Paladin's Quest

Chapter 1: Quest

*Flashback*

Riding through the dense forest on his majestic black horse, a solitary knight unsheathed his sword from its scabbard. The sunlight filtered through the canopy of trees, casting a radiant glow on his exquisitely adorned armor, embellished with delicate golden accents. With a swift motion, he lifted his helmet, revealing piercing grey eyes that scanned the surroundings with a sense of purpose. Despite a scar beneath his left eye, his ruggedly handsome features remained unblemished. A hint of stubble adorned his face, adding to his aura of confidence. The knight's steed, a magnificent creature, possessed both speed and strength, its allure further enhanced by a striking white marking on its forehead. As the horse let out a resounding neigh, its pace quickened, mirroring the knight's heightened senses. Vigilantly, he surveyed the forest, searching for the imminent danger that had stirred his instincts. Gripping his sword firmly, he raised his sturdy iron shield, poised to defend himself against any potential attack. Yet, despite his readiness, the anticipated threat failed to materialize, leaving the knight in a state of anticipation and uncertainty.

       The knight's tense shoulders relaxed as a wave of relief washed over him, causing him to burst into a hearty laughter that echoed through the dense forest. Countless tales had been whispered about the very woods he now found himself in, known as the legendary Ferthway Forest. Whispers of demons and monsters lurking within its depths, tales of unfortunate souls vanishing without a trace, and even rumors of it being a gateway to the dreaded kingdom of Xalvador, the Lord of the Undead and the underworld. The knight couldn't help but shudder involuntarily at the mere mention of that name, his hand instinctively reaching for the protective charm he had acquired to ward off evil. Initially skeptical of such fantastical stories, he had scoffed at the superstitious villagers who shared these tales at the inn where he had sought refuge during his journey. Days had passed as he rested, yet the inn had become a breeding ground for outlandish rumors that had only fueled his amusement.

The knight had always been regarded as an outsider by the superstitious villagers, who glared at him with disdain because he refused to believe in their tales.

"Tis true my lord. Little Mike, Sera's son was abducted by one of those horrible two headed beasts that can fly faster than any man, never to be seen again!" a villager had stated with conviction and many more had agreed with him loudly, but there was nothing the villagers could say that could change the knight's opinion. He knew that half of these stories were made up lies and the others had been so distorted that it was impossible to decipher what was true and what was false.

   The words of the villagers echoed in his mind, haunting him on that serene morning in the depths of the forest. Every little noise made the knight freeze in his tracks, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword as if he were a frightened child. He couldn't help but feel relieved that his loyal squire wasn't present to witness his moments of weakness, as he knew he would become the subject of mockery and shame among his fellow Paladins and their squires. The mere thought of it sent shivers down his spine, so he pushed it aside. However, the eerie silence of the forest continued to unnerve him, causing his eyes to dart anxiously from one tree to another, imagining the lurking horrors that could be concealed within the shadows.

The knight berated himself for his decision to halt at the inn, realizing it was a regrettable mistake. It had proven to be an unproductive detour, wasting precious time that could have been better spent on his journey or engaging in more meaningful activities rather than indulging in the tales of common folk. However, deep down, he couldn't ignore the fact that the villagers' stories seemed to align with his own quest, which was arduous and fraught with danger. The oath he had taken weeks ago echoed in his mind, its words etched vividly as if he had uttered them only moments ago.