If you love the epic worldbuilding of LOTR, the dark intrigue of GoT, the gritty fantasy of The Witcher, and the romantic adventure of Outlander, then this story is for you! ⚔︎
He's a battle-hardened knight; she's from the modern world.
He has faced...
The training yard echoed with the clash of swords and the heavy breathing of knights perfecting their skills. At its centre stood William, the regiment's captain, who preferred to participate in the sparring sessions rather than just oversee them to hone his knights' abilities.
After being confined to his chamber, William felt invigorated whenever he did what he loved. His movements were swift and decisive, his blade slicing through the air with the unrelenting speed of lightning.
"Keep your arm straight, Edwin!" William's stern voice commanded respect, yet his dark blue eyes hinted at a softer side. Unlike his counterparts, his training methods were rigorous and demanding, but he was a mentor as much as a captain.
Other knights under his mentorship gathered around him, drawn by both admiration and a desire to learn. This camaraderie, born of shared hardships, fostered a deep bond among them. Many of these knights had served under William's command in the previous war. He had always stood by them, striving to spare his men as much as possible and taking risks upon himself instead. They followed their captain without hesitation wherever he led.
After demonstrating a complex move, William turned his attention to a struggling knight, patiently instructing him, "A well-executed parry can save your life to the same extent as a well-aimed strike. Now we face a new threat – bloodfiends. To defeat such an enemy, you'll need to use all your skills."
The knights listened attentively. Although many had joined William's patrol against bloodfiends, they had yet to confront these monsters.
"Bloodfiends are incredibly strong, far beyond any ordinary human," William began, addressing everyone. "They're fast, but you need to be even faster to land a decisive blow. If you're wounded by their claws or fangs, the poison can be deadly."
Then William showed the manoeuvres needed to decapitate a bloodfiend. "Only by severing its head can you truly defeat it. Targeting any other part is a waste of time. Their limbs will regrow."
Some knights looked at William with unease. They were confronting an enemy they had never seen before, and the most horrifying part was that anyone could become a bloodfiend. Although the black snakes were mostly found in forests, both villagers and knights had been bitten and turned into monsters. But the change didn't happen right away. Those bitten would return home, unaware of the danger they posed to others.
"If a black snake bites you or someone you know, you must report it," said William. "Even if the victim is a loved one." He tried to sound detached, but his voice faltered. Everyone knew reporting meant a death sentence.
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After William finished, a young knight approached him. He had entered the training yard earlier and stood there for a while, watching and summoning the courage to speak.
"Sir William," the youth said, his voice steady but apologetic. "I beg your pardon." He held out a sealed letter. "My name is Sir Oger."
William studied the letter's contents with a focused expression. Once finished, he looked up, noting the knight's youth. "You wish to be trained by me and join my regiment?" he asked with a slight frown.
