Losa didn't know that his two attendants had already concocted Prajna's identity as a witch, or even if he did know, he wouldn't care.
Because there is no witch hunt in this world, witches can even openly serve as an emperor's advisor.
Moreover, this conjecture isn't entirely incorrect.
In fact, he believed that ordinary witches wouldn't be a match for Prajna at all.
Among the five attributes given by the system.
Power is the easiest to understand, encompassing attack power, speed, load-bearing capacity, and more.
Agility represents speed and reflexes.
Physical Strength stands for combat endurance, recovery ability, and the health bar.
Endurance also represents endurance capacity, but it leans more towards defense.
Spiritual Power is also easy to understand, which is the blue bar.
Even without considering skills, just based on attributes, Prajna is already on the same level as an extraordinary wizard.
She is like Gandalf's body refining stream of wizards.
In addition, the shield she holds is set to be made from Ghost Gate fragments, undoubtedly a divine artifact; neither physical attacks nor witchcraft can penetrate it.
...
On the boundless plateau, a convoy flying a red-and-white striped flag moves slowly.
Knights and attendants in various outfits and different emblems leisurely ride horses at the front of the procession.
Behind them are servants in plain clothes and attendants, along with more than ten soldiers wearing chain armor shirts.
At the very front of the team, a Knight adorned with peacock feathers on his helmet and wearing a blue cloak commanded authoritatively: "Stay alert, for this is the most dangerous stretch on the trade route to Tyrol. Those impoverished fugitive slaves and bandits, subsisting only on cabbage and turnips, might rush down from the hillside with forks and axes to attack us at any moment."
"If you frighten the noble Countess, all of you will hang from the gallows."
The soldiers responded weakly: "Yes, Sir."
The Peacock Knight's expression was somewhat grave.
The Swiss hinterlands, rife with mountainous terrain.
The western part, fortunately, belongs to the Schwaben region, the core ruling area of the Hohenstaufen Family to which the Emperor of the Empire belongs, keeping it relatively stable.
But the further east one goes, nearing the border governed by the Trento Diocese, the poorer and more chaotic it becomes.
The people were in distress, coupled with severe lord exploitation, producing many runaway peasant slaves who retreat into the mountains and become bandits, with neither side's lord willing to invest manpower or resources to clear them out.
Seemingly confirming the Peacock Knight's hunch, a dozen black dots suddenly appeared at the horizon's edge, growing larger and larger, until they came into full view.
Remarkably, it was a cavalry force of over thirty men dressed in chain and leather armor.
They were clearly not the mountain folks or bandits the Peacock Knight was wary of, but a cavalry unit!
They lined up, standing on the hillside, coldly observing the nearby convoy.
The convoy immediately halted.
The soldiers and servants were filled with fear.
Everyone knew, in such open terrain, it belonged to the cavalry; if defeated, escape wouldn't be possible for them.
From the carriage, the enchanting voice of the Countess arose: "Fred, what happened?"
"Countess, enemies are upon us."
The Peacock Knight leaned to the carriage to quietly warn, then loudly shouted: "Everyone, prepare to meet the enemy and protect the Countess's carriage; let no one approach!"
He then led two cavalrymen forward, addressing the approaching cavalry troop.
"Halt! This convoy belongs to the Karlff Family of Augsburg, whom you are offending has noble blood coursing through her veins—the Countess. Step away immediately. Otherwise, my soldiers and I will cut your throats and the wild dogs on the mountain shall feast on your bones."
The cavalry drew ever nearer.
They numbered about thirty, some wore worn jackets, others chain armor shirts. Though their equipment seemed average, their fierce aura gave the Peacock Knight quite a headache.
The leading cavalryman smirked derisively, lifting a hunting bow.
The arrow flew with a "thud," embedding into the Peacock Knight's kite shield.
His intention was clear: from the beginning, they had no desire to negotiate.
The knight erupted in fury, shouting, "Knights, follow me forward; the rest of you use the carriages for defense! No one is to leave the carriage array without permission!"
...
On the other side of the hill, Model furrowed his brow and asked, "Sir, should we intervene?"
"No choice but to intervene now."
Losa pointed ahead at two scout cavalrymen who hadn't joined the attack and were patrolling nearby, "They've already spotted us."
"Even if we discard all our supplies, we can't evade the pursuit of a swift cavalry with speed like the wind. After all, Prajna, Laine, and you can only ride-packhorses."
Losa sighed softly, then loudly declared, "Attendant, fetch my lance, prepare for battle."
He donned the hood of his chain armor and cloak, then slipped on the barrel helmet that left only a slit for his eyes, and the world went silent.
His breathing resonated in the heavy barrel helmet, appearing even more labored.
Laine handed him his heavy lance; he took it with his right hand, strapping a kite shield to his left, and hung the Armed Sword on the saddle.
Prajna whispered, "Shall I join you?"
Losa shook his head, "Your horse might not be up to it."
Prajna's horse was a pack horse gifted by Father Sayoh in town, quite distinct from a real warhorse.
Pack horses were selected more for endurance and breed requirements weren't high.
While warhorses are not only larger but also faster, more explosive, and far braver than pack horses.
Prajna frowned, "I could catch up with you without a mount."
Losa was momentarily stunned but shook his head again, "Forget it, that would be a bit too startling; the two of you be prepared here, I trust Joy's speed."
Joy was his Nisian warhorse, receiving only premium feed daily. A significant part of the materials carried by the three pack horses was dedicated to it.
In the Earl's Domain, Joy was considered one of the fastest horses.
He was confident that even if he couldn't win, he could still escape.
Moreover, he had immense confidence in his own abilities, groomed by knightly training since childhood, making him practically a war machine, though still untouched by actual combat.
Furthermore, with his excellent armor, the risk of overturning was nearly negligible.
Prajna nodded, "Alright, we will prepare to assist you from here."
The two attendants were ready for battle, one wielded a sword and shield, the other loaded a crossbow, but in such an open area, their effectiveness was quite limited.
Losa had originally chosen them with mountain warfare in mind.
Who would've thought their first battle would be on a vast plateau?
"Hoo—"
Losa exhaled deeply.
In the oppressive barrel helmet, it felt as though a layer of mist formed.
In the thin field of view, the two scout cavalrymen who were nearby had launched a charge toward them.
Losa gently nudged his horse's flanks.
The sound of hooves rang loudly in his ears.
Losa gripped the lance tightly, feeling his adrenaline surging, his heart pounding like a war drum.
Lance charge was a tactic knights used, advancing in a tightly organized line; without allies' cover, such a charge would easily expose a knight's vulnerabilities.
Thus, he adopted a normal lance-holding posture, reducing the damage from the charge but allowing him more flexibility.