Chapter 72 - Signs of Life? (1/2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Gawain had been awakened by the noise outside while still drowsy in sleep.
The sounds of soldiers running and shouting roused him from his dreams, mingled with cries of “the rock ball has come alive” and several footsteps that sounded like they were heading to his tent. Gawain who hadn’t been deep in sleep instantly sobered up. He grabbed a piece of clothing and put it on himself while directing his shout outside. “What has happened?!”
Knight Philip’s voice came from outside the tent. “Your Excellency— there’s something wrong with the rock ball you brought back!”
What did ‘something wrong’ mean?
The always clever and capable young knight had used such an unclear description that Gawain instantly realized that the situation might be rather complicated. Hence, he swiftly straightened out his clothes, picked up the Sword of Pioneers which he constantly kept with him, and lifted the screen to walk out of the tent.
At present, there were about two more hours before daybreak. The horizon showed no signs of light; however, the burning fire pans and torches everywhere chased away the darkness in the camp. Once Gawain stepped out of his door, he sensed a figure suddenly wriggling by his feet. Right after, Amber appeared from the shadows. The half-elf girl hadn’t had the time to change into her usual leather armor; instead, she was lightly dressed in a set of normal garments. She blustered noisily while leaving the shadows, “What’s happening, what’s happening? I was sleeping. Why… Ah, ah! I’m stuck, I’m stuck! Give me a hand—”
Gawain was in a cold sweat when he gripped the collar on Amber’s neck and lifted her out of the shadows. It felt like she was as lithe as a cat. “A shadow master like you would actually get stuck in her own Shadow Walk?”
“I was in a hurry and not totally awake.” Amber looked slightly embarrassed, so she quickly diverted the topic. “What’s wrong?”
“Something seemed to have happened to the rock ball I brought back,” Gawain said casually and motioned for Knight Philip to lead the way in front while he followed behind the knights and soldiers with Amber. “Let’s go have a look together.”
Upon hearing that it was such an issue, Amber instantly yawned. “Ahhhh, I’m going back to slee—”
Halfway through her words, she was already pinned under Gawain’s armpit and taken away.
The single tent at the south of the camp was surrounded by soldiers and militiamen. A ring of people formed a defense line within a dozen meters of the tent. The burning torches had the area as bright as daytime, and the civilians in this southern part of the camp had been awakened by the stir here, but almost none dared to walk out of their tents to check the situation. Most huddled in their tents in fear; it would be considered good if they even had their heads out of the tents for a look.
By the time Gawain rushed over with this half-elf struggling fiercely under his arm, Heidi was already present. She drew magic runes in the air and set up protective wards with weakening effects around the tent. When she saw Gawain, she could not help but look slightly stunned. “Ancestor, you are…”
Gawain put Amber down. “This rascal’s senses are more acute than ours in the night, but she wasn’t willing to come.”
Amber protested on tip-toes, “You can’t do this! You almost strangled me!”
However, no one listened to her complaints…
“How is the situation inside?” Gawain looked towards the tent and noticed that it was a deserted zone between the tent and the defense line as if one would be in great danger if one got close to the rock ball. “Are there casualties?”
“No casualties, but two militiamen and a soldier are trapped inside.” Heidi had an odd expression. “They’ve been… ‘attracted’ and kept there.”
“Attracted?” Gawain faltered for a second. “Like a magnet attracting metals?”
“Similar, but very strange.” Heidi recounted the situation. “At the start, it was a militiaman who noticed that the enchanted equipment on them seemed to have suddenly lost their magical powers. Then, their weapons and armors were pulled toward the rock ball. However, not all metals would be attracted. The rock ball seemed to be making a selection. Some people remain unaffected when they walk near it fully armored… As we weren’t sure what other changes might happen to it, I forbade anyone from going near it for now. Only the druid called Pittman is inside checking on the three anchored men.
Selective attraction? And it even affected the magical powers? With these properties, it was totally unlike a magnet.
Gawain pondered for a moment. He removed his Sword of Pioneers and handed it to Knight Philip at his side. Then, he tapped Amber’s shoulder. “We’ll go in and take a look… Leave all the metal products on you behind.”
“W—Why am I going too?” Amber instantly looked frightened. “In such a dangerous situation, shouldn’t a knight like you be going first?”
“Yeah, so in a while, I will be walking in front, and you are to follow.” Gawain nodded. “Unless you don’t want your salary for this month anymore.”
Amber gritted her teeth. She threw the metal items that she carried with her with an expression that she was ready to risk everything — two small daggers, two talismans, a small and exquisite pendant, the pocket watch belonging to the old butler in Viscount Andrew’s household from the neighboring Tanzan Town…
Speaking of that, why hasn’t she returned this?!
Gawain’s eyes swept past the pocket watch and stared fixedly at Amber, only speaking up after the latter got goosebumps from his look. “How about your coin bag?”
Amber immediately covered her own waist in horror. “That is an absolute no!”
Gawain continued to stare right at her.