Roland's eyes narrowed. The tension he had just released returned to his body.

Then he noticed Lor's reaction beside him and eased his guard.

"Lord Jash!"

Lor, who had been binding his wound, tore the bandage free, strode forward, straightened his back, and said in a low voice, "This subordinate was incompetent. Please punish me, my lord..."

"No matter."

The black-robed man called Jash raised one hand. His hoarse voice was steady.

"The monsters that attacked us were far from ordinary. This was not your fault... Is Lady Morningstar unharmed?"

"That lady has remained in the mid-cabin and has not appeared."

"Understood. Continue handling the aftermath."

With that, Jash walked to the luxurious cabin door at the rear of the deck.

He raised his hand and knocked. After three crisp taps, the door opened, revealing a blurred figure within.

"Lady Morningstar, my deepest apologies..."

Jash bowed low, his respectful tone carrying a hint of unease.

The conversation that followed dropped too low to hear. Even when Roland focused, he could not make out a single clear phrase.

"Morningstar. Tsk, tsk..."

Galvez, who had been silent until now, clicked his tongue with open mockery.

"Mr. Roland, I never expected we would have the good fortune to share a ship with someone so important."

Roland turned his head and asked quietly, "You know that person... the one called Morningstar?"

"Of course. But allow me to correct one detail."

Galvez lifted his chin toward the figure behind the cabin door.

"That lady is not Human. She is a noble High Elf."

The corner of his mouth rose as he explained, his tone faintly teasing.

"Human nobles obsess over bloodlines, and Elves are no different. High Elves, lesser Elves, and..."

The poet shrugged, his tone so airy he might have been discussing someone else's problem.

"Half-Elves like me."

After a pause, he looked toward the cabin and lowered his voice.

"And the surname Morningstar is not something just any Elf may use. It belongs to one of the oldest and most noble bloodlines among the High Elves."

"As for Lord Jash..."

Before Roland could respond, Galvez continued on his own.

"He is most likely a member of the River Kingdoms' Shadow Veil organization. But..."

His brow furrowed.

"Sending only one person to guard a figure of that status is rather overconfident."

Realizing that Galvez was the talkative sort, Roland did not answer. Instead, his thoughts turned inward.

He had heard of Shadow Veil before. Avril had once said she was a reserve member of the organization.

And since Avril was an apprentice Ranger, its official members were surely powerful people who possessed transcendent might.

But Jash's movement during the battle just now...

Roland recalled the black-robed figure flashing and shifting across the sea, moving so fast the naked eye could barely follow. His expression tightened.

It was completely different from the broad, forceful combat style of the two Knights, Gundar and Beckham.

This powerful man definitely does not follow the path of a Knight...

Roland glanced thoughtfully at the poet beside him.

It seemed the common Transcendent Professions Bronson had once mentioned, such as Knight, Ranger, and Barbarian, were only the surface of this world's system.

He set those tangled thoughts aside and returned to the original topic.

"In that case, Mr. Galvez..."

He pointed at the fishmen corpses scattered across the deck.

"These monsters came for that High Elf?"

"Nine times out of ten."

Once that was confirmed, Roland shook his head, nodded to the poet, and turned away.

After calming the shaken Bronson, he was about to return to his cabin when he sensed the brown-haired figure still following him.

"Mr. Galvez..."

Roland stopped and turned around with some helplessness.

"Do you need something else?"

Although the man was very likely a Transcendent Professional, Roland truly had no wish to invite unnecessary trouble by getting too involved with him.

"Didn't I just say it?"

By now, Galvez had slung the harp behind his back. At some point, he had produced paper and pen, and his eyes shone as he stared at Roland.

"Mr. Roland, you are the legendary protagonist I have been searching for! Could you tell me your heroic deeds? Rest assured..."

He placed a hand over his chest and promised with grave sincerity.

"After my artistic embellishment, your fame will resound across the continent of Faerun!"

"Sorry."

Faced with the poet's grand performance, Roland's expression stayed cool.

"I don't need that kind of fame."

He started to close the door. The expected thud never came.

A boot was wedged in the gap.

Through the narrow opening, Galvez offered a pleading smile.

"Please, Mr. Roland! This is coursework assigned by my teacher. Have mercy and help me!"

"Oh, right. Judging by your appearance, you probably aren't from the River Kingdoms, are you? What do you know about the Dragon that appeared in the Golden Valley Kingdom? Were you there at the time?"

At that, Roland released the doorknob.

Not because he had suddenly been moved to kindness or wanted to help Galvez complete his so-called coursework.

When Galvez mentioned the Dragon, Roland saw neither the panic nor curiosity an ordinary person should have shown. Instead, the poet's eyes held an unusual calm.

That calm stirred Roland's interest.

"Mr. Galvez..."

He opened the door and walked straight to the wooden chair in the room before sitting down.

"From your reaction, you seem to know quite a bit about Dragons."

"Of course!"

Seeing Roland's attitude soften, Galvez immediately followed him inside. His cloak stirred a faint breeze as he took the seat across from Roland.

"However..."

The frivolous poet scratched his head in slight embarrassment.

"Because I am a Half-Elf, I have not read many ancient Elven texts. But I believe what I do know should be enough to trade for a few adventure stories from you. So..."

Noticing the searching look in Roland's eyes, he leaned forward, braced his elbows on his knees, and put on his most sincere posture.

"This is a worthwhile exchange, is it not?"

"After all, aside from me, you will likely find it very difficult to locate anyone who understands Dragons."

Roland did not answer at once. His fingers tapped the armrest of the wooden chair, producing a dull rhythm.

Galvez was right.

Among Bronson's several boxes of ancient books, records concerning Dragons existed only in scattered fragments, almost like someone had deliberately erased their traces.

Ever since that breathtaking encounter in Mist Creek Town, the Dragon's shadow had lodged in Roland's heart like a sickness clinging to the bone.

That overwhelming power had made even a Transcendent Professional look like an ant before it. Roland had no choice but to move with caution.

Know yourself and your enemy, and you would win a hundred battles.

Information about Dragons might not allow Roland to contend with such ancient beings, but it was still better than groping blindly through the fog.

Every stray clue might become the key to survival beneath the Dragon's shadow.

"It is a decent trade."

Roland finally spoke and leaned back. The chair gave a faint creak.

"Then..."

He lifted his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"Mr. Galvez, why don't you show me your stake first?"

Seeing Roland agree at last, Galvez let out a quiet breath. Then he began recounting what he knew about Dragons.

"According to the oldest records of the Elven race, Dragons possess near-eternal lives and power enough to shake heaven and earth, but their reproduction is extremely difficult. Often, not even one young Dragon is born in a century."

"More importantly, the birth of every Dragon seems closely tied to the will of the gods. Just like..."

His voice deepened.

"Just like the Dragon that appeared in the Golden Valley Kingdom. Since its appearance, the concentration of Mana Elements across the continent has risen significantly. By my deduction, that Dragon must be connected to a deity who governs Mana Elements..."

"Wait."

Roland interrupted him with a frown.

"You can perceive Mana Elements too?"

"Of course."

Galvez nodded.

"Unlike Humans, Elves perceive Mana Elements as naturally as breathing."

Noticing Roland's solemn expression, Galvez smiled.

"But my friend, you truly don't need to be so nervous."

He made a soothing gesture.

"Dragons are so arrogant that they border on lazy. As long as you do not actively provoke them, those colossal beings would rather sleep in their own territories for a century or two."

He even winked.

"In their eyes, the conflicts of us mortals probably matter less than a pleasant dream. Of course..."

The poet's tone shifted lower.

"There are always exceptions. As far as I know, in ancient times, there was once an evil Dragon..."

What followed was less intelligence than heroic epic.

Especially after Galvez layered it with his particular brand of exaggeration, the story became grand and turbulent.

Amid that vivid narration, the ship sailed steadily across the blue sea.

The rest of the journey went surprisingly smoothly. The wind was calm, the waves were gentle, and they encountered no further disturbances.

Until one morning, when the outline of a city emerged on the mist-wreathed horizon, like an ink wash painting spreading across paper.

As the ship drew nearer, the docks, towers, and winding streets came into focus.

Roland stood on the deck while the sea wind brushed his face.

The River Kingdoms had finally arrived.

The Knight breathing method he had long sought...

Was only one step away.

Unlike the Golden Valley Kingdom, which had built its Royal Capital at the center of its territory, the River Kingdoms' Royal Capital stood beside the sea, forming a distinctive coastal capital.

As the Black Shell Trading Company's ship entered the harbor, the towering lighthouse and busy docks announced that they had reached the territory of the River Kingdoms' Royal Capital.

Compared with Blackwater Territory's rugged landscape of mountains and dense forests, the River Kingdoms presented an entirely different scene.

The land here was broad and flat. Interlacing waterways gleamed like silver ribbons, weaving the whole region into a lively city upon the water.

Roland stood on the deck, the salty wind stirring his robes.

In the distance, white buildings spread along the coastline, shining with a pearl-like luster beneath the sun.

The lighthouse and domed palace faced each other from afar, while the dock district stretched outward like a web. Countless ships lay moored there, their masts forming a forest.

Canals wound through the city. Bridges linked the banks like ribbons, and the calls of vendors, sailors, and seabirds mingled in the humid air.

"It looks a little like..."

Before Roland could finish his quiet murmur, light footsteps sounded on the deck.

Then a somewhat frivolous voice spoke beside his ear.

"Like a city floating on water, yes?"

Galvez had appeared beside him at some point and was gazing into the distance.

Without waiting for Roland's reply, he spread his arms and praised the view in a recitative tone.

"Ah! Look at these crossing waterways, this bustling harbor. It is simply a pearl the gods left behind in the mortal world!"

His long fingers brushed the harp strings, not like a man standing on a merchant ship's deck, but a performer in some noble salon.

In the past, Roland would certainly have frowned at Galvez's flamboyant display.

But after spending time with him, he had learned that people adapted faster than expected.

At least now, when faced with the bard's sudden "artistic moments," he could continue enjoying the sea view without changing expression.

The damp sea breeze passed over his face. Roland looked toward the port and said, "Mr. Galvez... are you still not preparing to disembark?"

"I'm waiting for you, aren't I?"

After the days they had spent at sea, Galvez had become far more casual.

He had not only dropped the honorifics; he even stood on tiptoe and hooked an arm around Roland's shoulder.

"Hey, hey, you aren't planning to default, are you? You still owe me an adventure story!"

As he spoke, the bard produced paper and pen from his waist pouch like a stage trick, his eyes bright.

"With such a fine view of sea and sky, why not tell me what happened after you went to Pinewood Town to hone your combat skills?"

Roland rubbed his temples.

During this voyage, aside from inquiring about Dragons, he had also learned a few secrets of the Elves from Galvez.

According to this unreliable poet, the Elven race was very likely the first to sense the recovery of mana, and some Elves could already cast low-level spells.

That made Roland sigh again over the Elves' innate magical talent.

And because of that, he had been forced to owe several more adventure stories.

While the two were talking, a call came from behind them.

They turned and saw Jash, the Shadow Veil member, standing silently beside the mid-cabin door with a slight bow.

Then, surrounded by attendants, a tall figure stepped out.

It was a golden-haired Elf.

Pointed ears, exquisite features, and the natural elegance and distance in every movement all revealed an inborn noble bearing.

What surprised Roland was that this High Elf of the oldest bloodline was dressed with astonishing simplicity.

She wore only a plain long robe of refined cut, with no other adornments.

The only striking object was the circlet on her head, woven to resemble a tree crown.

Roland's gaze followed that circlet, and his pupils tightened.

Even from a distance, he could clearly feel abundant vitality surging inside that seemingly ordinary wooden circlet.

The path toward the port was soon cleared by the guards.

Only after the High Elf vanished from sight did the tight atmosphere ease.

"Roland!"

Bronson pushed over a handcart loaded with books, panting heavily.

"My luggage is packed. Let's disembark now."

"All right, Mr. Bronson."

Facing this learned old scholar, Roland showed a gentle smile. Seeing Bronson's face flushed from exertion, he asked, "Why didn't you ask an attendant to help?"

"There is water everywhere..."

Bronson stared at the slippery wooden path beneath his feet, pushing the cart with extreme care.

"Leaving it to them... I really can't feel at ease..."

Roland looked back at the attendant leading Blackwind and gave a helpless shrug.

Their group moved along the temporary wooden path.

When Roland's feet touched solid ground, the long-missed sense of stability made him let out a breath.

Just then...

"Roland! Over here! Over here!"

A clear shout rang out.

Roland looked up and saw a brown-haired girl standing not far away, waving hard. Her brown hair glittered with tiny flecks of light beneath the sun.

"Roland! It really has been so long since..."

Avril ran toward him cheerfully, her brown hair lifting in a bright arc through the wind.

But just as she was about to reach him, her gaze caught the familiar figure behind Roland.

Her words stopped.

The girl's bright smile froze on her face.

Galvez, who had been praising the city scenery in an exaggerated recitative, also stopped plucking his harp.

Their eyes met, and the air seemed to go still.

Galvez studied the vibrant brown-haired girl before him. His expression turned subtle.

The frozen moment lasted only an instant.

Before Roland could react, Avril had already grabbed his wrist and pulled him forward.

"Mr. Colin specially sent me to pick you up! Let's go see the residence prepared for you first. I guarantee you'll like it!"

"There's no rush for that."

Roland freed himself from the girl's slender hand.

"What I want to know more is when I can report to the Knight Academy."

"Ah! The Knight Academy!"

Galvez suddenly plucked a string and cut in with a recitative flourish.

"The perfect starting point for a hero's journey! What a poetic choice!"

Avril's brows drew together for the briefest moment, and disgust flickered through her eyes before her bright smile returned.

"Mr. Colin has arranged everything! If you're in a hurry, you can report to the academy today."

She stepped closer and lowered her voice.

"All the procedures are complete. Even the instructor..."

Under Avril's guidance, the group soon arrived at the residence.

Colin deserved his reputation as the most renowned merchant in the River Kingdoms. His generosity was exceptional.

The mansion prepared for Roland was not only spacious and fully appointed, but also in an excellent location.

Bronson entered and immediately buried himself in the study to continue his academic research. Galvez, meanwhile, chose the guest room with the best light without a shred of embarrassment.

After settling in briefly, Roland headed to the Knight Academy with Avril.

Transportation in the River Capital had its own character.

Because of the dense network of waterways, the most convenient means of travel was not horses, but delicate flat-bottomed boats.

They rode a light boat through the channels laid out like a constellation. Before long, the grand gate of the Knight Academy came into view.

A gray-white stone archway towered ahead, its lintel carved with a relief of a sword-bearing Knight.

Through the iron fence, training stakes could be seen across the broad practice field. In the distance, Gothic spires shone with a cold metallic luster beneath the sun.

Most eye-catching of all was the flag atop the main building. Embroidered with waves and a sword emblem, it snapped loudly in the sea breeze.

"So this is... the Knight Academy?"

Roland sighed softly and entered the gate with Avril.

Before they had taken more than a few steps, a thunderous roar exploded from the direction of the training field.

"Unqualified!"

"A pack of useless trash! You dare come take the assessment with pathetic skills like that? You'd be better off rolling home and nursing at your mothers' breasts!"

The rough voice shook the treetops and startled several resting seabirds into flight.