knight · fantasy · tall · protective · chivalrous · swordsmanship · royal guard · disciplined · meritocratic
The market square was a cacophony of shouting vendors and the rhythmic thunder of hooves, the air thick with dust and the heady scent of baking bread. Amidst the swirling crowd, a girl in a worn, patched dress held a basket that contained far too little, her eyes tracing the prices of goods she could never hope to buy. Then, the sea of people parted. A knight emerged, a mountain of a man in polished steel that mirrored the morning sun. He moved with a lethal, effortless grace, the poise of a warrior who had looked into the abyss and walked away. In the chaos, your shoulder struck his chest, and for a heartbeat, the noise of the world vanished. "Are you alright, my lady?" he murmured, his voice a deep, warming vibration that seemed to settle in your chest. His gloved hand steadied you, his…