Nyx delightfully enjoyed Rynar's "lift-up high" service. Standing on the ground, she stretched out her small hands with a look of anticipation, waiting for Rynar, who was already on horseback, to scoop her up onto the saddle.
"Come, my little princess!" Rynar exerted a bit of strength in his arms and effortlessly pulled Nyx into his embrace. A strong, masculine scent washed over her, and she nestled against Rynar's chest, inhaling the warm, sun-kissed aroma.
"Alright, my white knight, shall we set off?" Nyx elegantly lifted her swan-like neck.
"Of course! Let's go!" Rynar laughed heartily, giving his horse a gentle nudge. The warm sunlight bathed both of them, as if cloaking them in a golden radiance. Passersby along the road stopped in their tracks to gaze at the two figures, their eyes filled with blessings and joy.
"Look at this picturesque land! Look at these people and their fields! This is the kingdom I have conquered for you!" Rynar declared boldly, waving his riding crop with grandiose enthusiasm.
"Pfft!" Nyx, who had never been exposed to the modern world's flood of memes and dramatic speeches, couldn't help but burst into laughter at Rynar's theatrical proclamation. The love shining in her eyes was undeniable.
"This is the land and the people I must protect. And most of all, this is the smile I must safeguard—your smile!" Rynar, a man who had been single all his life, suddenly seemed to have unlocked the secret art of romantic words, spouting one cheesy line after another.
"Mm, I love you too, my dear… but could we perhaps watch where we're going?" Nyx blushed and gently reminded him.
"Ah!" The great king, who had been too busy showering his beloved with kisses, suddenly realized that his warhorse had wandered off the trodden path carved out by the soldiers and had no idea where it had taken them.
"Whoa!" Rynar reined in his horse and instinctively raised his shield to protect Nyx. This small but decisive action made the young woman's heart flutter.
Having studied the fate of Balin, Lord of Moria, Rynar was exceptionally cautious about his own survival—and that of those dear to him. After all, even a single orc with a poisoned arrow could spell doom for an unguarded hero. Thus, his immediate reaction was to shield the defenseless Nyx.
"Knights! Find our way back! Lead us to the correct path!" Rynar commanded. This time, he had learned his lesson. Life had taught him humility, and even a noble king could still… get lost?
"Alright, it's fine now!" Nyx playfully poked Rynar's puffed-up, sulking cheeks.
"I'm sorry, my love. I shouldn't have put you in danger." Rynar gazed at her with deep affection.
The surrounding knights all turned their heads away, their eyes wandering as if pretending none of this was happening.
"Ahem! Let's focus on getting there properly! If I don't see a delicious feast by noon, hmph!" Nyx feigned anger, raising her tiny fists in mock indignation.
—
"Welcome, Your Highness! I, on behalf of the entire Tupet Territory, extend my sincerest greetings. As the lord of this land, I hope you will grant me the honor of being your host." Bardel pounded his chest in salute and bowed.
"Wow! They're so strong!" Nyx gasped softly. In her eyes, the two-meter-tall centaurs were like towering giants, their human torsos rippling with explosive muscle.
Since centaurs lacked certain human organs, their upper bodies were nothing but solid muscle, granting them unparalleled strength. They were the ultimate warriors!
"Of course! Baron, I trust you will make our visit an enjoyable one," Rynar replied with a smile. That's right—he had come here purely for a vacation! If he were any more direct, he would have just said so outright.
"Naturally, no problem at all. While this land lacks extraordinary scenery, our unique forest experience and centaur cuisine will surely leave you both with unforgettable memories."
Bardel had grown much more diplomatic.
It seemed that after prolonged interactions with humans, even the once-straightforward and isolationist centaurs had learned the art of conversation.
"Niya! See to the care of our distinguished guests!" Bardel bellowed toward the forest.
"Forgive me, Your Highness, but I must leave to hunt some game for your arrival." Bardel nodded at Rynar before taking up his massive longbow and departing with his hunting party.
"By the Dragon God! Look at their muscles! They are born knights! The finest cavalry!"
"Aside from dragon riders… no knight could match them!"
The accompanying knights murmured among themselves, casting glances at the centaurs.
No matter how advanced a human rider's unity skills or synchronization techniques were, could they compare to a creature naturally designed for mounted combat?
These centaurs were the real deal. With their built-in synergy of horse and warrior, plus their combat instincts, human cavalry could never truly outmatch them under equal conditions. Sadly, centaurs were rare.
This particular tribe of several hundred was already considered a large one. Most centaur groups roamed Middle-earth in small family or clan units.
"Your Highnesses, please follow me." A centaur politely gestured for them to proceed.
They followed a shaded forest path, which eventually opened into a clearing. To their surprise, a fortress had risen from the land where there had once been a simple encampment.
Towering five-meter-tall wooden walls had been erected, hammered into the ground by centaur strength and lashed together with rope before being reinforced with mud and grass.
The fortifications seemed sturdy enough. However, there were few centaurs patrolling or training on the walls—further evidence of their dwindling population.
Most of the able-bodied warriors had gone hunting, leaving only women, elders, and children to tend the land. Rynar quickly scanned the town and counted fewer than ten centaur warriors present…
"Well, it seems even landowners struggle to make ends meet." Rynar had originally planned to indulge his kingly fantasies by rallying the centaurs for a grand campaign against Moria.
But seeing their situation… better not. They were barely sustaining themselves, let alone paying taxes!
However, Rynar's assumption was way off. While centaurs lacked wealth, their formidable strength allowed them to hunt powerful magical beasts, and their stores of magic crystals—more valuable than gold—were quite substantial.
"Forgive me, Your Highness. My husband has taken the hunting party out and may not return today.
Please pardon his absence; it was purely out of necessity for our people's survival and not intentional disrespect." As lunchtime approached with still no sign of Bardel, his wife, Niya, hurried over to apologize.
"No worries. At the end of the day, we all live for bread and milk." Rynar understood the burdens Bardel carried.
"Thank you for your kindness. Shall we prepare your meal now?" Niya asked gratefully.
"Yes, please. But keep it simple! No need for anything extravagant," Rynar said thoughtfully, realizing that the centaurs' lives weren't exactly luxurious.
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