0-1 Knight Christia

　High in the sky and far away, the sound of folded wind instruments rang lightly. With the sound of the percussion instruments that followed, the door of the royal palace towering behind the lined military band slowly opened with a majestic sound.

　From the other side of the door, armored knights with swords on their chests appeared. heir boots clanged to the rhythm of the light music, and they dispersed one by one to the left and right of the passage.

　When the procession of the soldiers ceased in response to the song that was about to end, a tense silence engulfed the square under the wide blue sky.

　On the other side of the square, paved with cobblestones that dazzlingly reflected the sunlight, the traffic leading to the castle town was swarming with people dressed in plain clothes. They were watching with bated breath, as one would expect, as tension and excitement rose with each other.

　Soon after the reverberations of the sound died down, a female knight appeared on a platform set up in the square. A leaf of herb floated on top of the water in the wooden bowl she held.

　The water was filled to the brim, representing prosperity, and the floating herb represented a bountiful harvest, and she took a sip of it, making sure not to spill any. The rest of the water is thrown into the sky, and the falling water is likened to raindrops, pledging unchanging grace from the heavens.

　This was the opening ritual of the birthday festival that had been handed down in this country.

　The female knight finished her gesture with dignity, drew her sword from her waist, and stabbed it into the cobblestones. The high-pitched metallic sound of the sword was drowned out by the sound of a clear, taut voice.

“Look to the heavens!”

　The woman knight’s words rushed through the square, and the stagnant air burst into a boiling frenzy.

“In the name of Princess Christia of Fermina, I declare the opening of the festival to enjoy the joy of life and the joy that comes with life!”

　The crowded residents and even the soldiers in their solemn gear were celebrating the opening of the festival with all their energy and vigor. All the people in the square turned to the female knight at once.

　There were a few special reasons why the residents were so enthusiastic about the festival, which was usually so formal and modest.

　The most important reason was her triumphant return to “the land” last year.

　It is customary for the king in a covered carriage to attend the parade that follows, but this year the king himself had entrusted the task to his daughter.

　She was a knight, a princess, and a hero of the country, and the king thought it was obvious that she would be in the limelight. Chris agreed, on the condition that she would not be accompanied by ostentatious processions.

　So now, Chris, who had taken off her armor and become a girl on horseback, was surrounded by the people, smiling and moving slowly along the road to the castle gate.

　　A slight shadow fell on her face. She sensed a hint of something unusual in the passionate gazes that were being thrown at her from all directions.

　It is said that if you become a first-class knight, you can see not only the signs obvious to the eye but also the emotions and magical power that accompany them.

　Suddenly, Chris widened her eyes. This was the only existence that she, who was now the person of the hour, had tried so hard to reach in the past.

　The magic power she felt seemed to belong to that person.

“That shouldn’t be ……. It can’t be …….”

　She spilled a voice that no one could hear, and her eyes moistened as she looked up at the sky.

“-But if you’re watching over us somewhere”

　As if realizing its master’s inner thoughts, her beloved horse shivered and whinnied sadly. She nuzzled his neck and began to move forward again.

“As your successor, I will show you achievements that won’t shame this title, Seiji-sama.”

TOC | Next chapter