CHAPTER 148: CHAPTER 146: NEXT SPRING’S FLOODS

Imperial Calendar, November 7, 1444, early morning.

The pine forest outside Cold Spring Castle is shrouded in mist.

In the square in front of Cold Spring Castle, hundreds of soldiers are practicing long spear thrusts.

They hold the tail of the spear with their right hand and the front with their left, while the shaft rests on their raised left elbow.

This is the technique used by the mountain folks for wielding ultra-long spears, because they are too heavy to thrust normally, requiring this method instead.

In a study in the tower of Cold Spring Castle, Moliat, who had just returned from Joan of Arc Castle, stands silently by the window, observing the soldiers’ thrusts and formations.

"Teacher was burned to death by Constans at Feiliu Castle." Catherine’s voice arises behind her.

Moliat stands, hands behind her back, still gazing at the practicing soldiers and dead warriors on the square: "I know."

"I was there that day, you’re his proudest student. We all thought you would come, but you didn’t."

"Sorry, I had other matters to attend to."

"Ha, ha, ha, you had other matters to attend to."

Perhaps Catherine’s sarcasm was too obvious, prompting Moliat to turn around and look at Catherine lounging in a chair: "Do you have business here?"

"Upon hearing of our teacher’s death, would you not shed a single tear?"

Moliat’s red eyes fix on Catherine: "I feel sadness, but I do not cry, for it serves no purpose."

"What were you so busy with?"

"Gathering evidence against the Church, while also resolving a spousal issue; the knights need me to provide an heir for their loyalty."

"Is this what you deem important? Important enough to watch our teacher burn?"

"I am equally saddened by his death, but even if I had been there, I couldn’t stop it; tears don’t solve anything, moving forward is all we can do."

"Moving forward with what? I worked hard to secure an alliance at Rapids City Hall for you, and you refused!" Catherine’s anger remained undiminished.

"I didn’t refuse them; they refused me."

"Wasn’t it because you insisted on being the leader of the alliance and made excessive demands?"

"If they cannot accept, it shows they are not our kind.

Thousand River Valley needs a leader, an absolute exemplar to lead the elite, the common folk need such a leader, such a king.

Adding these wavering citizens to our ranks would only lead to betrayal. I’d rather rally the lower city workers."

With a theatrical tone, Catherine retorted: "Who decides whether they are common folk or elite?"

"A leader is born a leader; the common folk themselves decide if they are elite. If they cannot become elite, they are destined for a governed position."

"So you are the leader, then?"

Moliat replied as if it were obvious: "Such absolute leaders are rare in the world, perhaps there’s... only me."

"Just because Aunt Solia and you are witches? Just because you were born with the bloodline of the Three Kings?"

"No." Moliat coldly sat there, "It’s because I am destined to be a ruler; only I can bear it."

"Do you realize how arrogant you sound?"

"Do you realize how powerful our enemies are?" Moliat’s crimson gaze locked onto Catherine’s eyes, "You think luring more citizens along Shushubei Creek Path solves all our problems?

We face not just these noble families of Thousand River Valley but an entire church, an entire empire, backed by over eighty million serving the Extraordinary.

We need to gather all our power to fight them; without bloodshed, it’s impossible..."

Seeing Moliat’s familiar rhetoric, Catherine interrupted: "Yes, you say the entire Thousand River Valley should bleed for you..."

"No!" Moliat countered, interrupting Catherine, "It’s all the Thousand River Valley bleeding for themselves, for not bleeding when needed, it now demands repayment."

"Can the Thousand River Valley withstand such bleeding? Wouldn’t you at least let a frail person eat before challenging a strong man?"

"While you’re filling your stomach to grow stronger, they aren’t doing the same? They have larger appetites, they eat more, and making peace with them spells eternal bondage for Thousand River Valley!"

"You’re simply insane! A stubborn maniac!" Catherine slammed the table hard, "I never said to make peace with the Church. Our situation is — not yet accumulated enough strength; that requires allies.

Your forcing everyone’s compliance will alienate potential allies and supporters. We need unity!"

"That’s false unity, a fragile alliance, wavering supporters, all wasting time and energy, not serving at all.

We have too little power to waste even a shred, cannot afford mistakes; Thousand River Valley needs swift and effective authority to consolidate all resources.

One person, one center, one voice; if there’s other noise, either don’t let them join us or change their voice."

"That voice should be everyone’s voice."

"There’s no such thing as everyone’s voice; each has different demands, and inevitably, someone gets sacrificed."

Moliat’s face bore an unprecedented coldness that Horn had never seen before, or rather, this was her true self.

Whether it was the whimsical Moliat or the reckless Moliat, neither were her usual self.

"Sacrifice? Abandon them like refugees? If you decide their fate, how is that different from the empire?!"

"No, not by me, by themselves. I offer them a free and fair environment — without effort or struggle, they are eliminated, and no one will be their nanny!"

"Too absurd, have you ever thought of the consequences should you make a mistake?"

"Of course, there’s a chance I could err, but in the Thousand River Valley’s situation, a wrong path beats stagnation!"

"You claim error is intolerable yet tolerate your own fault, isn’t that contradictory?"

The lifelong friends stood chest heaving furiously, like two bulls glaring at one another angrily.

Yet, as they continued to gaze, their anger gradually faded into resignation.

Such scenes they have endured countless times.

Catherine let out a self-deprecating laugh, while Moliat resumed her seat, flipping through The Life of Alexander the Great.

"The Thousand River Valley has no retreat left." Catherine smiled bitterly, seating herself: "I truly fear you might lead the Thousand River Valley into an abyss."

"Better to die laughing than live crying." Not raising her head, Moliat spoke her family axiom as she read.

"When do you plan to act?"

"Next spring; the flood bearing the Hemma Stone banner will engulf the Empire and the Church — just as they let floods engulf us."

"Alright, Moliat..." pausing briefly, Catherine solemnly looked into Moliat’s eyes, "if ever you become akin to the Empire, I will resist you just like today."

"Should that day come, I’d want you to do so."

Observing for a bit, Catherine said seriously: "I have one last matter."

"Go ahead."

"Tell me..." Adjusting her crystal glasses, Catherine’s eyes sparkled intensely, "who is this magical creature gaining your approval? What’s the name? From where? How did you meet? Why this choice when I thought you’d spend your life... Hold on, you’re a witch, where do heirs come from!"

"...I regret sharing this with you."