Wherever they are, people with magical or psychic talents are both chosen ones and, sadly, quite unfortunate.
In Britannia, children with magical talents are ruthlessly taken from their parents by the Lake Witch or the Lake Prophetess. The girls are sent to the divine realm of the Lady of the Lake for training. Only a small number of them will return as Holy Maidens or Prophetesses of the Lake. As for the boys, they disappear forever.
Ryan, who knows the secrets of the Lady of the Lake, understands where these boys go. A tiny fraction of these boys are kept by the Lady of the Lake and trained to become her spirit knights, serving under her command. These knights are called the "Sons of Britannia" or the "Lost Sons." They are few in number and are only summoned by the Lady of the Lake when her divine realm is in danger. After the battle, these spirit knights disappear again. It is unclear if they are still alive or if they have their own consciousness.
The remaining boys, who the Lady of the Lake deems unfit for training, are not killed mercilessly. The Lady of the Lake has a trade agreement with the Wood Elves. These children are handed over to the Wood Elves. Aside from a few used for sacrifices, most of these human children have their magical abilities stripped away by the Wood Elves using secret methods. These children remain perpetually young and are used as servants by the Wood Elves until their lives end.
Of course, if these children's families have the means to send them to the Imperial Royal Wizard Academy, the Garon Council, or the Southern Wizard Alliance, the Lady of the Lake does not stop them.
So, do children born in the Empire or the southern countries with awakened magical talents have better fates?
Not really. Their fates are just as tragic. Most children who awaken magical talents are ostracized as freaks and outcasts. Witch hunters come to the villages and execute most of these children by burning.
Only a few children, who have enough family status or can afford the tuition, are sent to wizard academies. These children are considered lucky. However, they still have to pass the academy's inspection to ensure they can resist chaos corruption and have enough magical potential to be worth training.
Because any wizard without systematic training will sooner or later become a gateway for chaos demons to enter the mortal world, chaos corrupting them is just a matter of time.
"How long will it take for these children to wake up and be ready for us to use?" the Lady of the Lake asked casually.
"About three more years," Ryan replied, looking at the boys in the training pods. Their eyes were closed, faces showing pain, as they had to face chaos demons on a soul level and endure the transformation of their bodies in the pods. Otherwise, they would not be qualified as new Grey Knights.
This process takes three years. Ryan didn't know how many of these ten boys would survive the three years, but he would do his best.
"My champion, you're not in a hurry to go back, are you?" The Lady of the Lake took out a bottle of high-elf brewed Noli juice and fetched two goblets. "Sit, let's talk."
"Thank you for your help, my lady," Ryan nodded. Secretly gathering so many boys with psychic talents would have been impossible without the full support of the Lady of the Lake. This large-scale recruitment of new soldiers was essentially encroaching on her vested interests. The Lady of the Lake agreeing to this was indeed generous, even surprising Ryan with how straightforwardly she agreed and even used her divine power to strengthen the boys' bodies and souls.
"No need to thank me, my champion," the Lady of the Lake opened the crystal bottle of Noli juice and poured them both full glasses. The goddess sighed lightly, "We are now the closest allies. You are my chosen companion and my greatest reliance to pass the final hour. Otherwise, I wouldn't have given you my 'heart.'"
This was a double entendre. Ryan instinctively felt the necklace on his chest, "Lily's Heart," imbued with the Lady of the Lake's divine power, warming his chest. For now, Ryan was unsure of its exact use; it seemed more symbolic than practical.
"My sword and hammer will protect you until the end," Ryan sighed, "My lady, you don't need to test me. You know my thoughts."
"We understand each other through continuous testing and interaction," the Lady of the Lake sipped the sweet and sour Noli juice. The goddess looked at the training pods, her black silk-clad foot swinging her fiery red high heel back and forth. "Ryan, do you sometimes feel I interfere too much with you?"
"As your chosen champion, I've received such divine favor from you. Your attention and interference are normal," Ryan said with a hint of helplessness, holding the goblet. "The White Wolf Ulric hardly interferes with his followers, but few White Wolf Knights receive his favor. The more divine favor, the more the deity demands and interferes. It's normal to seek much divine favor without wanting divine interference. There's no such thing in the world."
"The more divine favor a god grants, the more they interfere with their chosen," the Lady of the Lake stared at Ryan. She continued, "Asuryan rarely intervenes with the elves, but aside from the first Phoenix King, 'The Guardian' Aenarion, few high elves receive his favor. The Phoenix Guards of Asuryan are required to remain silent, and the Captain of the Phoenix Guard, Caradryan, never speaks."
"Investment always needs returns," Ryan met the Lady of the Lake's emerald eyes. He suddenly smiled, "That's why I'm always grateful to you, my lady. Although you interfere a lot, you've helped me at critical moments. Without your help, I couldn't have achieved what I have in ten years."
"In gambling, you bet early and extend a hand when the other needs it most to win the most," the Lady of the Lake remembered the past with satisfaction. Even the goddess didn't expect Ryan to have such a significant background. "Cheers, Ryan, to our plan."
"Cheers!" Ryan also raised his goblet and drank it all.
After setting down the goblet, the Lady of the Lake's lips curved, "In gambling, hesitation is forbidden. Like the sanctuary witch visiting your territory, she hesitated to bet heavily when you were weak, but now you no longer need her meager chips."
"People instinctively avoid harm and seek benefit. Everyone fears losing by betting wrong. It's human nature," Ryan sensed the hidden meaning in the Lady of the Lake's words. He knew she disliked Aurora's arrival.
The goddess had bound Ryan firmly to her camp through Sulia and Morgiana. From her perspective, she naturally didn't want Aurora to establish any connection with Ryan.
"By the way, what exactly happened between you and that sorceress and her mother?" The Lady of the Lake, seeing Ryan understand her meaning, didn't dwell on it. Instead, she asked curiously, "Can you tell me in detail? Did you peek under their skirts?"
"My lady, you eavesdropped on Sulia and my private conversations again," Ryan looked at the Lady of the Lake with a half-smile.
"Your Sulia said her husband is my husband. Is there a problem with me listening to your conversations?" The goddess was now righteous about it. She was clearly interested in Ryan's embarrassing history. "I want to know. Tell me."
"Sigh..." Ryan sighed deeply and began to recount the event, "I wouldn't do something as low as peeking under women's skirts. The story is exaggerated."
"When I was promoted to Kingdom Knight, a banquet was held in the capital of Nord, Winter City. At the banquet, Aurora and Teresa came to congratulate me. Naturally, they sat opposite me."
"Halfway through the banquet, I accidentally knocked my spoon to the floor. So, I bent down to pick it up. The silver spoon fell near Teresa's feet. I wasn't familiar with Teresa then, worried that my actions would disturb them. Then I saw..."
"Saw the feet of the mother and daughter, with stockings, right?" The Lady of the Lake laughed.
"That's right. I hesitated for about five seconds under the table. Aurora immediately noticed me under the table and asked what was happening. I had to tell them the spoon fell near their feet. They misunderstood. Both wore ankle-length skirts. What could I see?" Ryan complained, "But I know such things are never cleared up by explanation. So, I didn't explain. Aurora and Teresa knew I could only see their feet and ankles, and they joked about it."
"So that's it, but you exposed your fetish," the Lady of the Lake finally understood and felt satisfied. She let Ryan go, "I know the story. Let's change the topic."
"As you wish."
"You've been planning to attack Mousilon for a long time," the Lady of the Lake asked about her main concern, "Where will you start to tackle this kingdom's scourge?"
"Of course, from Spire Palace," Ryan took out a map, "Spire Palace is by the Grismer River, facing the Sharon Forest across the river. To reclaim Mousilon, I must start from Spire Palace. I need to establish a strong bridgehead, forward command post, and supply point here before considering the next step."
"The Black Knight, the Serpent of
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Mousilon, won't let you take Spire Palace without a fight," the Lady of the Lake contemplated the situation, pointing her slender finger at Spire Palace, "You must act swiftly, capturing Spire Palace and securing it before the Serpent of Mousilon arrives with reinforcements."
"I have a plan," Ryan nodded, "The plan hinges on Morgiana and the visiting Aurora."
"What plan?"
"Here..."