Free Web NovelChapter 316: Chapter 304: Faith: Self
[Faith Anchored. Bulwark of the Heart Erected.]
[Analyzing...]
Words that seemed woven from blood and fire slowly materialized. Roland held his breath, his gaze fixed in total concentration.
A moment later, the text in the "Faith" section of his Professional Panel rippled like the surface of water before abruptly changing.
[Faith: None]
[Current Available Faith Direction: Self]
’Self?’
Watching the word slowly coalesce, Roland subconsciously clenched his fists.
’Just as I thought... the object of one’s faith doesn’t have to be one of the Deities sitting high in the clouds...’
Before he could think it over, the Professional Panel changed again.
[Select "Self" as your Faith?]
’Yes.’
Faced with this clear prompt, Roland did not hesitate in the slightest.
[Faith Confirmed: Self]
As these words appeared, a strange sense of calm washed over Roland.
It wasn’t the ecstasy of a divine revelation, nor was it a torrential flood of Power. It was a deeper, more internal conviction.
It was as if a crucial pivot, always just slightly misaligned, had finally and silently snapped perfectly into place.
He carefully perceived the changes in his body and soul but found no immediate increase in his strength.
He hadn’t become stronger, and his Spiritual Power hadn’t significantly increased.
’Perhaps the changes brought about by establishing faith aren’t reflected in such superficial ways...’
Just as he was pondering this, another new line of information materialized on the panel.
[Faith Resonance: 0%]
Roland stared at the number, his brows furrowing slightly.
’Faith Resonance... zero? It seems this so-called faith isn’t set in stone.’
’It can grow, or rather... it needs to be solidified. But how exactly do I increase it?’
His eyes narrowed slightly as he sank into thought.
’Maybe... increasing this progress is related to practicing my own beliefs?’
’Every time I follow my heart and make a choice, every time I overcome a hardship and stick to my path, it might strengthen this ’faith’ in myself. So, what exactly is the path I’m sticking to...’
He reviewed his experiences, and after a moment, a faint speculation formed in his mind.
’Perhaps... it’s my obsession with increasing my Power?’
After thinking for a moment without reaching a definite conclusion, Roland shook his head, setting the question aside for now. He turned his attention instead to carefully experiencing the changes brought by establishing his faith.
Although it hadn’t brought a direct leap in Power, he did perceive a subtle possibility.
Roland closed his eyes again, sinking his consciousness deep within.
This time, he no longer tried to ’draw’ from or ’pray’ to an external source. Instead, he gathered his entire will inward, focusing on that newly established ’conviction’ in his own path and will.
The process was still clumsy, yet it was completely different from when he had used the Longsword for aid.
He felt an extremely faint, yet incredibly real, current of warmth.
It didn’t originate from outside his body. It slowly seeped out from that firm ’conviction’ itself, like the first drop of a warm spring quietly emerging from beneath the ice and snow of early spring.
It was a tiny, warm trickle, carrying a nascent yet pure quality of light.
He tried to guide this faint stream of warmth, circulating it according to the method recorded in the Scroll.
The next moment, under the guidance of his will, a wisp of Positive Energy—thinner than a strand of hair and with a light so dim it was almost imperceptible—slowly flowed through his arm.
Its quantity was so minuscule it could hardly adhere to a sword’s blade, and its quality was far inferior to the surging Holy Power contained within the Secret Silver Longsword.
But this Power, it truly and genuinely originated from within him—from his belief in ’faith in Self’.
Roland opened his eyes. Watching the nearly invisible glimmer of light on his fingertip quietly dissipate, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
’Very good. All that’s left is to find a way to increase my Faith Resonance through practice.’
Thinking of the dragon bloodline that had awakened when his Bloodline Fusion Level had reached one hundred percent, a trace of anticipation flashed in Roland’s eyes.
’I wonder what kind of changes it will bring as my Faith Resonance gradually increases. And besides...’
Recalling the Paladins from the ancient texts, who were almost intrinsically linked to faith itself, Roland subconsciously raised a hand, his fingertips gently stroking his smooth chin.
But he quickly shook his head, scattering these distracting thoughts. He solemnly put away the Scroll recording the Supreme Slash and then picked up the Domain of Honesty Scroll he had set aside earlier.
Unlike the powerful illustrations and text on the Supreme Slash Scroll, the brushwork on this one appeared more delicate and intricate.
He quickly scanned its contents.
As a Second Ring Spell, its construction principle, compared to the way Supreme Slash mobilized internal or external Energy, was more focused on weaving and shaping specific Laws.
The Scroll detailed how to condense Spiritual Power to construct the nodes of an invisible Force Field, and how to temporarily infuse the concept of ’truth’ into this area, forming a holy constraint.
For Roland, who had just learned to guide Positive Energy with his will and had even established a preliminary faith in ’Self’, understanding the framework of this Spell was not difficult.
The difficulty lay in the precise control of his Spiritual Power and the subtle perception of fragments of Law, which was precisely what Roland, whose Spiritual Power had been tempered many times, excelled at.
He followed the Scroll’s guidance, immersing his mind in it. His fingertips traced the paths of the Runes depicted on the Scroll as he silently constructed the Spell Model.
Threads of Spiritual Power were drawn out, weaving and intertwining along complex paths.
Soon, just as when he had constructed the Trick Flaming Arrow, a tiny but stable magical structure took shape in his Deep Sea of Consciousness, emitting a faint, almost invisible, silvery light.
[Skill Learned: Domain of Honesty]
A concise prompt appeared on his Professional Panel, signifying that he had successfully learned the Spell.
Roland opened his eyes, sensing the now-stabilized Spell Model in his mind.
However, he didn’t try to cast it on the spot.
After all, there was no point in deploying a domain that forced people to tell the truth inside his secluded residence.
He simply confirmed that he understood it, had mastered it, and had added it to his repertoire.
Afterward, he carefully put both Scrolls away. The oil lamp in the room was extinguished, leaving only the faint starlight seeping in from the window.
The next morning, Roland woke up on time just as the first thin rays of sunlight seeped through the window lattice.
He got up, washed up quickly, and over breakfast, arranged with Reggie to set off for the River Domain that afternoon.
He then called for Teresa and Galvis and went to the Adventurer’s Guild that Dalko had taken him to the previous night, where they enjoyed a rather sumptuous meal.
After the meal, they met with Danny the Alchemist.
Roland had originally planned to take him along, but seeing the large amount of luggage the other man had yet to pack, he could only shake his head helplessly.
He gave Danny a bag of coins, instructing him to hire some reliable Adventurers or Mercenaries to escort him to the River Domain on his own once he was properly packed.
Next, Roland went to check on Sean.
Confirming that Sean’s life was not in danger and that he wasn’t under any form of house arrest, Roland was finally able to rest easy.
After a few simple words of instruction, he headed to the Knight Academy to inform Dalko of his impending departure.
Perhaps because their conversation the day before had diluted the sorrow of parting, the occasionally melodramatic young noble didn’t say anything sentimental this time. He just made a few lighthearted jokes before waving goodbye.
After a rather simple farewell ceremony organized by the Golden Valley Kingdom, Roland’s party slowly rode out of the towering gates of Golden Ears City, leaving the Royal Capital gradually behind them.
The horses’ hooves clattered crisply on the stone-paved road, creating a clear echo.
The rising sun gilded the distant fields in a layer of pale gold.
Galvis casually plucked his strings, letting a few scattered, clear notes drift out, then urged his horse closer to Roland.
"Ah, Roland, every farewell is like the final Chapter of a poem."
he began, his voice as soothing as the notes from his fingertips.
"The gates close behind us, sealing one story here. And what unfolds before us is a new Chapter waiting to be written."
Seeing that Roland was ignoring his beautiful verses, the Minstrel shook his head helplessly. His gaze then shifted to the winding road ahead, his tone growing a little more serious.
"Once we return to the River Domain, what are your plans? Will you be staying there for long?"
Roland listened in silence, his gaze fixed on the distance.
A breeze rustled through the grass by the roadside, bringing with it a soft, rustling sound.
He pondered for a moment, and finally...
Slowly, he shook his head.
