65: Three Laws

"Stop!" Randall suddenly said in a low voice, raising a hand to signal us to halt, and straining to look ahead, his eyes filled with caution and tension. "I feel something coming!"

Fiona and I immediately held our breath, trying to blend into the surrounding shadows, and carefully observing the distance.

The air in the rock crevice seemed to solidify at that moment, with only our soft breaths and faint sounds from afar.

Suddenly, my gaze caught something unusual.

In the distance, there were faintly flickering… eerie green flames!

They flickered on and off, appearing particularly strange at the bottom of the dark rock crevice.

"It's an Undead Creature!" Randall's low voice sounded in my ear, his tone filled with helplessness and worry. "If only… my Turn Undead ability was still here."

My heart stirred, and I immediately said, "Randall, listen to me."

My eyes fixed on his back. He slowly turned around, and through our shared vision, I knew he was looking at me too.

"Randall, I now have a way to restore your Holy Knight status," I said softly, trying to keep my voice calm and firm.

"Really?" Randall's eyes immediately lit up. He asked somewhat eagerly, "How can I? How can it be restored?"

"Randall, you used to be a Paladin of the Oath of Devotion, right?" I asked softly.

Randall nodded, his eyes deepening. "I once swore an Oath of Devotion:

Honesty: Do not lie or deceive; keep your word.

Courage: Think carefully, then act fearlessly.

Compassion: Help others, uphold justice, forgive enemies, and convert them with your heart.

Honor: Treat others fairly, uphold honor as an example to the world, perform good deeds, and avoid unnecessary harm.

Responsibility: Obey superiors, be responsible for your actions and performance, and be responsible for those you protect."

His voice was firm and powerful, every word revealing his adherence to his past vows.

I nodded, thinking to myself: The more steadfast you are, the harder this will be.

Then, I slowly said, "What I can offer is… another path for a Holy Knight. Randall, have you heard of the Oath of the Crown?"

A hint of confusion flashed in Randall's eyes.

I continued, "The Oath of the Crown is a noble ideal for civilization.

It is not merely a personal commitment to virtue, but also an identification with the spirit of the nation, an allegiance to the monarch, or a dedication to upholding laws and rules.

Holy Knights who follow the Oath of the Crown dedicate themselves to the entire society, striving to ensure that society as a whole adheres to the law. They are guardians of an orderly society, constantly vigilant against the waves of chaos and barbarism that threaten to destroy civilization.

Usually, a Holy Knight who takes this oath is a warrior loyal to their country or monarch."

Randall fell silent.

The footsteps behind him grew clearer; it was the sound of the Undead Creature gradually approaching.

I continued, "Currently, I don't know how to restore your status as a Holy Knight of the Oath of Devotion, and that might require a long search and exploration. But if you are willing, I can help you gain the status of a Holy Knight of the Oath of the Crown right now, allowing you to regain your divine power."

Randall turned around again, his gaze fixed on the "ghostly fires" in the distance.

I silently muttered: Brother! Just say something, yes or no!

Just then, Fiona interjected, "If they're just ordinary low-level Undead Creatures, my Magic Vine should be able to handle them." Her words carried a hint of confidence, but her eyes also revealed a trace of unease.

I glanced at her but said nothing.

The "ghostly fires" were getting closer. I counted at least a dozen pairs of eyes flickering in the darkness, emitting a chilling aura.

"No!" Randall spoke again, his voice firm and strong. "Ryan has saved my life many times, and I once swore allegiance to Lord Ryan for this life. Protecting you is my responsibility!"

Then, he seemed to take several deep breaths, trying to calm the turmoil within him, and continued, "Ryan, I want to hear the tenets of the Crown Oath. Before I make a decision, I need to understand what I am about to swear to protect."

I nodded and slowly began to explain the tenets of the Crown Oath: Law, Loyalty, Courage, and Responsibility, one by one.

"Randall, Loyalty, Courage, and Responsibility—you are already sufficiently qualified for all three."

"What are the articles of Law?" Randall asked.

I said solemnly, "Fiona, please bear witness with me. Our Black Panther Fortress still has few people, so for now, I will enact three basic laws."

The Undead Creature in the distance had already entered the range where I could see them clearly.

They were a dozen or so animal-shaped Undead Skeletons of varying sizes, some as small as cats or mice, others as tall as six or seven meters.

Eerie green light flickered in their eye sockets, and their bones clattered, like fiends from hell.

They seemed to be driven by some evil force, slowly walking towards us.

"As the Lord of Black Panther Fortress," I began, my voice echoing in the rock crevice with an undeniable authority, "the first law I enact is: No liege subject shall betray their liege; the second law is: All liege subjects shall not kill each other."

The Undead Creature in front suddenly accelerated, the eerie green soul flames in their eye sockets flickering in the darkness, like hungry wolves pouncing on prey. I was momentarily stunned.

"What about the third?" Randall's voice sounded in my ear.

I tried to calm myself and continued, "The third law is: All liege subjects must prioritize the interests of the territory and must not disregard the interests of other races and the territory for the sake of their own race's interests."

Randall listened quietly, his gaze gradually becoming resolute.

He looked at the approaching Undead Creature, as if ready for battle, but there was no trace of fear in his eyes.

When I finished my last word, he took a deep breath, then slowly nodded, expressing his approval of my laws and his determination to shoulder the responsibility he was about to undertake.

"Lord," Randall's voice was firm and powerful, "I, Randall Barkman, am willing to accept the Oath of the Crown and become a Holy Knight who protects you and Black Panther Fortress. I will use my strength and wisdom to uphold the laws you enact and to guard the peace and tranquility of this land."