The trainees and I finally approached the gates of Lionhearth.
Some of them dismounted from their horses the moment we got close, their legs shaking or their nerves getting the better of them. Others stayed mounted, stiff-backed and trying to look confident. I stayed on my horse—not out of confidence, but because I wanted to be ready for anything. Just in case.
Even from a distance, I could feel the gravity of this place.
Four border knights stood guard in front of the colossal gates. Their armor gleamed under the midday sun, heavier and more refined than anything I had seen before. Sharp lines, reinforced plating, crests etched with precision.
I wondered—are Lionhearth's border knights stronger than Zenonva's?
They had to be.
This was the capital of knights, the cradle of legends.
My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard. The nervousness hit me out of nowhere, crawling up my spine. The gates towered above everything, a wall of stone and steel so immense it made me feel small. Really small.
One of the knights stepped forward.
"State your purpose."
Before anyone else could speak, Juno nudged his horse forward and answered confidently, "We're here to partake in the Knight's Apprentice Exam."
The knight eyed all twenty of us, expression unreadable, then nodded. "Dismount, if you will. We'll need to check your belongings."
I exhaled slowly and climbed off my horse. My legs were sore from constant riding, but they held steady. The knights began checking bags, weapons, supplies—everything. They were thorough. Extremely thorough.
Minutes passed.
Then more minutes.
Eventually I lost track of time. It felt like half an hour… then maybe forty minutes.
I found myself sighing more than once. My back hurt. My feet hurt. My brain hurt. Why did checking take so long?
But finally—
"You may enter. Welcome to Lionhearth."
The gates opened.
And my breath caught in my throat.
Inside…
Inside was a different world.
Towering structures of stone and silver. Wide, paved streets gleaming under sunlight. Banners of emerald green and gold fluttering from every corner. Homes, shops, bakeries, blacksmiths, libraries—everything arranged beautifully, perfectly, like the entire place had been sculpted rather than built.
Crowds of people moved about, laughing, trading, training, living. Dozens of armored knights walked the streets, their weapons shining, their posture flawless. Children chased each other. Merchants called out. Birds circled overhead.
It was alive.
Vibrant.
Peaceful.
Zenonva was impressive.
But this?
This was on another level entirely.
This was the true heart of Okrith.
This was where knights were born.
I took a deep breath, letting the air fill my lungs. It felt pure, refreshing—nothing like the smogged, suffocating air of the slums. For the first time in a long time, my shoulders relaxed.
And this wasn't even the entire kingdom.
This was just the outer district.
Far beyond this lay the Knight's Academy, the training fields, the higher districts, the Royal Court… and somewhere out there, Sir Zenite.
I tightened my hands into fists.
Four days left until the Knight's Apprentice Exam.
Four days until everything changed.