The Knight Roland

Sir Roland Thornvale had once stood as a proud figure among the knights of the kingdom, a man whose reputation had been built on loyalty and honor. He was the one everyone turned to in times of war and strife, the man who always fought with unshakable resolve. But that was before the day he betrayed Kieran Vale, the very man who had once called him a brother. When Kieran's family was torn apart, when the very foundation of his world had crumbled, Roland made a choice. He turned his back on Kieran and sided with Lucien, Kieran's betraying brother.

At first, Roland had told himself it was the only choice. That Kieran was weak. That Lucien offered something Kieran never could. But as the days wore on, as the whispers of betrayal spread, Roland began to feel the weight of his decision. It gnawed at him, this growing sense of shame. His once-unbreakable loyalty was now shattered, and the consequences of his actions were beginning to unfold.

In the days following Kieran's fall, Roland's once-proud reputation began to fray. Whispers filled the air, carried through every noble court and every training hall. Roland's name was now whispered with disdain, not reverence. Betrayer. Coward. These words stung every time Roland heard them. But it wasn't just the words. It was the silence that followed his every step. No one would meet his gaze. The men he once called his brothers now avoided him, the looks of disgust in their eyes a constant reminder of his mistake.

Roland had been a knight. A man of honor and duty. But he was nothing now. The betrayal he had committed against Kieran would never be forgotten. His heart, once full of pride and certainty, was now weighed down by guilt and regret. His days were spent in solitude, wandering the empty halls of his home, wondering if he could ever live with himself again.

It wasn't long before Kieran's revenge began to unfold. The whispers grew louder, as Kieran orchestrated a series of subtle manipulations that would break Roland in ways he never thought possible. The first came in the form of doubt—the very core of Roland's identity. His loyalty had been the pillar on which his entire life had been built, and Kieran knew that if that was taken from him, Roland would be lost.

Kieran had already begun to turn Roland's allies against him. One by one, knights who had once respected Roland began to question his motives, to wonder if perhaps he had never truly been the man they had thought him to be. They saw the cracks in his armor, the uncertainty in his eyes, and the doubt began to fester. And soon, Roland was left alone, with no one to trust, no one to turn to.

Roland's isolation was complete. The public rejection was one thing, but the mental and emotional torment that Kieran had set in motion was far worse. Roland was a man who had once been invincible, whose honor had never been in question. Now, he was reduced to nothing but a shadow, wandering through a world that had once been his own, now filled with contempt for him.

His reputation was in tatters. His honor, destroyed. But what was worse than the loss of these things was the pain of seeing Kieran's face—that face filled with betrayal and disappointment. Every time Roland closed his eyes, he saw it. The look Kieran had given him—the look of someone who had lost everything because of his friend's actions.

It wasn't just Kieran's face that haunted him. It was the memories—the years of friendship, of brotherhood, of shared battlefields and victories. He had abandoned all of that. And for what? For Lucien? For a fleeting moment of self-interest? He had been weak. And now, there was no escaping the consequences.

Kieran's final act of vengeance came on the eve of the Grand Tournament. The event was meant to be a grand spectacle, one where the kingdom's greatest knights would showcase their skills. And Roland, ever the prideful warrior, could not resist proving his might in front of the court. Kieran had set the stage. It was time for the final act.

The arena was alive with the roar of the crowd as knights squared off in brutal combat. Roland, his eyes filled with the blaze of arrogance, stepped into the ring, confident that his strength would be enough to silence any doubts. He had no idea that his fate had already been sealed.

Seraphim Blackstone, a knight who had fought alongside Roland in many battles, stepped forward. He was the one who had seen the dark truth behind Roland's betrayal and now, Seraphim would ensure that the world knew what Roland truly was.

"You're no knight, Roland." Seraphim's voice echoed across the arena, silencing the crowd. "A knight's loyalty is everything. But you… you abandoned your brothers in arms."

Roland's hand faltered on the hilt of his sword. His heart pounded in his chest, and his face flushed. The blood drained from his face as the crowd turned their gaze upon him. The silence that followed was like a noose tightening around his neck.

Seraphim continued, his voice rising above the arena's hum. "We all saw what you did. We know what you are, Roland. A coward who left his comrades to die. You are no knight."

Kieran stepped forward from the shadows, his eyes locked on Roland's face. He saw the cracks form, saw the pride begin to shatter. Roland's movements became slow, his stance faltering, and the crowd began to murmur.

The whispers were no longer rumors; they were now truths—and Roland was being exposed for all to see.

Roland tried to draw his sword, to fight back, but his body refused to obey. His hands shook uncontrollably, his limbs weak with doubt and guilt. The knight who had once been fearless on the battlefield was now reduced to a broken man, trembling in front of the very people who had once revered him.

Pain-Linked System: Status Update

🔹 Name: Kieran Vale🔹 Title: The Ruthless Nemesis🔹 Level: 11 (Harbinger of Ruin)🔹 Pain Power: 25,000 (Scales with enemy suffering)

Strength: 60Intelligence: 75Charisma: 60Willpower: 85Unique Skills:

🔻 Pain-Linked Growth: The greater the suffering inflicted, the stronger Kieran becomes.🔻 Fear Aura (Passive): Enemies feel unease and paranoia in Kieran's presence.🔻 Whispers of Deception (Active): Induces distrust and suspicion in enemies.🔻 Soul Fracture (Active): Inflicts irreversible mental torment. Victims are haunted by their worst fears, regrets, and sins.🔻 Judgment's Wrath (Active): Destroys a target's honor and status in front of others, breaking them completely.🔻 Traitor's Grasp (Unlocked): Destroys the financial standing and social reputation of a betrayer. Their allies turn against them, and they are publicly humiliated.🔻 Lord's Remorse (Unlocked): A noble's public fall from grace leads to eternal torment. Their pride is shattered, and their dignity is crushed.🔻 Knight's Fall (Unlocked): A knight's loyalty and honor are shattered publicly, leaving them a mere shell of the man they once were.