Captain Brown

After the war ended, Sarah took the young boy left in her care to a medical shelter. There, amidst the groans of injured soldiers, she laid him on a cot and began to tend to her own wounds with the assistance of Ela, her elf companion.

"Do you really think we should keep this from Captain Brown?" Ela asked hesitantly, her concern evident.

"I don't want anyone learning about this boy's situation," Sarah replied, her tone grave. "If the Captain or any other member of the Seven Pillars finds out, they'll surely try to eliminate him."

"I understand, but what shall we say if Captain Brown inquires about him?" Ela pressed.

"I'm not sure," Sarah admitted, though her jaw set with determination. "But I promised his mother I would care for him as if he were my own."

"I still don't understand why the demon queen entrusted you with this," Ela remarked quietly. "She isn't even his biological mother."

"I... I looked into her eyes when she implored me to take him," Sarah said, her gaze drifting toward the peacefully sleeping boy. "She may not have given birth to him, but I saw the warmth and sorrow of a mother who simply wants her child to live. As a mother myself, I couldn't deny her final wish."

"But Sarah, you know she's the one who killed Max..." Ela cautioned, stepping closer. "I'm not suggesting we abandon the child, but if you take him in, the kingdom will eventually find out. They'll think you've betrayed them."

"I am well aware of that!" Sarah snapped, a flash of pain crossing her face. "I haven't forgotten what she did to Max, but that doesn't mean I am willing to take a child's life to balance the scales. Ela, please... I need you to help me keep this secret from Captain Brown and the King."

Before Ela could respond, a guard approached the threshold of their area. "Hero Sarah, Miss Ela—Captain Brown summons you to his office immediately. He wishes to meet with you."

"Captain Brown? Why?" Ela inquired, her voice tightening.

"I'm not certain, ma'am, but he requested your presence urgently," the guard replied.

"Understood," Sarah responded, rising from her chair. "I would have preferred to finish binding my wounds, but we shouldn't keep the Captain waiting. Let's go, Ela."

Instructing a nearby medic to look after the slumbering Shirou, Sarah led the way toward the Captain's command tent. While Ela harbored a growing unease about the abrupt summons, Sarah appeared unfazed. Her resolve to fulfill her vow to Eliza, the demon queen, was unshakable.

Upon their arrival, a robust voice greeted them from behind a large wooden desk. "Welcome, Ela! And the valiant Sarah! I am overjoyed to see you both in fine fettle—save for a few battle scars, hahaha!" Captain Brown chuckled heartily.

"Captain Brown, what prompts this sudden summons? Is there an emergency?" Sarah asked, bypassing the pleasantries.

"Well, well, you haven't changed at all, have you, Sarah? Why not indulge in some light-hearted banter among fellow members of the Seven Pillars?" he suggested, his smile brimming with vitality.

"As you are well aware, my sole reason for joining the Pillars was to avenge Max. Nothing more," Sarah declared coldly.

"Hey! Sarah, you cannot address the Captain in such a manner!" Ela chided under her breath, her eyes wide with worry. Captain Brown held a rank above all other Pillars, and his authority was absolute.

"Fret not, Ela," Captain Brown mused, waving off the apology. "I can empathize with a woman who has lost her beloved to the crucible of conflict. This war was never meant for you, Sarah, yet look at you now. Who can say? Perhaps you will be the one to finally bring lasting peace to this land."

"Let's cut to the chase, Captain. I have other matters to attend to," Sarah retorted, her impatience palpable.

"Ah... my apologies." Captain Brown’s expression sharpened as he leaned forward, planting his large hands firmly on the table. "Straight to business, then. Sarah, I want you to become the Knight Commander of the kingdom and oversee the training of our new recruits. And Ela, your talents are requested to serve as a High Magician to the Court."

Just as Sarah opened her mouth to decline, a guard burst into the tent, panting heavily from a frantic sprint.

"Forgive the interruption, Commander!" the guard reported, his voice quivering with a mix of panic and fear. "But there is a young boy with white hair and crimson eyes causing an absolute commotion in the medical shelter!"

The air in the tent froze. Without a word, Sarah bolted past the guard, racing back toward the shelter. Ela followed close behind, her heart hammering against her ribs.

They arrived to a scene of utter chaos. Several fully armored guards were already sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain. Shirou was a blur of motion. As a guard lunged to apprehend him, the boy nimbly sidestepped, spun, and delivered a fierce cyclone kick straight to the man's jaw, knocking him unconscious into the mud.

The moment Shirou spotted Sarah, a fresh wave of rage distorted his features. Snatching a steel sword from a fallen guard, he let out a scream and charged blindly at her.

Before Sarah could even raise her hands to defend herself, Captain Brown materialized in front of her. With terrifying ease, he caught the incoming blade between two fingers, halting Shirou's momentum instantly. Taking advantage of the distraction, the remaining guards rushed forward, pinning the struggling boy to the earth.

"Let go of him!" Ela cried, rushing to Shirou's side. She pulled the guards' heavy hands away, instantly covering the boy's mouth to muffle the furious snarls that would surely betray his identity.

"Well, well... it seems there is a rat in our midst," Captain Brown murmured, his deep voice carrying a mix of surprise and dark amusement as he looked down at the boy. "Tell me, young one, why do you assault my knights? And what business does a child have in a military shelter?"

"He is with me," Sarah interjected smoothly, stepping between the Captain and the boy to block his view. "I found him unconscious on the battlefield after the war ended. I brought him here because he required medical attention."

Captain Brown narrowed his eyes, his suspicion visibly growing as he scrutinized Shirou's features. "I don't recall receiving any reports of a civilian child found in the hot zone, Sarah. Furthermore, a boy capable of dismantling trained knights with such ease could grow up to be quite a..."

"This child will be returning with me to my orphanage," Sarah interrupted firmly, her posture unyielding. "I have no plans to relinquish him to the military, nor do I desire to join the knights. Please accept my formal refusal of your offer, Captain."

Captain Brown turned his piercing gaze toward Ela, who stood with a grave, unblinking expression.

"Regrettably, Captain, I must also decline," Ela stated, her voice steady despite her nerves. "My home village has suffered terribly in this war. My duties lie there, assisting in its rebuilding."

A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the area. Captain Brown stared at the two women, then down at the fierce white-haired boy, weighing their sudden defiance. Finally, he gave a slow, thoughtful nod.

"To lose two of our strongest champions on the same day is a bitter pill to swallow," Captain Brown said, his voice dropping to a low, serious rumble. "But I respect your choices."

He looked deeply into Sarah's eyes, recognizing the iron wall of her determination, before turning to his men.

"Ensure that Sarah and Ela are escorted back to their home with the utmost care," he commanded the guards. "Make their journey comfortable. As for the King's paperwork... I will handle it."

With a final, lingering look at Shirou, Captain Brown turned on his heel and strode back toward his command tent.