The whimper vanished with the wind, and the forest returned to silence.
Brand sighed. He turned around and saw the hopeful glimmer in the eyes of Roman and Antitina. He thought to himself that girls always have soft hearts. Though they were enemies just a moment ago, it wasn't really Medisha's fault. Moreover, the elf girl's background was indeed pitiful.
"Do you want to save her?"
Miss Merchant nodded vigorously. However, Antitina was slightly more reserved as she listened. She bit her lip, wanting to speak but hesitating, several times stopping herself before the words could come out.
"Lord," Hu Que spoke from the other side.
Brand was taken aback, surprised that this Mercenary Captain would speak up. He asked with some astonishment, "You're a mercenary after all."
Hu Que immediately fell silent, but his voice soon echoed from within Brand's mind. "Lord, this is a rare opportunity. As a Travel Mage, you still don't have a high-quality card. That elf girl's power is formidable. If sealed, it could become a high-quality card."
"That depends on her willingness," Brand replied in his heart.
In fact, he had initially thought of this method. Creating blank cards is a basic skill for Travel Mages, but given Brand's current strength, he could only create Contract Cards that consume 100 wealth and a small amount of mana. These cards only work if the subject is extremely weak and willing. While 100 wealth might be nothing to a seasoned Travel Mage, for Brand, it was exactly a month's savings.
If Medisha disagreed, he would lose 100 wealth for nothing. It would be impossible not to feel the pain.
Hu Que glanced at Miss Merchant and Noble Daughter, who were looking at Brand with hopeful expressions, understanding his Lord's choice. The middle-aged mercenary smiled slightly and replied in his heart, "It won't hurt to try; it's a matter of peace of mind."
Brand couldn't help but smile wryly as well.
Indeed, though it wasn't just about not wanting to disappoint Roman and Antitina; subconsciously, he didn't want to disappoint himself. The unchangeable facts of his previous life did not have to be the same in this one. Because he was here—Brand believed his arrival in this world wasn't without meaning.
It wasn't just giving Medisha a chance but also giving himself a chance. From that perspective, it was worth it.
He drew a blank card from the deck. The blank card wasn't much different from a destiny card, only that its front was blank, like an empty room waiting for guests. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ noⅴelfire.net
"What's that?" Roman saw the card Brand held and asked curiously.
"Lord is saving the elf girl," Hu Que replied, "by engraving her soul onto the card, stabilizing the dissipating soul fire."
Antitina's eyes sparkled. "It sounds like a summoner's ability, but don't summoners use crystals? Can souls other than monsters be sealed?"
"It can be considered a type of summoning ability," Hu Que explained. "But it's a desperate measure, the only way left. I can't think of any other way to keep the girl in this world."
Antitina and Roman nodded. They understood Brand's actions. After all, the dissipation of soul fire meant complete loss of existence. Energy would be reduced to its basic elements, scattered into the world, rather than returning to the embrace of the Earth Goddess.
Such a method of disappearance would be the most painful for sentient beings, especially for a high intelligence elf.
Brand displayed the card to the empty space. "Medisha, will you journey with me and become a part of this world's rules?" He spoke as if in unison with a voice in his heart.
The blank card left his hand, floating in midair. Brand waited for a response for about a minute. There was no reply, and he sighed inwardly, thinking Medisha might have disappeared.
But just then, a tiny voice suddenly spoke, "I have a wish. Can it be granted? Brand… no, Lord Travel Mage." It was Medisha's voice.
Brand breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
"Of course, Miss Medisha. Tell me."
"To travel with you, I want… to see my sister, just once." The small voice replied.
Brand was stunned. He thought it would be a major request, perhaps even granting absolute freedom, which he could accept. But to his surprise, Medisha's wish was so simple.
Silver Elves, as part of the Silver Clan, have a long lifespan. It's possible that her father and sister were still alive at this time, making this wish not too far-fetched, just somewhat challenging due to their self-imposed seclusion.
After thinking for a moment, he nodded.
The card flashed with a black light. Then, a line of small words appeared on his retina:
"Contract established."
And another prompt appeared:
"A new deck has been discovered. Please name it—"
"Eternal Song." Since it's a Silver Elf, I'll name it after the most renowned legion from ancient Silver Elf times. Brand thought.
After the glow on the card faded, it descended into his hand. Brand picked up the card. It depicted a female knight in silver-white armor, holding a spindle-shaped long spear, with a gentle smile—this was Medisha.
[Creature—Heroic Spirit/Knight, Level 35 Elite]
Summon Unicorn Knight 'Medisha New Moon' onto the field.
Maintenance cost: When 'Medisha New Moon' is on the field, pay 1 dark element and 6 wealth daily.
'The elf banner flies high, the heart shines, the sword shines—'
Brand held the card, momentarily unsure of what to do. The cold touch confirmed it was different from typical cards. Brand had considered the possible quality of Medisha's sealed card, given her Gold Rank strength, but he never imagined it would be of Silver quality.
Aside from the Azure Light Sword, this was the second antique item he obtained. Tu Men had informed him that Destiny Cards were much rarer than magical items of the same rank, so he had envisioned what his second antique item would be—never had he thought it would be a Destiny Card.
But reality gave him a 'solid' blow.
It turned out that the 100 wealth had not been a loss but a substantial profit. Brand felt like laughing aloud, restrained only by his need to maintain composure before his subordinates. He had always been troubled by the formidable enemies he encountered, even wondering if he was cursed in this life, hence forced to face various uphill challenges.
First, battling Madara's army as a newbie, then defeating the White Knight before reaching Level 15, and racing for life and death with the Crusader Executioner at Brags, not to mention facing Viscount Test's Gold Rank strength at the All Things Return to One. Then, after a few months of peace, he fought Bujia. Within three days, he faced a Tree-man, Divine Envoy, and Ghost Knight one after another, almost unbearable.
Though he didn't fear the powerful organizations like All Things Return to One, Tree-man, Madara as typical people did, being under constant threat was far from pleasant.
But now it was different, with a follower of Gold Level strength, albeit lower tier. At least in the southern ground of Erune he could barely manage. Tree-man and All Things Return to One were strong, but they wouldn't send a Gold Level assassin to kill him, would they?
Those methods were reserved for enemies at or above Earl level. Brand didn't think he reached that level yet. Besides, even if a Gold Level opponent came, with his insight combined with Medisha's power, it would be easy to handle. Far better than him, a mere silver-tier mage facing them alone, right?
In short, this moment was the first time he felt like the clouds had parted, revealing the sun. "This is what holding onto someone strong feels like. Good deeds do pay off," Brand thought smugly to himself.
Then he turned, suppressing his laughter, and waved the Destiny Card in his hand, "It's done, everyone."
Antitina and Roman's eyes lit up. Especially Miss Merchant urged, "Great, Brand. Now summon Medisha, let us see her."
"Ahem," Brand coughed, his expression changing. Roman's words hit a sore spot. Though the Unicorn Knight was practically a divine artifact to him at the moment, he faced an unavoidable issue: the card's summoning cost was a full fifteen dark elements.
Additionally, it required an upkeep cost of 6 wealth and 1 dark element daily.
Not considering where to find so many dark elements, the daily upkeep alone would bankrupt him. His connected Holy Tree Secret Land's prosperous gold mine only generated 4 wealth per day, minus 2 wealth for Rubis Mercenaries' upkeep. Adding Medisha would require two gold mines.
Brand couldn't help but slap his forehead, realizing the high cost of maintaining powerful cards.
...(To be continued, for the rest of the story, please visit www.qidian.com, more chapters available, support the author, support genuine reading!)