The Celestial Knights Headquarters was never quiet — even on slow days, the clang of steel, the stomp of boots, and the murmur of voices carried through its stone halls.
But today… it was different.
The air was thick with the buzz of gossip. Not about a war, not about monsters, not even about the capital's endless politics.
No — the noise today was all about him.
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Inside the vaulted training hall, clusters of knights in shining armor leaned together in hushed tones.
"I heard he touched the guild crystal and it just… exploded."
"Exploded? You mean cracked, right?"
"No, I mean BOOM. Shards and magic light everywhere."
One older knight — scarred jaw, greying hair — took a swig from his waterskin.
"Kid must be at least SSS… maybe more. Gods help us if he's an enemy."
Two rookies polishing their armor leaned in closer, grinning like idiots.
"Forget his strength — have you seen his wife?"
"Brother, you're underselling it. I'd sell my soul for a smile from that woman."
"Your soul's worthless, and she's married to a man who can turn you into a smear on the wall, so—"
The older knight snorted. "Married to a god-class and you're still thinking about her? Either you've got courage or you're just suicidally horny."
---
Across the hall, a group of female knights had gathered, pretending to stretch after sparring. Their voices were lower, but not by much.
"I heard he's tall… black hair, sharp jawline."
"And those eyes — someone said they're cold but… hot? How does that even work?"
"Cold but hot? Gods, Marla, you've been spending too much time in the romance section of the library."
"Shut up, you know exactly what I mean!"
One woman fanned herself theatrically.
"If he's that strong and that handsome, I might just 'accidentally' need rescuing."
A collective sigh rippled through them before the sound of heavy boots snapped everyone's attention to the entrance.
---
She had arrived.
Seraphina Valtoria Lysandre didn't need to announce herself. The moment she stepped into the hall, the conversations died down to a reverent hush.
Tall, elegant, and lethal without even trying — her very presence seemed to draw every eye.
Her long golden-blonde hair fell in waves behind her, catching the sunlight as it streamed through the windows.
Her armor was light, hugging her curves, (which were huge) in a way that seemed designed more for mobility than brute defense, gleaming with meticulous polish.
Beneath it, her figure was soft — the kind of softness that made people stare — but there was a subtle firmness to her arms and thighs that betrayed years of training.
She walked like she owned the ground itself, and in a way… she did.
The Celestial Knight's Commander.
---
At her side, trailing just slightly behind, was Lyra Noctienne Maev — far smaller in stature, wrapped in a black gown embroidered in faint silver threads. Her violet eyes peeked out from behind the curtain of her neatly tied pigtails, her right eye hidden behind her bang, every movement hesitant but precise. Her soft cleavage were visible, though she clearly wasn't flaunting it.
The pair crossed the training hall without a word, the crowd parting instinctively for them. They didn't need to ask for privacy — they simply headed to the upper chamber, and no one dared follow.
---
Leader's Chamber – Upper Level
The door shut with a solid click, sealing them in the sunlit room. Maps of the continent hung on the walls, pins marking battlefronts, trade routes, and monster nests.
Seraphina walked straight to the central table, picked up a silk cloth, and began polishing the gold-inlaid edges of her gauntlets.
Lyra hesitated at the door, clutching a scroll to her chest.
"Report," Seraphina said without looking up. Her voice was calm, smooth — but there was an unmistakable weight to it.
Lyra swallowed, unrolling the parchment. "Ajio Shiki. Newly registered adventurer… in a border city guild. Witnesses confirm… he shattered their capital-grade crystal during mana assessment."
The cloth in Seraphina's hand slowed. Her gaze finally lifted, those piercing amethyst eyes locking onto Lyra. "…Shattered?"
"Yes, Commander. The crystal… it didn't just overload. It broke into fragments, which then dissolved from the magical backlash."
A slow smile tugged at Seraphina's lips — a predator's smile, half intrigue, half challenge. "That's… new."
---
Lyra shifted her weight. "He's been labeled GOD-Class in unofficial reports. There's no existing scale for his reading. His wife is… A-Class."
"A-Class?" Seraphina tilted her head slightly. "Impressive. But irrelevant."
Lyra hesitated. "…Perhaps. But Commander, if he were to join the Celestial Knights, protocol states—"
"That he would be Commander by default." Seraphina's tone cooled, but her eyes sharpened.
She set the gauntlet down on the table, leaning on both hands. "I've led this order for years. No one outranks me without proving they deserve it."
Lyra looked away, her voice quiet. "The capital… they'll try to recruit him first. Land, gold, luxury… maybe even titles."
Seraphina gave a short, amused laugh. "Kings think everything has a price. Maybe they're right. Maybe not. But if he's truly what they say…" She straightened, rolling her shoulders. "…then I'll see for myself before anyone else gets the chance."
---
Lyra's brow furrowed. "Commander… if he's as strong as they say—"
"Then I'll still fight him."
The words were spoken without hesitation. There was no arrogance in her tone — only certainty.
"Strength isn't just about magic or swordplay. It's about standing your ground. If this man can't even handle me, he's not fit to lead the Celestial Knights."
Lyra opened her mouth, then closed it again. "…And if he can handle you?"
Seraphina smirked. "…Then I'll decide if I can tolerate taking orders from him."
---
A beat of silence passed.
The Commander picked up her sword from where it rested against the wall. It was massive — yet she swung it up with one arm, testing its balance as though it weighed nothing. The light from the window glinted off the polished steel, the edge keen enough to split a hair.
"The capital can throw their gold and their titles," she said. "But we offer something else. We are the shield of the realm. The last wall before darkness swallows the land. That's not a job you buy — it's an honor you earn."
Lyra looked at her, a mixture of awe and worry in her violet eyes. "…You're going to him yourself, aren't you?"
"Of course. If I don't see this man with my own eyes, I'll never believe the hype."
Lyra's lips pressed into a thin line. "…What if he's dangerous?"
Seraphina's smile widened, slow and deliberate, her eyes gleaming like a cat that had spotted a worthy mouse. "Then I'll find out… before anyone else does."
---
Outside, in the halls below, the gossip didn't stop.
The men were still murmuring about the mysterious beauty with the god-level husband.
The women were still trading breathless descriptions of the man who could crush their crystal with a touch.
And none of them knew… that their Commander had just decided to walk straight into the storm.
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END OF CHAPTER : 14 : THE NEWS SPREADS LIKE FIRE!
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