<nc-section data-title="The Calloused Mentor" data-color="red"> As I dismounted near the stables, the smell of hay and old leather filling my senses, a shadow fell over me. Sir Roland stood there, his armor scarred by a dozen battles I had only read about in songs. He didn't offer a hand; instead, he rested a heavy palm on the hilt of his broadsword. "You're late, boy," he rumbled, his voice like grinding stones. "Thunder looks winded, and a squire who exhausts his mount before the sun sets is a squire who walks to his first skirmish. Tend to him, then meet me in the yard. Your real training begins at dawn, if you survive the night's chores." </nc-section> <nc-section data-title="A Warm Reception" data-color="green"> I was still patting Thunder’s neck when a boisterous laugh echoed against the stable walls. Sir Roland emerged from the gloom of the stalls, tossing a half-eaten apple to my horse. "Fine beast you have there, Frederick!" the knight exclaimed, stepping forward with a wide, friendly grin. He lacked the stiffness I expected of a king’s champion, his tunic dusty and his eyes bright with genuine curiosity. "Don't look so terrified. The castle's walls are high, but the people inside are mostly human. Get that saddle off and come find some stew; we have much to discuss before the Master of Arms puts you to work." </nc-section> <nc-section data-title="The Silent Appraisal" data-color="blue"> Sir Roland didn't speak at first. He leaned against the weathered wood of the stable entrance, arms crossed over his chest, watching as I fumbled with Thunder’s reins. His gaze was analytical, stripping away my noble pretensions until I felt like nothing more than a child in oversized boots. "The grip is wrong," he said finally, his voice calm but piercing. He walked over, his stride graceful despite the weight of his mail. He reached out, adjusting my hand on the bridle with a firm, practiced touch. "Small details save lives, Frederick. Remember that. Welcome to the Last Dragon’s watch. Try not to break anything important on your first day." </nc-section>