Compared to the Hall of the Sacred Tree, the chapel of the Knights' headquarters is just an inconspicuous small place, although it is directly facing the gate of the headquarters, if you don't pay attention, it is easy to overlook the towers behind it, and the small chapel does not even look as big as a storage room, even if it is crammed, it is impossible to seat fifty people.

But it is impossible for more than fifty people to actually attend Edward's oath-taking ceremony - although there are dozens of Knights of the Sacred Tree stationed in Turin City, with corresponding attendants, and a thousand elite sergeants, there are not so many people who actually stay here, and basically they all have their own tasks and jobs, and there are only a few people left behind.

Among them, all the twenty or so knights who remained were to come to watch the ceremony - this was also the custom of the Order, and when any new brother joined, someone had to be there to bless and wish him, and participate in the whole ceremony as a witness to his becoming a knight of the sacred tree.

Although it was only a simple chapel, the attendants and a few knights who remained at the headquarters were as happy as a festival, and the old knight of Sena, who was blind and had only his left arm left, was personally responsible for the decoration of the church, the placement of the menorah, the utensils on the main altar, and the sculpture of the glorious cross...... Edward could see that these people were really happy for themselves, and the black-haired boy suddenly felt as if he was also a little panicked.

In his previous life, he had never experienced such a thing - there would be someone who was willing to be busy arranging for the sake of celebrating himself, and it was really a ...... Emotions that are difficult to express in words, unlike money and have nothing to do with desire, those squires who are about the same age as themselves, and the elated squire, as well as the old knight of Senna, are full of a very pure and unadulterated thing, something that he does not want to look at directly.

The oath-taking ceremony will take place in the evening - due to the unique location of the Church at the headquarters of the Order and the height of the hill on which it is guarded, the sun's rays will shine through the cross-shaped cutouts on the walls and on the faces of those kneeling at the altar.

Edward, who had been arranged by Sir Leonardo to practice and wait at the training ground, did not see the priest who was about to preside over his oath in the afternoon, which was a little unexpected, I should say.

"I'm sorry, my friend - I don't know why the Chief Cardinal suddenly gave me this mission. Weber Alexander, a little embarrassed, walked over with an apologetic look on his immature expression: "I know this ceremony is important to you, so ...... It may have put you off. ”

The little priest Weber was of course happy to be able to preside over such an important ceremony for his best friend, but he also knew that he was not qualified to do so—at least he had to be the chief priest of a certain diocese, and at most he could have an identity to assist by his side.

And now, at what was probably the most important moment in Edward's life, he was presided over by an ordinary priest who wore a linen and black robe and had no status to speak of, and even a simple Webber could faintly feel that it was not a good thing to do, at least for a knight, it must not be something he should be proud of.

"No, no, no, my dear Webb, you are so modest. Edward, who had just finished training, wiped the sweat from his forehead, raised the corners of his mouth and smiled at the little priest, "There is no more suitable person for me than you - you are to witness my beginning as a knight of the sacred tree, just as you are to witness my new life!"

"Really?" the little priest smiled a little unexpectedly, and scratched the back of his head, "You really don't feel ......?"

"I would be proud of this moment for a future saint to take the oath for me. Edward joked, "Don't belittle yourself too much, you're very religious—more than many people, and under the light of the Radiant Cross, there is no difference in status, origin, title, or wealth, so what could be more blessed by it?"

"Yes, under the light of the Radiant Cross, our souls are no different. Webber nodded, his expression as calm as water: "No matter what we are after, or where we come from and where we are going." ”

"Speaking of which, Edward ......" The little priest suddenly remembered what the black-haired boy had mentioned to him about his past when he was in Spear Street: "Before the ceremony begins, if you don't mind, you can tell me about your previous ......"

"I'm sorry, the honorable servant of the Radiant Cross. A deep voice suddenly came from behind Webber, "Can I interrupt you a little?"

"Are you...... Grand Master of the Knights of the Sacred Tree, Lord Mercer Kane?!" Turning his head to see the exquisite pendant on the person who came, and the badge representing the identity of the Grand Master, he quickly stood up from his seat: "Let me apologize to you. ”

"No, no, no, the person who needs to apologize is me, interrupting the small talk between your friends. Grand Master's expression looked quite relaxed, and he smiled and glanced at Edward, who was also standing up on the side, "But before the ceremony begins, I still have something to say to Edward Wetwood, maybe you can go and prepare what you need next?"

Of course, the little priest could not refuse.

It wasn't until he saw Webber walk away that Mercer Kane slowly retracted his relaxed demeanor: "I asked him to leave about Gayor Valence - if you have any opinions, feel free to confide." ”

"Sir Leonardo has explained to me why, and I can understand your distress. Edward turned the subject back without a trace: "All of them are for the safety of the Knights of the Sacred Tree and the strength of the Knights. ”

Hearing this, Mercer immediately stood in place, looking at Edward's unpretentious eyes with a somewhat complicated expression, pursed his lips and wanted to say something, but in the end he let out a long sigh.

"I heard what you just said fifteen years ago. At that time, that person was about the same age as you are now, only two or three years older, and he had made great achievements on the battlefields of the East and the infidels, and even once he killed the enemy's cavalry alone, and came back with the head of the other party's commander covered in blood. Mercer said indifferently: "Guess who?"

"Lord Tornier Gombray?" Edward curled the corners of his mouth slightly, "It can't be so coincidental, it's Knight Captain Gaio Valens, right?"

"It's Gaio Valens, I still don't forget the scene when he was covered in blood and holding a broken sword, and shouted 'For the glory of the Knights' in a hoarse voice - that day, the merchant ship of the Valens family was shipwrecked, and his father was forced to come to the door because he couldn't pay his debts, and he didn't want to involve his son and the family's honor, so he died, and burned to ashes with the ancestral home of the Valence family, I think you already know who the creditor is. ”

"Minest. Edward nodded silently, "So what happened?"

"Fifteen years ago I was the chief knight, but when the Marquis of Holard heard about it, he forgave the usury owed to him by the Valens family, but Gaio paid it off, although it took a long time. "But I know very well that perhaps at first Gaio entered the Order to revitalize the declining Valence family, but after that day...... His purpose was only revenge. ”

"But you still made him the chief knight, which is enough to witness that you are not suspicious of employing people. Edward took the opportunity to tout the other party slightly: "This is the luck of the Knights of the Holy Tree!"

"I'm not telling you this for this, but I want to tell you something. Mercer slowly lowered his head and met those dark eyes, "That is, I don't care what your purpose is for joining the Knights of the Sacred Tree - just like Gaiyo, but there are some boundaries that cannot be crossed!"

"You've probably heard from Tornier or Leonardo about what the Knights of the Sacred Tree looked like back then—the Blood Cliff three hundred years ago, and what the Eastern Realm looked like three hundred years ago before Levy Marcherus came?"

"A ruined country caught up in a struggle for the throne, a frenzied invasion of the infidels and barbarians, the displacement of thousands of civilians, the smoke of gunfire everywhere, the lords have difficulty even protecting themselves, and no one sees any hope. Edward slowly recalled the history of the Order in his mind.

"Yes, at that time, the Knights of the Sacred Tree were still a sectarian organization, separated from the royal families vying for power, protecting the peasants of the countryside from the infidels. But we were too weak at that time - only one or two thousand poor people who lacked food and drink, but we had to fight against the enemy's regular army, and we were killed and wounded one after another!"

"Later, many lords began to support us, and we slowly stabilized our position, but we were still unable to resist the infidel attacks - the Holy Land was burned, the archbishop of the Order died tragically in the chaos, and even we began to doubt that even if we could get a little help at that time, we would do our best to have a chance of victory!"

"So when the Eastern Kingdom was annexed by Turin, we did not resist at all, and even abandoned our faith in favor of the Radiant Cross - we can hardly imagine how our ancestors wept with joy when they saw the army of Turin rising from the horizon!"

"This is the bottom line that I want to sue you, which must not be crossed—that we do not fight for the crown, and we can tolerate our brothers with different goals and ambitions, but only one thing: we will never betray what we have guarded, and we have guarded our kingdom!"