*It’s nighttime in the kingdom of Brister. After Dust and Ryuuji got done defeating the slave traders, they exited out of the building to reunite with Jin and the merfolk. They find Jin and the merfolk along with Raika standing by them and the bodies of other slave traders on the ground. Raika brings them up to speed on what happened just as the knights of the White Tiger Order arrived onto the scene to raid the building and properly arrest the slave traders. Ryuuji led the knights down into the building to make the proper arrest while Dust led the knights to arrest the 5 slave traders over by the bridge and the young merfolk testified about the slave traders kidnapping them. Jin was getting looked at by the medics where they said he was fine and found no damage on his body thanks to the metal chest plate. The medics then focused their attention on the merfolk to make sure they were fine. Ryuuji came back up with the knights and the slave traders in handcuffs. Ryuuji heads over to join Dust, Jin, and Raika*
(Ryuuji): The slave traders have been properly arrested and the merfolk are all good and healthy.
(Raika): Thanks to this reckless idiot right here.
*Raika lightly punches the shoulder of Jin earning a good chuckle from him as he rubs his shoulder*
(Ryuuji): I’m proud of you, Jin. You did a brave and noble thing today that most knights wouldn’t have had the guts to do.
(Dust): Yeah, jumping in front of that bullet took a lot of guts. Not to mention getting back up and taking out that slave trader. Wearing a metal chest plate and keeping it hidden was smart thinking.
(Raika): I’m surprised it protected him so well.
(Jin): I reinforced the metal plate myself and tested it multiple times. I knew I could take the bullet and get back up. Thanks for the cover Raika, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.
(Raika): What, you didn’t know? I’ve been following you guys all day.
(Jin): What!?
(Dust): You seriously didn’t sense her, rookie? She’s been watching us from afar keeping an eye on you.
(Raika): Morrison was worried and asked me to watch your back just in case.
(Jin): So that’s why you didn’t hesitate to leave me in the warehouse alone with the merfolk.
(Dust): That and I was testing to see if you were listening. Not to mention those guys weren’t going to harm you.
(Ryuuji): Yeah, they’re a friendly bunch of merfolk.
*Jin stood there stunned and turned his attention to the merfolk who were about to be loaded into a boat*
(Jin): What’s going to happen to them?
(Ryuuj): The merfolk will be taken down to the station for more questioning and to get in contact with their families. They’ll be able to put this whole nightmare behind them now thanks to us.
(Dust): Which means our work here is done. Let’s get out of here.
*Dust, Raika, and Ryuuji begin to walk away with Jin about to follow until he feels someone tugging on his sweatshirt from behind. He looks over his shoulder to see the merfolk he took a bullet for. She had long frilly lime green hair and blue eyes which complimented the blue sundress she was wearing. She was shorter than Jin and slightly blushing as she looked up at him before hugging him*
(Merfolk): Thank you so much for protecting me.
*She stops hugging him and runs to the boat with the other merfolk. She enters the boat taking one last look at Jin and waving goodbye to him as the boat sails. Taking a deep breath, Jin runs to catch up to the others where they exit the residential district*
(Dust): Well I think now is a good time to call it a night. I’m going to head out for a drink. Care to join me, Raika?
(Raika): No thanks. I’m going to head home.
(Ryuuji): Same here.
(Dust): Alright, see you guys tomorrow.
(Jin): Hey wait, no invite for me?
(Dust): Survive the week and I’ll consider it.
*Dust walks away as does Raika in the opposite direction of Dust leaving Ryuuji and Jin together. They both enter the car with Ryuuji driving them back to the office*
(Ryuuj): So, do you have a place to sleep tonight?
(Jin): They kicked the graduating knights out of the dorm to make way for the new knights. I’ll just rent a room at a cyber café until I can find an apartment.
(Ryuuji): Nonsense! You can stay at my place for the time being.
(Jin): I don’t want to impose.
(Ryuuji): Relax, you may be on a trial period but you’re still part of the order and we look after each other. Besides, my son loves to meet knights.
*Ryuuji and Jin drive for a few minutes before arriving back at the office of Internal Affairs, returning the car and getting Jin’s luggage before getting into Ryuuji’s personal car which was gun grey and driving off into the night*
***
*After driving for a few more minutes, the two were out in the suburbs of the kingdom. Unlike the city which had tall buildings and bright lights, the suburbs were more peaceful and quiet with nice houses, street lights to make sure people could see at night, and plenty of grass and trees to make people feel welcomed. Ryuuji pulls up into the driveway of his house which was 2-stories and had a nice garden in the front. The walkway to his front door was made up of stone steps, the roof had black shingles, and the house was painted beige*
(Jin): Woah, nice house.
(Ryuuji): Thanks. We got it for a steal of only 700,000 credits. Can you believe they wanted 750,000 credits for this place?
*Ryuuji and Jin exit the car with Ryuuji helping with his luggage and walking to the front door where Ryuuji unlocks the door and they enter the house. Jin closes the door behind him*
(Ryuuji): Kids! Honey! I’m home!
*Once Ryuuji’s voice was heard, Ren and Erina came running from upstairs to give their dad a hug. Ryuuji picks them both up as they hug and laugh with each other. Coming from the kitchen came Ryuuji’s wife wearing a blue apron and having her hair tied up. As soon as Ryuuji saw his wife he put his kids down and walked to give her a kiss on the cheek where she kisses him on the cheek as well. Jin stood there blown away by the beauty of Ryuuji’s wife but couldn’t help but feel that he’s seen her before*
(Ryuuji’s wife): Welcome back sweetie. I see you brought back a guest.
(Ryuuji): Yep. Jin, allow me to introduce my family. This is my wife Le-Fay, my daughter Erina, and my son Ren. Everyone, this is Jin, he’s a new knight of my order.
*Jin gives a proper bow*
(Jin): It’s a pleasure to meet you all. My name is Jin Hephaestus. I am a recently graduated knight from the academy. Thank you for having me over.
(Le-Fay): Oh my, such a well-mannered young man.
(Ryuuji): He doesn’t have a place to stay, so I was hoping he could stay until his trial period is over.
(Le-Fey): Of course. We have plenty of room.
(Jin): Thank you ma’am. You honor me with your generosity.
*Ren and Erina walk up to Jin with Ren staring at him with amazement while Erina wasn’t really all that impressed with him*
(Ren): Wow, are you really a knight?
(Erina): You don’t look like a strong one to me.
(Ren): What skills can you use?
*Taking out two metal balls from his utility belt, Jin bends down to one knee to be at eye level with Ren and Erina. Closing the metal balls between his hands, he concentrates to reshape the metals and opens up his hands to reveal two metal bracelets for each kid. The kids stood there amazed at what they just witnessed*
(Jin): Although it is not much, consider this a token of my appreciation for allowing me to stay here young knight and milady.
*Ren and Erina each take a bracelet thanking Jin all while Le-Fey smiled*
(Le-Fey): I like him. You guys picked a good young knight.
(Ryuuji): I couldn’t agree more.
(Le-Fey): Alright, everyone go get cleaned up. Dinner will be ready soon.
*Ren and Erina rush to the restroom to wash their hands while Ryuuji led Jin to the guest room where he could drop off his luggage and then led him to another restroom to wash his hands. As they walked through the hallway, Jin noticed pictures on the wall. Some showed the family together on trips or having fun together. There were also regular pictures on the wall. One picture that stood out was Ryuuji, Le-Fey, and Morgan posing together in one picture. Le-Fey was wearing a wedding dress while locking arms with Ryuuji smiling happily and Morgan blushing embarrassingly. After arriving at the restroom and washing their hands, they head to the kitchen to eat where the kids are helping Le-Fey set the table where they’ll be having beef katsudon. The smell alone made everyone’s mouth water as Le-Fey set the plates down. Everyone takes their seats at the table, says thank you for the food and begins to eat*
(Jin): Hmm~, this is delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever had beef katsudon this good Mrs. Kazuchika.
(Le-Fey): Oh please, call me Le-Fey. I’m glad you like it. It makes me happy to know others like my food.
(Ryuuji): Your food is always good, honey.
(Jin): By the way, sorry if this sounds awkward, but you sort of look like Morgan Lanchester.
(Le-Fey): That’s not surprising. After all, he is my brother.
(Jin): Brother!
(Le-Fey): Oh~, Ryuuji didn’t tell you? Morgan and I are twins. He’s the older one by 3 minutes. He’s got the brains, but I got the brawn and looks.
(Jin): Woah. I had no idea Morgan had a sister.
(Le-Fey): My brother likes to keep his private life a secret from the public and was always the protective type. You should have seen him when he found out me and Ryuuji were dating.
(Ryuuji): *Chuckles* I’d rather not remember that. It was on that day that I truly discovered just how scary that man can be.
(Le-Fey): He took it a lot better than I thought he would.
(Ryuuj): Took it well? He tried to kill me. In the missions that followed he sent me on suicide tactics in the hopes that I would die.
(Le-Fey): He was testing you. Plus, he knew that you would survive. So tell me Jin, how was your first day on the job?
(Ryuuji): Oh get ready, you guys are going to enjoy this.
*Jin began to tell everyone how his first day went with Ryuuji interjecting here and there. Le-Fey, Ren, and Erina were all invested in his story and Le-Fey gasped when she heard the part about him getting shot before revealing he was wearing a metal plate to protect himself*
***
*Meanwhile, back in the city of Brister, Dust was just outside of a pub called Sweet Heaven which welcomed all races. This was Dust’s favorite pub to go to as it served not only the best drinks but had some good food as well. Most of the customers were males because the place had some cute girls that worked there, but it also got its fair share of female customers. The occupation of the customers was mostly mercenaries with a few knights who would come to the place as well after a hard day’s work. Dust walked into the pub where the flooring was wooden and the place was filled with laughter and chatter from various customers talking about their day and sharing stories they’ve heard. Dust took a seat on a barstool at the bar where a waitress wearing the standard uniform which was a maid outfit with a short blue skirt, a white long-sleeved shirt, and black work shoes and stockings who was a bat demihuman with long black hair, magenta eyes, and tiny bat wings on her back came over to take Dust’s order*
(Bat demihuman): Oh look who’s back. Hey Lilith, your boyfriend’s here to see you.
*The bat demihuman’s sentence managed to get the attention of an elf girl with medium-length emerald green hair and red eyes*
(Lilith): Saya! We’re not like that.
*Saya chuckles and walks away to leave the two alone*
(Lilith): Sorry about that. What can I get you, Dust?
(Dust): I’ll just have the roast beef, please.
(Lilith): Coming right up.
*Lilith walks away with Dust’s order*
(???): Offer you a drink while you wait?
*Said a middle-aged skinny man who had short brown-hair, brown beard, wore glasses which covered his brown eyes, and had on an attire that was the male version of the waitresses with black pants, a long-sleeved white shirt, and a blue vest*
(Dust): As a matter of fact, Chief, you can. I’m looking for something to relax me after a hard day’s work. Got anything for me?
(Chief): I know just the drink for you.
*The chief gets to work preparing Dust’s drink. After a minute or so he presents his drink to Dust which happens to be a White Russian. Dust takes a sip of the drink and takes a minute to take it all in while admiring the beverage*
(Dust): Beautiful and delicious as always Chief. What do you call this one?
(Chief): Glad you like it, I call it the White Spider. Just think of it as the brother to the Black Spider you drank last time you were here. By the way, you seem to be high spirits tonight. Something good happen at work?
(Dust): Not really. We do have a new recruit in the order though.
(Chief): Ohh~, a new recruit. You should bring him by next time, I’d love to meet them.
(Dust): Well if everything goes as planned, he’ll be joining me here at the end of the week.
*Lilith comes out of the kitchen with a plate of roast beef and sets it in front of Dust*
(Lilith): Sorry for your wait. Here’s your roast beef.
(Dust): Thank you, Lilith. These will not be necessary.
*Dust removes the lettuce off the plate and hands them to Lilith before he begins to eat his roast beef*
***
*Back at Ryuuji’s house everyone had finished eating and Ryuuji went to tuck his kids into bed as they had school tomorrow. Jin was out on the back balcony overlooking the pool enjoying some herbal tea while Le Fey was cleaning the dishes. Jin offered to help her, but she insisted that he take the time to relax. As he was out on the balcony reflecting on his talk with Ryuuji’s family where he learned Le Fey worked as a manager/teacher in a non-profit organization called Round Table that helps people look for jobs, gives them counseling, helps with their education and provides them with food and shelter. Ren was studying karate and had dreams of one day being a knight just like his dad. Erina on the other hand had dreams of becoming a cook owning her own restaurant and making people feel happy with her food. From their talk Jin could tell that Le Fey was aware of Shadow Eye and its members but the children weren’t which was probably for the best as it would be bad if they went and talked about it with their friends at school. Jin soon started reflecting on the day he had and what he accomplished. Most knights on their first day in the order just spend the day running drills, learning new things and got chores. Jin on other hand busted a slave trading operation and took a bullet for a merfolk within the last twelve hours. He still couldn’t believe all that had happened today. Not even in his wildest dreams would he think he would do something like what he did today. While deep in his thoughts, Ryuuji came out to join him which got Jin’s attention*
(Ryuuji): Hope I’m not interrupting you.
(Jin): No sir! Not at all. Just remembering everything that happened today. Your family is very wonderful.
(Ryuuji): Thank you. They’re my pride and joy. To this day I still consider myself blessed to have such an amazing family.
(Jin): Is that the reason why you left the frontlines so early in your career?
(Ryuuji): They were a major reason why I left. It’s true that if I stayed on the frontlines I could continue to rack up major achievements and earn more fame and glory, but at the same time I would be away from my family and I didn’t want that. Even when Ren was born I tried to exit quietly and considered taking a job at the knight academy, but with the rise of Eclipses in the area and when the rebellion started, I knew I couldn’t leave. Once the rebellion was over it opened my eyes to all the dangers that lie within the kingdom and when Morrison along with Amarti presented the idea of Shadow Eye to me I jumped at it the first chance I got. By doing this job I not only get to spend time with my family, but I get to make sure my kids grow up in a kingdom that’s safe and sound. The missions we do also serve as good stories for the kids.
*Jin laughs at Ryuuji’s joke*
(Ryuuji): So, tell me, you think you’ll stick around after the week is over?
(Jin):. . .I don’t know. Don’t get me wrong. What we did today was great and I’m proud of it, but-
(Ryuuji): But you want to get the fame and glory for busting them. I can understand that.
(Jin): It’s selfish, I know, and I feel terrible for thinking like this. But I have to make my name known, it’s the only way to keep the family name alive.
(Ryuuji): I take it this has something to do with your family lineage?
(Jin): I’m the only male among my siblings. That makes me the sole heir to the Hephaestus name. As soon as I could walk my dad began training me to be a knight. Despite not being the strongest, quickest, or smartest of my siblings or any of the other kids he was determined to make me a knight and continue the Hephaestus name as one of the great knight families. I wasn’t against it because I always loved my dad and grandpa. I remember hearing stories about the great heroics of my grandpa and dad and reading the stories of knights from books when I was a child. Even the stories about you inspired me. If I can’t be known as a great knight, it’s like I bury myself alive.
(Ryuuji): But what about what you want?
(Jin): It doesn’t matter what I want. You were born with great talent and allowed to choose your life. You wouldn’t understand.
(Ryuuji): Oh really? Tell me Jin, do you know anything about my dad?
(Jin): No, there aren’t too many records of your dad. Now that I think about it, I don’t think I ever saw a picture of him in your house.
(Ryuuji): And for a good reason. I don’t very much like him.
*This information shocked Jin. Ryuuji seemed like the kind of guy who liked everyone and could get along with them. To hear him not like someone could mean this guy was so bad that Ryuuji didn’t want anything to do with him at all*
(Jin): Really? I thought for sure a guy like you would have a good relationship with his parents.
(Ryuuji): My mom, yes. My dad, no. Despite what the world thinks the truth is me and my dad never got along. I think the only time I ever saw him smile was when he abandoned me on an island to survive by myself for one month. It was smiles and hugs for the cameras, but behind the scenes he was a cruel and neglectful person. He only saw me as his ticket to the top and kept pushing me to be better and stronger than anyone around me so I could become the ultimate knight. He didn’t care about what I wanted or thought. All that mattered was making his goal a reality. It really caused me a lot of pain in my life and took me years to get over the mental trauma he put me through. In the end though I managed to face my demons and became at peace with them. I think it’s noble that you want to keep your family’s name alive, but I will not accept seeing a knight sacrifice what they desire to be in order to get the appreciation of others. Think long and hard Jin about the knight you desire to become and not the knight your father wants you to become. Your life is your own. Now come on, let’s head to bed. We’ll be busy again tomorrow.
*Jin and Ryuuji head inside where Ryuuji makes sure all the doors are locked before heading upstairs with Jin who heads to his guest room which had a queen size bed for him to sleep in. Ryuuji went to his room where Le Fey had changed and was already in bed waiting for him*
(Le Fey): Sounds like you and Jin had a good talk outside.
(Ryuuji): You heard us?
(Le Fey): Only bits and pieces. Sounds like he has his own internal struggle he’s going through.
(Ryuuji): Yeah. I just hope he doesn’t make the same mistakes I made around his age.
(Le Fey): He won’t. He’s a smart kid and he has a great mentor who’s been down that path and can keep him on the right track.
*Ryuuji smiles at Le Fey’s compliment. After changing, Ryuuji goes to bed with Le Fey where they kiss each other goodnight. As Ryuuji drifts off to sleep, he can’t help but think to himself that being a mentor is harder than he thought. Meanwhile, in the guest room, Jin was also drifting to sleep where he couldn’t help but think to himself that being a knight is harder than he thought*
Author’s Notes: Hey guys, thanks for reading. Not much action this chapter as I wanted the characters to catch their breath and focus on character development. Particularly Jin who has found himself in a tough spot. We see how he’s got all these expectations on him which he’s alright with but at the time calls into question, is this what he wants. Is this the knight he desire to become or is it what his father expects of him. Doing what you want to do and living up to the expectations of your parents is something I see a lot of people battle with and I wanted to explore this struggle with Jin’s character and give my answer to it. That’s not to say my answer is right, but I hope it does help those who are going through a similar situation. Next week, we’ll be returning to the action and Jin will spending time with Raika. Thanks for reading again guys and look forward to the next chapter.