Chapter 66: Reshaping Faith
After Hod left, Nyx, who had been observing, finally spoke.
“Is this enough?”
“For now, it is,” Corleon replied, gesturing for Nyx to walk with him.
The construction site was not suitable for such discussions.
“With the contents of the Holy Scriptures, we can only teach them universal concepts of what is evil, what is good, what should be done, and what should not be done,” Nyx said, having already morized the Scriptures.
“But before this, no one had taught them these things, right?” Corleon asked.
“Do you know what their daily training entailed when they were treated as professional soldiers?”
“In a confined space, they underwent physical training, combat training, and... learned to pledge loyalty to their lords and the belief of dying for them,” Nyx explained.
“So, they were not taught normal concepts of good and evil. Their worldview was ford in that limited space, shaped by the environnt and indoctrination,” Corleon said.
“But given their status, that was sufficient.”
Nyx was a scholar, but also a politician handling affairs for the lord. He understood that warriors raised without a sense of right and wrong t the needs of all parties.
They could possess outstanding abilities, and their lords would not hesitate to invest resources in nurturing such individuals.
These people were usually intelligent, knowing what to do and what not to do. They would use their abilities to prove they were worth the investnt.
However, those without outstanding abilities, if their thoughts were liberated, would desire more. If their lords deed them unworthy of better treatnt, conflicts would arise.
This would create instability, prompting the lords to eliminate such unstable elents.
They were rely a small family.
Although located in a region known as the Greenlands, producing ample grain and at, every bit of their resources had to be spent wisely.
Each of these pure warriors took years to train and required a significant amount of at.
Their family's resources could not bear the burden.
Families like the Daniels had to rely on the village guard to semi-free-range train them.
“So, they have lived with the belief of fighting for their lords until now. But what happens when that belief collapses?” Corleon said.
“It distorts their minds, but isn't that because their belief was too fragile?”
“Do you know the current state of the knight’s squires and the prospective knights who returned together?”
“They need so ti to rest,” Nyx said.
“And after that?”
“The prospective knights will be knighted, and the knight’s squires can continue to serve their knights.”
“I think this is the difference in belief,” Corleon said, looking at Nyx.
“Yes, you're right,” Nyx admitted frankly.
“However, the investnt in such ticulously trained individuals doesn't match the value they create. Moreover, once they reach adulthood, their inherent cognition is already ford, making it difficult to reconstruct their beliefs deeply.”
“Even the worst knight’s squire has been carefully trained since childhood.”
“They have a steady supply of at, learn to read and write, learn command, care for horses, need entertainnt, require armant, engage in social interactions, and if possible, even travel.”
“Only knight families with actual fiefs can afford to train multiple squires. Families that have never produced knights can barely train one or two squires.”
“The cost of training one squire is enough to train a team of such warriors.”
“In fact, every low-level squire is a loss-making investnt for those families.”
Nyx's words were very value-oriented and aligned with political needs.
“Yes, I won't criticize this thod. At least it allows them to survive in this era, not becoming slaves or refugees, not being devoured by wild beasts,” Corleon said.
“However, I believe that if re-establishing their beliefs can restore them to normalcy, then I should do it.”
“Starting with reciting the Holy Scriptures?” Nyx said. “Scholars have tried. Simply instilling new beliefs is not enough.”
Nyx pointed to the under-construction sanctuary.
“Belief is like a foundation. Once laid, it can support a structure that withstands storms. But if the foundation isn't solid, building a new one requires leveling everything.”
“That scholar perford a high-level ritual, directly implanting new ideas into their subconscious, which restored their normalcy. But the scholar died as a result.”
Nyx looked at Corleon.
“Just reciting the Holy Scriptures is certainly not enough,” Corleon said, gazing at the sanctuary.
“These bricks are forged from fire and stone blessed by the Lord. They will erect a tabernacle that cannot be shaken by wind or rain, nor dismantled by sword or blade.”
“This will beco the sanctuary on earth, where the Lord's initial throne descends, eternal and everlasting.”
“When the sanctuary is completed, the Lord will bestow the gospel, a manifestation of His rcy and love for the world.”
“It will heal the sick, feed the hungry, purify souls, and let the devout sll the sweetness of the Heavenly Kingdom.”
“They recite the Holy Scriptures to not miss the Lord's gospel.”
Nyx understood Corleon's intention, his expression becoming solemn.
“So the priest intends to...”
“You can co along when the ti cos,” Corleon interrupted Nyx. “You can already recite the Holy Scriptures. Perhaps then, you too can hear the Lord's gospel.”
“Although you're not devout, it might ease your body.”
“...”
Nyx fell silent for a mont, then said, “I look forward to it.”
Corleon smiled and continued walking with Nyx.
“You ntioned a ritual earlier?” Corleon asked. “Is that the power of scholars?”
“It's not the power of scholars,” Nyx said.
“Scholars are actually ordinary people. Only a few have an affinity for magic and can use so spells.”
“Rituals are a way scholars have found to borrow power through study.”
“The simplest ritual is enlightennt.”
“‘When the Morning Star falls, children listen to the scholar's ballad. When the Morning Star rises, children pick up the pen.’ This is a very ancient saying, so old that scholars can't find its origin. Our enlightennt ritual is just as described.”
“When the Morning Star falls, a scholar recites to the person about to be enlightened. When the Morning Star rises, they can start learning to read and write.”
“At that mont, enlightennt is complete.”
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