The two knights stood facing each other at opposite ends of the long training ground, holding their lances. The spectators fell silent. A person in armor standing at the edge of the training ground raised the flag they were holding. In the silence, the flag went down. Both knights pulled their reins roughly at the same time.

The horses began galloping toward each other as if flying. Dust scattered thickly behind them. Every time the hooves struck the ground, Dana’s heart pounded heavily. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The horses charged toward each other like they were going berserk. The distance between the two mounted knights visibly narrowed. At this rate, it seemed they would collide any moment, yet their speed only increased.

The two knights drew very close. Their bodies leaned further forward. The lances tucked at their sides thrust forward. The long lances crossed. Just as they shot toward each other like harpoons.

“Ugh!”

Dana unconsciously squeezed her eyes shut. A moment passed with held breath.

CRASH!

A loud noise and horse’s neighing were heard. Neeeigh. As she flinched at the long whinny, cheers erupted from around her. A whistle sounded beside her. Dana slowly opened her eyes.

‘Kaiden. Where’s Kaiden?’

Dust kicked up from the ground spread thickly. Beyond it, Kaiden’s black-armored horse was making a wide turn to the left of the training ground. The black horse’s galloping gradually slowed. On the right was a horse pawing at the air and whinnying, and between the dust clouds, a fallen knight was rolling.

‘Ah.’

It was clear that Kaiden’s lance had struck and unhorsed the opposing knight.

The knight’s heavy brass-colored lance lay on the ground. Squires rushed from one side of the training ground. They seemed to hurry to calm the horse, as it would be disastrous if the fallen knight got trampled.

The squires managed to grab the horse’s reins and calm it down, then helped the fallen knight to his feet. Having fallen from such a tall horse, he must be seriously injured even if he wasn’t trampled. He looked very distressed and likely wouldn’t be able to participate in the actual jousting tournament.

“Phew.”

Dana let out a sigh of relief. She was glad it wasn’t Kaiden who had gone flying like that. Her heart was still pounding. She heard someone nearby saying:

“At this rate, he’ll knock down all the competitors before the jousting tournament even begins.”

Dana had heard from the maid that Kaiden had left at dawn. Did Kaiden actually want to participate in the jousting competition? Was that why he was doing these dangerous practice matches since early morning out of regret?

“It’s fortunate we have to return to Khalid soon. If he had actually participated in the tournament, it would have been too dangerous.”

To Dana’s words, Ian standing beside her said:

“You’re being too generous.”

“Generous?”

Dana looked at Ian. Ian pointed at Kaiden, who had now stopped his horse, and said:

“He matched his horse’s speed with his opponent’s, didn’t he? If he had gone all out, the opposing knight would have been unhorsed by Lord Khalid’s lance before he could even ride very far.”

“……”

Dana fell silent. Beside her, Declan spoke as if trying to reassure her:

“This kind of mounted training is routine in the north, so you needn’t worry too much.”

‘They do this routinely?’

That’s even more frightening… Dana thought. She wasn’t reassured at all.

“Could we call Kaiden over?”

Dana asked. Ian answered from beside her:

“It might be more effective if you called him yourself, my lady. Perhaps you could wave a handkerchief?”

Really? Would Kaiden notice if she waved a handkerchief?

Dana’s eyes widened.

* * *

The basics of mounted training were to charge with a lance and unhorse the opponent. If the opponent was a knight, unhorsing them was enough, but if it was a magical beast, you had to pierce and destroy it completely.

Rowen cavalry preferred swords over lances, so lance techniques weren’t their specialty. Thus, in the south and central regions, it was merely enjoyed as a competition with set rules.

However, in the north, mounted training was a basic skill that had to be mastered alongside swordsmanship as part of training for magical beast subjugation. When dealing with magical beasts of varying forms and characteristics, one couldn’t be picky about means and methods. Especially when facing creatures that attacked with tentacles or antennae, long-range weapons like longbows and lances were more useful than close-range weapons like swords.

While weapons like longbows that could attack opponents from afar were considered cowardly and unbecoming of knights, such concerns about chivalry didn’t matter when facing the reality of surviving against magical beasts. In life-or-death battles, games and honor meant nothing. At least that was true in the north, and especially for someone of common birth who didn’t care about knightly status or honor.

Still, the lance was useful both as a knight and for beast subjugation, and Kaiden was unmatched in mounted training. Thus, despite repeating dangerous mounted training, his strength didn’t diminish. No, in fact, since last night he had been troubled by having too much excess energy. Troubled to the point of going crazy.

Of course, he wasn’t doing consecutive matches continuously, but even repeating these lance charges all morning was at a level other knights couldn’t hope to match.

He had already unhorsed several knights with the lance which, though hollowed out for competition use, still had considerable weight. Thrusting at opponents with the long lance created tremendous recoil for the wielder as well. Yet he had an inexplicable abundance of energy.

However, the sun was hot, and repeated matches had left him drenched in sweat inside his armor. He had come early in the morning to practice sword training alone, then ended up doing light mounted practice matches with knights who came to prepare for the jousting tournament.

Since he hadn’t brought his own lance, he borrowed one from a subordinate knight, but the mounted training was somewhat helpful. The act of charging forward and striking to pierce through and overthrow opponents somewhat relieved his mind and the desire building up below.

But it wasn’t enough. Because what he really wanted to overthrow wasn’t these noisy, hard things but…

Kaiden swallowed. His throat felt dry. In truth, it hadn’t been relieved at all.

At that moment, as Kaiden was turning his head with a deeply furrowed brow, he saw Dana waving a white handkerchief in the viewing area surrounding the training ground.

‘Dana.’

Kaiden’s eyes widened.

Thud. Kaiden threw his lance to the ground. The heavy lance in his hand fell with a sound and impact that seemed to split the earth.

The startled horse pawed and moved to one side. Pulling the reins to calm his horse, he dismounted and walked straight toward Dana.

* * *

Following Ian’s advice, Dana tried to get Kaiden’s attention by waving her handkerchief back and forth. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before Kaiden turned his head. He seemed to be looking in her direction.

“Ah.”

“See? It’s effective, isn’t it?”

As she heard Ian’s voice, Kaiden threw down the lance he was holding. Thud. A loud noise and dust spread.

No, to think he was holding something so heavy. While Dana was inwardly surprised, she saw Kaiden calm his startled horse, dismount, and walk straight toward her. A squire rushed behind Kaiden to grab the horse’s reins.

Taking long strides, Kaiden quickly came right up to Dana and stopped at a certain distance. He roughly removed his helmet. His sweat-soaked face was revealed.

Kaiden roughly ran his hand through his wet hair. Then he stood before Dana with a fierce expression.

‘Why is he angry?’

The sight of a large man in armor who had just launched a knight with his lance standing there with an angry face was terrifying. As Dana looked up nervously, Kaiden opened his mouth. Fortunately, she wasn’t the target.

“Are you in your right minds, bringing my lady to such a dangerous place?”

It was a rebuke aimed at the knights escorting Dana. The knights standing behind straightened up tensely. For Dana, who had insisted on coming here herself, Kaiden’s rebuke felt like it was directed at her. So, partly feeling guilty and partly wanting to defend the innocent knights, she protested:

“I was the one who said I wanted to come. And the knights escorted me safely.”

Kaiden tried his best to smooth out his contorted expression. The effort alone wasn’t enough.

“It’s still dangerous. Lance fragments could fly, and the armor as well.”

Dana thought the conversation would go quickly since Kaiden seemed so knowledgeable.

“I see. Then you should stop now and return with me.”

“……”

Kaiden fell silent with an uncharacteristically dumbfounded expression. He looked at Dana staring at him with wide eyes, then at Declan avoiding his gaze behind her, and Ian biting his lips trying not to laugh. The other knights behind them were also desperately avoiding Kaiden’s eyes.