Even in the dead of night, the camp buzzed with activity, a jumble of sounds cutting through the cold air. The wails of infants, born from the depths of their families' despair, rang out. These babies y in makeshift cradles of woven branches and ragged cloth, "a small comfort in a harsh reality."
When Vojnka and her people first came, it was a few hundreds, but now it is beyond a thousand. The first people to come had taken abandoned houses and some of the favorable spaces around but Vojnka's people weren't that lucky. They found themselves situated closest to the ominous expanse of the dreaded Draqia Forest, where danger lurked just beyond their fragile sanctuary. Though the capital walls only cut in a small part of the forest, the safe part, dangerous beasts have been known to crawl over the wall, into the capital. Or so they say. It couldn't be half as dangerous as Elgwood forest, where they had lived their whole lives, and though she miss that life, she knows her people deserve better. They deserve a life of safety and comfort, and she now have the chance to give it to them.
Sitting on a huge Boulder, next to the serene river's gentle murmur, her enormous bear companion nestled peacefully at her side, Vojnka's senses perked as she picked up the faint sound of tiny footsteps running towards her from the direction of the camp. Knowing who it was she remained still, awaiting the impending arrival.
Moments ter, a burst of youthful energy collided with her broad back, and her tiny arms wrapped around her neck.
Laughter bubbled forth from the little girl as Vojnka, feigning surprise, excimed, "What's this?!"
She stood up immediately, holding on to the little girl's hands so that she doesn't fall.
Her pyful voice resonated through the night as she teased, "What little beast is this that has captured me?!" Her movements were spirited, spinning and twirling by the river's edge, much to the delight of the giggling child.
Her beautiful innocent ugh echoed through the night as Vojnka continued her pyful dance along the riverbank, determined to rid herself of the little beast who had ambushed her with joy.
"That's enough, Anna," a woman's gentle voice intervened, breaking the pyful spell. Both Vojnka and the little girl paused, the child's ughter gradually subsiding as they turned toward the source of the voice. There stood Anna's mother, Vojnka's sister, her husband beside her, a hand casually resting on her swelling belly.
"Let your aunt have some rest; she has just returned from a very long journey," Anna's mother advised with a loving tone.
Vojnka obediently lowered herself, gently pcing the girl back on her own two feet. Anna, without hesitation, took off running in the direction of the camp, where the sounds of children's ughter and activity beckoned her.
Vojnka couldn't help but smile as she watched the child retreat, her heart warmed by the simple joys of the moment.
"You have to learn to say no to her" her sister, Marit said, moving to sit by the boulder.
Vojnka chuckled softly at the suggestion and joined them, taking a seat on one side, while Marit's husband occupied the other.
"Was the food enough?" Vojnka asked.
Her sister's husband, Mogens, burst into hearty ughter, as though recalling a particurly amusing memory. "Even though you bought food meant for 10,000 soldiers, young Holger has been eating as though trying to make up for days without it."
Laughter rippled through the group at this revetion like an inside joke.
"Good," Vojnka mumbled contentedly, and a tranquil silence descended once more, their collective gaze fixed on the tranquil flow of the river.
"I can't believe the king picked you himself to be in the army" Mogens said in disbelief.
"What's there not to believe?" His wife, Marit, immediately countered. "It just shows the king has a great eye for talents!"
With that, an animated debate ignited. Vojnka chose to remain a silent observer, as was her custom. She wore a continuous smile, basking in the warmth of their friendly disagreements. It was a familiar scene, one she had witnessed many times – they never fought, but they could argue passionately about anything and everything, a spectacle that always warmed her heart.
The approaching sound of hooves abruptly halted their conversation, capturing even the bear's attention. He raised his massive head and turned toward the sound of the approaching horse.
The horseman soon came to view, a kingdom messenger. They have seen them around, anytime the royal castle wants to send a message within the capital.
"Message from the king for Vojnka" the messenger announced and then got down from his horse.
That was weird, Vojnka noted. He could have tossed it to her. Some would think it rude but she wouldn't have minded. The people already treat them like they are waste.
He came to her and handed the message with a bow of greeting and then he climbed back his horse and sped away.
They all stared at the departing messenger, wondering what just happened.
She passed the parchment to Mogens, the only one of the three that could read. He opened it, their eyes on him as he was scanning the parchment. Suddenly his eyes went wide in shock.
"Why ain't you reading it out, you vermin!" his wife snapped.
Mogens tore his gaze from the parchment, his eyes still wide with astonishment.
"What does it say? What does it say?" she prodded, shaking him.
Even Vojnka's curiosity was piqued, and she awaited the revetion.
Mogens slowly turned his gaze toward Vojnka, his voice trembling with disbelief as he uttered, "The king wants to make you a knight." His words elicited a gasp from his wife. "And he wants to do it tomorrow."
┌─────── ? ───────┐
Within the expansive royal hall, the chamber brimmed with the presence of nobles and people of worth, their vish attire adorned with the glint of gemstones that sparkled like celestial stars against the rich backdrop of velvet drapes.
The hall's grandeur shone through the meticulously arranged knights, all donned in the kingdom's armor. They stood in fwless alignment, creating an imposing honor guard along the center aisle. Each knight held aloft a pole adorned with crimson cloth, the stark bck silhouette of a dragon etched onto the fabric.
As I surveyed the hall, the py of light and shadow upon the knights' armor seemed to breathe life into the room. The crimson banners billowed gently, like fmes flickering in a gentle breeze.
It turned out knights are an advancement of a css, and not an outright css itself. A very important position within a kingdom. The highest honor anyone could get, even for nobles. Making one was suppose to be a huge ceremony that would have all leaders of the kingdom's regions in attendance but since Drakoria had fallen, none of the leaders came. Just people from noble families, and none that live outside the capital.
The heavy door of the pace opened, revealing the towering figure of Vojnka.
Doom! Doom! Doom!
The rhythmic echoes of pole butts striking the marble floor resonated throughout the room as she began to walk towards the throne, her strides slow but confident to match the solemnity of the event. Her attire matched her fierce nature, a practical and rugged outfit that spoke of her years spent in the wild.
The moment she reached me and took a knee, her face to the ground, the sounds stopped.
I sat up from my throne, a servant by my left was holding a ceremonial bde on a fine pillow. It is said to be the sword my first ancestor king used.
I collected the sword and walked to Vojnka.
I have already studied how the ceremony would go, and it is as simple as it gets. All I have to do is recite the words I already had memorized.
"Will you, Vojnka, swear your life and soul to your king and kingdom?"
"...i will"
"Will you, Vojnka, swear to be my shield and protect me from all harm?"
"I will"
"Will you be the embodiment of loyalty and courage in the face of any threat to my person?"
"I will, my king"
"Then rise, Sir Vojnka Khosrow, knight of Drakoria" I procimed, tapping the sword upon her shoulders.
The moment the bde touched her second shoulder, it glowed and light began to gather above her. I watched as the lights formed the sketch of a rge dragon. The dragon's form expanded, stretching its wings wide, and a resonant roar echoed through the hall. Then, with a startling swiftness, the ethereal dragon seemed to merge into Vojnka, like a ghostly possession.
A profound shift overcame the room, a weightiness that settled in our midst. I could sense it, an inexplicable presence emanating from her. Nothing in the records said anything about this.
[Name : Vojnka Khosrow]
[Css : Warrior Knight]
[Level : 57]
[Strength : 470 (+50)]
[Attack : 367(+50)]
[Defense : 403(+50)]
[Agility : 240(+50) ]
[Stamina : 490(+50)]
[Skills : Danger Sense; Bezerk; Great leap; Mastery of blunt weaponry; Tracking Mastery; Shockwave ; foraging; Beast Kinship;primal aura; Shield(New); Guardian's Sacrifice(New)]
A smile graced my lips as I examined the enhanced stats, and I turned my gaze towards Vojnka, who now stood before me.
"Welcome to the order," I greeted her with a warm smile and a nod.
It will be sooner than I expected.