The Next Day – Semifinals of the Royal Knight Tournament
The day had finally arrived — the one all of Royal Whitefort had been waiting for with bated breath: the semifinals of the Royal Knight Tournament. The four strongest knights of the Kingdom were about to face one another, in battles that would be retold as legends for years to come.
The Royal Knight Arena was already packed early in the morning. Excited murmurs rippled through the stands as the crowd searched for seats. On the eastern side, the Wolfwood House's thirty‑member children's cheering squad had received a massive reinforcement: two hundred Wolf Knights had joined them, ready to roar their battle cry in unison.
On the western stands, three hundred Royal Knights had gathered to support their own champions.
However, no one was allowed to bring weapons into the Arena — the organizers weren't about to risk a bloody clash between the two cheering factions.
The royal viewing box was nearly full as well, for the King himself had arrived to watch the semifinals. Only the members of House Redwood were absent; they had chosen not to attend the grand event.
The Royal Family occupied the upper seats of the box:
King Matyas Julius Riel, seated in the largest, most ornate chair,
to his right, Princess Anabella Augusta Riel,
and to his left, the Royal Archmage, Master Albert.
Behind them, seated slightly higher, was John Scarlett, Captain of the Royal Knights. Though he was on duty as a bodyguard, he was granted the rare privilege of watching his daughter, Eris Scarlett, compete in the semifinals.
The Royal Knights' Lieutenant could not attend — she was still recovering in the Royal Hospital.
House Wolfwood's delegation was also present:
Lord Bandorn Wolfwood sat in the grand Wolfwood seat, chest puffed with pride, for two Wolf Knights had reached the semifinals. (Not that he had done anything to help them get there.)
To his right sat Lady Carla Wolfwood.
To his left, Master Florian, the Wolf Mage, watched the arena with a stern, focused gaze.
Behind them, in the bodyguard row, stood:
Arpad Wolf, Captain of the Wolf Knights,
Janos Wolf, the Lieutenant,
and two Wolf Knights: Xaba and Jula.
All four scanned the crowd with tense vigilance, ready to react to any threat.
Below Bandorn, in the lower row, sat Young Wolf, Andras Wolfwood, the young lord.
To his right was his personal maid, Noelle, and to his left, Ironclaw, the other maid, whose wolf ears twitched excitedly as the roar of the crowd washed over them.
The air practically vibrated with anticipation.
The bells began to ring, signaling the start of the semifinals.
The delegation of House Silverwood had also taken their seats in the royal box.
In the largest, silver‑ornamented chair sat Amelia Silverwood, the young Lady of the house, leaning forward with excitement as she tried to get a better view of her aunt's upcoming semifinal match. Her eyes sparkled as the murmur of the crowd washed over her.
To her right sat Christina Silverwood, Captain of the Silver Knights, watching the Arena with calm dignity. Though she could sit peacefully for now, she knew she would only be able to watch the first match — she herself would be stepping onto the battlefield for the second.
Above them, in the upper row of the box, six female Silver Knights stood at attention. They were on bodyguard duty, yet each of them was already scanning the arena from the corner of their eyes, searching for Anita. The light glinting off their helmets and the uniform silver breastplates made them look like six living statues guarding the honor of House Silverwood.
House Greenwood was also represented.
Lady Floralys Greenwood sat with elegant posture in her designated seat, her green‑and‑gold dress shimmering in the sunlight. Her expression was serene, yet deep in her eyes lingered the ancient wisdom of the elves.
Above her stood four Green Hawk Knights, each wearing a breastplate adorned with the emblem of the green hawk. They watched the crowd without moving, ready to respond to any threat.
The Captain of the Green Hawk Knights, however, could not attend. Due to severe injuries, he was still recovering in the Royal Hospital, so his duties were carried out by his deputies.
The royal box gradually filled with representatives of the Kingdom's greatest houses, and the air vibrated with anticipation.
The deep toll of the bells signaled that the semifinals of the Royal Knight Tournament — the day everyone had been waiting for — were about to begin.
Meanwhile, at the Royal Hospital
The Royal Hospital stood beside the Mage Academy, two towering buildings rising like twin palaces guarding the heart of the capital. Its finest ward — reserved for nobles and high‑priority individuals — held only ten beds, and three of them were currently occupied.
In the bed by the window lay Apollonia Velvett, Lieutenant of the Royal Knights. Her arms were secured with bandages, and a faint glow pulsed across her chest from ongoing healing magic.
Beside her, in the next bed, rested David, the Twinblade, Captain of the Green Hawk Knights. Deep gashes lined his side — wounds so severe that even the best healers could mend them only slowly.
In the third bed lay Botond, the Giant, Captain of the Red Wildrose Knights, his massive frame almost too large for the hospital cot.
All three had suffered serious but non‑fatal injuries. Full recovery would take at least a month, but they were required to remain in the hospital for two weeks to receive daily healing treatments.
David was the first to break the silence.
"Two weeks stuck in here…" he sighed, then smiled. "At least the company isn't bad. I'm David. A pleasure to meet you both."
Botond chuckled, though the motion made him wince and clutch his ribs.
"You mean misfortune. So you two are stuck here for two weeks as well? I'm Botond. Good to meet you."
Apollonia slowly turned her head toward them.
"Apollonia Velvett," she introduced herself curtly. "Though unlike you two, I'm only a Lieutenant."
"Oh, come on," Botond waved a hand. "John Scarlett is the strongest knight in the Kingdom. Being his lieutenant is practically the same as being a captain."
Apollonia's lips tightened.
"And yet I was taken down by a Wolf Knight who doesn't even hold a lieutenant's rank."
"You can relax — same thing happened to me," David added, shifting carefully on his pillow.
Botond raised an eyebrow.
"Shouldn't there be four of us here? What happened to that adventurer guy? Did he die in the duel?"
David burst out laughing.
"Not at all! He surrendered before Christina Silverwood chopped him into pieces. Got away with barely a few scratches."
Botond let out an impressed whistle.
"Well… at least he had brains. More than we did."
All three knights sighed at the same time, and silence slowly settled back over the room — broken only by the soft hum of healing magic filling the air.