The Saint Devil

Chapter 7

---Fight after fight, minutes after minutes, with every passing second Taiyo's turn is coming. The fifth fight is also the last one, before the big moment of the day. After that fight, the new knights that will take the burden of the kingdom and protect it will be selected. And now, the moment is approaching at an incredible pace.

After the fourth fight is over, the woman announcer's voice can be heard

"-Numbers seventeen, eighteen, nineteen and twenty, please come forth for the fifth battle and also the last of this exam!"

Taiyo gets up from the bench, and while looking forward with a calm expression, he says,

"I think it's the time!"

I smile at him and wish him the best of luck,

"Do your best, Taiyo!"

"Of course I will!"

But this moment that we've been waiting for was tainted by a voice that we all recognized easily since the annoying tone of it wasn't easy to forget,

"Faster kids! I don't have the whole day at my disposal!"

The voice could be heard in the entire arena, everyone noticing his behaviour that wasn't appropriate for his age. I don't care who passes, but if it's possible, I hope this guy gets humiliated there...

"For a man his age he is quite childish..."

"I know right? But don't worry... I will shut his mouth..." says Taiyo with his usual calm expression, but this time... His voice's tone was as cold as ice.

I look at him from behind as he goes to the middle of the arena. I am not worried one bit about his safety... But if he is like I think he is now...

"Damn... If you are like this you might kill him, i***t. You never liked arrogant people." I say covering my face with the palm of my hand.

With all the fighters in position, the start of the fight is approaching. Three kids and one adult being that is probably less mature than those kids. Anyone that didn't know them would think that the outcome is predictable.

"-May the last fight of The Knight Selection Exam starts!"

"Come kids! You can come all at once. It's not like it's going to make any difference!" says the arrogant man laughing with his arms crossed and eyes closed.

...But opening his eyes, he could only question the scene he was witnessing.

"I didn't want anyone to intervene, hope you are ready!"

The other kids are already on their knees with tears in their eyes.

"Did I just... blink?!" is thinking the old man

"What did you do kid?"

"You didn't see? Gosh, I hate when I need to repeat the exact thing because you didn't pay attention. I understand how teachers feel right now."

Then taking out his hood, Taiyo raises his hand holding three throwing knives.

"Throwing knives? Haha! So you aren't man enough to approach me, kid!?"

The fight was over already... Not even one second, and he blinked again, finding himself kneeling in front of Taiyo.

"Huh?"

"Why? Why can't I move? It doesn't even hurt!!" are now the thoughts of the already defeated geezer.

"What did you do kid!?"

Then Taiyo approaches him with a smile on his face.

"No... Stay back! Go away!"

He puts his hands on the grown up's shoulders and says,

"Didn't you say I am not man enough to approach you?"

Then with a sincere smile on his face, he tells him,

"It seems that you won't be passing this exam too soon."

Looking at the judge he explains what he did. Poisoned knives... Thrown with perfect accuracy, they paralyzed the enemies for a few hours. The victims aren't feeling any pain but also aren't able to move their limbs as well.

"-Winner Number eighteen: Taiyo!"

The crowd on the tribunes was cheering for him as he walked back to the place where I was waiting to congratulate him.

"I've done it, Akushi!"

"Good job! With this showoff, you will pass for sure."

"You think that? Nice! With this, we will be one step closer to achieving what we want!"

This is it... This is the smile I want to see.

Getting back in the line, this time in the order of the numbers we got, we are waiting for the results of the exam,

"-Get in line everyone! Due to medical problems, some of you won't be attending this ceremony. Now let's hear the results got from Sir Bastien!"

In the order of the numbers, we are getting the results, and not after a long time, it is already my turn.

"-Number seven... Rejected!"

"Huh?"

It wasn't only me, but also Taiyo that had a questioned expression on his face, but without even looking back, the announcer continues.

"Tch... You did it right... Dad?" I whisper to myself while keeping my head down

While being lost in my mind, I don't pay attention to the others' results, until it gets to Taiyo.

"-Number eighteen... Passed!"

"Excuse me! I am sorry but... I'd like to refuse!"

Hearing Taiyo's words, everyone was questioning his reasons for turning down the offer to become a knight.

"Are you sure kid? You can't change your mind, and you would have to take the exam again after two years." says the announcer with a troubled expression on her face

"If Akushi didn't pass... Then I have no reason to be accepted! I will gladly refuse your offer!"

"Fine... With numbers nineteen and twenty not being there anymore, those are the final results of The Knight Selection Exam! If you were accepted come after me! The other ones, better luck next exam!"

With the exam being over, I turn around and run away while Taiyo was trying to catch up with me from behind...

Losing my track, Taiyo went home and started waiting...

---Somewhere in the forest, by a lake stands a boy alone looking at the moon's reflection in the water.

"I am sorry Tsuki... I guess I couldn't do it."

A tear falls from the boy's blue eyes into the lake disrupting the clear reflection of the moon.

"I couldn't become a knight that defends kids that fell into sadness like us! What should I do now?"

Replying to me, I could hear a voice around me... Or this is how it felt, but it was in fact, inside me...

"Just try again in two years! You will be more experienced and will pass flawlessly!"

No one was present at the scene, just a random voice consoling me.

"It's his fault and you know that! He abandoned you and now he doesn't even want to see you! Kill him already! I can give you the power to do it! You can be the strongest knight after that!"

Another random voice appeared in my head, being in contradiction with the first one.

"No! You don't need that power! Only you know how much you trained for all those years! You choose what to do with your life from now on! Neither me nor Astaroth!"

"Don't use my name so easy pigeon..."

Breaking their fight, I tell them,

"Quiet you two! I won't use those powers! Those are not... My powers..."

Then I get up from the ground and look at the sky with a look more confident than ever.

"...It's fine if I won't be a mere knight. Because I only need to aim higher... If I can't be a knight... I will be a king. A king that won't abandon anyone that needs help. A REAL king!"

And thus, strengthening my resolve, I start running home, in the heart of the forest, where Taiyo would wait for me. Entering the house, our eyes meet.

"I've made up my mind! I... will leave this place!"

Taiyo looked at me, and without giving him any explanation, he still smiled at me and said,

"I'll follow you wherever you go, Akushi!"