7 Blessed be the light

Malcolum bowed, "Young lord, I'm a rough man, so I can't appreciate tea. I'm more of an ale drinker. So I shall forgo the tea, this old man has felt his bones being a bit creaky, so I shall take a seat. Is there anything you would like to discuss with me?"

"A few things actually. First of all, I would like you to come up with a plan on how to effectively use our soldiers to guard the villa, also do include how much do you think it is fair to pay them as well. Next, I would like a list of all the soldiers that are in your squad, also please be sure to include what they used to train for as well as any soldiers younger than 14."

Niels used his spoon to stir the tea in a clockwise direction, he took out the spoon from the cup placed it on the table gently and took a sip of his tea, before looking off into the distance.

"Lastly, it might be because my library here is severely lacking or it may just be that people are lacking in general knowledge. As hard as I find, I can't seem to find much information about Rune knights. Seeing as you were my father's Rune Knight, could you kindly tell me about Rune knights?"

Malcolum scratched his bearded chin a couple of times and paused before he started to speak "Well... The first two things you ask me to do, I will do it as soon as possible, but for that third thing, am I really the right person to tell you about the Rune knights?" Malcolum finished the sentence with a sigh, not fully confident with his ability to explain elaborate things like this in detail and worried that he might say things that let his lord get misunderstood.

"Just treat it as if you're explaining it to a nine-year-old, which, I am. As simple as possible, with as many words as you need. Indulge me, please."

Niels said, staring straight into the eyes of Malcolum. After getting the scar across his right eye, no one has ever stared at his face so intently. This kind of deep staring was something that Malcolum has never expected or felt in a long time. This made Malcolum deflect his eyes instinctively. Looking away to the distance he began to scratch his beard agian.

"Well… where do we start..? There are 2 types of people in this world, the ones who receive the blessing of the god of light and the ones that don't. When the blessed receives the blessings of the god of light, they develop a mana core. This mana core allows you to convert the mana in the surroundings and allows your body to redirect it to be used for magic. As for the details, I don't really know the details about magic, so I'll just move along.

Paladins have greater blessings, allowing them to use the mana the receive to strengthen their perfect bodies, but of course, if there are any deformities, they will not be able to be a paladin and is said to be unable to strengthen themselves due to the imperfection. The paladins can also use their mana to cast spells.

As for magicians, they have lesser blessings, allowing them to only use the mana to cast spells. Magicians are usually weak in combat because their constitution doesn't allow them to fight in close range.

Last but not least, Rune Knights are just ordinary humans, serving their lords which they serve with loyalty, they are bestowed a set of armour that is powered by rune stones. Runestones can be enchanted by rune crafters and runestones can act as a weak mana core to temporarily increase in strength or other stats using the mana in the air. Without our armour given to us, rune knights are ordinary beings may be good at fighting against ordinary soldiers, but with the rune armour, we can even fight mid-range paladins or mages."

Niels nodded, after hearing the basic explanation from Malcolum, Niels went into thought, looking at his teacup in silence before replying, "Where do I find Rune crafters? And are there any prerequisites to becoming rune knights." Niels asked further, wanting more information to satisfy his curiosity.

"You can find Rune crafters in the Holy capital… However, it will not be easy to look for them, the runestones are usually in high supply, but the Rune crafters, they hold a high position and will not easily work for anyone. As for prerequisites, there are none, but the runes should be provided gradually if they cannot control the runes, they could overdraft their life force."

Malcolum answered respectfully as he looked towards the garden in front and noticed the young maid, still hitting the tree.

Agatha interrupted the conversation with the news she brought, requesting for Niels to head to the dining room immediately.

"Young lord, we have a guest from the church of light, looking to see you I've asked the party to wait in the dining room waiting for your arrival."

Malcolum took the hint and did a salute with his hands across his chest bowing towards Niels as he walked back into his room.

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Malcolum opened the door to the guard's room,

'Thud' the door slammed open.

The young topless soldiers who were goofing off suddenly stood up straight one by one as they gave Malcolum a salute.

"At ease guys, although we are from the military, for the time being, we are not in a military setting, so you guys can stand at ease." Malcolum took a seat at one of the beds and briefed everyone on the duties that they were supposed to do.

"Sir, can I ask, how is our young lord? Is he really a crippled trash like everyone says he is?" A young soldier suddenly asked after all the briefing was done.

Malcolum shook his head as he started to speak,

"In all my years, I have seldom misjudged anyone, I am a person who can tell a person's character very well. The young lord, if all this time he's being seen as a useless trash, I can let you know now, I cannot see through the depths of his eyes. To see that in a nine-year-old kid, no, to see that even in most young adults would be frightening."

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In a dining hall, a group of priests dressed in white occupied one end of the table, Their robes looked soft like silk, which occasionally reflected the light that shone upon it, in the middle of the robes was a crest which looks like a rectangular lantern emitting light.

In the middle, the inquisitor sat wearing white gloves and a monocle, she had a full bust and hair tied up into a bun. The inquisitor's party sat patiently waiting for Niels to enter the room.

"Blessed be the light that shines upon the just, young lord."

the inquisitor stood up and moved to the side of the table as she spoke out outstretching both her arms as if performing a blessing.

"Blessed be the light"

The rest of the priests repeated in unison.

In the two weeks that Niels was here, he had practically read through all the books in the library, of course he knew what the appropriate response will be.

"Blessed be the light!" Niels stepped towards the inquisitor and allowed her to embrace her.