Kent continued investigating Westway. He walked between houses, but what he was most disappointed about was the lack of cleanliness in the area.
The 4 knights followed Kent closely. As the once brightly lit sky grew darker with the sun dropping over the horizon, the guards knew it was time to leave.
"It's getting dark milord, we should go back now." The knight beside Kent spoke up.
The lord looked down at the ever-growing shadow of the houses, the narrow road was no longer visible in the dark alleyway. "Let's return," Kent commanded
Kent and his entourage turned around and headed back towards the main road. They progressed back to make their way to the castle.
But when the group turned a corner, a hooded figure stood before them, right in the middle of the road blocking their way.
The 4 knights grew wary, no man would dare act so outrageous against a noble, blocking their way. Furthermore, the figure even wore clothing that disguised their own identity, a dark cloak covered their entire body.
The knights immediately made their way in front of Kent, forming a wall between the hooded figure and Kent.
"Stand back milord," A knight whispered in an anxious tone.
Then the knight faced the hooded figure. He unsheathed his longsword and pointed his weapon at the figure menacingly. "Who are you? Why are you blocking the road?" The knight demanded.
The hooded figure didn't reply. Instead, the figure reached into their cloak and pulled out two short daggers. The person got into their fighting stance, readying for the attack.
Upon seeing the hooded figure pulling out two daggers, the knights grew vigilant. It seems the figure was not letting them pass without a fight. But the knights weren't afraid of battling out the assailant, but they were worried about Kent's safety instead.
The knights had all undergone training and knew they could at any time die in battle. They were always ready to welcome their death. But for Kent, he was only a non-fighter. Their lord had no fighting experience, coupled with Kent not wearing any protective clothing. Kent could be easily harmed or even killed if they were not careful.
Facing this situation, the knights exchanged glances and nodded at one another.
Suddenly, three knights left their formation and charged at the assailant in an arrow formation. One at the front, two slightly behind at either side. The last of the four knights stayed behind to protect Kent from any unexpected dangers.
The 3 knights were closing the distance between them to the hooded figure rapidly. The separation disappeared as the knight at the front reached in front of the figure. The knight, in a singular motion, leaned deep and thrust the longsword at the assailant's heart.
The first knight smiled smugly, thinking that he got the kill. But what came next left him stunned. The mysterious figure, with his left hand, expertly veered the oncoming sword stab to the side. And wasting no time at all, returned the blow by uppercutting the knight's neck.
The knight, surprised, leapt backwards, dodging the otherwise dangerous cut that would have chopped his head off.
Seeing their compatriot nearly dying instantly, they grew even warier of the assailant and put all their efforts into killing their opponent.
After the first knight leapt back, the two knights that were behind, split up and ran at the figure's flanks. The two knights were attacking the figure in a pincer attack.
The two knights who were performing the pincer attack readied the longswords, the knight on the left was the first to arrive at a fighting distance. The knight positioned his sword in a high guard and slashed directly at the assailant's head, aiming to end the fight himself.
However, the hooded figure sneered at this attempt. The figure expertly dodged the overhead slash at the last possible moment before stabbing both short daggers in the knight's left torse.
The wounded knight screamed in pain.
The two knights up front were the first to react to this scene. Immediately retracting a couple of steps back, still stunned from the fact their close companion just died next to them.
Longswords were held shaky in the knights' grip. They knew not to underestimate the figure in front of them.
Kent gritted his teeth; he didn't want people to die for him. "Why are you doing this? WHY?" He demanded.
For a moment, the assailant stood still in the alleyway. It was as if he was not registering Kent's words. The figure is seemingly fazed by this abrupt question.
The two knights, realising the change in the figure's concentration, sensed an opportunity. They both took vigilant steps towards the figure approaching the flanks.
"Lord, please run back to the castle and call for backup, the assailant is too skilled." The knight guarding Kent whispered.
"But…"
"Please do so with haste." The knight informed his master with gritted teeth.
Then the knight hurried to join the other 2 knights surrounding the hooded figure. Joining his companion, the three knights formed a triangular formation to prevent any chance for the hooded figure to escape.
Kent could only feel helpless, mad at his incapability to stop his subordinates from charging to their deaths. He questions their loyalty and their motivations, why could they waste their precious life just to protect him? Why him?
But contrary to Kent's regret, ordinary knights wouldn't be so loyal and protective of their masters. In reality, no fighter would throw their life away so willingly to protect their lord. But this was different. The knights all saw something in Kent that they had never seen before. Something they never knew was possible in an individual like Kent.
Nevertheless, they saw it – a spark of hope.
They saw hope, a glimpse of possibility for their city to be better. A grime possibility that ordinary workers like them can be treated like a higher class aristocrats. A chance for people like him to get the privilege of education.
Words of Kent's plans has already spread far and wide within the castle. Promises of education, raise in pay, the chance of eating full meals every so often. They never knew this would be possible in a backwards city like theirs.
But their lord has set his ambition to accomplish it.
This was a lord they were willing to serve. For once, they knew their role as a knight meant more than just protecting their city, but also to act as a protector for a better Hestanar. A brighter future that they were excited to see, excited to witness.