Chapter 99: New Problem
Leshert handed the second list of legions to his adjutant. The man was about to be promoted to legion commander and would lead this contingent of soldiers to Assyria. Until the situation became clear or a major turning point occurred on the battlefield, Leshert would not be permitted to set foot on Assyrian soil.
Leshert was fully aware of this, and understood the reasoning behind it better than anyone.
The knights all believed it was because His Holiness trusted and relied heavily upon the Grandmaster, which was why he was kept behind. This near-favoritism and protection left many envious—everyone, that is, except the man himself.
Leshert watched his adjutant depart, his mind involuntarily drifting back to his private conversation with Rafael that day. By no definition could it be called an argument, yet the contradictions revealed in that exchange was sharper and more intense than any quarrel.
The Grandmaster rubbed his fingers together, his expression betraying no emotion.
His appearance was undeniably exceptional, even among humans. His jade-green eyes closely resembled expensive emeralds. Due to the natural, multi-layered precision of the human pupil—a miracle of nature’s craftsmanship— an extraordinarily complex play of color and infinitely subtle hues radiated from a deep green core. The shades, evenly balanced, spread toward both the inner and outer rings, creating a magnificent, profound visual effect: within them, one could see the algae spawned by the Dead Sea, the dense spring mist of a thick forest, or the tender buds of early spring.
Leshert was accustomed to smiling, adopting a gentle and harmless demeanor. This natural disposition caused others to instinctively form a favorable impression of this loyal, upright Grandmaster, making them briefly forget the power he wielded.
Perhaps he was truly too gentle in his daily life, so much so that many often forgot that Leshert had not ascended to the position of the Church’s Knight Commander merely by reciting scriptures. A man capable of strapping reins around the neck of a wild horse must inherently possess an equal fierceness to match.
Yet, stripped of all titles and honors, he was, indeed at his core, a good man through and through—a good man who could even be called a saint.