That night, Jolene did not stray far. Accompanied by the hulking warrior and the archer, she lingered on the outskirts of the town for hours. Although her two companions urged her to leave this accursed place as quickly as possible, Jolene seemed to harbor a different plan. Her eyes betrayed hesitation, uncertainty. Hugging her knees, she sat beneath the moonlight, lost in thought throughout the night.
The following morning, Duwei's caravan resumed its journey. This time, a new addition trailed at the rear—a cart carrying the bound and thoroughly miserable magician. Soaked to the bone and visibly exhausted, the poor man bore the brunt of Duwei's knights' relentless execution of their orders: dousing him with cold water at regular intervals to prevent him from sleeping or meditating, thereby denying him any chance to recover his magical strength.
As per his routine, Master Duwei ensconced himself in the carriage with a hefty book, engrossed in his reading as though the written word were his sole passion. Despite the uneven road, the expertly crafted carriage offered little jostling, allowing Duwei to recline on a thick, velvety blanket, curled up in comfort as he read and pondered. His tranquility, however, was short-lived.
A light knock on the window was followed by Mader's hesitant voice. "Master… there's something that might require your attention."
Sliding the window open, Duwei observed Mader riding alongside the carriage, his brow furrowed with concern. "Master, those people from the tavern last night—they've been following us."
Duwei paused, then leaned out to glance behind the caravan. Indeed, a hundred paces back, the long-legged girl from the previous evening rode alongside her two companions—a burly warrior and an archer. The three trailed at a measured distance on horseback.
The other knights in Duwei's retinue exchanged knowing looks, their restrained smiles hinting at their amusement. After all, the girl had emerged from their young master's room the night before. Could it be that their master had conquered her heart, leaving her so smitten she could not bear to part from him?
Duwei's expression betrayed no amusement. After a moment's contemplation, he spoke quietly, "Stop the caravan. Bring that girl here."
Behind the caravan, Jolene had been following all morning, her thoughts muddled. She wasn't even sure why she was trailing them. Was it concern for the magician they had captured? Hardly. She couldn't care less about his fate.
When the caravan halted ahead, Jolene snapped out of her thoughts. Two knights galloped toward her and addressed her with an uncharacteristic politeness, their tone influenced by the assumption of her "special relationship" with their young master. "Miss, our master wishes to see you. Would you kindly come forward?"
Jolene, bewildered, nodded reflexively and spurred her horse forward, her companions trailing behind with visible unease.
Duwei did not bother stepping out of the carriage. Seated inside, he merely opened the door to face the approaching girl. "Why are you following me?"
Sliding off her horse, Jolene hesitated. Then, in a flash of resolve, the question that had tormented her through the night found its answer. Perhaps it was that devilish smile once again appearing on his face.
"I…" Jolene knelt on one knee beside the carriage, bowing her head deeply. Her voice was solemn, resolute. "I, Jolene Moon, pledge my loyalty to you. From this day forward, I vow to protect this oath with my blood and my life for the rest of my days. Do you accept my fealty?"
Duwei regarded her in silence, studying the figure kneeling before him. At last, he spoke. "You wish to pledge your loyalty to me… but why?"
"I don't know," Jolene admitted candidly. "Perhaps you were right. I am tired. Keeping everything together on my own has shown me the limits of my strength. Maybe it's time to seek a mighty tree under whose shelter I can grow, content to be a vine entwined around its branches."
"And you believe I am such a tree?" Duwei asked with a faint smile.
"I do," she replied without hesitation. "Though I still know little of your true identity, I sense you are destined for greatness."
Duwei exhaled softly. Turning to Mader, he inquired, "Mader, remind me, as the heir of a count, how many honorary knights am I entitled to recruit?"
Mader straightened in his saddle. "As the firstborn of Count Raymond, even if you do not inherit the title, the Empire grants you a barony by default. According to imperial law, you are permitted to recruit up to ten honorary knights under your direct authority."
"Only ten?" Duwei rubbed his temple. "That's not many. But each knight can have squires, correct? With knights and their entourages combined, the numbers are respectable enough."
Receiving confirmation, Duwei turned his gaze back to Jolene and smiled. "Very well, I accept your loyalty. From this moment, I name you my first honorary knight. And a female knight, no less."
Jolene lowered her head further, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you, my lord. Now that I have pledged myself to you, may I know your true identity?"
"Oh, my identity?" Duwei chuckled lightly. "Duwei Rowlin, eldest son of Count Raymond Rowlin, deputy commander of the Imperial General Staff. And…" He paused dramatically. "In the capital, they call me *'The Fool.'"
"The… Fool?" Jolene's eyes widened in disbelief.
Good heavens! This man, a fool? If he was a fool, then the rest of the world must be imbeciles.
Suppressing any hint of a smile, Jolene rose to her feet. Gesturing to her companions, she said, "My lord, these are my comrades. Their names are—"
"No need." Duwei cut her off curtly. "My apologies, but I'm not interested. As you heard, I have only ten slots for honorary knights, and I won't waste them. I plan to reserve those positions for paladins or master swordsmen."
Ignoring her companions entirely, Duwei added, "As for your comrades, they'll serve as your squires. Once we reach our destination, I'll have proper knightly regalia prepared for you. Now, fall in line—we'll reach home by nightfall if all goes well."
Though Jolene's companions were visibly disappointed at missing the opportunity to earn knightly titles, she offered them quiet words of consolation. Internally, however, her emotions churned. By pledging herself to Duwei, she had forsaken her independence and dissolved the small band she had fought so hard to maintain.
Little did she know, this moment would be etched into history. For Jolene Moon would become the first of the infamous Demon Knights, a name destined to shake the continent.