Book 2, Chapter 79 (1/2)

Breath Of Darkness(2)

Waterflower may have had an hour to rest, but Richard did not. He busied himself preparing the inks for the next phase the moment he returned to his room. His pen pricked her knee once again after the hour passed, and time passed in silence.

By the time the rune was completed, another night had passed. The young lady’s legs were completely covered with complex magical patterns, giving off a mysterious aura.

Richard stretched his weary body, looking at the rune he’d completed himself with a smile. “Move around and try it out; don’t use Wind Walk.”

The girl was a little puzzled, but she complied and leapt off the bed. Her speed picked up after a gentle landing, and she bolted towards a chair as quick as lightning. Without Wind Walk she was supposed to slow down and change directions to avoid the obstacle. However, this time something activated in her mind as the rune on her legs twinkled slightly. She automatically stepped over the chair, striding over it with ease. Her movements were fluid and natural despite her speed, and she showed no signs of slowing down at all.

The room was only so big. The frenzied dash at full speed brought her to the wall in an instant, but even then she kept going. She gracefully dashed up the opposing surface, keeping her momentum going as she even took several quick steps on the ceiling before jumping down to land in front of Richard.

It was only then that she showed a look of surprise, lowering her gaze to her legs. The radiance of the rune there was slowly fading.

She moved suddenly once more, erupting into a chaos of swift movement around the room as she constantly brushed past the runemaster at the centre. It was as though she was a ghost, the obstacles in the room not slowing her down in the slightest. This speed was only slightly inferior to Wind Walk itself! Back in front of Richard again, the surprise in her eyes had transformed into amazement.

“This is Call of the Wild. It can allow you to move easily through most complex landscapes with a minimal loss in speed. It also enhances your acceleration, allowing you to keep your speed up even over sand, stones, or marshes. It also lets you move uphill faster than you used to.”

To the young lady who was adept at moving in forested areas, using darkness to land a single lethal blow, this enhancement to her mobility was a straight boost to her combat power.

“Thank… you…” Despite remaining expressionless, Waterflower finally managed to force the two words through her teeth.

Richard laughed in reply, “There’s no need to thank me, we’re two parts of a whole. Besides, this is only the first. There’s still four more to come. You’ll have to bear with me for the next two weeks.

“Alright, I’ll go get some rest. I haven’t slept properly for a few days in a row now.”

Four more runes?

Waterflower’s body jolted slightly, her lowered eyelids slightly trembling. Watching as Richard left the room, she clenched her teeth and began in the most unnatural and stiff manner, “Umm… Your injury… Does it hurt?”

Richard’s laughter ground to a halt, and he threw a glare the girl’s way. She grew uneasy, understanding that she’d said something wrong.

“This matter… Don’t ever mention it again!” Richard huffed angrily, slamming the door to leave the room. However, his gait still didn’t look natural.

Things rarely went according to one’s wish. Even back at his room to rest, Richard didn’t get any peace. The source of his distress was naturally Flowsand, the only one in his party with the right to enter and leave his room at will.

Flowsand stared intently at Richard as he was about to go sleep, “You don’t look too good.”

“I’m just tired,” Richard replied casually.

“Nope, that’s not it. You’re injured?” Flowsand clearly wasn’t that easy to dupe.

“No!” Richard’s voice grew in pitch.