Overlord: Courage within

Chapter 6

Brain Unglaus POV

He is exhausted, malnourished, and dehydrated, still, he can't stop for if he does, if he closes his eyes, he will see her, Shalltear Bloodfallen, a vampire, a monster unlike any other Brain has ever seen, Brain believed he was strong, that he and Gazef, the warrior captain, were at the top, but it was a lie, a horrible lie, they were pathetic creatures that only live because the strong allow it.

He wanted to continue, but his body did not allow him to, and then, in his final effort to move forward, Brain fell to the ground. He is not expecting to wake again, and if he does, it would be because that monster wanted him to see her in the eyes before giving him the sweet mercy of death.

Brain, strangely enough, did not have nightmares that night, on the contrary, he dreamed, about the stories of old, about the heroes that defeated evil. In this dream, a new hero is in it, a hero Brain has never heard of before. The hero, a male for the looks of it, has his back turned to Brain, Brain sees the hero holding a sword and shield of the likes Brain has never seen, the hero then turns his head to Brain, but the man can't see the hero's face as the sun blocks his view, but Brain could see the hero smile to him, and Brain believed that smile is genuine, that this hero was the greatest of all and not even Shalltear Bloodfallen would be able to stop him.

During his rest, Brain's nose smells a delicious aroma, it is sweet like honey but leaves a spicey taste in the mouth once it starts to get watery, opening his eyes because of the smell the warrior's vision starts to get clearer, the first thing he notices is a blanket over his body, it is blue colored and the sewing is of the finest of qualities as he notices the lines on it forming a picture of a strange bird Brain has never seen, it was amazing since despite the bird sewed on the blanket being painted red there are no outlines in it, as if the thread used in it changed colors midway in the making, that could be the only explanation since the warrior could see that the bird wasn't painted over the blue thread.

"Had a good sleep? ...I hope you're hungry". A calm voice spoke.

Brain looks at the source and can't stop from opening his mouth in surprise when first seeing the speaker. It is a boy, probably between 15 and 18, he has blue eyes, blonde hair, and light fair skin, he is dressed in a green tunic over chainmail, a metal shoulder plate on his left shoulder, a green hood, a blue scarf around his neck with a same red bird that the blanket has and a golden triangle formed by three smaller ones in it, gray pants, brown leather boots and two brown armguards over two fingerless blue gloves, but what stood out the most about him was the pointy ears, telling Brain the boy is an elf. Brain knows immediately that the boy is an adventurer, if his equipment didn't tell him then the mithril plate on his neck would.

"Who are you?" Brain asks the boy, something about him feels familiar to him and makes the mercenary feel close to him, just looking at him makes his fear of the monster Shalltear disappear.

"Link-san, I've brought some... oh, it's awakened". Another voice speaks, a female one this time. Brain looks at the source and it is one of the most beautiful visions he ever had.

The woman has to be the most gorgeous person Brain has ever seen, with long jet-black hair tied in a ponytail, fair and smooth skin, narrowed eyes, and a good figure that couldn't be hidden despite the cloak she is wearing.

"Thanks Nabe". The now named Link says. Brain notices how there are no pauses in his speech when he talks to this Nabe, unlike when he did to him.

Grabbing the wood brought by the girl Link puts some of it in the fire and turns his focus back to the food he is cooking.

"Who are you two?" Brain asks, his eyes shifting between the blond boy and the black-haired girl.

"I'm Link... Mithril Ranked adventurer... this is Nabe... also Mithril Ranked". Link points at himself then Nabe who just narrows her eyes at Brain, the mercenary could see she didn't like him. "Who... are you?"