Chapter 71: Givia’s Back at Full Strength
The caravan continued its journey, drawing closer to the Restoration Army’s hidden base within the Western Empire.
Since Abyss also wanted to investigate Kevin, Givia extended a warm invitation for him and his companions to visit her base and discuss their plans.
Abyss readily agreed. To defeat the Lord of Nightmares, he needed to dismantle the Outer God’s support network, preventing his minions from providing him with sustenance. It was like a war—cutting off the enemy’s supply lines was always a sound strategy. And he couldn’t handle this alone. He could cripple the Ossi Kingdom’s entire army within half an hour, but that would cause widespread chaos and panic, something he wanted to avoid. His war against the gods shouldn’t disrupt the lives of ordinary mortals.
Givia was in excellent spirits. Not only had Rebecca devised a method to protect the potions, eliminating her worries about their fragility, but she was also well-rested.
Two days had passed since the last attack. During those two days, Givia had been consuming Rebecca’s fatigue-eliminating potion. Its only side effect was a temporary decrease in reaction time, but since she only consumed it at night, it didn’t pose any problems. The potion’s benefits far outweighed this minor drawback.
Thanks to the potion, she no longer needed to sleep. She simply waited for the fatigue to dissipate, her body and mind revitalized. It not only replaced her need for sleep but also alleviated the exhaustion and stress accumulated from the recurring nightmares. She was impressed by Rebecca’s skills and wondered why such a talented alchemist was relatively unknown in Lavoisier City. Were the alchemists there blind?
Givia looked radiant, her natural beauty enhanced by her newfound energy. The dark circles under her eyes, a result of her sleep deprivation, had vanished.
“Your Highness, this potion can eliminate those dark circles under your eyes,” Rebecca said, handing her a small bottle. “I brewed it last night and let it mature. Would you like to try it?”
Givia nodded, trusting Rebecca’s abilities. She followed Rebecca’s instructions, pouring a few drops of the potion onto her fingertips and gently applying it around her eyes.
The dark circles faded, then vanished completely. Givia blinked, a cool, soothing sensation spreading around her eyes. The fatigue, the main cause of the dark circles, had melted away like snow. She felt as refreshed and energized as someone who had enjoyed a full night’s sleep.
“Wow… Givia, you look stunning,” Leona said, observing Givia’s transformation, her voice filled with admiration. She was still sitting on Flora’s lap due to the carriage’s limited space. “When we first met, you always seemed so tired and stressed. You were pretty, but you also seemed frail. Now, you look completely different. Ray, you should sell this potion to everyone who suffers from sleep deprivation!”
“Well… I’d rather not,” Rebecca said, chuckling, waving her hand dismissively. “My potion formulas are confidential.”
Indeed, except for a few publicly known potions, she kept her formulas secret. People were curious, but she never revealed them, as if some unpleasant experience had made her cautious.
“Now that you’re well-rested, Your Highness, your army’s morale will surely soar,” Flora said with a smile. “You followed that fortune teller’s advice and traveled to the Eastern Empire. Although you didn’t find a cure for your nightmares from Lannis, you’ve temporarily escaped their torment. My ancestor had a saying that applies here: ‘Planting flowers might not yield blossoms, but planting willows unintentionally provides shade.’”
Givia smiled. “I don’t know how to repay you. You’ve helped me so much. Although our destinations align, your selfless assistance is truly humbling. When… When I reclaim my throne and restore the Ossi Kingdom’s glory, I’ll record your stories in our history books, so everyone will remember your contributions, as I promised Mr. Abyss.”
“Of course,” Abyss said, nodding. “But as I said before, please don’t include our names. It’s a bit embarrassing.”
“Four heroes, their deeds unmatched, will be immortalized in our epic,” Givia said, her voice filled with hope, envisioning their future victory.
Abyss had no doubt that with his help, Givia would succeed. Rebelling against an oppressive treaty was a popular cause in the martial Ossi Kingdom. They might face hardships, but with a strong leader, they wouldn’t be easily defeated. Even though Ossi was a small kingdom, united, they could withstand even the mighty Western Empire, weakened by its current ruler’s incompetence.
“Abyss, when do you think those Shadowlings will attack us?” Leona asked, after admiring Givia’s beauty, settling comfortably in Flora’s lap. “They won’t give up so easily. Should we guess when they’ll strike?”
“I believe they’ll attack again before we reach our base,” Abyss said. “Givia mentioned that although she’s plagued by nightmares at her base, she hasn’t been harassed by Shadowlings there. This journey to the Eastern Empire was the first time she encountered them. This suggests the enemy is hesitant to act near her base. They must be concerned about something. So they’ll seize this opportunity. We’re almost there. They won’t wait much longer.”
Thump!
As they discussed the enemy’s potential attack, one of the guards suddenly collapsed, his eyes rolling back in his head, falling from his horse!
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