The protagonist froze in place, staring at the gleaming blade pointed at him. One of the knights had noticed his presence, his eyes filled with suspicion.
"Who are you? And how did you get here?!" the knight demanded firmly.
The protagonist knew he had no choice but to speak. If he tried to run, they would chase him down and possibly kill him. Taking a deep breath, he slowly raised his hands to show he meant no harm.
"I... I'm just a lost traveler. I wandered into this forest and heard your voices, so I approached, hoping for help."
The knights exchanged skeptical glances before the older, gray-bearded knight, who seemed to be their leader, spoke.
"A traveler? Alone? In this forest? That's hard to believe. This place is filled with beasts, and no ordinary person can survive here."
The protagonist felt the tension rising, but he tried to stay calm. He knew that one wrong word could put him in grave danger.
A Test of Trust
The leader observed him for a moment before turning to a younger knight with long black hair.
"Edward, test him."
The knight stepped forward and tossed a wooden sword toward the protagonist. "If you're just a traveler, you won't last against me."
The protagonist realized this was a crucial moment. He had no choice but to fight, but he was grateful that he had chosen Knightly Skills from the system. Gripping the wooden sword, he took a defensive stance.
The Duel
The fight began quickly, with Edward lunging forward in a swift strike. However, to everyone's surprise, the protagonist's body moved effortlessly, as if he had been a knight for years. He dodged the attack smoothly and countered with a precise strike, stopping just before Edward's neck.
For a moment, silence filled the air. Then, the leader smiled for the first time.
"You're no ordinary traveler, that much is clear. You fight like a trained knight, but you don't seem to be from our kingdom."
The protagonist lowered his sword, realizing he had gained their attention—perhaps even their trust.
"I need to reach the kingdom, and I need your help."
The leader studied him for a moment before nodding.
"Very well. We have a long journey ahead, and if you have skills like these, you might be useful to us."
And so, the protagonist's real journey began, traveling with the kingdom's knights, unaware that this decision would change his fate forever.