"Is the fireplace on fire?" Dean tightened the blanket and put his hands into the sweater. He asked Kroen who was next to him.
Kroen saw that Dudian was shivering in the cold. He replied: "Master, the fireplace is burning. Would you like to sit by the fireplace?"
Dean frowned but silently nodded. He got up and went to the fireplace next to the sofa. Kroen took the animal fur blanket and padded it on the sofa. Dean sat down after the blanket was laid out.
The fire in the fireplace crackled, and the warm light shone on his face, but he still felt that his whole body was bone-chilling cold, and he couldn't help but feel a little worried.
Black snowflakes were falling from the sky outside the window. The snowflakes were mixed with radiation particles. The speed of the snowflakes was relatively fast as they hit the ground and the window.
The door was pushed open. Artemis timidly came in. She looked at Kroen: "Master, did you call me?" Although she was only four or five years old, the hardships of childhood made her more sensible than other children of the same age. Coupled with Dean's teaching these days, she also learned to call Dean like other people in the castle.
Dean nodded and beckoned her to come over.
Artemis was nervous as she slowly came in front of Dean.
Dean reached out and touched her green hair. He had never seen such a hair color in the outer wall. Civilians had brown or black hair while nobles had blonde or pale gold hair. Such a unique hair color was extremely rare. He whispered: "Have you finished today's homework?"
"I'm done," Artemis answered honestly, her voice crisp and tender.
Dean nodded and sat her on his lap: "What story do you want to listen to today?"
Artemis blinked her bright eyes and felt a little relieved. She knew that this big brother was the most gentle when he was telling a story. He would never get angry, but he seemed to be a different person when he was telling a story. She tilted her head and thought for a while. "I still want to hear the story of 'The Ugly Duckling' from last time."
Dean smiled: "I have finished the story of the ugly duckling. Today I will tell you the story of Snow White. Do you want to hear it?"
"Snow White?" Artemis blinked. Wasn't the snow black? How could there be white snow?
Kroen was quietly waiting next to Dudian but his ears were pricked up. He liked the stories told by Dudian and admired him. Dudian was a friend of the same age but he knew more than him.
"The snow is white." Dean smiled: "In a distant place where the snow is white. The story began in that place. There was a …"
Dudian's soft voice echoed in the room as the black snow fell on the window. The firewood in the fireplace cracked. Time passed unknowingly. Artemis sat in Dean's arms and listened obediently. She didn't interrupt Dean's words like other little girls who would interrupt Dean's words to ask questions.
When the story was finished, Kroen was still immersed in it and had not come back to his senses.
Artemis's eyes lit up: "The seven dwarves are so pitiful."
Dean smiled but didn't speak. He gently put her back on the ground: "Go and practice your swordsmanship."
Artemis came to her senses. Knowing that this was the end of her gentleness, she nodded and said, "I'm going, Young Master." With that, she left the study.
Kroen quietly watched her leave: "Master, your time is so precious. Why are you wasting time by telling her these stories?"
"Blindly exercising and learning. There is no warmth. Only monsters will be cultivated." Dean's expression was flat: "People who have fairy tales in their heart will have persistence. When the fairy tales are shattered, it is time to break the cocoon and become a butterfly."
Kroen was startled. He was at a loss.
Dean sighed as he looked at the black snow that had accumulated on the window lattice. There was a trace of darkness in his eyes.
Knock.
A sound came from outside the door.
"Come in."
Nicholas pushed the door and respectfully said: "Master, the Knight's Hall has sent someone to summon you."
Dean's eyes flashed slightly. He nodded, lifted the warm blanket on his body, put down the book, and got up to leave the fireplace. After leaving the room, the air seemed to be colder. His pores shrank slightly, and he shivered slightly. But he didn't want to let others see that he was shivering. He could only purse his lips, tense his body, and unconsciously look indifferent.
He went downstairs.
Dean saw a knight in the hall. He was about 30 years old. He was wearing a golden knight's armor. He had an imposing appearance and thick eyebrows. The man said after seeing Dean: "I'm Alva. Greetings master Dean."
Dean nodded: "I've been waiting for a long time. Please sit down."
"No, I'm here to deliver a letter. This is your letter." Alva respectfully handed over a piece of paper.
Dean took a look and nodded: "No problem, I'll go with you."
Alva was overjoyed: "Alright."
Dean ordered Kroen to prepare the horses. He was about to go out when a team of people came from the distance. Redmayne was leading the team. He saluted Dean and nodded to Alva: "Master, Mel family's patriarch George has admitted that he sent people to assassinate you. He has been arrested and imprisoned in the military. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment!"
Dean's eyes lit up: "What is the reason for the assassination?"
Redmayne hesitated: "According to the magistrate's investigation it should be because of business competition. If you die then New World consortium won't be able to rely on you and suppress the Mellon consortium, so …"
Dean nodded: "I know. Thank you for your hard work."
"Of course, it's snowing outside. Grandmaster, where are you going?" Redmayne asked as he looked at Alva. He had a guess in his mind.
Alva answered for Dean: "Master is going to receive a knight medal."
Redmayne looked at Dean in admiration: "Master is not only great in the field of divinity but also has the strength of a knight! I really admire you!"
Dean said goodbye to Redmayne and rode away with Alva. They rode for more than an hour before arriving at the Knight's Hall.
"Master, please." Alva led the way.
Dean kept up with him.
The Knight's Hall was as majestic as ever. It was like a huge square with a high dome. The walls were embedded with wall lamps and crystals. It was extremely luxurious and simple. It didn't have the vulgarity of gold and jade but exuded nobility and sacredness.
"This is the sealed platform." Alva led Dean to a hall.
There was a huge circular platform in the middle of the hall. Outside the circular platform was a circle of seats. Currently, there were twelve figures sitting around it. All of them were wearing knight armor and had knight medals on them. Behind these twelve figures, there were three figures sitting on a higher level of seats. They were two Golden Knights, and the one in the middle was an old man wearing bright golden armor. He had an extremely thick white beard.
"Dean, please come to the platform." The white-bearded old man said. His majestic voice spread throughout the hall.
Dean came to the center of the round platform along the narrow aisle.
The white-bearded old man deeply looked at Dudian: "I swear!"
"We swear!"
The twelve knights around him shouted in unison.
"Humble, courteous, upright …" The white-bearded old man recited loudly. Every time he recited a sentence, the twelve knights around him would recite a sentence as well. The majestic code of chivalry reverberated in the hall, causing the walls to echo loudly.
After a moment, the white-bearded old man finished reciting. He pulled out his sword, stood up from his seat, and walked down the stairs step by step. He came to Dean and said: "Are you willing to accept the knight's mission?"
Dean knelt on one knee, bowed his head and said: "I'm willing to accept!"
The white-bearded old man pressed the sword on his shoulder and said: "Swear!"
Dean took a deep breath. With a solemn expression, he sonorously swore: "I, Dean, swear that I will follow the knight's code of conduct all my life — humility, integrity, compassion, heroism, justice, sacrifice, glory, soul!"
"The knight's code is my code!"
"I swear, I will treat the weak well!"
(Enslave them.)
"I swear, I will bravely fight against the ruthlessness of the * * * * *."
"I swear, I will fight against all wrong!"
(Reflection.)
"I swear, I will fight for the unarmed!"
(Use.)
"I swear, I will help anyone who asks me for help!"
(Valuable.)
"I swear, I will not hurt any woman!"
(Will not provoke me.)
"I swear, I will help my brother knight!"
(Bribe.)
"I swear, I will be sincere to my friends!"
(Surface.)
"I swear, I will love until death!"
(…)
The oath echoed in the hall. After a moment, the oath ended. The white-bearded old man took back his sword and stretched out his hand.
Dean took his hand and stood up. It wasn't a sign of help but a symbol of inheritance.
At this time, two golden knights came over with a new set of golden knight's armor and a golden knight's sword. They handed over to Dean. The white-bearded old man took out a knight's medal from his hand. It wasn't a golden knight's medal but a bright gold one. The edge of the medal was inlaid with crystal diamonds. It was the highest level crystal knight medal of the Knight's Hall!
Crystal knight was the highest glory of a knight. It symbolized flawlessness and purity!
"From today onwards, you are a golden knight of the Knight Hall!" The white-bearded old man seriously looked at Dean: "But in view of your excellent performance, we will make an exception to give you a crystal knight medal. You will have most of the privileges and treatment of a crystal knight. We will replace your armor once you become a crystal knight. Do you understand?"
Dean nodded: "I understand."
The white-bearded old man nodded and handed over the medal to Dean.
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