CHAPTER ONE: THE KINGDOM OF LUYAS

“To get through the hardest journey and continue living, we need to take only one step at a time; but we must keep stepping.”– Chinese Proverb.

The marketplace bustled with early morning energy, its usual noise and activity a comforting rhythm to Mika. Stalls overflowed with fresh produce, fabrics, and trinkets, while vendors called out their prices to passing customers. Yet, despite the liveliness, Mika felt the eyes. It always started this way—the quiet stares, the whispers behind fans, the pointed glances. Her silver armour caught the sunlight, but it did little to deflect the ugliness of their thoughts.

You don't belong here.

Mika walked on, shoulders squared, her emerald eyes fixed ahead. She wasn’t here to pick a fight, but that didn’t mean one wouldn’t find her.

Then, it came.

"Accursed fiend! You should've rotted in hell!"

Why are you still here?

The bellow shattered the morning air, silencing the marketplace. An elderly aristocrat, his face red with fury, lifted his walking stick. With a muttered incantation, he sent a gust of wind toward a muddy puddle, aiming to drench Mika in filth. Her hand rose instinctively, deflecting the mud mid-air with a shimmer of light. It splattered harmlessly to the ground, and the man sputtered in disbelief.

Mika didn’t respond, her expression calm, but her eyes flickered with something—defiance, maybe. She had faced worse. This would not break her.

Behind him, a pair of noblewomen watched with wide eyes. One whispered, her fan raised to her lips, “Perhaps Lord Ranfel keeps her around for his own desires? How scandalous!”

Mika’s fingers tightened around the parcel she held, the knuckles white beneath her gloves. This wasn’t the first time. It wouldn’t be the last. Without a word, she turned her back on the nobleman and continued walking, leaving him behind to seethe.

Just keep moving. One step at a time.

The weight of their prejudice followed her like a shadow. She couldn’t shake it—not today, not ever. It was the same hatred that had almost killed her years ago.

Mika’s first encounter with prejudice had been a harsh, unforgettable lesson.

She was only thirteen at the time. Fresh out of a training session, she had been walking back through the crowded streets of Luyas when a drunken man had staggered toward her, his eyes wild with rage and alcohol.

"You!" he had shouted, pointing a trembling finger at her. "You damned Spirits are the reason my family is dead! The war was because of you! It should’ve been your kind, not us!" His voice had cut through the noise of the bustling street, drawing unwanted attention. Mika had frozen, unsure of what to say. She had known then, even as a child, that many in the Kingdom still hated her for simply existing. But never before had someone confronted her so viciously, so directly.

Mika had tried to walk away, to avoid a scene, but the man had lunged at her, his hands grabbing her arm, his grip painful and violent.

"You're a curse!" he had hissed, his face inches from hers. "You don’t belong here."

Mika remembered how her heart had raced, her pulse pounding in her ears. She had struggled to pull free, but he was stronger than she expected. His breath had reeked of ale, and his fury was palpable.

What had hurt more than his words, though, was the silence around her. No one stepped in. They just watched. Some with pity. Others with disgust. The street, usually filled with the lively buzz of conversation, had gone eerily quiet.

Then the man raised his hand to strike her.

Instinct took over. Mika had ducked, her training kicking in at the last moment. She twisted out of his grip, his hand swiping through the air where her face had been moments earlier. And before he could recover, she ran. She didn’t stop until she reached the Knight’s Academy.

Later that evening, Mika had reported the incident to her brigade’s captain, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions churning inside her. She had expected justice, but to her shock and disappointment, nothing happened. The man who had attacked her had walked free, his actions dismissed as the angry outbursts of a grieving widower, mourning losses from the Great War.

It wasn’t until Lord Ranfel himself intervened that a new law was enacted: no physical harm was to be inflicted on the Lost Child, under penalty of a fine of 500 gold.

It was protection, sure, but not justice. The man who had attacked her had faced no consequences.

***

Back in the present, Mika’s grip on the parcel tightened as the memories faded. The past lingered in every step she took. She shook it off and forced herself to focus on the task at hand.

When she reached the Knight’s Court, the maroon gates loomed ahead. Mika raised the Luyas Knight's Crest toward the guards stationed at the tower. They nodded in acknowledgment, and the gates creaked open, revealing the busy courtyard within.

Knights and trainees filled the space, discussing their morning drills. Mika scanned the area, looking for an unoccupied seat where she could rest. Before she could sit, a familiar voice called out.

"Mika!" Luna, her best friend and fellow trainee, weaving through the crowd with a wide smile. As soon as Luna saw the mud splattered on Mika’s armor, her smile faltered.

"Another incident?" Luna asked, concern lacing her voice.

Mika gave a stiff nod, her frustration clear. “Nothing new.”

Luna sighed. “You shouldn’t have to keep dealing with this.”

Mika shrugged, forcing a smile. “It’s fine. How was practice?”

Luna’s mood shifted immediately, and she groaned, rolling her eyes dramatically. “Terrible. Sir Lance had me working on the Dance Blade technique for two hours straight. I thought I was going to lose my arms.”

Mika chuckled, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. “You’ll get it.”

Luna flipped her long ponytail over her shoulder, her eyes sparkling again. “Oh! Did you hear the news? Diana from Yumm's Bakery is engaged! Guess who—” Before Luna could finish, a voice cut through the chatter.

Captain Cad swaggered toward them, his eyes locking onto Luna like a predator stalking its prey. Mika’s stomach clenched. She knew that look.

Luna stiffened beside her, the cheer draining from her face. She put on a brave smile, but Mika knew the truth. Ever since Luna had been granted the ‘Lalla’ title on her eighteenth birthday, things had become more complicated. The title, a mark of noble womanhood, was meant to elevate her standing in society and help her secure a "suitable" husband.

In the months since, she had been besieged by men like Cad—noblemen and knights looking to strengthen their status by marrying into the Heartlets family. Luna despised it. Mika could see it every time the topic came up. But it wasn’t as simple as refusing.

Lord Ranfel had chosen Cad, specifically because of his family’s wealth and support for the Heartlets. Luna had been told it was her duty to marry him, even if her heart rebelled against it.

"Captain Cad," Luna greeted him, her voice tight.

Cad’s gaze flicked dismissively to Mika. “Still playing the guard dog, Spirit?”

Mika’s hand drifted toward the hilt of her sword, but she didn’t draw it. “Captain,” she said, her voice as cold as steel, “only male members of the Heartlets family are permitted such liberties with Lalla Luna.”

Cad scoffed. "Don't get ahead of yourself, pet. Until the ceremony, she's fair game."

Mika’s eyes narrowed. “With all due respect, Captain, the engagement ceremony is still two months away. Until then, keep your hands to yourself… unless you wish to lose them.”

Cad’s smirk faltered. For a moment, something like fear flickered in his eyes. He quickly masked it with a sneer. “Do you really think I care what a lowly servant like you has to say?”

“I speak with the authority of Captain Guy Heartlets, your superior, who has entrusted me with Lalla Luna’s protection while he is away. If you have a problem with that, take it up with Commandant Grants.”

Cad’s confidence cracked, his posture stiffening as Mika’s words sank in. He knew better than to challenge a Spirit publicly. Not without risking humiliation.

With a sneer, he turned on his heel. “I have no desire to share the air with someone like you.” He glanced at Luna one last time, his eyes gleaming with malice. “Beautiful and innocent Lalla, do you really think your father would take your word over mine? He’d sooner believe in a stray dog.”

"To hell with that arrogant man!" Luna exclaimed, stomping her foot in frustration. "And yet my father insists that I marry and bear children with a person like him... Damn it all!"

Mika observed in silence as Luna gradually regained her composure. Once the fire in her voice had died down, Mika spoke, her tone calm. "I'm used to people calling me names. But Cad should have known his boundaries when it comes to you. Thankfully, he backed down when he did."

Luna shook her head, her frustration still simmering. "You shouldn't let him, or anyone else, talk to you like that. I’ve heard about what happened in town earlier. When someone speaks ill of you, they’re disrespecting the Heartlets family—after all, we were the ones who took you in. You should’ve told me sooner so we could report it to the Commandant. He could’ve made sure it didn’t happen again."

Mika bowed her head slightly. "I apologise, Lalla, for not informing you sooner about what happened at the market. But, honestly, I don’t want you or the Commandant to face any trouble because of me. Lord Ranfel has no tolerance for those who oppose him, even if they’re right.

Remember what happened to Lord Caster, the former Minister of Finance, when he questioned the budget allocation last summer? He and his entire family were punished severely. Their execution was meant as a warning, so no one would dare defy your father."

Luna’s anger shifted into something heavier as Mika’s words sank in. She felt utterly helpless, knowing there was so little she could do to protect her best friend from her father’s wrath—or from the cruelty of others. Her own resentment toward her impending betrothal seemed to vanish in the face of Mika’s struggles.

A part of her longed to whisk Mika away, to take her far from this kingdom and its cruel, outdated customs. But she knew, deep down, those were fantasies. Even if she could leave, where would they go?

"Fine," Luna muttered through clenched teeth, trying to contain her frustration. "Just so you know, I’m not happy with any of this. Guy won’t be either when he returns. I can only hope he throws enough of a tantrum to convince Father to grant you your well-deserved freedom, Mika."

Freedom. That word hung in the air like a distant dream.

Six years ago, when a representative from the House of Heartlets had confirmed that the last surviving member of the Spirit race had been found unconscious at the castle’s rear gates, rumours had spread like wildfire.

The adoption of a Spirit—mankind's sworn enemy—by the Heartlets family had been the scandal of the year. Despite the backlash, Lord Ranfel had stood firm. He’d brought Mika into the household and, with the full backing of the Royal Knights, made it clear she was under his protection.

When Lord Ranfel announced Mika’s enrolment in the Knight Academy, the public reaction had been fierce. Yet, His Lordship had remained resolute, fully aware of the controversy his decision stirred. He did not fear the consequences.

***

After a long day of running errands and training, Mika retreated to her chamber, seeking a brief respite before dinner. The small room was situated between the kitchen and the servants' quarters, an area once intended for food storage. The space was limited, just enough for a simple wooden bed, a study table, and a medium-sized chest for her few belongings.

From the very first night, it had been made clear where Mika stood within the family. A few days after being adopted into the household, she had overheard one of the servants gossiping in hushed tones, mentioning why Mika’s quarters were so isolated. It seemed that Lord Ranfel didn’t want her tarnishing the castle’s pristine floors.

The words had stung. Mika had spent that night weeping into her pillow, feeling the weight of her isolation. That was when she made a solemn vow—never to defy Lord Ranfel, never to give him a reason to cast her out. With nowhere else to go, she couldn’t afford to lose even this.

Now, with her face buried in the same worn-out pillow, Mika contemplated skipping dinner altogether. Her eyes shut tightly, trying to block out the world. But before she could drift away into the solitude of her thoughts…

Knock knock!

Loud, impatient thumps echoed through her tiny room, yanking her out of her thoughts. Mika jumped to her feet and rushed to the door. It swung open with force before she even had the chance to greet whoever stood on the other side. There were no locks on her door—Lord Ranfel had forbidden them, citing "security measures."

At first, Mika had struggled with how easily her privacy could be violated. People would barge in without notice, whether she was asleep or even changing. But that had been before she proved her worth—before she’d bested three top Brigade Captains in combat training. Slowly, grudgingly, she had earned a degree of respect, or at least fear, among her peers.

Now, an annoyed messenger stood before her, his face contorted in disgust. He barely met her eyes as he spoke.

"Master Commandant Grants wants to see you in his office. Now."

Mika nodded, keeping her voice steady. "Thank you. I'll make my way there."

The messenger turned sharply on his heel, muttering curses under his breath as he walked away. From the distance, Mika caught fragments of his grumbling: “Spirit scum… such a hassle…”

Sighing, Mika closed the door with more force than she had intended. The wood rattled slightly in its frame. The messenger’s words stung, but they didn’t surprise her. After years of enduring such insults, they had lost some of their sting, but not all. They still lingered.

Adjusting her cloak, Mika took one last glance at her small, modest room before making her way toward the Commandant’s office. Whatever the reason for her summons, she knew she would have to face it head-on.