<nc-section data-title="A Knight's Scrutiny" data-color="red"> As I dismounted near the stables, the scent of hay and horse sweat thick in the air, a mountain of a man blocked my path. His steel plate was a tapestry of dents and scratches, each one telling a story I couldn't yet read. A jagged scar cut through one eyebrow, giving him a permanent scowl. He looked me up and down, his gaze lingering on my simple leather jerkin before dismissing me entirely to appraise Thunder. "You're the new whelp?" His voice was gravel. "I am Sir Roland. The stablehands will deal with your beast. Mess hall is in the main keep. Don't be late." He turned his back on me without another word, the sheer weight of his presence leaving me feeling small and utterly out of my depth. </nc-section> <nc-section data-title="A Warm Welcome" data-color="green"> A knight with a kindly, weathered face and a neatly trimmed grey beard emerged from the stable doors, wiping his hands on a rag. A genuine smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. "You must be Frederick! A long journey, I imagine," he said, his voice warm and inviting. "I am Sir Roland, Knight of the Outer Yard. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." He extended a calloused hand, his grip firm and reassuring. "Come, let's get your magnificent horse settled in. You look like you could use a hot meal and a proper bed." In that moment, the imposing castle walls felt a little less like a fortress and a little more like a home. </nc-section> <nc-section data-title="The Weight of Expectation" data-color="blue"> A lone figure stepped out from the deep shadows of the stable's archway as I led Thunder towards a water trough. He was leaner than I'd expected a knight to be, his armor dark and unadorned, seeming to drink the twilight. He didn't speak, merely watched me with an unnerving stillness, his eyes a piercing, pale grey that seemed to search for something within me. "I am Sir Roland," he said finally, his voice a low, even tone that carried no hint of warmth or welcome. "We received word of your coming." He paused, his gaze unblinking. "There is much to discuss. But first, see to your horse. Your training begins at dawn. Do not disappoint." The unspoken expectation in his words was heavier than any armor. </nc-section>