"I'm very sorry, Godfather." Mathew Bard's complexion was poor as he bowed in apology.
A withered hand extended from the black robe, pointing directly at Mathew Bard, the ring on it flashing light. The owner of the hand indicated that Mathew Bard need not do so. Achan's voice was as cultured and polite as ever: "It's alright, my disciple. Things do not always develop in the direction we want. This failure is merely an opportunity for you to gain more experience. In fact, it proves that my previous plan was not perfect."
Amongst the pale ripples, the fourth volume of Nagash appeared beside Achan. The book opened, and its pages turned, narrating various tales of Nagash, the master of the undead, and the magic he left behind. Achan felt the surging power within the book before putting it away: "Another book returns to its rightful owner. Ah, we're one step closer to the return of our master. The quality of this sacrifice is excellent; it will enhance our master's strength."
Mathew Bard approached Achan, the young Ranger Knight once again showed his respect before asking, "So, what should I do next?"
"You might have been exposed, my disciple. In our eagerness to obtain the fourth volume, we might have been a bit hasty," Achan said, leaning on his staff. He motioned for Mathew Bard to look towards the other side of the cave.
It was a map of Britannia. To the north of Britannia lay the sea, facing the Northern Wastelands across the water. The west was also bordered by the ocean, while the east faced the Empire across the Grey Mountains.
"I've hidden well and should not have been exposed, Godfather. However, Fiona suspected me today," Mathew Bard shared his experience of the day with Achan.
The Lich King's physical body had long decayed; he could no longer make any expressions, the only fluctuation was in his voice: "Oh, my disciple, Mathew Bard, this is a dangerous sign. You can no longer stay in Kurona. Let's prepare to head to Musillon together."
"Why, Godfather? I've already made Fiona drop her suspicions, and I've gained her trust!" Mathew Bard said, confused. He stepped in front of Achan, "Besides her, who else could suspect me?"
"Too many people, my disciple," Achan's voice was still so cultured, "The identity we prepared for you was indeed perfect, but it was ultimately a false one. True, the dukes of this country are at odds with each other, and the new Duke of Connaught, Rowan, does not fully grasp the situation of his territory... but a lie will be exposed one day."
"Moreover, even in such a scenario, it's still possible for someone to guess your true identity, my disciple. Don't treat all knights as fools. Many knights in this country suffer from chivalry, but there are also wise ones." Achan shook his head repeatedly, "You've been involved too deeply. Befriending that young lady to go to Brelion was indeed a shortcut, but it left traces. I originally wanted you to win the knight's tournament, so you would be promoted to a kingdom knight and receive rewards. Under such a halo, your previous series of suspicious actions would be forgotten... or temporarily forgotten."
"A runner-up is not enough, my disciple." Achan shook his head repeatedly, "This is something I did not anticipate. You were too careless, my disciple."
Mathew Bard's face flushed with fury and embarrassment, turning pale even in the dark cave, his emotions running high.
After a long while, the young Ranger Knight sighed, "It's my mistake, Godfather."
"This is not your fault, my disciple. My original plan also had problems. I initially planned to use the attack of the Nagash army to deplete the power of the Grail Knights. I did not expect Nagash's demon to be defeated like that. Then, I didn't expect the chosen champion of the Lake to be injured, causing the Lake Witch to stay in the Grail Cathedral and hardly leave, giving us no chance to act," Achan analyzed. "The best opportunity was in the days following the end of the knight's tournament. If you had won, while the entire city was still basking in the afterglow of the tournament, you could have made a modest request to Morgiana to call her out, and we would have at least a 70% chance of capturing her."
"But there's no need to rush now. What we have plenty of is time. This plan has failed, and we now need the power of the Red Duke."
"Let's retreat. Once dawn breaks, we will leave this place for Musillon."
"Yes!"
...
About ten days passed, and by mid-April, Ryan's injuries were declared fully healed.
He still resided in the Grail Cathedral. As a hero of the kingdom, the one who defeated the Nagash demon, he became the focus of serfs and knights alike. His presence was revered by many, though not without envy from the outside world.
Under pressure from Morgiana, Richard had to come forward again to knight Ryan, bestowing upon him a first-class Grand Cross medal, a stark contrast to his earlier second-class Fleur-de-lis medal. At the age of twenty-six, having received two of the kingdom's highest honors in succession, Ryan indeed had reason to be proud.
The knighting ceremony was familiar, so it will not be repeated here. In any case, Ryan could sense Richard's reluctance and displeasure towards him.
After the knighting ceremony that afternoon, Ryan, with his hands behind his back, followed Morgiana. Emilia had already returned to Winfort with Sulia. Ryan simply ordered the two Ranger Knights, Lopes and Hex, who followed him, to also return to their territory and report to Angleron, choosing to stay in Kurona alone.
Even after Ryan had recovered, Morgiana did not move out of his room but simply shared it with him, sleeping in separate beds.
"Has there been any news from the Archbishop of the Goddess of Mercy?" Ryan asked Morgiana.
"No," Morgiana shook her head repeatedly, her voice wavering a bit, "We've searched all over Kurona and the surrounding villages. She's vanished without a trace, as if she disappeared into thin air. The Church of the Goddess of Mercy is already discussing candidates for a new Archbishop."
"Mathew Bard has also disappeared," Ryan frowned.
After the incident at the windmill, when the Lake Prophets visited Mathew Bard's residence the next day, they learned from the landlord that the knight and the young lady from the Duke of Brelion had had a big argument, after which he angrily left.
Something seemed off about this situation, but also not. The Lake Prophets found witnesses who confirmed that the couple indeed had a big argument. Fiona shouted, "Get out! I don't want to see you again," infuriating Mathew Bard. He left a note and then left Kurona that very day.
"My prince, this seems like a coincidence, but I'm almost certain that even if Mathew Bard isn't the instigator, he's at least a key player in this," Ryan said, unsurprised by the outcome, as he continued discussing with Morgiana, "If nothing unexpected happens, the next time we see him will likely be on the battlefield."
"We owe thanks to your Lady Sulia. If it weren't for her defeating Mathew Bard, we would be facing the champion of the knight's tournament. To think that a knight I personally crowned champion would turn out to be a traitor!" Morgiana sighed softly, signaling Ryan to come closer, "Don't stand so far from me, champion of the lady. Come closer."
"I think this distance is fine." Ryan shook his head. The power and authority Morgiana wielded, along with her typically icy demeanor, made close proximity less appealing unless they were alone in the suite of the Grail Cathedral. Outside of that, it felt unnecessary.
"..." Morgiana frowned, stopping to signal Ryan to come over, "Come here, champion of the lady. Today, an acquaintance of yours is here."
"An acquaintance?" Ryan approached, walking side by side with Morgiana.
"Yes, your acquaintance." Morgiana slightly smiled, "When we received the call for help from the Empire, it was he who led the knightly host to assist you at Marienburg."
"Oh! Sir Eules!" Ryan smiled, nodding repeatedly, "It's him!"
"Indeed, Sir Eules. I had sent him to the Grey Mountains to clear out some remnants of the greenskins, and now he has returned to report." Morgiana looked a bit more pleased.
Walking through the courtyard and the corridor of the Grail Cathedral, they found Sir Eules and another knight Ryan did not recognize waiting in the cathedral's great hall for Morgiana. Seeing her appear, Eules and the other knight greeted her, "My princess."
Eules was perhaps one of the most powerful Grail Knights in the kingdom, known for his feats such as slaying two chaos giants alone, decimating hordes of beastmen, killing a dragon in combat, exterminating a lurking Champion of Chaos in the Duchy of Cacassonne, and beheading a necromancer in the Marshes of Madness.
This renowned Grail Knight, tall and with eyes that shone, wore a suit of mithril chainmail covered with a breastplate adorned with various artistic patterns, a shimmering blue cloak, and the golden badge of a Grail Knight on his chest. His attire was decorated with numerous symbols of devotion, beads, pendants, and portraits of the Lady of the Lake, with a golden dragon statue atop his helmet.
Ryan could feel that Eules's strength was very close to the divine realm, his aura as potent as the sun, warming his comrades and scorching his enemies.
"Hello, Sir Eules, it's been a long time since the Battle of Couronne." Ryan extended his hand to Eules.
"Ha ha ha~ Lord Ryan, you flatter me. The series of magnificent deeds you've accomplished since arriving here fill me with pride. To stand alongside the chosen champion of the Lady in battle is a great honor," Eules said with great respect, "Let us eradicate evil in the name of the Lady!"
Morgiana watched the interaction between Ryan and Eules, her expression warming, "What a glorious moment. Let us bestow honor upon two of the kingdom's heroes!"
"Honor!" everyone in the Grail Cathedral shouted in unison.
The kingdom knight who appeared to be in his thirties and was standing behind Eules approached Ryan and Morgiana to greet them, "Greetings, Princess Morgiana, Lord Ryan. I am Carad, Carad-Valmont, from Bastonne."
"I've heard your name, Carad," Morgiana nodded with a smile, "Your feats include slaying a troll and defeating a greenskin invasion. In the name of the Lady, you are a commendable knight."
"It is a great honor!" Carad's face, lean yet full of vigor, had blue eyes and black hair, with a gold band on his head and a family crest of a white dragon on a red and blue background on his body. He respectfully bowed to Morgiana and Ryan, "May every lake of the Lady be as clear as crystal."
Eules had been commanded to clear a greenskin tribe that frequently harassed Bastonne in the Grey Mountains. True to expectations, this Grail Knight, along with Carad, charged through the greenskin tribe on horseback. Eules used his sword "Eternal Blade" to decapitate the greenskin leader, then carved a path out.
This approach was violent, simple, yet effective, based on absolute confidence in one's strength.
Eules and Carad were invited to stay for a feast, where Morgiana hosted them in honor of the Lady of the Lake and blessed them with divine spells.
Ryan did not participate in this feast as it was a moment of glory for Eules and Carad. He did not wish to intrude, and dining with Morgiana didn't seem particularly appealing to him...
However, when he returned from a stroll, he found that Eules had already left, but Carad was still there.
The kingdom knight was conversing with a very beautiful Lake Prophet in the cathedral courtyard. The golden-haired, blue-eyed prophet was holding Carad's hand, tenderly touching his face with deep affection.
"Reunited lovers?" Ryan approached Morgiana, curious.
"Reunited siblings," Morgiana's gaze passed through the church's stained glass windows, "That's Carad's sister, Anala. She is one of my outstanding Lake Prophets and also Eules's lover."
"I see, so that's why Mr. Carad was able to accompany Sir Eules," Ryan nodded understandingly. Most Grail Knights had a lady and several lovers (court ladies if they owned lands), many of whom were Lake Prophets. Lake Prophets were not forbidden from marrying, and if necessary, the Lake Witch would officiate. The noble bloodline of Grail Knights must continue.
"It's Lord Carad, Ryan. He's the Count of Valmont from the Duchy of Bastonne," Morgiana lifted her potion chalice, her tone somewhat wistful, as if reminiscing, "Interested in hearing Carad's story, Ryan?"
"Of course."
"Carad is the second child of the Count of Valmont. His sister, due to her exceptional magical talent, was taken away by the previous Lake Witch when she was young. He was believed to have died at birth, but he survived against the odds and grew into a commendable knight."
"Carad's mother passed away early. A few years later, the Count of Valmont remarried and had another son. Because of the different bloodline, Carad's childhood was not happy, as his stepmother did not care for him."
"Just as Carad grew into a Ranger Knight, an attack by a large greenskin tribe forever changed his destiny..."
Carad makes his appearance, a very important character in the story.
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