A sharp knock rattled Ethan's door again.
He glanced over his shoulder from where he'd been standing, still rolling his stiff shoulders after
the 3D simulation. "Yeah?"
The door creaked open, revealing a young knight in polished steel armor. His helmet was tucked
under one arm, and nervous sweat glistened at his temples.
"Sir Ethan Graves?" the knight said, voice a touch shaky.
"That's me," Ethan replied, crossing his arms. "What's up?"
The knight cleared his throat. "The Swordmaster, Lady Selene, requests your presence in the
command chamber immediately."
Ethan blinked, then gave a dry chuckle. "Hah… not even a full hour of peace. Alright. Lead the
way, champ."
The knight bowed low, turned on his heel, and escorted Ethan through the marble corridors of the
Knight Quarters. Outside, the clash of steel echoed through practice yards, mixing with shouted
commands and the rhythmic stomp of drilling formations. Ethan felt eyes following him again—
