Chapter 63: Moon Lake

The five-hundred-strong army chose not to camp by the shores of Moon Lake, as doing so would be suicidal. Instead, they set up camp in a basin about two or three hundred meters from the lake.

Compared to the army Ryan had seen in Karlzenhaven, this force, composed of Miyodenhaven's regular troops and volunteers, was better equipped and overall stronger. They quickly and efficiently set up a camp, demonstrating their agility and training.

The tasks that followed were simple: fetching water, chopping wood, cooking, and then preparing to rest early.

Inside the camp, the soldiers were whispering amongst themselves, having little confidence in tomorrow's potential battle. They gathered around their familiar Kingdom Knight Nickle, warming themselves by the fire and eating as they spoke in hushed tones.

"Sir Nickle, will we be fighting tomorrow?" a young soldier asked cautiously.

"You little brat, what nonsense are you spouting? If we're not fighting, what are we doing here?" an older soldier scolded harshly.

"I was just asking..." the new recruit said nervously. "I heard that every barbarian warrior is a follower of chaos, that they eat human flesh and drink human blood, tearing apart everything they see. Will we survive tomorrow?"

"Who knows? Miyodenhaven is already in the south of Nord. I really don't understand why those damned barbarians would come here!" The soldiers grumbled as they put down their weapons and ate their rations.

Ryan frowned. Although these soldiers were better equipped and stronger, their morale couldn't compare to the battle-hardened veterans of the northern cities.

He gave Nickle a look, signaling him to say something. Ryan's current role was more like that of a guest general, so it wasn't appropriate for him to directly command the troops under Nickle, a Kingdom Knight.

The desire to have his own territory and army had never been stronger.

"Are you all idiots? Can't you think for yourselves?" Nickle immediately understood and angrily rebuked the soldiers. "Think carefully. If we don't march out, do you think the barbarians won't come knocking?"

The logic was clear, and most soldiers quickly grasped the cause and effect.

"I tell you, it's impossible! Whether we march out or not, those damned barbarians will swarm into our city like locusts, kill our families, steal our food, and turn everything we have into ashes!"

The soldiers' eyes began to firm up, fully aware of the consequences if the barbarians breached the city.

Many of the younger soldiers' eyes turned red, breathing heavily.

"Our names will be remembered in shame—if we even get a grave. We will bear the scorn and ridicule of those who come after us. Even if we survive, unable to defend our homeland and families, how can we face anyone?"

"Kill! Kill those damned barbarians!" a young soldier stood up immediately. "Kill them all!"

"Yes! Wipe them out!"

"All barbarians deserve to die!"

"We swear to defend our homeland!"

"Defend our home! Defend Lord Albert!"

War was the best form of patriotic education. Seeing the soldiers' morale gradually rising, Ryan nodded with satisfaction. Behind these soldiers was their home. Their families were their reason to fight. Their honor was intertwined with their lives. They had every reason to fight to the death.

Southern Nord was different from the north. In the northern towns of Nord, most commoners' eyes would turn blood-red at the mere mention of northern barbarians.

Ryan left the camp, walking alone to the shores of Moon Lake to think. As night fell and the moon rose, Ryan looked at the huge full moon above and heard footsteps behind him. "You have a good father, Ike."

"Mr. Ryan, I apologize again for my previous actions," the young wandering knight sighed, appearing behind Ryan. "I had made up my mind not to rely on my father's reputation anymore, but in the end, I succumbed to reality."

"Everyone has to face reality. There comes a time when everyone must bow to it. If your current strength can't overcome it, then bide your time," Ryan said, turning to look at the wandering knight standing behind him.

From the moment he saw the Albrecht family crest, he knew this boy was the son of White Wolf Knight Gaede. No one else could use that crest.

"Greedy for fame, betraying principles, and resorting to coercion, I feel ashamed for your father," Ryan said coldly, his piercing gaze making the wandering knight almost want to disappear. "Do you know why I didn't hold your group accountable in the end?"

"Why?" the wandering knight asked instinctively.

"Because... in a way, you did a good thing despite your bad intentions. When you confronted the enemy, you bought a lot of time for the caravan. Without your sacrifice, more people might have died," Ryan said, looking at the distant Moon Lake. "Moreover, without your forced intervention, I might not have gained that unexpected fortune. So, after weighing the outcomes, I decided not to pursue responsibility for Goodson. He was injured fighting beastmen, wasn't he?"

"Regardless, I will give my all in this war," Ike said solemnly. After saying this, he turned and left without looking back. "To wash away my shame."

Ryan nodded and walked deeper into the ruins by Moon Lake.

Something had been calling to him from within the ruins since earlier.

Ryan began to walk deeper into the ruins.

The streets were very narrow, with scratch marks all over the white walls, signs of past battles everywhere. Ryan didn't know what had happened in these ruins, but centuries of exploration by adventurers had stripped them of their original appearance. Every corner of this abandoned city had been thoroughly searched. Since the Great Holy War, no adventurer had explored this place, as there was nothing left to find.

The elven architecture was masterful. No matter where he was, Ryan could always see the moon above and Moon Lake behind him.

Following the heavy stone-paved road, Ryan climbed step by step. The voice calling to him grew clearer as he approached the ruins' depths.

He arrived at an altar.

This ancient altar's deity was no longer recognizable. Every statue had been destroyed and taken by greedy adventurers. Every piece of ornate gold leaf had been cut and pried off by explorers. The long gallery's murals telling old stories were severely damaged, but the fallen pillars and the fire basin on the altar remained relatively intact.

He could tell something here was calling to him.

Moonlight bathed the entire altar and Ryan's armor, reflecting light everywhere. The emblem on his shoulder constantly sparkled.

Could it be the Moon Goddess? Ryan pondered.

The Moon Goddess was one of the main deities of humanity before the Great Cataclysm. However, over the past thousand years, her church had declined. In the southern parts of the continent, especially in Marienburg and the southern realms, her temples still existed. But in a harsh place like Nord, where residents faced constant danger, the Moon Goddess Church, which revered human rights and freedom, found little space to survive.

In fact, both the Empire and Bretonnia disliked the Moon Goddess Church.

As Ryan thought, he heard footsteps behind him. A sika deer appeared before Ryan. Instinctively, he raised his warhammer to signal it to move aside, or face his wrath.

But the deer did not move. It nodded at Ryan and then ran into a nearby grove.

After a brief thought, Ryan decided to follow.

The fog in the forest thickened, with a faint fragrance permeating the air. Ancient hymns echoed through the forest, singing of the great past of the Knight King. Forest sprites surrounded a beautiful figure, singing. She sat side-saddle on a tall unicorn, quietly watching the guest brought by the deer.

"Lady?" At a distance of about twenty paces, Ryan realized who she was.

She did not respond. Hidden in the mist, Ryan could not see her expression. He could only see her beautiful golden hair reaching her ankles, with the unicorn's horn dropping starlight.

She seemed to be waiting for Ryan's next move.

"Greetings, my lady." After a brief hesitation, Ryan decided to kneel on one knee and salute the goddess. Regardless of her motives, it was she who defined and established the eight virtues of knighthood. It was she who brought discipline and hope to humanity in this dark age. If not for her aid to the founding Knight King Arthur, all of Bretonnia's humanity would have perished.

"Ryan, outsider from beyond, son of Norman, lord of Ottern, godson of Duke Ivan Ferdinand of the Empire, I am pleased to meet you." Her voice was like a clear spring, each word filled with an enticing floral scent and powerful pressure. Ryan focused all his mental strength to understand her words. She spoke in High Gothic, and after a few sentences, he was already sweating.

"It is an honor to meet you, Lady. What business do you have with me?" Ryan couldn't fathom why the creator of knighthood virtues, the guardian deity, and ruler of Bretonnia would want to meet him, so he chose his words carefully.

"Indeed!" The Lady of the Lake raised her hand, motioning for Ryan to rise. Her gentle voice could easily lure one into an eternal dream. "Few can endure speaking to me directly anymore. Even my Grail Knights cannot. I always need to visit them in dreams."

"..." Ryan did not respond, having not gathered enough information. Without understanding why the Lady of the Lake sought him, silence was better than words.

"I have my answer. Go and continue your battle. I must warn you, the enemy is numerous, and Birrig is blessed by Khorne, invincible." The Lady continued. Where she stood, the snow had melted

, with countless flowers and grasses sprouting along her path.

"The current situation does not allow for a strategic retreat. I can only delay his advance and wait for the Imperial reinforcements," Ryan responded straightforwardly.

"Prophesying your future always feels dangerous to me, as if some supreme being is watching me coldly... But you will indeed face Birrig before the Imperial reinforcements arrive. The outcome of this battle will determine the safety of this city and all life within tens of miles." The Lady of the Lake's figure was faintly visible in the mist. "Face him, White Wolf Knight, and you will understand true knighthood virtues."

The Lady of the Lake's prophecies had never failed. She had the powerful ability to glimpse the future. Although Ryan didn't know why she asserted he would face Birrig, if she prophesied it, it was likely to happen.

But why was she warning him? Did she have an ulterior motive?

"Lady, may I ask my question?" Ryan began to sense the Lady of the Lake's intentions and decided to ask directly. "I have always heard Archbishop Malas say that you are an elven deity."

"You know a lot, Ryan." Even through the dense fog, Ryan could sense a change in her tone. After a long silence, she continued. "Honesty is a virtue. I am an elven god, and I am not."

"Please explain."

"My world was turned to scorched earth and death by Chaos's assault. The gates of Chaos devoured everything in the material world. I fought my way out and spent a long time arriving in this world. Then, I was an elven god."

"But in this world, the elven remnants already had a complete pantheon. There was no place for me among them. Observing, I saw that humans had greater potential and wisdom than elves. They are the future main force against Chaos, so I chose to descend in Bretonnia's Carcassonne. You know the rest."

Ryan nodded, familiar with the story of Knight King Arthur.

"After centuries of human faith accumulation, I am now indistinguishable from a human deity. My main role is as the guardian deity of Bretonnia, not the elven goddess of fate."

"I understand. Thank you for your honesty." Ryan felt ashamed for doubting her, bowing his head in apology.

"I await your decision."