Lord of the Rings: Warriors

"Skreeee!" A sharp eagle's cry pierced the air as a yellow-and-black blur streaked past Rynar's line of sight.

"What?" Rynar stood there, bewildered, his face contorted in confusion. 

What on earth was that? One second it was there, and the next it vanished. Could an unknown magical beast have infiltrated Riverguard?

"Guards! Investigate what just passed by! Such audacity—causing a commotion in Riverguard!" 

Rynar's face darkened as he barked out orders to the knights accompanying him during his stroll. 

If a magical beast had indeed snuck into the city, it wasn't just a threat to civilians—it could pose a major headache even for the city's seasoned professionals. 

Beast attacks could be fatal, after all.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Two of the knights immediately split off, heading toward the barracks and city walls. 

They were preparing to mobilize the city's entire force for a thorough search. 

After all, Riverguard was the last bastion of the Zaltarion Empire's forces, and there was no such thing as being too cautious.

"Be careful!" 

Rynar called out as he watched them leave. 

Without the system granting him reinforcements, every loss of a soldier would be a heavy blow to his limited forces. Even a single casualty would weigh on his heart for days.

Rynar sat at the dining table absentmindedly. Before him, on the oak table, were ornate silver plates with gilded edges, and a mithril-crafted cutlery set lay neatly arranged. 

The soft candlelight reflected off the deep red wine, gleaming with a hue reminiscent of fresh blood.

"Serve the food," Rynar ordered casually, but his mind was elsewhere, drifting beyond the confines of the tent. 

The fleeting shadow he'd seen earlier still lingered in his thoughts, leaving him restless and robbing him of his appetite.

"Your Majesty, here's the white bread! Though it's not as fine as we'd prefer, this is the best we can manage under current conditions." 

A chef entered with a team of servants carrying several trays. He spoke apologetically, his expression filled with regret.

"It's fine. This is already quite good," Rynar reassured, eyeing the soft, golden-brown bread that exuded a warm, wheaty aroma. 

He gestured for the chef to set the food down, which seemed to ease the man's nerves a bit.

"This is a vegetable appetizer. My apologies, Your Majesty—we only had some cabbage to work with, so we made a salad for you." 

The chef looked embarrassed, clearly aware of the dire state of resources in Riverguard.

"Mm... this works. The salad is... quite tasty!" Rynar stabbed a piece with his fork and took a bite. 

His eyes lit up. While the ingredients might have been humble, the taste pleasantly surprised him.

"And for today's main dish—roast suckling pig!" the chef announced proudly. 

It had taken the hunting team considerable effort to capture the wild boar, which were notoriously difficult to catch.

"Crunch!" 

The knife slid through the crisp, golden skin of the pig. Rynar popped a piece into his mouth and gave an immediate thumbs-up.

"Not bad! This roast pork has a unique flavor. Is that... a hint of sweetness?" Rynar asked, surprised.

"Ha! Your Majesty, today's your lucky day! I found half a jar of honey in the kitchen," the chef replied, puffing up with pride at his culinary triumph.

"Indeed, well done!" Rynar nodded in satisfaction. Compared to the dreary days of endless stews and grilled fish, tonight's meal felt like a royal feast, with rich and varied flavors.

"This is a creamy soup made from whitefish. It's great for digestion after a meal," the chef added, serving a bowl of milky-white soup once Rynar had finished the main course.

"Phew~ You've outdone yourselves!" Rynar stretched lazily, now full and content. 

He flopped onto the bed in the inner chamber, his mind still replaying the image of that mysterious shadow from earlier.

"So... what exactly was that thing?" He murmured to himself as he drifted off to sleep, eventually succumbing to a peaceful slumber.

"Wha—? I slept this long?" Rynar jolted awake, his eyes snapping open. Looking out, he saw the sun hanging high in the sky—it was already noon!

"Someone! Bring me water! I need to wash up!" Rynar called out, pulling back the curtain of his tent. He sighed in mild embarrassment—getting caught sleeping in by his subordinates wasn't exactly dignified.

"Good morning, My King!" Radir's cheerful voice suddenly rang out, startling Rynar.

"Whoa! Could you not sneak up on me like that?" 

Rynar clutched his chest, feeling as though his heart had almost leaped out. Seriously, could war mages learn to make some noise when they walk? 

What if their silent approach gave their lord a heart attack?

"Do you need something, Radir?" Rynar asked, his voice calm despite the string of expletives running through his head.

"Of course! It's big news! Happy news!" Radir grinned, his white beard quivering with excitement. Whatever it was, the old man was absolutely thrilled.

"What could possibly make you this excited?" Rynar chuckled. Radir resembled an overjoyed child, gesturing animatedly as he spoke.

"Remember the five griffin eggs I brought with me? They hatched a while back, and with my careful nurturing, they can finally fly! 

Soon, they'll start recognizing their riders. You'll need to select griffin knights soon," Radir explained, his tone becoming serious.

Griffins were known to bond deeply with their chosen rider, especially if trained from a young age. This bond made them invaluable in combat. 

However, training an aerial knight wasn't easy; aerial battles involved threats from every direction, requiring a unique set of skills. 

Even dragon knights had to avoid anti-air defenses like heavy ballistae and rival dragon riders, so griffin knights needed specialized preparation to survive.

Choosing the right riders and fostering strong bonds between them and the griffins was crucial. Once the griffins matured after their first year, they would be strong enough for combat. 

While their stamina and magic reserves were still limited, their potential grew exponentially as they entered adulthood.

"Skreee!" Just then, a griffin chick poked its head out from beneath Radir's robe and launched itself into the sky, letting out a high-pitched cry.

"Wait a minute… isn't that the same creature I saw yesterday?" Rynar's eye twitched as he recognized the yellow-and-black blur from before. What was that about scaring himself?

"Ugh, talk about bad luck. System, time to check in!" 

Rynar sighed, shaking his head at the irony, before quickly remembering he hadn't yet claimed his daily reward.

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