Story

Story

"You who have not received the blessing need not worry."

"If you are willing to become my soldiers, you will also have the chance to cultivate the Stag Knight Breathing Technique through training."

Ryan's words put the others around him somewhat at ease.

His gaze returned to the respected elders, and Ryan continued,

"My territory is still far from complete. It lacks everything. If you leave with me, bring whatever you can carry."

"Do it as quickly as possible. Finish within a day."

The leading elder bowed respectfully. He was the leader here.

"As you wish."

This village—or rather, this tribe—began preparing all kinds of supplies after hearing Ryan's description of the Frozen Earth Territory.

"I believe every one of them will be a rare asset to you."

Brandt said from the side.

"Oh?"

Ryan naturally wanted to build a closer relationship with this Guardian Knight, and the best way was through stories.

"May I hear the story of what happened here?"

"At your command."

After bowing, Brandt brought Ryan an elderly man with limited mobility. Ryan saw that beneath his trouser legs were a pair of finely crafted wooden lower legs.

Seeing not the slightest trace of contempt in Ryan's eyes, both the old man and Brandt instinctively gained even greater respect for him.

"Old Man Arno experienced the War of the Deities. He was the one who found me and took me in. These legs of his were crippled because of me." Brandt said from the side.

"The lord wishes to hear our story."

"Our story..." Countless memories surfaced in Old Man Arno's clouded eyes.

When people grew old, they truly did enjoy talking about the past.

"We have lived like this for eighty years now. My lord, you have seen it yourself, so I will tell you about what happened eighty years ago."

Old Man Arno's voice echoed through the wind and snow, while Ryan stood quietly where he was and listened in silence.

"Our world is called the Axeniel Continent. The vast majority of humans worship the Spirit of the Stag.

We pursued the Spirit of the Stag's passion, so the people of the Axeniel Continent were also filled with passion.

We also imitated the Spirit of the Stag's bravery, agility, and knowledge of the world, which was why the Axeniel Continent was full of bards and artisans skilled in handicrafts.

The Axeniel Continent may not have had a large population, but it was exceptionally prosperous. Everyone was well-fed and happy.

But over a hundred years ago, the deities launched a war across the Pan-Plane, bringing about the Twilight of the Gods.

Aixnier was also drawn into the flames of war. The war of the deities set the skies ablaze, and the Spirit of the Stag joined the war as a result.

As subjects of the Spirit of the Stag, the people of the continent also fought for the Deer Spirit. The war lasted twenty-five years.

The Spirit of the Stag fell. Though we firmly believed the Deer Spirit still lived, no trace of it ever appeared on the continent again.

At the same time, the deaths brought by the deities' war across the Pan-Plane plunged the continent into eternal winter. Freezing snow and icy winds ravaged the land.

The forest was buried beneath the snow, swamps became frozen earth, and rivers were sealed in ice. The cold of Eternal Silence covered everything. Perhaps only the far south still retained a few corners of warmth.

In the wars of the deities, the faith of all living beings became their soldiers. In just twenty-five years, a small portion of the people on the Axeniel Continent died.

But that was not the end. Death caused by slaughter in war was often only a small part of it.

After the war ended, the continent fell into famine. Hunger and cold took most of the people in the first ten years. In the years that followed, chaos reduced the population further and further.

Those who could survive the cold after the weather had fallen into Eternal Winter in such a short time were already considered exceptional.

Yet the Deer Spirit had vanished. No matter how exceptional they were, they were still merely mortals. Without extraordinary power, facing the bitter wind, frost, and ever-increasing pressure of survival, the population could only continue to decline.

Especially the children. In the first few decades, many infants died young.

We could not replenish our people, so our ending was already destined.

The war of the deities ended. We lost everything, and in the deathly cold of Eternal Silence, we will also lose all that remains."

As Old Man Arno spoke, he gradually fell asleep. Before the end, he told Ryan that he would not follow them to the Frozen Earth Territory—to another world.

He had witnessed the Axeniel Continent's former prosperity and abundance, and he would guard this continent's final silence and cold.

He gave Ryan a name. He had already passed all his carpentry skills on to that boy.

"Old Man Arno will not survive this winter, but he should be happy to see that his people have a chance to live before then."

Brandt sent Old Man Arno back to his wooden hut, then brought another young man to Ryan.

"Arnor was also found by Old Man Arno in the wind and snow."

"Arnor pledges his loyalty to you."

The young man knelt before Ryan. Ryan noticed that he was not one of the thirty Apprentice Knights Brandt had chosen.

"He longs for the stories of bards that Old Man Arno told, and he is not suited for battle."

Brandt explained. Even though he had a good relationship with the other man, he still upheld his duties.

"Mm. Rise."

Ryan looked at Arnor. "Though you are not suited for battle, you can still practice the Knight Breathing Technique. Your body is the foundation for becoming an outstanding carpenter and bard."

"As you wish." Arnor spoke respectfully. Since the lord said so as well, it had to be right.

Brandt also needed to prepare his belongings, along with Arnor. Thus, only Ryan and his two attendants remained in the village.

"With these people helping us, the Frozen Earth Territory will have people to build it." Old Beard said with relief.

From the beginning, he had not spoken beside Ryan, because he believed every decision Young Master Ryan made was right.

As the Steward, all he needed to do was remain silent.

Beside him, Rosen wore a conflicted expression. In the end, he could not help looking at Ryan.

"My lord, can I receive that Deer Spirit's Blessing too?"

His face felt a little hot, mainly because he had come to fully recognize his own problem.

He was too weak.

Setting Brandt aside, among those thirty Apprentice Knights alone, he felt that at least ten of them surpassed him—perhaps even more, since these people had not yet undergone training in knightly techniques.

As Young Master Ryan's first Knight Retainer, he felt he should not be this weak. Otherwise, he would bring shame upon his lord.

"A blessing? Of course. But from now on, you can only cultivate the Stag Breathing Technique."

Ryan spoke, then waited until Rosen met his gaze with determination before extending a finger. Ten points of spirituality vanished.

Other than the two enhancements, Ryan did not see the loyal, passionate qualities Brandt and the others possessed in Rosen. Instead, he saw unyielding resolve.

Clearly, this was connected to Rosen's life up to this point. He had never placed his hopes in the Deer Spirit of the Axeniel Continent, nor had he grown up listening to so many stories.

Stories and poets, fine wine and the world, had shaped many of Brandt and the others' noble virtues.

They formed their understanding through stories and gained passion through wine.