Chapitre 9: Chapter 9: The Weight of Leadership
The chamber remained still, the heavy silence now filled with anticipation. Garret's eyes, once filled with suspicion, now seemed to study each of them with a quiet intensity. Alucard could feel the weight of the moment as the legendary hunter sized them up, as though deciding if they were truly worthy of his help.
"You talk of a united front against the sorcerer," Garret finally said, his voice gravelly, but filled with conviction. "But do you know what that means? How many hunters have fallen trying to stop him?"
"We know," Alucard replied firmly. "That's why we're here. We've already lost too much. The sorcerer destroyed my village—my parents. I won't stop until he's defeated."
Garret's gaze softened for a moment, a flicker of empathy passing through his hardened features. "Revenge is a powerful motivator. But it won't be enough. You'll need more than anger to survive the battles ahead."
"I'm not just seeking vengeance," Alucard said, his voice steady. "I'm fighting for those who can't. For the hunters who are still out there, scattered and alone. We need you, Garret. You're the only one who can bring them together."
The older hunter sighed, running a hand through his grizzled beard. "I used to believe that," he muttered, his eyes darkening as memories seemed to surface. "But after Eldergrove fell… the hunters lost their way. Many gave up, others were taken or corrupted. The few who remain are too afraid to fight."
"Then we give them something to believe in again," Seraphina spoke up, her voice filled with quiet determination. "We remind them of what we're fighting for—the realm, our people, our families. Together, we can be stronger than the sorcerer and his forces."
Garret stared at her for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Maybe you're right. Maybe it's time we take back what we've lost."
Alucard felt a rush of hope surge through him. The legendary hunter was beginning to come around, but the journey ahead was still long and uncertain. Gathering the remaining hunters would be no easy task, especially with the sorcerer's forces growing stronger by the day.
Jasper stepped forward, his voice low but firm. "The hunters trust you, Garret. If you stand with us, they will too. We have to give them a reason to fight again."
Garret's shoulders sagged slightly, as if the weight of his past battles still clung to him. But then, he straightened, a new resolve sparking in his eyes. "If we do this, we do it right. No more running, no more hiding. We take the fight to the sorcerer, and we don't stop until he's defeated."
Alucard's heart pounded with a mixture of excitement and fear. "We're with you."
Garret nodded, walking over to a dusty chest in the corner of the chamber. He opened it and pulled out a large, intricately designed sword. The blade gleamed even in the low light, its edge sharp and deadly.
"This was my father's," Garret said, holding the sword reverently. "It's been in our family for generations, passed down from hunter to hunter. It's time I use it again."
Alucard watched as Garret fastened the sword to his side, feeling the gravity of what was happening. They were no longer just a small group of survivors—they were forming an army. And with Garret leading them, they had a real chance at turning the tide in this war.
"First, we need to find the others," Garret said, turning to face them. "There are still hunters out there, hiding in the shadows. We bring them together, one by one, until we have a force strong enough to challenge the sorcerer."
Seraphina nodded, determination etched into her features. "Where do we start?"
Garret pointed to the map on the wall, his finger landing on a remote village near the mountains. "There's a small group of hunters in a place called Frostfall. They're the last of the northern clans. If we can convince them to join us, the others will follow."
Alucard's pulse quickened. They had a plan. And now, with Garret by their side, they had the strength to carry it out.
"Frostfall it is," Alucard said, his voice filled with determination.
Garret smirked, his eyes gleaming with the fire of a hunter who had finally reclaimed his purpose. "Let's hope they're ready for a fight."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone