John stepped closer and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Even if Andrea Wolf loses to you in the finals, it doesn't change the truth: she belongs at your side in the Hero's Party."
Eris shook her head.
"Don't talk as if my victory is guaranteed. Andrea Wolf has a real chance of winning."
John smiled gently.
"I would bet on you even if you weren't the Hero. Because you're my daughter, and I'm very proud of you."
Eris looked thoughtful.
"I wonder… could I defeat her without the Goddess's power?"
John shook his head.
"The Goddess chose you, not that Wolf Knight. She had her reasons — and I believe she chose well."
Eris snorted.
"Of course you think that. You're my father."
John's expression grew serious.
"The Light element is your strength, not hers. You'll need every bit of that power against the demons. Use it now, so you grow accustomed to it."
Eris's eyes lit up.
"That's true… Andrea Wolf will be the first opponent I can use my full power against. I'm so excited. It feels like I've been waiting just for her."
John laughed.
"I came here to fire you up, but it seems you don't need my help at all. Give it everything you've got, Eris!"
Eris clenched her fist.
"I will win this final!"
A strange silence filled the Wolf Knights' changing room.
Not the silence of fear — the silence of anticipation.
The day of the finals had arrived, and now it was Young Wolf's task to send his personal knight, Andrea Wolf, into battle.
Andrea stood before him in full gear, one hand resting lightly on the hilt of her sword. Her eyes were determined, her posture confident — but her heart was beating faster than ever.
Andras looked her over, then spoke.
"Father was thrilled that you defeated Christina Silverwood. Even if you lose the finals against the Hero, you'll still receive Wolfwood's legendary blade — Wolf Fang — tonight."
Andrea blinked in surprise.
"You're sure you don't want Wolf Fang for yourself?"
Andras sighed.
"Don't you start too. My father asked me the same thing three times before he agreed that you should inherit it after Arpad."
Andrea still looked uncertain.
"But a legendary sword is a powerful weapon. Giving it up…"
Andras smiled.
"I don't need Wolf Fang. But of course I'll need a legendary sword of my own — just not a longsword. I need a short blade."
Andrea raised an eyebrow.
"But all the Kingdom's legendary swords are longswords."
"Exactly," Andras nodded. "And all of them were forged in the Dwarven Kingdom a thousand years ago."
Andrea's eyes widened.
"You mean…?"
Andras smiled.
"Yes. We'll travel with a small team to the Dwarven Kingdom — to Bargon. I'll have the greatest dwarven smith of our era forge my own legendary short sword."
Andrea nearly jumped.
"You want to cross the Fire Dragons' volcanic mountains?!"
"Yeah," Andras shrugged. "And since we'll already be in Dragon territory, we might as well pick up some olives for real pizza."
Andrea's eyes sparkled.
"That sounds so exciting! You really know how to fire up your knights! I'm completely pumped!"
Andras grinned.
"Really? Then I guess you don't need any motivational speech. Anyway… I don't expect you to defeat Eris, but you should know — you do have a chance."
Andrea listened closely.
"The Hero thinks Feral Mode is your trump card. But your mana capacity is three times Anita's. Eris is in for a surprise."
Andrea took a deep breath.
"If I defeat Eris… can I ask you for something?"
Andras nodded.
"If it's within my power, I'll grant it."
Andrea placed her hand firmly on her sword's hilt.
"I'll give everything I have in this fight!"
Andras rested a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm counting on you. Show the Kingdom what the strongest Wolf Knight is made of."
At that moment, the bell rang outside.
The moment of the finals had arrived.
Young Wolf returned to the royal box.
The crowd was already roaring, the air vibrating with excitement, and the sunlight cast a strange, almost sacred glow over the Arena.
The final duel was about to begin.
The bell rang.
The eastern gate opened.
The female Wolf Knight stepped into the light.
The Wolf Knights' supporters jumped to their feet at once, singing the Song of the Wolves for the third time in this tournament.
But Andrea did not stop before the eastern stands this time.
She walked straight toward the royal box.
The Wolfwoods rose to greet her, raising their right hands toward the sky.
The Silverwoods and the Greenwoods joined them — a rare, historic moment.
Andrea drew her sword, lifted it high, and saluted the three noble houses.
The song continued from the eastern stands.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
For a moment, it felt as if the three great houses of the Kingdom were beating with a single heart.
The Princess looked around in shock.
"The Wolfwoods I understand… but even the Silverwoods and the Greenwoods are cheering for Andrea Wolf against Eris?!"
Captain John Scarlett answered calmly:
"That Wolf Knight has earned their respect.
Just as she has earned ours."
The King watched the scene thoughtfully.
"Young Wolf has gained remarkable influence among the four great noble houses. Not only in Wolfwood, but even in Silverwood and Greenwood they respect his name. That is… noteworthy."
Master Albert snorted.
"An old friend of mine told me long ago — Young Wolf is a true Mage. He has no interest in the Royal Throne. He won't marry for politics."
John nodded.
"His destiny is to fight against the Demon Army."
The King let out a relieved breath.
"Then it is reassuring to know the Kingdom has such protectors."
The Princess spoke up:
"Well, Eris has already decided that Andrea Wolf and Young Wolf will be the Kingdom's representatives in the Hero's Party."
John smiled.
"I agree with that decision."
Everyone in the royal box felt it:
This final would be more than a duel.
It would be one of the defining moments of the Kingdom's future.
On the eastern side, Andrea Wolf was still standing in salute before the three great noble houses when the bell rang again.
The western gate slowly opened.
The crowd rose as one, a single roaring wave.
"The greatest light of the Kingdom! The Hero, Eris Scarlett!"
On the western stands, the Royal Knights erupted into cheers.
The audience went wild, the thunder of applause shaking the very walls of the Arena.
But no song rose for her.
The King frowned.
"Our supporters will not sing for the Hero?"
The Princess sighed, slightly embarrassed.
"I wanted them to… but you can't compose a song and teach it to the knights in just three days. The cheering goes to the Wolfwoods. I admit that. But Eris will win the finals anyway, so it doesn't matter."
As the Hero walked across the battlefield, surrounded by the crowd's celebration, she glanced at Andrea for a brief moment.
"That Wolf song was beautiful again.
And seeing the noble houses stand for her…
I'm a little… jealous."
But the thought lasted only a heartbeat.
The next moment, her focus was entirely on the duel.
Andrea and Eris took their positions on the field.
The crowd fell silent.
The air vibrated with tension.
Eris stepped forward slowly.
She extended her hand.
Andrea accepted the handshake — but leaned in, whispering something into her ear.
Eris's eyes widened for a moment.
Andrea's voice was cold, clear, and honest:
"Christina is my comrade. You are not. You have done nothing yet to earn that place."
Eris did not take offense.
She simply nodded.
"You're right.
But we only just met.
Let the better one win."
Andrea stepped back and took her stance.
"Yes. The better one will win.
The stronger will be the victor."
The crowd held its breath.
The referee raised his arm.
The moment of the finals had arrived.