Chapter 260

"Rumble …"

In a daze, Tierre seemed to have felt a slight tremor.

It seemed to be an earthquake that came from a faraway place, and some of it had spread to this place.

Tierre was awakened by the faint tremor and opened her eyes.

"Are you awake?"

As soon as she opened her eyes, Tierre heard a familiar and gentle voice.

So, Tierre turned her head and looked to the side.

There, leaning her shield against the rock wall, Vivian was looking at her with a smile on her face.

Taking a closer look, Tierre saw that Vivian's body was stained with blood and dust. She did not seem to be injured, but she looked very tired and disheveled.

Beside her, Lumia and Merica leaned against each other. Like Vivian, their bodies were stained with blood and dust, and they seemed to be completely exhausted after a battle.

Of course, Tierre was the same.

At this moment, Tierre was leaning against the rock wall like Vivian. Her body was stained with the most blood and dust, and she looked the most exhausted and disheveled among the group.

This scene instantly reminded Tierre of everything.

Yes.

They fell into a trap.

They fell into the trap of the nobles who wanted to kill her. That was why they appeared in the depths of the Adol Canyon with Vivian's team and ended up like this.

Tierre vaguely remembered that those nobles were filled with hatred. They ordered their guards and knights to charge at Tierre and his team. Tierre and his team fought desperately for three days before they finally got rid of those nobles and found this secluded cave. Tierre and his team were so exhausted that they fainted in the cave.

Thinking of this, Tierre could not help but fall silent for a long time.

"I'm the one who dragged you into this."

After a long time, Tierre said these words.

"Don't say that," Vivian said gently. "We're companions."

Obviously, Vivian didn't want Tierre to take all the blame for it.

But Tierre did not accept it.

"I'm saying that I dragged you, my companions, into this."

Tierre looked at the ceiling of the cave and muttered.

"Of course not," Vivian said stubbornly. Vivian, however, was also very stubborn. "Since we're companions, there's no such thing as a burden. Otherwise, Lucia and Merica will feel guilty."

Tierre could hear the meaning behind Vivian's words.

This was because, in the past, as the strongest member of the team, Tierre had taken care of Lumia and Merica a lot.

Lumia and Merica had felt ashamed of themselves more than once. In the end, because they believed that companions should help each other, they had accepted Tierre's care.

In this situation, if Tierre insisted that she was dragging her companions into this, perhaps Lumia and Merica would really feel guilty.

"… Then I'll put it another way." Tierre was silent for a while, then sighed and said, "Thank you, Vivian."

Tierre had to express her gratitude to him.

After all, the reason why they were able to persist in this canyon for three whole days was all because of Vivian's protection.

Because Vivian had been standing in front of Tierre and the others, attracting all the attacks and taking all the damage, Tierre and the others were able to hold on until now unscathed.

Although, persisting until now seemed to be the limit.

At least, Tierre noticed that Vivian's mana was on the verge of exhaustion.

If she ran out of mana, even Vivian wouldn't be able to continue to display her frightening defensive power to shield her teammates.

If her mana was depleted, even Vivian wouldn't be able to display her terrifying defense to shield her teammates.

"You're welcome," Vivian said as though she was comforting Tierre. "Don't worry, we will escape."

The gentle and kind leader had been taking care of Tierre's fragile heart.

I'm sure Vivian knows about it, right?

She knew that Tierre was feeling uneasy.

Tierre wasn't afraid of death.

Or rather, Tierre had always been mentally prepared to die.

This was because she was very clear about the predicament she was facing. She was even more clear about how strong the person she wanted to challenge in her life was.

Facing such a predicament, facing such a powerful enemy, it wouldn't be strange if she were to die at any time.

Therefore, Tierre was prepared for this.

However, if the people around her were implicated and died because of her, Tierre wouldn't be able to escape the blame.

That was the uneasiness in Tierre's heart.

What if they were ambushed again?

What if someone in the team got killed because they teamed up with him?

Her own death wasn't to be regretted, but the people around her shouldn't be implicated.

That was what Tierre thought, which was why she felt uneasy.

Vivian must have noticed her uneasiness, which was why she comforted Tierre.

(This person is still as gentle and sharp as ever …)

Tierre could only smile bitterly in her heart and speak.

"If it's necessary, you can abandon me and run."

That way, those who hated her wouldn't make things difficult for Vivian and the others, right?

Unfortunately …

"Do you think I will accept it?"

The gentleness on Vivian's face vanished for the first time. She stared at Tierre with a burning gaze.

Tierre didn't dare to look at Vivian.

Tierre was afraid that Vivian would be disappointed in her.

In this world, there weren't many people that Tierre cared about, and Vivian was one of them.

Vivian had protected Tierre from many malicious intents for many years. She was the one that Tierre trusted and relied on the most.

Because of that, Tierre couldn't lift her head high in front of Vivian.

But …

"I really don't want to see you guys die because of me."

Tierre couldn't help but voice out her true thoughts.

Vivian only had one sentence to say to Tierre.

"I don't want to see you die in front of me either." Vivian looked at Tierre and smiled. "That's why I'll definitely protect you and everyone else. I'll lead everyone out of here safely and return to the Royal City."

It was a vow and also a determination.

"Trust me."

Vivian said to Tierre.

Inconceivably, Tierre subconsciously felt at ease after hearing Vivian's words.

It couldn't be helped. Since the guardian of the kingdom had made such a promise, she would be able to keep it.

Besides …

"I have a feeling that as long as we hold on, that person will come to us one day."

Vivian's soft words caused Tierre's eyes to flicker.

She knew who Vivian was referring to.

That person was the hero that Tierre placed high hopes on, and at the same time, the person that she placed her hopes and wishes on.

"He … Will he come?"

Tierre muttered unconsciously.

"He will."

A sweet smile appeared on Vivian's face as she nodded, and her voice rang out in a powerful and forceful manner.

"He will come."

Perhaps, this was just a completely baseless thought.

However, Vivian was strangely convinced of this.

That strong and powerful voice gave Tierre hope.

If it was that person, he would definitely be able to bring her and the others out of this predicament.

As for herself, it didn't matter what happened.

But Vivian and the others couldn't die here.

Therefore, Tierre made up her mind.

"Before he comes, we have to hold on no matter what."

Even if she had to use that move, she wouldn't hesitate.