The Amber Sword

Chapter 4 – Chaos

(TL: We’re now going back to Brendel.)

The news of Madara’s grand army inside the fortress spread throughout the entire place like a plague.

The pine forest within this mountain region was described as the blighted land of evil, due to the undead and thieves existing in there for centuries. It was as if Aouine’s misfortune grew from there, and so the citizens trained themselves to prepare themselves for the fight, while the nobles pledged themselves to lead them when there were any invasions.

This fairy-tale like legend that seemed to exist forever in the minds of the citizens had came to life, baring their fangs and ready to devour them, but that was when the citizens realized that the nobles and the army of Fortress Riedon were nowhere to be seen.

As Brendel ran through the area, he saw more and more people rushing in and out of their houses. The people who still did no know what was happening quickly asked the people in the street, then hurriedly went inside to the house and brought some luggage and their family members out, then proceeded to the north gate.

More and more people gathered, until it finally formed a large throng in the streets. This scenery was like an oil painting in his eyes.

Children grabbed the adults’ hands with their faces full of curiosity, while the wives held on to their husband, their faces full of anxiety. The massively packed crowd of people were nearly quiet with hardly anyone speaking, and there was only the sound of shuffling footsteps that moved forward.

But this silence did not last. Because there was no one to lead them, there were horse carriages which eventually crashed into each other and blocked the road. The crowd’s progress slowed down which led to quarrels. A brawl started with the people at the back cursing at them, and there was a sort of fear that infected the crowd.

This event happened right at the moment where Brendel and Ciel found Romaine, and so Brendel instructed the carriage driver to drive to the sides after they got in.

“Brendel, you’re finally here. I was really worried.” Romaine sighed with great relief. She had waited a little nervously as she rubbed her shoes against the carriage’s wooden board constantly.

Brendel and Ciel sat at the left and right side of the carriage in order to guard, and looked at the growing chaos in the street.

“There were a lot of people along the way which delayed us a little.” Brendel pulled out his sword and answered.

“Where’s Freya?”

“I don’t know, let’s wait and see.”

Ciel who was watching the chaos quietly suddenly whispered to Brendel: “My lord, someone is inciting the crowd.”

“What sort of advantage will they have if they do this?” Brendel was surprised. He did not understand it. He had never paid attention what the NPCs did in the game and he was certainly not a psychologist.

“They are afraid that it’s not chaotic enough.”

“Why is that?”

“Because these people knew subconsciously that only chaos will bring them advantage. Ambitious people will not stay silent, my lord. Some of them even hope that something like this will happen in order to exploit them.” Ciel glared at the people outside as he replied coldly.

“What? They are doing this even though this is such a dire situation. Do they value their own lives?”

Brendel understood that there were such human traits in society, but it was the first time he saw it happening before his very own eyes.

The scene became even more chaotic as the people near the overturned horse carriage started shoving each other and crying children could be heard. That was not the end of it, as someone yelled out the news of Madara’s army nearby in this vicinity, and everyone started panicking.

“This is the moment, my lord. My teacher taught me that such madness is derived from the boldness of ambitious people and they would act as one.” Ciel pointed at the people responsible for the chaos. “When I was learning magic in Karsuk, my teacher showed me and other disciples not only the method of deciphering magic words in a tall dark rock tower, he also taught us how to manipulate someone’s heart.”

Brendel nodded.

The archmagi in Karsuk taught differently from Buga’s Archmagi. The latter wore white robes and walked across the white marble floor in their academy, and they appeared more as sage-like leaders amongst their more mysterious counterparts.

“What are they doing?” Romaine asked curiously with her eyes open wide.

“Stealing, robbing, using violence to get the things they want, which they normally don’t dare to dream of owning, just like you, my beautiful lady. ”

“D, don’t praise me, I won’t thank you.” Romaine blushed and her eyebrows raised high up.

The dreaded fight finally happened. No one knew who threw the first punch, but many people starting hitting each other. People started to force their through and family members were torn apart as they rushed through. The ones who fell onto the ground were trampled on and they never stood up again.

Yells and shrieks, along with wailing echoed throughout the street.

Brendel silently watched the events unfold. He could not stop it and could only ask the driver to move towards the side. However, this action drew attention, and some of the people who started the riot noticed him. When they saw Romaine, their eyes displayed greed.

These men were comprised of ruffians who did nothing everyday, or disgraced mercenaries or adventurers who did illegal things. They had planned signs and after communicating with each other silently, they pushed away the people who were blocking them and went closer to Brendel.

Brendel frowned and he placed one hand on his sword. Ciel and Romaine became tense.

“Hey you lot, it’s not good if you have one whole carriage to yourself, especially during this difficult times. Let me take a seat too.” A mercenary with dirty leather armor grabbed onto the rails without asking for permission.

“Scram.” Brendel placed his sword and place it on his neck.

“Kid, I just want to take a ride, are you really going to murder someone over that?” The mercenary did not expect Brendel to be so unyielding and was surprised. He stopped moving, placed one foot onto the platform, looked at Brendel with ill intentions, then shouted: “You lordly nobles, when it comes to the critical moment you lot abandon us and escape. I simply just want to take a free ride, you nitwit selfish fuckers. If you have the guts, kill me—”

The men started to crowd around the mercenary and looked at Brendel with taunting eyes. But their gazes were more on Romaine with lust.

“Brendel.....” Romaine was a little frightened and she grabbed his arm with her slim fingers..

Brendel turned around and patted her hand. He then swiveled his head back and spoke to the mercenary with full of disdain: Did you see that? There’s a lady in this carriage. She doesn’t welcome any of you and you can fuck off right now.

Brendel’s brusque attitude apparently angered him. The mercenary hurled curses at him and tried to board the carriage. The men beside him also attempted to overrun him, as if they were convinced he was a noble youth who would not fight back when shove comes to push.

“M-my lord, d-don’t—” Before Ciel finished speaking, his mouth unhinged as he watched Brendel thrust deeply into the mercenary’s chest and kicked him backwards, knocking the crowd backwards.

The mercenary had an expression of utter disbelief. Brendel felt a little disgusted when he felt the blade penetrate into the mercenary’s chest, but there was no hesitation in what he did.

[I might feel no differently from the average person, my heart cries for the people who are suffering from Madara’s invasion, but I have no mercy for you fucking trash!]

The other men took a few steps back when Brendel murdered the mercenary in cold blood, but they quickly realized they were the side with an overwhelming advantage in numbers.

“You fucking noble, you killed a human in plain sight!” Someone immediately shouted.

“That’s right, we just wanted to get a ride!”

“You bloody animal!”

“These nobles have never seen us as humans at all!” The men slowly stepped forward while they incited the surrounding crowd with slandering words.

“Drag him down out from the carriage now!”

“Beat him to death!” The crowd around the horse carriage grew larger. They only believed in what they just saw and heard. Ciel and Romaine were deeply worried as they could see things were turning into a terrible direction.

Brendel sheathed his sword and looked coldly at the crowd and sat down at the edge of the carriage’s platform. Very soon, another man rushed up as he thought the this ‘noble youth’ would rein in his attitude.

But he was wrong.

Brendel did not say anything and simply thrust his sword straight into that man’s throat with lightning speed. The man clutched at his throat with terror and stumbled backwards, before crumpling down slowly. The sword not only shocked the inciting men, it also caused the crowd to go up in an uproar.

But Brendel stood up and jumped down from the carriage. His jump made everyone retreat into a circle. He walked forward into their center as he continued to glare coldly at them. His sword suddenly swung over the top of the crowd.

A gust of wind flew across their heads, and besides a few strands of cut hair, the roof of a house nearby exploded loudly with a bang, and a meter long crack could be seen visibly.

Everyone stared at the crack in amazement.

“Take care of yourselves.”

Brendel spat the words out in an austere manner, sheathed his sword and climbed back into the carriage. He was more concerned about Freya’s side rather than wasting time with the mastermind.

[Why is she still not here?]

On the other hand Romaine was looking at Brendel with starry eyes.

“You’re amazing Brendel.” Romaine praised him.

“There’s nothing glorious about killing a man, especially when these people are mere citizens.” Brendel shook his head.

“But you’re the only one who can protect me.”

Brendel paused for a while before giving a faint smile.