Chapter 693: Act 53 – Long Road, Fragments of the Past VII
As if compelled by some unseen force, Brendel obeyed Lady Nemesis’s command and issued the order to camp in place, but he did not bring Charles, Medisa, or Himelam along; instead, he pursued Lady Nemesis alone into the Anlas Forest. The two steeds galloped through the nocturnal woods, traversing a gentle slope—an area Brendel was familiar with, the Velle Hills north of the Shallows Town—but soon the trees began to thin, opening up to reveal a path that glimmered like silver between the woods. This was actually a reflection of the moonlight, with the silver moon overhead casting light upon the jagged treetops, dead leaves piled up layer upon layer below.
The silhouette of the Lady Knight gracefully led the way ahead, maintaining a slow and steady pace without uttering a word, silently moving forward. However, Brendel could no longer suppress his curiosity and urged his horse closer to her. “What exactly do you want, Lady Nemesis—”
The Lady Knight slowed her ride, answering without turning back: “Did I not already say? I know where the Crystal Stag is.” Her voice flowed like a mountain spring, gentle and clear.
This was not the answer Brendel sought; he wanted to know something else: “But how do you know…?”
This location was very close to a valley in his memory called the Holy Silver Valley, where many moonlight flowers bloomed. But more importantly, it was home to a more beautiful and captivating creature.
According to local folklore in Anlas, there lived a charming Crystal Stag in the forest, which would stroll through the woods on nights of the full moon, consuming moonlight. Few had seen it, but any hunter who inadvertently encountered it would experience good luck for the following month.
Yet, legends were just legends. In “The Amber Sword,” the Crystal Stag was merely a type of elemental creature from the elemental plane of water, found in small numbers in Vaunte. In Erluin, they primarily dwelled in the Anlas Forest to the south of the Frosted Wood and the Needle Hill region. Their diet consisted of pure magical energy, so during the month of abundant magic, these enchanting beings would migrate in search of the flowing magical currents in the forest.
It was a level 55 elemental creature, possessing a simple healing element. It was worth mentioning that they were not as peaceful as the legends suggested; the territorial awareness of the Crystal Stag was extraordinarily strong, and they often proactively attacked intruders. Additionally, they would act in coordination with the frost sprites of the forest, making them unsuitable prey to capture.
However, the elemental tasks in the region north of Manowell often had a singular goal: to obtain the crystallized blood of the Crystal Stag.
The crux of the matter was, how did she know all of this?
The Lady Knight turned her head, illuminated by the milky moonlight that highlighted the curve of her profile; she looked at him, her eyes gleaming but calm: “I also know that what you desire is the crystallized blood.”
Brendel’s knuckles tightened on the reins until they turned white. “Who are you, really?”
“Equivalent exchange. Before I answer that question, I have to ask you one.” Lady Nemesis turned back, continuing to ride slowly, her voice light and measured, as if recounting something trivial.
“…” Brendel hesitated, his mind a muddled mess as he tried to sort through his thoughts. But all his questions converged on one point, and after some delay, he cautiously responded, “… You ask.”
“There are some people racing horses. At this moment, a rider has surpassed the original second-place—what position is he in now?”
Brendel did not expect Lady Nemesis to ask such a nonsensical question; he answered without thinking, “First place?”
Lady Nemesis chuckled softly, “I understand now; you are Sophie, aren’t you?”
Brendel froze like a statue atop his horse, staring wide-eyed at the Lady Knight, his teeth chattering. The name seemed to be squeezed out from deep within his throat: “Bai Jia… Senior?”
Lady Nemesis paused and glanced at him.
“I am not her.”
“This is impossible!” Brendel grew increasingly anxious; he had almost recognized the other party—otherwise, why would Lady Nemesis exist in history as someone who did not exist, why did she look exactly like his senior, and how did she know who he was?
But why would she not admit it?
“But I know her—” Lady Nemesis answered quietly.
Brendel was momentarily taken aback; Lady Nemesis’s tone was calming, as if soothing his restless heart. He looked at this woman—this familiar silhouette: “What on earth is going on?”
“I don’t know either…” Lady Nemesis sighed softly, “But I’m glad I did not guess wrong. If you don’t find it tedious, I can tell you about myself—”
“Please go ahead.” Brendel struggled to contain his emotions; he felt as if he were on the brink of insanity.
“I have been dreaming since I can remember, some peculiar and absurd dreams. Sometimes in my dreams, I see the kingdom fall, everything engulfed in flames. Sometimes I dream I become another person—in such dreams, I am like a bystander, yet I still struggle in the obscured fate, ultimately history returns to the same path…” Lady Nemesis began to recount her past slowly, her tone somewhat somber: “… In that history, I knew your senior.”
Brendel felt like waking from a dream, and the first thing he said was, “This is impossible!”
“Of all her team members, you were the slowest. In all the trivia contests, you were always wrong. But she liked you the most because you were pure, full of ideals, like a blank sheet of paper.” Lady Nemesis replied: “I guessed your identity to a certain extent, but it wasn’t until today that I confirmed who you are—Sophie.”
Brendel tightened his grip on the reins, staring at this woman.
“If you are not her, then why tell me all this?” His voice sounded like it had lost its soul.
“Because I am afraid.”
“Afraid?”
“In my dreams, I have seen many bizarre and surreal sights. I do not know which are real and which are false. But until this dream began to manifest into reality—coinciding—I began to fear that the end result would eventually arrive. I took a name for myself—Lady Nemesis. This term, in the few fragmented memories I have of that dream, represents vengeance; I hope to fight against my fate.”
“Wait…” Brendel felt as if he were listening to an unbelievable story, yet he found himself understanding what Lady Nemesis was saying, as they corresponded with the events that had unfolded in the previous world. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by the Lady Knight: “Don’t interrupt.”
The Lady Knight continued, “Because of this wish, I came to be by the princess’s side. But I found my thoughts to be somewhat wishful; I joined the royal faction, but just like I saw in my dreams, the royal faction cannot stop everything from happening. Erluin is like a ship caught in a storm, destined to sink, with everyone on board helplessly watching it be drawn into the vortex…”
At this point, she stopped: “Do you believe what I say?”
Brendel’s thoughts at this moment were no less chaotic than on the day Buche crossed over; his mind was just as muddled. He sensed that there was some connection between these events, but he could not grasp any threads. Upon hearing the Lady Knight’s question, he stiffly nodded: “This is an unbelievable story, but…”
“But you believe it, right? Because you have personally experienced a part of it.” Lady Nemesis asked quietly, sending a shiver down Brendel’s spine.
He stared at her.
“Because this has the same opportunity for me,” Lady Nemesis did not shy away from Brendel’s gaze, “Until one day, I noticed everything began to deviate from its original track.”
“… From which day?” Brendel had already guessed something, but he still asked with a voice almost like a ghost, trembling somewhat.
“From the day Grudin died.”
Brendel shivered slightly.
The Lady Knight seemed to have spoken more words than she had in her entire life; she took a gentle breath, “Do you understand now, Mister Brendel? I know you are the only chance to change all of this. Only you can prevent Erluin from facing a disastrous end. Because I know you and I experienced the same history—”
“Although I do not understand your origins, perhaps you have had the same dream as I, but at least I understand your thoughts.” She turned back, looking at him with bright eyes: “You will not let it happen again, will you?”
Brendel silently rode atop his horse, momentarily unable to respond.
“Why tell me all this?” After a pause, he asked a question similar to the previous one.
“Because I want to help you—”
“Help me?”
“This dream is both clear and vague; it has given me knowledge of some trivial matters. Although I cannot even remember when the war between Erluin and Madara exactly broke out, and I cannot tell who is an enemy and who is a friend, history and I are separated by a thin veil—” She paused slightly: “But you know; she knows more than you. I can help you, Brendel.”
“Like now?” Brendel inhaled lightly. He knew Lady Nemesis was right; his senior knew more than him. Before the Years of Abundance, he was still a complete novice. Much of the information he had about the years before this came from reports on the forums afterward.
But before the first Black Rose War broke out, his senior had already become an experienced team leader.
He just didn’t expect that even in another world, she would still stand by his side as she did before.
Brendel suddenly felt something sting at the corners of his eyes, and he blinked: “Can you remember everything, Lady Nemesis?”
“I cannot,” the Lady Knight replied calmly, “But at least I can remember part of it.”
“That’s enough,” Brendel smiled slightly, feeling his mood completely settle. He stopped his horse and reached out his hand: “In the name of Martha, may we cooperate happily.”
Lady Nemesis also came to a halt. This was the universal form for players to team up in the game; she paused slightly, as if feeling a surreal sensation.
But she merely touched Brendel’s fingertips lightly: “Happy cooperation, but don’t try to take advantage of me—”
Brendel: “……”
……(To Be Continued. If you like this work, please support me on Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendations and monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)
