The Amber Sword

Chapter 190 – The final moment (6)

Brendel took a few tiny steps before he suddenly felt a jerk to his sleeves and turned around to find Faena’s hand. She mouthed her question and pointed at the streets covered with overgrown vegetation with a finger:

“You want to go through there?”

Brendel nodded.

“Are you crazy?” Faena looked at him in disbelief before she thought of something that could explain his actions: “…… Have you figured how to activate the cloak’s invisibility?”

[If I can I would have used it immediately. That old fool didn’t even give me a clue to activate it. How should I know what to do with it?]

The youth rolled his eyes, gestured at Faena and Sifrid to stay behind, then went out to his destination without responding. Faena could only look on with fright in her wide open eyes. Her fingers were digging in so deeply into her skin that it left marks on it, but she did not make a sound despite her slacked jaw.

[Honestly, with Andesha’s Perception stats, I’m pretty sure that even with a ranger with level 10 Stealth would have trouble hiding from her. I wouldn’t stand a chance.]

As one of the top-ranking nobles in the Kirrlutz Empire, she was well learned and knew that only the most capable scouts within the army were capable of doing a feat like him. The typical nobles were not required to learn it, unless they were working for the throne as ambassadors with the skillset of a spy.

She learned a few things from her father’s spies in the past, but they now appeared like frauds when she compared their abilities to Brendel’s.

But Brendel thought otherwise and was greatly concerned about his actions. His ability was not corrected by the system, and there was no competing against the professions in the game. As long as the Stealth level was above level ten, the stealthy professions like a ranger or Night Oracle could hide right in front of Faena and not be noticed. At level fifteen, they could even disappear right in front of her eyes, nearly reaching the capabilities of a magical artifact, though it was not easy even for the main professions with these skillsets to learn it. Invisibility magic could be dispelled but stealth could not.

When Brendel carried the stunned Faena, she was so startled she squeaked out a sound, but the youth was alert enough to cover her lips in time and glared at her to warn her to be careful.

The girl suddenly remembered the thrilling moments where he carried her.

Like jumping off a cliff and scaring her till she cried. Or throwing her into the air and past the Lernaia Hydra’s mouth as it snapped at her.

When she realized that Brendel was carrying her in his arms, she suddenly felt her face burn up and wished that she was still gawking over his skill. It was only after that she was placed next to Sifrid that she recovered from her panic.

Brendel brought both of them closer to his desired destination by repeating the same steps. When they reached the final house in the ruins, he patted Faena and mouthed:

“Are you really going to follow me? It’s possible that we will get killed.” Brendel tried to frighten the girl one more time, but she still refused to let him go alone.

[What pills did this woman take? She just keeps staring at me and nodding.]

If there was one thing that the people from Kirrlutz and Aouine had in common, they were both unwilling to abandon their comrades. Brendel felt highly uncomfortable at that thought.

“Fine. I tried my best,” he sighed.

He then peeked out at the clearing to investigate it again, but his expression contorted immediately. Faena did the same thing, and she pushed her hands up to her lips with lightning speed to prevent herself from making any noises from surprise.

There was a figure covered in red robes standing at the other end of the clearing.

[Bloody hell, this was a trap.]

Brendel cursed in his mind. He thought that Andesha had a small oversight, though it was still highly unreasonable to think that it would work if he tried to cross over the clearing. What he did not expect was Andesha to have a watertight surveillance. The youth backed away and gritted his teeth. He did not have a backup plan.

Faena prodded him: “We’re actually close enough. Perhaps we can try using the cloak? Its magic should be able to last for a while.”

[Cloak? The one that William gave us?]

“What are you talking about? Have you forgotten that the old wizard didn’t give us the keyword to activate its magic?”

He patted Faena’s hand away. Was the girl too terrified to think properly? Perhaps the old wizard’s forgetful nature had spread to her head.

“Do you really think the cloak cannot be used just because that old man didn’t tell you the keywords to activate it? Have you forgotten what my profession is?”

“Huh? What your profession is? Daughter of a high-ranking duke?”

“You oaf! I’m a Magic Swordsman, deciphering runes is part of my skillset!”

“Hah? Just how capable do you think you are? This cloak is a legendary item that’s only heard in mythological tales. The Magic Formations on it are very much different from the ones we’re using in this era. If I’m not wrong, my lady, you’re not even formally recognized as a Magic Swordsman. An apprentice instead, yes?”

“It’s precisely because I’m a noble that I’m not recognized as a Magic Swordsman! There are many pairs of eyes on me as a duke’s daughter and I can’t go out to get recognized as one! But the skills I’m taught as an aristocrat are even more detailed than your average Magic Swordsman!”

Brendel tilted his head and looked at her with discerning eyes. She did have a good memory and even won an award of sorts. His tone was a little earnest for the first time:

“Can you really do it?”

“Let me try, but I can’t guarentee it.”

Faena did not dare to brag about it, but she had a solemn expression and did not put on an air of superiority like before. Brendel nodded and passed the cloak over to her. She extended the cloak up in the air as much as she could with shaking arms. It was actually quite heavy and tough physically on her, proving that it was indeed a cloak for a giant.

After several minutes of inspection, she suddenly uttered a delighted gasp, startling Brendel, and he hurriedly checked if the robed figure hiding in the clearing noticed them, before he cast a glance at Andesha. Fortunately, both of them did not react.

He turned back to glare at Faena. It was impossible for her to be a spy working for the enemies, but she was definitely acting like one right now. She also recognized her mistake and stuck out her tongue with an embarrassed look, but she quickly mouthed out in delight:

“I studied this particular school of Magic before!”

“You did!?” Brendel was shocked, but he also became delighted. It was quite the fortunate turn of events. If she learned it before, then it should not be difficult to discover the keyword to activate it.

It seemed like luck was still on his side.