The Amber Sword

The young wizard smiled as he lowered his staff. The sounds of horses’ hooves echoed behind him as the riders amongst the mercenaries dashed past him. The young lord who was just behind them drew out his sword, reflecting the stars’ light as it issued a signal:

‘Attack and destroy the enemy before us!’

The knights quickly got up as they saw the approaching mercenaries. Brendel had resummoned his Pristine Angels again, retrieving Medissa’s card from the graveyard, and restoring the angels’ health as though they had never been injured.

The angels flew up and descended upon the knights with their swords. They were no match for Kabias or Iamas, but it was the same for the knights when they tried to attack them. Heads were lopped off one after another, and they ultimately chose to retreat into the manor’s square.

Iamas did not wait any longer and began to drag Graudin away from the window. As long as he was fine, it did not even matter if Firburh was razed to the ground.

Brendel who managed to spot Iamas and Graudin at an arched window, gave a cackling laugh when he saw Iamas pulling Graudin away.

He beckoned to Cornelius and gave instructions to him, who in turn relayed his instructions to his mercenaries.

“Baron Graudin has fled Firburh!”

“Baron Graudin is no longer in Firburh!”

When the knights heard the mercenaries’ cries, they stopped moving and turned to look for Graudin’s location. When they were unable to find him, they tossed down their weapons and put their hands up and gave up. When Brendel’s men flooded the huge mansion, they were unable to find any traces of the wretched noble.

Brendel himself had made a guess as to where they were and entered together with Ciel and Scarlett into a secret passage. It led to a set of spiral staircase that descended deep down.

When he exited the area, he found himself in a hall, not unlike the first time where he and Graudin met, decorated with the same set of crystal chandeliers above him. Two sets of footsteps echoed hurriedly through another corridor, and two figures finally emerged, they found Brendel waiting for them with Ciel lighting up the area with his staff.

Graudin’s eyes nearly popped out when he saw three people waiting for him, wondering if he had somehow gotten betrayed. This place was only known to him.

The same atmosphere was also similar when Brendel gained his Element Power. His eyes glinted dangerously in the dimly lit hall, and could not help but laugh at the familiar sight before him. He had promised to cut off Graudin’s head, and this setting was just too similar to where he threatened him.

Iamas calmly looked at him, almost like he was not surprised. He pushed Graudin back behind him and raised his scythe with his right hand.

“Human, you are far more capable than I imagine. I am surprised to see Aouine have a noble like yourself—” His voice was like rusted iron, unlike the pleasant voice he once had.

“Stop wasting time, Iamas.” Brendel shook his head and cut off the topic: “I am sure you know whose life I am here for. I am unable to stop you from escaping, but don’t even think for a fucking moment you can bring Aouine’s Lord Baron away.”

He put emphasis in the last few words.

“I don’t know who you are exactly, but I guess I shall recognize you as a viscount. At the very least, Lord Viscount, I do remember the rules between the nobles are quite different. Behind me is a legitimate lord directly under the king himself. His house carries a bloodline directly back to the former kingdom. Are you telling me that you wish to lay your hands on such a prestigious House? You would become the precedent of a bloody war between two noble Houses,” Iamas said.

He shrugged. “I can step aside, but even if I do so, are you certain you want to kill him?”

Graudin’s face darkened behind the undead general.

“The glory of the kingdom does not extend to a traitor,” Brendel said.

“But it is still not a reason to break the rules of the nobles, and certainly not a reason to set two Houses at each other till one is beyond saving.”

Brendel’s laughter echoed in the hall: “If a single Baron from Randner is capable of ending my House, why the fuck would I come here?”

Iamas was at a loss for words.

“Your arrogance!” Graudin’s teeth ground furiously at each other when he listened to Brendel’s words: “I don’t know where your confidence comes from, Viscount Gaston—”

“Did I allow you to speak?” Brendel’s voice was so cold that it chilled Graudin’s blood, causing a great fear to spread within him. The latter’s pupils contracted, and he immediately stopped talking.

Iamas clapped his hands.

“Your spirit is commendable. But the Lornians, native citizens of the Kingdom of Knights, have said the wise should learn to seek a balance. Lord Viscount, a noble like yourself should understand that Graudin has received his due punishment. Why not stop here and allow everyone to have a chance to reconcile?”

“The Lornians have said this as well, blood for blood, tooth for tooth,” Ciel added with a warm smile.

“But the blood that was shed does not belong to Lord Viscount,” Iamas countered.

“Indeed. But the noble’s honor demands retribution,” Brendel replied coldly.

Iamas was once again silent.

Brendel was secretly frowning. Iamas was not someone who wasted his time on words. He and Ebdon were famous for being decisive and practical. He doubted it was due to some unknown event in the future that somehow changed his personality.

[Is Graudin this important to Madara? What exactly is the promise between the Randner House and Madara?! No, there’s still another possibility—]

The best way to avoid any trap is to act upon it.

Brendel stopped talking and walked forward towards Graudin. His right glove made of comfortable white leather reached for his sword. A freezing aura immediately extended to half the hall.

Iamas did not move, but Graudin took three steps back in fright, nearly falling onto the ground. His face flushed with anger and fear, his heart full of disbelief as he gnashed his teeth.

Even though he was a mere Iron-ranked swordsman, he realized Brendel’s power had increased so much that it could not be compared to the day before!

Naturally, he could not have guessed that the new source of power came from Brendel’s newly gained levels from his Elementalist’s profession. The only possibility he could think of was that Brendel hid his real strength.

He immediately went up to Iamas and whispered to him. The undead general nodded and looked at Brendel in amusement.

Kabias’s report could not be wrong. But he had sensed Brendel’s strength for himself. There was no change in his demeanor, however, as he thought about this problem.

“Lord Viscount, why not reconsider?” Iamas said.

“There are no advantages for you when you interfere with us humans. You already know that you can’t bring Graudin away, and it a meaningless battle for both of us. Step aside, I know this is not something you would do—” Brendel said.

Iamas shook his head as he watched Brendel get closer with every step. He pushed Graudin slightly back with his scythe.

“This battle might mean nothing to you, Lord Viscount, but Madara takes it seriously and therefore has a different meaning for me. While we have never allied with the living in our history, there is a first for everything, and abandoning our first ally would cast doubt upon our reputation.”

He gave a short laugh under his mask: “But you are not wrong. Protecting the Lord Baron here against three Gold-ranked fighters is certainly difficult—”

“Lord Iamas!” Graudin jolted in fright, his face paling quickly.