Everyone was silent for a while. Ace and House who had been with Swade day and night, were the most grieved. From now on, there were only two of the three attendants left.
"Lann." Lann suddenly felt his clothes being pulled, and Ciri's inaudible voice came from behind. "I thought... you had had an accident, so I said a lot of bad things to Swade."
Ciri burst into tears: "He died for me, but my last words to him were not good words."
Lann sighed inwardly and gently hugged Ciri. "You feel very sad, right?"
Ciri nodded.
"Then cry, Ciri. It's normal to cry when you feel bad." Lann comforted softly. "But you must remember this feeling, remember all those who have sacrificed for you, because from now on you also have an additional responsibility on your shoulders."
Geralt was left behind, he had seen many goodbyes and always regretted the loss.
Geralt said softly: "It's a shame, he was a guy I liked."
The memory of the deceased could only be brief, the war was still going on, the soldiers were barely recovering, and there was an endless stream of issues to be resolved.
Grief over the loss of the deceased, everyone quickly returned to their tasks.
...
In the deep night, in the City Lord's mansion, in Lann's room.
As Lann was reviewing his diary, where he had recorded his impressions of the plot of The Witcher series, and reflecting on his next course of action, he was suddenly startled by the sound of someone tapping on the window.
Lann walked to the window and opened it, revealing an unfamiliar green-skinned figure.
"Good evening, Coram."
Lann was confused, what is Coram? He didn't even recognize the dryad in front of him.
The dryad on the other side and Lann did not know each other, and she had no intention of entering, simply saying: "I have come to convey the will of Lady Eithné. She wants to see you."
Lann tried to invite her in with a gesture, but the dryad on the other side didn't move at all, so he stopped insisting.
"Who is talking to me? Who is 'Coram'? According to human customs, this is not a way to converse. I thought the relationship between Brokilon Town, and the dryads had softened."
"Otherwise, Eithné will not send an unknown messenger in the middle of the night to convey her will to me."
The dryad outside hesitated for a moment and seemed to feel that her behavior was a little inappropriate, so she explained. "I am Sylsa, and 'Coram' means 'Lion' in Elder Speech. I heard your people call you that, I thought it was a title of respect."
Lann nodded and accepted the explanation. "Now we have a basis to continue our conversation... That being said, how did you manage to get in? I remember the city is under martial law."
Facing the blind spot discovered by Lann, Sylsa replied: "There are secret passages into the forest that only the dryads and city dwellers know about, those passages are almost unprotected."
Lann nodded unfazed, but in his mind he thought it was a risk. Although he trusted the dryads, he could not allow unprotected passages.
"Well, you said Lady Eithné wants to see me, when...?"
Before Lanen finished speaking, there was a sudden knock on the door.
[Knock! Knock! Knock!]
Without waiting for Lann to turn around, Sylsa quickly closed the window.
How can a messenger behave like an assassin? Is our current relationship really as harmonious as Luka described?
Lann looked suspicious and shouted: "Come in."
House pushed open the door and entered. The attendant's eyes were red. He bowed to Lann first, and then stood there slightly uneasily.
Lann gave him a strange look. This guy was in a strange state. It didn't look like something serious had happened. Was this a personal trouble?
He felt that there was Sylsa's movement outside the window at this moment, and the dryad had not gone far. He was about to hint House not to say anything confidential and to discuss it tomorrow, but he saw the attendant suddenly fell to his knees with a thud, and then burst into tears.
Lann's face twitched, and he sat back on the chair, waiting quietly for the attendant to dry up his tears.
Sylsa, who was lying down outside the window and listening, looked confused. What was the lord of Brokilon Town doing...?
After waiting for about ten breaths, House stopped crying. He sincerely apologized to Lann: "I was too rude for keeping you waiting, Lord Earl."
Lann frowned and said: "You kneeled down when you came in. I guess you got into trouble. Crying is the most useless behavior when facing trouble. I hope what you say next is worth my wait."
House lowered his head and explained. "I definitely don't dare to cause trouble for you at this time. The pain just now is because of the uncontrollable sadness in my heart. I knelt down because what I want to say next is a request..."
House leaned down, but his voice was high: "I want to ask you to give me the 'Lion Head Silver Sword'!"
Lann raised his eyebrows, waiting for House to continue.
House, seeing that Lann did not contradict him and even seemed to encourage him with her eyes, continued fluently. "My Lord, I no longer want to follow Mr. Enns. Of course, Mr. Enns is very knowledgeable and treats me well. But I want to be like Ace and continue to protect him with my sword!"
Lann thought for a while and said: "But you have talent in this area. You should also know that your current path is easier, and the role you can play in the future may be more powerful than Ace's."
House lowered his head again: "I dare not disobey the path you arranged."
Lann looked at House, who did not dare to refute him, and suddenly smiled: "Go on, I'm sure you have other reasons. I'll allow you to finish what you have to say."
House was silent for a while, and then suddenly said: "Swade is gone..."
Lann was silent.
House continued: "In his last moments, he asked us to protect the princess and stayed behind. And for this last year, I have been blaming him in my heart, rejecting him, watching him suffer alone with his sword."
"But I had forgotten the friendship we had when fighting together in the past."
"He died generously, I know that Ace is also prepared to die at any moment, but I was scared at that moment."
"I had the princess in my arms, and I had to run away, but in my heart, I was full of fear, I can't forgive myself for being such a coward at that moment."
House said loudly: "Swade is gone, but I can't let him disappear like this, his will needs an heir."
"I really miss the days when the three of us used to carry swords and follow you, and now there is only Ace by your side, it's not enough, you need another sword!"
"It is enough for Enns, Hardy, and the mayor of Brokilon to handle internal affairs. I want to continue being by your side, I promise to follow your steps until death, I will defend your honor with my life."
House's words resonated deeply.
Lann sighed and stood up. He moved his hand slightly and took the lion-headed silver sword.
"Get up, House, stop kneeling."
House suddenly became nervous. "No... my lord count, I am not yet..."
Lann placed the long sword on House's right shoulder. "After you have achieved enough achievements, give me this sword. At that time, it will move from your right shoulder to your left shoulder."
"And now, relax your body and mind, I will give you the power of a lion, in the future you will be able to draw strength from compassion and help, punishing violation and eliminating evil."
Hearing Lann's words, House's pupils suddenly dilated.
[Follower: House
Sex: Male
Race: Human
Level 1
Talent: None
Experience value: 0/1000
Health: 160/160
Mana: None
Inventory: Cavalry Armor, Cavalry Greaves, Cavalry Gloves... (+)
Skill bar: Calm mind, beginner swordsmanship, advanced riding skill
Task: None]
After the properties representing the hired follower successfully appeared, the system sent a series of consecutive notifications.
[Failure to share the follower's talent.]
[Sharing follower skills.]
[Getting skill: Calm mind.]
[Matching Witcher Skills: Rage Management.]
[Rage Management]: If your current Stamina levels are too low, Signs can be cast using Adrenaline.
"It's yours, House. You are my sword from now on."
House raised his hands above his head, held the lion's head silver sword, and implored: "Thank you for your generosity, Lord Earl. Please allow me to name this sword 'Swade'."
Lann chuckled and said: "This is your freedom."
House hugged his new sword to his chest, thanked Lann again, and then retreated, leaving the room silent once more.
The sound of tapping on the window echoed again, the window opened, and Sylsa's face appeared with a complicated expression. "Can I come in?"
Lann gestured for him to enter.
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