A red carpet ran down the center of the hall.
On both sides — fully armored, fully ready — the knights stood in formation. Swords drawn and planted into the ground before them, both hands resting on the hilts. Heads lowered.
In one corner — Drake and Veil. At the doors — Hans and Sir Jorald.
And above, on the throne — Rudious.
The atmosphere inside the hall was something else entirely. A heaviness lived in the air — the kind of silence that only comes when something real is about to happen.
---
The doors opened.
Leo walked in.
On his armor — like every knight in the room — the golden eagle's crest caught the light. The hilt of his sword gleamed.
With every step forward, the air shifted. Grew heavier. As if the hall itself understood what this moment was.
Leo stopped. He dropped to one knee, took his sword in both hands, and lowered his head.
Sir Jorald stepped forward. When he spoke, his voice filled every corner of the hall.
---
*"We gather here today to honor a warrior."*
*"A boy who came from the streets. Who, through loyalty and blood and sweat, protected this house. Who fought alongside Sir Arthur and cut down countless corrupted beasts. Who helped bring criminals and bandits to justice. Who stood against monsters without flinching."*
*"Who proved his valor — and protected his House Lord with his life."*
A pause.
*"Leo... your loyalty and the strength of your sword have brought you to this moment."*
---
Silence held the room.
Rudious rose from his throne.
He descended the steps — unhurried, deliberate. Came to stand before Leo. Took the sword from his hands.
And spoke.
---
*"Leo... do you swear — before the Goddess of Life as your witness — that your sword will always rise for justice? That your shield will always protect my family? And that until your last breath, your loyalty will never waver?"*
A pause.
*"And that you will uphold the code of the knight — in all things?"*
---
Silence.
Then Leo's voice came through. Quiet. But unshaking.
*"I swear it, My Lord. The Goddess of Life is my witness. My blood and my life belong to your family."*
One more beat.
*"And I will uphold the knight's code. Always."*
---
Rudious stepped closer. He lowered the blade — touching it gently to Leo's right shoulder, then his left.
Then he raised it.
And with his full voice —
*"Then I — Rudious Alister Falcon — Viscount of Velrend — accept your oath."*
A breath.
*"Rise... Sir Leo."*
---
Leo stood.
And in that same instant — every knight in the hall lifted their sword into the air.
One voice. All of them together.
*"Sir Leo! Sir Leo!"*
---
After that day, a small celebration was held. There was laughter, food, and that particular warmth that only exists between people who have chosen each other.
---
Time moved forward. Slowly.
The cold had begun to settle in. The sun — which had been harsh before — now felt more like comfort than punishment.
Veil was growing up under the watch of Drake and Clad. Walking alongside Drake now. Step by step.
---
One day — like any other.
Viscount Rudious had finished his work for the evening and was sitting in the garden, tea in hand, watching Drake and Veil in the fading afternoon light.
Then the bell at the viscountcy's gate rang.
A rider dismounted outside a moment later. He looked more like a messenger than a soldier — his armor somewhere between polished iron and soft leather. Something in between.
He knocked. Rudious gestured to let him in.
The man entered and bowed. "Greetings, Viscount of Velrend."
"Greetings."
He held out a letter with both hands, head lowered. "I've come from the Capital, My Lord. This is an order to dispatch forces to the northern region."
"Very well."
Rudious took the letter. A royal seal pressed into the wax. The messenger bowed, mounted his horse, and was gone.
Rudious broke the seal. Read it.
"Hmm." A pause. "This is serious."
He raised his voice toward the gate. "Alex."
The guard snapped to attention. "Yes, My Lord."
"Send Sir Jorald and Sir Arthur to me."
"Yes, My Lord."
The guard moved off. Rudious lifted his cup and took a slow sip.
---
At that same moment — far away. In the north.
Snow covered everything. White, still, merciless.
Along the top of a stone wall, a small group of knights stood watch. The wind came off the open ground in sharp, cutting waves.
Then a voice from above —
*"Sir — the Orcs are here!"*
Their leader clicked his tongue. "Tch. Second time this month." He scanned the distance. "No idea when reinforcements will reach us. They're more aggressive this time. Far more damage than before."
One of the knights began to speak, his voice unsteady.
The leader turned and looked directly into his eyes.
"What are we."
"Knights."
"And what is a knight's duty."
"Never retreat."
The leader drew his sword. "Yes. We are all knights."
Across the field, Orcs were charging. Fast. Loud.
He jumped from the wall. "We may die — but we will not retreat."
---
*Slash. Slash. Clang.*
Steel through bone and flesh. Blue light burned along the edge of his blade. Two Orcs — cut apart.
Then everyone moved at once.
*"Hyaaahhh——!"*
*"We are knights!"*
A brutal, ugly fight broke out across the snow.
---
But something was wrong.
The leader felt it before he could name it. These Orcs — none of them were carrying weapons. No swords. No spears. No axes.
Just hands. Claws. Teeth.
And yet this was not a one-sided battle.
He was still trying to make sense of it when —
*Kiyaaagchh——!*
That sound. It didn't just reach his ears. It went down his spine.
He turned.
Not ten. Not twenty.
Fifty.
Fifty Corrupted Orcs.
*"Aahhhhh——!"*
One of the Orcs had taken one of his knights.
The leader's eyes went cold. White aura spread across his entire body — sudden and total. He struck. The other knights threw themselves at the Corrupted Orcs with everything they had.
But too many were falling.
*"Help me — help——! Sir——!"*
Then —
*Riiiip.*
Wet. Final.
The leader looked. It was the knight who had been afraid.
---
He closed his eyes.
One moment. Just one.
He drew every last thread of his aura into his sword.
"The Frost Wave."
---
His sword became ice. The ground froze. The air froze. The stone beneath his feet cracked with cold.
The Corrupted Orcs stopped — locked in place. But his knights, the ones standing directly in front of them, were unharmed.
The leader opened his eyes. Took one step back.
And with everything he had —
*Slaaaash——!*
Every knight dropped without being told.
The frozen Orcs shattered.
---
The leader straightened, breathing hard. "Collect the corrupted energy!"
A pause. Then he turned.
"Sirus — send your summon to the Royal Castle."
His voice had dropped. Heavy. Certain.
"With this message — the corrupted have awakened."
---
**[Chapter 15 — End]**