Chapter 95 – The Arrival of the Wandering Knight
Since the announcement of a massive recruitment, Eisenwald had transformed into something unrecognizable. The once quiet marshland village now teemed with life. Young men, scarred veterans, and even masterless wanderers crowded its streets. Temporary tents sprawled near the fortress, and the air was thick with sweat, anticipation, and the ringing of hammers as blacksmiths forged new arms.
From the stone balcony of his keep, Fenrir looked down at the rows of applicants. Some carried nothing but wooden spears; others clutched treasured blades handed down through generations. A few wore battered armor, their eyes hardened by war.
Fenrir's expression was calm, but his mind sharp. Strength alone was not enough. What he sought was loyalty, resolve, and the fire to face death without faltering.
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For days, rumors had spread like wildfire.
> "There's a knight roaming the lands… a man who once served a great lord."
"His master fell during a succession war. Since then, he's wandered without a home, carrying a black blade said to devour light itself."
Many dismissed the tale as tavern gossip, but Markus, Fenrir's administrator, delivered troubling news.
> "My lord, scouts report a lone rider clad in black armor approaching Eisenwald. His bearing is no commoner's. His stride is too steady. Too commanding."
Fenrir narrowed his eyes toward the distant road. "If the rumors are true… then my next trial has arrived."
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Suddenly, the training yard fell silent. Hooves thundered against the earth as the gates creaked open. Dust rose from the path, and from it emerged a massive black warhorse.
Riding atop it was a man who seemed almost unreal in presence. Nearly two meters tall, his long black hair was tied back, his gaze sharp as burning coals. Across his back rested a greatsword, its blade a void-like black, broader than any mortal weapon should be.
He dismounted in a single fluid motion. Though he stood alone, his presence pressed upon the crowd like an advancing army. Instinctively, dozens of applicants stepped back.
Whispers rippled through them:
> "That's him…"
"The wandering knight…"
"Kael Morgenstern…"
Fenrir stepped forward, eyes locked with the newcomer. For a heartbeat, the world held its breath.
---
Kael's voice cut through the silence, deep and resonant.
> "I've heard the name Crimson Wolf of Eisenwald. A young baron who dares to stand against enemies far greater than himself. I have come, not to pledge, but to test."
Murmurs rose, fear and awe mingling.
Fenrir's reply was steady, though fire burned beneath his calm.
> "And what test do you offer?"
Kael drew his sword halfway, the black metal drinking in the morning light.
> "A duel. If you prove worthy, this blade will serve you. If not, I will leave, and Eisenwald will remain nothing more than a fleeting tale."
The weight of his words fell like thunder upon the crowd.
---
Gasps and voices broke out all at once.
> "A duel? He dares challenge Baron Fenrir himself?"
"Impossible! Kael Morgenstern is a butcher on the battlefield. His strength and aura are said to dwarf any baron's."
"If Fenrir loses… what will happen to us?"
Yet others whispered with fervor, their eyes alight.
> "If he can fight Kael and endure… then truly, he deserves to lead us."
Fenrir raised his hand, silencing the tide of voices.
> "Very well. I accept. But the duel will be tomorrow, before the eyes of every soldier and recruit. Let all of Eisenwald see whether the Crimson Wolf is worthy of commanding such a knight."
Kael inclined his head slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
> "I will wait."
---
That night, the training yard buzzed with tension. Fires crackled in makeshift camps as the recruits whispered anxiously.
> "Baron Fenrir is young… can he truly withstand a monster like Kael?"
"I saw his eyes. He will not yield."
Within the keep, Fenrir's council convened.
Lyra Nightshade, the head of scouts, spoke coldly.
> "This is reckless. A duel against someone like him could mean death."
Viktor Redmane slammed his fist on the table.
> "If Fenrir refuses, we lose face before every recruit here! They've come because they believe in him. If he turns away, Eisenwald collapses without a battle!"
Markus, thoughtful, added:
> "If Fenrir fights and stands tall—even in defeat—that alone will prove his resolve."
Fenrir remained silent, his hand resting on his sword. A faint crimson aura seeped from his frame, trembling like magma beneath stone.
"I have faced death before. Tomorrow is not about victory or defeat. It is about proving that my will cannot be broken."
---
As midnight deepened, the mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[New Quest – Prove Worth to the Wandering Knight]
Duel Kael Morgenstern in an open match.
Objective: Endure until acknowledged, or overcome him.
Reward: ???
Fenrir clenched his fists. "So be it. Tomorrow, I will prove myself."
---
The next morning, the courtyard was overflowing. Hundreds of recruits, Eisenwald soldiers, and even common villagers crowded around.
At the center stood two figures:
Fenrir Eisenwald, the Crimson Wolf, crimson aura flickering faintly like seething lava.
Kael Morgenstern, the wandering knight, his black greatsword strapped to his back, aura heavy and suffocating.
The air quivered with anticipation. Every heart pounded, every breath held.
The duel that would decide Eisenwald's fate was about to begin.
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