Chapter 43: The Gnoll Attack

"Rather like a dog, isn’t it?"

Weilin rose to his feet, surveying the rocky giant lizard as he spoke to Baird and Eunice.

Another rocky giant lizard was then unchained and, just as docile, laid itself flat on the ground, showing not a hint of its usual ferocity.

"Go fetch some wolf meat," Weilin instructed a nearby soldier, his gaze fixed on his new pets.

Moments later, two soldiers arrived, each carrying a bucket of wolf meat coated in mineral salts, prepared for curing. They dumped the contents onto the ground beside the giant lizards.

Both creatures stared hungrily at the meat, drool dripping from their jaws, eyes brimming with longing, yet neither dared move a muscle.

"Hahaha, they really do have some sense," Weilin laughed, stepping forward. He picked up a chunk of meat and tossed it to one of the lizards.

The beast opened its mouth wide and swallowed the meat in a single gulp, then licked its lips with relish, gazing at its new master with eager devotion.

Baird watched the scene in silence, convinced that his lord must be favored by the Goddess of Life herself. Otherwise, how could such mindless beasts submit so readily at first sight?

Eunice, meanwhile, felt her worldview shatter yet again. In her fifty-odd years of life, she’d never witnessed such a thing. These normally savage creatures, who would bare their fangs even at legendary warriors, now lay before her like a pair of meek puppies. It was almost impossible for a half-elf to accept.

Yet Eunice knew she had missed another opportunity. Who knew when the next one would come? The thought of spending the next ten years laboring as an overworked architect filled her with a sense of despair.

As for escape, in the Lake of Starlit Prayers, surrounded by so many Silver Knights, it would be no different than courting death.

During this interaction, Weilin bestowed names upon his new lizard companions. The paler one he called Snow, and the yellowish one he dubbed Goldie.

"Be good now. I’ll have a home built for you two. For now, follow the keepers to the lakeshore and get yourselves washed."

Once the lizards had been led away, Weilin finally noticed Eunice nearby. He smiled and said, "Even if you haven’t achieved much, you’ve worked hard. I’ll have Orlando bring you a low-grade magic crystal shortly."

"Thank you, my lord."

Eunice bowed slightly and returned to the castle’s construction site.

At that moment, the silent Baird spoke up. "My lord, I think there’s no need to go so easy on that half-elf. If she complains, a good beating should put her right. If she tries to escape, just cut off her legs."

Weilin laughed at this, his tone free of reproach. "Baird, that’s a rather extreme view." He neither approved nor disapproved of Baird’s suggestion. "As for dealing with outsiders, I have my own principles."

Baird bowed respectfully and withdrew from the village square.

…

By late November, the wilderness was stripped of its green, a bleakness pervading the landscape.

Some thirty kilometers west of the Lake of Starlit Prayers, three warriors sat around a campfire, whiling away the time with idle banter.

"Captain, I hear you’ll soon have enough saved up to buy yourself a wife," one soldier said, casting a look full of envy at their squad leader.

Eden smiled as he wiped his iron sword. "Almost. By next month, I’ll be able to start a family."

"Captain, don’t forget us when you hold your wedding," said the youngest of the group, taking a sip of water with a friendly grin.

"Don’t worry, I won’t forget you lot."

Eden, born a serf, had never known what it felt like to have a home of his own.

Just then, a patrolling soldier returned to camp, pale-faced and trembling in the saddle.

Eden was quick to catch his comrade as he nearly toppled from his horse.

"Marchel, bring water, quickly!"

"Oh, right!"

After a bit of frantic fussing, the scout regained his senses and turned to Eden, voice tight with urgency. "Captain, gnolls—a huge host of them! As far as the eye can see. They’re headed this way, maybe ten kilometers off."

"Did they spot you?" Eden asked in a low voice.

"I don’t think so. I spotted them from a distance and turned back right away."

"Good," Eden said, breathing out in relief. He turned to the others. "Pack up—now! We’re heading back to the Lake of Starlit Prayers to report to Lord Baird."

At once, the men doused the fire, packed away their kettle, food, and tents, and strapped everything to their mounts, setting off at the fastest pace they could manage.

By three in the afternoon, Weilin was training in the castle courtyard when he saw Baird hurrying toward him.

"My lord, our sentries report a great host of gnolls approaching the Lake of Starlit Prayers. They’re about thirty kilometers away."

Weilin showed no surprise; he had already foreseen this. He had long since moved most food and supplies from the village below to the castle, so they could retreat swiftly when the gnolls arrived.

"Baird, inform everyone: from this moment, the Lake of Starlit Prayers is in a state of war. Have everyone evacuate to the castle. Arm the strongest serfs. The war has begun."

"Yes, my lord."

That very night, Weilin’s orders were proclaimed.

All through the night, the Lake of Starlit Prayers glowed with torchlight. Under Baird’s command, freemen and serfs alike, with their meager belongings, streamed up the mountain toward the castle.

Weilin stood atop the inner wall, watching the busy throng winding up the mountain road. His mind raced with thoughts of how to profit from the coming chaos.

The entire western province of the Kingdom of Ilia would likely be attacked. By his estimation, the province of Lensa would be hit first, while the obscure province of Cadro would see far fewer monsters.

A century ago, the Greyglow Wasteland had unleashed a monster coalition of over a million, driving countless goblins and kobolds to invade Ilia’s western frontier, dealing a terrible blow to the pioneers. Yet the kingdom’s rulers had seized on the turmoil to expand their territory by more than two million square kilometers.

The province of Lensa, seventy-five thousand square kilometers in size and now directly governed by the royal house, had been established during that tumultuous time.

Today, Lensa, the vital hub between the Greyglow Wasteland and the Kingdom of Ilia, flourishes with commerce. Its capital is known as the Pearl of the West, making it the prime target for these monster armies.

"A battle between a gold dragon and two red dragons—it’s hard not to suspect the gold dragon’s defeat sparked this war."

Whatever the deeper reasons, they were not for a mere Silver Knight like him to uncover.

For now, his concern was to repel the gnoll assault and safeguard his people and property.