Gun of Ashes

”What’s wrong with me?”

A hand supported Navis, the Count’s voice was weak.

”The doctor said you’re ill.”

Navis helped the Count back to bed, his aged body sinking into the soft mattress. Though he had just awoken, he still felt exhausted, not just physically but spiritually.

”How long did I sleep?”

”A day and a half.”

”How’s the battle going?”

”...”

Navis remained silent without answering, there were faint cries of despair outside. The Count shifted his glance out of the window; this was his room at the highest point of the castle, providing a view over everything. But now in his view were roaring flames and thick smoke; the outer fort of the castle was now flying the flag of Gaulunaro.

The Count showed no extra emotion, as if he had expected this outcome. He asked again.

”What happened?”

”It was… it was Lord Madre. After you fell unconscious, he took charge of the castle’s defenses. In last night’s battle, he led the knights out and… and didn’t return.”

”Is that so… it really happened.”

The Count’s sickly face curled into a smile. That Madre was his nephew; Count Stuart had never married and had few relatives, with Madre being practically his only blood kin. Hence, Madre always stayed by the Count’s side because he understood that as long as the Count lived, everything here would be his.

”Do you think he’s dead?”

Navis said nothing, and the Count knew the truth of the matter: some knights had opposed this stance on the first day of defending the castle, as they had fine horses that could easily break through the Gaulunaro encirclement. But the Count dismissed this idea and ordered the knights to hold the castle because though they had horses and armor, the peasants did not.

”This was an act of desertion; he will be nailed to the pillar of shame.”

The Count spoke indifferently, but Navis could not hold back at that moment. He said.

”My lord, let’s evacuate. The fall of the castle is only a matter of time, and we no longer have knights to fight.”

All the knights had followed Knight Madre away; that was the castle’s last line of strength. Now, only a group of peasants remained.

But the Count shook his head.

”If there are no knights left, and the Gaulunaro have already stormed into the castle, then why are we still alive?”

”It’s… it’s the peasants, everyone used the remaining weapons to temporarily hold the inner bastion.”

”So, you see, we still have knights, don’t we?”

The Count’s eyes glinted with light. Despite being in dire straits, he could still manage to smile. Navis had served as the Count’s aide for a long time, yet today he seemed to truly understand the Count for the first time.

”Go on, Navis, the bottom compartment of the drawer, there’s a parchment there, could you bring it to me?”

Though the aide didn’t understand, he obeyed the Count’s command. He pulled out an ancient parchment covered in names written in ink.

The Count coughed painfully a few times, yet he still took the parchment, picked up the pen from the bedside cabinet, and slowly unfolded it.

”What’s your full name, Navis?”

Navis was somewhat puzzled but still answered.

”Navis Dodd.”

The Count nodded, and then wrote something on the parchment, before putting it away and handing it to Navis.

”I’m sorry; this is all I can do. I hope your father can forgive me.”

Navis took the parchment, bewildered, and his body began to tremble as if he had seen something terrifying.

”C-Count sir, this is not possible; how can I… I’m merely a farmer’s child.”

”But a farmer’s child won’t always be just a farmer, right? Even the Stuarts’ ancestors were farmers, perhaps not even as good at farming as your father.”

Michelle Stuart barely managed to get out of bed. His figure was shaky but remained steady. Navis appeared startled by it all; he didn’t immediately rush to help him but mumbled continuously.

”But I… but I’m merely a farm…”

”But none of that matters…”

”Then… why?” Navis looked at Michelle in fear, not comprehending the multitude of things he didn’t understand in this world.

”The reason… there are many reasons, for instance, the peasants need hope, a symbol, a leader they can follow courageously even unto death. Of course, should you survive, I certainly wouldn’t want that bastard Madre to reap the benefits.”

”Navis, kneel!”

Navis’s wild musings were interrupted by a sharp voice. At some point, Michelle took the sword hanging on the wall, its blade full of scratches left by days of battle, much like the elderly man wielding it. He hunched his back, resembling an injured lion.

Navis hesitated for a moment but eventually knelt slowly, trying his best to calm himself down. His once timid face gradually hardened, and his eyes, which had avoided thus far, finally met Michelle’s gaze. The old man smiled at him.

”They need a Red Knight, not just any Stuart.”

The sharp blade lightly touched his shoulder. Michelle was too old, barely able to grip the sword, leaving small wounds that Navis could feel painfully. Yet he remained motionless like a statue.

”You inherit my will, and I bestow honor upon you.”

He smiled, conducting the ancient rite of conferring.

”Swear to me, child.”

…

The castle gates finally opened again after Count Stuart was taken inside. The peasants eagerly watched the deep shadows.

Rumors had been swirling in recent days; some said the Count was dead, others claimed he had escaped through a secret passage. After Madre led the knights away, panic heightened.

But now the gates were open, and a Red Knight in armor emerged. Though he seemed different this time, everyone quickly found the reason: the Red Knight of the battlefield once again gripped his warhammer and sword tightly.

”But we don’t have any knights left.”

Someone said to him, as only peasants remained now.

”Then is there anyone who can bear arms?”

The Red Knight asked, and uncountable hands raised their weapons high.

”You see, don’t we still have many knights?”

He answered with a smile.

”But we’re merely farmers, butchers, blacksmiths…”

The person said again.

The Red Knight was silent for a moment, then raised his sword, lightly touching the person’s shoulder. He gazed out further, shouting to everyone.

”Kneel, swear to me.”

The countless pledges echoed into that dim room, and the old man contently closed his eyes.

…

In the Ingwig calendar 791, the Gaulunaro people launched an unannounced war and attacked southern Ingwig extensively. However, their advance inland was halted at the Stuart Territory due to the firm resistance led by Michelle Stuart, buying crucial time for military deployment.

Michelle Stuart eventually died from illness in the castle, and after his death, his son Navis Stuart bestowed knighthood on all the peasants within the castle, resisting once again for two days until reinforcements arrived.

Several days later, Ingwig formally declared war against Gaulunaro, marking the outbreak of the hundred-year-long Radiant War. Navis Stuart and the knights he ennobled traveled throughout the southern battlefront.

Throughout the prolonged war, the forces were disbanded and reorganized, with the former peasants who became Stuarts knights permeating the entire Ingwig aristocracy. Relying on the bonds formed through warfare, they established a large noble group led by the Stuart family.

In the Ingwig calendar 876, the modified steam engine emerged, launching the second industrial revolution and bringing a turning point to the Radiant War.

In the Ingwig calendar 907, the hundred-year-long Radiant War ended with Ingwig’s victory.

In the Ingwig calendar 925, Old Dunling welcomed a foreigner named Lorenzo Holmes.

In the Ingwig calendar 931, the story begins.