CHAPTER 88: START OF THE JOURNEY.

The sun hovered higher in the sky as Ethan and his team wound through the bustling streets of Duskwatch, packs slung over shoulders, weapons strapped tight.

The city teemed with merchants hawking wares, guards in polished armor, and citizens hurrying about their morning tasks.

At last, they reached the towering gates of the Knight Headquarters—a fortress of white stone and dark banners bearing the Swordmaster’s sigil.

Soldiers in gleaming breastplates stood watch, saluting as Ethan approached.

Inside the massive courtyard, knights sparred with blunted weapons, the ring of steel echoing off the walls. Training dummies lay scattered like casualties of an unseen battle.

At the far end, near a wide marble staircase, stood Selene, clad in her crisp knight uniform. Her silver hair caught the sun, eyes sharp and assessing. Beside her stood two imposing figures in full knight regalia.

One was a man with short, ash-blond hair and storm-grey eyes, his armor engraved with swirling patterns like gusts of wind.

His name was Sir Kellan Highwind, renowned for his unmatched agility and aerial sword techniques.

The other was a tall, broad-shouldered knight with deep bronze skin and close-cropped black hair, exuding a quiet, mountain-like solidity.

This was Sir Corvin Hale, famed for wielding a tower shield so massive it was said he could block a dragon’s breath.

Ethan stepped forward and inclined his head. "Swordmaster. Sir Kellan. Sir Corvin."

Selene gave him a faint smile. "Ethan. You brought your friends, I see?"

He nodded, glancing over his shoulder as his team formed up behind him.

"Yes, I did. They’re my companions, and they’ll be tagging along with us. Don’t worry—they’re not cannon fodder. They’ll be a great help."

Selene’s eyes swept over them with a mixture of curiosity and hidden amusement.

Reyna stood there like a war goddess, arms folded, wild hair cascading over her shoulders, muscles taut beneath leather armor.

A faint smirk played on her lips, daring anyone to challenge her presence.

Liora, by contrast, was the picture of cold elegance. She wore a dark cloak draped just so over her slim frame, silver hair immaculate, crimson eyes steady and unreadable.

Her pale skin practically glowed under the morning sun.

Daniel, having finally gotten both boots on the right feet, stood with surprising poise today.

His unruly hair was combed back, accentuating sharp cheekbones and stormy eyes that shimmered with a roguish glint.

The morning light caught the defined lines of his jaw and the sleek leather armor hugging his frame, making him look every bit a rugged, if slightly battered, hero.

Selene’s brow lifted a fraction. A soft chuckle escaped her. "You’ve assembled quite a team, Ethan. I’ll trust your judgment—and your insight."

Ethan gave a small, confident smile. Trust means more than anything else.

"Don’t worry about a thing, Swordmaster," he said. "We’ve got this."

Selene’s demeanor shifted, becoming brisk and businesslike. She turned to Sir Kellan and motioned with a tilt of her chin. "Kellan, explain the plan."

Sir Kellan stepped forward and unrolled a wide parchment map across a nearby table. Sunlight gleamed on the fine lines and delicate runes traced across the paper. He pointed at a spot marked in blue ink.

"We’re currently here—in Calsoz," he said, his voice crisp, tracing a finger over the map’s contours.

He shifted his hand northeast. "From Calsoz, we’ll travel to Duskwatch." He tapped the city they currently stood in. "Then continue eastward until we reach Solmere."

Reyna leaned closer, squinting at the map. "Looks like a bloody maze."

Sir Kellan ignored her, sliding his finger further across the parchment. "From Solmere, we’ll utilize an Instant Teleportation Tool to travel directly here."

His finger slammed down on another point—a crimson circle surrounded by jagged mountain symbols.

"Drakemire. The City of Dragons."

A hush fell around the table. Even the distant clang of sparring swords seemed to fade for a moment.

Ethan’s brows arched. Drakemire...

"That’s... ambitious," he murmured. "Isn’t Drakemire the city where dragons actually live?"

Selene stepped closer, her presence radiating quiet authority. "Yes. Drakemire is built into the cliffs where dragons make their roosts. It’s a city forged in cooperation with them.

But don’t expect to spot dragons lounging in the streets—they’re elusive. Most people living there go their entire lives without glimpsing one."

Daniel’s eyes grew wide. "Uh... so... dragons. Real dragons. Big, scaly, flame-spewing dragons?"

Liora rolled her eyes. "Of course, darling. What did you think—little lizards with wings?"

Daniel turned faintly pale. "I... er... was hoping, maybe... yes?"

Reyna let out a booming laugh and thumped Daniel on the back. "Yer face is worth a thousand gold, boy."

Sir Corvin, silent until now, added in a low rumble, "Our mission in Drakemire is to rendezvous with Grandmaster Vandelion’s unit. From there, we’ll proceed to Varnholdt, the Imperial Capital."

Selene nodded once, decisively. "A solid plan."

Ethan looked at the map again, a flicker of determination in his eyes. Dragons... politics... and the Empire’s power players all in one place. This is going to be a storm.

"It’s a good plan," he said finally. "Let’s get moving."

Selene gave a sharp nod. "Time to start our journey."

She rolled up the map, and the knights fell into orderly formation. Ethan signaled his team to follow.

Together, they marched across the courtyard. Sunlight streamed between towering columns, catching on sword hilts and polished armor.

The heavy doors of the Knight Headquarters loomed ahead, carved with scenes of ancient battles and crowned with the Empire’s crest.

As they reached the threshold, Ethan paused for a heartbeat, glancing over his shoulder at his team. Reyna was bouncing on her heels like she was about to storm a fortress.

Liora floated forward with unruffled grace, and Daniel trudged behind, muttering under his breath about dragons and possible spontaneous combustion.

Ethan let a small grin curve his lips. No matter what’s waiting out there... I’m not going in alone.

The massive doors groaned open, flooding the stone floor with bright daylight. The wind carried the scents of iron, dust, and distant pine forests—the promise of roads yet traveled.

One step at a time, Ethan and his companions crossed the threshold, leaving behind the fortress walls—and stepping into the unknown that awaited them beyond.