A Vow Under the Whispering Pines
The place Sirien led me to was a slightly elevated hill. Even as we climbed, we could look down upon the surrounding coniferous forest. It was high enough to trace the path of the desperate struggles we had fought through. In the distance, I could see the cave where we had fought the mother spider. During that final battle, I had definitely manifested Sword Qi. Though I was only a half-baked Swordmaster, I had nonetheless ascended to a higher realm. I wanted to test my blade the moment my body fully recovered.
Out of habit, I scanned our surroundings for wild beasts or monsters, but there seemed to be no need for concern here. Perhaps because this was where the followers resided, the perimeter was thoroughly secured. Thanks to that, the climb felt as relaxed as a stroll up a neighborhood hill.
"We're almost there. Can you walk alright?"
"I never thought I'd hear you asking me if I can walk."
"What's wrong with that? Besides, you're a patient, Rajen."
"I'm not so weak that I can't even walk. Actually, moving around a bit feels refreshing."
It was true. I was definitely the type of person who needed daily physical activity to feel alive. Just walking this short distance made me feel significantly better than when I was cooped up in bed. My muscles were already itching; if it were up to me, I would have loved to squeeze in a workout before going to sleep. But if I actually did that, I'd probably get a massive earful. Can I sneak in some training behind Sirien's back? I decided to look for an opportunity later.
"We're here. This is the spot I picked out. I looked up at it from below, but standing here now, it feels completely different."
Sirien beamed, spreading her arms wide as if presenting a grand prize. We had reached the crest of the hill, where a sheer cliff plunged straight down. Below us, the dense, lush forest stretched out as far as the eye could see. Ancient trees painted the earth in a vast sea of green, blending seamlessly into white snow and open plains in the distance. Perhaps, far beyond the horizon, there lay a village where people lived. Unfortunately, we weren't high enough to see that far. In the sky above, deep blue ink swirled with fluffy white clouds. A sudden gust of wind swept past, making the wild grass sway as if sharing a secret smile.
"To be honest, I thought about it a lot. I used to imagine building a magnificent audience chamber and holding a grand knighting ceremony in front of everyone. A truly spectacular affair."
"I think I prefer this place."
"Exactly. Me too. I guess when I find something precious, I prefer to keep it all to myself. Besides, our contract doesn't need any outsiders."
"Two spectators should be more than enough. Their seats will be empty, but who knows? They might be sitting there watching us without us even realizing it."
"I hope so."
Our lives had changed the very moment we stepped into this forest. It was here that we lost Therion and Hena, and it was here that we had thrashed and clawed our way through life-and-death struggles. We resented the tragedies that had occurred within these woods to the point of death, but we couldn't bring ourselves to hate the forest itself. If Sirien and I were to perform a solemn, monumental rite like a knightly investiture, it was only right that it take place here. I had no need for a luxurious palace either. This place, where the souls of Therion and Hena slept, was infinitely more meaningful than any grand hall filled with cheering crowds.
Sirien sat down on a stone at the edge of the cliff. In her small hands, she held an ornate ceremonial sword. Despite its considerable weight, she had insisted on carrying it all the way up here herself.
"Shall we begin, then?"
I knelt on one knee before her. Sirien drove the silver-white blade straight into the ground. Huu. A soft, shallow breath escaped her lips. As she exhaled to steady her nerves, her long silver hair fluttered elegantly in the wind. Her blood-red eyes settled on me with an icy, solemn intensity. The oversized priestly robes she wore—having nothing else that fit—billowed in the wind like a majestic cape. She rested both hands upon the pommel of the sword. Standing behind the sharp longsword, the young girl had transformed into a dignified sovereign.
Thud. The blade tapped against the ground. In a low, resonant voice, she slowly began the ceremony.
"You, Rajen Bertus, have come to this place to be ordained as a knight. Do you understand that at the end of this vow, you must bear the weight of conviction and honor?"
"I do. The vow may take but a moment, but its binding oath shall last for eternity."
"Then carve loyalty into your heart. Swear upon your very soul that you will never retreat before the enemy, that you will never speak a falsehood, and that you will remain valiant until the very end of your journey."
The details of the ritual I had learned long ago came back to me with vivid clarity. I brought my right fist to my chest. The first strike was a vow to the heart; the second was a vow to the soul. It meant my loyalty would endure until either my body perished or Sirien did, and the conviction I held as a knight would be preserved until my very soul crumbled into dust.
Sirien extended her right hand toward me. I pressed my lips to the back of her hand. Though she tried her best to maintain a majestic expression, I could see her cheeks flushing a faint, lovely pink.
"...The gods shall forever bear witness to your vow."
Once the knight's vow was complete, it was the lord's turn. It was the moment to declare in her own name that a new knight had been born. Normally, the lord would bestow a sword at this point, but we had no suitable weapon to spare. Sirien had confidently declared that she would commission a custom sword for me in the future. Personally, I wouldn't have minded using a standard iron sword, but she insisted that such a common blade would never satisfy her, so the presentation was postponed.
"I, Sirien Ilensia, the rightful ruler of Ilensia and the Saintess of Hibras, declare before all the gods that you have become a noble knight."
Sirien tapped the flat of the blade against my shoulders. First the left, then the right. Finally, she lightly touched the crown of my head with the sword. It was the conclusion of the ritual. Naturally, a knighting ceremony was never a lengthy affair. Sometimes, dozens of knights were dubbed at once; if the ceremony dragged on, it would become an exhausting ordeal for everyone involved.
Her small lips curved into a warm smile.
"As my knight, you shall destroy my enemies with all your might. I shall reward your valor with honor and stand as the witness to your convictions. The loyalty you have sworn upon your heart, I shall engrave into my very bones and remember for eternity."
Sirien reached out with her other hand—the one bearing the Holy Mark.
"Rise, my noble knight."
As I took her hand and stood up, Sirien threw her arms around me. This was definitely not part of the official protocol.
"Ahaha! We did it. Now you are truly my knight. My knight, and no one can ever say otherwise."
"Indeed. Should I call you 'my lord' now?"
"No! I much prefer it when you call me by my name!"
Even though some time had passed since our private ceremony, my heart was still fluttering wildly. The entire way down the hill, I couldn't wipe the grin off my face. It felt as though I had finally stamped my ownership on him. It felt like the world had officially acknowledged it: Rajen was my one and only knight, and I was Rajen's one and only lord. It felt like a dream I had harbored since childhood had finally come true.
But before the lingering warmth could fully fade, I had to part from Rajen under the pretext of returning the ceremonial sword. The moment I left his side, the world seemed to lose its color. I could no longer feel the bright, warm sunlight. It had barely been any time at all since we parted, yet a chill was already creeping into my bones.
Well, perhaps it wasn't so strange. The building I was heading to was located in the exact opposite direction of Rajen's quarters. In this deserted place, the air was genuinely freezing. And my destination lay deep within its dark, gloomy basement.
Tap. Tap. The sound of my footsteps echoed against the stone floor. Inside the basement, a set of rusted iron bars came into view. And so did the man trapped behind them.
"You're awake? Perfect timing."
I unlocked the iron gate and stepped inside. At the loud creeeak of the door, the man raised his head, and our eyes met. I spoke in a quiet, even tone as I went about my business.
"Listen. Something wonderful happened to me today."
"..."
"I'm serious. It was so wonderful that having to come down here to see a creature like you feels absolutely dreadful. That's why I don't want to look at you for long. I hope we can get this over with quickly."
The man was bound tightly to a shabby wooden chair. The tendons in his arms and legs had long since been severed, and his body bore numerous gruesome marks of torture that I didn't care to look at. A metallic, fishy stench of blood wafted from him. I made sure not to step too close, lest that foul odor cling to my clothes. I didn't want Rajen to catch even the slightest hint of such a disgusting smell on me.
I pushed aside the clean, sharp blades that had been laid out as if prepared specifically for my use.
"Let me make one thing clear: you are going to die regardless. I was told it's necessary for the ritual. Since my god governs Rest and death, the ritual apparently requires a death. They said the sacrifice needs to be someone whose fate is intertwined with mine, even if only slightly. Fortunately for me, I had you."
The tool I chose was a branding iron. I placed it over the hot brazier. After heating for a few minutes, the iron glowed a bright, angry red. I recalled being told that I had to make him understand what kind of pain awaited him first—that I should always start by burning him once before asking anything. Without posing a single question, I pressed the iron against the man's thigh. A sickening smell of burning flesh rose into the air.
"I'm actually quite grateful to you for that. It would have been very troublesome if you weren't here. That's why I'm giving you a warning: don't waste my time. Now, let me take off your gag."
"Heh... They said you were a sheltered lady raised in a greenhouse... It seems none of their information was accurate."
"It wasn't necessarily a lie back then. It's just that people change depending on their environment. I've simply changed a little."
Through Count Roxen's betrayal, I learned that you must never trust anyone. By losing my brother and Hena, I learned that my enemies will always target the people I hold dear. I was always a fast learner. Since I had resolved to trust no one, almost everyone in the world was either meaningless to me or an enemy. And to my enemies, I must show absolutely no mercy. Therefore, I would no longer hesitate to hurt others. Naturally, Rajen was the sole exception. Because I had already lost the only other two people who could have been exceptions.
This man was the commander of the pursuit force that had been hunting me down. Under normal circumstances, he probably would have succeeded in capturing me by now, but what could he do? Reality had turned out differently.
The green-haired man—in other words, the guardian of this sanctuary—was quite competent. While he had slaughtered all the other pursuers, he had spared this man and brought him back alive. He was kept alive because he was needed for the ritual. However, I also had my own business with this man. Since I planned to travel around with Rajen starting tomorrow, tonight was my only chance.
"I'll make you a promise. If you answer my questions honestly, I won't lay another finger on you."
I meant it. I had no twisted hobby of enjoying the torture of others. In fact, looking at such scenes made me feel physically sick. Even now, it was painful to look at the man's horrific wounds. But I would still do what was necessary when the moment called for it.
"It won't be a difficult question. Since you're going to die anyway, there won't be any consequences for answering. Now, here is my first question. My father, the Grand Duke of Ilensia... what happened to him?"
"He's dead."
"I figured as much. Do you know when and how he died?"
"I only heard that he fell in battle against Eligos. Whether that's the truth, I don't know. I don't know anything beyond that."
"Good. I'll believe you. Then, my second question. There are currently no direct bloodline heirs left in the Grand Duchy, so how is Count Roxen maintaining his grip on power? He has no claim to the bloodline, and he's nothing more than a distant relative."
"That is..."
His response made my brow furrow in deep distaste.
"How disgusting. Yes, that man absolutely must die."