Side Story Chapter 21

"Raise your head," a man's voice intoned through the reverential silence.

Riftan slowly obeyed. The pope was surprisingly tall and imposing, his pale face half concealed beneath graying blonde hair. His dark green eyes, arched by a pair of bushy brows, exuded authority. It was difficult to tell how old he was.

When the pope motioned to the Temple Knights standing beside him, two of the younger members approached Riftan with the sword.

"You have bested your opponents with exceptional skill. Hence, I bestow upon you the Knight's Sword." The pope's voice was solemn and impassive. "This prized item once belonged to Sir Miguel, one of the original knights. Its sheath is wyvern skin, and its blade is said to have been crafted from adamantine and steel by a master smith of the Umri tribe."