After the previous encounter and being carried away by the ambulance, Roland bid the kind man farewell, promising to return the favor one day. He assured the old man he would find him no matter what. Kindness, after all, must always be repaid.
The nurses immediately began to check his wound, and although it was agonizing for him, there was no risk of death. One of the nurses activated her Codex, which began to patch up the wound instantly. From what Roland observed, she touched a small cross on her neck—possibly her "Tenere."
Teneres were compact objects that harbored the Codex's powers. They could take any form—a ring, a toy, a necklace, or more. Each had its own defensive mechanisms and responded to the user's emotions and requests.
"I'd like to request that you come with us to the hospital, Herr," the nurse said with a serene and polite tone.
"From what I'm seeing, your Codex has sealed my wound efficiently. Am I mistaken?" Roland asked curiously, noticing how even his pain had diminished slightly.
"Yes, but my Codex's healing powers are not invincible. Thus, I must insist on one last check-up to ensure nothing else endangers you," she replied.
"Ah, I see. I understand," Roland responded sincerely.
"Danke, Herr."
Although Codexes had become a natural phenomenon, they were still rare. It was estimated that only 1 in 13,000 people could awaken a Codex. Surprisingly, most of the awakened opted for criminal work, building their power within Europe's underworlds. Thankfully, some chose different, more noble paths.
After a swift 30-minute drive, Roland arrived at the hospital. He entered through the emergency entrance on a stretcher and was placed in a private room.
The room was small but personal, perhaps designed for those with deep pockets. Calm, cozy, and painted a pearly white, it was adorned with flowers and other decorations. Roland held his disdain for the wealthy, who lived far better than the poor, but for now, there were more pressing matters.
Reaching into his pocket, he drew out the tiny wine-colored sword that had appeared to him at the river. Roland stared at it for a few moments, pondering how to activate it.
{How does this activate? I've faced Codex users before, but they never mentioned anything extraordinary. It just... happened?} Roland was dumbfounded. Even his knowledge was lacking when it came to Codexes.
After a while, the sword began to shine brightly, prompting Roland to shield his eyes. But this wasn't the same wine-colored shine. Instead, it was scarlet. When the light finally dimmed, Roland opened his eyes to see a holographic image—a mini black panther, resembling a spirit.
"Greetings. I am the Tenere of your Codex. My name is Ensis," the panther said.
Once again, Roland was left with more questions, but Ensis seemed to anticipate them.
"I understand you're confused. It was quite a surprise for me to awaken at that moment too. Yet, I need you to trust me. I am not an evil spirit; on the contrary, I am your spirit, taken shape and form. And let me say this—you are very careless."
Ensis's tone was bothered and bitter, mocking Roland, who couldn't retaliate. Nevertheless, he continued.
"I will open a window to show you your current abilities, as well as your physical and mental estimates. I honestly don't know how bad the situation is because, for some reason, I am inexplicably weakened."
Ensis perched on Roland's shoulder and opened a status window. The results shocked them both.
{Codex: "Black Knight"}
{Status Window}
|- Strength (STR): 21
|- Energy (ENG): 20
|- Sanity (SNT): 6
|- Codex (COD): 20
{Current Unlocked Abilities}
B - Unyielding Resolve: The Black Knight is immune to fear, pain, and mental manipulation. Their will is unbreakable, allowing them to keep fighting even in the direst circumstances. Their endurance and pain tolerance enable them to continue regardless of injuries. However, fatal wounds such as having their heart ripped out will result in immediate defeat.
C - Nightmare Strike: The Black Knight can briefly manifest a terrifying image or illusion that induces fear in weaker foes. This effect causes confusion or hesitation but doesn't incapacitate enemies entirely. The illusion is easily broken by determined opponents or those with high mental fortitude.
D - Cursed Aura: The Black Knight emits an aura that causes mild discomfort and unease to those nearby. While it doesn't cause direct harm, it can wear down weaker enemies over time, reducing their focus and will to fight.
D {?} - Black Sword (Nocturne): The Black Knight can summon forth the harbinger of nightmares, Nocturne—a sword shrouded in mystery. Its origin and description remain unknown, except for one sentence: "The day light and darkness find the harbinger of change, Nocturne will obey."
{Locked Abilities: 5}
Ensis lowered his head and covered his face with his small paws. Even Roland was stunned by how low his stats were.
"What in the name of God and Codexes have you been doing... FOR 21 YEARS!?" Ensis screamed, biting Roland's ear and refusing to let go.
"Ensis! That hurts! Please collect yourself!" Roland exclaimed, grabbing the little panther and pulling him away.
"We are far too weak!" Ensis growled.
"Yes, yes, but I request you calm yourself. We can work to become stronger," Roland said, his tone serious.
"Oh, Mr. Noble! This is shameful! I am the Tenere of the 'Black Knight' Codex! It's a disgrace to have a user this weak!" Ensis replied, his pride wounded.
Roland, however, was focused on his abilities.
"Ensis, how exactly do we become stronger?" he asked, his gaze intense.
Ensis grinned mischievously.
"We kill, of course! I'm sure you're accustomed to it. This Codex, in particular, grows stronger the more fear your targets feel before you kill them."
"Even now... Death follows me," Roland murmured. Ensis's revelation brightened his mood momentarily, but the thought of killing weighed heavily on him. He had hoped to make a change without bloodshed. Yet, not all paths in life are blessings.
"Listen," Ensis said softly. "I know parts of your story. I won't dwell on your past, but now, I am your soul manifested. Your friend. Albeit... even the path to heaven is painted in blood."
Despite being created to serve the Black Knight, Ensis had free will and emotions. He understood pity, care, and even resentment, which allowed him to comfort Roland.
After a brief but heartfelt moment, it was time for Roland to leave. He ordered Ensis to return to his object form. After answering a few questions and confirming his health was stable, he was discharged.
"So, where are we going now?" Ensis asked.
"A safe house I prepared for dire situations. But first—how can you communicate with me?"
"Oh! It's an ability shared by all Tenere. We can communicate with our awakeners as long as we're within 40 meters. Pretty cool, huh?" Ensis puffed out his chest and giggled as Roland walked through the quiet night.
Less than an hour later, they arrived at an abandoned three-story building in the dark, eerie slums of the German Nation. Roland climbed to the top floor and opened the single door there. Inside, he flicked on the lights, revealing a small room with a chair, a table, and a flickering bulb.
"Not to be condescending or anything... but this wasn't what I pictured," Ensis quipped.
"Of course not," Roland scoffed, chuckling slightly.
Ensis watched as Roland flipped the light switch three times. Suddenly, the walls opened to reveal a stash: a set of new clothes, a blade holster that ran across his chest, a sword belt, and a stack of cash—close to €10,000.
"I'll never doubt you again," Ensis muttered.
"You should. I'm not an all-knowing being. I planned ahead this once. Next time, we might not be so lucky, my little friend."