Chapter 20: The Lost Honor
The necromancers had been annihilated.
This was what Yara, who came to the church for worship, said.
There were four necromancers who commanded over a thousand corpses to battle against the lord's army.
However, with several knights and cavalry present, a few charges were enough to break through the corpse lines.
Afterwards, the lord's elite, equipped with iron swords, finished off and dismembered the corpses.
The army of over a thousand corpses could not stop the lord's forces; only when facing the necromancers did three knights get killed by their spells.
Moreover, before dying, the four necromancers caused the corpses to explode, resulting in numerous casualties.
Of the twelve members from the Daniels Family who went to battle, only three survived the explosion, and all were injured.
However, these sacrifices were not without reward.
After spending some gold coins to smooth things over, the lord agreed to let the Daniels Family lead the refugees from the seven destroyed villages to establish a new village, promising to reduce taxes from 80% to 50% within five years and not to assign the village as a fief to any knight within ten years.
Of course, Yara didn't care much about these two points; after all, who really relied on village taxes to make money? Even the wealthy families in York Territory had their shady dealings.
As for knights, now the entire York Territory had only three knights left.
Knight Borien was still imprisoned in Lundex Territory.
Corleon didn't pay much attention to this information; he was just grateful that Yara had given these refugees a chance to survive.
If these refugees weren't assigned to a village by the lord, their only fate would be to become skeletons by the roadside.
However, upon hearing Corleon's gratitude, Yara forced a smile.
The lord wouldn't release the refugees placed in the town; they were all considered productive labor, while she was deemed worthless trash.
Before leaving, Yara mentioned that the location for the new village had been decided, only half a day's journey from the church, and that she would often come to the church to pray.
Although Corleon felt her purpose wasn't truly for prayer.
……
The two knight corpses stored in the church were also retrieved by their families.
Their faces showed more fear than sorrow.
Nevertheless, they remembered to donate some gold coins to the church as thanks.
One family gave ten gold coins, the other twelve.
……
A few days later, Corleon met Knight Borien.
He came on foot, without armor or weapons; though his body still looked strong, he seemed to have lost his soul.
"Good morning, Priest Corleon," he said, his voice lacking its former vigor.
"Good morning, Knight Borien," Corleon greeted with a slight bow.
"No, I am no longer a knight," Borien lowered his head, "Sir Helvin has stripped me of my knighthood."
"Perhaps once you recover, Sir Helvin will reinstate your title," Corleon said, though it was more of a consolation.
After Knight Borien was released, the accusations of him invading Lundex Territory were so loud that even Corleon could hear them.
Even though both Borien and Corleon knew it was the lord's order.
But who cared?
Seven villages were destroyed, nearly a third of York Territory's beast resources were wiped out, over two hundred soldiers died, six knights perished, and so on...
Someone had to take responsibility for these losses.
And the knight Borien, who was ransomed with gold, naturally became the prime candidate.
However, the lord was merciful and generous, merely stripping him of his knighthood...
So, upon hearing Corleon's comfort, Borien only managed a forced smile.
"Priest, I am a coward. Stripped of my knighthood, I should have died along with my lost honor, but I didn't."
"I am afraid; I fear death," Borien said, his voice so fragile.
"The Lord says, those who live bravely and kindly are the truly courageous; those who choose to end themselves to escape life are the weak," Corleon said.
"Mr. Borien, you are not weak. Though the knight's honor has left you, you still have a battle to fight."
"You need to protect your family. They shared your honor because you were a knight. When that honor is gone, they too face the hardship of its loss."
"They need your protection."
"No, I caused Lain's death. He was only seventeen; he could have continued training, and after I died, he could have inherited my knightly honor," Borien's face was filled with sorrow.
"But because of me, he died on the battlefield."
"This was his first battle."
"His mother hates me."
"She said, how could someone like me still come back alive?"
"Perhaps she's right. Dying during the attack would have been the best outcome."
His voice was filled with pain.
"Then, do you hate your family?" Corleon asked.
"No, I love my family. I am proud of them," Borien answered firmly.
"Then, do you hate Lain's mother?"
"No, I love her deeply. If needed, I would give up my knightly honor for her."
"Then, would you be willing to see your family destroyed by enemies, and Lain's mother humiliated?"
"No, I would pierce their hearts with my sword. Without a sword, I would tear them apart with my hands. Without hands, I would bite through their throats with my teeth."
"Isn't that the reason you should live?" Corleon said.
"Protect your family, protect Lain's mother, let them live better lives. That is the honor you should now pursue."
"..."
Borien stood there in a daze.
Corleon didn't urge him, patiently standing by, observing Borien.
He had no wounds on his body, his linen clothes were still clean, and he wore beast-hide shoes. If he regained his former spirit, Borien could be considered a charming middle-aged man.
He would probably attract some young ladies' favor.
Such a man with a past and still unmarried.
"I think so, Priest Corleon. My family still needs me," Borien regained some vitality.
"Very well, the Lord will bless you," Corleon said with a smile.
Borien slightly bowed his head, then looked past Corleon at George, who was polishing stones and building his own hut.
That was the militia he had conscripted, and the only one who survived the attack.
Before being released, Lord Lundex told him.
Even with his body pierced by arrows and his head struck, this militia didn't die but escaped back. When he reappeared, he had become extremely strong.
Even when attacked by hundreds of corpses controlled by necromancers, he could easily slaughter them.
Among them were two knight corpses.
Although controlled by necromancers and lacking knightly skills, their physical strength and armor were not just for show.
Yet, such combat power was still fragile before this militia; just a few sweeps, and he dismembered the two knights.
Even after a battle, he didn't display any combat skills, all relying purely on physical strength.
Borien didn't believe it, but seeing the now obviously much stronger George, he had to accept it.
"Priest Corleon, during the blessing, you said you would baptize returning warriors, and you also said the Lord loves the world," he said.
"I am just a defeated man, not hoping to walk the Flower Path or receive baptism, but Priest Corleon, may I enter the church to pray to the Lord?"
Corleon was stunned; he didn't expect Borien to have this thought.
Even though he was stripped of his knight title, Borien's family still existed, and his strength remained, still holding a certain status in York Territory.
Moreover, during the previous blessing, it was evident that Borien didn't have much affection for the church and the Lord.
However, noticing Borien's wandering gaze.
Corleon understood; it was again because of George's existence.
"Of course, the Lord loves the world. As long as your heart yearns for kindness and light, you can pray to the Lord," Corleon said.