That night, Jolin did not go far.
She lingered just outside the town with the brute warrior and the archer, even though both companions urged her to flee this wretched place at once. Jolin, however, had other thoughts. Her eyes flickered with hesitation and doubt. Hugging her knees, she sat and stared at the moon until dawn.
Early the next morning, Dwight's party set out.
This time, an oxcart trailed behind the caravan, carrying the tightly bound mage. The poor man looked haggard and utterly exhausted, his clothes soaked through. Dwight's knights had carried out his orders perfectly: dousing him with cold water at regular intervals, denying him any chance to sleep or meditate and recover his power.
Master Dwight, as usual, settled into the carriage the moment they departed and buried himself in a thick book. Reading seemed to be his greatest obsession.
The well-built carriage glided smoothly even over rutted roads, barely shaking at all. Dwight curled up comfortably on the soft swan blanket, reading and thinking… until he was interrupted.
A light tap came at the window, followed by Mad's hesitant voice.
"Young master… there's a situation you should see."
Dwight rolled down the window and saw Mad frowning. The former stable hand was riding alongside the carriage now, bowing slightly from the saddle.
"Young master, those people from the tavern… they've been following us."
Dwight leaned out and glanced back.
Sure enough, about a hundred paces behind them, the long-legged girl from the tavern was tailing them at a distance, accompanied by her two companions—the brute warrior and the archer—on three horses.
The Rollin guards outside wore sly, knowing grins.
That girl had walked out of their young master's room last night, after all. Had the young master won her over? Had she fallen for him and refused to leave?
They dared not show open amusement toward their master, though.
Dwight thought for a moment and spoke quietly.
"Stop the carriage. Bring her here."
Jolin had followed the caravan all morning, her mind a mess. She did not even understand *why* she was doing it.
Was she worried about the captured mage? Hardly. She couldn't have cared less about his fate.
Suddenly, the caravan ahead halted. Two knights galloped straight toward her.
"Miss, our master requests your presence."
Suspecting the girl had some "intimacy" with their young master, the knight spoke with unusual politeness.
Jolin nodded blankly and rode forward, her confused and anxious companions close behind.
"Why are you following me?"
Dwight did not even step out of the carriage. He simply opened the door and sat looking at her.
Jolin slid off her horse, bit her lip—and in that instant, she found the answer to the question that had tormented her all night.
Why?
Perhaps it was that devilish smile of his.
"I…"
Jolin stood beside the carriage, took a deep breath, and suddenly dropped to one knee before it. She bowed her head low, her voice solemn.
"I, Jolin Moon, pledge my loyalty to you. I will serve you for the rest of my life, and defend this oath with my blood and my life. Will you accept my fealty?"
Dwight was silent for a moment, studying the kneeling girl.
"You wish to serve me… why?"
"I don't know." Jolin spoke honestly. "Maybe you were right. I'm tired. I'm not strong enough to keep going alone. I need a strong tree to lean on. I'm willing to be the vine that clings to it."
"Do you think I'm that tree?" Dwight smiled.
"I do." Jolin answered at once. "I still don't know who you really are, but I can feel it… you are no ordinary man. You are destined for greatness."
"This is troublesome." Dwight sighed, turning to Mad.
"Mad, I forgot. Am I allowed to recruit my own honor knights? How many?"
Mad, who had crammed all the noble laws and customs before taking up his post as steward, answered promptly.
"My lord, as the Count's eldest son, you will be granted at least a barony even if you do not inherit the family title. By imperial law, a baron may recruit **ten personal honor knights**."
"Only ten?" Dwight scratched his nose. "A bit small. Still, knights can have squires. One knight can take several. Ten knights plus their squires make several dozen. That will do."
He turned back to Jolin with a grin.
"Very well. I accept your loyalty. From today, you are my first honor knight… and my first female knight."
Jolin dared not meet his smile, lowering her head.
"Thank you… and now that I serve you, please tell me your true name, my lord."
"Dwight Rollin. Eldest son of Count Raymond, head of the Rollin family and Vice Commander of the Imperial High Command." He smiled. "I almost forgot. I have a rather famous nickname in the capital… they call me **the Idiot**."
"Idiot?!" Jolin's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
Impossible! If this boy was an idiot, there were no geniuses in the world! If he was an idiot, everyone else was a fool!
She dared not show a trace of amusement, quickly standing and gesturing to her companions.
"My lord, these are my men. Their names are—"
"No need." Dwight cut her off bluntly. "I'm not interested in their names. As you heard, I only have ten knight slots. I'm saving the rest for real experts—paladins, master swordsmen."
He didn't even glance at the two men.
What use were they? The brute had only strength, and the archer was the kind he could hire five of for a few hundred gold coins. Even Jolin… well, he would never have taken in someone with her mediocre skills if she weren't a pretty girl with lovely legs.
"Lady Jolin Moon, my honor knight," Dwight said, "your two companions will be your squires. Your knight's badge and equipment will be provided once we reach our home. For now, take your place in the caravan. We ride on. With luck, we'll be home by tonight."
Jolin said nothing, but her two companions looked crushed at missing the chance to become knights.
It was a real, legitimate opportunity!
There were only three paths to knighthood:
1. Master combat skills, pass the Knight Association's exams, and earn an official medal—the most respected path.
2. Devote oneself to the Temple of Light from childhood, train rigorously, and become a Temple Knight.
3. Pledge loyalty to a noble and receive the title of **personal honor knight**.
These two lacked the skill for the first path and had no connection to the church for the second.
Their only hope had been the third.
But nobles who could grant knighthood would never accept men with their shoddy abilities.
Jolin could only murmur a few quiet words of comfort.
Her own heart was tangled. Pledging loyalty to Dwight meant giving up her independence. The small, free group she had fought so hard to keep together was gone. She was no longer a leader, but a subordinate.
What Jolin could not have known was that this day would be forever marked in history.
For on this day, the first official member of the legendary **Demon Knights** was born:
**Jolin Moon**, the first to swear loyalty to the Devil.
And her name would be etched into the annals of time.