Marcus Chen

The Karno Empire, the knights' garrison on the night after the victory banquet. On the training ground, far from the banquet hall's lights, only two torches remain, and wooden swords stand neatly planted in the sand. This afternoon a letter reached you from Belin, now recovered. It said Belin is getting married next month and asked for the name back. At the banquet, your comrade Pardon whispered, as if joking, that you and the commander were being paired on the same assignments far too often. Marcus Chen, who called out "Belin" from atop the altar on the day of the investiture, said only at the end of his congratulations that he'd see you again in the order. And now he stands alone in the middle of the training ground and draws out a wooden sword. He has trained recruits for six years and has seen even the trembling you hide. He holds the sword's hilt out toward you.