The same white ward, the same white sheets.
Aaron, who had an expressionless face, showed no expression and no emotion arose in his heart, no matter whether he saw a bucket full of blood-stained bandages or a severed limb that had been sawed off.
At this time, Aaron was numb inside and lacked any sense of empathy, because all these emotions had been sucked away by the incarnation of Slaanesh. He could only feel that he was now in a true "Sage Time", which could not be mixed with anything. Thinking about the problem personally and emotionally.
He's surprisingly calm, but also legitimately ruthless.
"Your Excellency?" The doctor responsible for leading him looked at Aaron carefully. Seeing that his face was not only expressionless, but even his eyes were extremely empty and indifferent, he couldn't help but feel afraid.
In the battle of Dark Light Village, those who call upon the gods face the Purple Dragon Knight of the Outer Gods!
Challenge the gods as a mortal, and finally call the gods to fight with you!
The story has spread from the few surviving fishermen of Darklight Village, and now everyone in Susar and Masamba knows of Aaron-Salian's glorious exploits.
When everyone was on the verge of madness, he was the only one who still had the courage, the only one who still believed.
However, in the past two days of contact, this kingdom hero is really unpredictable.
Whether it was the grateful fisherman couple, the mentor of the Knights and the Grand Inspector General who came to see him later, or the dignitaries of Sousal, his fellow recruits, and doctors like himself, His Excellency Viscount Salian will always They are all expressionless, unsmiling, and emotionless.
Is this the margin of the strong?
"Sir Leonard? Not in your ward?" Aaron's words were dry.
"Yes, he...Sir Leonard just woke up and insisted that he should not waste the kingdom's finances. He said that he was fine and must get up to help." The doctor said cautiously: "It happened that we were short of manpower, so we sent him I’m assigned to the children’s clinic.”
"Well done, the children's clinic is always the busiest and most error-prone in the hospital." Aaron glanced at the doctor coldly.
The doctor was so frightened that he was sweating profusely and did not dare to say another word.
Passing by Leonard's ward, several elderly nursing staff sent out a sheet that was dyed black and had many ink spots on it. The bed where a person was supposed to be lying was empty, only the curtains that were blown by the autumn wind were raised. A large piece of white, Aaron glanced at the ward: "Where are the people?"
"Here, Your Excellency."
In a small clinic, Leonard, who had just woken up, was already sitting on a chair. His long golden hair, bright smile and handsome face made him the most shining scenery in the ward.
The college president was talking to a child.
"Where is the pain? Is it the head or the stomach?" Leonard's fingertips glowed with divine light, and he was planning to use holy healing to treat the child's pain.
"Head." The child tilted his head.
"Where on the head?" the paladin asked kindly.
"Bum." The child was obviously impatient.
Leonard: "…………"
"What kind of doctor are you? Do you know how to treat it?" The parent next to him was already angry. He was about to rush forward and grab the paladin's collar: "I can't even tell whether my child has a stomachache or a headache. If my child If something goes wrong, you must be responsible!"
"Then take your child and get out." Aaron stopped in front of the man. The purple dragon knight emblem on his chest reflected cold light in the sun: "Immediately, otherwise I will attack the purple dragon with you. I will prosecute you for the crime of knighthood."
The man fled with the child.
Ten minutes later, Leonard's hospital room.
"Actually, you don't have to do that." Leonard leaned against the bed with his eyes closed: "He was just anxious. Children are different from adults. They can't tell what's uncomfortable. Aaron, you don't have to show it. have to……"
"When I show kindness, then others will think that I must always be kind. If I am not kind enough, it will automatically be the same as doing evil.
Number. Aaron folded his arms and leaned against the wall: "How can we promote good without evil? Difference can only be seen through comparison... As for you, senior, why don't you take a good rest in the ward?"
"The energy of holy healing will be restored after praying every day. Didn't I want to not waste it?" Leonard said sheepishly: "I like children. No matter how unreasonable he is, you shouldn't do that. Junior brother, if you continue to do this, I will criticize you. It is wrong to refuse to save someone in the face of death."
"I am the one who should criticize you." Aaron closed his eyes: "The entire registered population of Cormyr is 1.3 million, but there are only 800-1,000 registered paladins."
"Excluding those families who have resources and abilities, there will be about 1 million people who need the help of paladins."
"Then a simple calculation, a paladin has to be responsible for the needs of more than 1,000 people. These needs are diverse, in addition to medical treatment, salvation, protection, execution of justice, notarization, judgment, as well as field work and expulsion of evil."
Leonard stopped talking.
"It is said that a paladin's life has two stages." Aaron opened his eyes and raised his head, looking at the wooden ceiling.
"The first stage is to pursue ideals, be full of passion and ambition, firmly believe that life and justice will never end, and put all your strength into your dreams."
"The second stage is the stage where you have become numb and vicissitudes of life, but you are still full of faith, but you have learned to refuse, learn to give up, and know how to invest only your limited energy into the cause in front of you, and try your best to do what you can first. "
"Senior, I can say that any paladin who firmly believes in and does not give up his sacred oath will sooner or later enter the second stage. To put it in the most extreme words, if you don't learn to ignore death, you will never be able to become a paladin. As a truly outstanding paladin, if you always feel that you are responsible for everything, it will actually harm you and others."
Leonard raised his head and looked at his junior disciple, as if he was getting to know him again.
Is that passionate, brave hero from before really the person in front of me?
"So, we understand each other." The university president looked out the window. His interest was waning, and a trace of fatigue finally showed on his always enthusiastic and bright face: "I sometimes understand that this is not a world that can be changed through hard work. "
Leonard suddenly turned back, his eyes full of bright and sacred light: "It's not that justice is too weak, it's that I am weak, but I will never regret doing this."
That is the power that belongs exclusively to the paladin! Resonances from the multiverse!
"If I, as a paladin, don't stand up, who will?"
Aaron was silent.
"You have your understanding of kindness and justice, junior, but I also have mine." Leonard continued: "It's like something I've been thinking about since I woke up."
"We rescued that fisherman girl. No matter what method you used, we succeeded. It's amazing."
"But there were only 32 survivors in Dark Light Village, and nearly 150 people died in this disaster."
"Sacrificing nearly 150 people just to save one person. Does this kind of behavior really make us worthy of the title of heroes?"
Aaron was silent.
Rescuing the sacrificed fisherman girl and transforming her back into a human was a negotiation between him and the incarnation of Cthulhu. However, he could negotiate one condition through the arrival of Slaanesh, but it was impossible to negotiate so many conditions.
"In terms of universal rationality, this is a very regrettable result. From a process perspective, we didn't do a good enough job, but in that case, there was nothing we could do, and... this was a very lucky result." Aaron shook his head. : "Practically speaking, it is possible that there is no way to save everyone. This is not a problem that can be solved by working harder."
"Moreover... we have saved more than one person. Every time the incarnation of the Old Ones comes, it will destroy at least the lives of all living creatures within fifteen kilometers."
"We've tried our best, senior, we've tried our best. You don't have to take all the responsibility on your shoulders." Aaron sighed, he was cold
Eyes as cold as a thousand years of ice looked directly at Leonard: "If you just want to use holy healing to treat the child to justify the casualties caused by our rescue operation, that is just a hypocritical self. That’s all.”
The paladin suddenly felt waves of heart-wrenching pain. He covered his chest hard and groaned.
Words are sometimes the soothing spring breeze, but sometimes they are the sharpest sword that hurts the most!
But loyal words are hard to hear, and the truest words are the most hurtful, but they are the most effective and sincere.
How long had it been since he'd felt this pain?
Is there a hypocritical side deep in my heart?
For a long time, Leonard rubbed his chest and forced a smile: "Thank you, junior."
"You're welcome, senior." Aaron remained expressionless: "How is Senior Disma?"
"He? He's still in a coma." Leonard shook his head: "The pastor said that he was deeply traumatized and needed to rest for a while to recover... None of us thought that the tavern owner was actually an accomplice, but who can do this? What do you think?"
"Why on earth is that tavern owner an accomplice of the Warlock? Which sect he is from? What was his previous purpose? Perhaps these will become an eternal mystery with the death of the Warlock and him." Aaron nodded. : "However, maybe we can find some clues from other places."
"...Speaking of which, senior, you are already in your twenties this year, don't you plan to get married?" Aaron suddenly changed the topic inexplicably.
The paladin was silent. He let the autumn wind blow on his clothes. After a while, he slowly said:
"I have dedicated my life to my Lord."
"I remember that the three gods of justice did not prohibit their paladins from getting married, right?" Aaron said casually: "But this is your right, and I will not interfere with you."
"In this regard, you are very much like a follower of the Silver Virgin, my junior." Leonard smiled and said, "You don't like to interfere with others."
But the smile on the paladin's face soon stopped.
An aristocratic girl with brown princess braids and a petite figure was standing at the door. Her big, watery eyes were full of tears. Her hands were tangled together. She didn't want to come in or not come in. She just stared with sad eyes. With the paladin.
"Please." Aaron ignored Leonard's voice and left the ward, leaving space for the two of them.
He remembered that this noble lady was called Maria Laisa, and she had a close relationship with the college president... Well, it was said that the knight mentor was pushing forward this matter.
Aaron thought he would feel teasing or playful.
No, nothing.
People are already numb.
Now I don't have any feelings.
But it was precisely for this reason that Aaron had this heart-opening conversation with Leonard.
After the previous battle in Dark Light Village, Aaron has determined that this is a friend who is truly worthy of friendship and trust. Otherwise, he would never come to Leonard alone and say these offending words to him.
This is the embodiment of Nuganqi's power. Every word and every word speaks directly to people's hearts.
He won't be able to use the power of Slaanesh for a short period of time, and the power of Nuganqi is his biggest reliance during this period.
If he hadn't been in the "Sage's Time", he really wouldn't have been able to say what he said.
After returning to his ward and greeting the two Queen's Blades at the door, Aaron began to count the gains during this period.
Groups of people came to see him and gave him more or less gifts.
Some were just simple fruits, food, and souvenirs, which Aaron only kept for his own use.
But some people also sent very precious gifts.
Hafur, the son of the Minister of Shipping, sent an onyx and a spinel, which are excellent materials for forging extraordinary equipment.
Lucian, the instructor of the Purple Dragon Knights, and several of his father's old friends sent him a set of silver wine glasses, a set of ivory dice, and a set of ivory chess.
So boring.
My aunt's family had just arrived. They seemed to have used their savings to bring me a jade amulet made of white jade and apparently blessed by a priest.
Aaron put it on without hesitation.
On behalf of the Purple Dragon Knights, the Grand Inspector-General of the Purple Dragon Knights sent a gold ticket worth 2,000 gold lion coins with a Ms. Fortune photo sticker on it. At the same time, the Grand Inspector-General also sent a personal condolence item from him.
A pure white silk scarf.
What a meaningful gift. Aaron picked up the silk scarf and his mind moved. He knew that now the Purple Dragon Knights have announced that the trio's trip to Darklight Village was ordered by the Knights. The Purple Dragon Knights will always protect the safety of the nation. Responsible.
There were also dignitaries from Susar who sent many exquisite gifts.
Such as silk robes with gold embroidery, small mirrors set in painted wooden frames, and large tapestries with exquisite workmanship.
After some calculation, Aaron received more than 5,000 gold lion coins in gifts this time.
Money comes so easily, Aaron complained to himself.
But he didn't feel any joy. He just looked at it casually and put the things away.
The Queen Regent, Alice Searle, was already paying attention to this matter. She sent a message through the Queen's Blade, saying that after Aaron had rested, he would come to the palace to see his Majesty.
There must be a reward for this. Aaron is really trying to earn face for the Obeschier royal family this time.
Is she the regent? Aaron thought about ways.
He can't wait any longer. He should attack Alice as soon as possible and try to have a good talk with her. Without her support, he will definitely not be able to defeat the Son of Bane, but if he can take her down, he will have A few chances.
There was a noise at the door, and Queen's Blade stopped the visitor, but a coquettish voice ordered them to move away.
"Aaron~sister is here~"
Her long pink hair rushed into the room like lightning. She opened her arms and jumped towards her brother in the air.
Miss Warlock came to visit him.
Meanwhile, the Church of Our Lady of Silver in Sousal.
"Priest, I have to leave early today." Eleanor, wearing standard priest robes, took a rare leave from the church priest.
"Are you going to visit Lord Salian?" The priestess smiled half-heartedly.
"Yeah." A faint blush appeared on Eleanor's face, and her expression was firm, even a little unhappy: "I think he needs me now."
You didn't call me for such a dangerous action, Aaron Salian, you're screwed!
Miss Pastor thought bitterly and clenched her fists.
"Okay, then go quickly."
