Tilia

Patrolling, helping people, polishing armor. Collecting Masked Knights' helmets.

Imperial Guard Vehicle Driving Competition: First Place Imperial Guard Weighted Cross-Country Competition: First Place

Loyal to the Empire, Enforce the law impartially, Uphold justice, Protect the weak... (These are only the beginning of a full five pages written by Tilia on this topic.—Iris)

Whether in novels, stage plays, or folklore, knights share one common trait—they help those in trouble. I will do anything to become a knight.

Basic Written Exam: Passable Interview: Average. Physical Fitness Test: Excellent. Adaptability Test: Excellent.

Comments: The candidate barely passed the written exam and displayed an excessive sense of justice during the interview, which could potentially affect her performance as a guard. The candidate demonstrated excellent weight-bearing ability, running three laps around the city while carrying 50 kilograms of equipment, with all vital signs remaining normal afterward. During a simulated hostage scenario, the candidate decisively subdued the assailant and rescued the hostages. However, she used an unusual flying kick which resulted in a ligament sprain. No record of family members becoming knights or Grace Imperium employees within the past five generations. Taking all of the above into consideration, it is recommended to admit the candidate as a squire. —Anonymous

With the ranks of the Imperial Guard, no one embodies the ideals of knighthood better than Tilia does. It is a great irony that she is only a "squire." —Kaydoke

The moldy walls, a rickety bed ready to collapse, and the pungent smell of medicine in the air. As a newly-appointed knight squire, Tilia's first job was delivering medicine. The girl named Xenoria was not the friendly sort, but a knight's mission to help others wasn't dependent on the recipient's attitude.

"The doctor says you're almost fully recovered. Want to go for a ride?" "Yeah, I can get out of bed and walk now, but that's none of your business—hey!"

Tilia, without waiting for an answer, grabbed Xenoria's hand and they mounted her beloved Lapis Eagle. The two of them sped through fields and woods. Xenoria clutched her hoodie tightly and kept her head down, but she kept glancing at the scenery along the way.

"Isn't this view nice? I come here often when I have time off!" "This is too extravagant for someone like me." "Extravagant? It's just sightseeing. If you like it, we can come here all the time." "Don't you have other work to do?" "Don't worry. I'm not skipping work—that would go against the spirit of chivalry. Today's my day off." "Getting too close to someone like me will only bring you bad luck..." "What are you talking about? What you have is a physical injury, not some contagious disease. Besides, it's a knight's duty to help those in need."

Xenoria sighed and said no more. This young squire would soon find out just how much bad luck she would bring.

"Getting too close to someone like me will only bring you bad luck..."

Tilia recalled Xi's words from their ride together. At the time, she hadn't given it much thought. As a knight squire stationed inside the Ash District, Tilia often came across similar sentiments. Inhabitants of the Ash District were, by definition, unlucky people—the lucky ones had long moved to the well-established Silver or Gold Districts. But still...

"There are footprints."

Tilia followed the trail. From deep inside an alley came faint groans of someone injured.

"Xi, where are you?"

She couldn't believe her eyes. Several Ground Viper thugs lay unconscious on the ground. Xi sat among them, her head bandage stained with fresh blood.

"Yo. Looks like I've dragged you into this."

Xi greeted Tilia weakly. There was a box of medicine by her side.

"These are meds earmarked for the sick children of the Ash District. Somehow the Ground Vipers heard about it." "You safeguarded the medicine..." "No, I'm not that noble."

Xi removed her head bandage, revealing a pair of sharp horns.

"During the scuffle, they noticed these." "Xi... You're with the Nocturn Eterna..."

Xi shook her head.

"Our world is more than Nocturn Eterna, but there's no use explaining it. Basically, they found me out. Seeing as my bounty fetches more than these meds, they attacked me instead."

Clang. Tilia thrust her spear into the ground and raised her shield.

"Go ahead and capture me. Better that the bounty on my head goes to you than to those scums."

The shield came rushing toward Xi with a gust of wind. Xi closed her eyes. But the hit never came. The sound of metal clashing echoed behind her. Xi opened her eyes. More Ground Vipers had surrounded them, but Tilia's shield deflected the attacks raining down from above.

"To uphold justice and protect the weak. That's the code of the Imperial Guard."

She bashed her shield and sent the thugs flying.

"The code makes no distinction when it comes to race and affiliation."

Her solid armor deflected incoming sharp blades.

"You safeguarded the medicine and, during my time with you, committed no crime. You're not on the Guard's wanted list. If I were to turn you in as a Nocturn Eterna for the bounty on your head, it would be dishonorable and against the spirit of chivalry." "Tilia..." "Just go. I'm simply fulfilling my duty of maintaining order, and you're just a passerby who did a good deed." "I have nowhere to..." "That's not true. Watch this move."

Tilia leapt high into the air, executing an aerial flying kick that completely defied human anatomy. The sound of a loud crash exploded inside the alley before it quickly drowned out by the rain.

A month later... Lying in a hospital bed with her leg in a cast, Tilia received an anonymous letter.

"Salutations, I'm sorry I didn't see the end of your flying kick. In the Masked Knight stories you told me, the hero always used this move when there was no other way out, and it would be the pivotal moment when everything turned. Thank you for your encouragement. When you leapt, I turned and fled from the city. Getting close to someone like me brings bad luck. But you're an exception. Maybe it's because your light is so dazzling that it has cleansed me of my misfortune. I'm heading north now. Along the way, I saw a golden little flower covered in star-like fuzz. I've sent it along with this letter. When we meet next time, I hope you will tell me its name. Your truly A Passerby Citizen"

Tilia smiled and tucked the letter under her pillow. One really shouldn't use that ultimate flying kick too often.Perhaps only the rain will remember her brief encounter with the girl who may or may not be a Nocturn Eterna.

The beginning of this story can be traced back to several months earlier. A grand exhibition was being held inside the Imperial Guard's castle. The lance and shield of the legendary knight Brahmante were displayed in the center of the hall. It was the first time in twenty years that these legendary Artifacts were on view. However, the old blacksmith only shook his head in disappointment. He could tell by a glance that these were counterfeits made barely a week ago—exceptionally crude ones, at that.

Just as the old blacksmith was about to leave this pointless exhibition, a monster on display broke out of its shoddy iron cage and charged into the crowd. The defenseless audience fled in all directions. The old blacksmith, caught in this surge of panic, was knocked down in front of the beast. He thought he would end up inside the monster's stomach, but an adolescent girl broke through the display case, grabbed Brahmante's supposed lance and shield, and charged toward the monster.

The crude counterfeits were, of course, no match for the beast. Nevertheless, the girl did not retreat. She tied herself with a rope and leapt from the second floor, delivering a "knight's flying kick" to the beast. Maybe it was her perfect aim, or maybe the girl's courage stunned the beast. The monster fell to the floor. The chaos ended with only one person injured.

Months passed. The girl recovered and was duly discharged from the hospital. She polished her armor until it shone brightly and rode her beloved scooter to the old blacksmith's home. She pushed the rustic door open and saw the blacksmith's final masterpiece: a pair of lance and shield made in Brahmante's style but fundamentally unique.

"Take these," the blacksmith said, "they are made specially for you. Only you are worthy to wield something made in this legendary design. These are not duplicates of Brahmante's—they are yours. Give them a new name." "Thank you! Then... I will call them Freedom and Glory. Simple, but far from common!"

Tilia took the lance and shield with her and stepped out of the workshop. She held them high above her head. From that moment on, Nova's new knight legend began to take shape.