*A little note to say that Y/N's name will be organized as such - first name, middle name, last name - in this story. The members will have the standard Korean order but you might see a bit of everything since I will not be using only Korean people to fill in the roles. You have been warned.

*Also, a lot of inner thinking in this chapter as I need to set the story. It might get a little boring, but it all serves a purpose, I promise

Please enjoy!!!

(edited)

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*A little note to say that Y/N's name will be organized as such - first name, middle name, last name - in this story. The members will have the standard Korean order but you might see a bit of everything since I will not be using only Korean people to fill in the roles. You have been warned.

*Also, a lot of inner thinking in this chapter as I need to set the story. It might get a little boring, but it all serves a purpose, I promise

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My opponent pushes forward with every swing of his sword to get me out of formation, and before I can recover my balance after a misplaced foot position, another hit from his blade sends my weapon flying out of my hand.

He then rests the cold steel against my neck with a triumphant smirk. I pant, out of breath because of this arrogant prick who took the opportunity to ridicule me in front of everyone after seeing how distracted I've been all day.

He knew that I wouldn't be able to defend myself like I usually do, all because of the letter that came in for me this morning. The bastard knew and still decided to do it. That makes me hate him even more. He chose me as his opponent on purpose and everyone's been cheering on him despite my situation.

Officer Kade, who supervises our training at this time of the day, a higher ranked knight who likes to bully me any chances he gets, sighs loudly before waving a hand to get me to come over.

I bite on the inside of my cheek before taking my sword from the ground and then make my way to the man who looks done with me, as I am with this day.

"Shields, you've been performing so terribly today that it's not even worth fixing. Head to the stables and clean up the stalls, and don't you dare half-ass the job. Maybe spending some time in horse shit will clear your mind a little. Put your sword and armor in the armory and come back tomorrow if you feel like you can do better than this shit show you gave us" the old man demands drily before turning the other way, his attention already on his favourite knight and son, whom I despise.

I don't say anything as the other knights in training snort from their corners, but goddamn do I want to.

"Hear that, Shields? I guess being a knight just wasn't made for you, was it? I'll take you as my wife if you want, I'll treat you well, I promise!" one of the assholes of the order chirps, and I breathe in through my teeth before turning my back on them, that's not even worth replying to.

"I'll do better tomorrow, sir" I utter before walking out of the training grounds and towards the armory, my yellow neck scarf pulled off with a huff, armor pieces removed on the way until my only protection is this sweaty cotton uniform.

Once I reach the building's entrance, a young boy comes running to take everything from me like there's a timer ticking in his ears before getting started on the intense cleaning that will take him a few hours.

I stare at him for a short minute, the sight reminding me of what I had to go through myself back then. My conditions were worse because I was the only girl in a world of men, a gender looked down on by those in power no matter what it is that we do.

Those seven years were honestly pretty bad. They opened my eyes on a sad reality, one being that women are always seen only as play-toys by those who think with their dick instead of their brain, which is pretty much every men in the orders of chivalry, with a few exceptions.

It's only because I truly love being a knight that I'm still here right now because sometimes, leaving all of this behind to live a regular life becomes a little too tempting, even if it would mean losing the many years of hard work I put into this.

Being a knight-errant is something I have begun to dream about as of late. The idea of traveling the world without a goal in mind to help those I encounter on the way... it might not assure a financial security, but this life has a certain charm to it.

It might not be something I can afford doing right now, but maybe one day, when I'm weary of this type of environment, I can drop everything and lead a different life. One that will give more sense to the reason of my existence.

I sigh before leaving the armory with a certain wistful feeling settled in my chest. I can't have anyone thinking I'm lazy in the fortress, as my not wearing my neck scarf currently means I am back to a lowly servant until my task is done. Some people would love making fun of me and I do not desire that.

It's to be expected, though. I'm older than the other new recruits since I started much later than them, and yet my skills do appear below theirs at moments. My begging met deaf ears for many years before someone I admire finally took pity on me and decided to give me a try. Despite all that, I know that I belong here, just as much as anyone else.

I proved myself and earned my rank just like everyone else, but they like to look down on me anyway. Women are very rare in this field of work and I have heard too often that I would be better off warming the knights' beds rather than going on the battlefield, that going to war should be left to the real men.

I hate that sort of speech the most. It's bad enough that my achievements are most of the time perceived as luck, as if they expect me to turn around crying one day when reality finally hits me in the face.

I work twice as hard as they do to prove that I deserve to be here, but they never acknowledge that, why should they? It would go against their belief. What they always see instead is the mistakes I make, always the mistakes.

But that's just how Orton is. The people born here grow up hearing that women must stay at home as much as possible because the city isn't exactly a safe place for us to be. Some people have good intentions when they say that they want their wife to remain at home, but that doesn't mean everyone is the same. If men weren't such a problem, women would be more than safe to go around.

It takes me about ten minutes to reach the stables since it's at the complete opposite end of the fortress, near the front gates, and as soon as I enter the wooden building, my chest goes from heavy to much lighter.

I immediately start greeting the horses, the only part of working in here that I used to enjoy - that I still enjoy. These pure creatures are the only reason I'm still sane in here.

I easily find Eclipse in her usual stall, looking bored out of her mind. I chuckle at the sight, a sound that gains her immediate attention. Our eyes meet and she happily blows air from her nose in greeting, hooves clacking on the floor until I make it to her door.

She bumps her face against mine with a soft neigh, her boredom only ending when I'm here because she doesn't like other horses that much.

"Eclipse, my pretty girl, did you miss me?" I ask before peppering her nose with kisses. "I missed you. I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner. You must be wondering what I'm doing here, hm?" I mutter softly as I gently caress her spotted coat, my mood much better now that I'm here with her.

"You see, I got kicked out of the training because I lost in a match, I've been distracted all day so I wasn't ready to counter the impact of my opponent's hit. That's my bad, really. I'd be dead on the battlefield if the same had happened but... meh, I was sent here for the rest of the day. Horse shit is apparently supposed to help me clear my mind" I vent to her without a second thought, it's something I've always done after all.

Men always sigh and shake their head when I talk to animals but they can fuck off, I know Eclipse understands me, as much as she can understand anyway.

She makes a small displeased noise to communicate her anger at my treatment and I nod my head in agreement, I knew she'd be on my side on this one. We all have bad days, I can't believe I was sent to clean horse shit just because of that.

I suddenly catch a glimpse of a new horse from the corner of my eye and tilt my head in curiosity, I've never seen this one here before.

I pat Eclipse's shoulder before making my way to the new addition, a quiet but tall stallion of a beautiful brown coat with a long, black mane. It's definitely one of the fancy horses used by the higher ranks, but I don't recall hearing about anyone coming here today.

I try to call it over gently, and when the horse remains exactly where he is with a wary glance on me, it makes me happy, for some reason. This one is prudent, which means that he's less likely to be used against his owner.

"What a well trained boy you are" I coo softly as I lean on the door with a smile. "You don't have to worry about me, I like horses more than I like people, pinky promise. Would you like neck scratches? I give the best scratches. If you don't believe me, ask my girl Eclipse, she's sure to agree with me".

Knowing what her task is, Eclipse makes a soft noise to encourage our new friend, because she does love them scratches. At this, the stallion turns a little curious before slowly coming forward, a sniff to my face before he tilts his head to show me his neck, and I chuckle before supplying with the promised scratches happily.

"How's that? Did I lie? It feels good, right?" I ask the beast who neighs positively, body edging a little closer to get more of the petting. It makes me smile in contentment, I've always been good at making friends with animals, is that why I don't have a single human friend?

Maybe I should've been born a horse instead.

"You've befriended Bear rather quickly, I am surprised".

The sudden, deep baritone of a voice startles me out of the scratching session in an instant, and the horse neighs softly at the new arrival that I can only assume is his owner. And what's that... Bear? That beautiful horse was named Bear?

I turn around, wondering who could be here at this time of the day, and most specifically, who would name their horse Bear. My eyes curiously take in the very handsome man currently standing between me and the exit, an ethereal appearance that would put anyone else to shame.

He has fluffy, black hair that falls over a pair of delicate eyes of a beautiful green, and his skin is the perfect tint of honey, not to forget that he's very tall and slender, with just the right amount of muscles to be well-built without it being overwhelming.

I've never seen this person around here before, he looks breathtakingly gorgeous.

I'm about to reply to him with an easygoing friendliness that would match his tone, but when my eyes notice the purple neck scarf resting over his collarbones, I nearly shit myself. My heart stops beating and I make many steps back before throwing myself down on one knee, head bent low as I try to process what the hell is going on here.

Why is a dragon standing before me? Goldwyn, the Capital, is a few days from here, I would know since I was born there, so what happened that required the presence of a knight of the Order of Fire on this ground? I can't believe I'm currently alone with one of them! I used to only see them from afar when I was a kid!

"Sir, I give you my sincerest apologies for touching your horse without permission, I shouldn't have done that, please forgive me" I let out with a clear voice that slightly betrays how nervous I am at the moment, and the voice hums softly, eyes boring onto me with a heat that I can feel on my skin.

I mean, literally, my skin is getting really hot.

I begin to massage my nape when the burning sensation flares in that area with more intensity, an uncomfortable stretch of the neck that doesn't do anything to help. What's that all of a sudden? I've never had that happen before.

"Please, you don't have to be so formal with me, I'm done with the formalities for the day. Rise, young one, don't stay on the dirty floor like this. What's your name? Are you a knight here in the fortress? You don't hold yourself like a servant".

Still unsure about the standing up part, I nonetheless obey the order, head still bent as I proceed to answer the question.

"Y/N Aithne Shields, sir. I'm a new knight recruit here".

"Hm, Y/N Aithne Shields... that's an interesting name. Aithne means fire, did you know? Please, like I said, I'm done with the formalities for today so you have no need to be so stiff. My name is Kim Taehyung, is your nape alright? I saw you touching it".

I gulp before slowly looking up to find him staring at me with sharp eyes, like he's already expecting one answer in particular. Why does it matter to him if my nape is alright or not?

"It's... nothing, Sir Taehyung. It just burns a little, it'll surely pass in a bit. The weather's hot today so it wouldn't be anything new. I was training with the sword a while ago so that must be why" I answer in order to reassure him, but the man simply hums before raising a finger to beckon me over.

"Come here, let me see".

I freeze at his unexpected demand, feet set in stone as I try to find a way to refuse without being disrespectful, for this is a really bad situation to be in, no matter from which angle I see it.

I'm a new knight, it's barely been half a year since my ceremony. What if someone else comes in here and sees us being too close? I'll be punished for it, because they'll immediately assume that I tried to flirt with a dragon, and what then?

I don't want rumors to spread because of this! What if they make it to my parents' ears?

"With all due respect, Sir Taehyung, I think it would be better if I keep my distance. We both are aware that I am a woman, and the knights here have a very wild imagination as to what someone of my gender should be doing, which has ultimately nothing to do with swords and more to do with beds. I'm sure it's nothing, but I'm thankful for your concern. Now if you'll allow me, I have a task to do. I shall excuse myself" I explain as calmly as I can manage before bowing respectfully.

I did not work harder than anyone here only to lose everything in a matter of seconds, all because I lowered my guard. I have enough things to worry about on my mind and do not need one more, even if that knight is part of the most important order to ever exist in the Empire.

Before the dragon knight can say anything, his lips parted in disbelief at my clear avoidance, all without even being given a chance to explain his reasoning, I leave the stables with quick feet to reach the storage room where are stored the needed tools while hoping that he'll take that time to leave.

I feel bad that I ran from him like this when he only wanted to make sure I was fine, but too much is at stake for me to allow this mistake to happen. What would people think if they saw him pushing my hair away from my nape?

It's only going to give the men here more reasons to sexualize my existence and that's the last thing I desire.

I gather everything I need and put the tools in the wheelbarrow before pushing it all the way back to where the horse stalls are, eyes nervously scanning around to see if he's still here. To my biggest relief, Kim Taehyung has left the stables.

I'm glad that he could at least respect that for me. I really don't want people to point their finger at me and call me a whore when I'm just trying to do my job. I need that money if I want to pay for my mother's medicine, which is ridiculously expensive - my salary barely covers my family's living expenses.

Not to forget that the letter I received this morning from home mentioned how her health has declined again, and that she needs to begin a new treatment, which is costly as well. It's all I can think about, and I hate that I can't even visit her in person.

I need to request at least one week off just for traveling to and from Goldwyn, and I don't know if I'm allowed that much time off since new recruits normally don't have any advantages before a year or two.

Maybe I should ask Commander Rayner if I can be transferred to the capital... I might have a chance if I explain that it's to be with my sick family. He's always been of the understanding kind, he's the one who made me start as a page after all.

I sigh before focusing on what needs to be done for the moment. I'll take care of the horses until their stalls are all clean, and when I get my scarf back, I'll go find him to make my request known. I trust only him to help me in this wretched place.

Taehyung's POV

I knock on the door of the commander's office, the only man here who is really worth talking to, which I was warned about before leaving the castle. I had to make a stop at a few cities along the border on the way, and was supposed to head back home with Bear once my business here done.

It would have been much faster if I'd gone in my dragon form, but I had humans by my side for half of the travel. I couldn't abandon them to the harshness of the desert while I flew over their head in peace.

This town doesn't have such a good reputation compared to the neighbouring cities, so I knew what was awaiting me here, particularly a lack of respect and especially, a lack of order, the officers and other people of high position not particularly good at their job, which is a shame, really.

My task didn't require me to talk to anyone else anyway. I only came here to receive a report on the current situation at the frontier separating Orton from Ashwald, since we heard word that the rebelling city, once apart of our Empire, was creating trouble again with the Aellyn Empire, who we are trying to build a passive relationship with after ending a useless war that lasted for too many years.

The situation is indeed as we feared, with Ashwald trying to give the Aellyn Empire another reason to take up arms against the Stainad Empire, which is absolutely ridiculous. They're allowed to dislike the past, as indeed the royal family had not been fair with them, but to go as far as to stir up a war when we just managed to reach common grounds for peace?

That's a report that I will have to give to the King when I'm back to the capital, but just as I was about to get my horse to leave the fortress, I had to stumble upon a very unexpected discovery.

I might not have been able to see it, but there's no doubt about it, that young lady wears our mark. The timing of the burn and its placement speaks for itself, and what of the pull I felt as our eyes met?

Who would've known that we would have a human knight as a mate? I thought our bond had completed all those years ago when my six other dragon mates reunited, but it seems that we were bound to have a new addition in this life.

"Enter" a strong voice speaks from within the room, and not one to waste time uselessly, I open the door and step inside without a sound, my feet light despite the anger that simmers inside me. The Commander abruptly stands up from his desk as soon as he sees me.

"Sir Taehyung, forgive me, I did not know you were still here. What can I do for you? Was there something else you needed from me?".

I close the door before taking the seat in front of his desk, and once I've sat down, he does the same, his brows slightly furrowed as he waits to hear the reason of my presence here when I should be on my way back to the capital by now.

"What can you tell me about Y/N Aithne Shields?".

Taken aback, Commander Rayner simply... stares at me, as if that could tell him the reason of my question, a protective glow in his eyes that lets me know enough without even needing to hear anything.

She's not treated well here, that much I can see.

"I met her in the stables earlier. She was given for task to clean the stalls and I want to know why. A knight, no matter how young, new recruit or not, shouldn't have to take on such a job again, am I wrong?" I continue when he has yet to say anything, and his face falls at my words.

"Again? It's the third time in two weeks... damn it, Kade... I apologize that you had to be witness to such a disrespect towards one of our knights, sir, I'll be sure to take that matter within my own two hands today" he promises as I inhale deeply. Kade, huh?

"Now, to answer your question about Y/N" he continues, a hum before he's nodding his head, a light smile on his lips just at the thought of her.

"She's a good kid, hardworking and talented at what she does, and she has a very good sense of morals, far better than any other knights that can be found here, that's for sure. She's originally from the capital, but was sent here to start her training. She's always been older than the other kids because of the time it took for someone to give her a chance, but she was tenacious, that one. I knew she wouldn't ever give up, so I decided to be the one to give her a try.

"And God knows she kept surprising me, that lass. As you could see, she's subject to a lot of unfairness. It was bound to happen with her being a woman in Orton but... it's honestly even worse than I expected. The men here think with their feet more than they think with their brain and I'm almost ashamed to call them knights. I've been looking into sending her back to the capital so she can be closer to her family, but I've yet to ask her how she'd feel about that".

I lean back in my seat before crossing my arms over my chest, mind spinning with all that I'm hearing.

Gaining the knowledge that my mate is being treated like this here... infuriates me. To be sent so far from home and family to begin the knight training isn't unheard of, but she was a young girl who ended up being raised by such men. How did she handle it? She must miss her family greatly.

I blow some air from my nose at the thought, and some smoke from my fire core puffs against the surface of the desk, a dark cloud of heat that makes the candles' flames flicker wildly before calming down as it settles.

The Commander tenses up, still unsure as to why I would ask about her in the first place, and the thin layer of ashes that remains on his desk is proof enough that the fire burning within my chest is raging more than usual.

"May I know the reason of this sudden interest in her, Sir Taehyung? Has she done anything to bother you, somehow?" he braves through the uncertainty to get to the truth, and I let my glare fall on him wordlessly.

He might be the only one here who has her well-being to heart, but it doesn't change the fact that he could've done more to help her, and he didn't. I understand that her getting the special treatment might not have helped her like intended, and she's also aware of it, hence why she refused me earlier, but there are things that could've been done sooner.

"Y/N Aithne Shields is my mate. Mine and six other dragons'. She doesn't know yet, which leads to the reason of my presence here right now. I am not going back to the castle without her, so I request a room in the fortress while you finalize the process to send her back to the capital. I want you to assign her to me as well, I will take care of her training in the meantime. Do that for me and I will put in a good word about you to the King".

Rayner's eyes are round as he processes the surprising truth, never in all of his long years of being a knight would he have ever seen this coming, but while he is certainly shocked, because it is unheard of for a dragon to have a human mate, he also feels happy for her. That will certainly assure her a much better life than the one she's been granted so far.

"So that is what fate holds for her... my word. I will be sure to respect your requests, Sir Taehyung. I will let her know that she is to serve you until it is time to leave, I shall also stay quiet about the reason behind that decision. I'm sure you will want to tell her yourself".

I nod once, that I do.

"I will write my mates a letter so please send your fastest bird messenger to my room, they deserve to know. You'll want to prepare additional rooms, as I have no doubt they'll come flying over as soon as they can. Warn your men to not attack any dragons that come falling from the sky, we can make this place disappear in the blink of an eye and it would be a shame to do so for a mistake that can be avoided so easily" I warn him before standing from my seat.

He does the same before bowing lowly. "That shall be done, Sir Taehyung. I will have someone direct you to your room, it will be in the same wing as Y/N's along with your mates so that you may be near. And if I may add something else..."

I turn around to look at him after I've pushed the door open, what more could there be to say about this matter?

"She spends most of her nights in the library when she has bad days. She often goes there right after dinner to flee the knights' loud circus, I'm sure that's where you'll find her tonight as well".

I quirk an eyebrow at the useful piece of information, then thank him with a light nod of the head before leaving his office.

The library, hm? I guess I'll be paying it a visit tonight then.

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I'm so excited for this! How do we like the first chapter?