The Necromancer's Servant

After hearing Asa recount how his unit was completely wiped out on the hill, the knight let out a long sigh and lowered his head, falling into deep thought.

Asa sat in a velvet armchair, his fingers kneading the soft, smooth fabric. This was something he had only seen, but never touched before. The old scholar in the village had a thin layer of it in the box where he kept the holy books. When he was three, he saw an older child touched it, and then that child was beaten so badly he couldn't hold a spoon for three days.

Now, this noble, mysterious, and dangerous thing was right beneath him, making him feel a bit strange and somewhat thrilling.

Duke Murak had gone to the imperial capital for a military conference, and a young knight claiming to be the duke's assistant received him.

The knight's armor and sword were of the highest quality, bearing the emblem of the Sacred Knights, which Asa had seen on his captain. Young, handsome, majestic, and possessing an extraordinary presence, he exuded a noble air that seemed to fit perfectly with the kind of hero often heard in stories recited by bards when he was a child.

It felt odd and exhilarating to be sitting at the same level as such a figure, who was now lost in thought over what Asa had reported, much like the chair itself but magnified many times.

"So, you were the only one who broke through and then were hunted down, fighting against the pursuers in the Lizard Marsh..." The knight repeated Asa's account. His enunciation was clear and slow, methodical, as if he feared that others might not hear or might misunderstand his words.

Asa nodded, "That's right." The long journey had made him thirsty, and he poured himself a cup from the jug on the table, only to find it was milk tea.

"Are you sure you were the only one to escape?" The knight frowned, gazing at him with a deep, elegant look, asking each word slowly as if it were an incredibly important question.

Although he had already confirmed this, Asa still recalled it carefully before nodding, "Yes. I was the only one." The milk tea tasted great, but the cup seemed too small, so Asa kept drinking and refilling. He had originally wanted to drink directly from the jug, but the grandeur of the duke's manor and the knight's gaze made him feel a bit embarrassed.

The knight slightly relaxed his frown, only to tighten it again with more intensity, asking even more seriously, "So, did you tell anyone about this?"

"No." Asa was quite certain. Ever since coming out of the marsh, he had not stopped moving. Even now, a bandage was wrapped around his left wrist.

Thanks to a few healing runes and potions in his backpack, they had managed to leave the riverbank, find a dead tree, and drift to Bracada. Once the local officials learned that the injured person was Duke Murak's daughter, they immediately summoned all the priests and doctors within a fifty-mile radius. The few broken ribs in Asa's chest had been healed, and under the influence of healing magic, he was not in serious trouble—just a bit fragile. However, his left wrist had been shattered so badly that it took a whole day to piece it back together, even bringing in several butchers and coroner to sift through the flesh for bone fragments. Asa had lost consciousness three times from the pain, and they had only just managed to patch it back together with an astonishing number of healing spells and medicines. The pain was gone, but there were still signs of serious disability. Now, Asa had pinned his hopes on Duke Murak's wealth and influence and the skills of the priests in the capital.

"Then why didn't you report this to the officer in charge of your unit?" The knight continued to ask patiently and carefully, trying to get every detail clear. His focused expression was like that of a child, staring intently with a hint of caution, as if he feared that what lay before him might suddenly fly away.

"Because I wasn't sure who my unit belonged to. I just saw they were recruiting temporary soldiers in Bracada and joined in." Asa had initially wanted to ask him about his pay for those ten days, which should be a few copper coins, but seeing the silver cup in his hand made him feel too embarrassed to ask.

"Oh, I see. Good, good, that's wonderful," the knight's furrowed brow suddenly relaxed, and he seemed relieved, appearing quite pleased. His smile was as bright as his golden hair and was quite infectious. This was likely the kind of person most girls envisioned as their dream lover.

The knight seemed to suddenly remember something and asked, "So, what about Miss Elaine...?"

"She's fine. The mayor of Bracada sent a caravan to escort her. She should be in the capital in about twenty days." Elaine's cervical vertebrae had cracked under the tight grip of the arc, and during the journey out of the marsh, the injury worsened, causing her bones to slightly deform. The priests in Bracada dared not touch her, so they merely used healing magic to treat her injuries and then stabilized her with a splint, transporting her back to the capital slowly by carriage.

"Hmm." The knight nodded. "On behalf of Duke Murak, I want to thank you for your brave rescue of Miss Elaine." He paused for a moment, staring directly at Asa with a slow, clear voice. "Moreover, it was very wise of you to report this matter directly to the duke's manor. I'm sure Duke Murak will be very pleased to know." A look of overwhelming joy flickered in his azure eyes. "You're very lucky—truly lucky." He emphasized those last few words as if genuinely celebrating Asa's fortune.

For some reason, Asa felt a sense of unease from the knight's gleaming gaze, as if it did not convey goodwill. There seemed to be a flicker of malicious glee behind it. Asa asked, "What exactly are you...?"

"Baron Claudius Ernie, Captain of the Second Squad of the Sacred Knights, Assistant to Duke Murak." The knight's gaze shifted away, and his voice was smooth and steady, perfectly matching his noble titles. "And Miss Elaine's fiancé."

"Ah?" Asa was surprised by the knight's last identity.

The knight stood up, his sword-like eyebrows slightly raised, and a sharp glint appeared in his eyes. There was no hint of a smile on his face; he looked so formidable that it seemed his expression had never been softened by laughter. He shouted in a commanding voice, "Guards! Seize him!"

More than ten fully armed guards suddenly appeared at the door of the hall, rushing in to surround Asa.

Asa hadn't yet recovered from his previous shock when he was plunged into a much greater one. He stood up and said, "There's a mistake, I said..."

The knight's hand struck without giving Asa any time to react, accurately hitting the carotid artery in his neck. Asa immediately crumpled to the ground like a deflated bag.

"Take him to the prison and ensure he's well guarded; this is an important spy," the knight's voice was more intimidating than his gaze, and the guards hurriedly carried Asa out. "Prepare the horses and tokens. I have urgent military business to discuss with the duke."

For Duke Murak, this was a dangerous stroke of luck. Of course, it was for himself as well. The knight picked up the cup on the table, intending to have a sip of tea, only to find it was the cup that Asa had just used. When he grabbed the pot, he discovered it was already empty.

With a clang, the knight threw down the cup and pointed at the velvet chair that Asa had just occupied, instructing, "Throw away this cup, the pot, and that chair." He added as he stepped out the door, "Don't let me see them again when I return."

Not only did the servants of the duke's manor work efficiently, but the horses were also prepared quickly. In just over ten minutes, the knight made his way through layers of guards to the military conference hall and met with Duke Murak.

After listening to the knight's brief whisper, the duke smiled gently and then spoke in a soft tone to the assembled ministers at the table, "I apologize; please allow me to step out for a moment. It's about my daughter. She's been causing trouble outside and has sustained some injuries."

In the garden outside the hall, the knight detailed Asa's account to the duke, word for word.

The duke squinted as he listened intently. His eyes were not large, and when he squinted, it seemed as if he were smiling. His well-groomed mustache complemented his slightly portly figure and round cheeks, giving him the appearance of a kindly, ordinary middle-aged merchant who believed in harmony and goodwill to prosper.

"Your Excellency, this situation is quite dangerous. Luckily, we've captured this soldier. Don't you think this indicates there are issues on their side? We should..." the knight inquired.

The duke's smile did not waver as he asked the knight in return, "I recall that you have seen them."

"Yes."

"What do you think they are like?"

The knight took a deep breath, revealing an expression that was very uncharacteristic of him—a mixture of defiance and fear, resembling a stubborn youth recalling a fearsome beast from his past. He frowned and insisted, "But there indeed seems to be a flaw..."

"No one is infallible, and no one can control everything. As long as we conduct a rational analysis, we should trust our instincts and reasoning. Even if a mistake occurs, there's no need for regret or hesitation." The duke spoke like a teacher lecturing his students, carefully explaining to the young knight. "Since we believe they are more skilled and efficient in handling such matters than we are, we should focus on doing our part well. If a flaw appears, it might be due to some uncontrollable factor, like luck, and we cannot do anything about it. At least, it doesn't seem to be a problem now, does it?"

"Yes." The knight listened intently to the duke's words. Following such a superior, the greatest gain was the opportunity to learn in many ways.

A flicker of worry appeared in the duke's eyes as he asked, "How is Elaine's injury?"

"She's probably fine. The local official sent a caravan to escort her, and they're on their way back."

The duke shot the knight a somewhat reproachful glance and sighed lightly. He then asked, "What have you done with that soldier?"

"He's locked up in the city's prison, waiting for your instructions."

The duke inquired, "What do you think I will decide regarding him?"

"Kill him."

The duke then asked, "Where do you think the danger lies with this soldier?"

"In revealing the details of what he experienced."

Step by step, the duke guided the knight: "Every minute he lives and interacts with others increases our risk. Since you know how to deal with him, you should minimize his chances of contacting others while he's alive."

"I wanted to wait for your decision; this matter is indeed very important."

"Do not be too rigid about the rules; rules exist to help manage situations. In any circumstance, prioritize your judgment and rational analysis." The duke looked at the knight, enunciating each word deliberately, "More importantly, have confidence in your own judgment."

"Yes." The knight bowed his head and answered earnestly.

When Duke Murak returned to the conference hall with a broad smile, the ministers all inquired about the injuries of the duke's daughter. After the duke thanked everyone for their concern, he suggested continuing the previous discussion: "Regarding the general's request for an increase in financial allocations for his western army to deal with the various orc tribes, I am fully in favor. After all, the safety of the nation and its people is paramount, and it is reasonable to cut back in other areas for that purpose."