The shrine was simple, yet dignified. Fresh flowers covered the pedestal, their fragrance filling the air. Three carved statues loomed solemnly over the square, as though guarding the village.
"So this is the shrine?" Christina spoke as she circled the statues.
"It's full of flowers," one knight remarked.
"Are these supposed to be the Heroes?" another asked, pointing at the figures.
Christina nodded.
"The central one is the Goddess Neptune."
"She has wings… and a book in her hand," one knight said in awe.
Christina stepped closer, her fingers brushing along the grain of the wood.
"These statues are carved quite realistically."
"And the other two are the Hero Mage and the Hero Knight?" a knight asked.
"Elisabeth and Sakura Dry," Christina replied.
"Have you heard of them, Captain?" one pressed.
Christina slowly shook her head.
"I've read the legends of the Heroes, but nowhere were their names written."
"Then how do the Wolfwoods know them?" another knight asked.
"I don't know," Christina answered. "The Young Wolf's mother is from the Empire."
"Perhaps the Imperials know more about the Heroes… or at least their names," one knight suggested.
"Perhaps," Christina nodded. "When we reach Wolfwood, we'll ask them about it."
"Shouldn't we be leaving soon?" another knight interjected. "If we want to reach the castle before nightfall, we need to go."
"Yes, let's go," Christina concluded.
The captain looked back once more at the statue of the Goddess Neptune. The shrine stood quietly among the flowers, as though the Goddess herself watched over the village. For a brief moment, a serious, contemplative expression crossed Christina's face, then she mounted her horse. The Silver Knights followed in order, and together they set out toward Wolfwood Castle, where new secrets and trials awaited them.
Meanwhile, within the grim walls of Wolfwood Castle, a soft knock sounded at the door of the Lord's study. Bandorn Wolfwood, master of the land, was bent over his parchments when his son, Andras, entered.
"Father," the boy spoke firmly, "I heard a messenger has arrived from Silverwood. What do they want?"
Bandorn straightened slowly, his gaze flashing darkly.
"The captain of the Silver Knights, Christina Silverwood herself, is coming to us to ask for our aid in an important matter."
"What kind of matter?" Andras asked, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"The messenger did not share the details," Bandorn replied. "Only that some powerful monster threatens near the border."
Andras nodded thoughtfully.
"So the creature is in Silverwood for now, but it could cross into Wolfwood at any time?"
"Most likely," Bandorn growled. "Otherwise they would not come begging for our help."
Andras's eyes gleamed mischievously, his voice cutting with sharp mockery.
"Let me guess. You plan to refuse their request and send Christina and her Silver Knights straight to hell. Am I right?"
Bandorn's face twisted with rage, his fists slamming onto the desk.
"She humiliated me when she broke off our betrothal! The whole Kingdom mocked me!"
Andras stepped closer, his words cold and piercing like a blade to his father's heart.
"Then now is the time to repay your debt to her."
"That is exactly what I intend," Bandorn answered furiously. "I will not cooperate with the Silverwoods!"
But Andras did not yield. His voice was serious, carrying the weight of a grown man.
"If you reject their plea for aid, you will not be harming Christina—you will be harming yourself."
The chamber fell into silence. The flames of the candles flickered in the draft, as though the castle itself strained to listen to the quarrel of the two Wolfwoods. The Young Wolf's words hung heavy in the air, and Bandorn felt that his son no longer stood before him as a child, but as his heir.
Wrinkles furrowed Bandorn's brow as his son's words rang out.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked, suspicion and anger mingling in his voice.
Andras stepped forward, his gaze flashing with seriousness.
"At present, relations between the House of Wolfwood and the House of Silverwood are poor. They are the ones now seeking cooperation. If you refuse, then in the King's eyes you will be the villain, and Christina the righteous one."
Bandorn's fists tightened upon the desk.
"Then what should I do?"
"Simple!" Andras answered firmly. "Show both Christina and the King that it was the Silverwoods who erred when they broke off the betrothal. It was never the fault of the Wolfwoods."
Bandorn's eyes narrowed.
"You have a plan?"
Andras straightened, his voice resounding through the chamber as though he were already lord of the castle.
"Think about it, Father! I myself am the proof that Christina will regret her rejection for the rest of her life. Without Christina, without the Silverwoods, a boy such as I was born—a mage with two elements. There is no other noble youth in the entire Kingdom like me!"
His words cracked like a whip.
"And you, Father, are a fine leader! We Wolfwoods drove every bandit from our lands! What have the other noble houses done? Nothing! Their lands swarm with bandits! And you are not only a good leader, but a good father as well! Instead of Christina, you found yourself a far better wife, and a far better mother for your son than Christina could ever have been. Carla blessed you with a child as exceptional as I am!"
Andras leaned closer, his words sparking in the air.
"Moreover, my mother's presence brought us Wolfwoods a connection with a wealthy and influential Imperial merchant. Am I right? My mother was a better choice in every way than that Christina! Do you see now, Father? You are the one who won—Christina is the one who lost! And now we will show her exactly that!"
The chamber fell into silence. The flames of the candles flickered, as though the very walls echoed Andras's words. Bandorn slowly lifted his gaze to his son, and for the first time he truly felt that the Young Wolf was not merely his child, but his heir—already capable of surpassing him in the games of politics.
Bandorn Wolfwood's eyes blazed as his son's words reached him. His fist slammed upon the desk, then he laughed, as though suddenly freed from the bitterness of the past.
"Yes! You are right, my son! Christina Silverwood was the one who made the wrong choice! I have achieved more without her! Yes!"
Andras stepped closer, his voice ringing firmly against the stone walls.
"Exactly! That is why I tell you—it is not the right move to reject the Silverwoods now. Quite the opposite! Show them that you are a man, a leader upon whom the King can always rely! We are the House of Wolfwood! The Silverwoods cannot defeat a monster on their own? Then we will march forth and slay the beast! And we will carry its head before the King's throne, showing the entire Kingdom that the House of Wolfwood is the strongest!"
Bandorn's eyes gleamed with pride.
"That is my son! Why did I never think of this before?"
Andras continued with confidence.
"By helping the House of Silverwood and being the ones to slay the monster, not only will the Silver Knights owe us, but in the King's eyes we will stand above them as well!"
"Yes," Bandorn nodded, "the King will see that the House of Wolfwood is the greater!"
Andras's eyes flashed, his voice ringing with almost theatrical force.
"As for Christina, the best way to humiliate her is to show her, when she comes here, that your family became perfect without her! When you speak with her, always remain calm, and act as though you are grateful the betrothal was broken. In fact, thank her for it! That will shock her. Show her you have a fine son, and a wife far better than Christina could ever have been! Show her how happy you are without her! Show her how strong the House of Wolfwood is without her!"
Bandorn trembled with excitement as he imagined the moment.
"Yes, I can hardly wait to see Christina's face when she realizes she was wrong! The regret in her eyes!"
Andras nodded firmly, his words falling like a final seal upon the air.
"It will be so—you can be certain of it!"
The flames of the candles flickered, as though the castle itself bore witness to the forging of a new Wolfwood strategy: they would prove their strength not only before the Silverwoods, but before the entire Kingdom.