**Chapter 26: Arrival of the Knights**
The city of Lunar was still recovering from the chaos and devastation that had come upon it. Blood stained the streets, and the people, though resilient, were struggling to rebuild their lives. The once peaceful city now bore scars, both physical and emotional, from the fierce battle against the Regans. The atmosphere was heavy with sorrow, but also with determination. The city had survived, but at a great cost.
As the city tried to return to some semblance of normalcy, the sky above began to change. A massive shadow fell over the city as a colossal airship, gleaming with the unmistakable shine of spelltech, descended from the clouds. The knights from the Knights Academy had arrived from the nearest two-star city. Their arrival was marked by a sense of awe and trepidation among the citizens, for the Knights Academy was known far and wide for producing some of the most powerful warriors in the land.
The spelltech ship landed with a thud, shaking the very ground beneath it. From its ramp descended a contingent of knights, their armor polished to a mirror-like sheen, their expressions stern and aloof. At their head was a tall, imposing figure—a five-star knight, his presence commanding respect and fear in equal measure. He was Sir Alaric Vale, a man whose reputation had spread far beyond the academy.
The citizens of Lunar watched from a distance as the knights made their way through the streets. Their faces were a mixture of fear, awe, and curiosity. The knights moved with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, their eyes scanning the surroundings with a sense of superiority. They were here on official business, but it was clear to everyone that they considered themselves above the common folk.
The knights did not waste time in the city itself. After a brief search for traces of the missing priest of Regon and any remaining Talons, they headed straight to the Baron's manor. The manor was a grand structure, one of the few places in the city that had survived the recent battles relatively unscathed. It was here that the knights would make their headquarters for the duration of their stay.
The Baron's household was informed of the knights' arrival well in advance, and preparations were made to accommodate them. Servants bustled about, ensuring that everything was in order. The knights entered the manor with an air of entitlement, their armor clinking softly as they strode through the halls. They were given the finest rooms, and the servants attended to their every need, though it was clear that the knights viewed them as little more than background noise.
Sir Alaric Vale, the leader of the knights, gathered his men in the manor's grand hall. He addressed them with the authority that came with his rank. "We are here to find the remnants of the Regan cult and to ensure that this city does not fall again. But we are also here for another purpose. This city has potential—untapped potential. I intend to recruit the best talents this city has to offer. We will stay here for one week, and during that time, we will hold trials to find those worthy of joining the Knights Academy."
His words caused a stir among his knights. Recruitment was a rare event, and it meant that the academy was looking to bolster its ranks. The knights were eager to find new blood, warriors who could be trained and honed into powerful knights like themselves.
News of the knights' intention to recruit spread like wildfire through the city. It was all anyone could talk about. Young men and women, those who had survived the recent battle and those who had come of age, saw this as an opportunity of a lifetime. To be recruited by the Knights Academy was a dream—a chance to rise above their station, to gain power, and to make a name for themselves.
The city, still reeling from its losses, suddenly found itself buzzing with activity. The able-bodied citizens began to prepare for the trials. Blacksmiths worked tirelessly to repair armor and weapons, while warriors trained with renewed vigor. The marketplace was filled with the clamor of people buying supplies and discussing their strategies. The whole city seemed to be gearing up for the trials.
But the arrival of the knights was only the beginning. Soon after, representatives from the Mage Tower in the nearby two-star city arrived in Lunar. They were a group of powerful spellcasters, led by a two-star mage named Lady Elara. The Mage Tower had heard of the battle against the Regans and the strange, powerful magic that had been used by the priest of Regon. They had come to investigate and, if possible, to recruit promising mages from the city.
The Mage Tower's arrival brought its own set of challenges. Their search for the missing priest of Regon quickly became a matter of great importance. Word spread that a massive bounty had been placed on the priest's head. The secret art he had used to summon the power of Regon was a lost art, and this was the first time it had been seen in centuries. The powerful clans and factions in the two-star city were eager to find the priest, destroy the lost art, and claim the bounty for themselves.
This led to a tense situation in Lunar. Rival powers from the two-star city arrived, each with their own agenda. They scoured the city for any sign of the priest, clashing with one another in their search. The city guards, already depleted from the recent battle, struggled to keep the peace. The presence of so many powerful factions in the city made life difficult for everyone.
Despite the tension, the news of recruitment spread far and wide. People from nearby three-star cities began to pour into Lunar, hoping to prove themselves in the trials. The city, which had lost so many in the battle, suddenly found itself repopulated with hopefuls, all eager to seize the opportunity.
But the influx of new people also made the competition fiercer. The streets of Lunar were crowded with warriors, mages, and adventurers, all vying for a chance to be noticed by the Knights Academy or the Mage Tower. Training grounds were filled to capacity, and the sound of steel clashing and spells being cast could be heard throughout the city.
As the day of the trials approached, the tension in the city grew palpable. The knights, mages, and other powerful factions watched closely, each looking for the next great talent that would rise from the ashes of Lunar's recent tragedy. The people of the city knew that their lives could change forever, but they also knew that the trials would be brutal, and only the strongest would succeed.
The week passed quickly, and soon, the day of the trials arrived. The city of Lunar was alive with anticipation. The knights stood ready to judge the combatants, the mages prepared to test the spellcasters, and the rival factions watched from the shadows, ready to pounce on any opportunity to gain an advantage.
The stage was set, and the fate of many would be decided in the trials. But beneath the surface, a darker game was being played—a game of power, ambition, and survival. And in Lunar, a city still scarred by its recent battles, the people knew that nothing would ever be the same again.
End of chapter 26***