Warden Tyric moved through the halls of Caladan with deliberate silence. His boots scuffed lightly against the stone floors, but the sound was absorbed before it could echo. He carried no documents. His mind alone held the weight of what he was about to report.
The meeting chamber was small, functional, and intentionally sparse. Halvren awaited him at the head of the table, fingers steepled. Three other instructors observed from their seats along the wall, each with a different expression—curiosity, impatience, or clinical detachment.
"Tyric," Halvren said, "your report on the Middle Continent knights."
The warden inclined his head. "They are professional, disciplined, and fully aware of Caladan's capabilities. They did not underestimate us."
He laid a single parchment on the table. It was blank save for the inked seal of Caladan. "This is for record. My observations. Verbal account follows."
Halvren gestured for him to continue.
"The knights' recent push along the border is not arbitrary. They are looking for a figure known as the Dark Knight. Reports place him within Caladan."
A murmur moved through the observers. Not alarm , but acknowledgment.
....i though that the dark knight was a myth...a myth that my ancestor knew well...halvren thought.
"Half-truth," Halvren said. "They sought the Dark Knight, yes, but the aggression extends beyond that. Their border campaigns are calibrated, not chaotic. I infer they are consolidating influence, perhaps testing limits. They have one of the most capable armies on the continent."
Tyric allowed a pause. He preferred understatement. "The knights' statements to me were partial. They claim singular purpose. In practice, there are multiple incentives."
Halvren's eyes narrowed slightly. "And yet they present the veneer of a simple operation. Classic Middle Continent approach: intimidation through clarity."
"Yes," Tyric said. "They are efficient. They do not overcommit. But the Dark Knight remains a priority. That explains their most recent maneuvers. I observed two instances where forces diverted, not toward our border, but toward secondary supply routes—adjustments made after reconnaissance. Calculated deviations."
From the far wall, Instructor Arden spoke. "Do we have confirmation of the Dark Knight's presence here?"
Tyric shook his head. "No direct evidence. Only traces. Sightings reported by local students and patrols. Nothing more than inference. His influence may extend to manipulations of smaller constructs or unauthorized Congeris usage—subtle enough to evade detection if one does not observe closely."
Halvren drummed his fingers against the table. "And yet, if they believe the Dark Knight is affiliated with Caladan, they would act on incomplete information. Aggression justified by assumption. That's Dangerous."
....if the dark knight Is real , that means...the legends said that he is always looking for something, what that could be ?...I can't prove that what the legends said is real , but we can't deny the possibility that he may be looking for something....
Tyric inclined his head. "Precisely. Their movements suggest urgency, but also restraint. They are probing. They anticipate resistance, not annihilation. If the Dark Knight is here, he is cautious—or aware of their strategy."
Arden interjected again. "Are there other factors? Motivation beyond the Dark Knight?"
Halvren spoke before Tyric could answer. "Always. Knights do not act in isolation. Strategic value, resource acquisition, demonstration of capability. Tyric, your diplomatic mission confirms that. Their outward claim is not their full intent. That much is certain."
Tyric exhaled. "I documented secondary deployments, patrol diversions, and adjustments in training rotations along the border. Evidence suggests their army's readiness extends beyond the pretext of searching for a single individual. Their focus is twofold: the Dark Knight and a demonstration of overwhelming presence."
A brief silence followed.
Halvren's gaze swept the room. "We must prepare for both possibilities. Observation and containment. Do not assume diplomacy alone will suffice. And Tyric," he added, "your judgment remains crucial. The academy cannot respond to each movement of the Middle Continent; we must anticipate patterns, not react to anomalies."
...but why the middle knights continent are looking for this so called legend...
Tyric nodded. "Understood."
From a corner of the chamber, a young student observing the meeting scribbled notes—an apprentice assigned to document Warden evaluations. Tyric caught the movement, but did not interrupt. Such diligence would matter later.
Halvren returned his attention to the warden. "Report tomorrow will include verification of secondary objectives, Tyric. We will know then whether their engagement is limited to reconnaissance, or escalated toward confrontation."
Tyric stood, inclining once. "Acknowledged."
The corridor beyond the chamber was cold. Snow pressed against the exterior windows, persistent and unrelenting.
He walked back toward his quarters. His mind traced the flow of movements, the nuances in the knights' statements, and the half-truths embedded within them.
And Tyric would see to it that the academy's knowledge remained precise, even when others acted under misdirection.
Somewhere far beyond the mountains, the Dark Knight was moving. And the Middle Continent's armies were already adapting to his shadow.