In a world ravaged by a cataclysm that plunged humanity into an era marked by scarcity, three factions wage war over the remaining resources—especially the most vital of all: water.
In this grim scenario emerges a young warrior named Konrad, the Dark Knight. He wasn't the villain many claimed him to be; he was merely a Warden of the borderlands, clashing against Vikings and Samurais in bloody battles. His real name was Sir Konrad Gideon III, the second son of the warrior Konrad family, known among his close companions as Rahi.
Since the beginning of the war, the Konrads had given everything for the well-being of their faction—the Knights. Konrad earned the title of "Sir" two years before his older brother, Konrad Kelvan II, thanks to a fierce battle where all three factions fought for an underground water source capable of sustaining cities for extended periods. The Knights emerged victorious, thanks to the tactics of the Warden warrior Gideon "Rahi", which earned him the rank of knight.
But many years have passed since then.
I am Sir Gideon, or Sir Konrad. I am thirty-two years old. I serve as a border Warden, guardian of the underground reservoirs of Blackstone Hills—located near the Samurai territories and the Mt. Ignis volcano, as well as the Viking territory of Grom Gate, which is nearly desolate, with only a few defensive or watch posts, each staffed with no more than twenty-five to forty guards.
As the commanding officer of the Blackstone Hills defense post, I must be ready for anything.
The day had been routine until Rianh Closs, a gate guard on duty, reported suspicious activity on the Samurai side. I've been uneasy in recent months due to constant Samurai attacks under the command of Nobushi, a high-ranking commander we've faced on multiple occasions. The Centurion leader had warned us about his encounters with him.
I hoped this suspicious activity would pass without incident. I did not want to engage in combat, as the post was operating with only half the personnel required for such a critical zone.
I sighed… but such is duty.
That very night, a surprise attack by the Samurais struck the defense post. Sir Gideon was thrown into a fierce battle to defend the outpost, confronting Nobushi. He was losing, and just when he was about to be decapitated, Orochi—a great Samurai general—appeared and struck off my arm in a single slash.
I made a makeshift tourniquet and grabbed my longsword. Nobushi stabbed me in the back, but as I turned, I slashed his neck. With a spinning move on my own axis, I severed his head.
Just then, reinforcements arrived under General Prior the Dark, who was passing through with his battalion from the city of Eitriratnen toward Post Three on the Viking frontier. Upon hearing reports of ongoing attacks, he chose to take the route through Mt. Ignis and pass through the main defense post located between Cinis and the Blackstone Hills reservoirs—the main water source for Eitriratnen.
Seeing fire in the distance, he ordered his men to hasten their march. He witnessed the attack by Orochi and Nobushi and gave the command to annihilate the enemy and sound the trumpets to announce the arrival of reinforcements.
While I, Gideon, teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, I heard the trumpets.
Orochi saw the reinforcements approaching and ordered a retreat. He turned and stabbed me, saying in his language:
"Miserable knight, may you die."
Then he fled with his troops.
Upon arrival, Prior the Dark searched for me as the head of the defense post. My plate armor was shattered, battered. He, a friend of the Konrad family, took my hand and said:
"The Knights will avenge your sacrifice for the kingdom, Sir Gideon. I will make sure your family is informed of your passing, and we will pray to God for your soul."
At that moment, he ordered his troops to show respect and pay tribute to the fallen in battle, as well as to the victory secured in defending the position.
They began to shout:
"Victory! Sir Gideon! Sir Gideon!"