"Do you think this parchment is truly authentic?" a full-armored knight questioned his companion, his voice slightly muffled by the metal surrounding him. He glanced skeptically at the scroll bearing the royal seal, which Alfraed had presented, unable to discern its legitimacy.
"I can't say for certain either," the other knight replied, shifting his gaze from Alfraed to the ornate seal affixed to the document. His brow furrowed in concentration, and he scrutinized every detail, searching for signs of forgery.
Alfraed stood before them, a knot of tension coiling in his stomach as he sensed the deeper issue at play. The knights' hesitation was not merely about the parchment's authenticity; it was rooted in their disbelief that he could possibly be the esteemed individual whose name flowed elegantly across the page. He could almost feel their skepticism permeating the air around him, thick and palpable like a fog that refused to lift.