Xide and the others stood rooted to the spot. After several stunned seconds, they looked toward the only outsider—Brando.
Brando looked as though he had only just recovered from the blinding flash as well. He glanced at Xide and the others. He had originally intended to rebuke them and demand an apology for slandering him, but upon seeing Xide's murderous gaze, he wisely abandoned the thought.
He tugged at the corner of his mouth and said, "Well, looks like there's nothing else to do here. Since you don't trust me either, then... I'll be leaving first. Yes, I'll be going now. See you if there's a chance."
He waved his left hand, then covered the wound on his right shoulder and walked out of the forest.
Xide watched Brando's back until it vanished from sight without saying a word. Then his body swayed, and he dropped to one knee as though a mountain had collapsed. His entire body trembled violently. The blood-red glow on his armor faded, while blood continuously seeped from beneath his skin. This was the price of repeatedly using life force to activate the magical runes—more painful than spell backlash.
Through the pain, Xide looked at where Richard had once stood, then at where Miss Annie had been. A sense of helplessness washed over him, followed by utter confusion.
He had no idea where Richard had taken Annie, much less how he could save her.
His emotions were a tangled mess. At last, he clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead, and roared like a wounded beast, venting his fury. "Ah, damn Spy Wizard! I'll definitely find where you went! I'll definitely find you, save Miss Annie, and then kill you! Kill you! Definitely!"
In truth, Richard had not gone anywhere else. He had merely