The Amber Sword

Chapter 179 – Dream

When Brendel took out the gemstone, a ray of grey light shot out from it and pierced through the mist, pointing towards a certain direction.

“What are you holding on to?” Faena asked.

“Why do I need to answer your question? Surely someone from the Empire would not care for what a citizen from Aouine has to say.” Brendel raised the gemstone higher, making himself a lighthouse.

“You—” She gnashed her teeth.

But Brendel ignored her and started walking, dragging the irate girl along with him. Both of them became silent, unwilling to speak to each other.

The light from the gemstone was a form of Mana Resonance, and it focused on something within the valley. The two of them continued to walk in the fog for quite some time, following the direction of the light as black rocks peeked in and out. A strong air current was flowing past their legs like a river’s water which slowed their progress.

The boring landscape made the weary duo sleepy as they continued walking, but it did not take long for the gemstone in Brendel’s hands to flash a few times before it dimmed. The youth suddenly became alert and focused his attention on his surroundings that seemed to be oddly bright. He pondered a few seconds, before taking out Veronica’s sword and dropped its sheath onto the ground.

Faena’s eyebrows were knitted together and she was about to explode, but she saw the youth had his finger on his lips, and it caused her to deflate like a balloon.

“….. This obnoxious country bumpkin from Aouine.” She muttered.

Brendel did not have the mood to continue arguing with her. He looked at his surroundings and discovered a spot that was better than where they were at. The fake Lernaia Hydra would find it difficult to spot them if they were there instead. He gestured to Faena and brought her over carefully after walking for a few minutes, using the many boulders in the area as cover.

It was a gap within the cliffs, which allowed them to see the entire valley easily, as well as the quarry below them. It was a good place to avoid the Lernaia Hydra’s eyes and also allowed them to observe Andesha’s movements if she came.

Brendel estimated that she would take ten more minutes to catch up to them.

As expected, the figure of Mistress of Withering Decay appeared in the fog within that time frame.

[It is quite the feat, to be able to pursue us so quickly.]

Brendel thought they had only left their scent behind.

Interestingly, Andesha took a sheltered path that blocked her view if she were to look up, and thus she did not notice the Lernaia Hydra’s existence. It was the same for the creature, which also did not notice her.

This was not what Brendel wanted. There was a strong killing intent in the air that would invite Andesha’s cautiousness if she were to move any closer, and he needed to ensure his plan’s success to get them to fight each other.

He took a deep breath, ready to act—

“Hey, country bumpkin, are you sure this plan is going to mmmf—” Faena could see Andesha’s figure, and she asked after gulping once.

Brendel grabbed the girl’s cheeks using one hand and squeezed them with great spite. His courage and determination were suddenly deflated because of this stupid woman.

But he was out of time. He acted immediately and took out the gemstone. The Lernaia Hydra suddenly stopped moving, before fifteen heads turned and stared at the spot where the two youths were hiding at.

[Here it comes!]

Brendel’s heart raced as he lifted up the gemstone, and the figure of the Lernaia Hydra immediately moved towards the gap.

“F-Fhat arr yew dewing!” Faena could not help but speak in alarm, her hands flailing about.

Brendel did not answer her.

A dragon head was moving quickly to where they were, and he forcibly pulled Faena out of the hole. Four additional dragon heads suddenly parted the mist and appeared before them, and he hurled Faena like a javelin upon seeing that sight.

Fangs snapped at the screaming girl flying in the air, but they missed and Faena tumbled onto the ground roughly, rolling a few times. She had curled herself into a ball and hugged her head. The youth then activated his Charge ability and rushed next to her, scooping her up into his arms and he ran across the valley with a dazzling speed.

Even though the deep valley was considerably large, the size of the Lernaia Hydra was far too big for it to use all its heads at the same time. Fifteen heads moved to attack Brendel, but they knocked into each other and slowed down their progress.

The youth ran and made use of the many boulders and gaps within the cliffs, making it impossible for the Lernaia Hydra to get them.

He quickly ran into Andesha. She was holding on to the sheath of Veronica’s sword which he had left behind as a bait; the sheath’s materials were special and she took time to study it.

When the leader of the Tree Shepherds saw Brendel carrying Faena in his arms and appearing before her, she could not help but feel surprised. Her reactions were quick as she immediately spoke aloud with ridicule:

“Delivering yourselves to me, are we?”

“Surely you know that I’m not holding onto the Lionheart—” Brendel stopped running, and he laughed with sarcasm while he shook his head.

Andesha scoffed: “The Acolyte of the Dark God is more important than a mere sword.”

“Oh, then how important is this thing compared to me?”

“What?”

Andesha was confused by Brendel’s words and actions; the youth tossed a gemstone over to her. She nearly smacked it away instinctively, but she managed to identify at the last moment and her expression changed.

“A Sealed Fragment?”

Andesha immediately caught the gemstone with a conjured vine whip and studied it.