The Lupen convoy continued its deliberate ride down the forest path. The fog around them grew thicker, turning the world into a claustrophobic gray tunnel. Yet, none of the Lupen knights were tense; they simply closed their eyes, relying on their superior lupine senses. The heavy armor and thick fur of their wolf-beasts were impervious to the moisture and cold. Captain Joral, leading the vanguard, tracked the faint, familiar, and slightly oily scent of Foxkin manufacturing and the specific herbal essence used in their border wards.

Joral raised a gauntleted fist. The entire procession, thirty-seven knights and the heavily armored carriage, came to a dead stop in the middle of the dirt track. Joral remained motionless, his eyes still slits, and muttered, "Are you going to keep doing this, Fox? I can smell your wall from here."

In response, the section of the fog immediately surrounding them seemed to melt away, peeling back like a curtain. It revealed high Japanese-style castle walls constructed from dark wood and reinforced with earth magic. Foxkin soldiers, clad in simple robes, stood atop the battlements, bows drawn and aimed silently at the convoy.

Appearing like a mist solidified into reality, a tall, heavily armored Foxkin—a border captain—stepped out from the gate. He raised a hand in a formal gesture and smirked. "I apologize, Captain Joral. We're just following protocols. You don't mind an inspection from our part, would you?"

Before Joral could respond, the carriage door swung open and Lord An'lil stepped down. He was magnificent and terrifying in his white and purple uniform. He scanned the walls and inhaled deeply, a flicker of disgust crossing his face. Without a word, he strode toward the Foxkin captain.

The Foxkin, Captain Kakura, only had time to register the speed of the advance before An'lil's clawed hand shot out and clamped around his armored throat. The dense breastplate creaked and compressed under his strength as Kakura was lifted effortlessly into the air.

The Foxkin archers on the wall instantly raised their bows, but Kakura, choking and struggling, managed to raise a single, quivering hand. The archers, following established orders to avoid open war, slowly lowered their weapons.

"Let me remind you of your place, fox," An'lil snarled, revealing his massive fangs. Then, with a grunt of pure contempt, he slammed the Foxkin captain into the hard, damp earth. A sickening thud resonated, and Kakura spluttered a stream of bright blood and foam from his mouth onto the dirt.

An'lil looked down at the crumpled form, his voice dripping with arrogance. "This is where your kind belong, down on the ground. I truly hate all this complex protocol. It's as if you treat us like any other inferior Beastkin." His eyes flared a terrifying red. "Let me tell you a bit of history. Your ancestors begged our kind to spare their pitiful lives. Now that you've managed to learn a bit of trickery and parlor magic, it doesn't mean we are equal. If we wished, we could hunt down every last one of you, like a little game."

Kakura gulped, fear finally overriding his discipline. "I—I apologize, Lord An'lil."

The gates groaned open, revealing a Foxkin dressed in an ornate kimono, flanked by two armed Lupen bodyguards. It was Lady Shiri. She and her guards bowed low.

"Welcome to our humble abode, Lord An'lil. We have been expecting you. I apologize for Captain Kakura's actions—he is overzealous," Shiri said, her voice impossibly calm and soft.

An'lil's red gaze remained fixed on the ground, then snapped to Shiri, smelling the air around her. "We do not forgive, and we do not forget."

In a motion too fast for Kakura to register, An'lil drew his ancestral sword and beheaded the fallen captain. Blood spurted from the neck, instantly soaking the dirt as An'lil caught the head before it fell.

An'lil held the severed head high. "Let this be a reminder to all of you. You are neither above us nor equal in any way. I am not like the others who humor your games."

He strode toward Shiri, stopping so close his fangs were inches from her face and his claws brushed her neck. "If you ever test me again, next time, I will make sure you wish you were dead."

Lady Shiri, though clearly under immense pressure, remained perfectly composed. "I apologize, Lord An'lil. I will remember that lesson."

An'lil shoved the severed head into Shiri's arms. Her hands immediately became slick with warm, arterial blood, the face of the border captain frozen in an expression of shock. An'lil glanced at the two Lupen bodyguards and muttered disgustedly, "Disgusting traitors." He then turned, stepping back into the carriage without another word.

The convoy rolled through the open gates. The Foxkin archers on the wall gritted their teeth silently; a few younger soldiers openly wept, their humiliation and rage instantly crystallized by the brutality of the display.

Beyond the gates, the forest transformed. The Foxkin territory was steeped in nature magic. Glowing vines overflowed on the trees, and the dim environment, shielded from direct sunlight by a ceiling of dense leaves, was illuminated by thousands of glowing insects and iridescent butterflies. Foxkin farmers in the distance paused their work to watch the Lupen convoy pass, their expressions passive.

Inside the carriage, Lord Johan chuckled. "My Lord An'lil, do you think what you did was… too much?"

An'lil calmly wiped his bloodied hand on a silk napkin. "Sometimes, there is someone who really needs to test whether you mean your words and your power. All you can do is make sure they regret ever testing you, and put them in their rightful place. I already was being generous. If it were my father, he would have hunted a portion of the entire Foxkin population as a price for such disrespect."

Meanwhile, Lady Shiri walked closely behind the retreating convoy, her ornate kimono stained with the fresh blood of Captain Kakura. One of her Lupen bodyguards spoke, his voice low with concern. "My Lady, are you alright?"

Shiri wiped her hands on the heavy fabric of her robe, her expression cold and entirely devoid of grief. "I am fine. Everything is predetermined." She looked back at the closed gates. "Our soldiers needed resolve to fight, and Captain Kakura, for all his loyalty, was ultimately too slow and too weak. He was a perfect fit to become a martyr. A necessary sacrifice."

She smiled, a thin, knowing curve of her lips. "Besides, I think we've just secured ourselves a wild beast that is hard to tame, but who will fight fiercely on our leash if properly motivated."

The Lupen convoy pushed deeper into the Foxkin territory. They rode for hours, passing by serene villages where Foxkin in colorful kimonos traded spices and woven goods, and along small ponds surrounded by the bioluminescent glow of the strange, magical forest. Finally, the terrain began to rise. The wolf-beasts began the steady ascent up a stone road carved into an uphill slope, leading toward a densely populated, fortified town.

They passed easily through the outer gates, which slid open upon sight of the Huena Family's purple banner. As they rode toward the central citadel, they saw other knights and retinues. Three other major noble families of the Lupen race were present, their respective banners—a Hammer and Shield, a Wolf's Head, and a Double Axe—fluttering near their lord's carriages.

As An'lil's carriage stopped, the entire area fell silent. Knights from the other retinues turned to stare, recognizing the distinctive dark purple and white livery of the Huena Family.

A knight bearing the Hammer and Shield insignia nudged his companion. "Isn't that the Silvermoon Knights from the Huena Family?"

His friend, watching An'lil and Johan step off the carriage and walk toward the central stone building, escorted by Captain Joral, confirmed the fear in the air. "It seems like it. Four of the major families are here, then. And they bring the Huena."

He lowered his voice. "You know the Huena Family doesn't mess around. Everyone who gets into their way just… dies instantly, without explanation or regard to life."

The first knight swallowed. "Now I know why Lord Korso idolizes Lord An'lil, and why the other families choose to avoid them entirely."

The second knight nodded. "They are the role model of what every Lupen should strive to be. Proud, unforgiving, and powerful. Even applying for their knight order is almost impossible. Last season, a hundred Lupens applied to join the Silvermoon Knights. Only five were chosen."

"And the rest?" the first knight asked, dread coloring his tone. "Dead or heavily injured, I heard. B-but why? What was the test?"

"Their qualifications are not like ours," the second knight explained, leaning in. "The first drill is just a basic combat technique, then they're thrust into a section of the forest contained by their walls. They must kill or survive for seven days. After that, the remaining applicants are forced through a series of hellish endurance tests without rest, before fighting against each other one final time until only five remain."

A shiver ran down the first knight's spine. "Th-that sounds like too much. That sounds like madness."

"It is," the second knight agreed, nodding soberly. "But if one succeeds, they are said to be able to fight on par with an Ursarok. They are not as strong as the Bearfolk, no, but their training is worth it. Their strategy is to simply tire out the Ursaroks in battle before they deliver the killing blow. Every Silvermoon Knight is trained to survive against a Bearfolk and actually win."

He shook his head in grudging admiration. "That's why they're ten times better than us normal knights. Each one fights not with brute strength, but with sheer will and endurance. Their minds and personalities are honed through the training. A cheerful Lupen enters, and a fierce killer graduates. If they ever face a losing battle, they don't surrender—they'll make sure you have to die with them. They don't fear death; they fear they lived in defeat. That, my friend, is a Silvermoon Knight for you."

The first knight's eyes were wide with astonishment. "Woooah. I learned that just now."

The second knight scoffed softly. "Then welcome to the fan club. Now, let's see what the Foxes have planned that required the attendance of such a distinguished group."

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