That evening, Princess made an exception and allowed Brand to take her for a walk on the outer walls of the port.
The Half-Elf Princess gazed into the distant forest edges and bay under the sunset-stained golden clouds. She looked quietly, without uttering a word, her vision reaching the horizon’s end, where sunlight formed a golden thread.
The place she stood was exactly where her ancestor Eck stood a thousand years ago.
As they descended the city tower, the Princess softly said ’thank you’ to Brand, her voice so light and subtle that Brand almost doubted hearing it.
Yet, regardless, he remembered the Princess’s gleaming eyes when she was gazing afar. She must be proud, or else those cloud-reflecting, shimmering golden eyes wouldn’t hide such excitement.
This wasn’t the King of Erune, but the Princess who loved this land the most.
The significant events surrounding this port unfolded like the roar of the sea, so much so that the myriad aspects of life became its fleeting decoration over the past month.
And interspersed among these grand events were trivial matters, which became entertaining interludes.
For instance, the recovery of the Curiosity Seeker Gallock. When the Kingdom’s chief Law Mage, the hero of the day at Ampezel, reappeared in public, it caused a city-wide sensation. After all, compared to the unknown Brand, Gallock’s name was already legendary in this Kingdom.
On that day, Ampezel hosted a day-long celebration, and even the Princess came to tease Brand, asking if he was envious.
Brand, however, wasn’t envious at all.
He was more concerned about another matter, which was Gallock taking Antitina as his apprentice as he promised. According to the Great Mage himself, such high talent would be a pity if one were only willing to remain a mortal.
Brand wholeheartedly agreed with this.
But more than that, he respected Antitina’s own opinion. Fortunately, the Staff Lady wasn’t discontent; on the contrary, she had long harbored a desire to learn magic, but after her family’s bankruptcy, she simply hadn’t the opportunity nor the time.
And so, Antitina became Gallock’s only successor in name.
According to the Princess — she might very well become a future Court Wizard.
This month’s third widely known event also involved Gallock. The event originated from a group of young people curious about the Great Mage’s legendary escape from the battlefield. However, the person in question remained silent with an air of a master, which only fueled everyone’s curiosity.
Soon, an absurd rumor spread among the city markets — it was said that Gallock narrowly escaped by hiding among a pile of Demons’ corpses.
Indeed, for a Court Great Mage, such an experience was truly embarrassing. Therefore, out of kindness, the port quickly banned similar rumors from spreading.
It was only once when Brand passed by the rebuilt Ande Fulei Grand Temple’s forecourt that he inadvertently heard the Master muttering distractedly as he walked: "Damn excrement, this damn excrement!"
Time seemed to fly by swiftly.
At least for Brand and everyone around him, the time spent inside Ampezel Port seemed to pass by in a blur amid all these varied events.
The gentle Flower Moon spun like wood chips floating in a river, drifting through fingers and disappearing from people’s sight, as the weather grew hotter by the day. The storms of Ampezel’s outer sea gradually subsided, while the greenery in the mountains shone a more breathtaking shade as time passed. It seemed that before the people at the port noticed the subtle changes around them, the mountains and forests had already entered full blossom, welcoming midsummer.
The Naga and the Silver Elves left Ampezel one after another, leaving the port feeling momentarily desolate. Brand sent the Naga away with the gratitude from the Kingdom of Erune, confident that the historically renowned Queen Hanlu would understand his intent.
Erune needed an alliance, and so did the Naga under the Sea of Shining.
But another matter caused Brand some frustration. As agreed, the Silver Elves took their token — that precious ginkgo leaf. This loss was perhaps the most disheartening for Brand during this war; if it hadn’t been to rescue the Princess, he wouldn’t have squandered this precious opportunity for anything.