The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 156: Ceremony of Loyalty - The Peacock Oath

Vol 2 Chapter 156 Ceremony of Loyalty - The Peacock Oath

It was war, Sylutia thought as she rode her horse, watching the battle lines gradually advance in the distance. Yet, she still didn't feel much of a sense of reality.

The war she had imagined should have been the coordinated effort of countless units and logistical departments, a total mobilization involving every aspect and field. But that was likely a scene only from a post-industrial era. The wars of this current world were still stuck at a relatively primitive stage, lacking even a well-established system of military strategy and tactics.

Over the past two months, what she had done was lead a group of people, rush to a location, and then the enemy forces there would quickly surrender. She would then leave some people behind to take over before continuing on to the next place. Scenes that truly required combat were extremely rare. So-called victories were as simple as drinking water.

It wasn't until arriving beneath the walls of White Cliff City today that she finally sensed something different. The army of the Kingdom of Ante had finally assembled, forming neat battle formations.

There were roughly forty knights on the opposing side. This should be the entirety of the Anty Kingdom's knightly combat power within Regas's territory. The rest would need to stay behind in Anty's homeland to fight against the Winter Kingdom.

As for Sylutia's side, aside from herself, there were only sixteen knights, all newly promoted. No one knew exactly how much combat strength they possessed.

However, the young girl didn't place too much hope in them. Currently, the 'Castle' Aspect power coalesced by New Regas was mostly concentrated on her. Even Princess Mursa didn't have as much as she did. Given time to accumulate, Sylutia advancing to the 'Fifth Tier - Castle' wouldn't be a problem.

But if that were the case, the wait would be too long.

Mounted on her horse, the young girl slowly drew the knight's longsword she carried. The silver-white blade, paired with the entwined cornflower ornaments, combined both beauty and practicality.She slowly raised the blade, the sword and her body forming a standard 90-degree angle. The blade flipped, reflecting the shimmering light of the sky. Then, a pattern of pale gold spread from her palm up the blade.

【Holy White Knight Hall - Sun Sword】(Castle · Blazing Sun)

The power of the Blazing Sun flowed along the blade, then radiated light, coating the knights beside her with a pale golden glow, replenishing their vitality and increasing their strength.

This was a secret art that only Fourth Tier members of the 'Holy White Knight Hall' could learn to use. It could bestow the power of the Blazing Sun Aspect upon allies at one's side, greatly enhancing their capabilities. Sylutia had seen those high-ranking knights demonstrate it on the Glittergold Plains before. They hadn't hidden it at the time, because this could only be studied by high-ranking members of the Castle path. She hadn't walked the knight's Path back then, so naturally, she couldn't learn it.

Who would have thought that in just a few short months, her transformation would reach 【Fourth Tier - Castle】? How fast the world changes.

After bestowing the enhancement upon herself and her allies, Sylutia swung down her blade. The soldiers behind her also formed a tight formation, advancing steadily. At that moment, the Veils of the gathered knights unfurled, enveloping and resonating with all the soldiers, forming a unified and solid formation that advanced like a moving wall.

This was the 'Castle' Aspect. Not many variations, simple and unadorned, yet exceptionally practical.

Soon, the two armies clashed. Sylutia also urged her warhorse forward, charging straight for Prince Feiriel within the enemy formation.

As she charged, a pale golden crown rose above her head. The numerous soldiers simultaneously cheered, and that golden crown scattered faint golden light, coating her armor and weapons with pale golden patterns.

【Laurel Ride】; When you charge alone under the gaze of the multitude, you receive the empowerment of the 'Castle' Aspect power. (The more people who admire, respect, or love you, the stronger the empowerment effect.)

At this moment, the momentum of this young girl clad in White Flower Battle Armor continuously soared, breaking through the Fourth Tier in one go and briefly reaching the Fifth Tier. Surging energy like burning golden flames enveloped her entire body. Like a blazing meteor, she broke away from her own battle line and directly crashed into the enemy formation. The front line of pike-wielding soldiers was instantly breached. The Griffon-Lion Knights following behind Sylutia used this gap to continuously tear and widen it.

Straight ahead, Sylutia's charge continued. She alternated between using her lance and longsword, defeating the knights blocking her path, getting closer and closer to that Prince Feiriel.

Watching this ferocious enemy approach menacingly, the overflowing aura pressing closer made Prince Feiriel feel as if he were suffocating. A fear of death rapidly surged.

He hesitated for only three seconds. Seeing the young girl pierce another blocking knight with her lance, the tightly strung cord in his heart finally snapped. He began to turn his horse's head to retreat.

"Prince Feiriel is running away!" a Griffon-Lion Knight shouted upon seeing this.

"Prince Feiriel is running away!"

Shouts spread one after another across the plain. The Anty battle line began to fall into chaos, but by then, there was no chance to adjust. The Griffon-Lion Knight Order led by Sylutia tore through the Anty army's formation like scissors.

The originally small gap expanded step by step, and emotions of panic and fear also spread through the enemy ranks.

At the very front, Sylutia threw away the longsword whose edge had curled from slashing. Then, a white lance appeared in her hand, aimed at the distant Prince Feiriel.

【Spiral Spear】

Golden patterns spread along the lance shaft until the spearhead was finally coated with a layer of gold. Then it was hurled forth, piercing through the enemy formation like lightning, finally embedding itself in Prince Feiriel's back.

Golden currents of electricity penetrated his body, making him vomit blood. Then his body fell from his horse and was captured by the arriving Griffon-Lion Knights.

Just like that, Anty's army of thirty thousand began to collapse. Battle lines were successively broken through, the defeat was like a landslide. The remaining soldiers fled in panic in all directions.

The victorious New Regas army chased them, charging into the city. That very afternoon, White Cliff City was recaptured. The Cerulean Vulture-Lion flag was planted atop the highest tower of the palace.

Thus, the territories within Regas that had been conquered and occupied were basically recaptured. The remaining Anty people no longer had the strength to hinder the revival of New Regas.

Two weeks later, a grand coronation ceremony was held in White Cliff City. Amidst countless flowers and cheers lining the streets, knights clad in cerulean capes marched forward in formation. Within the formation they protected, Princess Mursa, wearing a cloak of black lion's mane, rode forward on horseback, waving to the residents along the way. Beside her was a white knight who hadn't removed her helmet, her entire body covered in armor.

Sylutia observed her surroundings through the slit in her helmet, occasionally glancing at the golden-haired princess ahead of her. They circled White Cliff City once, finally entering the palace. Then, with Sylutia's assistance, Princess Mursa dismounted. Her steps halted before the palace gates, where she gazed for a long time.

This princess, with her gentle and beautiful features, turned her head and smiled slightly at Sylutia, then lifted her skirt in a curtsy.

"Tia, you walk ahead of me. This is your glory, while I am merely the accompaniment."

Sylutia thought for a moment, then no longer hesitated. She took the first step, stepping onto the stairs before the palace. Then Princess Mursa, lifting the hem of her skirt, followed slowly, stepping into this palace she had been parted from for so long.

The group entered. Maidservants and guards along the way all bowed their heads in salute until they reached the kingdom's great hall, where a prepared throne awaited.

Under the gaze of everyone, Princess Mursa slowly walked towards it, turned around, and then a knight brought an exquisite crown to the foot of the steps, bending to present it.

Following the procedure, Sylutia took the crown. Then Princess Mursa slowly lowered her head. Sylutia placed the crown on Princess Mursa's head, adjusting and straightening it.

"All done," Sylutia said softly, then released her fingers.

Soon after, Princess Mursa slowly raised her head, once again lifting her skirt to curtsy to this White Knight. Then the assembled knights and ministers in the great hall offered her their congratulations.

Of course, this wasn't the end. What followed was the most important stage: the oath-swearing.

Attendants set up a long table, spreading a pristine white tablecloth. Then, one by one, maidservants brought out exquisite feasts, placing them on the cloth, followed by mellow, fragrant wine. Finally came the grand finale, carried by four people.

The large silver cloche was lifted, revealing inside a roasted peacock, already cooked but still vividly lifelike. Its blue-green tail feathers were fanned out one by one, incredibly beautiful.

Afterwards, knights stepped forward one by one, placing their hands above the peacock's head and declaring their oaths. This was the loyalty ceremony passed down by the 'School of Royal Authority'.

[Loyalty Ceremony - Peacock Oath] (Castle · Verdant Nectar · Secret Word)

The 'Swan King' Moransa prepared a rare and delicious peacock feast at a royal banquet. Using the peacock's gorgeous, beautiful feathers as a metaphor, he told the knights present to regard honor and dignity as the most sublime pursuit, to be displayed constantly and tirelessly. Thus, the knights present used the peacock as witness to speak their oaths.

- Conditions: This ceremony requires a ruler (Castle) as the object of loyalty, a peacock feast (Verdant Nectar) as the oath token, and a declared oath (Secret Word). The closer the various arrangements are to the legend of that time, the stronger the ceremony's effect.

- Record: This ceremony is commonly seen after a ruler's ascension ceremony and at the commencement of grand wars. A large number of knights and ministers collectively swear loyalty at a banquet. Their oaths and the ruler's conferment form a stable and solid connection, integrating them into the royal authority system and granting them rank empowerment bestowed by the state. However, if they break their oath, it will trigger future backlash.

- Effect: Grants the conferred knights 'Castle' rank empowerment. Similarly, a large number of knights swearing loyalty also strengthens the stability of royal authority. After the ceremony is completed, if an oath-taker breaks their vow, they will also suffer the backlash of the oath.

Voices of oaths rose one after another in the kingdom's great hall, each different.

"I vow to protect Regas with my body, becoming its sword and shield."

"I shall diligently follow Lady Sylutia's guidance, uphold Regas's justice, and protect the descendants of Regas's royal bloodline."

"I will fight the enemies of Regas, guarding its territory and glory."

"I will use spear and sword to guard the banner of the Vulture-Lion, driving away any who challenge its majesty."

"I will protect the people on the land of Regas, shielding them from the taint of dusk and the bullying of wicked enemies."

"I pledge loyalty to Her Majesty Mursa, wielding my sword to cut down her foes."

"I shall..."

One by one, knights stepped forward to swear their oaths, then stood beside the long table. When the last knight finished reciting his oath, Princess Mursa descended the steps. Using a ceremonial shortsword handed to her by a maidservant, she cut the peacock. A pale, fragrant aroma wafted out. Then the maidservants carefully carved the peacock meat, serving portions onto each plate, which were presented to the knights present.

After eating their portion of peacock meat, a wondrous connection bound them. The new royal authority of Regas was built upon this framework, just like the 'Knight King' Raygard of old. Most of the knights present would become noble vassals in various regions. They would further confer titles upon lower-ranking nobles under them, allowing the royal authority to spread like a spider's web across the major towns of Regas, eventually extending to the villages.

Among the armored personnel present, only Sylutia had not sworn an oath. Nor did she need to. Afterwards, Sylutia stood beside Queen Mursa, with the assembled knights and ministers standing on either side, allowing the court painter to record the scene of the day, sketching rapidly.

Finally, a broad mural would be transcribed onto the walls of the palace's great hall. This mural depicted the founding of the New Regas Kingdom and its revitalized flag.

Its main subject was a winged Cerulean Vulture-Lion. Its background was divided diagonally by a slanted line: light blue above, light green below. If it was for the king's hall or occasions symbolizing the royal family, the Cerulean Vulture-Lion would be surrounded by encircling fir leaf patterns, and a white crown would be painted above its head.

The Vulture-Lion was the symbol of the new nation. The surrounding fir leaves represented the bloodline and oaths of the former 'Knight King' Raygard. As for the crown above being white, it was to commemorate that this crown originated from a White Knight's heroic deed.