Knight: from Apprentice to the Almighty

The figure hovering a few steps away was incredibly small, probably not even reaching Roland’s knee.

Her entire body radiated a soft, almost translucent shimmer, like the very essence of moonlight made solid, gently pushing back a small patch of the surrounding darkness.

This light wasn’t static; it pulsed faintly like a breath, its source seemingly the pair of gossamer-thin, iridescent butterfly wings on her back.

The wings vibrated at a high frequency, nearly invisible to the naked eye, emitting a barely audible hum that held her aloft in the damp night air.

Her features were as exquisite as if carved from mother-of-pearl and moonlight by the most masterful artisan, possessing an unearthly beauty.

A pair of disproportionately large, red eyes, like deep pools in a forest, were now fixed on Roland, a hint of lingering fear mixed with obvious curiosity.

More accurately, they were fixed on the Mithril Longsword in his hand that had nearly run her through.

Her red hair, like flowing Star Dust, glittered with tiny specks of light and cascaded casually over her slender shoulders.

She was clad in a simple garment woven from fine points of light and natural fibers, resembling living flower petals, which blended seamlessly with her radiance.

Despite her minuscule size, the pure, dense aura of Magic Power emanating from her was almost tangible, washing over him and even making the air around Roland feel faintly charged.

This aura was completely different from the oppressive feeling that came from the depths of the Land of Mist.

It was more vibrant and pure, yet it also carried an undeniable sense of otherworldly detachment.

"Wait! I mean you no harm!"

Feeling the relentless pressure radiating from Roland, the tiny figure couldn’t help but shiver.

She hastily raised her slender arms, her voice trembling noticeably.

"I just... I just came to ask for help!"

"Help..."

Although he sensed she likely had no ill intent, Roland did not let down his guard.

His body remained as taut as a drawn bow, and his grip on his sword didn’t loosen in the slightest.

Meeting Roland’s sharp, hawk-like eyes, the little glowing person had no doubt.

If she made the slightest unexpected move, that cold Mithril Longsword would mercilessly pierce her heart in the next instant.

And this time...

She recalled the deadly glint of cold light that had torn through the air just moments ago. Feeling the strange yet powerful surge of Energy still rising from Roland, she swallowed hard and completely abandoned her original mischievous intentions.

’I won’t be as lucky as I was just now...’

Therefore, before Roland could ask another question, the tiny figure blurted out her intentions in a startlingly fast torrent of words, as if a dam had broken.

Her clear voice was as pleasant as the chirping of birds in a forest.

"I... My name is Tress. I’m a Pikachu, and I live..."

Tress moved her arm with a slightly stiff motion, slowly pointing toward the distant region swallowed by the mist.

"I live in there."

"I took the liberty of coming here to seek your help... I’m begging you..."

Her voice suddenly turned sorrowful, thick with grief.

"Please help us save our home..."

"A Pikachu?"

Roland’s brow furrowed at the name.

It was a type of tiny spirit creature that dwelled deep in ancient forests or in hidden places of Magic.

Ancient texts described them as beings coalesced from moonlight and forest dew, radiating a gentle glow and soaring silently on translucent, iridescent butterfly wings.

They were mischievous by nature, even prone to pranks, and especially fond of using shimmering dust or Illusions to tease lost travelers.

It was said they possessed an innate talent for Magic, able to easily conceal themselves, spread a strange, intoxicating powder that induced sleep, or even use prank-like Magic to temporarily turn people into harmless little animals.

In ancient legends, they were considered the guardian spirits of the forest, closely connected to the core pulse of the natural world.

Recalling the descriptions of Pikachu from the ancient texts, Roland’s tense nerves relaxed slightly.

The records stated that these spirit creatures were friendly by nature. Aside from a fondness for harmless pranks, they were not known for any egregious behavior, let alone malicious acts.

But even so, Roland did not drop his guard.

"Save your home? I’m sorry... our destination is not the Land of Mist, and besides..."

He straightened up slightly, his eyes locked on her every move.

"Why did you choose me to save your home?"

"Because... because..."

Seeing the unwavering vigilance in Roland’s eyes, Tress sighed in dismay.

"Of all the ships passing through the Land of Mist, I sensed no one more powerful than you... Please..."

Seeming to realize that no amount of pleading could sway the young man before her, the Pikachu abruptly changed her tack.

"If you can successfully save our home, I promise you that the Fairy Queen will surely bestow her Blessing upon you."

"A Blessing..."

Hearing these words, Roland felt a flicker of interest.

Spirit Monsters like the Pikachu were very weak themselves. However, perhaps constrained by some universal Law, the Blessings they bestowed were exceptionally powerful and had a wide variety of effects.

At least, according to ancient records, many famous heroes had relied on the Blessings of spirits to safely overcome life-or-death crises.

A surge of excitement rose in Roland at the thought, but he immediately shook his head, suppressing the impulse.

He had always preferred to gather information first before deciding on a course of action.

And as for the Land of Mist, despite his many inquiries and observations, he knew very little.

The Blessing of a spirit was certainly powerful.

But for Roland, if the price was his life, it was far too steep.

Seeing the young man before her shake his head again, Tress’s deep red eyes welled up with tears, and faint sobs could be heard.

But Roland remained unmoved, merely saying softly,

"Is there anything else? If not..."

Hearing the clear dismissal in Roland’s tone, the tiny Pikachu hurriedly wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Can I... stay by your side for a little while?"

"When I left that place, I used up all my strength to cross the mist, so..."

Tress clasped her hands together, pleading sorrowfully.

"I only need to stay on your ship for a few days. As soon as I recover my Power, I will leave immediately. I promise I won’t be any trouble for you, and what’s more..."

Although they had only exchanged a few words, the tiny Pikachu had already discerned Roland’s pragmatic nature.

"In return, I can offer you necessary assistance."

"Assistance?"

The Pikachu’s proposal made Roland fall into thought.

Temporarily taking in a Pikachu wouldn’t be a big deal for him.

Although he had no intention of going to the Land of Mist to save her home, Roland also had no desire to make an enemy of a Pikachu.

According to ancient texts, these Spirit Monsters hid in various corners of the world. They cherished freedom and often traveled alone. Unlike other Races, they had no conflicts over personal gain; on the contrary, their relationships with one another were extremely harmonious.

In other words, winning the friendship of one Pikachu was equivalent to gaining the goodwill of its entire people.

However, before extending a hand, Roland had to confirm that she had absolutely no malicious intent.

As for how to do that...

Just as he was pondering this, he heard the sound of light footsteps behind him.

Following that was a clear female voice, completely different from the Pikachu’s crisp tone, tinged with a heroic air.

"Mr. Roland? What are you doing out here so late?"