A few days had passed since Lourel and Aurelia made their knighthood pledges to me.
At the moment, both Lourel and Aurelia were outside the Destenebres Estate. The reason? Ever since they pledged their loyalty to me, Lourel had insisted that she and her daughter stay in this building. Honestly, having my knights live nearby was convenient—they could respond quickly to any danger that might befall their lord.
However, what puzzled me was their choice of residence. Why would they choose to stay in this old building? It was roughly the size of a mansion, yet not quite one. Its structure and layout resembled that of a manor, but it also housed a variety of facilities—blacksmithing, training, alchemy, and more. If I had to name it, I would have called it a Knight's Manor. Actually… no, that sounds too plain. I'll just call it the Ragnar Castaway Home instead.
Wraith uttered the words "Sounds boring and plain" in my mind, bored.
Shut up.
"I agree with Wraith; couldn't you name it better?" Pride spoke with dissatisfaction in my mind.
I don't see what's so grand about naming a castaway home.
"I know, I know; let's call it The Manor of Beauties for The Lord, you know, because there are many beautiful women here, like the guards, maids, and the new knightesses who dedicated their body, mind, and soul to you, and you are the only male. Doesn't that sound, hehehehe, interesting?" Lust said proudly.
Okay, I'm ignoring you.
"What? It's a good idea—" Lust complained, but I cut him off before he could finish.
Alright, we'll just call it something simple yet grand—a manor. No more discussions. Just a manor, since you lot hated my idea.
....
They remained silent and gave up, knowing how stubborn I could be, though Lust still stubbornly insisted on his own idea for the manor's name.
Ever since Lourel mentioned that she and her daughter would be staying here, they had been coming and going from the Destenebres estate over the past few days. At the moment, they were outside, bringing in their remaining belongings and settling a few important matters—mostly concerning Lourel. It wasn't really my business, so I was simply deciding which book to read.
My eyes landed on a volume that caught my interest—a history book about the Great War. I had already read several books about that war, but I didn't mind going through another. After all, every author tells history differently. As I picked it up and flipped it open, the table of contents greeted me. One chapter title stood out: The Golden Mane Guardian. I had never read about that before. The other chapters covered war heroes I already knew, though a few names were new to me. I decided to start with The Golden Mane Guardian today—and, if time allowed, perhaps read through the others afterwards.
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At the old house where Aurelia and Lourel used to live.
"Mum, this is the last one," Aurelia said tiredly, sweat clinging to her skin after doing all the heavy lifting herself.
"Alright then, though I must say, I didn't realise my daughter had grown stronger and prettier too," Lourel said with a gentle smile, complimenting both her daughter's strength and beauty.
Aurelia didn't bother replying to her mother. She was already used to hearing the same compliment over and over again. Her mother had told her that she was only there for emotional support, while Aurelia handled all the heavy lifting.
"Since we're done, shall we go to the street for a cool drink? My treat," Lourel suggested, sensing her daughter's mood and trying to lighten it after all the hard work.
"Alright," Aurelia agreed. Since all the work was finally done, she figured she could use a cool drink.
Seeing her daughter agree, Lourel and Aurelia headed out to the streets to find a café. The place was lively, filled with people, especially young ones, chatting over their drinks. A few adults sat nearby as well, engaged in light conversation. Spotting a table with a few empty seats, the two of them sat down.
A waitress soon came over to take their order. Both women decided on a cold drink and a light meal. After noting it down, the waitress returned to the kitchen, where the chef, already busy with several other orders, nodded as she passed the new one along.
A short while later, the waitress returned with their food. Their drinks were two milkshakes, one strawberry-like and the other vanilla-like, and their meal consisted of pancakes topped with thick whipped cream and fresh fruits.
As their food was placed on the table, the two began eating and enjoying their meal. After a while, they were left sipping the last of their milkshakes, simply resting and enjoying the calm moment. Just then, a knight approached their table.
"I didn't expect to see you two here," Jagid said calmly, his voice resonating slightly from within his armour.
"Sir Jagid!" Aurelia exclaimed in surprise, startled to see him. She instinctively tried to stand and greet him, but he raised a hand to stop her.
"There's no need for that," Jagid said calmly, motioning for her to remain seated.
"What brings you here?" Lourel asked with a casual tone.
Aurelia, who heard her mother's question, was surprised by her tone and wanted to tell her mother that she should not be too informal with Jagid, but she was stopped by him.
"It is okay, she and I are friends," Jagid said calmly, letting Aurelia know it was fine.
"Regarding your question, I was just touring around, as I was on a break, but I happened to see a friend I know, so I came to say hello," Jagid explained.
"I see. Would you like to sit with us? The food and drinks they serve are quite good," Lourel said calmly as she invited Jagid to sit with them.
"I have time, so no problem," Jagid replied calmly as he accepted Lourel's offer.
Once Jagid sat on one of the chairs, the mood fell silent. Feeling the tension, Aurelia thought she should leave, as it felt awkward having her superior sitting there. She quickly came up with an excuse.
"I believe there are still things to settle at the house. I will go now to take care of them. I will be back," Aurelia said, trying to sound calm, though a hint of nervousness slipped out as she stood and left.
After Aurelia left, Jagid turned his gaze to Lourel.
"It has been a long time. Honestly, I did not know you were staying here; if I had known, I would have visited you," Jagid said.
"There were circumstances. I was bedridden with Aura Degeneration," Lourel explained calmly.
"Wait, what? Then are you—" Jagid began, his voice filled with concern.
"I was cured of it," Lourel replied, cutting him off gently.
"You… you were cured? How? I have never heard of any cure for it," Jagid said in disbelief.
"I am not sure either, but Young Master Ragnar created a cure and used it to heal me," Lourel said quietly as she looked out at the people walking along the busy street near the cafe.
Before Jagid could say anything, Lourel continued.
"By the way, do you remember the times during the war?" Lourel asked, her eyes still fixed on the bustling street as she watched the people pass by.
"I can still remember it as if it were yesterday," Jagid replied quietly, his tone heavy with the weight of old memories.
Hearing his reply, Lourel's gaze softened as memories of the Great War returned to her. There was one moment in particular that still haunted her, the time when she had been called the Golden Mane Guardian.
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Year 4987 - The Great War
Back in the days before Echronia became an empire, it was only one of many human kingdoms. Each kingdom fought against the kingdoms of other races, and Echronia was no exception.
At that time, it was locked in war with one of the beastman kingdom, Howlfen. Its ruler was a wolf beastman named Varrik, Varrik Howlfen.
In the fortress that guarded Echronia's border, the soldiers were worn down. Endless fighting against the beastmen of Howlfen had drained their strength and claimed the lives of comrades who had once stood beside them.
Food was running short, and morale had collapsed with it. To those within the walls, it seemed the end had already been decided. They could see no way to hold the fortress much longer, though it remained one of the last defences standing for Echronia.
In the fortress, an emergency council was being set up in the great hall. Squad leaders and a few commanders were present, and at the head sat the fortress general. All of them were weary and burdened, and even the general's eyes showed the grim belief that the fortress would fall if the beastmen's assault continued.
"What should we do?" one of the squad leaders asked, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
"Are reinforcements coming? Will there be supplies?" another pressed, worry clear in his tone.
"The real question is whether the fortress can even hold until then," a third said, his words edged with fear.
There were many questions and complaints, and even the commanders could not calm the squad leaders. The general remained silent, though he already knew the answers. He had raised the same concerns to the higher authority in Echronia's castle, yet no reply had ever come. That silence alone was enough to tell him the fortress was doomed. As a general, he knew he should speak the truth to his men, for he cared for them, but if no reinforcements would come, what would happen once the enemy broke through the walls? All he could do was lead his soldiers into the fight, for behind the fortress his own family also suffered. If they gave up now, who would be left to defend them?
The general could only beg in his mind, Someone, anyone, please save my men, as he watched his squad leaders and commanders raise their questions and complaints before him.
Then a war cry echoed from outside the fortress.
"The beastmen have returned!" a soldier shouted as he burst into the conference room.
At the news, despair settled over the gathering. Many felt that this was truly the end. The general lifted his gaze to the ceiling and thought to himself, it really is over.
In the kingdom of Echronia, within its castle, there was a woman clad in golden armour. Yet the armour was flawed, leaving parts of her body exposed. The woman was Lourel, and she moved through the castle in a foul mood.
As she walked, Lourel could feel the stares of the knights within the palace, their eyes lingering on her with desire. She despised it. As the only woman among the kingdom's guardians, she drew more attention than anyone else, and the higher her rank, the more revealing her armour became. The king had decreed that women might enlist as knights and even rise to the rank of guardian, but only on the condition that they wore armour designed to expose their bodies.
The law was unfair, and every woman who dreamed of becoming a knight hated it deeply. Still, the pay for knights was high, and many endured the shame because they needed to survive. Lourel was one of them. She wore the armour she despised, armour that revealed more of her body than it protected. Each time she walked through the palace, she felt less like a warrior and more like a display piece. To her, it was as if she had been turned into an object, something to be looked at rather than respected.
The king's intentions were obvious. He believed men were superior, and he wanted women knights to be nothing more than ornaments. They were forced to walk the halls dressed in armour that made them look like decorations, not soldiers. To the king, they were not protectors of the realm but entertainment for the men around them. Lourel hated this more than anything, yet she endured it, because her duty as a guardian was greater than her pride.
Lourel cursed aloud, her voice ringing through the corridor. "It is because of this wretched king that we are forced to wear such armour," she spat, not caring if anyone overheard her.
As she was walking, she saw a guy who was panting as he was infront of the throne room's door.
"Huff… huff… the fortress fighting against the beastman kingdom, Howlfen, requires reinforcements and supplies!" the man cried as he burst through the doors of the throne room, and it was then clear he was a messenger.
Inside, King Maxilmus Echronia lounged upon his throne, idly toying with the women gathered around him. At his side, the queen sat in silence, her expression indifferent, refusing even to glance at her husband's indulgence. Both the king and queen appeared to be in their late twenties; they looked young despite their age.
The king, upon hearing the messenger, grew furious. It was not the news that angered him, but the interruption that had spoiled his pleasures.
"Can't you see that I am busy", The king shouted in anger.
The messenger was left dumbfounded. The king had long been praised for his wisdom and strength, yet hearing his words now, the man could not help but feel shaken by the truth of his character. The queen, who had listened quietly to the messenger's desperate pleas, paused for a moment before giving her reply.
"Right now, we do not have the strength to aid your fortress. The others are suffering as well. What we can provide are supplies. If you require soldiers, I may be able to send a few knights," she said calmly.
The king, hearing his wife's words, flew into a rage.
"What? Why should we send our knights to a fortress already failing? If it cannot defend itself against mere beastmen, then let it fall!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber.
The messenger's anger rose. How dare the king speak so of the fortress, of the men who had fought and bled to hold the line. They had given everything, yet he dismissed them as nothing. This was not the wise and strong ruler the people believed in. This was a corrupted king lost in selfish indulgence.
And yet, beside him, the queen, rumoured to be nothing more than a woman bound to her husband's will, had shown herself as the true ruler, the only one willing to help. But her words had been cast aside.
If this man was the kingdom's ruler, then Echronia was already doomed.
The queen was about to speak when another voice rang out.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to assist the fortress, along with any knights who are willing to accompany me," Lourel declared, her words directed to the queen.
"What are you saying? You are a guardian, you are supposed to remain here!" the king scolded her in a fit of rage.
"I would rather be on the battlefield, aiding in the war, than remain here and endure the stares of unmannered knights," Lourel replied firmly.
The queen, hearing her guardian's words, allowed a faint smile to touch her lips before she spoke.
"Very well, Guardian Lourel. I grant you the authority to take some of the kingdom's knights, and you may also call upon one of the hero families to aid in this war," she said calmly, her tone carrying quiet authority.
"By your will, Your Majesty," Lourel said as she knelt, then rose and departed with the messenger. The queen had entrusted her with authority, a trust she would never receive from the indulgent king, whose complaints echoed behind her as she left.
Lourel began gathering the knights, yet at first they did not stir at her command. She reminded them that it was the queen's will, but some only laughed at her reasoning. Their laughter soon faded when the senior knights and superiors stepped forward to follow her. Realising the matter was serious, the others quickly fell into line and joined as well.
Lourel and her company rode to one of the hero families, the Destenebres. Upon her arrival, she was received by the household knights, and after a short while she was brought before the young lord, Caedros Destenebres. He had only just reached twenty years of age and was the newly appointed head of his house.
"I greet the newly appointed Lord of Destenebres," Lourel said calmly as she faced him.
"I greet the guardian of the kingdom. How may I be of service?" Caedros replied, his sharp gaze steady.
"I require assistance from the Destenebres for the fortress that is battling against the beastmen of Howlfen. It is by the Queen's will," Lourel stated, getting straight to the point.
"I see. Yet we are short-handed at present, for we are already aiding several fortresses engaged against the other races," Caedros answered calmly.
Lourel had not expected one of the hero families to be so strained, and the news troubled her. The hero families commanded master-ranked knights, and their absence was a grave sign. She considered asking the young lord himself to assist, but quickly realised he was burdened with the administration of his house. Newly appointed and still unaccustomed to his duties, he could not abandon them. The elders of the Destenebres had likely marched to other fortresses alongside the other hero families, fighting on different fronts. Such was the way of this world, where mortals lived long lives and could regain their youth.
Just as Lourel began to feel her visit had been in vain and prepared to hurry to the fortress, a voice broke the silence.
"My lord, I and the other knights can assist," said a knight in full armour, his tone calm and resolute.
Caedros listened in silence for a moment before giving his reply.
"Very well, you may proceed," he said indifferently.
"By your will," the knight answered, kneeling with a posture as still as stone.
He soon rose and followed Lourel. Once they had left the hall, the knight summoned the other members of the Destenebres household. They responded at once, equipping their armour and preparing to join Lourel's company. Watching how swiftly they obeyed, Lourel was impressed. She began to suspect that the knight at her side held some position of influence within the house, and so she put a question to him.
"May I know who you are?" Lourel asked with curiosity.
"Me? I am but an ordinary knight, loyal to the house of Destenebres," the knight replied.
"I want your name," Lourel pressed, unsatisfied with his vague answer.
"I am Jagid," he said at last.
"Well, Jagid, I am Lourel, Guardian of the kingdom," she introduced herself.
"It is a pleasure to meet a guardian of the kingdom," Jagid replied.
As they finished their introductions and the team stood ready, Lourel considered visiting the other hero families as well. Jagid, however, informed her that they too were occupied, having already sent their knights and elders to reinforce other fortresses. Lourel had heard rumours of the war's scale, yet she had not expected even the hero families to be so heavily engaged. Her duties as guardian had kept her confined within the palace, leaving her unaware of how dire the situation had become. Realising there was no time to waste, she resolved to march for the fortress with the strength she had already gathered, and together they mounted their horses.
As they arrived, they saw the fortress under attack by the beastmen.
Several were already scaling the walls, while others loosed arrows at the defenders to cover their comrades' ascent.
The soldiers on the wall could do nothing but fall from the beastmen's assault. In that moment, Lourel realised they had to hurry, or the fortress would be lost.