Run: 2026-02-25-01KJBDRZ7Y4M0CS4K4TD14DDCD

<nc-section data-title="Chapter 2: The Iron Welcome" data-color="red"> As Frederick dismounted, the cobblestones echoing beneath his boots, a figure emerged from the shadows of the stable block. Sir Roland stood tall, his armor bearing the crimson sigil of the royal guard. The knight's hand rested heavily on the hilt of his broadsword as he approached, his eyes scanning the young squire with critical intensity. "You ride with haste, boy," Roland grunted, his voice like grinding stone. "But speed means little in the training yard. Show me your steadiness." The setting sun reflected off the red leather of Roland's shield, casting a blood-colored glow over the arrival of the new recruit. <nc-section data-title="Chapter 2: Whispers of Duty" data-color="green"> Thunder snorted, sensing the tension in the air as Frederick swung from the saddle. Near the straw-strewn yard, a knight in verdant leathers stepped forward to meet him. Sir Roland did not wear heavy steel, preferring the flexible mail that allowed for quiet movement among the horses. He handed Frederick a brush with a gentle nod. "The stables smell of lavender tonight," he noted, his voice low and soothing. "A dragon’s lair may require fire, but a squire’s duty is rooted in the earth." Roland gestured toward a stall for Thunder, establishing the quiet rhythm of service that Frederick was expected to keep. <nc-section data-title="Chapter 2: The Twilight Sentinel" data-color="blue"> The fading light cast long, blue shadows across the courtyard. From the doorway of the stables, Sir Roland emerged like a specter of the coming night. He was a quiet man, preferring the cool of the evening to the harsh sun. He clasped a gauntleted hand over his chest in a formal bow before the boy. "Welcome to the Keep of Shadows," Roland whispered, though the words carried the weight of a decree. In this first meeting under the moonrise, the knight's demeanor was cool and distant, hinting that not all guards at the castle were as they seemed.