The Way of Knight
Chapter 25 – The Audience of the Young Wolf
---
The Hall of Marquis Helbrecht
The grand hall of House Helbrecht glittered with crystal light. Towering pillars carved with winged lions seemed to watch every step taken inside. A crimson carpet stretched from the entrance to the dais, where a man sat upon his seat of power.
He was Marquis Reinhardt Helbrecht, ruler of the vast eastern domain of Luminaria. His hair shone like silver touched by gold, his face stern yet regal, and his sharp blue eyes pierced every guest as though to strip them bare.
"Baron Celdric Eisenwald," his voice echoed, deep and commanding. "And… the son whose name has already reached my ears. Fenrir Eisenwald."
Celdric stepped forward, bowing respectfully. Elena curtsied low. Fenrir, though still but a boy, stood upright with steady gaze. He bowed as etiquette demanded, then lifted his head again.
This is my stage.
---
"Strange reports come from your swamp," Helbrecht said. "They say you defeated Klaus of the Iron Fang and drove out a band of mercenaries. Is this true?"
Fenrir stepped forward. "It is true, My Lord. They attacked our lands. I had no choice but to fight back."
"With what? A handful of peasants armed with sticks?" the Marquis asked, his tone sharp.
Fenrir's eyes did not waver. "With discipline. With resolve. And with a little cunning that mercenaries lack."
Murmurs spread through the nobles at the sides of the hall—some sneering, others startled by the bold response.
Helbrecht leaned forward, his gaze narrowing. "And what makes you, a boy of thirteen, believe you had the right to take the lives of your captives?"
The air grew tense. Yet Fenrir did not lower his head. "Discipline is forged only in blood. If I let them live, Eisenwald would be plagued again. I chose to be feared for a moment, rather than see my home destroyed forever."
Silence. The whispers died. A faint yet oppressive aura seeped from Fenrir's body—thick, crimson, molten, like lava pulsing beneath the earth. Several of the Marquis' knights stiffened, feeling the pressure.
Helbrecht studied him for a long moment, then allowed the faintest smile. "A cold answer… but an honest one. Perhaps it is true—the blood of a wolf runs through your veins."
---
The questioning continued. Some minor nobles tried to undermine Fenrir with venomous words:
"Does Eisenwald wish to rise above its swamp?"
"Can a child truly command a militia?"
"Shouldn't such ambition be seen as treachery to the Marquis?"
Fenrir answered each calmly, sometimes with an edge sharp enough to cut.
He reaffirmed Eisenwald's loyalty to the Empire.
He compared the swamp to a "natural fortress" guarding the Marquis' lands.
He declared his militia not as a force of ambition, but a shield for the people.
Each answer solidified his image—not a reckless boy, but a young leader with teeth.
At last, Helbrecht raised his hand, silencing the hall. "Enough. I have seen enough to judge."
---
The Marquis rose from his seat. Everyone bowed, except Fenrir who held his gaze a moment longer.
"From this day forth, I recognize the Eisenwald militia as a lawful force under the banner of Luminaria. However—" his voice rose like thunder, "—every sword of Eisenwald is also my sword. You, Fenrir, will study under my supervision. I will see if your fangs are sharp from luck… or destiny."
Celdric and Elena bowed deeply, pressing their foreheads to the ground. Fenrir bowed as well, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.
This opportunity… is both a trial and a door.
---
The System Speaks
As the herald's voice declared the audience closed, a metallic chime rang in Fenrir's mind.
Ding!
New Quests Available!
[Secure the Marquis' Favor] – Earn full recognition and trust from Marquis Helbrecht. (Progress: 0/1)
[Navigate Noble Intrigue] – Survive and thrive within the games of noble politics. (Progress: Ongoing)
Fenrir closed his eyes briefly, his heart pounding. The System knows too… this is my new battlefield. If the swamp was soil of blood, then this hall is a war of words.
---