Montefel Castle stood firm once again, but not without the sacrifice of hundreds of peasant infantry and a dozen knights; the Ancient Tomb Legion slowly retreated.

"Thank you, Kaled. Without your help, the castle gates might have fallen." Watching the retreating Undead Army, Duke Fulcard spoke to the Expedition Knight standing beside him: "Your timely aid to Montefel is a kindness I, and the entire duchy, will be forever grateful for."

"Fighting evil is a duty." Expedition Knight Kaled had been on the Path of the Holy Grail for over a year. This powerful Expedition Knight rode his Elf Warhorse from Brittania, with his major contributions including:

Fighting against the Four-armed Bull Demon and Cyclops in Rick Territory, decapitating a Goblin Shaman in Weisen Territory, single-handedly beheading a Two-legged Flying Dragon, dealing with two Green-skinned Warlords alone in the Black Fire Pass of Avey Territory, and independently slaying an Undead Mage in Stier Territory, as well as taking down a Bile Giant and a Champion of Nurgle in Ostmark.

Later, Kaled traveled northward to Kislev, where he joined the Bear Cavalry Legion against the Chaos Raiders from the north. He single-handedly took down five Barbarian Tribe Chiefs, lifting the alarm of barbarian raids. Then he headed west to Oster and Nord Territory, slaughtering two Beastman Tribes before returning to Brittania, summoned by Francois, to prepare for the war at Black Stone Stronghold with Laine and Francois.

Throughout his journey, Kaled achieved numerous war accomplishments and was bestowed with honors.

On the way, he was visited in dreams by the Lake Fairy, who informed him of the Ancient Tomb Legion’s encirclement of Montefel Castle. Kaled hurried to Duke Fulcard’s aid without delay.

"The siege has lasted ten days, and we have yet to hear news of reinforcements." Duke Fulcard, a middle-aged man in his fifties and a Kingdom Knight of Legendary Power, stood on the battlements as the Undead retreated, surveying a breach in the wall.

This breach had been blasted open by Kemler’s spell, collapsing a portion of the wall under the assault of Undead Magic, turning what was once a white battlement black and bubbling.

Duke Fulcard chose not to request aid from the Saintess Order or send for the Lake Goddess and Lake God Prophet. Instead, he hired a wizard from the Imperial Royal Wizard Academy. This Light Mage and his apprentices chanted spells on the walls, repairing them. The Wind of Light, Hayhee, blew away the Undead Magic and swept up the rubble, allowing the craftsmen of Montfort to immediately repair the breach in the wall.

"Reinforcements will come." Kaled walked beside Fulcard, speaking softly, "Please understand, my Duke, last year’s Chaos invasion severely depleted the armies of the northern duchies. Assembling a large army is not an easy task. You know how Duke Hagen of Jisoleox resides in Kulona long-term, and just returning to gather troops in his territory takes considerable time."

"I know, we can’t rely on the North, but what about the arrogant Southerners? Where are Bohemond and his Red Dragon Brotherhood? What about Francois and his Quenalis Champion Knights Brotherhood? Why do I only see you here? And what about the Divine Chosen Champion of the Lady, Laine-Macado? I have sent requests for aid to them, yet they haven’t arrived. If they don’t come soon, the castle will fall." Duke Fulcard of Montfort initially spoke with some agitation, but he soon sighed quietly, "The food rationing has already been halved, my friend Kaled, yet even so, the sustenance for tens of thousands is straining this castle’s resources. Even with my private stores, provisions can last only another twenty days to a month, at most, in the most optimistic estimate! I can wait, but my subjects cannot."

The Montfort Duchy largely relies on pastoral farming for food production. The duchy imports large quantities of grain from the Empire and other duchies in Brittania each year to maintain supplies. However, recent destruction of the Axe Bite Pass disrupted trade routes, rendering supplies scarce. The influx of tens of thousands of refugees only worsened the already strained food stores.

After briefly inspecting the castle’s defenses, Duke Fulcard and Kaled stood atop the watchtower, overseeing the peaks of the Gray Mountain Range and the Montfort Duchy. Surprisingly, the defenders and refugees maintained high morale. Many Montfortians believed the Lake Fairy was watching over the battle, spurring them to arm themselves and vow to fight to the death against the Undead.

The Montfortians were always unique. Looking at the resolute Duke Fulcard, Expedition Knight Kaled thought to himself.

The entire land of the Montfort Duchy lay within the Gray Mountain Range. As such, its people were nearly all skilled mountaineers. Years of combating threats from Green Skin raids and harsh conditions shaped the Montfortians into a stubborn and resilient people. They welcomed all human comrades and outsiders but were highly hostile towards all non-human races, including Elves, Half-Elves, and Dwarfs. This hostility was shared by Duke Fulcard.

Duke Fulcard was a staunch human supremacist, insisting that only humans were destined to rule over all peoples. Consequently, he bore intense animosity towards Dwarfs, Half-Elves, and Elves. He had repeatedly expelled Dwarfs and burned Elves deemed as Chaos Mutants. Naturally, Laine’s sheltering of numerous Dwarfs and Elves incited Duke Fulcard’s severe displeasure, leading him to repeatedly suggest to King Richard that Laine be penalized, on the grounds that, as the Divine Chosen Champion of the Lady, Laine must uphold "purity."