Redemption of a Knight

Prologue

Summery-A few years after Judgment discovers a horrible secret about the Church of Light, he disappears and becomes an assassin. The story is better than it's summery; I promise you so please read it.

NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE STORY: The story will take place after the third novel. The fourth or fifth novel does not take place. In the Prologue, the knights are all 22. I am not sure how old they really are but that is how old I say they are.

Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of the Sun Knight.

I am an assassin. One of the best. But I used a Holy Knight, the Judgment Knight to be precise. That's right, I was once a Holy Knight of the Twelve Holy Knights of the Church of Light.

It had been a four years since I retired and became an assassin. Of course that is probably not how the other Holy Knights saw it, I don't even know if they know that I am an assassin. To be honest, I abandoned my post as Judgment Knight. Most of the other Knights probably think of me as a low life scum bag and I have to agree with them. In my defense, I could no longer serve a corrupt church and government that would sell out their allies for a big pay day.

Perhaps I should start at the beginning. I had been put on a mission to find a dangerous criminal wanted for the murder of three church officials. This was a solo assignment and very secretive. I was ordered to kill the man on sight. I always hated missions that ended up with me killing. But the thing that got me was that I had been ordered to kill him and not just kill if he resisted. I had been suspicion of the fact that this man did not even get his own trial for something as important as this.

I should have just said no to the mission. I was on break already and could have just let one of the other Knights handle it, Sun Knight enjoyed missions like this, but I had spent all of my money the week before on preparing a dinner for Grisia birthday. He had demanded that I buy him all of his favorite foods and of course that had left me broke.

It was easy enough finding the man through some of my contacts. So after I had tracked him to an abandoned mill I had assumed I could just wait it out. It was as simple as that but no I just had to have this damn feeling. My Holy magic prickled as I walked into the building. I did not have much magic but I knew when it acted up, I had to follow my instincts. It was dark. No, I am not scared of the dark. I had been trained by my teacher to not be afraid of the dark as a requirement for being the Judgment Knight.

After walking into a back hall connecting the building to a back hallway I noticed a light. I had my sword drawn, ready to attack if anyone was armed. I peered into the room to find that no one was in there despite the candle burning on a table.

Feeling reassured I walk in taking a look at the room. It was small and by the looks of it, had been home to the man I had been charged with finding. The same prickling I had felt earlier had returned and as I turned to the table that the candle sat on, I noticed many different papers. I picked one up randomly and after reading for only a few second, I drop the paper on the table and stumble back. I am usually one to not show emotions but in rare moments when I am alone, I allow it.

It was impossible what had been on that paper but from the way my magic reacted, I knew it was the truth. On that paper read a hit list for some of the most important people in the church along with in the king's council and a list of how much money each kill was worth. That was not the surprising thing. It was the fact that it was written in the king's handwriting. I look at other papers. They all have different writing on them. Some list calculated attacks by undead on specific spots that could destroy the whole block in order to cease funding for a particular business. There had even been Assassins hired by the church to kill representatives from other churches.

And then the most horrendous thing I could possibly see, each page was signed off by the Pope. He was the Pope and he was the one who actually signed off on these papers. I can't believe it.

I felt like I wanted to be sick. It was after I had backed away from the table the second time that a voice sounded from the door way.

"Ah, the great Judgment Knight come to kill me have you." I turned to see a middle aged man. Dirty blonde hair, rages for close. He smelled like he hadn't taken a bath in years. I could smell him from three meters away.

He was identical to the one on the picture I was given before I started my mission. He was the one I had to kill but I wanted to know what part he played in this. How could he possibly have any of this or if this was in fact real. I wanted to doubt it but my magical sense wouldn't let me.

The man continued on, "I won't let you kill me. Even if you do, I have other copies sent to many different people."

I stopped him then, not even having to pretend to be furious, "I demand to know what is going on. Why do these papers have the Popes signatures and why is it written in the king's hand. Tell me."

He laughs as if I have told a funny joke but my face remains hard. I could care less about my stupid smile then. He finally stops laughing and is now staring at me in genuine shock.

"You can't tell me that you didn't know about this, any of this." He said and then he starts laughing again.

With a speed that could rival , I am now running at him. My fist connects with his face and I could feel my magic flowing out of my hand to add extra power. I had no time for this idiot. I wanted to know what was going on.

"You really have no clue. Hiding things not only from the public but also their greatest weapons." the man said as he sat up after he had fallen to the ground.

I grew angry at his statement, "I am no weapon. I am a Knight, the Judgment Knight. One of the twelve holy Knights and I have no time to play. Now tell me before I beat you to a bloody pulp."

At that point, I believe my voice was the scariest thing that could have ever been said by me. At that point I didn't even know if I would actually do it. I was probably angry enough but I doubt my stomach would last for it all. I could hold my vomit in when I am 'interrogating' prisoners but what I wanted to do to him was much more painful with a lot more blood.

"Alright, you wanna know then I will tell you. Your government, your church they are nothing but a bunch of cowards hiding behind there Holy Gods and Knights. You think they praise you because they respect you? No, they do it because it distracts you from the darker parts." He said.

I listened in fascination as he told me of all those back ally deals made to get rid of certain people in order to keep their power or make the church and king more powerful. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I felt like punching something. Resisting the urge to hit the man again, I stomped over to one of the walls and with as much magic I could muster into my hand, I punched. A hole as tall as me and as wide was the result of my anger. I had no idea that this much power could come from me when I was this angry.

I hated myself for what I did not want to believe but everything was pointed to the truth. I collapsed onto the ground and sat there for what felt like hours but I am sure it was only a few minutes. So very few times have I been this confused on what I should do. Should I do as the church ordered and complete my mission, should I expose the truth on the church? I could get help from the other Knights but what if they too were in on it. I am the judgment Knight. I am supposed to judge what the church condones as criminals but would the church see itself as a criminal let alone the Pope or that fat ass of a king.

I heard the floor boards creak behind me but I did not look at the man who was slowly approaching me, "What am I supposed to do? You tell me. I am supposed to be the Judgment Knight."

"Nothing that is what you should do. Don't go against the church but at the same time don't help them, leave." He sat down next to me, "When I first found out about what the government people were doing, I gave my wife a choice to either be on my side or not. But she chose a different root, she left. Not just me but the whole of this place. I don't know where she is now but I know that she is with me or against me."

"That's easy for someone to do that isn't as high up as me. I am the Judgment Knight. I punish criminals. How do you expect me to Judge the Pope and king for crimes like this. I would most likely become the enemy." I said trying to sound aggravated but found that I didn't even have the strength to argue.

"You are young, just about the same age as my son." He said solemnly, "He was killed helping me with my idiotic scheme. I should have told him to leave with his mother. He was young and felt passion for what he was doing same as you but he died too young to even live his life. Just like you, risking your life for a government that kills off its own just to further its power."

"I was sent to kill you without even taking you in for a trial. I had known something was up from the minute I was assigned this mission." I said, but then got up quickly, "I have to go."

I went to the desk and gathered up the papers, placing them in my cloak as not to be spotted by anyone. The man looked startled and jumped after with me, looking nervous as he asked, "I thought you were sent to kill me?"

"I have never failed a mission before." I began to walk away and noticed that the heavier foot falls were not following after. "I will require that you burn this mill before the night is throw and then leave without anyone noticing. You have nothing to worry about, I have dedicated my life to upholding justice."

After that, I had made up my mind. I would leave just as the man had said. I went back to the church and gave them my report on killing the man. How I had set the mill on fire trapping him in and said something about how the God Of Light had taken the Sinner to where he rightfully belonged. I was paid a large sum of money, much more than what I usually was paid after a mission. I left after the meeting, heading straight for Grisia's room. Before I leave I needed to see him.

I knock on his door, hearing the silent groan that I knew could only belong to Grisia. It was then that I remembered that this was the time of day that he applied him face mask. Oops.

"Sun, it is Judge." I said, knowing that he would just let me in and feel happy that he does not have to take off his face cream. The door was open to reveal a very agitated looking Sun Knight. He's still smile as he looks around the hall but sees no one and the smile slips.

He looked around before saying, "What do you want, Judge?"

"I need to talk to you." I said as I push my way into his room.

We walk over to his sofa. His face shows annoyance but I have been around him long enough to see the underlying emotions. He is worried, probably about what I plan to say. I am usually straight to the point but today, I feel like my tongue is made of led.

"How have you been, Grisia?" I ask, too afraid to speak what I really wanted to say. He seems surprised by what I had said. Knowing that face, I could tell he felt something was up and wouldn't let it go.

"Is that what you came to talk about? I don't think so. What wrong Lesus?" I don't want to say but I know that I have to so that at least he knows and if anyone figures out that I know about the church then they would least expect me to tell the Sun Knight.

I handed him the papers that I had taken and he began reading. I could see surprise spread across his face. Once he was finished he turned to me, wanting an explanation.

I begin to explain. Telling him about the assignment and how it had not felt right. I spoke about what had happened in the room. What I read on the papers and what the man had told me. I skipped the part about him giving me advice to leave. I didn't want him to know about that. Next I told him of what I had down, lying about completing the mission to save the man's life when he had been innocent. Throughout it all, Grisia listened and took in all that I had said. He understood that I am not that good at hurting people let alone killing them especially when I know that person is innocent.

"We have to tell the other Holy Knights and expose what the church and king are doing." he said determined. I am confused and doubting everything I have ever believed in. I couldn't stay. I wouldn't not even if what Grisia said came to be and the church was exposed, I couldn't stay.

I nodded "That is why I came to you. You are better at gaining support for what needs to be done. I will have my Vice-captain help you with whatever you need."

"Is that so?" Grisia said, "We can talk about this more in tomorrow."

The conversation was over then and I left. The next morning we did not talk. I had left that during the night. At the time, I had no idea where I was to go but I knew that I had made the right decision, at least for me I did. Not for the others but for myself. I knew that they would think of me as a no good deserter but I didn't care at the time.

Over the next four years I have come to both doubt and accept reason after reason why I did what I did. I accept that I could no longer be there pretending to be something I am not. I doubt that I will ever have such close, brother like relationships as I did with the Holy Knights ever again. But I know I will one day see them again and hopefully they will not hate me for leaving.

END