trula's hair, making sure she was still breathing. She was quite mature for someone who was very young.

"We'll get you out of here okay? Just keep an eye on my sister." Greg said softly. The girl nodded, giving him a smile and a wink.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure she's safe and sound."

With that Greg drew his dagger, dropping to his knees. He crawled underneath the cart, using it as a vantage point to keep an eye on the Bandits. Max did the same, keeping a hand on the hilt of his sword. "So, what's the plan?"

"Ambush them. Right now we have the element of surprise, there's only five of them. We can easily take one or two out. That only leaves three of them. They're tired from the scuffles back home, so we got the advantage."

"Okay… you take the fat one on the left and I got the one on the right." Max said, causing his friend to chuckle.

They bumped fists, before they sprung into action. Greg moved with great speed, stabbing his dagger into the fat bandit's cranium. His body dropped like a sack of potatoes, taking the men by surprise. Max drew his sword, using the momentum from the draw to slice a man's throat. He gagged on his own blood, dropping to the ground dead seconds later.

"So, we were followed after all. You dumbasses said no one was behind us!" a tall, axe wielding man said firmly. The other two drew their swords, getting ready for the fight.

"We came here to get my sister. So if you think you'll be leaving here alive, you have another thing coming!" Gregory cried, holding his dagger tightly. The axeman laughed, twirling his weapon in his hand.

"Oh, and who is going to rescue them eh? You? You two don't look like shit."

"I'll have you know, I am trained in swordplay. My father used to be a knight!" Max boasted, causing the men to share a laugh. One of the swordsmen shrugged off his comment.

"Who cares kid? We fought a supposed knight back in that hick village of yours, and he went down faster than the old man beside him. Was a tall mother fucker too, maybe you'll entertain us more than he did."

"You what?" the white haired lad cried, eyes widening in surprise. His surprise turned into anger as he angled his sword, getting ready for a fight.

He clashed swords with one of the swordsmen, sparks flying from their joined weapons. Max pushed him back with ease, watching Greg dart at the axemen, who swung his weapon with all his might at him. He delivered a few swift slashes, moving back before the man could counter-attack. Max decided his friend could handle himself easily. He placed his focus back on his own opponent, easily knocking the man back.

"Heh… you aren't half bad kid."

Max ignored the man, going in for a fake out. The Bandit saw this and easily countered his move, throwing a slash at his exposed chest. Max parried the attack, throwing another swing which was easily countered. They remained still for a moment, pushing each other back only to separate when the remaining Bandit decided to join the fight. The white haired boy grit his teeth, backing away from the two. Facing two opponents at once was something his father had taught him to deal with in the past. However, he had never actually fought anyone like this. He knew he was at a disadvantage, especially with his sword. He almost regretted never asking his father if he knew how to use a spear.

"What's wrong kid? Don't tell me you are afraid? I thought your father was a knight! Well then Mr. Knight, defeat the big bad bandits and rescue the princesses." the man taunted, making the boy hiss. He grabbed his sword tightly with both hands, just like his father had taught him.

"Leading foot forward, remain calm and keep a firm grip on your weapon. It is an extension of who you are, and as such you control its direction." he thought, remembering the words his father had told him.

One of the Bandits sprung forward, causing him to place his feet firmly on the ground. He angled his blade in time, catching the opposing sword with ease. He pushed the man back, throwing two swings at him, before jumping back to avoid a slash from the second Bandit. He laughed as he continued swinging and jabbing at Max, who ducked and dodged every single swipe. Max stumbled a bit from a swing that came a bit too close to his face, allowing the first to throw a jab at him. He parried it with his sword, but the blade still sliced through his arm. The cut wasn't deep but it still hurt.

"He's a slippery one. But I'm sure he's going to get tired soon. I can't wait to kill you kid. Once I do, I can have some fun with those little girls. I'll have to get my pent up aggression out on someone." the man exclaimed, trying to taunt Max. The young man was indeed angry, but he knew he couldn't let his emotions show. "Is your sister among them? Do you have one? I hope so, she's probably an adorable little thing. Perfect as a punching bag."

"Maybe after he's done beating her into a pulp, I can put her mouth to work." the second one said, both breaking into laughter. Max moved forward, driving his sword clean through the man's chest. He let out a gasp as it sliced through his aorta. Max kicked the man back, freeing his sword with ease.

"Piece of shit." the white haired lad snapped, flicking the blood off his sword. "You're next."

A sudden howl of pain caused him to stop, turning his attention toward the source. It had come from Gregory, who was clutching his arm tightly. Blood was dripping down to the ground, it took Max a moment to realize most of his right arm was missing. He was clutching what was left of his mangled limb tightly, trying and failing to stop the blood. The axeman let out a laugh, bringing his axe above his head.

"No!" Max cried, reaching out for his friend. It only took a second for his life to end. Greg's body crumbled to the ground, a large gaping hole right in the center of his forehead. He heard another scream coming in the direction of the cages. Max didn't need to see to know who it was. He felt anger coursing through his body, as he lay eyes on his deceased friend. He looked back at the Bandits, clutching his sword tightly.

"You… you fucking bastards!"

"Tch… what? Did that finally tickle your balls kid? I will admit, he was a good fighter. Maybe if he had a sword he could have done better. Now, be a good lad and die like him."

Max let out a scream as he ran at the man, swinging his sword with all of his strength. The last remaining swordsman went in to parry the move, easily countering the hit. Max knocked him back with ease, slicing his head clean off his shoulders with a single slash. The axemen didn't miss a beat, throwing a heavy attack at the boy, who dodged it with ease. The two clashed weapons, with Max swinging his sword as hard as he could. The Head bandit used this to his advantage, knocking him off balance. He took a swing with his axe, only for it to be parried by Max, who had a look of fury on his face.

"Oh man… you reminded me of that guy back at the village! He gave me the same look you are right now! He put up a fight just like you, but he fell just like the others."

Max did his best to ignore him, deciding to stop acting so irrationally and actually pay attention. His opponent moved forward, laughing as he continued to swing his axe, not landing a single hit. He laughed as he swung, forcing the boy to backpedal with each swing. The boy stumbled, falling back just in time to avoid another swing. The man's axe sailed through the air, striking the cage behind him. Max took his chance, letting out a cry as he drove his sword straight through the man, running him through completely. The bandit stumbled back, dropping his axe as he saw the sword hilted in his abdomen. He coughed loudly, dropping to his knees.

"Shit." he mumbled, falling to the ground seemingly lifeless. He took a few shaky breaths, regaining his composure as he climbed to his feet. He turned around, checking on Trula who was still crying, her sniffles muffled by the green haired girl's shoulder.

"I'm sorry." she said, bowing her head. "If I had my dragonstone, I could have helped you! But these guys took it from me the moment they captured me. I've been stuck in this cage for weeks."

"It isn't your fault. T-Trula, I'm sorry… I should have protected your brother, but I didn't. I failed you and I failed as a knight. I needed to take on that axeman myself. But now… I was stupid." he said. The little girl looked up at him, shaking her head.

"No… you still got them… that's all that matters." she replied. He shakily reached for the latch, noticing the lock had been broken off.

"I'll get you out of here. I'll need your help bringing everyone back to the village. We can... we can get some help. Send someone to Garreg Mach, get some Knights or something." he said, opening the cage. He held his hand out, giving the two girls a smile. "Might I have your name little miss?"

"Sure! My name is Nowi, it's nice to meet you."

"Call me Max, I'll get you home in no time." he said, helping her out of the cage. He took notice of her ears, which were a lot longer than normal. He tilted his head slightly. "Uh… are you an elf?"

"Hmm? Oh no no no! I am not an elf, I'm actually-" her breath hitched, eyes widening in surprise. "Look out!"

Max turned around, just in time to push Nowi out of the way. He let out a cry of pain as he felt the sword pierce through his stomach. He looked down at it, confused for a moment before following it, seeing the one who was holding it was the leader of the Bandits. He gave the sword a twist with the remainder of his strength, pulling it out. The boy fell down to his knees, clutching the wound, looking at his hands soaked in his own blood. He coughed loudly, a glob of blood staining the dirt.

"Heh… I always… win kid." the man said, finally passing on. Max let out a groan as he fell to his side, breathing hard. He could feel his consciousness beginning to drift. His eyes were wide, staring at the night sky.

"Max!" Trula cried, falling down next to him. "Don't die! You can't die!" she cried, shaking him. Nowi held her back, giving her a stern look.

"Don't shake him like that. I know a bit of healing magic, I'll try to save him!" she cried, holding her hand over the wound. It started glowing a dim green color. She hissed in anger. "Trula, look around for a pink and purple knapsack. It has a blue rock inside it, bring it to me. Quick!"

"Okay! I'll look for it!" she cried. Nowi nodded, turning back to the wounded boy, whose breathing was slowing down.

"Stay with me Max, you aren't going to die here." the girl cried. He shook his head, a frown on his face.

"I'm such an idiot… I should have… made sure he was dead. Take care of Trula will you Nowi? Go back… find my father. He's a tall man, black hair, stubbly beard. Tell him… I'm sorry."

"You're gonna tell him yourself!" she cried, focusing on her magic. "I'm going to save you!"

Max chuckled sourly as he closed his eyes. He could feel his mind beginning to drift off. Flashes of his life appeared before his mind. The day his sister was born, the first time it had snowed in the village. The harvest festivals, meeting Greg and Trula, even the conversation he had with his father. He had wanted to be a knight like Sir Maximus, and he failed.

No… he didn't fail. He gave his life to ensure that these kidnapped girls were safe. Sure, he may have not made it through, but Nowi and Trula were free. They would make sure they got out of there safe. He didn't know if he could trust a couple of kids, but it was all he had left. He could hear Nowi's voice, it was so far, so distorted. She was screaming loudly, shaking him and telling him to remain awake. He slowly opened his eyes, looking up, seeing the look of fear on her face. All he could hear was a buzzing sound, as he lost consciousness.

"I lived a good life… as long as my life was given to save another, that's all I could ever want. It's the duty of a knight, to save those that need saving."

"When do you think he will wake up?"

"I can't say for certain. Outwardly, he has made a full recovery, the monks have been using the best healing magics and tonics available. However, the lack of oxygen could have negatively affected his brain. He was in critical condition when arrived here after all."

"I see."

"Hgn… what's going on?" the young man asked himself. He could feel himself drifting, as if he were floating in a pool of water. It only took him a moment to realize what was going on. Everything felt numb, but he could still his limbs. His legs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, and his arms subtly ached. "These voices… they sound so foreign."

"Is there anything we can do to jump start the process? If you say his body is fine, then perhaps he just needs something to awaken him."

"It would be wise not to do anything of that sort, milady. As I said before, he could have an underlying mental issue that we cannot determine. Until he wakes up from this coma, we cannot do anything. We must rely on prayer, perhaps the goddess will hear our plight and encourage him to awaken."

"Awaken… coma? I'm in a coma?" he thought. Realization hit him like a runaway cart. He was fighting… his village had been attacked. Trula had been kidnapped, along with a few other girls from his home. He was fighting some bandits… but everything was a haze after that. He tried to move, but found it extremely difficult.

"Thank you doctor. I shall call for you if I need your services once more."

"Of course, it's always a pleasure helping you, milady. I hope you have a wonderful day, may the goddess protect you."

"Likewise doctor, I shall keep you in my prayers as well." the voice, a female said. He had never heard this voice before. It sounded, sad. Oh so very sad. He didn't know why, but his heart was beating hard in his chest. Footsteps filled his ears, but he could do nothing but follow the source with his mind. He felt someone take a hold of his hand, it was shaking slightly as the grip tightened.

"I do hope you wake up soon child. We have much to discuss." the voice said quietly.

"Who is this woman… why is she tending to me? Did something happen to me? Now that I remember… I was stabbed wasn't I? What happened after that… wait… where's Trula? Where's Nowi?"

He needed to get up, now! Something felt wrong. He needed to find Trula, he needed to make sure she was safe. A rush of energy seemed to surge through him, as he finally regained control of his body. He unintentionally squeezed the woman's hand, causing her to gasp a bit. His eyes finally opened, after what seemed like a millenia. His vision was blurry, and he couldn't see a thing. He forced himself to sit up, only for a pair of hands to grab his shoulders, keeping him still.

"Do not be frightened, you are safe here." the woman said, causing him to stop thrashing. He felt oddly calm hearing her voice. Once his vision cleared, he finally had a good look at his surroundings.

He seemed to be in a rather fancy looking bedroom. All around him, he could see shelves filled with various texts. Quite expensive and old looking texts at that. There was a small desk at the other side of the room, resting against the wall below a shelf that contained what looked like a globe. He noticed a bright light coming from the nearby doors, which seemed to leave out into a balcony. He took a few deep breaths, his hands traveling to his stomach.

"What… what happened? I got stabbed, I was dying." he said, finally remembering what had happened.

"Remain calm, everything will be explained in due time."

His head snapped to the source of the voice, eyes falling on the woman. He had to admit, this woman was very beautiful. She was dressed in some regal looking clothing, a long white gown that reached down to the floor, coupled with a long cape. It was bright blue in color, with golden trim and various designs stitched into the fabric. She wore a golden headdress, adorned with pink flowers, which he oddly recognized. Her long green hair fell down behind her back, framing her face perfectly. Her eyes, a soft jade, bore into his own with a look of concern on them.

Just one look at this woman was enough to calm him down. He didn't know why, but he felt a sense of serenity from her. As if her expression had told him 'Everything will be just fine'. It was an odd sense, something he only felt when his mother was around. She took a hold of his hand, kneeling down beside the bed so that they were at eye level. She gave him a soft smile.

"You had us all worried. We didn't think you'd ever wake up."

"Where am I?" he asked, voice sounding a bit hoarse. The woman reached for a nearby pitcher of water, pouring him a glass. He drank it with gusto, realizing then just how dry his throat had been. She waited until he was finished to answer his query.

"You are in Garreg Mach Monastery. Tell me, do you remember who you are?"

"The monastery but how did-" he cut himself off, taking a deep breath. "Yes, I know who I am. My name is Maximus Decimus Ernest."

"Ernest you say?" she asked, eyes widening a bit. She recomposed herself, lips pressed into a thin line. "Do you know what happened to you?"

"Erm… for the most part. I remember… my village was attacked. Me and my father went out to stop the bandits. They ended up kidnapping my friend's little sister, along with a few other girls. We went after the bandits and they… they killed my friend." he said, bowing his head. "The bastard just… struck him with an axe. All we wanted was to save Trula. I managed to kill the other two but… the guy with the axe. He got me when my back was turned I… wait, where's Nowi? The girl that was with me? And Trula?!"

"Remain calm, both of them are safe. The Knights of Seiros have brought them and all the other kidnapped girls to the monastery." she said firmly.

"The Knights of Seiros… they really did come huh…" he said softly to himself. The woman cleared her throat, regaining his attention.

"You wouldn't happen to know someone by the name of Marshall would you? He was once vice captain of the guard here. One of the best Knights in the Order." she said firmly. He nodded, giving her a small smile.

"He's my father! He taught me how to use my sword. He recently told me he was a knight, but he said he hasn't spoken with Lady Rhea in years. I was going to come here to join the order just like him. He gave me a letter and everything, he also told me not to fall for Lady Rhea's charms, because she would have me cleaning her bookshelves for ages."

"Dear me, that was certainly uncalled for." she replied, a small flush on her cheeks. "Then again, Marshall was quite helpful in his youth. He probably never told you about his time as a squire correct?"

"Not really… I just found out recently about his knighthood…" he said, rubbing his chin. He looked up at the woman, jaw dropping open. "No wait… are you Lady Rhea?"

"Yes. It is a pleasure to meet you, Maximus Ernest." she said happily.

"Oh dear Goddess, I'm so sorry. I'm so disrespectful, I'm sure the Goddess would have smited me for such insolence." he cried. She shook her head, holding back her laughter.

"It's quite alright, you didn't know. Though I am saddened at the fact that your father never spoke about me to you. He was one of my best knights after all. Which is why it hurts me to say this to you. Those bandits that attacked your village ended up taking many lives that night, and among them was your father. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Huh… my father is… so that guy was really telling the truth." he mumbled, feeling tears pricking his vision. He balled his fist tightly, his fingernails digging into the flesh of his palm. "Those bastards… I'm going to find every single one of them and kill them. They're scum… they don't deserve to live."

"You share my sentiments. I've already sent my best mercenary after them. We have isolated their location. They seem to be working out of the Empire. The Emperor has provided troops as well. It seems a nobleman's daughter was among the kidnapped children. I assure you, they will be rounded up and punished swiftly."

Max remained silent, not exactly knowing what to say. He remembered his mother and his sister, a soft gasp leaving his lips. He looked up at Lady Rhea, a look of worry on his face. "My mother and sister are still alive. They left for Fhirdhiad the day of the attack."

"Yes, one of the villagers let the Knights know. They've been tracked down and will be arriving in a few weeks time. It seems your grandmother is on her deathbed. Your mother is staying with her until it is time for her to move on. I must apologize, I keep bringing you bad news. Would you like something to eat, you must be starving."

"N-no… it's alright. Um…" he paused, not exactly knowing what to say. Lady Rhea decided to stand, moving toward the desk on the other side of the room. He saw her reaching inside the drawer for something, before turning to face him. She was holding a piece of paper in her hands. He noticed the corner of it was stained red, though now it looked a bit darker than normal. It didn't take him long to realize that was blood.

"One of the knights found this in your clothing. You were near death when they found your body. The monks managed to keep you stable, however, things got worse when you arrived at the monastery. You had lost quite a lot of blood by that point and we didn't have any on hand. When I read this letter, I realized just how important of a young man you were. This is a letter of recommendation, signed by your father."

"Huh? Oh right… the letter." he mumbled, having completely forgotten about it. He rubbed his eyes for a moment, looking around the room. He noticed a mirror on the nearby nightstand and reached for it. His eyes widened when he saw his reflection. His once white hair was now pure green in color, a deep shade of emerald in fact. His eyes were also a shimmering green, having previously been a dark hazel in color. He almost dropped the mirror, wondering if the reflection on it was truly his own. "What the… what the heck happened to me?!" he cried out.

"It was an effect of the procedure, I'm afraid." Rhea said, grabbing his attention. She closed the distance between them, taking a seat on the bed beside him. "You arrived here on the brink of death. The healers were doing their best to keep you alive. Alas, you slipped away, twice. They managed to bring you back, but without blood we wouldn't be able to save you."

"Death by blood loss huh? Fantastic… that's to be expected when you get stabbed through the guts." he said, a dry chuckle leaving his lips. He noticed his hair was slightly longer than before, down to his shoulders now, when before it had been down to the nape of his neck.

"Yes, not many can survive an injury like that. But you are one of the lucky few… you remind me of another man. One that had taken an injury like yours. It was only recently that he returned to us. It seems history enjoys repeating itself." the woman said, frowning. "I wasn't going to let the son of one of my knights fall in battle, after bravely fighting off some bandits. So, I did what needed to be done. My blood courses through your veins, it was what ultimately saved your life."

Max felt his hands go numb as the mirror slipped from his grasp, shattering on the wooden floor. His eyes were locked firmly on Rhea's face. He kept staring at her, looking at her in disbelief as he glanced down at his bare chest. He had a scar from where the sword had pierced him yes, but everything else had been completely healed. He grabbed a small strand of hair, holding it up so that he could hold it. It was quite the strain since it wasn't long enough for him to completely look at it. The woman took a hold of his hand, giving him a small smile.

"You do not need to be startled. I would rather lose every drop of blood in my body than to lose a wonderful young man like you. I wasn't able to see your father, and apologize for my actions in the past. Saving your life was my way to atone for what I did to him. I'm so happy a piece of him has returned home." she said, hugging him tightly. He flailed his arms in confusion, not exactly knowing what to do. Eventually, he just hugged the woman back, it would have been more awkward not accepting the hug.

"Ahem." a stern voice called out, knocking briefly on the wooden frame. Rhea let go of Max, quickly standing up. She turned to face the new arrival, a man with dark emerald green hair, much like Max now had. He looked at the boy, sparing a glance at the broken mirror before finally looking back at the woman. "It seems the young lad is alright after all."

"Indeed he is, Seteth. He has miraculously woken up from his coma, and has made a full recovery. He is conscious, alert and answered all of my questions perfectly." she said. The man, Seteth, looked back at the boy. He remained silent for a moment, giving him a nod.

"I'm quite relieved to see you awake. You came to us in quite a grievous state, we thought you would pass on during the night. The Archbishop has remained by your side nearly from the moment you arrived. Whenever she wasn't busy with her duties, she was here caring for you. You are quite lucky."

"O-oh… is that so?" Max asked, a flush on his face. "I'm so sorry… I probably worried you a lot didn't I?"

"Of course. You are the child of a dear friend, how could you expect me not to worry? Alas, it seems duty is once again calling me. But before I leave, I must share with you some news. I have decided to accept you into the Order. Upon your graduation from the Officer's Academy, you will be inducted into the order as a Knight of Seiros. You've earned it."

"Huh… a k-knight? Me?" he asked, earning a nod from the woman. "Wow… that's… I don't think I've earned it though."

"I certainly don't think so. You may be young but you have the makings of a good knight. If Marshall Ernest recommend you, it was for a reason. You will start classes as soon as you are able. Welcome to Garreg Mach Monastery, Maximus. I hope you have a wonderful time here." Lady Rhea said happily. She gave him a small wave before leaving the room. Seteth looked at him for a moment, his gaze falling on the mirror.

"I shall send someone to pick that up soon. I will also take it upon myself to show you around the monastery. One of our medics will be by to examine you in a few moments. I'm very glad to see you awake. Please excuse me."

With that, the green haired man took off. Max couldn't help but sit in place. There were a million thoughts floating around in his mind. A myriad of emotions. His village had been ransacked, and his father had lost his life, along with his best friend. He had fallen into a coma after saving the kidnapped girls, and had been brought to Garreg Mach where Lady Rhea herself saved his life. It was all too much to take in. he heard some birds chirping outside, his head slowly turning towards the balcony. He sighed, frowning.

"I finally made it to Garreg Mach… I just wish it hadn't been like this… I'm sorry dad…."

"I failed you."

xxx(Chapter 1 End)xxx

A/N: Hello everyone and welcome to this, chapter 1 of my new Fire Emblem story. It's uh... it's been rough. I would like to say this isn't my first foray into the series, but it definitely is. I did try to write a Fire Emblem Awakening x Kingdom Hearts cross-over a while back, but that just didn't go anywhere. I got stuck trying to figure out what to do next. But with the release of 3 Houses, I figured I could try again. This game is just too good and I couldn't help it. I needed to write something.

This story is going to feature a lot of things that I hope interest you. I'm going to be adding a lot of stuff in between the mission dates, fluffy scenes and what not. The main plot will of course be the events of the game, however, I am going to be writing some original stuff between Part I and Part II. I wsh to explore what happened during the five years Byleth was gone, seeing as Edelgard steadily rose into power and dominated everything. That will be my main focus, but I wish to tackle some other stuff during the School Arc as well. This chapter has been written 5 times already, and every draft has been different. This was the one that I felt needed to be put online. That and I made a rule for myself, once it goes up, it doesn't get changed. Chapter 1 for any story is always rough, but man this one was a pain in my ass.

Hopefully you all like this introduction. Chapter 2 has already been written but I'm going to hold off on it for a bit as I finish editing and what not. It should be out soon. I hope you all have a wonderful day!