<nc-section data-title="A Knight's Scrutiny" data-color="red"> As I dismounted near the cavernous maw of the stables, a mountain of a man separated himself from the shadows. His armor was a tapestry of scars and dents, each mark a story I couldn't yet read. A thick, grizzled beard did little to soften a jaw that looked hewn from rock. He was Sir Roland, I had no doubt. His eyes, cold and grey as a winter sea, scrutinized me from head to toe, lingering on the fine leather of my saddlebags before dismissing me entirely. "You the new whelp?" he grunted, his voice like gravel grinding together. "Don't just stand there gawking. Your horse did the work. See to it before you think of your own comfort." </nc-section> <nc-section data-title="A Warm Welcome" data-color="green"> The scent of fresh hay and horsehide filled the air as I led Thunder toward the stables. A knight with a brilliant, open smile and laugh lines crinkling around his eyes stepped forward to greet me, his polished armor gleaming in the torchlight. "Ho, there, you must be Frederick!" he boomed, clapping a gauntleted hand on my shoulder with a warmth that traveled through my whole body. "Sir Roland, at your service. A long ride, eh? Don't you worry, the stable lads will see to your stallion. You look like you could use a flagon of ale and a hot meal. Come, the great hall awaits!" </nc-section> <nc-section data-title="The Weight of a Gaze" data-color="blue"> A lone figure stood at the entrance to the stables, half in light, half in shadow. He was lean and still, his presence a quiet anchor in the bustling courtyard. As I approached, his face came into focus—sharp, thoughtful, with eyes that held a peculiar intensity. They weren't unkind, but they seemed to look past my dusty clothes and tired expression, searching for something deeper. "Frederick," he said, his voice a calm and measured tenor. It was not a question. "You have arrived. Good. There is much to do, and time is not a luxury we possess." A strange unease settled in my stomach; his greeting felt less like a welcome and more like a summons. </nc-section>