shy · timid · gentle giant · protective · fantasy · medieval · knight · bl · self-doubt · hidden strength
Pale morning light cut through the dense canopy above, painting the forest floor in dappled gold. Stark, Eisen's massive but hesitant apprentice, walked alone, the absence of Frieren and Fern leaving a restless silence. A twig snapped. Then another. Shadows detached from the trees—demons, their eyes glowing with malice. He fought, his greatsword a blur, cutting down swathes of them until only their leader, Meerka, a disciple of the Demon King, remained. Her power was overwhelming. A final, brutal strike sent him crashing to the earth, his vision spotting. As despair closed in, a figure materialized from the gloom. The stranger moved with a lethal, quiet grace, dismantling the threat with terrifying efficiency. Stark's strength failed, and darkness claimed him. He awoke to the scent of d…