RedCherry

The Knight’s First Quest: Eldred vs. Ragnar ✨

Added 2025-09-21 18:00:03 +0000 UTC

I stood in the middle of the village square, surrounded by peasants—men, women, even children clutching their mothers’ skirts. They all looked at me with expectant eyes, as if I were a hero from old legends, and not just a new knight named Eldred. Yesterday I had received my very first assignment: to deal with a bandit who lurked in the forest. A giant, terrifying man, nearly two meters tall. His name was Ragnar.

“Tell us, knight, how it all went!” the elder called out, and I felt my throat tighten.

I coughed, straightened my cloak, and tried to look serious.

“It all began yesterday at noon, deep in the woods,” I started, forcing my voice to sound firm. “I followed the tracks, and soon enough… he appeared before me.”

A few women gasped in horror. I closed my eyes for a moment, remembering the way he had looked—muscles like oak roots, a chest as broad as a gate, and… I quickly cut off that thought before it slipped out.

“He was… intimidatingly large,” I said instead, and the crowd nodded.

“And what did you do?” asked a boy, peeking out from behind his mother.

My cheeks burned.

“We… fought,” I managed. “Long and hard. I… held on as best I could.”

“Then why are you walking so funny today?” someone shouted from the crowd.

I nearly choked on air. Well, I had been walking carefully, so as not to show… certain aftereffects.

“That comes from such a heavy fight,” I explained, tugging at my belt to distract them. “When your opponent is that massive, every muscle aches afterwards…”

“And what about your lips? They’re so red! Just like a maiden’s,” an old woman added.

Laughter rippled through the villagers.

“From the wind,” I blurted. “The forest air, you see. I had to breathe… a lot.”

More laughter. My face burned hotter. Still, I went on, determined to keep my story together.

“Ragnar charged at me, and I had to use cunning,” I continued. “Brute force would never work. I had to… find a special approach to him.”

“And did it work?” the elder squinted.

“Yes,” I exhaled, relieved. “In the end, he fell.”

The villagers cheered.

But in truth, I remembered everything far too clearly. I had stood there, sword ready, when suddenly I realized Ragnar wore no trousers. His weapon was… far more intimidating than any blade. My body trembled, not with fear but something else. I didn’t raise my sword—instead, I sank to my knees before him. First I touched him timidly with my lips, then more boldly… My face flamed even now, in the square, at the memory.

“But you did defeat him, didn’t you?” a man pressed.

“Of course,” I nodded quickly. “He… withdrew. After I gave it everything I had.”

“And what about those stains on your cloak?” a girl pointed out.

My heart nearly stopped. Blessed heavens, it was only mud and dew.

“From the forest floor,” I said at once. “The fight was rough—I was thrown down more than once.”

The laughter grew louder.

I recalled how, after I had surrendered my body to him, Ragnar finally sighed heavily, stepped back, and said: “You’re a fine lad, knight. I won’t trouble this village again.” Then he disappeared into the woods.

On the square, everyone listened to me with wide eyes. I almost began to believe my own legend.

“So he won’t come back?” a woman asked, holding her child’s hand.

“He won’t,” I said firmly, and for the first time I felt it was true.

A joyful cry rose up. The villagers surrounded me, clapping my shoulders, showering me with thanks. Even some of the women gave me glances that made me blush just as much as the memory of yesterday.

“Eldred, our hero!” they cheered. “You saved us!”

I smiled, though my legs still trembled and my lips still ached from yesterday’s ‘battle.’ But I understood one thing: for them, I truly was a hero. Let the truth remain in the forest, between me and Ragnar.

And I swore to myself that I would serve this village well. Even if my greatest strength was not my sword.