"Well, I suppose I could give it a try. Miss Witch will help too, won't she?"
A hint of anticipation entered Lansseax's voice. Her gaze slowly swept across the room before finally stopping on a woman in a Sorcerer's robe.
The woman sat there quietly, as if completely cut off from the noise around her.
Her robe looked somewhat muted in the dim light, but its exquisite embroidery and mysterious runes revealed that her status was far from ordinary.
Everyone's eyes turned to her at once, filled with respect.
She was the Lord's tutor, a title that already carried immense prestige in Stormveil.
Not only was she the Chief Mage personally appointed by King Nolan, but the Conspectus she had founded had also trained many outstanding young mages for Stormveil.
In terms of both status and standing, she was more than qualified to attend this military conference.
At that moment, however, the Witch seemed to be in a world of her own, staring blankly out the window.
Her gaze passed through the glass and into the distance, as if something out there had captured all of her attention.
Even a carefree woman like Nepheli could tell what the Witch was thinking, because there were very few things this Witch truly cared about.
"If my apprentice were here, I doubt I'd be allowed onto the battlefield, but an apprentice has no right to give orders to their teacher."
Sellen suddenly spoke, her voice calm, as though she had only just returned from her own world.
"Very well." Lansseax smiled and lightly clapped her hands.
Even with a Demigod waiting ahead of them, there was not the slightest fear in her laughter. If anything, she sounded a little excited.
"When the time comes and we truly end up fighting a Demigod, Vyke, Nepheli, Eleonora, and Dolores, the four of you will assist me. The rest of you focus on dealing with the Redmanes."
"Understood," Vyke replied.
Among the Fire Knights, the four of them were currently the strongest, while the rest of the Redmane forces would also need to be held back.
"However, before the battle begins, there is a small problem we need to resolve. Right here inside Stormveil Castle."
Lansseax's brow suddenly furrowed, as if she had remembered something troublesome, and her tone turned somewhat helpless.
Vyke hurriedly asked, "Is there anything else you require, High Priest? Give the order, and we'll prepare it at once."
"It's those people from the Royal Capital, of course! They actually asked me why the people of Limgrave all have Faith in our Lord instead of Marika."
Lansseax curled her lips in disdain.
"How absurd. It isn't as though we tore down the Golden Order Dynasty's Churches. I preach my doctrine, and they can believe in whoever they like. What does that have to do with me?"
"After all, they are representatives of the Golden Order Dynasty and devout clergy of the Church. Matters of Faith are exactly what they ought to care about most."
With the crisp sound of footsteps, a girl in a black robe, one who looked like a Priestess, slowly walked to her side.
Hearing her, Lansseax turned and met the girl's gaze. It was Alicia, the former Finger Maiden.
However, Alicia's eyes were covered by a silver mask, making it impossible for Lansseax to see them clearly.
"The Golden Order Dynasty is so exalted, and Marika so great. Then why have they not come to save this world?" Lansseax paused briefly, then continued, "They really are a pack of people who only know how to get in the way."
Such words would have been outrageously treasonous in the Golden Order Dynasty, yet the hall remained utterly silent. Not a single person spoke up to refute her.
The air was still for a moment before Alicia broke the silence.
"Although we do not walk the same path, that does not mean they cannot be used. Especially in these extraordinary times."
Lansseax seemed to suddenly remember something and quickly said, "I nearly forgot. Fire Keeper was once a Finger Maiden herself. You must understand them better than I do, and naturally know how to communicate with them."
"Of course. I still remember every word of the Golden Order's doctrine, and our King remains the hero who returned bearing a great mission," Alicia said with a nod.
"The Golden Order Dynasty's Two Fingers need a king, yet even now, Lord Nolan remains the one and only King of the Tarnished Ones."
In this world, Fire Keeper was a newly emerged role. Strictly speaking, it could not even be considered a profession, because in the words of the Flame Church, they were attendants representing the Lord.
As for this so-called Flame Church, it was not some ancient religious organization either. Its founder was none other than Lansseax, whom the Fire Knights called the High Priest.
However, despite the difference in title, Fire Keepers and Finger Maidens had very similar duties. Both helped Tarnished increase their power.
Alicia was the Lord's Fire Keeper. Her current duty was no longer to help Tarnished absorb runes, but to expand the ranks of those known as Fire Keepers on behalf of the Church.
With her many years of experience recruiting people into the fold, as well as her understanding of the Golden Order, she felt she could shoulder the heavy responsibility of communicating amicably with the emissaries of the Golden Order Dynasty.
...
"Have your knights settled on a battle plan?" Trina looked down at the solemn army below.
"They've decided to defend Stormveil to the end and fight the Redmanes in a decisive battle there," Nolan said, standing beside her. "Of course, we never had any other choice."
"I truly didn't expect Lansseax to join the battle as well. That disloyal mother dragon betrayed me for you in the end, all because of a man." Trina crossed her arms.
"In her own words, she is still your knight. She has simply taken on an extra role. Besides, since ancient times, the God and the Lord ruling together have been considered one. Loyalty to me is loyalty to you."
"She certainly knows how to talk. Fine, fine, I'll forgive her for now. After all, she only became my knight because of you in the first place," Trina said irritably.
The former Saintess, now Her Goddess Highness, understood perfectly well that the mother dragon had never come because of Trina's own reputation.
She had long been prepared for that mother dragon to stab her in the back, but Lansseax's words had indeed pleased her. After all, who disliked hearing something pleasant?
If that mother dragon had shown no reaction to her actions at all, not even the slightest acknowledgment, then Trina absolutely would not have let the matter go.
She would have taught her a lesson she would never forget, so she would understand just how serious the consequences of ignoring her could be.
From now on, let her have nightmares every time she slept, all about being bullied by Trina.
"Aren't you ready yet?" Trina looked at the legion training below, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
"Not yet," Nolan said with a shrug. "According to Messmer, setting aside the individual quality of the soldiers, this force is only a little stronger than the nobles' private armies."
"How is that possible? Isn't he just setting the bar too high?"
"It may also be that times have changed... But high standards are only natural. After all, the opponent we're about to face is one of the strongest legions among the Golden Dukes."
Nolan paused briefly. As a leader, he had never forgotten to keep an eye on the situation of every faction in the Lands Between.
"Besides, I only have five thousand men here. Even with Stormveil Castle's troops added in, we have no more than twenty thousand. We're already outnumbered by Radahn, so of course we have to take training seriously."
"Should I go speak to Miquella and ask him to lend you some men?"
"No need to trouble him. The Haligtree still has to guard against Leyndell. Where would he spare the manpower?" Nolan placed his hand on Trina's head and gently patted it.
"Besides, we're not helpless prey. Our numbers may be small, but when it comes to mid-to-high-level combat strength, we should be the ones with the advantage."