IanG

A well written and only too plausible story. We all need support from time to time but we don't always get it.

You evoke the knight's mental state very well, I felt sorry for him. If you develop this further, you could describe soldiers in industrial age armies reaction to the knight. They would be shocked and bewildered by his appearence.

Elaine's feelings are plausible and you convey them very well. I might have described the dining hall in more detail but the character's dilemmas are more important.

This is difficult subject matter but you handle it with courage and honesty. If you want to write another chapter, yes do it.

You say a lot with a few words. Its moving and convincing. I like the phrase 'when the leaves loose grip.'

That's a good twist Apurbo. Keep writing.

There was a lump in my throat as I read the ending.

The wave metaphore is a good one.
Most people are going through big changes at eighteen, whether its university or your first job. Its understandable to feel worried about that. Just because things are rough now it doesn't mean they always will be. If one plan or ambition doesn't work out then another one might. The pandemic is making things hard now, but sooner or later society will come to terms with it. it may not be easy but if people couldn't get past crisis our species would've gone extinct long before now.

There was a recession when I was a teenager. Sometimes it seemed it would never end but it did. I was unemployed for a time but I found a good job, even though it took me years.