Amber Sword

Brand did not answer, just stood motionless on his horse.

Suddenly, amidst the sound of rain, came a rustling noise. Countless Sky Blue spiders transformed from translucent to visible to the naked eye, advancing from back to front along the avenue. Brand stood alone in this blue ocean, with the flow of the sea passing through his horse’s four hooves.

"Ah! Wind Spirit Spiders, so many of them!" Among the crowd, there were many knowledgeable young nobles who recognized them at a glance and couldn’t help but exclaim.

"Shut up, stay silent!" Mou Ke, one of the three knights, couldn’t help but turn back to scold. He was a young man with short grey hair, with eyebrows so short they resembled two caterpillars, giving an impression of amusing cuteness when furrowed.

Beside him, Frey and Breson couldn’t help but smile faintly. The girl in a green military uniform looked up, gazing admiringly at Brand in the blue ocean—behind her, the Lake Knight silently watched Brand from his horse.

In Nemesia’s dark eyes, a hint of surprise emerged, as if she sensed something: "Are you using them for reconnaissance?"

"I can only give simple commands, to determine the enemy’s position ahead. But..." Brand looked out into the rain, shaking his head disdainfully: "I’m too familiar with these guys’ tricks."

"Indeed, it’s nothing compared to Madara of later days."

Brand closed his eyes, the scene of the iron horse and icy river seemed right in front of him, the Undead Army surging forward, with the fiery abyss right behind him.

No retreat—

"Is that so, if you were the commander, what would you be prepared to do now?" The ’Sir Wolf’ Ou Fuwei’er, now fully clad in armor, drew his sword as if casually chatting.

This Lonely Wolf turned back, Griffith had entrusted Brand with full responsibility for the current situation, yet in fact, the command of the officer cadets of the Royal Knight Academy was still in his hands. In his somewhat sunken eye sockets were a pair of steadfast eyes, easily allowing one to feel the strength contained within.

"We don’t have time to tangle with these insignificant characters," Brand opened his eyes, "there are plenty of such two-faced individuals around, we must completely dissuade them."

"Kill one to warn a hundred," Ou Fuwei’er chuckled: "Seems you have a lot of confidence in these young people."

Brand glanced back, seeing over two hundred young male and female faces. The knight uniforms on these young people were already soaked through, their hair matted together, but their eyes still shone brightly.

"I have confidence in those with ideals," Brand responded.

Of course, he just spoke righteously. Without history to bear witness, Brand would never be so presumptuous. But he knew he had to persuade Ou Fuwei’er, who was in fact the Princess’s tutor and the pillar of the Princess Faction.

This Kingdom’s Lonely Wolf indeed showed a look of appreciation in his eyes. He turned around, silently looking at these young people behind him, most of whom he had personally selected from various places—like Frey, Breson, as well others from families most loyal to the Royal Family. Although they were mostly descendants of small nobles, they were often the most outstanding and also more firm in belief, with young people like Mou Ke representing them.

These young people were the Kingdom’s last hope.

"First batch of Royal Knight Academy cadets! Listen to my command!" Ou Fuwei’er suddenly shouted, his voice carrying far through the wind and rain.

Brand’s heart suddenly smiled.

"From now on, you will break through the encirclement with Knight Brand until the Princess is safe!" Ou Fuwei’er asked coldly: "Understood?"

A silence fell.

Everyone’s gaze focused on Brand. If there was someone among these young people with the highest prestige, it would undoubtedly be the Princess. Coming next would be Nemesia, who in fact had always acted as their commander, with almost no one daring to oppose this Female Knight Captain’s authority.

After her, it would be a few standouts from the first batch, especially Breson and Mou Ke as examples. As Frey gradually gained the Lion Heart Sword, her prowess and reputation emerged, but most still regarded her as merely an assistant to the former two.

As for Brand.

Perhaps until this day, they had never even heard of such a person’s existence. While figures like Macaro or leaders of the Royalist like Ou Fuwei’er, or tried and tested Old Generals might command respect, but Brand, being just in his early twenties, seemed at most a noble offspring; what qualification did he have to command them?