The cold moonlight shone down, making the pool slightly shimmer, giving a sense of haziness.
This wide place was completely quiet. Done stood at the entrance, somewhat entranced as he looked at everything in front of him, while the girl showed no reaction, as if she was a character in a painting.
"Cough cough."
A low coughing sound broke the silence. Blazer, who stood beside Lani, couldn't help it. His coughing, as if accelerating the halted time, promptly caused a reaction from the girl sitting in the high-backed chair.
The witch's hat was slightly lifted, revealing blue eyes that were not sharp, but rather kind of bemused. She seemed taken aback when she saw Done standing at a distance, but then greeted him with an elegant smile.
"Good evening, my loyal and brave warrior."
Before Done could react, Yaren, who had come with him, was already kneeling on one knee, calling out 'Your Highness', and Done followed suit, also kneeling on one knee, his right hand over his chest.
"Your Highness Lani, I'm honored to be summoned."
His face was as calm as a deep well, serious as a steel warrior, though internally he was already complaining.
Could the Princess have been asleep just now? And why did her high-backed chair seem higher than the others, could there be something underneath it?
Despite the internal complaints, Done kept a serious face on the outside. There was a force capable of splitting mountains and rivers inside that petite body.
"No need to be so formal, please sit down." Lani raised her two fingers pointing to the space opposite her. Done did not hesitate and confidently sat on the high-backed chair. Aside from feeling it was hard enough to hurt his bottom, he felt nothing else.
It seems as though the Kalia Royal Family was quite original in its style. In Reed Name, after setting up a major accomplishment, there was certainly plenty of good wines and meats to feasts on. Here, you had to run to an open place to admire the moon.
"Don't worry, the celebration has not been cancelled. I'm not stingy, and I will serve all the valorous warriors with treasures and food and drink. However, due to my identity, I cannot appear personally. Blazer will attend on my behalf," Lani said, as if she could see through what Done was thinking and raised her hand to stop him from explaining, and softly said:
"But you have made the first merit, and out of interest, I had to meet you alone."
Done nodded. Lani, aside from being rarely seen like a water dragon, was a competent monarch. He was prepared for this.
However, Lani didn't get straight to the point, but, open-armed, asked in a mysterious tone, "What do you think of this place?"
Done glanced around. In his past and current life, culture was scarce. After thinking for a moment, he answered, "The moon in the water and the flowers in the mirror are indeed beautiful, but this beauty carries a sense of loneliness and illusion."
In the spacious moon-viewing pool, there were only a few people. The empty high-backed chairs indeed provoked feelings of solitude.
"It wasn't like this before. From my mother the queen downwards, many royal family members watched this full moon. But as you said, the past has turned into an illusion. So, how can one escape the loneliness caused by illusion?"
"Obviously, it is by focusing on the future, because the fulfillment found on the journey could let people forget about loneliness." Done answered without hesitation. As a person who had crossed worlds, those past memories brought about falsehood and pain too.
Living for the future, fighting for a goal, huh?
A glint of admiration flashed in Lani's eyes, and she asked with interest, "Where is your target then?"
"To live, to live without any threats, no one can control my fate." Done's eyes gradually grew sharp as he retorted, "Your Highness, do you find this goal ridiculous?"
It was indeed ridiculous to talk about fate under the Golden Law. If the magic circle hadn't been broken, even life and death here would be clearly controlled by others.
Lani was serious, shaking her head slightly, "Not at all. The desire to control one's own fate may seem the most simple, but it is the most difficult to achieve. Even the mighty demigods can't do it. Your path might be even more difficult than mine."
She leaned back slightly, which lessened her majesty and made her seem like a lazy girl. Seeing Done's puzzled look, she straightened her posture again.
"I also want to control my own fate, but under the law, freedom cannot be obtained."
"You mean the Golden Tree?"
"No, it's the same for any law. Following others' orders is too boring." Lani answered seriously. Because Done was not a faded intruder, she didn't need to outsider to act for her.
"Therefore, our goals are different, but they lead to the same destination. I am glad to have a reliable companion on the path to exploring the future."
Done's merits were indeed hard-earned, leaving no room for anyone to question.
"Indeed, I'm also willing to contribute to my strength." Done nodded again. Regardless of Lani's vision, he himself was a warrior of Kalia.
"As for the reward, gold and silver treasures are of no use to me. I'd like to make two requests."
"Proceed." After the events of the past few days, Lani was somewhat curious.
"First, I'm not used to this curved sword. I've heard Master Iji is a skilled smith, and I'd like him to forge a radiant stone katana for me. Second, I want to learn Kalia's magic."
The two requests were somewhat odd, and Lani covered her mouth as if laughing: "I've forgotten you're a magic apprentice. Yes, I'll let Iji make it with care, and the royal magic tower will be open to you too. How much you can learn depends on your destiny. If you encounter difficulties, you can also consult with the magic professor, Miriam."
Miriam? Shouldn't it be that foul-mouthed ghost, Servius?
For a moment Done felt confused. On recalling, he realized that Servius was still a professor at the college, and the chief magician serving the royal family was named Miriam, the one who was seen blasting people in the Kalia library.
"Thank You, Your Highness." He didn't think much, after all, anyone seemed better than that foul-mouthed ghost.
"Right, I'll add a third one for you." Suddenly, Lani floated up from her chair and gently landed on the pool, causing some small ripples. With a serious look on her face, she stretched out her arms.
"Done Right, please come forward."
The knight immediately stood up and stepped toward her through the water. The water stirred by his steps made the reflection of the moon fluctuate. He then stopped half a metre in front of Lani. When he saw her two arms elegantly turned over and gently pressed down, he kneeled down in the water on one knee.
"I'm sorry. My mother is still the queen, I am not the queen of Kalia, and I can't give you too much honor." Lani explained softly, then switched back to her majestic expression and opened her hands.
"Blazer, the sword."
Blazer, who had been silently standing to the side, walked into the pool carrying a box. With slow and heavy movements, he opened the box and took out a straight sword.
A gold handle, and a sword body like an art piece. This was Kalia's treasure, the legendary 'Sword of Night and Fire'.
Lani took it firmly, turned to Done, who was kneeling on one knee, tapped his left and right shoulders with the sword, and murmured:
"Under the witness of the full moon and the stars, I, Lani, the direct descendant of the Kalia royal family, the Princess of the Moon, appoint Done Right as the Knight of Kalia's Glory. May courage and glory be with you forever."
The process was short. As Done raised his head, only the dissipating blue particles were left in front of him. Lani had left for some reason. He blinked, not quite clear about the situation.
Is this my promotion?
Clap clap.
Clear applause echoed around. It turned out to be Yaren clapping non-stop, while Blazer hesitated for a moment, then also clapped, bearing his teeth:
"Knight Done, from now on, you are His Highness Lani's guard."
"Not only that, it's been so many years, it's the first time the princess has appointed a knight. Don't worry, once we rescue Queen Reyna, you'll immediately become a formal knight." Yaren was much more straightforward, only short of cheering out loud.
"Then why did Lady Lani run away after the appointment?"
"Eh, she probably didn't know what to do next. Maybe she went back to read a book." Yaren made a joke, and as he caught from the corner of his eye the wolf man glaring at him full of murderous intent, he promptly shut his mouth.
Done wasn't bothered about being promoted, as long as his power was insufficient. Even if he became the King of Kalia, he'd be chopped down with one strike. He stood in the pool, basking in the moonlight, recalling Yaren's words, and gradually a smile emerged on his face.
Really? Then I'm quite honored.
He turned his body sideways and casually shouted out to Blazer, who was about to leave, "Don't leave yet. It's at least a joyous occasion. Let me buy you a drink."
The wolfman moved further and further away, but just waved his hand, "Alcohol hampers judgement, so I never drink."
With that, he went his way. Done shrugged his shoulders, laughing and cursing, "This bloke really is full of himself."
"Don't be angry. He's always like that, arrogant towards everyone except Lady Lani." Yaren put his arm around Done's shoulders, pulling him away.
"Come, come, I have wine. Let's drink heartily today!"
The full moon was brilliant, casting long, opposite shadows of the men, as if engraving Done firmly on this land...