The Female Knight of Doom - TFKOD 40: New Emotions

Alice had originally planned to stop by the tavern for a drink and then head home.

However, the atmosphere was so captivating that time seemed to slip away, and she ended up staying longer than she had intended.

When she finally realized how late it was, the tavern was on the verge of closing.

Without a doubt, the castle gate would be closed by now and there was no chance it would be opened just for her. She resigned herself to staying at the tavern for the night.

Luckily, the tavern also served as an inn and since there were no other guests that night, she was able to find a suitable room to spend the night in.

As she lay on the narrow bed in her room, she reached out to Cecilion.

Although Alice interacted with him regularly, it had been a week since she had seen him in person. Despite being able to communicate telepathically in the castle, she still preferred speaking out loud and would often find herself unintentionally vocalizing her thoughts.

It’s a little exciting, but when she called out his name, he didn’t show up right away like he usually does.

After about ten minutes, she finally sensed the change in the atmosphere, “You’re a little late.”

“I went to a different location,” Cecilion explained, “Someone else called my name, so I went to investigate. When I heard you calling, I came back immediately—even though traveling through dreams is quick, it still takes some time in your world.”

“Is it Gil?” Alice recalled that she had mentioned his name to that boy before, “That kid stole my dagger!”

“That dagger is more connected to him than it is to you.”

“Are you suggesting that I just forget about it?” She asked indignantly, “That dagger once saved my life—though I must admit you played a bigger role in that situation—and it was a gift from Lina!”

“Don’t worry, once it fulfills its purpose, it will naturally come back to you.”

Alice gazed at the rippling air ahead of her with a mixture of belief and doubt, unable to meet its gaze which made her uneasy.

She struggled to discern the sincerity of its words from its stare.

‘Gods do not fabricate meaningless falsehoods just for the sake of providing comfort,’ she thought to herself.

It dawned on her that indeed, this entity was a divine being.

Letting out a sigh, she reflected on how much time this god had been spending with her lately, sometimes creating illusions that made her feel a sense of similarity to him in certain aspects, yet there remained distinct differences between humans and gods.

She also realized that the number of his followers would grow in the future, and He would not always be able to be by her side.

“Even as my number of followers increases, I will never leave your side,” Cecilion assured her.

Puzzled, Alice asked, “What sets me apart from the rest?”

“You are the first,” He replied.

Remembering that He had followers in the past, she mentioned, “I’m not your first follower; I recall you once had a cult.”

“You really think so, huh…” Cecilion’s tone shifted subtly, “Even though they claim to be my devotees and have provided me with a significant amount of prayer energy. However, they are quite peculiar individuals, with a set of arbitrary rules like abstaining from beans and such… I’ve always been puzzled by their worship of me. Perhaps they simply needed a divine figure to embody their beliefs.

But you are unique. Our connection has evolved into something deeper, transcending the typical relationship between a god and their follower. This bond is unparalleled, both in the past and in the future. It could be because I once channeled all the power within my grasp for your benefit… At that moment, a part of my consciousness that I couldn’t control reached out to you.”

Starting from Alice’s fingertips, his unseen touch traveled up to her shoulder, then He caressed her cheek before placing a finger on her forehead, “Right here.”

His touch ignited a unique warmth in her fingertips, causing a slight burning sensation on her forehead.

In close proximity to him, though his physical form remained unseen, she still felt the looming aura of pressure.

Alice sensed her heart beating irregularly, signaling a potential threat that she couldn’t pinpoint.

Acting on instinct from her past as a mercenary, she instinctively reached for the knife beside her.

Yet, the moment her hand gripped the knife’s handle, the oppressive feeling vanished, and He vanished along with it.

Cecilion had a habit of disappearing without warning, a fact that Alice accepted without much concern, her heart rate gradually returning to its usual rhythm.

Without delving into the cause, she quickly fell asleep as though the momentary tension had never existed before.

Returning to the castle early the next day, she was met by Kent, who handed her a timetable with a stern expression, “Where have you been? I’ve been searching for you all morning. It’s your responsibility, along with the other knights at Cloudmist Castle, to train the soldiers. This schedule is for you, keep it safe and don’t misplace it.”

She examined the timetable and noted that each knight would have duty twice a month. Being last on the list, she had some time before her first training session, so she didn’t feel the need to worry excessively.

“Don’t fret about the seniors,” Kent reassured. “You’re under my wing now, and I’ll teach you everything you need to know… By the way, do you have any plans for today?”

She declined and Kent suggested they practice horseback riding and shooting together.

He was highly skilled in these areas and imparted some valuable tips to her. Although she had little prior experience, with his guidance, she started to grasp the basics.

The two of them practiced until dinner time and proceeded to the dining hall for their meal.

“Today, I have two things to express.” As soon as the duchess began speaking, the table fell into silence, with everyone anticipating her words.

While some individuals present hoped for her demise, she currently held the power and thus commanded utmost respect from the knights at the table.

“Alice Quint has been appointed as a knight and has officially become a member of the West Felix. I am aware that certain individuals may not be entirely pleased with this decision, but I will not tolerate any reports of discord among my knights.” The duchess turned to Knight Pulan seated beside her.

This knight was the most senior among all present and indicated his agreement with a nod. He was a representative for the majority of those gathered, which was satisfactory to the duchess.

She then proceeded, “I have made the decision to grant her the land in Ronalds Village that was originally owned by Knight Martin. Since Knight Martin has passed away without a direct heir, I assume there are no objections to this resolution, correct?”

At that moment, a chuckle could be heard, “It’s necessary for her to be competent in order to receive it.”

The duchess arched her eyebrows, “If there is nothing more to discuss, I will assume that everyone is in agreement.”

She then looked at Alice, “Join me later to collect the land certificate, and deliver it to the village chief tomorrow. Following that, the land will officially be yours.”

Alice responded with a simple “Yes.”

That was the initial comment made, and next the duchess broached a different subject.

“During my late husband’s lifetime, his preferred pursuit was attending knight tournaments. I assume that many of you present here today can still vividly remember those spectacular events. Following his demise, I was too grief-stricken to organize a similar tournament, so I postponed the idea. Over the subsequent years, despite some individuals bringing it up occasionally, there were constantly other matters that took precedence, causing the tournament to be repeatedly delayed. I am of the opinion that the time has come to host another knight tournament.”

This particular subject piqued the interest of the knights, leading to a sudden surge of enthusiasm around the table.

Each person’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as they eagerly envisioned donning their full armor and engaging in the activity.

“Do not become overly enthusiastic,” the duchess remarked cheerfully. “This is merely a concept, and the specifics have yet to be ironed out. The actual occasion will not take place until at least the conclusion of summer. Around two weeks from now, once everything is nearly settled, I will contact the noblemen from different regions and request that they dispatch their finest knights to attend. It would be advisable to begin intensive training now. I do not wish for my knights to be defeated by others.”

The knights rejoiced, and the duchess signaled that the discussion was finished and they should start their meal.

Alice sat at the end of the dining table, observing the joyful knights in front of her, somewhat unaware of the situation.

Since the duchess promised her land, she had been in a fog.

The knight tournament mentioned by the duchess didn’t catch her attention much. Even if it had, she wouldn’t have comprehended its significance.

Her mind was solely fixed on one thing: she was on the verge of acquiring land!

This would ensure financial security for her. The armor she wore for the ceremony was borrowed from the duchess’ collection, and once she received the land, she planned to use the money to purchase a new set of armor.

She also envisioned providing the grumpy horse with the finest saddle and bridle, pampering it with black beans and carrots daily, transforming it into the most splendid horse in the castle stable, well-behaved and loyal to her.

Even though Alice was aware that she wouldn’t see any profits until autumn if she acquired the land in the village, she couldn’t stop pondering about it.

After she completed her meal, she had already envisioned numerous ways to utilize the money.

Despite finishing her dinner without really savoring it and tiredly trailing behind the duchess to her office, her excitement was still evident from her flushed face.

The duchess gave Alice the document and noticed her look of excitement, which made her hesitant.

“I can only provide you with this for now. The outcome may not be smooth, so the next steps are in your hands. I see you have a strong bond with Kent. He has been here for a while and holds valuable knowledge. I recommend you speak to him before your departure tomorrow.”