<nc-section data-title="Meeting Sir Roland" data-color="red"> Sir Roland's armor gleamed in the fading light as he dismounted from his own horse. His piercing gaze scrutinized me, his shoulders squared in a display of confidence. "Welcome, young squire," he said, his deep voice resonant. "I see you've arrived. I trust your journey was uneventful?" He handed me a steaming mug from the castle kitchens, and I took a grateful sip of the warm ale. <nc-section data-title="Sir Roland's Initial Assessment" data-color="green"> A slight curl at the corner of his mouth hinted at amusement as he regarded me. "You look like you've never been around horses before," he observed, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. I bristled at the suggestion, but Sir Roland's kind eyes put me at ease. He reached out and patted Thunder's neck, earning a gentle nicker from the stallion. "Don't worry, I'll teach you how to handle these magnificent animals. We have a lot of work ahead of us." <nc-section data-title="A Shared Bond" data-color="blue"> As Sir Roland handed me the mug, their own steed, a sturdy warhorse named Atlas, nickered softly nearby. There was an inexplicable connection between Sir Roland and his horse, one that transcended the bond between rider and mount. I sensed it only in the camaraderie of their laughter, the way they seemed to move in perfect sync with each other's movements. Without a word, Sir Roland nodded towards the castle, and I followed him towards the entrance, eager to begin my journey as a squire and forge my own connection with the creatures that would become my companions.