228. Silver Strider

228. Silver Strider

Emerging from the trees came something Adam hadn’t expected. It wore a breastplate across its chest, made of metal which was silvery blue. At its centre was a symbol, a tree, one with fruits in the shape of stars. However, that wasn’t the strangest thing about the being.

With long antlers on its head, a skull which covered it’s face, and a lower half which matched Zeus, it was something Adam had never seen before. It carried in its hand a long bow, and strapped to its waist was a blade.

‘Oh, damn it,’ Adam thought. ‘I forgot to summon Zeus.’

“Begone vile creature!” the Elk Centaur demanded, it’s voice screeching throughout the forest, causing even the trees to shudder.

The Knights had drawn their weapons, but Sir Landon had raised his hand. “Declare yourself at once!”

“This is no matter of yours, son of man,” it replied, holding its bow tight in one hand, its other hand resting against the blade at its side. The blade was a short blade, but seeing its design, Adam couldn’t help but think it was magical, for it glowed even with the Nightval sun barely falling upon them.

“What’s your problem with me?” Lucy asked, gripping her Destroyer in hand.

From the moment it had appeared, its eyes were glued to Lucy, and not once did they pull away from her.

“You! Demon!” it screeched once more, the trees still shaking. “Begone! Begone vile creature of death and destruction! We will not share this forest with you!”

‘God damn it,’ Adam thought, before raising a hand to Lucy. “Relax, Lucy.” He wasn’t sure what this creature was, but it seemed powerful, considering it had come so eagerly to meet them.

The creature drew its blade, which glowed blue and white. Lucy narrowed her eyes towards the sword.

“Holysteel,” Jurot warned.

Adam slowly nodded his head, understanding how serious the situation was. “How about we talk this out?”

“Talk? Talk?” it asked, screeching once more, its voice beginning to echo, as though an unholy choir was chanting along with it.

“Do you know what it is?” Adam asked.

“A Guard,” Jurot said. “They do not come out unless it is important.”

‘That doesn’t sound good,’ Adam thought, staring at the creature. “Let’s keep it cool, yeah? Isn’t it Nightval?”

The creature turned to face Adam, cocking its head towards him. Adam could see its eyes now, which matched the colour of fresh steel. “Do not stop...” The creature fell silent, staring at Adam.

Adam was a Half Elf, a Fae, just like it. Yet, there was something else about Adam, something strange.

Something foreign.Th.ê most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

Just like her.

It shifted its position, moving two steps to the side, and a step back, so now that both Adam and Lucy were within its sights. “What are you?” it asked, staring at the pair of them. “You are not of this land.”

Adam chuckled. “Don’t give away all our secrets, buddy. You don’t see Jurot here spilling all your secrets in front of everyone, do you?”

It snarled at Adam, snorting through its nostrils. The skull hid most of its face, but it no doubt held a vaguely human face, just like himself.

“Do you speak the good tongue?” Adam asked.

“Do not besmirch the good tongue,” it snarled back in Aldish. “How dare you!”

“Alright, jeez,” Adam replied. “Calm down before we put you down.”

The Noble waited, but Jurot turned, leading them further forward. Sir Landon understood that Jurot wasn’t going to tell him.

“So, what does it Guard?” Adam whispered.

“It is not a story I can tell you.”

“Hmm.” Adam stared at Jurot’s back, but allowed him his secrets. That was the way it worked. Jurot would leave Adam his secrets, and Adam would leave Jurot his secrets. Though, if it were his own secret, Jurot would have told him.

This was not his secret, however.

“Damn,” Lucy grumbled. “I can’t believe you stopped me from fighting it.”

“Leave the Silver Strider be,” Jurot said, his tone carrying the authority of an Iyrman. “There is no good which comes from fighting it.”

“Isn’t it a good fight?” Lucy asked. “I didn’t expect an Iyrman to run from a good fight.”

“It is a good fight,” Jurot said. “Adam has requested for us to live.”

Lucy stared at Jurot. “Is it that strong?”

“No.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“It guards its realm,” Jurot replied. “When its realm is threatened, its realm will come for us. Do you wish to save Mary, or do you wish to die before it?”

Lucy grumbled quietly, but allowed Jurot his peace, and allowed the matter to end there.

“How strong is it?” Adam asked.

“It is an Expert,” Jurot stated.

“So about as strong as us?”

Jurot nodded.

“So we don’t really have to worry about it too much.”

Jurot did not nod.

Eventually the group found a place to sleep in the night, and Jurot cooked using their rations. He brought out a cracker and some cheese he had received from Ever Green some days ago, which was ageing whilst they travelled.

“Have you ever met a Silver Strider before?” Adam asked.

“No,” Jurot admitted. “They do not appear easily.”

Adam shared a look with Lucy. “Let’s hope it doesn’t bother us too much. We’ll get in, do our job, get out. Will it bother us for the Twilight Fox?”

“I do not believe so.” Jurot looked up to the sky, watching the stars. ‘Am I cursed to be unable to fight it?’ He smiled. ‘No. What is a Silver Strider compared to Sir Merry?’ He ate his cracker and cheese merrily.

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This Silver Strider better not act up.