The Oath of the Rose Knight

“……”

“Does that question sound so difficult?” Anto offered a faint smile, then turned and walked away. “To whom does your true loyalty lie? Is that question truly unanswerable? Who provides you with information, and who prepares your supplies? Whose commands do you follow? Where do you intend to take me?”

“I am a Knight of the Rose Knights, hailing from the Northern Rose Church. The command I serve was issued by His Eminence, Grand Bishop Comelon of the North, who believes in your existence.”

“Comelon of the Rose Church… so you are here representing him?”

“Not entirely, Holy Child,” Ilivy replied, bowing deeply. “I have come of my own volition, drawn by the call of the Sacred Mark.”

“The Sacred Mark…” At this, Ilivy revealed a crimson mark upon her arm. Its intricate patterns were identical to those on the back of Anto’s hand, differing only in color.

“This appeared one night,” Ilivy recounted. “Grandma said she hadn’t heard of a divine oracle descending in ten years, but that night, I heard it. It was real. The oracle descended in the dark, a voice telling me, ‘Go find him, find the Holy Child of Light.’”

“That’s it? That’s the divine oracle?” Anto questioned, to which Ilivy nodded. “But I believe it to be true. When I informed Bishop Comelon of this, he recounted the story of the Holy See potentially having an heir. Afterward, I visited the Border Church of Draynes, where Bishop Rhys confirmed my suspicions, and then I journeyed here.”

“And you found me?” Anto mused, Ilivy responding, “It is a miracle. Coming here, I witnessed a miracle.”

Anto regarded her for a moment before speaking.

“Are you not concerned that the person you’ve found might not be the one you imagined needing to see? Perhaps he has no desire to shoulder that so-called responsibility. Perhaps he doesn’t even believe in the existence of a god.”

“…In truth, I did not come to demand anything of the Holy Child,” Ilivy stated then.

“For me, merely finding the Holy Child existing here has already proven my divine oracle fulfilled. What steps to take next, and how to proceed, are entirely the Holy Child’s own choices. For no matter the path chosen, He will surely be observing you from His rightful place.”

“…Is this the concept that my will is synonymous with divine permission?” Anto looked at her. “Such a notion is utterly preposterous.”

“If the Holy Child does not wish to accompany me to the Rose Church, then there is no need,” Ilivy said, bowing once more.

“But at the very least, please allow me to guard you. To fulfill my oath and my mission.”

“Wouldn’t doing so amount to betraying Bishop Comelon? You are a Rose Knight,” Anto retorted. “He sent you to find me, yet you choose to follow me. How can I trust you?”

“This is not betrayal. The brothers and sisters of God never follow a specific individual, be it a bishop or a patriarch. Our allegiance lies with our faith. This faith can be an abstract concept or a concrete person or event. We follow our own convictions and our own oaths, doing what we believe is right,” Ilivy explained.

“My mission is to find the Holy Child and protect them from harm. Please allow me to fulfill my mission.”

“…You are merely finding an excuse for yourself,” Anto countered. “What if I asked you to kill someone? Even an innocent person, would you execute the command without hesitation? Simply because you believe I am the ‘Holy Child,’ and the Holy Child can do no wrong? Understand this, Knight. I do not need to be a Holy Child; I am merely a person, just like you, like him, like everyone else. Perhaps I am only someone who has gained a unique power. Such a person is not worthy of your oath and loyalty. I hope you can comprehend that.”

“Soon, I may embark on a journey, or a pilgrimage, alongside my teacher Eric. I might go to very distant places, or perhaps stay close, much like the countless tales of old, to help others and extend a hand to those in need. I must continually temper myself; I am not yet strong enough, and I still require preparation,” Anto continued.

“Nor do I wish to become anyone’s puppet. This applies to any faction—the Council or the Papacy, or the myriad branches that emerged after the Papal Schism. I do not wish to take sides, because if my identity were exposed under any circumstances, I would become a mere bargaining chip in the continent’s power struggles. Therefore, I ask that you do not reveal my identity. Only I can choose to whom and when I disclose it.”

“…Understood,” Ilivy replied. “In that case, please allow me to journey with you, to safeguard the Holy Child’s life. To serve as your sword, and your shield. Please permit me to… swear my fealty to you.”

“…As for accompanying us, you are always welcome,” Anto said.

“If all of that is clear, then there is one more thing,” Anto then extended a hand towards Ilivy.

“Since you understand, one crucial point about traveling with me is not to treat me as some Holy Child or ‘Lord’… it all sounds rather strange. Just call me by my name, Anto. Everyone should address me that way.”

“Understood, Lord Anto.”

“Don’t add ‘Lord,’” Anto responded. He knew he could refuse her, but the truth was he needed to find a way to counter the Council’s pressure. While Tikka might genuinely be an easygoing senior brother, his words suggested that most within the Council wished to place Anto under house arrest. In his current state, he had no means to resist. Eric was severely injured and required time to recover. To avoid becoming a pawn at the Council’s mercy, he had only one option: align himself with a church. For this, the protection of a Rose Knight was essential.

Simultaneously, given the chaotic situation within the Church, he absolutely had to conceal his identity. If his true nature were discovered, as Eric had warned, he would become a coveted bargaining chip for all sides. Thus, he had no intention of seeking refuge with any major church, as he would inevitably be manipulated by a stronger power.

Just as Hillevi had said, the moment he left the village, everything would change. He would truly depart from the calm harbor and enter the continent, a stormy sea, to carry out his mission. A single misstep could lead to utter defeat. From this moment on, there was no turning back. He could only use the cards in his hand to forge his own path forward.