Fort Hope
Present Day..
Henry opened his eyes to the soft glow of morning light filtering through his private quarters. He lay completely still on the massive mattress. He took several deep breaths to evaluate his physical condition. The hollow ache that had settled deep into his bones yesterday was almost entirely gone.
A full night of undisturbed rest in a real bed had worked miracles on his battered physique. His mana channels had stabilized completely.
He threw off the thick blankets and sat up. He grabbed his new Swift Tale Boots from the floor and slid them onto his feet. The supple black leather seamlessly contoured to his ankles. He stood up as a sharp knock echoed from the heavy oak door.
"Time to go," Sir Red called out from the hallway.
Henry quickly strapped his sword belt around his waist. He grabbed his travel pack and pulled the door open. Sir Red stood in the corridor looking well-rested and oddly relaxed.
"Follow me," Sir Red instructed. He turned and walked down the lavishly carpeted hall.
Henry kept pace effortlessly. Sir Red did not lead him toward the command center or the front lobby. Instead, they navigated deeper into the secretive base. They passed several empty corridors before arriving in front of a pair of towering mahogany doors.
Sir Red pushed them open, revealing a massive, quiet library. Tall bookshelves lined the walls from the floor all the way up to the vaulted ceiling. The air smelled strongly of old parchment and aged leather. Dust motes danced lazily in the beams of sunlight piercing through the high windows.
A polished wooden table sat directly in front of the center bookshelves. Arranged neatly on top of the wood were three distinct books.
Sir Red walked over to the table and gestured toward the texts.
"Let's make this quick," Sir Red joked playfully. He crossed his thick arms over his chest. "My break starts as soon as yours does."
Henry approached the table and looked down at his options. Sir Black had promised each of the surviving recruits a chance to pick an advanced combat technique. Looking at the three manuals, Henry realized they had carefully curated these specific choices to match his individual potential.
Sir Red pointed a thick finger at the first manual on the left. It was bound in sleek black leather.
"That is a specialized sword style," Sir Red explained. "It completely abandons heavy parries. It focuses purely on surgical strikes that are both light and lethal."
Sir Red shifted his finger to the middle book. This one featured a worn green cover.
"The second manual is for footwork," Sir Red continued. "It teaches you how to remain incredibly light on your feet. It is designed to maximize evasion to help you avoid attacks entirely."
Finally, Sir Red pointed to the third text. It lacked a proper cover, appearing more like a collection of handwritten notes stitched together with thick twine.
"That last one is less of a traditional manual and more of a conceptual guide," Sir Red stated. His voice dropped into a serious tone. "It is a detailed study on the Intense Burst Aura. It will teach you how to properly visualize your energy and trigger the enhancement on command."
Henry stared at the table in absolute silence. His mind raced as he evaluated the incredible value of each option.
The first two manuals immediately reminded him of Sir Adar, the Vice Captain of the Sinclair Knights back home. He fought differently than every other soldier. While knights like Howard relied on the rigid, heavy-handed Sinclair style, Adar utilized blinding speed and unpredictable fluidity. If Henry managed to learn both the surgical sword strikes and the evasive footwork, he could completely mimic Sir Adar's highly effective combat rhythm.
However, the third book offered something entirely different. The Intense Burst Aura guide held the key to unlocking his most devastating power. Learning how to properly channel his life force into his blade would give him the sharpest, most explosive combat boost out of all the choices. It would allow him to shatter enemy defenses with a single swing.
Henry felt a deep wave of annoyance wash over him. He was completely stumped. He desperately needed all three of these books to survive the upcoming E-Rank trials. Choosing just one felt like leaving a vital piece of his survival on the table.
"Are you absolutely sure I can only have one?" Henry asked.
Sir Red let out a booming laugh. The sound echoed loudly through the quiet library.
"Greedy lad," Sir Red chuckled. "Yes, you have to choose only one today. But don't worry too much. You can earn the other two with your future mission accomplishments. The Colored Unknowns always reward success."
That single piece of information changed everything. Henry let out a slow breath. He would have another chance to claim the remaining texts. He just needed to figure out which manual would provide the highest immediate return on investment for his current build.
Henry looked down at his feet. He wiggled his toes inside the Swift Tale Boots. The magical footwear provided a ten percent boost to Speed alongside a five percent boost to Agility. His base stats were already high from maxing out his Rank Progress in the Rare-tier dungeon. If he selected the footwork manual, he would not just be learning new steps. He would multiply the boots' effectiveness.
The compounding synergy between the magical item and the advanced evasive techniques would make him a ghost on the battlefield.
Henry reached out his calloused hand. He bypassed the Aura guide and grabbed the green leather footwork manual.
Sir Red raised his eyebrows. A look of genuine surprise crossed the veteran knight's face.
"Interesting," Sir Red noted. He uncrossed his arms. "I didn't think you would go with that one. I fully expected you to grab the Aura guide."
Henry smiled. He clutched the green book tightly against his side. "Me neither."
He turned away from the polished table and walked toward the mahogany doors. Before crossing the threshold, Henry cast one final glance over his shoulder. He stared at the sleek black sword manual and the stitched Aura notes.
'I will be back for you two,' Henry promised.
Sir Red led him out of the library and back through the lavish interior of the base. They passed through the silent lobby and pushed open the heavy wooden front door. The morning cold hit Henry instantly.
The filthy, dilapidated alleyway stood in stark contrast to the luxury they had just left behind.
Standing patiently near the brick wall was a massive, pitch-black warhorse. It was fully saddled. A set of heavy leather travel bags hung securely over its hindquarters.
Sir Red walked over to the horse and patted its thick neck. He turned back to face Henry. His farewell was incredibly brief.
"See you in two weeks," Sir Red stated bluntly. He pointed a stern finger directly at Henry's chest. "Also, that is my personal horse. If anything happens to it, you're dead."
Henry laughed aloud. The sound was bright and filled with pure excitement. The threat held absolutely zero malice. It was just Sir Red's way of showing he cared.
"Roger," Henry replied enthusiastically.
He stepped up to the massive warhorse. He unbuckled the leather flap of the saddlebag and tucked his new footwork manual safely inside. He secured the straps tightly to protect the precious book from the elements.
Henry pulled himself up into the saddle and grabbed the thick leather reins. He looked down at Sir Red one last time and offered a crisp, respectful salute. The veteran knight returned the gesture before turning around and walking back inside the hidden base.
Henry gently nudged the horse's flanks. The morning sun illuminated the busy streets of the military fort as Henry guided the mount toward the main gates.
Henry was heading west.
Towards home.