Chapter 19: The Three Virtues Of A Knight (I)
The training ground was massive.
The flattened earth stretched out as far as the eye could see, marked by long, chalk-white lines forming lanes, squares, and open arenas.
Rows of wooden dummies stood like grave markers along the edges, and weapon racks gleamed under the mid-morning sun, swords, halberds, spears, shields, even bows.
Knights of all ages and houses stood gathered at the center, their murmurs mixing with the metallic sounds of armor and distant clashing.
Gray stood near the back of the crowd, arms crossed, the wind brushing through his hair.
His washed, but still tattered, shirt fluttered faintly with the breeze, and though many knights wore fine armor or at least fresh uniforms, no one dared get too close to him.
[You really stand out, you know that?]
Jasmine’s voice hummed softly in his head with a playful tone.
[Like a puppy thrown into a wolf’s den.]
Gray ignored her at first, his black eyes scanning the space.
[So... what do you think the assessment will be like? A spar? A death match? Maybe something flashy like jumping through rings of fire?]
"...No fucking idea," he muttered.