Chapter 283 (2): Didn’t Expect This, Did You?

Just then, a female dark elf with a voluptuous figure came up to the cabin with flowy black locks and a friendly smile on her face. Under Moula’s order, she had come to arrange accommodation for the Wayne family.

The sight of the dark elves annoyed Silvia. They all had big busts, long legs, and small waists. Although they still fell short compared to her, she couldn’t stand them. Dislike didn’t need to be rational.

The female elf didn’t mind the hostile attitude. That was how all outsiders reacted when they first arrived. The hostility would go away after a while.

She guided Veronica and Silvia to their temporary lodging—a two-story cabin that pixies had constructed with magic, with all the necessary furniture and everyday supplies. There was even a pixie gardener assigned to the cabin.

Adorable!

Veronica gulped. She would love to take one home.

Thud!

Silvia hit the top of her head with a hand chop. “Stop gawking. You have been unable to live up to your full potential because you’re easily distracted by the outside world.”

“Aren’t you the same, Mother?”

“Ha, come to the grove with me!”

***

The Land of Seal glowed softly with magical aurora shrouding everything and an endless supply of green. Every now and then, pixies could be seen popping out of the grass.

Fascinated, Wayne asked, “Mr. Moula, where did the pixies come from? Did you raise them?”

“No, technically, they are the ancient god’s vassal creatures.” Moula shook his head. The pixies came from the world beyond the seal—the Vassal Realm of the ancient god. That made them enemies.

Due to the damage to the seal, the pixies had passed through the cracks and arrived in the Frozen Land. They were timid, kind, and favored peace, thus receiving the three chosen knights’ recognition. They were in charge of keeping watch on the forest around the Land of Seal, and they had an amicable relationship with the dark elves.

It would be an act of treason to allow scouts of the enemy faction to be active in their camp, so the three chosen knights had rejected it in the beginning. However, they weren’t ones to bully the weak with greater power. Thus, under the Moonlight Knight’s suggestion, they kept the pixies as captives.

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

That justified keeping them.

Wayne facepalmed. The chosen knights were so powerful that they found deception beneath them and feared no schemes or conspiracies, so they were used to being straightforward and honest.

In other words, they were simple-minded and solved all their problems with raw power, and it worked.

That was how the Nature Knight behaved, and the same was true of the Headless Knight. Even the unlucky Headless Knight was an honest, forthright man.

If that was the case when the knights were operating on their own, with three of them gathered here, wasn’t it possible that their careless nature had led to the damage of the seal?

“Wayne, the Darkness Knight is lacking in power. I’m taking him to the Moonlight Knight for guidance. This is a rare opportunity, so you should watch carefully. It’ll spare you a lot of time.”

Moula said regretfully that he couldn’t teach Wayne anytime soon. The reason was simple: the seal needed three knights to stay stable, or at least two. With the Moonlight Knight mentoring the Darkness Knight, the Nature Knight had to hold his post.

That was the main reason why the three chosen knights had been taking breaks in turns and couldn’t leave the Frozen Land.

Moula believed that teaching Auston was more important. The sooner the Darkness Knight learned to wield his power, the sooner there would be four chosen knights watching the seal. Then they could adjust their tactic and take on the offense if they wanted. They would be able to make the decision whether they wanted to press or retreat.

“How about the Death Knight?”

“We cannot contact him. The Goddess of Death has given up on the seal in the Frozen Land. Ever since the revolution of the Church of Darkness, there had never been any death elves,” Moula said regretfully. He had once fought the Death Knight, and he would say that the Death Knight was the most powerful among the chosen knights.

Unfortunately, the Death Knight had constructed the underground catacombs under his goddess’s command, and since then, he had been staying there. After the revolution, the Church of Death had abandoned their elvenization divine art. They even followed the organizational framework of the Church of Heavenly Father, with bishops and archbishops.

Moula didn’t want to go too much into it. He took the four of them across the forest path.

They reached a vast frozen canyon with a dark abyss that seemed like a crack dividing the land, lying in silent dormancy in the depths of the canyon. There was no greenery in the area. Outside of ice and snow, a full moon created with divine arts hung in the sky alone.

Cold moonlight poured down from the sky, suppressing the black mist surging up from the canyon. Every now and then, the wet noises of a massive creature wriggling could be heard from below.

Based on the information Wayne had gathered, this was only the tip of the iceberg that was the seal. Moreover, Thoggua’s head had been separated from the body. In the Frozen Land alone, there were a total of five sealing sites at a similar scale, corresponding to the five faiths and the five chosen knights.

Under the moonlight, a figure wearing light silver armor had their back to them. Condensed from moonlight, the armor seemed to have a life of its own, glinting faintly of a soft, mysterious light. It was difficult to look away after seeing it.

The streamlined armor was adorned with intricate patterns on the edges, fitted to the knight’s form. It looked neither clunky nor heavy. Compared to the Death Knight’s or the Darkness Knight’s armors, it would be considered light armor.

“Darkness Knight...”

Moonlight Knight, Darienne, turned around. Her elven face was stunning, with long silver hair, frosty eyes, and lips that were a faint, elegant red. She seemed cold like a piece of ice or a flawless white jade.

“Why did you bring him here, Moula?” Darienne frowned with annoyance. Those who knew would know that light and darkness did not mix, and she disliked the Darkness Knight.

“Here’s the thing...”

Moula went up to her and explained the reason, introducing Wayne, too. “This is my successor. He’ll learn a lot by watching you. I hope you wouldn’t mind.”

Darienne nodded at Wayne, smiling faintly at Auston. “Masked. It fits my impression of Darkness. Since you crave power, I’ll make sure to teach you well and tell you what true pain is!”

Darienne scoffed, her grace instantly evaporating. It would be a lie to claim that this wasn’t personal.

“Be rational, Darienne. The Darkness Knight is important to us—”

“I know what I’m doing. I don’t need your advice.” Darienne sneered. “Guard your post, Moula. Frankly, I cannot wait.”

Auston felt a headache brewing. He stiffly went up to Darienne and attempted diplomacy by extending his hand, but he faced flat rejection.

“No need for the pleasantries. We weren’t friends, and we’ll never be. I don’t intend to teach you anything. This is one-sided violence. Do you understand?”

Darienne urged Moula to hurry. When Auston stayed haughtily silent, she arched an eyebrow and said, “Keep your pride and don’t taint the Darkness Knight’s reputation. The previous Darkness Knight was good. Thanks to her, I had an unhappy time.”

Darienne touched her face, her mood taking a downturn after remembering something.

Wayne could picture it. The two long-haired women, one black and one white, wrestled and yanked at each other’s clothes and hair, gracefully hurling insults at each other.

What a shame. If only I had transmigrated a few years earlier!

He hid his disappointment. When he saw that Moula was about to leave, he walked over and said, “Mr. Moula, once the Darkness Knight has some free time, may I spar with him?”

He had been looking forward to that. Auston played a ball perfectly and was most adept at flying in a curve like a rubber ball. Wayne would like a chance to openly play a ball game with him.

Nature Knight versus Darkness Knight!

He would kick the ball, and Auston would be the ball. Perfect arrangement.

He would be honest. Yes, he was being petty and retaliating for personal grievances. Every mage had their day, so never assume that the weak would always be the weak!

Kekekeke, bigshot from last year, didn’t expect this, did you?

“I’m afraid that can’t happen.” Moula shook his head slightly. “I can’t give you Elemental Mantra, Wayne, at least not now. I still need to guard the seal. Be patient. You live in the same era as the Darkness Knight, so you’ll have many chances to fight.”

“Moula!”

“I’m going.”

Darienne was getting impatient. Moula patted Wayne on the shoulder and said, “Watch and learn how the Darkness Knight fights. It’ll all be useful information. I believe in your talent. You will become the strongest knight.”

He walked away quickly before Darienne could lose her temper. When he encountered a black-robed figure in the shade, he nodded at them and said, “The Darkness Knight is here. Thank you for your hard work over the years.”

“You’re too kind. I’ve only been fulfilling my duty, so it hasn’t been difficult.”

“Alright, but still, thank you.” Moula looked back at the Land of Seal. “That’s where the Darkness Knight is. He’s still not strong enough, so it’ll take some time before he becomes capable of your mission. Then, you’ll be free.”

The black-robed figure nodded slowly, approaching the Land of Seal after Moula’s departure.

Sensing the newcomer’s approach, Wayne made a curious sound and looked back. The figure under the black robe seemed to be a woman. However, the body lacked signs of a living being. The stiff, mechanical nature was the telltale sign of a magical puppet, only it housed the thoughts of a living being.

A figurine that could walk and talk!

Wayne’s keen eyes caught a porcelain mask under the hood. He was reminded of the fortune teller from the marketplace, and he wondered if there was a connection between them.

Before the Moonlight Knight started beating up Auston, Wayne seized the chance to extract information. He politely greeted the figure with an extended hand. “Wayne, the Nature Knight’s successor. May I ask for your name, elegant lady?”

“Holy Maiden of the Church of Darkness, Anastasia Ivan Makarov.”

“Ah, the Church of Darkness’s former Holy Maiden, Anas—”

Wait, come again? What’s your name?