> Remember, whatever happens do not engage.
Those were instructions a small detachment of knights received, before they departed to the town built around the academy. Their route lead through the forest, which was already pretty well known for armed humanoid beast creatures roaming it. While according to many tales, the creatures never attacked themselves unless they got provoked, additional precautions were made. Still, the knights were allowed to use everything at their disposal when attacked.
So they departed, their weapons sheathed, but ready, slowly approaching the town.