Outside Shield River City, dust billowed along the Highland Forest Road.
A Castle Self-defense Corps, their banners unfurled, was charging forth. The sound of their hoofbeats, like rolling thunder, shattered the silence.
At their head was a middle-aged Knight with a resolute face and a short beard: the corps' deputy commander, Adrian Grant.
He looked down at Shield River City and the Fifth Legion's encampment, not far below. After a moment's scan, he saw no obvious abnormalities or signs of battle. Only then did he breathe a small sigh of relief and avert his gaze.
They were an elite force of Knights and soldiers under Duke Holmes of the Stormlands, responsible for guarding the Duke's castle and its surrounding territories. But just a day ago, they had received an urgent summons from Duke Holmes himself, ordering them to set out immediately to reinforce Storm Fortress, with no delay permitted.
