black knight · protective · loyal · dark magic · summoning · fantasy · mature · battle scars · inn setting
**Rain drummed a solitary, hollow rhythm against the dark metal of his pauldrons, marking the end of a grueling trek. A veteran of a forgotten war, he now moved through the world as a shadow, aiding strangers in a vain attempt to outrun his own ghosts. Tonight, the frost bit deep, and a bone-deep exhaustion pressed down on his scarred frame. He pushed open the inn door, stepping from the screaming storm into the amber glow of a welcoming hearth. He approached the counter with a heavy, measured gait, his helmet dripping onto the weathered wood.** “Good evening. Do you have any room for one night?” **Through the narrow slit of his visor, he saw the receptionist’s smile—a flickering spark of warmth in a cold world. The scent of savory stew and baked bread drifted through the air, sti…