"Will you give me a chance?"
"Eh?"
Amelia found herself perplexed. She was already used to Brandon teasing her.
But this…
This took the cake.
Several thoughts emerged within her thoughts. Before she realized it, she felt her face starting to heat up.
He was close.
Too close.
She could hear the sound of his breathing right close to her ear.
Chance.
What kind of chance?
Was he talking about—
"A chance to repay you."
Oh.
So that''s what he meant.
"...I told you."
She shook her head.
"Just sit back and rx."
"Heh. It was worth a try."
Brandon pulled away and shrugged.
Heid down on the grass with his hands behind his head.
Amelia turned back around and fixed her attention towards the stew.
"Haaa…"
She breathed out a sigh.
''Why does he keep teasing me…''
She found herself rubbing her right ear.
***
The stew finished and the group enjoyed the meal.
"Thanks, Amelia. Food''s good as always."
"Thank you, Amelia."
"Thank you."
Brandon, Carl, and Aurelia gave their thanks.
Amelia nodded in appreciation with a smile stered on her face.
"Mhm. You''re wee."
They sat together, enjoying each other''spany, faces illuminated by the flickering campfire.
The night was serene, with the moon hanging high and the stars twinkling brightly in the clear sky.
Right in the middle of their meal, Aurelia suddenly stopped and ced her meal down.
Noticing her sudden demeanor, Brandon asked.
"What''s wrong, Aurelia?"
"...Someone."
They immediately understood what Aurelia meant.
She sensed someone''s presence.
Rustle… Rustle…
Just at the right time, the bushes suddenly rustled.
"....!"
They immediately settled the bowls down and stood up. Brandon and Amelia positioned themselves in front of Carl and Aurelia.
Aurelia clung tightly to Brandon''s pant leg.
Brandon gazed down and shed her a warm smile, ruffling her lc hair to ease her tension.
Aurelia closed her eyes and pressed her head on the cloth of his pants, bracing for the worse toe.
The little elven girl was clearly shaken.
All of a sudden…
"Hua… help."
A man emerged from the bushes, crawling down on the cold hard ground.
"...."
"...."
"...."
They were speechless.
But regardless, Aurelia was still rmed.
There was clearly something off about the man.
Brandon kept his guard up.
Mana coalesced in his palms.
"...Wa–ter."
The man suddenly stammered.
"...."
Should he help out?
Brandon turned his head slightly and looked at Aurelia. She looked back at him and shook her head.
He then turned towards Amelia who gave him a conflicted look. Eventually, she nodded her head.
They collectively agreed to leave the man alone.
They turned around, but soon halted as the man called out to them.
"...Wa–it."
Brandon looked at Amelia and nudged his chin, signaling for them to go ahead.
He could at least hear out the man before abandoning him.
At that moment, Carl, Aurelia, and Amelia went ahead.
Staring at their departing backs, Brandon turned back around and looked at the man who was reaching his hand out to him.
"Haaa…."
He breathed out a sigh.
He approached the man.
"Yes?"
"Please… give… wa–tah."
"What do I get in return?"
Brandon narrowed his eyes.
Whatever gued Aurelia earlier, Brandon had to at least listen to her.
"Th–is."
Clink—
"...."
The man suddenly let down a sack in front of Brandon, making a clink sound.
Most probably coins.
"Alright."
He could only agree.
A sack of coins for water?
Why wouldn''t he?
"Open your mouth."
"Aaa—"
"...."
Brandon sighed.
Extending his hand close to his mouth, mana started to gather in his palms and water started dripping down, entering the man''s mouth.
"...."
Brandon averted his gaze during the entire process.
"Mmh."
A strange noise escaped the man''s mouth.
"Nngh."
What the fuck.
"Mmhh."
Holy shit.
"Okay, that''s enough."
"Th–anks."
The man wiped his mouth with his hand.
The man slowly got up, supporting his body with his hands.
Brushing off the dirt and dust from his shirt, the man looked at Brandon and shed a wide grin.
"I''m a man of my words. Take the coins."
"...Okay."
He didn''t seem like a bad guy at all.
Brandon scanned his features. Navy blue hair and red eyes. But the most noticeable feature was the scar on his brow.
Kind of badass.
Brandon approached the sack of coins and clutched it.
"I''m going now."
Brandon turned around.
"Wait, wait."
"Hm?"
He stopped in his steps again and turned around slightly.
"As my savior, you must tell me your name. If you ever need help, I''m one call away."
"...."
One call away?
He didn''t n on giving the man his number in the first ce…
Guess an alias would do.
"It''s Cid."
"Hm… Cid, okay. I''m Lumian, nice to meet you."
He gestured his hand for a handshake and Brandon epted it.
"Is that all? I''ll be going now."
"Wait…"
Again?
"What?"
"Uh, I''m actually quite lost. Are you guys nning on leaving the forest?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, great. Can I join you guys, just until we exit the forest?"
"Uh…."
Brandon pondered for a while.
He remembered Aurelia''s expressions earlier. It seemed like she didn''t want the man around.
"Actually, we''ll be camping here for months before we leave."
"Oh. I''m actually in a hurry… thanks anyways."
The man turned around and waved his hand.
He started walking back and Brandon walked ahead as well.
"Ah, wait. Your number?"
"Uh…."
He gave a fake number.
"Saved. Alright, see you around, Cid."
"Sure, you too, Lumian."
"Brandon?"
Amelia''s voice suddenly reached his ears from behind.
"Ah, Amelia. What are you doing here?"
"I came to check up on you."
She leaned her head and looked at Lumian who was about to leave.
"Everything settled?"
"Yep."
"Okay, let''s go."
"Amelia… hmm…"
But yet again, they halted in their steps as Lumian suddenly spoke.
"Yes?"
Amelia asked.
"Do you know me?"
"...."
It was then.
The atmosphere suddenly changed around Lumian.
Brandon and Amelia''s rm bells rang.
"Amelia Constantine, huh?"
"Yes, that''s me. Do you know me?"
"Blonde hair and blue eyes. Imperial Army. General Amelia Constantine."
All of a sudden, zing dark–purple embers appeared around the Lumian''s hand and a sword materialized shortly after.
"....!"
"....!"
Brandon realized.
This man was trouble.
He didn''t notice it earlier, but the mana around Lumian suddenly shot up.
Swoosh—!
Lumian instantly appeared before them and Brandon had no time to react. All he could do was leap backwards.
Lumian was fast.
Extremely fast.
His eyes weren''t able to keep up at all.
Lumian''s sword swung vertically, aiming for his arm.
"Shit."
Again.
He couldn''t react.
The swing was way too fast.
His arm.
It was about to be severed.