"Do you know why your Jialan isn't as popular among the nobles as the Imperial Royal Wizard Academy?" Laine turned around, his blue eyes staring directly into the female sorcerer's silver pupils: "Because you don't know how to show respect. No one is born lowly. Emperor Charlemagne herded cattle and harvested wheat in his childhood. His Majesty Ludwig worked in the fields when he was young, and I too was once a weak little kid, fighting with stray dogs for fruit. According to your thinking, does every man need to prove himself in front of you before he's worthy of your respect?"
"So in your eyes, does everyone need to be deemed 'useless' first, looked down upon by you? Do you know why Villarld treats you so poorly? It's because he was once despised by a member of your Jialan when he was young."
"..." The female sorcerer wanted to retort, after all, that was the kind of education she had received all her life. But looking into Laine's icy gaze, she knew that if she rebutted now, there would no longer exist friendship between her and Laine, and they might not even remain companions.
The thought of becoming strangers with Laine in the future made Teresa feel uncomfortable inside.
No, I don't want that!
The intense clash of thoughts caused the female sorcerer to close her eyes in pain, her thoughts in disarray, with gold-red and blue magic power radiating uncontrollably.
Laine's hand gathered faint blue spiritual energy, instantly shattering the magic power that Teresa had dispersed. The man simply stood there, quietly watching the woman's painful choice.
Change in thoughts is not something that happens overnight, but Laine had already cracked a hole in Teresa's rigid thinking, now it was up to her to decide.
Will she always remain inside her shell, or open her eyes to see the different world outside?
Five minutes later, Teresa wearily opened her eyes, holding her head unsteadily, not only an Ice Warlock but also a Mind Element Warlock, if her thoughts weren't well-controlled, it could cause herself harm.
Seeing this, Laine pulled her into his embrace, gently holding her, patting her back, then released her: "Have you made up your mind? Tell me your answer."
Teresa's eyes seemed to speak, her gaze circled around the White Wolf Knight, finally nodding: "I understand your suggestion. I will try to broaden my perspective, and I will try to treat everyone equally."
"Very good~" Laine finally nodded with satisfaction.
It's always hard to start, Teresa's natural talent is impressive, and she is full of knowledge. As long as she takes this step and is willing to lower her stance, her future is very promising.
"So these days, you should take me around properly~" The female sorcerer proactively placed her small hand in Laine's large hand: "I need your guidance."
"Guidance is too strong a word, but if you like, I'm certainly willing to have a beautiful lady accompany me, it always keeps me in a pleasant mood." Laine nodded.
The woman intended to say something more, but the man's attention had already shifted to the old lady.
This old lady's composure is impressive, with a knight and a witch observing beside her, she remained calm, teaching without haste. The children, under the gaze of the nobles, were a bit nervous, but the old lady patiently explained again and again until all the children understood.
The lesson ended amidst observation, and a younger child began to pester the old lady, asking her to tell a story: "Granny Nora, tell us a story please!"
"Yes, tell us a story!" The children clung to the old lady, urging her to tell a story.
The old lady, unable to resist the children's pestering, began to tell a story: "Today I will tell you a story about Emperor Charlemagne, more than a thousand years ago!"
"A long, long time ago, during a time of great upheaval in heaven and earth, with beasts and demons running rampant, humans were very weak and could only serve as food for the demons. There were only a few places where some people gathered to form tribes, barely maintaining their autonomy..." Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novel✦fire.net
The story the old lady told is the most famous story of Emperor Charlemagne, widely known across the continent, everyone knows it. Teresa saw this and was a bit impatient, but Laine held her hand, indicating they should listen to the story together.
Her small hand was held by the man's, and the female sorcerer glared at him with displeasure. The female members of Jialan always have their own rules and ways of doing things, had it been any other day, she would never have stayed to listen to the story.
"The twelve Gallorin's Knights all pledged their allegiance to Charlemagne; they are the greatest knights, Roland, and the barbarian Lionardo of Monteban! Archbishop Tobin of the Justice Church! Mage Malajiji! The fairy-blessed Ogil! The brave and handsome Alstof~ and the others..." Granny Nora kindly recited the names of the twelve Gallorin's Knights, the children listened, fascinated and yearning: "To reward the twelve Gallorin's Knights who followed him in founding the Empire, Emperor Charlemagne sought out the Dwarf Supreme King, his best friend Kazadni! The dwarven friends' iron furnaces burned day and night, the best materials were used and after years of crafting, they finished those Holy Swords! Each Holy Sword radiated dazzling divine light!"
This is the origin of the Imperial Prince-Elector's Holy Sword, Laine thought.
After Charlemagne unified the Empire, he entrusted his friend, the Dwarf Supreme King Kazadni, to forge weapons. The dwarves used all their skills and energy to forge thirteen Holy Swords. After Emperor Charlemagne's victory over the Chaos Army and his abdication and disappearance, these divine weapons became symbols of identity for the Emperor of the Empire and the Prince-Electors. However, after more than a thousand years, besides the "Golden Sword" Juwayus in the hands of the current Emperor Carl Franz Friedrich, only four remain with the Imperial Prince-Electors, the rest are lost.
But generally, Carl Franz does not use this Golden Sword. He prefers to use the treasure gifted by the dwarves to humanity, the symbol of the Human Emperor, the Warhammer "Skullcrusher" Gael-Malaz.
Dwarf Warhammer, only those who use it know, everyone speaks highly after using it.
"Besides these twelve Gallorin's Knights, kids, listen to me, there's actually another Gallorin's Knight in Charlemagne's plan!" Granny Nora continued: "Emperor Charlemagne wisely foresaw that one day, good would no longer triumph over evil, one day, evil would return, and when humanity can no longer resist the onslaught of evil, when the world is about to be engulfed by darkness, the thirteenth Gallorin's Knight will descend with the fourteenth Holy Sword 'Goddess of Revenge' to bring light and power to the world again!"
This is where the story gets interesting. The legend of Emperor Charlemagne has many versions, but no matter which, they all indicate besides the twelve Gallorin's Knights who followed Emperor Charlemagne in founding the nation, there exists the thirteenth Gallorin's Knight, the "Future Gallorin's Knight."
"Do you believe in this story? I didn't expect you to be an idealist, would you really place hope in the so-called thirteenth Gallorin's Knight to save the world?" Teresa noticed Laine was slightly lost in thought, feeling both amused and vexed.
"So, do you believe in it?" Laine responded with a question.
"...Believe, yet don't believe." Teresa shook her head: "In fact, our internal Jialan records do indicate the existence of the thirteenth Gallorin's Knight, and indeed there is evidence of the fourteenth Holy Sword's existence, which is certain because many deities witnessed the 'Goddess of Revenge' being cast into the Subspace by Charlemagne."
"But, during the Great Holy War one hundred and fifty years ago, people never waited for this mysterious knight to arrive, and it was proven that Savior His Majesty Ludwig was not the thirteenth Gallorin's Knight, as the Holy Sword 'Golden Sword' belonging to the Emperor of the Empire was proven to be his sword." The female sorcerer combined her own perspective to provide a conclusion: "Nevertheless, the vast majority of Imperial people and nobles still believe that when humanity faces the ultimate crisis, the thirteenth Gallorin's Knight will emerge to save the world."
"So, after saying so much, Laine, do you believe in this story?" The female sorcerer casually asked.
"I do, I always have."
The man's gaze was deep, looking resolutely into the distance.
If I can't even believe in myself, who else can I believe in?