The glade was, as the legends described, a place apart. Sunlight filtered through the leaves in a way that seemed almost calculated, causing the whole place to shimmer with an ethereal glow. Strange flowers, unlike any I'd ever seen, bloomed in vibrant colors, their sweet fragrance filling the air. I dismounted, my senses on high alert, knowing that such a sanctuary could easily become a trap.

My hand went to the hilt of my sword, a familiar warmth against my palm. I moved slowly, my boots crunching softly on the damp earth. I went deeper into the glade, heart pounding against my ribs.

I pushed through a curtain of flowering vines, their petals brushing against my armor with a softness that belied their resilience. My breath caught in my throat, and I felt the weight of my journey melt away, replaced by an almost childlike wonder. There, in a clearing bathed in golden light, stood the unicorn.

It was more magnificent than I could have ever imagined, even from the tales passed down through the ages. Its coat shimmered like freshly fallen snow under the light of a full moon, each strand catching the sun in hues of silver and pearl. Its mane flowed as though it were spun from silk, cascading in waves that seemed to ripple with an inner light. The horn, the coveted prize of countless hunters, rose in a spiral of purest crystal, refracting the sunlight into a dance of rainbow hues that played across the glade. Its eyes, deep pools of liquid gold, regarded me with an intelligence that was both ancient and unfathomable.

For a moment, I forgot myself. My hand fell from the hilt of my sword, the tension in my body dissolving as I stepped forward, unthinking, like a pilgrim before a holy relic. The unicorn tilted its head, watching me with a calmness that seemed to pierce through the very marrow of my soul. I dropped to one knee, bowing my head in reverence.

"I am Alaric," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Knight of the realm, sworn protector of the innocent. I have come to safeguard you."