The Lost Knight~Part One

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Aaron's P.O.V.~

I was sitting at the dining room table, eating breakfast. Well, more like picking at my breakfast. I'm all honesty, I didn't feel like eating with that Amber girl smiling and winking at my Clay.

She had hair similar to her mother's: braided dark hair with a teal streak.  Her eyes were bright amber, which I guessed was where her name came in.

"So, Aaron," Lance's voice broke through my thoughts.  "Clay's been saying you challenged Amber's right to be a knight.  You really think you're better than someone who's trained for years?"

I smirk, finally taking a bite of my breakfast.  "When I'm a highly skilled archer, yeah.  I do think I'm better, but it's really not my place to brag."

Amber shook her head.  "I bet you're worse than I am."

"I wouldn't get your hopes up that there's someone worse than you," I murmur so quietly she wouldn't hear.  "I was a knight once."

My fingers drummed against the table, making me realize one thing.  "My headphones."

I shot out of my seat faster than anyone could stop me.  Without missing a beat, I went to the room I once called my own, pushing the door open forcefully.  What I saw inside made my heart stop.

My armor was on a stand, my shield and Blaser-Bow leaning casually against the legs of the armor.  Mindlessly, I reached my hand out to touch the metal when a hand grabbed my shoulder.  I didn't turn around to face anyone it might be.

"Aaron, you shouldn't be in here," Clay chided.  "This room isn't used for anything except a shrine to the Lost Knight."

So I was meant to be a knight in this change after all.  Why else would my armor be here?

With a shaky breath, I turn to meet the blue knight's eyes.  "The Lost Knight?"

Clay shrugged, shutting the door behind him.  "No one knows if there even was a knight to fit this armor.  Some say the knight was a simple shadow of the people's imagination, a defender of dreams so-to-speak.  Others believed the knight is real, just missing."

"Do you believe that?" I ask.  "Do you think he's real?"

The brunette chuckled.  "I don't know what to think.  Maybe I'd believe it if I saw him with my own eyes, but that probably won't happen.  Armor is fitted for the knight's specific body.  Everyone knows that."

I smiled.  "Has anyone even tried to see I anyone fits into it?" I ask, though I had a good feeling.  This is how I prove I'm a knight. 

"No one wants to disturb the armor.  It's special to everyone in a way."

My heart beats faster in hope.  "Can I try it on?  Clay, trust me when I say that's my family crest.  I told you I'm an archer," I pulled the knight down to my level.  "Isn't it a bit too coincidental that the Lost Knight went missing and has the same weapon and crest as me and you found me lost in the woods?"

Once I realize how close our faces are, I felt my face heat up.  I let Clay go, clearing my throat.  "Well?"

"Okay, I admit, it's quite coincidental," the knight agreed, rubbing the back of his neck.  "Tell you what: you prove to me you're a good shot, then I'll let you try the armor on."

That made my hope sink.  Then I remember what I was looking for in the first place.  "At least let me use the headphones from the Lost Knight's armor."

Clay gave me a confused look, then proceeded to grab the helmet.  Not even a second of looking later, he pulled out the headphones I wore to keep me focused.

Eagerly, I pull them from his grasp, placing them over my ears.  "This feels right," I laugh, turning them on.  All my music played in my ears.  "Okay, now I'm ready to show you I'm the better archer."

Clay shook his head, but I could tell he was smiling.  That made butterflies appear in my stomach.  Maybe there's still a chance I can be with him.

Don't let that cloud your mind, I mentally scolded myself.  Stay focused on the task at hand.  Another time I'll try and get Clay to go out with me.

The two of us walked towards the training room where the others were waiting.  Lance, Axl, Macy, Robin, and Ava were sitting against the wall, enjoying some popcorn while Merlok watched from the screen.

Clay patted my shoulder as I stood next to Amber.  He handed me a Blaser-Bow to use.  "Alright, you two, this is a challenge against archers.  There will be three tasks.  The first is simply firing at still targets.  There are twenty-one targets plastered against the walls, as you can see."

Indeed, we saw.  Some targets looked very rushed in the paint jobs.

"You can only fire at targets which have not been fired at already.  Whoever hits the most targets wins the first challenge."

Simple enough.  I turn my headphones on to a soft volume when I heard the buzz of the timer starting.  Instantly, I began aiming at the targets, fire one after another.

Not even thirty seconds in, I've hit fifteen of the targets.  The others stared at me with shocked expressions, then clapped.

Clay gave me a small smile and a nod, which was all the appreciation I needed.  "On to the next task..."

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