Atlas Double Star Book

The sun is about to rise.

The two knights went over the hill into the forest.The wind filled the mountains and fields, and the fur on the shoulder collar fluttered.The dew is scattered under the rushing hooves of the horses, and the morning sun is like broken gold sprinkled all over the world.

On the ground, two shadows moved forward slowly.

The mountain appeared again, and the peasant women gleaning ears of wheat on the roadside watched them, and the cattle raised their heads from a distance and heard them.

This is the most important day of Neil's life.

Before the canonization ceremony began, Trand still had something to say to Neal.They rode to the forest outside the city, because the oath between knights must be spoken under the protection of elves.

"right here."

Trand dismounted, and Neal pulled on the reins.

It was a small clearing in the forest, surrounded by greenery.In the center of the circular clearing stood a small stone.

"Tombstone."

Neil walked over and stroked the smooth side of the stone.The dew is wet and moistens the moss.Small, modest monuments of this kind can be seen all over the mountains, used to bury the unnamed dead or commemorate the tragic battles that took place here.The tombstone is not an ordinary grave, but the residence of the elves.For out of the death of mortals comes sorrow and strength, which in turn attracts the spirits of the earth.Knights often swear an oath here, or pay homage to their comrades who are buried in a foreign land after returning from an expedition.

Legend has it that these tombstones are fragments of the "Wall of Menes".

The knights drew their swords and laid them horizontally in front of the tombstone, paying homage to the elves and the dead.

After the simple ceremony, Neil stood up and asked the knight commander, "What's so important? You never told me, and you insisted on coming to the tombstone to swear an oath."

"Yes." Trand looked at his friend solemnly, and then said, "Before your canonization ceremony, I want you to swear."

"No matter what you are going to say...I swear." Neil also became serious. He had rarely seen Trander so serious.

"You boy..." Trander was a little moved.His life was full of intrigue, and he himself was very good at it.But when facing this upright young man, he felt unprecedented ease, like looking down in front of a clear spring, looking at his true appearance.

Trand went on to say:

"Neil Bernhard, I want you to swear: When facing a major decision or crisis, you must obey the advice of the silver mage—Peleas."

"This……"

Before Neil could finish speaking, Trand interrupted him: "Even if you and I disagree...you have to listen to the mage's advice. Neil, you swear."

Neil wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't.He put his hand on the tombstone and swore an oath to the multitude of the dead and the elves everywhere.

After the oath was completed, Trand breathed a sigh of relief: "You must do this... Peleas is special, he will make fair decisions, and he will hardly consider personal interests."

"Indeed, he was too impartial."

"So, when you are hesitant...you have to choose justice." Trande used his talent as a bard to enlighten the youth: "A person like Peleas can't be a counselor next to the king at all, because his personality Strong, uncompromising...yet he is the stone, the cornerstone, the signpost, the bone of the earth. He will be the banner when men are blinded; master."

"teacher……"

Trand added: "I am a politician, and it is difficult for me to always stand on the same side as Peleas. The same is true for Hein."

Mentioning his father's name, Neil clenched his sword tightly.

Trand paced forward with his hands behind his back, and looked back at Neil, as if he was repeating the scene of the year, "I once met Hein Prospero as an envoy of the Empire. I told you, he It's rare...a man I really admire. We had a private conversation at that time, just like you and I are now."

Neil listened quietly.

The knight commander pondered for a moment and said, "'Hein Prospero, will you be a friend of the Empire?'"

"Hein smiled and asked me: "Perhaps you want to ask: can I be your friend? After all, a man like you will always put himself above the glory of the empire." What a merciless person The guy in front of you." The knight commander smiled, and continued:

"That's why I don't hesitate to ask directly: 'Sir Hein Prospero, are you not the same kind of person? Don't you have the only destiny in your mind to be the lackey of the king?'"

"Your father laughed again: 'No, I'll get Omega over the sea, and this continent.' At that time, the moon was shining into the forest, and it was just the two of us. Hein spoke frankly about his ambition because He thinks I understand him."

Trand paused for a moment and looked at Neil.

The young man's expression is serious and resolute, similar to his father's, but completely different.Father and son have different lights, like diamonds and sunlight, noon and dusk.thought Trand.

"Hein is right," the knight commander smiled, "I am the same kind of person as him, so we cannot be friends. If he is still alive, then sooner or later, he and I will meet each other on the battlefield. "

Neil felt uncomfortable after hearing this.

"But I admire him, and I still do to this day. You are different from him, Neil...you can create a different future, so I want you to swear." Trund hid half of the sentence, and there was something in his heart. It was a rare experience for him to feel bitter.

Neil pointed out the friend's implication: "You are worried that the same thing will happen to us in the future, so let me swear first, lest I suffer from the position. But I also want to say...Trand, nothing can break us Friendship, even when the night falls, even when despair gets us down. I want you to swear that no matter what happens, you'll be my best friend."

Trander was a little surprised that Neil could think of such a step.

The blond-haired youth spoke so earnestly that one could feel conviction just by looking at those blue eyes.

"Yes... yes, I swear. You are my friend, even if it is death, I will never betray you." Trander said in a low voice.

The hands of the knight and the knight were firmly held together.

The sun gradually rises.

The autumn day is as translucent as a whole crystal, and the brilliance of all things is also bright.The celebration begins, the trumpets sound—

The golden snake flag on a blue background is fluttering, surrounded by scarlet pennants. Above the city wall, the light of the sea is shining, and the towering golden roof of the Night Palace is shining brightly, overlooking the entire capital. , Shadows surged in the narrow streets, in the alleys, in the millions of small dark windows.The bird passed by, its white wings cast tiny shadows on the roof.If a young girl walks through the muddy and gloomy streets with a laundry basket, she will see the incomparably brilliant White City through the gaps between the buildings.

All darkness and color, all vivid—

In the flash of the swords held high by the knights, in the blue eyes of the youth.

"Neil Bernhard, in the name of the gods in the sky—!" The knight commander put the long sword on the young man's left shoulder with a dignified appearance.

Neil listened attentively and looked up.

The day hangs high.

On his head was like a helmet of silver, like a crown.

"...with the deeds of heroes and kings of all ages," the knight commander said aloud, and tapped Neil's right shoulder with his long sword, "with the terror of the depths of the abyss and the end of the Hades..."

Neil knelt on one knee and closed his eyes.

He felt the ground beneath his knees stretch, stretching deeper, passing through countless bones and death.

"You swear that you will uphold justice, protect the people, and be loyal to the king; you swear—you will be the sharpest sword, the keel that breaks through the wind and waves, and the most stable cornerstone; your virtue and perseverance will be sung throughout the empire. superior!"

Yes.

Neil opened his eyes again.

"I swear."

Once again, the knight commander raised his sword:

"Then, Neil Bernhard, son of Hein Prospero, I canonize you as a knight."

he said softly.

When the grand announcement ended, it ended so lightly, like a full stop, written at the end of a great epic.

Then the young knight stood up, his blond hair dazzling in the sun.

Neil was a little dizzy. Such a solemn and joyful moment made the young man feel unreal.Immediately afterwards, the horn sounded again, his friends cheered, and his comrades laughed.People celebrated and blessed him.

"Silly boy, you are a real knight!" Trander hugged Neil's shoulders firmly, and kissed him firmly on the face twice.

"Go away!" Neil smiled, pushing away the knights who ran over to hug him.

"Ahhh, I'm going to cry!" The Duke took out his handkerchief, and leaned his head on Egg's shoulder exaggeratedly.Even Egg, who was usually taciturn, showed signs of joy at this moment.He had never imagined that he would be able to participate in a knight canonization ceremony as a swordsmanship teacher.

Beside them was the bright Peleas.

The scholar stood upright and remained silent, as if he was on an empty pier——finally saw the white sail returning at dusk.After a long drift, the hero becomes himself and the journey becomes the end.

Peleas looked at Neil, then buried his face in his hands.The darkness between his fingers became wet, it was because he remembered the farewell at the beginning.

After ten years, the two finally returned to each other.

"teacher……!"

Neil came and took his hands excitedly, and Peleas returned the same look.

"Neil, bless you...bless you."

Just like the wish of that life, the mage and the knight stood together under Venus, and the earth stretched under their feet, like a newly opened page.

The author has something to say: Get married in the next chapter! ! (No, no, it's just because the teacher wears a beautiful and beautiful robe, I can't find a place to describe it in this chapter hahaha