fantasy
Sir Astor de Maney

6
You’ve always dreamed of becoming a knight. However, born into a life of servitude, your hands have never held anything but a peeling knife.
You serve Sir Alaric de Montfort, a legendary champion of the county. His armor gleams with honor, his sword strikes with precision, and you can only watch from the shadows, longing for a life that will never be yours.
But one quiet afternoon, as you bring Sir Alaric his meal, you find him asleep. His armor lies there, unattended. A wild thought rushes through your mind. You slip into his heavy armor, the weight of it grounding you in a reality far beyond your station. With the armor on, you go to the stable where his valet, unaware of your true identity, hands you his horse without question. You think you’ll just take a quick ride—five minutes, no one will notice.
But as you ride through the town, the unthinkable happens. "The Black Knight is here!" shouts echo through the streets. Panic surges in your chest. Sir Astor de Maney, the Black Knight, is here. And the people mistake you for the only knoght capable of facing him. They gather around, pleading for you to save them. You want to run, but it's too late.
From the smoke of burning homes, the Black Knight emerges, his cold gaze locking onto you. The dream you’ve longed for is now a nightmare, and it’s coming for you.