The six Silver Knights passed slowly through the gates of Wolfwood Castle and halted upon the main square. The sun hung low, bathing the cobblestones in golden light. Christina Silverwood looked around, her gaze grim as it swept across the familiar yet foreign surroundings.
"Wolfwood has changed much since I last came here," she said softly, yet firmly.
"When was that?" one of her companions asked.
"If I count correctly, about fifteen years ago," Christina replied.
"If you are thirty now, then you were fifteen then?" the knight asked in surprise.
Christina nodded, her eyes darkening.
"Yes, I was fifteen then, and I have no fond memories of Wolfwood."
"And what has changed the most?" another pressed.
Christina glanced around, then pointed toward the center of the square.
"Let's see… back then, there was only a flower garden here. Now three great statues stand in its place."
The knights stepped closer, marveling at the monumental figures.
"If we hadn't seen these statues earlier at the village shrine, we wouldn't even recognize them," one remarked.
"There's an inscription on the pedestal," another said.
"What does it say?" asked one curiously.
Christina leaned closer and read aloud.
"Goddess Neptune, protector of the world."
"She holds a book here too," one knight pointed out. "Wait, there's something written on the book—Uriel."
Christina repeated the word thoughtfully.
"…Uriel… what could it mean? Could it be connected to the Kingdom of Riel?"
At the second statue, one knight read the inscription:
"Elisabeth, the Hero Mage. Hero of the Kingdom of Riel and greatest of mages."
Before the third statue, another knight spoke:
"Sakura Dry, the Hero Knight. Hero of the Cesare Empire and finest swordswoman."
"There's something written on her sword as well," one noted. "Valkyr."
"Valkyr?" Christina echoed. "I've never heard that word before."
The Silver Knights gazed in awe at the statues.
"I heard many tales of the heroes when I was a child," one knight said. "But I could never imagine what they truly looked like. It's good at last to see how they were depicted in their own age."
"These are only imagined statues," another countered. "How could the sculptor possibly know what the heroes looked like five hundred years ago?"
Christina nodded slowly.
"In truth… the elves may still remember their faces."
"The elves!" one knight exclaimed with excitement. "They can live for a thousand years. Surely some among them saw the heroes five centuries ago and know how they appeared!"
"This is so thrilling!" another cried. "Perhaps the heroes really did look exactly like this. Just look at how detailed these carvings are!"
But Christina's voice turned suddenly serious.
"Perhaps. But now let us go. We must not keep the Wolf Knights waiting. Least of all the Wolfwoods."
The knights moved slowly toward the interior of the castle, while the three statues stood in silence, guarding the secrets of the past.
The Silver Knights entered the vast knight's hall of Wolfwood Castle. Torches flared along the stone walls, their light glinting off the armor of the Wolf Knights. At the center of the chamber sat Lord Bandorn Wolfwood upon the high seat, with Master Florian, Andrea Wolf, Captain Arpad of the Wolf Knights, and his lieutenant Janos beside him. Twenty armed Wolf Knights stood in formation behind them, stern as the castle walls themselves.
The Silver Knights greeted the members of House Wolfwood in turn, and silence settled over the hall. Bandorn was the first to speak, his voice echoing deep beneath the vaulted arches.
"Christina, I see that through the long years you have lost none of your beauty. How many years has it been since we last met?"
Christina Silverwood stood tall, her gaze cold yet courteous.
"Thank you for the compliment. It has been fifteen years since we last met."
"Yes, time passes swiftly," Bandorn replied, his eyes briefly drifting into the past.
But Christina quickly steered the words back to the present.
"I have heard that the Wolf Knights have driven all bandits from Wolfwood lands. Congratulations on your success."
Bandorn leaned forward with a mocking smile.
"Well yes, unfortunately here in Wolfwood we have run out of bandits entirely, and my Wolf Knights are dreadfully bored. Perhaps I should send them to Silverwood to hunt down your bandits as well!"
Christina's eyes flashed, her voice firm yet cool.
"That will not be necessary. Our Silver Knights master the situation. We keep the bandits under control in Silverwood."
The air of the hall grew taut, as though the very walls sensed the old grievances between the two houses. The Wolf Knights watched grimly, while the Silver Knights straightened their posture, signaling they would not be made subordinate. The first words of diplomacy had already drawn a sharp line between the noble houses.
The knight's hall was steeped in tense silence as Bandorn and Christina's words clashed. The Wolf Knights stood grimly, while the Silver Knights straightened their posture, pride and discipline in every movement.
"How frequent are the raids in your lands?" Bandorn asked, his voice tinged with mockery.
Christina's eyes flashed.
"Perhaps if we too had a beast‑hound, it would be just as easy for us to rid ourselves of every brigand!"
"Perhaps," Bandorn replied with a mocking smile, "if you could manage to tame such a beast at all!"
At that moment Andras stepped forward, his voice cutting sharply through the air.
"Let us set aside the matter of bandits! To my knowledge, Silverwood faces a far more dangerous enemy at present."
Christina inclined her head slightly, her tone becoming more courteous.
"Forgive me, yes, you are correct. Whom do I have the honor of addressing?"
"My name is Andras Wolfwood," the boy answered, his eyes gleaming with determination. "But call me the Young Wolf."
A brief smile crossed Christina's face.
"Young Wolf, it is an honor to meet you. I have heard you are a remarkable mage, gifted with two magical elements."
Bandorn raised his voice proudly.
"My son alone possesses two elements in the entire Kingdom!"
"All my respect, Young Wolf," Christina continued. "To have tamed a wolf beastfolk at such a young age is a great achievement."
Andras's eyes flashed, his tone turning cold.
"Save your flattery for the Princess. I care not for words, but for the deeds of knights."
Christina inclined her head slightly.
"Forgive me if I offended you. With your permission, Young Wolf, I will speak of our mission."
"Continue," Andras gestured.
Christina stepped forward, her voice solemn and grave.
"On behalf of the House of Silverwood, I have come to request the aid of the House of Wolfwood and the Wolf Knights. A great and powerful monster ravages Silverwood lands."
"What kind of monster?" Andras asked.
"According to our scouts, a blue‑skinned Ogre," Christina replied. "It is one and a half times larger than a normal Ogre, and far stronger, for it possesses a magical element."
Andras's eyes lit up.
"A blue Ogre, you say?"
"I can confirm it—its color is indeed blue," Christina nodded.
Andras turned toward Master Florian.
"Did you hear that, Master Florian? A blue Ogre!"
"I heard it, indeed! Hehehe!" the old master chuckled, his eyes gleaming playfully.
Christina furrowed her brow.
"May I ask, what is so amusing about this?"
Andras answered in a grave tone.
"The blue Ogre is a truly rare specimen of its kind. Perhaps one is born every hundred years. Or, to put it another way: it is as rare among Ogres as two elements are among mages."
Christina's eyes flashed sternly.
"Do you doubt that we saw a blue Ogre?"
"That is not the issue," Andras replied calmly. "A green and a blue Ogre can be distinguished even from afar. The blue hue stands out sharply, especially against the green of the forest. In size, it is clearly far larger than the common green or brown Ogres. And you would not have come seeking reinforcements for a mere ordinary Ogre. The six of you could defeat one, at worst with two or three casualties among your ranks."
The hall fell into silence. The Wolf Knights watched grimly, while the Silver Knights stood tense and resolute. The weight of the words impressed upon all present: this was no ordinary threat, but a rare and dangerous monster—one that could shape the fate of the land itself.