Martyr's Cemetery

However, Master Andrei did not rush to inspect the fortifications. Instead, he made a request that surprised Karl yet was also quite reasonable. "Lord Karl, before going to see the city walls... I would like to go to a place first. I would like to see... the tomb of Lord Marcus."

Upon hearing this, Karl's expression immediately turned solemn, and he nodded earnestly. "Of course, Master, please follow me."

He led Andre and Charlotte not toward the castle, but toward a relatively secluded, slightly elevated, sunny slope behind the fortress.

There stand two enormous stone monuments built of rough but sturdy stones.

The surrounding area was spotless, Karl had ordered that the pine and cypress trees here not be cut down, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

"This is our Carnford Martyr's Cemetery," Karl said in a low, respectful voice, pointing to the first grave and monument. "This one is the final resting place for all the soldiers who died fighting and died when the old Carnford fortress fell."

Andre's gaze was immediately drawn to it. He strode to the stone tablet, reached out his slightly trembling hand, and gently stroked each name engraved on the cold stone.

His eyes became incredibly deep, as if piercing through time and space, returning to that desperate day of blood and fire.

Karl stood beside him and slowly said, "Following your initial instructions, we carefully cleared the ruins of the castle's basement... There, we found the remains of Lord Marcus... and his warriors."

His voice carried a hint of heaviness. "Fighting to the last man... they did it."

He paused, his tone tinged with emotion and reverence. "Moreover, Lord Marcus made an astonishing move in the final moments of his life... He swallowed an extremely important key, in such a resolute way preventing it from falling into the hands of the Sauron."

Andre suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with shock and disbelief!

Karl met his gaze and nodded firmly. "Later we... retrieved that key, and with it, we opened the Lord's chamber and found the most precious legacy left by Lord Marcus: the complete production process and all the necessary equipment for the ' Militia Potion '!"

"It is thanks to this legacy that Lord Marcus protected with his life that we were able to successfully concoct the Militia Potion."

"In the recent siege, this medicine saved the lives of many seriously wounded soldiers, making an indelible contribution to the final victory!"

"Lord Marcus and his warriors continue to protect Carnford even in death."

Karl looked at the joint burial tomb, his voice filled with reverence. "I think that if Lord Marcus could know this in the afterlife, he would prefer to be buried with the soldiers he swore to protect, to rest in peace together, and to watch over this land they stained with their blood."

"Therefore, we buried him here with the remains of all the warriors we could find."

Master Andrei listened quietly, his body trembling slightly.

He lowered his head again, his gaze lingering on the name "Marcus von Horn" on the stone tablet, and below it, a long list of the names of his comrades whom he had once known so intimately.

His lips moved, but no sound came out.

After a long silence, he finally uttered two words in a low, extremely hoarse voice, as if he had exhausted all his strength:

"... Thanks."

These two words carry immense weight, encompassing a multitude of complex emotions.

The endless sorrow and solace for our former comrades, the gratitude for Karl's proper burial and respect for them, and the awe-inspiring sense of this legacy that transcends life and death.

Karl nodded slightly, accepting the gratitude.

Then he moved and pointed to the newer grave and tombstone next to him. "This one is the final resting place for eighty-three soldiers who died defending their new home in the recent Carnford Defense Battle."

His gaze swept over the names on the stone tablet, and he said firmly, "First at Ashbourne, they routed the Sauron Vanguard Camp cavalry of Thorsten, and then at this fortress, facing Sauron main force several times their size, they fought to the death, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy, and finally, with the help of reinforcements, completely annihilated them!"

"Without their heroic struggle and enormous sacrifices, there would be no Carnford today, and we would never have been able to hold out until victory."

Andre slowly walked to the new grave, his gaze sweeping over the unfamiliar names one by one.

He could sense Karl's immense respect and honor for these fallen soldiers from the material of the stone tablet, the scale of the tomb, and the surrounding environment.

This is by no means a simple burial, but a very high honor that can inspire the living.

He turned around and looked at Karl again, his eyes filled with unprecedented and extremely complex emotions.

There was shock, relief, appreciation, and above all, a deep admiration.

He remained silent for a moment, as if sorting out his turbulent thoughts, before finally speaking slowly, "Lord Karl... what you've done... far exceeds my expectations."

"You not only reclaimed Carnford and protected it, you truly inherited it," his gaze swept over the two graves, "You respected and glorified its past, you did not let the sacrifices of the deceased be tarnished, and you forged its new glory with your actions and blood, giving it new life and hope."

"If Lord Marcus were alive today, and saw that everything he protected was ultimately inherited and carried forward by a Lord like you, he would be immensely gratified."

Andre's voice was filled with sincere emotion. "You are not only a valiant warrior, but also a benevolent and wise Lord. Carnford is fortunate to have you. I... apologize for my previous doubts."

This Battle Master, who was usually strict and rarely praised others, generously gave his highest evaluation and recognition at this moment.

Charlotte, listening to her teacher's praise, looked at Karl with eyes full of pride and tenderness.

Karl was somewhat embarrassed by Andre's straightforward and high praise, and quickly shook his head humbly. "Master, you flatter me. I only did what I should do. Carnford today is the result of the joint efforts of everyone living here."

Andre waved his hand, interrupting his modesty. "No need for such modesty, Lord Karl. Merit is merit, and glory is glory. Let's go."

He took a deep breath, as if suppressing all the sadness and remembrance deep within his heart, his eyes regaining their sharpness and pragmatism. "Take me to see the new armor and sword you've forged for Carnford! Let me see what kind of defense we'll be protecting together next!"