Chapter 13: Eight Virtues of the Knight

Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Eight Virtues of the Knight

"Me... when me was little..." its voice trailed off. "In the clan... me... me was the smallest... and the... the weakest..."

His thoughts drifted to the distant past.

Back then, Thun was the smallest and weakest of the cubs his age.

He wasn’t lively and active like the other cubs, who loved to chase each other and roughhouse. He preferred to stay quietly by his mother’s side, or watch the leaping salmon by the stream alone.

This unsociable behavior made him a "toy" for several of the stronger cubs.

"That one time," Thun’s voice trembled slightly, "Me and sister... by the mountain stream... found a huge rock covered in honeycombs... We were so happy... But just as we were about to enjoy it... Glack... showed up with his cronies..."

"They stole all our honeycombs... Me was terrified... couldn’t say a word... But sister didn’t back down... She was even smaller and thinner than me... but she stood in front of me... and roared at Glack... telling him to give back what was ours..."

"Glack saw my sister’s challenge as an insult to him."

"He shoved my sister aside, then pushed me down the steep slope behind us!"

"Me fell... was so scared... When me looked up... the big rock... was rolling down the slope..."

"Me was scared stiff... But sister... she... she didn’t even think, she just lunged... and shielded me..."

"Me... was completely unharmed... But sister..."

"Glack and the others were terrified... They screamed and ran away... leaving just me... and sister, lying on the ground..."

Thun’s voice choked with emotion.

"She got hurt protecting me... protecting that coward who could only tremble... If me was a little braver then... even just stood up with her... maybe... maybe everything would be different..."

"...Until Mother told me the story of Knight Roland... told me that real strength isn’t size... but the courage to protect the weak... Me wants to be a Knight... because me don’t want anyone else... to get hurt because of me being a coward... Me wants... to be brave like my sister..."

He pulled himself out of the painful memory and looked at Hesia and Isha, a determined light shining in his bear eyes. "Me... me wants to be a Knight... Me wants... to protect... Me don’t want... to see... people me care about... get hurt again..."

Isha was deeply moved.

She stepped forward and gently patted Thun’s thick foreleg.

She had wanted to pat his shoulder, but she couldn’t reach.

"Thun, I can teach you the skills of a Knight. But you must remember, a Knight’s power comes from the conviction to protect. Hold onto that conviction, no matter what lies ahead."

She paused, her tone serious. "Although I don’t know if a bear can truly master the skills of a Knight, I believe that if you work hard, you will definitely achieve something!"

Hesia nodded vigorously as well. "That’s right! Thun, you can definitely do it! You’re a one-of-a-kind Earth Bear!"

[Affinity with Earth Bear Thun has increased. Decryption Points +20]

Looking at the Decryption Points he’d earned, Hesia felt that inviting Isha to teach Thun was an absolutely correct decision.

...

Afterward, a peculiar scene unfolded in the Woodland.

An Earth Bear was trying to stand up straight like a human, its posture clumsy.

Isha stood before it, her expression solemn, like a true Knight instructor.

"Thun, a Knight’s power stems from the conviction in one’s heart. This conviction is embodied in the ancient Eight Virtues of the Knight." Isha’s voice was clear and powerful. "Now, repeat after me, and feel the weight behind each word with your heart."

"Honor!"

Thun tried his best to imitate: "Hunger!"

Isha: "Honor is the backbone of a Knight. Through thick and thin, you must unwaveringly protect those to whom you’ve pledged your allegiance!"

Thun: "Hunger is a Knight’s backbone..."

"Courage!"

Thun: "Cow-rage!"

Isha: "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to take correct and necessary action even when afraid!"

Thun: "Cow-rage..."

"Justice!"

Thun: "Just... ice!"

Isha: "Knights are guardians of order and enforcers of justice. They must distinguish right from wrong, not fear the powerful, and not bully the weak!"

Thun: "Knights are guardians of..."

"Mercy!"

Thun: "Purr-cy!"

Isha: "Power is not for bullying, but for protecting. A true Knight shows compassion to the helpless, does not humiliate a defeated foe, and when necessary, grants their enemy an end with dignity!"

Thun: "Purr-cy..."

"Honesty!"

Thun: "Nasty!"

Isha: "A Knight’s promise is more valuable than life itself. Lying, cheating, and breaking promises are all disgraceful!"

Thun: "A nasty promise..."

"Perseverance!"

Thun: "Huh-severance!"

Isha: "Perseverance is the flame that never dies when facing a long journey and difficult obstacles!"

Thun: "Huh-severance..."

"Duty!"

Thun: "Doody!"

Isha: "A Knight bears the duty of protection—for their oaths, for the weak, for the land, and for the justice in their hearts!"

Thun: "Doody..."

"Wisdom!"

Thun: "Whiz-dom!"

Isha: "Wisdom guides a Knight to distinguish true enemies from allies, and to make wise choices amidst chaos!"

Thun: "Whiz-dom..."

The oath-taking process was a stumbling mess. Isha almost lost her composure several times and could only struggle to keep a straight face.

Hesia and Bruce, watching from the side, were shaking with silent laughter, their stomachs aching from holding it in.

But Thun was completely serious, his eyes shining with focused light.

He tried his best to imitate and understand every syllable. He knew this was the first step on the path to becoming a Knight!

A Knight’s training begins with understanding and swearing by the Eight Virtues of the Knight.

Only by integrating these tenets into one’s spirit and branding them upon one’s heart could one truly draw upon a Knight’s power.

Considering Thun’s special circumstances, Isha skipped the conventional physical and basic weapons training.

She decided to directly teach him the most fundamental Knight skill—[Holy Light Strike].

"Thun, close your eyes and feel the conviction in your heart. Think back to the people and things you want to protect, that desire to shield them..."

Thun did as he was told, closing his huge eyes. The image of his sister, Lina, lunging to protect him appeared in his mind, as did the gentle yet firm look in his mother’s eyes as she told him the story of Knight Roland...

"Imagine this conviction as a light inside you," Isha continued to guide him, "and let it gather in your sword... your palm."

Thun slowly opened his bear paw, palm facing up.

He focused his mind, trying to feel that conviction.

Isha also extended her hand, a ball of soft, pure white Holy Light coalescing in her palm as a demonstration for Thun. "Guide it, call to it, let it respond to your Will..."

The Woodland fell silent, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Hesia held his breath, staring nervously at Thun’s paw.

Bruce also looked up curiously.

A few seconds later...

In the center of Thun’s massive paw, a tiny, extremely faint glimmer of earthen-yellow light flickered gently, and then... went out.

Thun opened his eyes in frustration. He looked at his empty palm, his huge bear face filled with disappointment. "Me... me can’t do it..."

But Isha’s eyes lit up. "No, Thun. You succeeded at the first step! You felt it! You really did summon a power just now. It was very weak, but this proves you have the talent for it."

She encouraged him, "It takes practice. Concentrate! Again!"

Hearing this, Thun’s spirits lifted. Filled with anticipation, he closed his eyes again and focused even harder...

Hesia watched this scene, his own heart filled with anticipation.

It was as if he could already see those bountiful Decryption Points waving at him!

「Meanwhile, deeper in the Woodland.」

A pair of amber eyes was silently watching everything unfold.