Lysaria stood in front of the Knight-Captain, unflinching. She t the captain’s gaze without hesitation.
"Senior, I am Lysaria. A Vestal of the Inner Fla, from the Church of Light of the Korvan Kingdom."
The captain’s expression softened slightly. A Vestal was not soone she could dismiss out of hand. "A Vestal? What is a servant of the Light doing in this backwater, consorting with dark mages and peasants?"
"I am here," Lysaria said, her voice ringing with conviction, "because this ’peasant’ has done more for the Light than any man I have ever known."
She pointed a hand back at Riku. "He is Riku. That is the man who single-handedly exposed the corruption of Vestarch Elian in Vintross. This is the man who saved the city of Luxia from the Crimson Creep. This is the man whose Lifewell Project has been given the full blessing and funding of King Harius himself to end the famine."
She took a deep breath. Her voice did not waver. "You stand before a hero of the Korvan Kingdom. He is a guest of our King. And he is a true friend of the Light. You will show him the respect he has earned."
The Knight-Captain stared at Lysaria. Her glowing eyes narrowed slightly. The impassive mask of authority wavered. It was replaced by a flicker of genuine curiosity.
"Riku," she repeated, the na sounding strange on her. "The hero of the Korvan Kingdom?"
She looked past Lysaria. Her gaze settled on Riku once more. This ti, it was not the look of a judge. It was the look of an investigator who had just found a major, unexpected piece of the puzzle.
"We have heard reports," the Knight-Captain admitted. Her voice was still firm, but it had lost its earlier condescending edge. "Reports from the capital of the Korvan Kingdom, Luxia. A new Grand Luminar has risen. A plague was purged. A man nad Riku was at the center of it all."
She looked from Riku to the prosperous village around them. "We assud they were exaggerated tales. The fanciful stories of a backwater kingdom."
Her eyes t Riku’s again. "It seems we may have been mistaken."
The paladins behind her did not lower their spears. But the condescending intent radiating from them lessened. Lysaria’s words, and the captain’s acknowledgnt, had given them pause.
"Your defense of this man is noted, Vestal Lysaria," the Knight-Captain said. "Your faith is comndable."
She took a half-step back. It was a subtle gesture of de-escalation. "My orders are to investigate a divine disturbance and contain any northern threats. If this man is indeed a friend to the Light, as you claim, then he and his people are not my primary concern."
She offered a compromise. It was a concession born of pragmatism, not kindness. "I can turn a blind eye to the local matters of this valley. For now."
Her gaze then shifted. It moved past Riku’s group and settled on Lord Falco and his retinue. Her expression hardened again, becoming cold and absolute.
"But them," she declared, her voice leaving no room for argunt, "they are another matter entirely."
"The Ancient Treaty is clear," the Knight-Captain stated. "Their presence here, with an ard escort and a high-level mage, is a flagrant violation. They are a threat to the security of the Solari Empire."
She raised her golden spear, pointing it directly at Lord Falco.
"They will be taken into custody. They will be held for interrogation. That is not a request. It is an order."
Lord Falco’s face, which had just begun to regain its normal color, turned white with rage. "Custody? Interrogation? Do you know who I am? I am Lord Falco!"
The Knight-Captain was unmoved. "Your title ans nothing here."
Marci stared at Riku. Her eyes were wide with a new, desperate plea. They had just made peace. Was he going to let this happen? Was he going to stand by and watch them be dragged away as prisoners?
Riku t her gaze. He saw her fear. He saw her fragile, budding trust about to be shattered for a second ti.
He looked back at the paladin’s calm face and shook his head slowly.
"No," he said.
The word was quiet. But it cut through the tension like a knife.
"Great... Guards!! Capture...."
"Wait, what did you say?" The Knight-Captain’s head snapped back to him, unable to process what she heard. "What did you say?"
Riku stepped forward. He stood between the line of golden spears and Lord Falco’s group.
"I said no," he repeated, his voice calm but unyielding. "You will not be taking them."
The paladins tensed. Their spears humd with holy energy.
"This is not your concern, mage," the Knight-Captain warned, her voice turning icy. "This is an Imperial matter. Stand aside."
"They are my guests," Riku stated simply. "We have resolved our differences. They have agreed to leave in peace."
He looked directly at the Knight-Captain. "And I have given my word that they will be allowed to do so."
He did not raise his voice. He did not radiate power. But his stance was absolute.
"They are under my protection. You will not touch them."
The Knight-Captain’s face twisted with rage. Her brief mont of curiosity was gone. It was replaced by pure, undiluted fury.
"Vestal Lysaria," she snapped, her voice like cracking ice. "Stand back. Now."
Lysaria flinched but held her ground. "Captain, please—"
"I said, stand back!" the captain roared. "Your sentintality has clouded your judgnt. This man is a peasant who thinks he can defy the will of the Solari Empire. He is a brat who needs to be taught a lesson."
She took a step forward. Her golden armor seed to blaze with an inner fire. "I will teach him that lesson myself. I will show him what it ans to disrespect the authority of the sacred Legion."
Riku watched her. His expression was still calm. "A lesson?" he asked, his voice quiet. "Is that what this is about? Your authority?"
He tilted his head slightly. "Then let’s make this simple."
He looked the Knight-Captain directly in the eye. "If I defeat you, you drop this matter. You take your soldiers, and you leave my village in peace. You do not touch my guests. You do not interfere here again."
"What do you say about that?"
A mont of silence fell over the field.
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