Fellowship of the Sun

When the King revealed the truth behind the gathering, the Great Hall murmured. Even the knights who had stayed quiet couldn’t help but talk amongst themselves about what they had just heard. A weapon with the potential to eradicate, enslave, or rule over humanity. Unbelievable. And to be created by the demons they had once pushed back to the dark realm, no less. Can such a thing even exist?

“B… But your Majesty–” one of the King’s attendants finally stood up and said. “What kind of weapon is it?”

The hall had slowly gone further and further into disarray, until one man stomped his right leg once. He, who up till then stood still next to the king, stepped forward. He did not need to speak. The hall knew to silence itself.

“If you dare speak to his Majesty with that tone once more, I shall smite you here myself,” a knight clad in red armour said.

He unsheathed his thick and broad longsword and pointed it directly at the man. A legendary blade that grew heavier and more powerful the more lives it took. It was already heavier than ten men, yet the knight held it in one arm as though it weighed nothing.

He was an older man in his fifties, carrying signs of aging with his long silver hair and beard. Despite this, his bearing exerted a pressure no one could miss. He was one of the tallest men in the room, towering over the attendants and even most of the knights. What faced them was one of the greatest knights in the history of the Kingdom.

The attendant stood quietly, trembling in fear.

“No… I… ah…”

“Stop it, Sir Logan. Now is not the time for such foolishness,” the King said.

In turn, the knight simply bowed his head before sheathing his sword and taking a step back. Almost as if he never left his spot.

Sir Logan, the highest ranked in the Royal Knights Order of the Kingdom of Avalon. The oldest and most skilled active knight in the King’s army, having served for more than thirty years. He had experienced countless battles against men, demons, and beasts and conquered every single one of them. Any other knight his age would have already retired from battling in the frontlines, yet after all this time, he remained.

“We know nothing of the weapon at hand, merely where it is located, as well as the potential danger it bears. The adventurers who returned mentioned finding a land of poisonous air and dark skies. A place where the light of the Sun God Agni could not reach, and the demons would swarm around in numbers greater than anything we have ever seen before.”

Considering what they had described, it was fortunate the adventurers were able to return at all. And the more the King elaborated on what they experienced, the more the knights realized the dangers of the Demon’s Domain, before they could even reach the supposed weapon.

Still, they remained quiet, waiting for the King’s final judgement. They now knew of the hurdle they must face, so now all that was left was to await the King’s final call. The King in turn saw their expressions–afraid, worried, angry, but awaiting his order all the same. There he raised his hand and said:

“By royal decree, I hereby announce the formation of the Fellowship of the Sun. You shall join Sir Logan of the Dolton Clan in the quest to retrieve or destroy the weapon of the demons!”

Hearing this, the spirit and resolve of the knights were tested. Should they join, it could spell their death. A quest that carried more danger than anything else they've experienced before.

“This will not be a quest for the faint of heart. No doubt, even with the strongest of warriors in our midst, not all will come out of this unscathed, that many of you will lose your lives in battle, but I ask of you–who is it that you’re fighting for? We shall not break or kneel to their forces. To the very end, we shall fight. Fight for the Kingdom of Avalon, for the future of humanity! My Knights, let me hear your answer!”

The Great Hall roared with their hearts igniting in passion and drive. This was for the Kingdom of Avalon. Despite what had befallen them before, King Thorian had not yet given up. He was still willing to push forward, what kind of knight would remain sullen in the face of their King’s bright light?

“Sir Logan, I trust you will handle the rest,” King Thorian whispered.

“As you wish, your majesty,” Sir Logan bowed, then turned to the soldiers and shouted “Stand!”

Everyone immediately stood quietly with proud faces, awaiting Sir Logan’s words.

“I shall choose only the strongest and most competent knights. As such, not everyone will be eligible for this quest. However, know that your worth is not determined by whether you make it into the fellowship. You will still fight in the frontlines against the Demon army. Every single one of you matters. So for tonight, let us have a feast! If this is to be the last time we enjoy a hearty feast, let it be tonight!”

Everyone cheered once again, but amidst it all, two remained quiet with their expressions not aligning with the masses. One wore an air of apathy while masking deep frustration, his fists clenched tight at his sides. Meanwhile, the other bore a more complicated expression.

Here they had uncovered something grand. It had the potential to either save humanity or bring it to ruin, and yet it all felt distant for him. Why now? It was too late, much too late.

The man doubted the world itself. Could this be another one of the gods' folly? Or his punishment?

He held the pendant once more, awaiting an answer that never came.