In the Gien barony, within the prayer room on the third floor of the Baron's castle.
Inside the elegantly decorated prayer room, Francois and Sulia stood by the bedside, watching the exceedingly weak Morgiana lying on the bed. The lake witch, leaning on Ryan, recounted the events in a feeble voice.
When Ryan brought the seriously injured Morgiana back to the Gien barony, Francois and others who had not yet left were almost stunned. The lake witch, being the lake nymph's first chosen and spokesperson in the mortal world, was injured to such an extent. The composed Francois immediately helped Ryan to block all news, and all servants and knights who saw Morgiana's appearance were silenced.
Morgiana was gravely injured, her body covered in mud and dust, and very weak. Ryan had no choice but to have Olica immediately boil water for Morgiana's bath and then change her into clean clothes, carrying her to rest in the prayer room on the third floor.
On the soft feather bed, Morgiana lay on down pillows and mattresses. Ryan fetched a thick quilt to cover her body, tucked in the corners, with Francois and Sulia standing by the bedside. The duke's face bore deep confusion and an anxious emotion, while Sulia held Ryan's hand, her complexion pale, unsure of what to do.
No one expected the lake witch, a sanctuary-level power, to end up like this.
With her golden hair spread on the pillow, Morgiana weakly opened her eyes. Her azure pupils instinctively searched for Ryan's figure: "Ryan?"
"I'm here, my princess." Ryan quickly came to the bedside. Morgiana's hand stretched out from under the quilt, and Ryan held her hand: "It's okay now, my princess. It's safe here."
Morgiana's hand was soft. The lake witch nodded lightly. Despite it being early spring, she shivered from the cold, her voice filled with regret and sighs: "…I was too confident. I shouldn't have gone alone. The Branch Wraith Theresa and her treacherous tree spirits betrayed me. They lured me into the forest, then Manfred appeared and fought with me. While I was casting a spell unguarded, she attacked me from behind and sold me to the vampire…"
Morgiana had no strength left. After briefly narrating the events, she closed her eyes, tired: "In the end, it was Ryan who arrived in time to save me."
Francois paced in the prayer room with furrowed brows: "There are many factions among the forest spirits, including the elf-affinity faction led by Dursu, the neutral faction led by Adanhu, and the hostile faction led by Kodel, the three ancient treemen debated fiercely on whether to welcome wood elves to settle in the forest. In the end, Kodel insisted, Adanhu compromised, Dursu gave up, leading the tree spirits to divide into three factions. Dursu and Adanhu chose to accept the wood elves, Dursu coexisted with the wood elves, Adanhu left alone, and Kodel insisted on keeping a clear boundary with the wood elves. It delineated a piece of forest land forbidding wood elves' entry, which the wood elves also agreed to."
"The change occurred hundreds of years ago, just like this time, when the Sanctuary Beast King 'Shadow Malice' Mogul attacked the Aesoloren Forest. In the battle, Kodel was heavily corrupted and eventually went mad. It slaughtered wood elves in a frenzy until it was completely defeated. The wood elves knew Kodel was beyond redemption but still couldn't bring themselves to kill it, so they could only seal it deep in the forest."
"Branch Wraith Theresa was once Kodel's maid, my princess." Francois revealed this secret history, the duke frowned, and unusually, he asked with a questioning tone: "My princess, you should not have gone alone to meet Theresa in the depths of the forest. It was too dangerous! Perhaps, as you said, the vampires and Theresa had formed an alliance."
Morgiana didn't answer, just nodded lightly. She indeed regretted her actions. Morgiana's strength allowed her to roam the continent, blessed and protected by the lake nymph, and in Brittany, as long as she sent a distress signal, many knights would quickly come to her aid. She could seek the lake nymph's help and directly use teleportation magic to escape.
The only thing she hadn't anticipated was the alliance between the tree spirits and the vampires, one representing life and the other death, their alliance beyond everyone's imagination.
"Uh!" The lake witch tried to say more, but suddenly let out a cry of pain, her beautiful face almost contorting: "Uh… Ah…"
"Damn! The seal has been broken!" Lifting the quilt, black cracks appeared on Morgiana's alabaster-like waist skin. The lake witch arched her waist in pain, the black cracks spreading along her waist.
"It's the vampire's curse! My seal is no longer effective!" Ryan said anxiously: "I must immediately seek the lady!"
"Then you go. Sulia and I will wait here for news." Francois also realized the severity of the situation, nodded, then signaled Ryan to hurry.
The country cannot lose the lake witch.
Ryan carried Morgiana in his arms and rushed out. The female knight worriedly watched Ryan's back. Today was supposed to be a great day for discussing their engagement. Sulia hadn't expected such an event to occur. Fortunately, the time had been arranged, and the female knight had a lot to say to Ryan. In this situation, she could only keep quiet and find another opportunity later.
Carrying Morgiana and running, under Francois's orders, Ryan didn't encounter anyone along the way. He reached the valley behind the castle following the castle's corridor. Before kneeling to pray, the fog dispersed.
Ten minutes later, in the bedroom on the fourth floor of the Lady of the Lake's tower.
Ryan sat by the bed, Morgiana leaning on his chest, her delicate feet exposed under the nightgown. Ryan said in a low voice, "The lady seems not to be here?"
"Perhaps… the lady doesn't want to see me." Morgiana gently shook her head. The white nightgown outlined her captivating figure, but it couldn't hide her pale complexion and the black curse marks. The lake witch softly said, "Without the Potion Holy Grail, the reincarnation of the next lake witch will be very troublesome… It's my responsibility. If the lady wants to punish me, even if it means death, I will accept it."
Ryan's expression changed unpredictably, his face showing hesitation and dejection. He gently placed Morgiana on the bed, then stood up.
Morgiana's complexion turned pale, her lips trembling continuously. The lake witch couldn't move, she said despondently, "It's okay, dying here, I'm already content. I've let down the lady… Uh!"
The black cracks continued to spread. The seal Ryan set was broken again, the toxin of the Blasphemy Blade and the power of the curse were spreading towards Morgiana's heart. Ryan injected psionic energy again, pushing back the black cracks to Morgiana's waist. But this was only a temporary solution; the curse power had penetrated deeply and could erupt at any moment.
What to
do? Really watch Morgiana die before him? Ryan's heart was in turmoil. He actually had a way; Veronica had been poisoned before, and he had detoxified her by internal injection. But Morgiana was different; she was the lake witch! It would be sacrilegious to act recklessly! It went against the moral bottom line he had set for himself.
But again, was he going to watch Morgiana die before his eyes?
"My champion, although Morgiana has made a mistake, I am still willing to give her another chance. This opportunity is something you have fought for her. It should be up to you to decide what to do."
The Lady of the Lake's voice suddenly echoed in Ryan's heart. The chosen champion quickly asked, "But, this means I have to with her…"
"Why don't you ask for her opinion? How do you know she wouldn't be willing?" The Lady of the Lake's voice continued, "I still need a spokesperson in the mortal world. If we lose Morgiana and the Potion Holy Grail, the lake witch's lineage will be interrupted. She has no choice, and neither do I."
"I understand." Ryan finally nodded. At the same time, Morgiana, lying on the bed, also received the command. Her face showed some astonishment, but she eventually closed her eyes.
The lake witch gently nodded towards Ryan. She agreed.
…Fog enshrouded…
In Brittany, atop the high tower of the cursed city of Musilon, Arkhan raised his staff, pointing at Manfred's face, his voice carrying a heavy pressure: "Manfred! You have disappointed our master once again!"
The vampire count showed no sense of failure. He opened his mouth, confronting Arkhan: "Your plan was not foolproof, Arkhan. You didn't tell me that Brittany actually had a Grail Knight who could dispel magic! And your tree spirit allies are not reliable. They claimed their ancient tree sap could fully control the lake witch's every action. But when the ritual reached a critical moment, she still had a bit of magic left!"
"Manfred! Is this your first time dealing with casters? As a grand wizard proficient in necromancy and death magic, don't you understand? Morgiana is a sanctuary-level sky and life chosen grand witch! Wouldn't she have some means? It's you! You were too careless!" Arkhan's voice contained traces of anger and regret. The Lich King approached Manfred, drawing his sword, warning Manfred: "You missed such an opportunity, even more foolishly, you gave up the pursuit!"
"I didn't give up!" Manfred's roar echoed. In the dark and deep environment, he angrily pushed away the Lich King's decayed shell and immediately turned, walking towards the window: "At that time, it was clear that stronger enemies were coming to support. If I didn't retreat, I would have been surrounded! Even killed!"
"So? Don't forget, Manfred, all vampires are the master's kin! You are too! We are all the master's servants!" Arkhan continued, "Only by maintaining loyalty to the master, otherwise, you will be destroyed by the master!"
"…" Manfred remained silent. Indeed, all vampires were servants and minions of the Lord of the Dead, Nagash. This had been determined since the vampire progenitors drank Nagash's potion and became vampires. Vampires cannot resist Nagash; this is why Manfred serves Arkhan.
But the cunning Manfred, his loyalty was not absolute, in other words, he was absolutely not loyal.
Loyalty not absolute is absolutely not loyal.
The vampire count didn't care about Nagash's resurrection; he was here only because he couldn't resist Nagash's power. He wouldn't willingly sacrifice himself for Nagash; in his heart, he only cared about himself.
"Manfred, are you listening?" Arkhan's voice continued. The Lich King had already put away his momentary anger and lapse, returning to his gentle demeanor: "You failed to capture Morgiana, even though you have already extracted enough magic for the Nine Scrolls. Your mission is only half completed. Now it's time to complete the other half."
Manfred turned around, his complexion pale like marble, moonlight reflecting off his head, illuminating the room: "Then what should I do?"
"We must capture the lake witch and sacrifice her to the master!" Arkhan moved towards the window: "The master's resurrection needs nine sacrifices… or eight. This is the bottom line."
"Ah~ She has already disappeared into the forest. How do we find her whereabouts?" Manfred also calmed down. At least in front of Arkhan—Nagash's most loyal servant, the vampire count wouldn't reveal his true thoughts.
"…" Arkhan tried to divine Morgiana's whereabouts but failed this time. The lake witch's location was obscured by dense fog, unclear: "My curse has failed. Perhaps the Lake of Serenity has already protected Morgiana."
"What about the Potion Holy Grail? Where did you put it?" Arkhan suddenly asked.
"I placed it in the Spire Palace, entrusted to Count Okasen. The energy inside is too powerful; I think it's better to keep it away from us." Manfred said.
"Wise decision. Being too close, the Potion Holy Grail will weaken our power…" Arkhan muttered, "Ryan Macado, Ryan Macado, it's him again, ruining my plan. Since that's the case, we'll destroy his domain first, completely annihilate everything of his!"
"Order the Blood Knights' second banner to move out, cross the Chalon Forest, and launch a surprise attack on the Gien barony! Send Anark to go, tell him to bring Ryan Macado's head back to me! Immediately!"
"Yes!" A team of thirteen Blood Knights moved out under the Lich King's orders. They would travel through the Chalon Forest overnight to attack the Gien barony: "Forward! Knights of the Blood Keep!"
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