The family provided her with an exclusive Magitech Knight, “Infernal Prison,” and the first year’s tuition, sending her to study at this Magic Academy far from her home country.
Within four years, if she could achieve significant accomplishments, or… join that legendary Eternal Night Knight Order, her father would acknowledge her talent and ability, withstand the pressure from the Gulan Empire, and cancel this engagement.
Otherwise, she would have to go back and fulfill the marriage contract.
During this period, the family would not provide any additional support.
This was the bet she made with her family, with her father.
“Join the Eternal Night Knight Order?” Lol, upon hearing this, slightly opened a slit in his always-squinted eyes, his tone carrying a hint of realistic gravity.
“Anlor classmate, you should know how difficult that is.
“That’s the Night Princess’s personal guard, the entire order consisting of nine sub-orders, only nine hundred people in total, assembled from the elites selected out of tens of millions of knights across the continent.
“Isn’t this goal a bit too distant?”
“I know! Of course I know!” Anlor suddenly lifted her head, her dark red long hair swaying slightly with her movement, yet her eyes were unusually bright.
“But not pursuing it, and giving up because the goal is distant, are two different things!”
Her voice carried a tremor, yet it was incredibly firm.
This resolute emotion seemed to stir up even deeper memories within her.
The entire continent was said to have tens of millions, but that was merely the number of registered, titled “knights” who were official Magitech Knight pilots in various countries.
In fact, if you included those who possessed Magitech Knights through various means and organizations—merchants, mercenary groups, or even bodyguards for certain dignitaries—the number of people in the entire human world capable of piloting Magitech Knights could exceed several million.
Don’t forget, Magitech Knights included military, commercial, civilian, and various other specifications.
And yet, from such a vast number, only nine hundred were ultimately selected—this goal was anything but easy.
But…
Her gaze slightly unfocused, as if traveling back to that moment that changed her destiny.
“Moreover… I’ve seen them with my own eyes.” Her voice softened, carrying a hint of longing.
“Over a year ago, in the Radiant Sun Empire…”
That was the experience that changed her destiny, one she could never forget for the rest of her life.
Representing her family to attend what seemed like an ordinary banquet in the empire, but was actually a trap set by a certain count who, during the empire’s turmoil, had secretly sponsored resistance organizations in an attempt to overthrow the imperial rule, and now, with the empire reborn, was about to be liquidated.
He invited the nobles from various parts of the human world present to assist him in escaping the empire…
And the nobles naturally couldn’t agree.
On one hand, because this person had lost his value, and on the other, because they were unwilling to offend the now reborn empire.
Thus, in his rage, the resistance—or rather, the current rebel organization hidden in the city—immediately incited a riot, holding hostage numerous nobles including her, and the civilians of an entire city.
“Just when I thought everything was over,” Anlor’s eyes sparkled with light, “he appeared… one of the Nine Riders of Eternal Night, the Flame Demon Knight, Lord Rawi.”
That middle-aged knight, who seemed unkempt yet powerful like a divine emissary, charged into the city alone for negotiations, and after the talks broke down, crushed and nearly annihilated the rebel army with overwhelming force.
Subsequently, the powerful yet strictly disciplined Flame Demon Knight Order under his command quickly took control of the situation, suppressing all remaining resistance forces, and assisted in post-disaster reconstruction.
“It was Lord Rawi who rescued me from the ruins.” Anlor’s tone was filled with gratitude.
“Later, during my recovery, from the medical soldier sister who took care of me, I heard more about the Eternal Night Knight Order.”
“And… about Her Majesty whom they pledged their lives to serve, Princess Ye Lalar · Tianluo.”
She listened to those stories, learning about Her Majesty the Night Princess’s benevolence and greatness, understanding the Eternal Night Knight Order’s philosophy of disregarding origins and backgrounds, asking only for talent and will.
She also heard about their deeds of punishing nobles, saving civilians, miraculously step by step revitalizing the storm-tossed empire.
From then on, a seed named aspiration took deep root in her heart.
“From that moment, I had a clear dream.” Anlor’s voice grew firm.
“I want to join the Eternal Night Knight Order! I want to be like Lord Rawi and the others, following behind Her Majesty the Night Princess, using my own strength to uphold justice!”
“So, I absolutely won’t marry that prince of Gulan; my life must be decided by myself!”
She clenched her fists, reaffirming her belief to herself over and over: “If… if I fail after four years, I’ll completely sever ties with the family! Even if I become a fugitive, wandering to other countries as a mercenary, I absolutely won’t go back!”
For a moment, the table fell into silence.
Only the subtle bustle of the restaurant served as background.
Isxila looked at the girl before her with burning eyes, the bit of jealousy and hostility she had felt earlier due to her closeness with Ye Xu now mostly dissipated, replaced by a complex sense of acknowledgment.
She had to admit, this girl possessed a will worthy of respect.
“Hey~ That’s really impressive~” Isxila lightly clapped her hands, her tone much more sincere.
“Rebelling against fate for a dream, even willing to go this far.”
Lol also slightly nodded, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes.
He understood how difficult the path Anlor had chosen was.
Ye Xu listened quietly, his gaze always on Anlor.
He could see the immense pressure behind that determination.
Now, apart from that exclusive Magitech Knight called “Infernal Prison,” she only had a deposit of one hundred silver coins.
This was a fortune for commoners, but for a prospective knight who needed to maintain and upkeep a Magitech Knight, striving to stand out within four years, it was practically a drop in the bucket.
Just the mid-tier maintenance package at the hangar cost ten silver coins a month, not counting any other expenses.
“Anlor classmate.” His magnetic, gentle, and serene voice rang out again, breaking the silence.
Isxila almost instinctively, helplessly sighed in her heart.
She was too familiar with this rhythm.
This gravely sinful young master, who beautified his promiscuity as “cherishing talent,” picking up people everywhere to bring to his side, was relapsing again.
Others might not know, but Isxila understood very well.
The Nine Riders of Eternal Night, now awe-inspiring in the empire and renowned throughout humanity—each of these nine extraordinary individuals with potential to leave their names in human history, even those high-level members of the resistance army who had crushed the empire’s nobles.
They were all ones Ye Xu had spent years picking up one by one from all corners of the world.
Sure enough, Ye Xu spoke: “If you don’t mind, how about trying to entrust the daily maintenance and upkeep of your machine to me?”
“Eh eh eh eh???” Anlor covered her mouth, her wide-open eyes filled with disbelief.
“Nal classmate, you actually know Magitech Knight-related techniques?”
Isxila closed her eyes in despair, unable to bear watching.
Even Lol beside her, seeing this scene, had his facial muscles twitch almost imperceptibly, as if he couldn’t hold it together.
Ye Xu seemed not to notice the abnormality of his two companions beside him, just slowly, in his characteristic tone that put people at ease while also raising Isxila’s blood pressure, explained:
“I know some basic knowledge, can do simple maintenance and upkeep, and fix some minor issues, but I can only guarantee basic quality.”
“You can cancel your original mid-tier package, and pay me seven silver coins a month; I’ll charge three less.”
“After all, I’m at best just…
“A dabbler.”
(Isxila: What to do if my sweetheart has no awareness of being skewered through, waiting online, urgent.)
(Imperial Guards killed by Eternal Night Knights as speed bumps: so?)