In The Eyes of Truth

Greg sat on a bench by the riverside, the warm hues of the setting sun casting a serene glow over the water. He held a stick in his hand, twirling it absentmindedly as memories of his dream filled his mind. The voice of the blurred knight echoed in his thoughts: "Greatness demands sacrifice."
Unbeknownst to him, danger loomed nearby.
Behind a dense line of trees, three figures observed Greg intently. The trio, Nyra, Vex, and Graven were seasoned operatives, known in their shadowy organization as the Hounds. They specialized in sniffing out targets like Greg.
Nyra, the leader of the group, crouched low, her sharp eyes studying Greg's every move. "He's starting to awaken," she said, her voice low and tense. "The energy signature is unmistakable. It's weak now, but if left unchecked, he'll become a threat."
Vex smirked, twirling his dagger. "You're worried about that kid? He doesn't even know what he is. Easy pickings."
Graven, the hulking brute of the group, cracked his knuckles. "Let's just grab him and be done with it."
Nyra shook her head. "No. We wait. We confirm he's the one. And we don't cause a scene. Not here."
But as they debated their next move, the air around them seemed to shift. A presence emerged from the shadows, quiet yet commanding.
Albert stepped into the clearing, his eyes sharp and cold as they landed on the trio. "You shouldn't be here."
The Hounds rose to their feet, instinctively spreading out to flank Albert. Nyra's hand drifted to the hilt of her dagger, her posture tense.
"And who are you to tell us what we should or shouldn't do?" she asked, her tone mocking but laced with caution.
Albert's gaze didn't waver. "I'm someone who knows what you're after."
The air grew thick with tension. Then, in a blur of motion, Albert struck.
Albert's movements were swift and calculated. He closed the distance to Nyra in an instant, disarming her of one dagger with a precise strike to her wrist. Before Vex could react, Albert pivoted, delivering a sharp elbow to his ribs that sent him staggering backward.
Graven charged at Albert like a bull, his massive frame barreling forward. Albert sidestepped, his hand flashing out to grab Graven's arm. Using the giant's momentum against him, Albert threw him to the ground with a bone-jarring thud.
Nyra recovered quickly, slashing at Albert with her remaining dagger. He parried her strikes with his bracers, the sound of metal on metal ringing through the grove. Vex joined the fray, his knives flashing as he aimed for Albert's blind spots.
Despite being outnumbered, Albert held his ground. His movements were a masterclass in precision and efficiency, each strike and counterstrike executed with deadly intent.
Nyra leapt at Albert, her dagger aimed for his throat. Albert deflected the blade with a swift motion, stepping inside her guard and delivering a devastating blow to her chest. She crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.
Vex lunged from behind, but Albert spun around, catching the assassin's arm mid-strike. With a sharp twist, he disarmed Vex, the knife clattering to the ground. Albert's fist followed, connecting with Vex's jaw in a powerful uppercut that sent him sprawling.
Graven roared in anger, charging at Albert once more. This time, Albert didn't dodge. Instead, he met the giant head-on, his fists striking with the force of a sledgehammer. A brutal exchange of blows followed, but Albert's superior skill and speed proved too much. With a final, crushing kick to the side of Graven's head, the brute fell, unmoving.
Nyra, bloodied and bruised, staggered to her feet, her dagger clutched tightly. "You think you've won?" she spat, her voice filled with venom. "You have no idea what's coming."
Albert's gaze was cold and unyielding. "You won't live to see it."
With a single, decisive motion, Albert struck. Nyra's dagger fell from her hand as she crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Vex, crawling toward his fallen weapon, looked up just in time to see Albert's shadow looming over him. His grin was gone, replaced by fear. "Wait..."
Albert's strike silenced him before he could finish.
Graven, the last of the trio, attempted to rise, but Albert's boot pressed down on his chest, pinning him to the ground. "Your organization is playing with forces it doesn't understand," Albert said quietly. "And you just paid the price."
With one final blow, Graven fell silent.
 
~~~~~
 
Greg's day ended like any other, his muscles aching from training but his mind buzzing with an odd mixture of satisfaction and curiosity. After a quick meal with his family, he climbed into bed, his stick propped neatly against the wall.
But sleep brought him back to the place he couldn't quite understand.
In his dream, Greg stood once more in the grand training hall, the blurred knight before him. Tonight, the knight's tone was different, firm, yet urgent.
"You're stronger than you know," the knight said, his voice echoing in the vast chamber. "But strength alone will not be enough. There are forces at work beyond your understanding. Prepare yourself."
Greg nodded, gripping his sword tightly. As he turned, he noticed another figure standing at the far end of the hall. Unlike the knight, this figure's face was completely obscured, as if a thick mist clung to their features.
"Who are you?" Greg asked, his voice steady but filled with curiosity.
The figure didn't respond. They stood there, motionless, their presence both commanding and oddly familiar.
Greg felt a strange pull toward them, as if they held answers to questions he hadn't even asked.
Greg woke with a start, his heart pounding in his chest. The dream felt sharper this time, more vivid. He rubbed his temples, trying to make sense of the fragmented images. The knight's words lingered in his mind, filling him with an unshakable sense of anticipation.
Though Greg didn't know it, the battle fought in the grove that evening and Albert's swift actions had ensured his safety, at least for now. But the storm brewing around him was far from over. And while Greg remained unaware of the forces converging on him, his dreams hinted at a destiny he could no longer ignore.
The dream unfolded like a tapestry unfurling, vivid and visceral. I stood in the manor courtyard, the air crackling with tension. The warmth of the afternoon sun kissed my skin, but it was the weight of the blade in my hand that grounded me. Around me, the training grounds stretched wide, the faint chatter of other squires fading into the background.
Something was different today. My heart pounded with an unfamiliar rhythm, a sensation deep within me stirring awake. My hand gripped the hilt of the sword tighter, and as I focused on the movements the knight before me demonstrated, I felt it.
Energy.
It started as a faint hum, like the distant strumming of a lute, growing louder and more insistent. My body responded instinctively. My movements became sharper, more fluid, each swing of the blade carrying weight I hadn't known I possessed.
The knight, his features still blurred, paused and turned to face me. "You feel it, don't you?" he said, his voice calm but firm.
I nodded, words escaping me.
"That is aura," he continued, stepping closer. "The essence that flows within you, the bridge between your spirit and the world around you. Today, you take your first step toward wielding it."
He gestured for me to stand still, and as I obeyed, he placed a hand on my shoulder. "Close your eyes. Breathe. Feel the energy coursing through your veins. Command it, shape it, make it yours."
I did as instructed, closing my eyes and drawing in a deep breath. At first, it felt like trying to grasp smoke, elusive and intangible. But as I concentrated, the hum grew louder, coalescing into a steady rhythm. I could feel it the pulsing through my veins, pooling in my chest, waiting to be unleashed.
Suddenly, it erupted. A faint, shimmering light surrounded me, a glow that radiated from within. My eyes snapped open as the aura settled into place, steady and subdued, but undeniably present.
"You've awakened," the knight said, his tone unreadable. "You are now a one-star aura user. The path ahead will be arduous, but this is where your journey truly begins."
Unbenknownst to Greg that his body is also undergoing change as the knight in his dreams.
 
~~~~~
 
As I stood there, basking in the unfamiliar sensation, a figure appeared at the edge of the courtyard. Her silhouette was unmistakable, her bearing regal and poised. The Duke's daughter.
Her face was veiled by shadows, but the way she carried herself was enough to send a jolt of recognition through me. My heart raced—not with fear or awe, but with a fierce sense of purpose. I had promised to protect her, to serve her family, and that vow burned brighter now than ever before.
I woke with a gasp, my body drenched in sweat. The sensation of the aura lingered, faint but real. My chest rose and fell as I tried to steady my breathing, the echoes of the dream refusing to fade.
Was it really just a dream? The weight of the sword, the hum of the energy and I could still feel it.
Shaking my head, I got out of bed and went through my morning routine, the memories of the dream playing on a loop in my mind. By the time I reached school, my thoughts were still a jumbled mess.
That's when I saw her. Lydia.
She was leaning casually against the front gate, her vibrant pink hair catching the morning sunlight. As always, she greeted me with a warm smile that somehow managed to put me at ease.
"Morning, Greg," she said, falling into step beside me.
"Morning," I replied, trying to shake off the lingering haze of my dream.
As we walked, Lydia glanced at me, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You look... different," she said, her tone playful but curious.
"Just tired," I lied, scratching the back of my head.
She didn't seem convinced, but she let it slide. As we reached the school courtyard, she stopped abruptly, rummaging through her bag.
"Here," she said, holding out a bracelet. It was simple, a thin band of silver etched with delicate runes.
"What's this for?" I asked, taking it hesitantly.
"Think of it as a good luck charm," she said, her smile widening. "Or maybe something more. It's... special. Just wear it, okay?"
I raised an eyebrow but slipped the bracelet onto my wrist. The moment it clicked into place, I felt a subtle shift, like a curtain being drawn over a window.
"It'll help keep you safe," Lydia added, her voice quieter now.
I looked at her, suspicion flickering in my mind, but I didn't press. Lydia had always been close to my family, practically an older sister at times. If she thought I needed this, then maybe she was right.
As the day went on, the bracelet sat snugly against my skin, its presence a constant reminder of the strange, new world I was beginning to glimpse.