The light from Lynda’s spell was warm. Kaiser was the first to feel all of his weight—vanish. What is this technique? His body was in a state of arrest, going against the laws that held the moon high and the tides low.
It was like swimming in the water surrounded by gold and white guppies, swirling in patterns that seemed to fold the space around them. Kaiser felt Elara move slightly on his back “What is this?” she questioned, sounding scared. She trembled, worried.
“It’s the Elven Force,” Lynda answered, her tone even, attempting to be calm, but Kaiser caught a note of strain. “Light bent into something more useful. Stay still, this isn’t—” Her voice trailed off as her fingers danced over the staff, as if something had unsettled her. “Six, seven... Keep breathing,” she murmured, more to herself than to Kaiser and Elara.
“Should I be worried?” Kaiser stated, though he couldn’t keep the faint irritation from slipping into his question. Lynda didn’t look back at him, muttering numbers under her breath. “Only if I lose track of the numbers. Then things might get—messy.”
“Messy,” Elara questioned, her voice was higher now, and Kaiser felt her grip shift nervously. “She’s trying to keep us alive,” Kaiser muttered. The light blurred—a mélange of greens and browns distorted into streaks. “Ten, eleven… and—steady,” she said, her voice dropping to a murmur. “We’re almost there.”
Kaiser glanced at the faint outline of her staff ahead, glowing additionally brilliant with every count. The rush of motion eased, Elara’s 1voice softened, breaking the brief silence. “It’s… beautiful,” she murmured, her tone awed. Kaiser didn’t answer. Lynda’s focus never wavered, her hand on her staff. “Thirteen… Fifteen….” The light shifted again into a single point ahead. “Sixteen!”
…
“...I skipped a number!”
━━━━°⌜ 之后 °━━━━
Kaiser, Elara, and Lynda fell through the air’s current. Elara was the first to scream. The black-haired Knight looked to the mage who got them in this situation. She was muttering under her breath. Was it a prayer? “Damn it, this is how I die...”
He thought about the situation, though he didn’t appear to be particularly bothered by it. Maybe more irritated than anything. His face contorted as he drew his blade, facing it to the ground. “I need to do something... I need to do... anything...” He put power into the blade, his own aura flowing into the sword as he began to power the blade up, a glint in his eyes.
“Finisirae!—”
“O Radiance of the Eos” Lynda began, cutting Kaiser off “Grant me the grace of ethereal flight, ’twixt light and dark! Illuminate my drop, guiding hand of the fallen elves, bear me aloft and don me with twilight’s wings!”
The incantation danced from out of Lynda’s mouth like a hymn. Her voice was clear, the chaos muted as she spoke. The strands of light around her staff swelled, expanding outward into a burst of wind. Kaiser’s sword still mid-swing, the aura he built up vanishing as Lynda's spell was cast.
Their fall slowed, the air shifting as if a hand in midair had caught them. The wind itself is a net under their feet. Elara held onto Kaiser still, her scream from moments ago echoing in the Knights ears. “Relax,” Lynda called, panting with tire etched over her face. “I’ve got it under control,” she said as she forced herself to get it together. Elara nodded, slowly calming down.
Kaiser didn’t reply, his eyes scanning the rapidly approaching ground. The landscape unfolded below—the town of Braywick, just large enough to avoid being called a settlement and surrounded by smaller nearby villages. Merchants trekked the streets, while someone walked alongside a black-and-white Taurus, ready to sell it.
Moss-covered structures and stretches of farmland dotted the land. The scars of past conflicts were evident—remnants of homes stood as sentinels, guarding against the memories of the Orc raids. Dirt paths lay between houses, leading toward the town center, where a colossal tree loomed. Its ancient trunk and roots spread like veins across the ground.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“That’s... the Moringa tree,” Lynda murmured as they descended, her voice tinged with quiet reverence. “Said to grant miracles, though I wouldn’t count on it.”
image [https://i.imgur.com/TEBdcHE.jpeg]
Elara’s grip on Kaiser’s shoulder tightened as her eyes drank like a rushing alcoholic in the sight. The tree’s top stretched upward, its branches clawing at the heavens. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered, awe softening her tone.
“It’s a tree,” Kaiser replied flatly, his attention elsewhere. His sharp gaze swept over the farmland beyond: workers stooped over crops, an occasional plow cutting through the soil. To the south, the dark mouth of a mine gaped like a wound in the earth.
Lynda’s spell deposited them gently into a modest square near the tree. The cobblestones underfoot were uneven, hastily patched after the orc raids of the past. Townsfolk paused mid-step, their stares laced with curiosity and unease. A boy clung to his mother’s skirts, his wide eyes peeking out from behind her.
Kaiser adjusted Elara’s weight on his back, his instincts on high alert. The tension in the air was thick and familiar—a village hardened by hardship, braced for the next blow.
A gruff voice broke the stillness. “Lynda. You brought company.”
Kaiser turned toward the source: a tall man stepping out from the shade of a leaning awning. His dark hair hung to his ears, his sharp features etched with the weariness of too many battles and too few nights’ rest. His eyes locked onto Kaiser with a mix of calculation and distrust.
“Wyrn Needleheart,” Lynda greeted, dipping her head slightly. “These two were stranded, and I thought—”
“You thought wrong,” Wyrn interrupted, his tone more resigned than angry, as though he’d expected trouble the moment Lynda appeared. “Braywick doesn’t have the luxury of strangers right now.”
Kaiser’s jaw tightened. “We’re not here to burden anyone,” he said coldly. “We’ll be out of your way soon enough.”
Wyrn’s gaze flicked to Elara, then back to Kaiser. “You’d better be,” he muttered. “The guild’s already bled this place dry, and whatever’s stirring in the dungeons isn’t waiting politely.”
The weight of his words sat over the square. Kaiser didn’t flinch, though his expression darkened. He adjusted Elara’s position, his stance unconsciously shifting to one of quiet readiness.
Lynda stepped forward “Wyrn, they’re not with the guild.” Her voice is soft but firm. “If that’s what you’re worried about.” she finished, her eyes carried a silent plea.
“Doesn’t matter.” her silent plea was ignored. “Outsiders draw eyes, and eyes bring trouble. The guild’s already left us scraping for supplies, and now they’re off chasing some dungeon that’ll probably kill them. Braywick can’t afford more chaos.”
“Then don’t lump us in with them,” Kaiser said, interrupting the conversation between the two from behind Lynda. His voice froze through the crowd around them. “We’re not here to play anyone’s pawn. We’ll handle our business and move on.”
“You’d better.” Wyrn started with a skeptical voice “I’ve no patience for cleaning up after someone else’s mess.”
“Enough,” Lynda interjected sharply, squaring her shoulders. The light hearted, stoic yet weary demeanor she carried when she met Kaiser in the foresg was replaced by a presence built from many debates and arguments, like a granddaughter and grandfather. Although, Lynda and Wyrn clearly shared no kinship. “They’re with me. I wouldn’t have brought them here if I thought they were a threat.”
Wyrn stared at her for a while, unspoken words passing between them. Finally, he gave in, his tense posture easing. “Fine. But don’t make me regret this.” His gaze turned back to Kaiser. “Keep your head down, Knight. This isn’t a fortress. The rules are different here.”
Kaiser’s lips curled in a faint, disdainful smirk. “I’ll manage.”
Elara, silent until now, spoke. “What’s this about a dungeon? And the guild?”
Wyrn snorted, crossing his arms. “The guild’s a plague—big enough to think they own the world, stupid enough to think they can tame it. They came sniffing around Braywick for some dungeon they heard about, threw coin like it’d fix everything, then vanished underground. Haven’t seen them since.”
Kaiser’s expression darkened. “If they haven’t come out, they’re probably dead.”
“Maybe,” Wyrn said indifferently. “But they left us short on supplies and answers. If whatever they poked decides to crawl out, it’ll be on us to deal with it.”
Elara glanced between them, concern flickering in her eyes. “Shouldn’t someone check? If they’re in trouble—”
“No,” Kaiser cut in firmly. “That’s not our problem.”
“But—”
“Our mission,” he said, his tone brooking no argument, “is to get you to Rindale. That’s it. We’re not here to play rescue team for a guild too greedy to know better.”
“But Kaiser!—”
Lynda raised a hand, cutting Elara off as she stepped in front of her. “Kaiser. As a Knight of Rimu, part of the Knight Order, we are allowed to invoke the Code of Chivalry upon you.”
Kaiser’s eyes narrowed. “...What?”
“Section 4, Article 17 of the Order’s Principles,” Lynda recited, her tone calm. She had memorized this. “It states that any citizen of your missioning country—in this case, Elveria—can embark you to undertake a quest deemed essential for the greater good. Surely, as a Knight, you understand how vital the guild’s actions are to this nation.”
Kaiser’s jaw tightened, his gaze icy. “You think quoting bureaucracy will change my mind? I don’t answer to any and everyone who waves a piece of parchment at me.”
“It’s not about the parchment.” Lynda said, holding her ground “It’s about duty. If the guild caused something dangerous in that dungeon, it won't stop at Braywick’s borders. It would threaten the entire region—or worse. You’re a Knight. Isn’t protecting people part of your oath?”
The air between was heavy, the silence broke by Elara shifting uneasily behind Lynda. Nervous. Kaiser’s glare shifted to her, his expression a mix of frustration and resignation.
Finally, he exhaled sharply, “Fine. I’ll look into your damn dungeon.” his voice low still holding its freezing tone. “But don’t expect me to play hero. We go in, assess the situation, and get out. That’s it.”
Lynda’s shoulders relaxed slightly, though her tone remained measured. “That’s all I ask. Thank you.” Kaiser turned on his heel, adjusting the weight of his sword. “Elara, stay close. I’m not dragging you out of trouble twice.” Kaiser said, his voice seemed almost venomous. Elara hurried after him, her steps quick and uncertain. “Kaiser, I’m—”
“We’re not discussing this,” he cut her off, his tone final. “Just keep up.”
As they moved toward the outskirts of the village, Lynda watched them go. “Thank you, Kaiser,” she called out afte
r him, her voice carrying a quiet sincerity.
He raised a hand without looking back.
“We’ll be back.”