Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 620 - 620 292 After the War_3

620: Chapter 292: After the War_3 620: Chapter 292: After the War_3 Grand Master Lord Irem, unfortunately, perished in the battle to stop the Blood Demon.

However, after the brutal Battle of Rolandena, though the Holy Lake Knights mourned the loss of their comrades, they did not feel any despair.

The successful extermination of the Demons and Undead lurking in the Holy City and the reclamation of the Holy Land instilled the Holy Lake Knights with great excitement and pride after the victory of this Holy War.

After the war, although the Illaril Knights, having completed their pilgrimage, decided to return to their homeland, over a hundred devout believers chose to stay.

Among those hundred people, some were Holy War Knights who gladly accepted the territory conferred to them by the Alliance after the war.

Leon did not fail his promise; he allied with survivor noble Runav and others of the local surviving nobles, and under the name of the Eastern Alliance, partitioned the vast, fertile, ownerless lands of the Sobonitz Domain after the war to all Holy War Knights.

And many warriors from various countries who were promoted in the Undead War also received fiefs befitting their military achievements, becoming newly emerging lords in the Sobonitz area.

As for the other Holy Lake Knights who chose to remain, they wanted to stay in Avalon, the land of Holy Word in their eyes, to protect it and spend the rest of their lives here.

Thus, these Holy Lake cultivators proposed to Avalon an application, hoping to establish an “Illaril Church” of the Holy Lake Sect here and promised not to actively preach or disturb the ancient polytheistic faith of the local Orland people.

They simply wished for a shelter, where they could also bury the ashes of the Holy Lake Knights who sacrificed and where the Holy Lake cultivators living in Avalon Castle and the Sobonitz Domain could in the future gather for prayer.

Leon did not refuse; after a brief internal discussion, he agreed immediately.

These selfless Holy Lake believers helped with their souls and blood.

Such a small request was entirely disproportionate to their sacrifices, and Leon proactively provided funding, covering forty percent of the construction costs of the church.

This Illaril Church, it was only until recently that the main construction of the building was finally completed, with only some carvings and frescoes depicting the Undead War and the Battle of Rolandena still needed a long time to be made.

However, even so, this church temple handcrafted by the Holy Lake Knights alongside craftsmen has already become one of the notable places in Avalon Castle.

Now it is also an important sight of curiosity for the nobles coming to attend the banquet.

Within the church, apart from the underground tomb where the ashes urn is placed and the treasury displaying relics of martyrs Holy War Knights, most other halls do not reject any visitors.

Now, even Azeryan, Lokhak, Elena, Sally, and Raya, some Seryans within Avalon, often go to the church to pray to the Holy Prophet Illaril.

Despite the Holy Lake Sect being viewed within the factions of the Holy Sun Church as a heretic disrespectful to the Holy Sun, most believers are not theologians; they would not debate the doctrine like the priests do.

Especially, besides Azeryan and Miss Sally having some understanding of the differences between this small sect of the Holy Court Kingdom and the Church itself, the others do not care about details, as they all anyway worship Saint Illaril.

At this moment, it is just like a pillow sent over when you feel sleepy; Leon has already chosen this temple hall as the venue for his wedding with Olivia.

There are many reasons; for one, the Magic Academy in the upper district plaza was not finished; Leon really did not want to get married in front of a construction site with Olivia.

Secondly, this winter’s unusual outdoor snowfall and the sudden drop in temperature, Leon’s anticipation of Olivia in a wedding dress has been long, even though the physically strong girl could wear a light gauze skirt in the cold wind, yet he felt it too odd to watch his wife dress so lightly in the snowy outdoors during winter.

And replacing it with the Holy Lake Knights’ church couldn’t be more appropriate.

The temple hall is solemn and spacious, and around the statue of Illaril, there are temperature-adjusting magic inscriptions by the Holy Lake priests, which can dispel the winter cold for all the guests.

Moreover, even though he himself did not believe in Illaril, the followers did indeed help Avalon greatly; Leon had a favorable impression of the existence worshiped by these Holy Lake believers.

Being able to marry under the gaze of this ancient saint could fill up the sense of the ceremony without leaving any regrets.

Upon arriving at the church, Leon walked into the hall.

Although the wedding is approaching, the temple was not closed; there are still nobles and Avalon residents sitting in the hall praying and touring.

The newly built interior of the church was exquisite and fresh, requiring no additional decoration; the carpet hangings and banners for the wedding have been handed over to the cultivators of the church, and they will arrange it the day before the ceremony, so the hall remains as usual.

Leon glanced around but did not see Princess Ines; however, he did notice the Little Gold Coin Brandon praying on the bench in the corner.

This is currently the only Magic Apprentice in Avalon Academy, whose body, after more than a year of nourishment, was no longer so frail.

As to why he is here, Leon sighed…

it is not surprising.

He is praying for Knight Rohn, who died in battle against the Vampire during the Undead War…

the Kantadar Soldier whose conscience wasn’t entirely gone, a refugee uncle who once saved him, like a foster father to the boy, offering a prayer for rest.

Though the Holy Lake Sect has indeed not performed any missionary activities in the past year, the existence of the church, the deeds of the Holy Lake Knights, and the everyday kind acts of the Holy Lake Ascetic Priests in Avalon Territory, healing and helping everyone without charge, have earned the Illaril Church some bewildered followers who voluntarily visit the shrine.

They may not distinguish between the Holy Sun and Illaril, but they are still willing to express gratitude by praying to the faceless robed lady statue.

Leon did not stop them.

To be honest, the Holy Lake Knights and Holy Lake Priests living within the church have helped immensely in the past year with the safety, security, and healthcare within Avalon and even the entire Baron Domain.

If all the churches in the world were as noble and selfless as the Holy Lake Sect, Leon himself would be willing to bow to the Illaril statue.

After all, whether it is the Holy Sun Sect or the Holy Lake Sect, unlike in his previous life, where doctrines began with people being sinful and needing redemption, Leon’s perception of them had always been positive since he awoke.

Especially after experiencing the Undead War.