The air in the chamber thickened, not with humidity, but with the palpable weight of unseen forces. It was as if an invisible hand was squeezing the very oxygen, making each breath a conscious effort. The ornate tapestries adorning the stone walls fluttered despite the stillness of the air, and a low hum vibrated through the floor, tickling the soles of Kojo's boots. Two distinct pressures collided in the center of the room, creating an invisible vortex of vibrations that made the crystal chandelier above sway precariously while the room subtly shook.
A bead of sweat traced a path down Kojo's temple, catching the dim light of the torches. This was intense.
He'd faced down monstrous beasts and a whole army, but the sheer, focused intensity of multiple gazes bearing down on him was a different kind of battle. It was a test of will, a silent challenge that prickled his skin and tightened his jaw. He fought the urge to betray even a flicker of discomfort. He could have dealt with one or two glares, but nineteen was a bit tedious.
His own aura, a nascent thing still finding its footing, bristled defensively, ready to unleash a full wave of palpable fear that had floored seasoned warriors before.
Just as that dark energy began to coalesce around him, a sharp crack echoed through the room. A delicate ceramic vase, perched precariously on a nearby pedestal, exploded in a shower of porcelain shards. The invisible pressure vanished as abruptly as it had appeared, the humming ceased, and the tapestries stilled.
Before Kojo could fully register the sudden shift, a sharp smack landed on the back of his neck.
"That's enough, you lot," a voice laced with authority declared. Yukio, her expression a mixture of exasperation and amusement, turned to the assembled knights.
"I warned you what would happen if you used your auras like that indoors."
A deep chuckle rumbled from a burly figure. He was a muscle-bound man, easily twice Kojo's width, with a thick, braided white beard. "Just testing the Newcomer, Captain Yukio," he boomed, his voice echoing in the sudden silence.
"Wanted to see if him thrashing those squires the other day wasn't a fluke, and if his little performance at the trial was just for show."
Kojo blinked, rubbing the back of his neck. He took a moment to properly observe the man's features – the broad, flat nose, the piercing blue eyes, the sheer size of his hands. His gaze then swept across the rest of the room, taking in the diverse assembly. It was a veritable melting pot of races and personalities. Some regarded him with open curiosity, their eyes sparkling with interest. Others held a guarded suspicion, their gazes sharp and assessing. A few seemed utterly indifferent, their attention fixed on their own conversations or the flickering torchlight. And then there were those whose curiosity bordered on outright hostility, their lips curled in subtle sneers.
His eyes snagged on one particular figure clad in a suit of armor that defied description. It was less armor and more a second skin of polished chrome with intricate circuitry-like detailing here and there, pulsing with faint internal lights. The helmet was equally bizarre, a smooth, featureless silver visor that reflected the world. Kojo looked at his reflection but couldn't discern any discernible gender beneath the metallic shell.
"Boy or girl?"
The thought flitted through his mind.
(Why are you so particular about gender?)
Kojo's ears flushed.
"I just… I want to make sure…" His voice trailed off, his gaze involuntarily drifting downwards.
(Wants to make sure what?)
She realized that he was staring at that knight's breastplate.
(Pervert!) she said with disdain.
"It's not that! It's just… her armor looks so cyberpunk, like something that came out of our world."
(Could she be…?) The question echoed in his mind as he subtly focused his arcane senses, attempting to perceive the unique signature of the Knight. It took him a few tries with 'Scan' to arrive at a conclusion.
(There's no mistaking it. She's an otherworlder. Like us.)
Yukio stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the assembled knights before settling on Kojo and Lin.
"Allow me to formally introduce you both to the Glory Knights." She gestured as she began.
Yukio began to introduce the esteemed members of the Glory Knights, each with their unique abilities and strengths.
Rank 4, Leonard Dortfille, sat with his arms folded. He threw Kojo a disdainful glance and looked away. Kojo raised his eyebrow. Rank 5 was held by Kade Espada, a demihuman white fox with red highlights under his eyes and streaks of scarlet on his grey hair and tail. He wore huge beads around his neck and bead bracelets twisted around his arms with ruby earrings dangling from the ears on top of his head.
The boisterous man who laughed was Elias Gamma-Lyrae. He was Rank 6. He had a braided white beard, and his hair was tied in a ponytail with the sides shaped in a low fade.
At Rank 7 was Astropunk. Her sleek, white, and gold-accented armored suit spoke of advanced technology and purposeful design. Encasing her head was a streamlined white helmet featuring a reflective silver visor that concealed her face, adding an air of mystery, while vibrant waves of hair, transitioning in a striking gradient from light blue to deep purple, cascaded from above the helmet over the side of her head with some protruding out the back and being tied in a short ponytail.
"Yo." She said, flashing Kojo the peace sign, startling him.
Quami Aqua was Rank 8. He had chocolate-colored skin with his hair in a low trim with two lines like cuts into the front left side of his hairline.
Aldean Frost gave Kojo a profane gesture with his hand. He was Rank 9.
Nash Zola, a fierce and determined fighter, held Rank 10. She equally had dark skin, so she was fairer than Quami. Her blonde hair was shaped in braids.
The ranks continued with the Paladins.
Paladin Cyrus Smoke was at 11. He gave Kojo a friendly smile.
Fafnir Vaughn, also a Demihuman but with green eyes and a scar over his left eye, was Rank 12.
A Dark elf, Myron Turles, was at Rank 13. So far, Kojo had seen only Frost elves in Ezkanur, so he was curious to know what the dark elf's story was.
Rank 14 was taken by a pale man with dark hair and a smallish physique, Dallas Undrsn. Luke Castyr, a carefree man with kind eyes and a handsome face, held Rank 15, while Nico Laus, a Frost elf with an expressionless face and long hair cascading down her shoulders, occupied Rank 16. Vanica Gamma-Lyrae, a Jotun boasting a physique that put her husband Elias to shame with her blue skin, white eyes with white markings under her eyes and over her body, was at Rank 17.
Razak Al Naqbar, a mysterious man whose face was shrouded in a mask and a hood to hide his features, held Rank 18.
Reze Noir, with her flaming red hair and emerald eyes, was Rank 19.
A dwarf this time, Annabelle Rondo, with long braided pigtails at the sides of her head, was at Rank 20, and Kristine Lamar, another Frost elf with short hair and piercings on her left ear, took Rank 21.
The Knight closer at Rank 22, Tobias El Blanhce, a Dwarven man with curly brown hair and a moustache.
As Yukio finished the introductions, she turned to Kojo.
"And of course, you all know Kojo Atari, the…" she paused.
"Enthusiastic newcomer and our new instructor at Luminaria Academy."
Kojo stepped forward, feeling the weight of all those eyes on him again.
"Yo." He nodded towards Astropunk.
"Kojo Atari, warrior of Archadia, and indeed, currently a teacher at Luminaria Academy. Not much else to tell, really. Feel free to ask questions," he said.
A barrage of questions immediately followed, ranging from his fighting style to the quality of the tea served at the Academy in Archadia and if he thought it was better than what was served in Ezkanur.
Kojo did his best to answer, though some of the inquiries were rather… peculiar.
"Enough, you lot." Yukio yelled. The room instantly fell silent.
"Now, Lin, it's your turn."
Lin stepped forward, and Kojo sensed a flicker of reluctance in her usually serene demeanor. She offered a graceful bow, her short green hair swaying gently.
"Hello, my name is Lin. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
A chorus of impressed "ooohs" rippled through the knights, and they got to their feet and started clapping.
"So polite!" one of them exclaimed. "Someone teach Atari some manners!" another called out, earning a glare from Kojo.
"Huh?"
"Yeah, you should learn a thing or two from her."
"Hey, I have manners! I just… prefer brevity," Kojo protested.
(Brevity? You almost drooled over Astropunk even though you haven't seen her face like it was the key to unlocking some ancient mystery.)
Kojo shot her a mental glare.
"It wasn't like that!"
Unnoticed by him, the elves present who didn't get up during the applause had exchanged small, almost imperceptible nods of acknowledgement, a hint of reverence in their eyes as they looked at Lin.
"Now, before anyone else gets any… bright ideas," Yukio continued, her gaze firm, "I have a few more things to add. Firstly, my sister, Orihime Hayashi, unfortunately cannot be with us. She is currently guarding the Gate at Saifelle."
She then turned her attention back to the assembled knights.
"Secondly, Levi Svalo will be joining us shortly. He is currently returning from a mission in the Savage Lands."
(Savage Lands, huh?)
Kojo's gaze drifted back to the Giantess, the Jotun Vanica. Was she the librarian Cassie talked about that time he was demarcating the border? The one who confiscated those....books.
She was indeed enormous, though not by much; her blue skin and white markings would make her stand out even amongst the diverse crowd.
(Long story short, just like you have different types of elves and demihumans adapted to forests, oceans, and deserts, these are the frost variation of giant. Don't let her....small size fool you. Apparently they can change their size.)
"Cool.So," Kojo began, a thought suddenly occurring to him, "do they also have, like… a moon colony or something?"
(I swear, Kojo, sometimes I wonder if your brain is powered by the power of stupidity.)
Kojo shrugged.
"Hey, they're huge! Maybe they needed more space. Ah, see what I did there?"
(You're unbelievable.)
He vaguely remembered seeing similarly large individuals in the city and even within the temple during his initial days, but he hadn't given it much thought.
(I'm saying it again, and I'll keep saying it until it sinks in. You. Don't. Think. You need to be more aware of your surroundings. Instead of… well…)
Kojo instinctively glanced down at Lin's modest chest. She sensed his gaze and looked at him, causing him to quickly snap his gaze upwards, as he suddenly found the intricate carvings on the ceiling utterly fascinating.
(Pervert.)