Black.
That was the first thing Raphael Matthews noticed.
Black armor covered the woman’s shoulders and arms, decorated with intricate metallic patterns that resembled ancient religious symbols. Purple accents ran through the dark material, barely visible beneath the folds of her clothing.
Beneath the armor was a white blouse with a high collar and delicate ruffles. The bright fabric created a strange contrast against the dark armor surrounding it.
A black waist corset wrapped tightly around her figure, reinforced with ornate metallic clasps. Her lower armor was equally elaborate. Dark plates, belts, chains, and engraved metal protected her thighs and hips while still allowing freedom of movement.
In her hand was a massive weapon. It was a dark, staff-like weapon nearly as tall as she was, and she was tall.
Raphael estimated that she stood at least six feet seven inches, possibly higher.
The head of the staff resembled a twisted fusion of a cross and a monstrous relic. Black metal curled around its surface, while faint purple energy pulsed from within it.
The moment her feet touched the hospital floor, a wave of mana swept through the room. Raphael’s hair moved from the pressure. The curtains fluttered violently, and several pieces of medical equipment flickered at once.
Every person in the room froze and slowly stared at her.
The woman slowly lifted her head.
Her violet eyes swept across the room with a cold, arrogant, and completely unfazed expression. She looked as though appearing inside a strange hospital surrounded by frightened humans was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Then her eyes stopped on Raphael. For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Raphael could feel the pressure radiating from her body. It was not ordinary mana- not that he knew what ordinary mana felt like in the first place.
He could just tell.
The energy surrounding her was overwhelming, dense, and refined. It was powerful enough that every instinct in his body screamed at him to stay away, yet she did not attack. Instead, she slowly raised her chin.
"Are you the Sovereign?"
Her voice was calm and elegant. It carried the confidence of someone who had never once considered herself inferior to anyone.
"Yeah?"
Raphael swallowed. The doctors had become background noise. Somehow, they seemed frozen in place as his attention remained fixed on the tall female knight standing before him.
The woman stared at him, her eyes narrowing.
"You?"
"What? Is something wrong?"
"This is my summoner?"
Her expression visibly darkened. Raphael could almost see the disappointment settling over her face as she looked him up and down.
He suddenly became painfully aware of his condition.
He was lying in a hospital bed wearing nothing more impressive than a medical gown. His hair was a mess, his body was weak, and he probably looked like someone who had lost a fight with death. Which, technically, he had.
The woman’s lips curled slightly.
"You are incredibly unimpressive." Raphael’s face twitched. "And weak."
Ouch. That hurt. It hurt even more because he could not exactly argue with her. Raphael stared at her, hoping she would not break his heart and soul any further with her words.
Maybe he had expected too much.
"You know, I just woke up from being dead," he said, attempting to sound confident. The act faltered almost immediately, like a faulty grinding machine.
"I am aware."
The woman stepped closer, her boots striking the hospital floor with a quiet click.
"You possess no visible mana."
She stopped beside his bed.
"No weapon."
Her violet eyes moved over him.
"No armor."
Then her gaze returned to his face.
"And from what I can sense..." She leaned slightly closer. "You have barely enough strength to stand."
Raphael sighed.
"You’re not exactly making me feel better."
"I was not attempting to." She straightened. "That is not in my jurisdiction."
Raphael stared at her, and she stared back. She was coldly and arrogantly powerful.
At that moment, a system window appeared before Raphael’s eyes. Only he could see it.
[Summoned Knight has recognized the Chosen Sovereign]
[First Knight: Vanessa Fencer]
[Relationship: Sovereign - Knight]
[Loyalty: 0 → 1]
Raphael nearly choked.
"One?"
Vanessa’s eyebrow lifted.
"Is something wrong?"
"Nothing."
He quickly looked away. The system window remained in front of him.
[Notice: Vanessa Fencer possesses an exceptionally strong personality.]
[Notice: Vanessa Fencer does not automatically recognize the Sovereign as her superior.]
[Notice: The Chosen Sovereign’s current Authority is insufficient to establish absolute command.]
Raphael stared at the notifications- then he slowly looked at Vanessa. She was still watching him with that cold, unimpressed expression, her staff glowing faintly in her hand.
The strange purple energy around it seemed to distort the air, as though the entire room had been placed beneath an invisible pressure.
Raphael was beginning to understand something.
The system had not summoned an obedient servant. It had summoned a woman who might be stronger than everyone in the building- possibly everyone in the city- and she had given him one point of loyalty.
"So..." Raphael cleared his throat. "You’re Vanessa?"
"I am." Vanessa placed one hand against her chest and gave the slightest inclination of her head. "Vanessa Fencer. Saintess of the Black Cathedral. Knight of the Seventh Order."
Her violet eyes sharpened.
"Or at least, I was." She looked around the hospital room. "This is not my world."
"No."
"Then explain."
Her tone was not a request. It was an order. Raphael opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, one of the nurses finally found her voice.
"WHO IS THAT?!"
The room erupted. Several nurses stumbled backward. One doctor reached for the emergency alarm, while another grabbed a mana scanner from the nearby equipment table.
"She’s an Awakened!"
"No. This mana density is impossible!"
"Get security!"
Vanessa remained completely unperturbed. She looked down at her staff and muttered something only Raphael could hear.
"The mana here is too little."
Raphael glanced at her.
’She sounds disappointed.’
The doctor holding the scanner stepped forward with trembling hands. The device gave a sharp electronic beep as he pointed it toward Vanessa. For a moment, the screen displayed a series of rapidly changing numbers.
Then...
BEEP!
BEEP!
BEEP!
[WARNING!]
[MANA OUTPUT EXCEEDS SCANNER LIMIT]
[WARNING!]
[MEASUREMENT FAILURE.]
The scanner cracked, a thin line spreading across its screen. Then the device released a small burst of smoke.
Vanessa sighed.
"Primitive."
She turned back toward Raphael as if nothing had happened, and your man could not stop staring. The system had not lied.
She was not merely an A-Rank Knight; she was a monster, a beautiful, terrifying monster, and somehow, according to the system, she belonged to him.
Another notification appeared.
[First Knight successfully summoned.]
[Knight Contract established.]
[The Chosen Sovereign has successfully summoned a living legend.]
[Congratulations!]
[The Throne of Knights has officially begun!]
Raphael stared at Vanessa, and Vanessa stared at him. Neither of them knew what the future held, but one thing was certain.
His life as an ordinary human was over, and judging by the expression on his first knight’s face, his life as her supposed Sovereign was going to be anything but peaceful.
In simpler terms... he was completely screwed.
Raphael slowly turned toward the panicking doctors.
Somehow, the room had become even more chaotic. One nurse was trying to call security, another was attempting to calm a doctor who looked ready to faint, and the damaged scanner continued to emit a weak warning tone.
Raphael forced a smile.
"I summoned her."
Every person in the room looked at him. He lifted one hand weakly.
"Seems I’ve awakened, finally."
The doctor holding the broken scanner stared at him- then at Vanessa.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!"
It was the first time Raphael had ever heard a professional, educated doctor swear so loudly.
Vanessa merely tilted her head, while Raphael smiled awkwardly. His new life had officially begun, and it was already a disaster.