Chapter 349: The White Cloak Knight

Mia wanted Viserys to personally knight her.

Viserys was clearly taken aback that the girl's requested reward was just that, and he paused for a moment.

"You want me to knight you?"

"How so?"

"Is this wish difficult?"

The red-haired girl stood up from the pebbly beach, her voice filled with confusion. Her tattered clothes fluttered slightly in the wind that blew across the open lake.

Viserys fell silent for a moment at her words, then shook his head.

"No..."

"Knighting you isn't difficult, but..."

Viserys didn't know how to explain to her that there were very few female knights in this world...

And he felt that she was somewhat underestimating the promise he had given. She could become a wealthy merchant, or a lord of a land.

But she just wanted to become a knight. There are many types of knights, and it's merely a threshold for commoners to become nobles. She could have ascended to nobility in one step.

"There are very few women who become knights, Mia."

"Because being a knight means responsibility, duty, honor, and battle..."

Who were the female knights throughout history? The first one that came to Viserys's mind was the 'Defiant' Daena Targaryen.

Was the 'Beauty' of Tarth a knight? No, she wasn't. She was just skilled with weapons.

Viserys wanted to say something, but the girl interrupted him.

"I've heard from people from Westeros that knighthood is about spirit, not the sword."

"And I think spirit shouldn't be distinguished by... whether or not you have that thing."

Mia spoke decisively, her eyes shining as she looked at Viserys. The girl was straightforward, which made Viserys feel a bit embarrassed.

"You're right..."

After a moment of silence, the silver-haired young man finally nodded.

"I can knight you, Mia."

But Viserys hadn't finished speaking.

"However, are you sure about this?"

"You will have to give up high titles, lands, and gold..."

"Of course!"

Mia nodded solemnly. She didn't want those things that everyone else coveted.

Everyone in this world has their own choices, their own stories, and experiences.

If everyone was the same, wouldn't that be too boring?

Clang—

The next second, Viserys drew the Valyrian steel sword that he had used to slay the dragon himself. The gilded cross-guard, the smooth blade reflected a chilling light in the morning sun.

"Kneel before me, my lady."

Viserys spoke calmly, his handsome face unusually serious.

The red-haired girl was slightly taken aback, but she quickly reacted. She gently knelt on one knee before Viserys, her body and legs still bearing the scars of battle.

Viserys, holding the heavy Valyrian steel sword, gently placed it on the girl's stubbornly raised shoulder.

"Mia of Volantis, do you swear before the gods and men..."

"To protect the weak, women, and children."

"To obey your superiors, your lord, and your king."

"To fight bravely, no matter how difficult, humble, or dangerous the future, never to disgrace your mission."

Viserys's voice was calm, speaking word by word.

The girl, kneeling on one knee before Viserys, felt the long sword on her shoulder. She looked up at Viserys's eyes and spoke solemnly.

"I do!"

Meeting Viserys was the biggest turning point in the girl's life.

She had explored the deepest parts of the Valyrian ruins, ridden a dragon

and witnessed a dragon fight, and accepted Viserys's personal knighthood, transforming from a simple mercenary to a noble knight.

But Viserys's knighting ceremony was not over yet.

He moved the Valyrian steel sword from the girl's right shoulder to her left, his gaze fixed on the female knight kneeling before him. Then he suddenly spoke.

"Ser Mia."

"Are you willing to become my Kingsguard?"

"From this day until your last day, to take no wife, hold no lands, father no children, wear no crowns, seek no glory, faithfully serve, live and die at this post."

Viserys's voice echoed over the silent lake, word by word.

The newly knighted female knight, unarmored and scarred, knelt before him, her back straight. Upon closer inspection, one could see the girl's shoulders trembling slightly, her eyes reddening.

"I am willing, Your Grace!"

"I will be the sword in the light, the shield that guards the realms of men."

Then Viserys lifted the Valyrian steel sword from the girl's shoulder and slowly sheathed it.

"Rise, Ser Mia, my second White Cloak Knight."

"When we return to Pentos, I'll introduce you to your captain."

The girl seemed a bit emotional. Fortune and misfortune are two sides of the same coin, and her fate had changed at this moment.

No one could know whether her decision to give up the envy-inducing rewards of gold and titles for a position as a Kingsguard by Viserys's side was worth it, but for now, Mia couldn't help but tear up.

Viserys put away the Valyrian steel sword, weighing it in his hand. The black scabbard was plain and unadorned, hiding a peerless weapon within.

"A good knight can't be without a suitable weapon."

Viserys glanced at her and then spoke, tossing the sword to the newly knighted woman.

"This sword is for you."

The newly appointed member of Viserys's Kingsguard was still a bit flustered.

Thud—

She caught the sword that Viserys had thrown.

"Your Grace, this sword is too precious..."

Mia spoke hurriedly. She knew this was a precious Valyrian steel sword, and it had personally slain a dragon. How could Viserys just casually give it to her?

"You are my Kingsguard, giving it to you is also for better protecting myself."

"Don't worry, accept it."

Viserys glanced at her and spoke calmly.

"Every Valyrian steel sword in the world has its own name, and the name of this sword is unknown. You can give it a new name."

"Like... Dragon Slayer, oh no, Sword."

Viserys made a lonely joke that only he could understand. Although Mia didn't understand Viserys's joke, she understood his meaning.

Immediately, the female knight knelt on one knee, holding the incredibly precious Valyrian steel sword and spoke.

"Thank you for the sword, Your Grace, I will dedicate my life and honor to the Kingsguard!"