Amber Sword

Even in today’s Erune, the White Lion Legion can still be considered a formidable force. This is evidenced by how, in the Spring Dawn Year, Marquis Balta used it to rout Tuo’s lion-men completely. But merely satisfying the nobles’ conservative stagnation, he wanted a lion with claws and newly sharp teeth, standing proud with its mane.

He pondered for a moment and replied, "Your Highness, I am afraid that I am not suitable for this position at the moment."

The Princess turned around in surprise to look at him. Brand’s tightly knitted eyebrows slowly relaxed, his expression gradually turning into firm determination. "Why?" she asked, puzzled.

"Well... Your Highness, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?" Brand raised his head. There was a captivating shade of green on the distant horizon of Ambeser’s sea, merely a sign before the next storm. The air was filled with a humid sea scent as he and the Princess walked towards the Holy White Plaza. The Half-Elf Princess, only slightly shorter than his shoulder, wore a silver gown, thin silk clinging to skin like white porcelain, with its huge petal-like folds accentuating the Elf’s delicate perfection.

"The truth, Mr. Brand." The Princess’s tone did not seem displeased.

"Alright, truthfully speaking, since the former King conferred the sword to Krentel Melberen, for centuries, the White Lion Legion has always been the sharpest blade of the kingdom. To gain the right to inherit this army legally is certainly a good thing for us. However, Your Highness also understands that Sir Nivend, Valen Lelida, and that ’Left-Hand General’ may not accept a stranger becoming the new Commander of the White Lion Legion, correct?" Brand referred to the remaining Sharp Claw, Lion Mane, and the White Lion Blade Knight Order Commanders of the White Lion Legion.

Today’s White Lion Legion differs from the Eck Era only in the absence of the Imperial Guard. After the Year of Radiant Return in the last era, it was replaced by the new Forbidden Guard, which later became the predecessor of today’s Black Blade Legion. The White Lion Legion remains with the three guard groups Sharp Claw, Lion Mane, and Jude, alongside a White Lion Blade Knight Order, with the Jude Guard led by Marquis Balta. After the death of Marquis Balta, the remaining three actually all have the qualifications to succeed as Commander.

The Princess disagreed, "This is the legacy of old Commander Reid; both Nicholas and the Flame Temple’s Knight Stephen can testify to it, they can’t oppose it."

"But is that the White Lion the Princess desires? A sharp sword that’s only superficially compliant, how is it any different from those in the North with ulterior motives? No matter who compromises with whom, it is meaningless. What we need is a White Lion truly loyal to the kingdom’s ideals." Brand replied, and the Princess fell silent.

Brand could understand the unease in the heart of this Half-Elf Princess. The restless Northern nobles could break the peace at any time, turning the northern situation into chaos— but the key is, surrounded by strong enemies and threatened by war, just how much time does Erune have left. And the severe consequences of the Ambeser war undoubtedly magnified this concern.

If they could still secure two to three years of peace, it would be good. No, just two years would be enough. In Brand’s memory, it was five years until the second Black Rose War and seventeen years until the Long Night descended, when wolves run rampant across the earth—after that, Vaun will never see peace again.

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

But before that, another war awaited Erune in the North. Without promptly placating the Northern nobles, how could Tuo’s golden-maned lion-men be dealt with, Brand was incredibly troubled. Compromise was absolutely unacceptable; the history of another world remained vivid in his mind, he really wanted to kill all these accursed people with a single sword each, which made him sigh helplessly.

"Then does Mr. Brand have a better candidate in mind?" The two of them walked over to the carriage, and the Princess stopped, turning to look back at him and asked.

"There is someone, the daughter of Earth Knight Everton."

"Frey?" The Princess’s voice sounded slightly surprised.

"Yes, Frey, Your Highness. Her background and upbringing are both quite suitable, and she participated in this war, having fought shoulder to shoulder with Marquis Balta, winning the goodwill of many in the White Lion Legion. More importantly, the Lion’s Heart Sword acknowledged her, making her seem even more like the choice of the former King Ai Ke, perhaps we should respect the choice of the Lion’s Heart Holy Sword." Brand said slowly, some of this was actually information he heard from Antitina.