Sacrifice

Just when everyone was at a loss and extremely anxious, a steady but slightly cold hand gently pressed on Master Andrei's chest.

A gentle and pure surge of Magic Power, like a trickle, slowly flowed into Andre's almost stopped heart through that hand.

Karl looked up sharply, following the direction of the arm, and saw Konrad!

The Rune mage, whose face was usually calm and even somewhat aloof, now had an unyielding solemnity shrouding his expression.

He knelt beside Andre, closed his eyes, and poured all his Magic Power into trying to hold onto the fading flame of life.

"Konrad! Master... how is he? Is there any hope?" Karl asked anxiously, as if grasping at the last straw, his voice filled with hope and fear.

Konrad slowly opened his eyes, ceasing the flow of Magic Power. He looked at Karl, shook his head heavily, and let out a long, helpless sigh, "He... in his final moments, forcibly burned all his life force, overdrawing his last bit of Battle Qi... His injuries were too severe, his internal organs were shattered, and his heart was severed... My spells can only temporarily stimulate his last bit of consciousness... There's no way to save him."

"..." Karl was struck dumb, staring blankly at Konrad, then looking down at Andre, who was barely breathing on the ground. His mind went blank, as if the sounds of the whole world had faded away from him.

Is this knight, who has been both a mentor and a friend throughout his journey, and who turned the tide at the last moment, really going to leave him like this?

Just then, a cold, trembling hand struggled to rise and gently grasped Karl's wrist.

Karl snapped back to reality, looked down, and saw that Master Andrei had opened his eyes at some point.

Those eyes, once as sharp as a hawk's, were now dull and lifeless, yet they gazed at him with unusual calm.

The master's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but the sound he made was so faint as to be barely audible.

"Master! What do you want to say?" Karl hurriedly leaned down, put his ear close to Andre's lips, and held his breath.

A faint, intermittent, yet remarkably clear sound, like the last embers of a candle flickering in the wind, reached Karl's ears:

"My Lord... this time... I... held Carnford..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Master Andrei's hand, which had been gripping Karl's wrist, slipped limply to the floor.

He slowly closed his eyes, and a faint, satisfied smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

It felt as if I had completed the most important mission of my life, and had no regrets.

His breathing stopped completely.

The hall was deathly silent.

Only the dull pounding of the Sauron outside the door, like the drumbeats of a funeral procession, resonated in everyone's hearts.

Karl remained bent over, motionless, as if he had turned into a stone statue.

Tears welled up uncontrollably from his eyes, mingling with the blood on his face, and silently streamed down his cheeks.

He held tightly to Master Andrei's hand, which still retained a trace of warmth but had completely lost its strength, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Brendan, Richter, and all the soldiers who witnessed this scene silently lowered their heads, clenched their fists, and their eyes were filled with grief and indignation, as well as a resolute determination to live and die with the city.

Konrad quietly stood up, watching Andre depart peacefully, then glanced at the grieving Karl, a complex and unfathomable light flashing in his eyes.

He silently took a few steps back, his right hand tightening its grip on the staff once more, his gaze fixed on the rickety door and beyond it... towards a room on the second floor.

There, the light from the teleportation array was flickering faintly.

Karl stood up as if he had exhausted all his strength.

He didn't speak immediately, but silently, with his hands stained with blood and dust, he untied the chin strap, solemnly took off his helmet, which was covered with dents from swords and knives, and held it in his arms.

His actions seemed to be a silent signal. In the hall, all the soldiers who could still stand silently took off their helmets or hats, and with the most solemn posture, put their five fingers together and pressed them firmly against their temples, paying the most sublime farewell to Master Andrei, who lay peacefully on the ground.

Karl gazed at the relieved smile on Master Andrei's lips with a complex mix of emotions.

He didn't know whether Andre's last "Lord" was addressed to him or to the long-deceased previous Lord, Marcus.

But none of that matters now.

For this old knight who had spent half his life wandering and finally found his home in Carnford, dying on the battlefield to protect this land and those who recognized his worth was perhaps the best ending he could have dreamed of.

He kept his promise and he preserved his honor.

After the ceremony, Karl slowly lowered his arms, and the others silently put their helmets back on or held them in their hands.

A solemn and tragic atmosphere permeated the air.

Karl turned around and his gaze fell on Konrad, who had been standing quietly to the side.

The solemnity on the elder brother's face did not dissipate; on the contrary, it deepened.

Karl took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm, though it was still hoarse and tired. "Konrad, the teleportation array... should be ready by now, right?"

Konrad met Karl's gaze, noticing his reddened eyes and lingering tear stains. After a moment of silence, he slowly nodded. "Yes, it's finished. It's upstairs."

He paused, as if undergoing a final internal struggle, his voice low and tinged with an almost imperceptible pleading. "Karl... you really... aren't you going to leave with me? It's not too late to leave now. Lina and Morian are waiting for you."

This was his last attempt to pull his brother out of this certain death.

Karl looked at him, forcing a weary smile, shook his head, and said in a terrifyingly calm tone, "Master Andrei has shed his last drop of blood for Carnford. I am the Lord of Carnford, the supreme ruler here."

His gaze swept across the ravaged hall, over every face that looked at him with trust and resolve. "If I leave, how can I face the fallen heroes, how can I face everyone who remains here? Konrad, I appreciate your kindness."

He waved his hand, as if to dispel the last trace of hesitation and weakness, his tone becoming decisive and even urging. "Alright, stop talking. Time is running out. Take Lina and Morian and go quickly. Protect them... and protect yourself too. You're my brother. Seeing you leave safely will... relieve me of one more worry."