Silence reigned for a short while before Nero suddenly took some steps forward. Alec raised an eyebrow as he looked at where Nero gazed.
“What is it—?”
His words cut off as he saw a trail of fire heading toward the camp. Alec rose to his feet, his eyes narrowing.
Swish!
“Are those more troops?” Nero asked.
Alec walked past him. He squinted, straining his eyes to see clearly. The moment he identified the silhouettes of the Silver Blood Horse, his eyes widened.
“It’s His Lordship!” The King Swordsmen never went anywhere without the presence of their lord. Since he could see them, it meant Asher was here!
“What?!” Nero exclaimed.
“To the camp, now!”
Both men dashed toward the camp as fast as their legs could take them. From the entrance they were already informing everyone that Asher was close.
Swoosh!
Alec opened the flap of a tent and looked at Adam, who was slowly scribbling the letter that he planned to send to Asher tonight.
Adam lifted up his head. He raised an eyebrow when he saw Alec’s expression.
“What is—”
“He’s here.”
Adam shot to his feet. Without being told, he knew who Alec referred to. While they walked towards the entrance of the camp, they saw Asher, on top of his majestic mount, Bezerk. His fur coat, thicker than the previous one. Clad in Exodus and holding Euodias, it looked like he knew they hadn’t conquered the wall.
It was more like he expected their current situation.
Thud!
Hundreds dropped to their feet all at once with Alec, Paul, and Adam at the forefront. They all bowed their heads, breathing softly.
None of them knew the state of Asher’s emotions as his helmet hid his face. “Rise.” Upon noticing his tone was light, Adam felt a burden lift up his chest. Unfortunately, he remembered Lambert.
In that same moment, Asher scanned and queried.
“Where is Commander Lambert?” “You should rest first.” Eritrea, who rode on her beautifully imposing Ovok, said in a soft tone.
“She’s right. You should first rest in your tent.” Alex, who rode on his right, also said. Behind him was Aquila. More sensitive than the others, she knew from the slight change in Adam’s expression that something was wrong with Lambert.
“It’s an offense if a commander doesn’t greet his authority, especially in times of war. Lambert knows that. So… where is he?” “He’s in the infirmary, milord.” Asher looked at Paul, who spoke and tilted his head. “He was wounded?” “He’s dying.” Adam sighed heavily. A cold gleam flashed through Asher’s eyes. “What did you say?” ….
Inside the tent, Asher stared at a heavily injured Lambert breathing ever so slowly. The gruesome wound, which was covered up with some herbs, made Eritrea turn and leave the tent.
She couldn’t believe that was the boisterous Lambert. He was talkative and annoyingly amusing, much like Alex, but with a touch of childishness.
Asher’s nostrils wrinkled. He could perceive the stench of herbs of different kinds. Taking a few steps, he leaned forward, looking at the wound.
“How?”
“He was attacked by a Tigris general.” Asher turned to look at his men.
“And is this general still alive?” “He is, milord.” The sheen of Asher’s eyes brightened for a split second. He closed his eyes for a long while before slowly opening them.
“Aquila, teleport to Greenrock. I need Sapphira.”
After Aquila left, Asher stood there in silence, staring at Lambert until Aquila returned with Sapphira.
As if briefed, Sapphira laid her palms on Lambert, and a vibrant emerald energy rippled out, repairing his vein, muscles, and tendons. His bloodless, white, stiff right arm gained a healthy hue as the tissues were being restored. In a matter of seconds, the dying man was healed, all his wounds gone, his skin healthy pale once again, his breathing stable and powerful.
The steady, solid, and impactful heartbeat of a knight could once more be heard from his chest. His eyelids trembled. His hands slowly folded into a fist, and then he sprung up, his eyes filled with vigor.
The moment he got up, the first thing he saw was a golden-armored knight looking right at him.
Their faces were just inches apart.
“M… milord!” His eyes widened. Lambert swiftly fell on one knee, his head lowered and his eyes staring right at the ground.
The apothecaries couldn’t believe their eyes. All of them in the tent stared at Sapphira with a stunned gaze. When she first appeared, they were mesmerized by her enchanting beauty, but never did they imagine she was capable of reviving a man who was just half a step away from death.
Sapphira opened her palm, and a rose made out of her healing powers formed. It was an enchanting green flower slowly hovering above the palm of her hand.
Leaning close, Sapphira blew air from her mouth, and the flower burst into a green radiance, spreading outward, much beyond the tent.
Almost instantly, wounded soldiers got up from their beds filled with so much strength that those who weren’t wounded found themselves lacking.
Not even a scratch could be found on the healed soldiers. A huge number of men came out of the infirmary tents.
When Asher walked out and saw them, he exhaled. “Tomorrow, by noon. We march for Tiberias.” His deep voice that left no room for objection rang, sealing the night.
….
The next day, no one saw Asher emerge from his tent. Those who checked found him meditating, and he had been in that position since last night.
Time slowly ticked by until it was noon. The sun was high, its radiance and heat ceaselessly cascading down on Boundless.
It was then he emerged from his tent, clad in Exodus.
His right fingers were wrapped around Euodia, hanging at his waist. As he walked out, his golden eyes, like radars, scanned through the tent. Soldiers could be seen in companies marching out of the tent.
Lifting up his head, he sighted Sapphira high up in the air, just above where the troop made their formation.
Although he couldn’t pinpoint the troops, he had a feeling they were right under her. “Your Lordship.” Alex’s voice rang, causing him to turn his head toward that direction where the voice came from.
Alex and Nero on their Silver Blood Horses led Bezerk, who, although a Centrak, was still taller and more muscular than the Silver Bloods!
In the end, the Silver Bloods were just gold-ranked horses, while Bezerk would soon break into the ranks of beast knights!
This was the diamond rank!