"...I didn't expect us to meet again under these circumstances, Gwyn... no, Lord Mohg."
Sellen's gaze was complex as she looked at Mohg and spoke. Beside her, Kay studied him with curiosity, having never personally interacted with him before.
"No need to be so stiff. It doesn't quite suit you."
Mohg couldn't help but chuckle at Sellen's formal demeanor.
"Hey, I'm only being respectful for Her Highness's sake! If you don't like it, I can go back to being rude," Sellen snapped, her face flushing—out of irritation rather than shyness.
"Of course. Though one usually speaks according to their status, since we met while I was using the identity of Gwyn, there's no harm in speaking as friends in private. I only hope you can distinguish the proper occasion in the future, Sellen."
"Tsk, I'm not that stupid..." Sellen turned away with a huff. Beside her, Kay performed a formal Carian knight's salute.
"Greetings, Lord Mohg."
"You must be the other Silver Moon Knight Rellana mentioned—Kay, correct?" Mohg looked at her seriously. "To be honest, I'd like to hear your thoughts. We haven't reached the Dynasty's territory yet, and no secrets have been exposed. If you wish, you can still stay in Caria. I will clear it with Rellana."
"There is no need, Lord Mohg," Kay replied, bowing her head slightly. "I am here of my own volition. Or rather... my life has belonged to Lady Rellana from the very beginning. If I cannot follow her on the path she chooses, my life has no meaning."
"...I see. Then welcome to the fold, Kay."
"Hey! Why didn't I get a 'welcome to the fold' just now?" Sellen grumbled from the side.
Mohg spared her a glance. "If you hadn't led me into a maze inside the palace the first time we met, perhaps you would have."
"...That was an accident," Sellen muttered, her excuse sounding rather thin.
"Enough of that. I want to ask you both something: Can you guarantee the loyalty of the Silver Moon Knights? Specifically, their loyalty to Rellana."
"Of those remaining, yes," Kay answered.
"Remaining?" Mohg caught the keyword instantly.
"Yes. Before gathering here, we conducted a screening. Those who were unwilling to leave Liurnia were allowed to stay in Caria. The ones left are those determined to follow Lady Rellana."
"Understood. Then let us begin. I will prepare the blood pools; you simply need to gather your people."
Sellen and Kay both nodded and quickened their pace toward the rendezvous point.
A short while later, the Silver Moon Knight unit—numbering approximately five hundred—arrived in batches. Under Kay and Sellen's direction, they began to enter the blood pools.
Meanwhile, back at the Dynasty's encampment, Liana and Niebla (whom Mohg had conscripted as temporary labor) had been waiting for some time. Seeing the arrival of the Silver Moon Knights, they immediately set to work.
Soon, only Mohg, Kay, and Sellen remained at the site.
"Alright, it seems your task for today is done. You should head back," Mohg told them.
To his surprise, Kay shook her head. When Mohg gave her a questioning look, she explained, "Lady Rellana instructed me to leave Caria ahead of schedule with you, Lord Mohg. Leaving Sellen by her side is enough for now."
"Oh? Why the change of plans?" Mohg asked, as this differed from their original arrangement.
"Lady Rellana was concerned that the Silver Moon Knights might cause some unrest if left unattended, so she changed her mind at the last minute. Before she could inform you, Queen Rennala had already begun summoning her for wedding preparations."
"I see... but is it really alright for you to miss the wedding ceremony?"
"It's fine. I have always spent less time directly at Lady Rellana's side; I am usually tasked with leading the knights on independent or special missions. My absence won't seem out of place as long as Sellen is there."
"In that case, follow me." Mohg nodded and gestured for her to follow. After bidding Sellen farewell, he stepped into the blood pool with Kay.
Once the two had vanished, Sellen carefully scouted the surrounding area before slowly making her way back toward the Carian city.
"Truly a worrisome little sister..."
Rennala stepped out from behind a tree and let out a soft sigh. With a wave of her hand, a burst of azure light washed over the area, erasing the lingering traces of golden radiance hidden in the shadows.
Shaking her head, she slowly walked away.
"Lord Radagon, our hidden 'eyes' have been discovered."
"Then withdraw them immediately," Radagon replied decisively. He had reacted the moment he sensed the movements of Rellana and the Silver Moon Knights.
Of course, it had only been a small probe. He never intended to actually stop Rellana or her knights.
Part of his restraint was due to the current delicate relationship with Caria; the other part was because of the Blood Dynasty's recent actions.
Having investigated the situation in the sewers, Radagon's resentment toward the Blood Dynasty—while still present—had diminished. He had reached a state of "tolerable coexistence." As long as the Blood Dynasty didn't become the primary threat, he was willing to turn a blind eye for now.
Furthermore, he knew Rellana was unlikely to ever truly serve the Golden Order. Having interacted with her, he understood her temperament. Her departure was, in some ways, a relief. It gave him more room to maneuver within Caria without her constant, suspicious gaze fixed upon him.
"Are we truly going to ignore Lady Rellana...?" the Bishop asked hesitantly. In his view, the Blood Dynasty was the enemy, and Rellana was a powerful demigod with an elite knightly order. Letting her join the enemy felt like handing over a sword to a foe.
Radagon merely shook his head, offering no further explanation to the Bishop. He simply told the man to go back and reflect on the situation himself.
The Bishop returned to his quarters in a fog of confusion, left to ponder the matter alone. He knew he couldn't discuss this with anyone else, lest Radagon "invite" him for a personal talk.
Shortly after the Bishop left, Rennala entered Radagon's room.
"You're here." A smile touched Radagon's face as he caught the scent of Moonlily on her.
"Do you really not mind Rellana leaving with the Silver Moon Knights?" Rennala asked, sitting in a nearby chair and looking at him with curiosity.
"Hmm... let's just say I don't 'especially' mind. To say I don't care at all would be a lie; she is a member of Caria and a formidable power."
"Then you don't plan to do anything?"
"If I were to act, it would be a matter for the future, not today. Regardless of everything, she is your sister. And..."
"And what?" Rennala pressed.
"And perhaps the Blood Dynasty isn't as irredeemable as I imagined. After all... even in this situation, they refuse to cooperate or have any contact with the Frenzied Flame."
"How do you know that?" Rennala was genuinely curious. She hadn't received any intelligence regarding the Blood Dynasty and the Frenzied Flame. She wondered if the Golden Dynasty's intelligence network in her own Lake District was truly that superior.
In truth, Rennala was mistaken. While the Golden Order was obsessed with the Frenzied Flame and Shabriri, they didn't know Shabriri had fallen into Mohg's hands. They had only found traces of a conflict between the Frenzied Flame and the Blood Dynasty on the outskirts.
Radagon's primary source of information was Godwyn in the Royal Capital.
Since Radagon was one of the few who knew Mohg's true identity, Godwyn had shared this intel to lower Radagon's hostility toward their younger brother. It was Godwyn's way of protecting Mohg.
"News from the Capital... The Sovereign of the Blood Dynasty has, in a sense, a deep connection to the Golden Lineage," Radagon answered vaguely.
"Is that so..." Rennala glanced at him but didn't press further. Her sister would be heading to the Blood Dynasty soon anyway; she'd rather have Rellana find out the truth than waste energy squeezing info out of Radagon.
Knowing there was a connection between the Blood Sovereign and the Golden Lineage put her mind at ease. Besides, she already had her own suspicions about Mohg's identity. That face of his, so similar to the First Prince Godwyn... could it really be a mere coincidence?
"Liana."
"Yes, Lord Mohg!" Liana came running at his call, her eyes asking for instructions.
"How are Kay and the Silver Moon Knights settling in?"
"It's all arranged. Per your orders, we've designated a separate district for their residence."
"Good work." Mohg nodded. Just as he was about to tell Liana to foster a good relationship with Kay, Kay herself walked up to them.
"Lord Mohg."
"Is something the matter, Kay?"
"Yes. I wish to receive your blessing."
Mohg was taken aback. "The blessing? I remember telling Rellana that I wouldn't force any of you to accept the Blood Blessing. Are you sure?"
"Yes. I wish to follow in Lady Rellana's footsteps and accept the blessing. It is also a token of my fealty to you."
Kay performed the formal vow of loyalty used by the Silver Moon Knights.
"You are the King chosen by Lady Rellana. Therefore, you are the King I choose to follow. I am willing to accept your blessing and swear an oath of eternal loyalty."
Mohg looked into her eyes and saw she was entirely serious. After a brief pause, he nodded.
"Very well. I shall bestow the blessing upon you. Additionally, help me tally those among the remaining knights who are willing to accept it. Those who do will be formed into a separate unit: the Blood Moon Knights. You will serve as their Commander."
"Me? I'm not fit for that... that task should be for Lady Re—"
"The Silver Moon Knights will remain as they are. I suspect Sellen won't want the Blood Blessing; she will remain Commander of the Silver Moon Knights. Rellana will oversee both orders."
Knowing what Kay was going to say, Mohg cut her off and laid out the hierarchy.
"...I understand. I shall follow your command, Lord Mohg."
Once the chain of command was clear, Kay's worries vanished. Mohg led her to the blood pool to perform the ritual. A top-tier Hero-class warrior like Kay could not be treated perfunctorily. Hero-class individuals were rare in his army, and Kay was among the best of them.
He wondered what heights she would reach after the blessing. She likely wouldn't reach Demigod status, but she might reach a new tier of the Hero-class—perhaps even touching the threshold of divinity. It would all depend on her own potential.
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