But orders are orders; he was reluctant to become the one who leads in disobeying directives from above, especially in such a critical time of war. The wanted notice from the Knights would undoubtedly be posted on the walls of the Five Realms Fortress—something he couldn't prevent. By then, everyone would know that the mage in the red robe was an enemy of the entire Light Temple.

Wislin sat behind his desk, all reports about supplies, reconnaissance, and soldier drills tossed aside, with only two letters in front of him. After a long while, he finally stood up, donned his full armor, picked up the new sword—a gift from Lynch—and strode out of the room.

"I'm going to the Griffin Camp!" he commanded the guards outside, "No one is allowed to enter my room before I return!"

The young man on duty at the door saluted him sternly, rapping his right hand heavily on his breastplate. Wislin nodded, reassured, and left the Five Realms Fortress.

Lynch looked curiously at Wislin as he rode a griffin up, observing his expression as if thousands of Snake-men were about to launch a new attack on the Five Realms Fortress. The mage hurriedly walked a few steps, leaning on his magic wand, saying, "Wislin, what happened? I didn't hear from Soka about any gathering of the Snake-men."

Wislin stood in front of Lynch with a face like iron, shaking his head slowly, then took out the letter from the Mage Association. Lynch only glanced at the envelope and noticed something odd. Beneath the floral design were hidden magical symbols camouflaged by winding vines, easily overlooked by ordinary people. Only mages could understand this language, and this letter was marked "Most Urgent, Confidential." Such a design was usually reserved for when the Mage Association was under attack, or when a mage's magical experiment failed, causing severe damage. Lynch quickly took the letter and read through it at top speed.

He couldn't understand when he ever made the mistake stated in the letter. Moreover, why use an envelope indicating urgent matters to convey such a message? "If it's really that urgent, why order to bring me back instead of executing me on the spot?" Lynch looked at the pattern on the envelope, feeling the punishment didn't match the warning message.

He tried to find answers in Wislin's eyes, but there were no clues. And at this moment, he also noticed Wislin's full armor.

"It seems there is more than just one letter." Lynch smiled, burning the Mage Association's wanted notice to ashes, then looked at the paladin, "Those mages can't command a holy knight of Pate. Only those high-ranking officials from the temple can give you such orders. Tell me, Wislin, how do those guys describe me."

"Imprisoning the Light Saintess. Kill without mercy," Wislin replied.

"I think you wouldn't do that, especially since you are using the magic sword I gave you," Lynch looked into Wislin's eyes but found no hint of wavering or hesitation. The paladin had already made up his mind in his heart, unwilling to let anything else interfere with his decision.

"No. I see anger in your eyes. And struggle—something you might be trying to hide then." Lynch continued to comment on Wislin with a smile, lightly, "This struggle can only mean that you do indeed have the thought of killing me in your mind. Well, Wislin, tell me, how will you draw your sword? Try to finish it before Zilvra arrives, as I don't want to see you two fight."

Wislin's sword trembled slightly in its sheath, jutting out a bit before retracting. The mage looked at the paladin's performance and then laughed, "Alright, Wislin, don't I understand you? How could you possibly turn your weapon against your own friend?"

"I truly do not have such power." Wislin's shoulders drooped, and he gently said, "I am just an ordinary being, a warrior without any magical powers. I bear the honorable name of a paladin but cannot use the Hand of Healing to alleviate my brothers' sufferings; I am the Commander of the Five Realms Fortress but lack the ability to defend the walls. Tell me, Lynch, what am I really?"

"Don't discuss the question of 'Who am I,' for it will drive you completely insane," Lynch's smile faded, replaced with a serious countenance tinged with slight concern, "I spent countless time pondering this question, but the answer I got was absurd. Wislin, you only need to think about what Wislin is."

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