The Amber Sword Volume 3 Chapter 10
TL: Well, maybe I’ll add one more chapter to make it 12 updates this month? Also, this chapter is lame (too much watered down contents). I suggest it’s best to come back tomorrow instead.
Anyways, I’m recovering much faster than expected. All my blood panels are good (received the results today) and I’m good to go back to drawing more stuff. Needs lots of practice in drawing hair =X
Edit: Thanks for the tips everyone, I don’t draw girls enough so I didn’t know about the cleavage lol. Lots of things to improve on. Also patreon users, I’ll be uploading the corrected psd in a day or so.
Old Romaine image (Click to see full thing)
New emergency improved Romaine cleavage tweak image lol
Chapter 10 – Territory (4)
Tirste looked up. The forest was filled with myriad shades of green. His thirty-seven knights under him were strewn all around him, lying quietly for all eternity amongst the decaying leaves. They were killed quite some time ago.
The sword injuries on the young Viscount were throbbing with pain, and every time he took a breath, he felt needles poking into his lungs, causing him to feel dizzy.
He turned his head to look at the ghastly knight staring back at him in the shadows. He realized that he had most likely fallen into a trap.
[The information came from the Unifying Guild’s internal department, and there’s the proof of the Oubourous sigil— Unless Megeska is a damned traitor.] (TL: Megeska is from the Unifying guild and also the commander of the Silver-Winged Cavalry)
Tirste expelled the air in his lungs with a bloody cough, and he subconsciously searched for the sword that was knocked away from him. But even if he was in peak condition, there was no way he could fight against the opponent before him.
That knight covered in emerald-green armor injured him with the very first strike. His strength was beyond common sense, and what surprised him the most was how it did not even use its Element power.
It defeated him with pure skill.
Tirst was unable to find his sword and he turned to the altar made out of white rocks in front of him. It was constructed on a ground that was void of foliage. The longsword was placed horizontally on the altar’s flat surface. Its blade was simple and ordinary, but the hilt’s grip handle was intricately made with golden-red sigils. A golden lion’s head jutted out from the center from the cross-guard with its mane extended from bone sides.
Three unknown heroic spirits, their runic names written on the blue gem just above the lion’s head, blessed the sword, bestowing the king’s merciful, braveness, and impartial nature onto it.
It was just a few steps away from the sword, but the Knight of the Lake stood in his way, making it seem as though there was an endless chasm between him.
Any normal man would run away, but Tirste gave a sneering laugh.
He was gravely injured and knew that he was about to die, so he hardened his heart and crawled to the sword. Blood flowed freely from his thighs and abdomen, revealing the deadly wounds that stopped him from even standing up. Yet he crawled forward with his left hand, while his right hand attempted to staunch the bleeding wound from his heart.
[Even if I die, I’ll be closer to my goals than anyone else!]
As Duke Grinoires’s illegitimate son, he quickly understood the cold-blooded nature of the world. If there was nothing to rely on, then he would rely on himself. Being weak meant losing everything. He had worked hard to gain the position he had currently. Certainly, he could be seen as having great ambition, and he would defy the world even if it meant giving up his life.
The earlier battle he and his knights had against the Knight of the Lake kept playing in his mind as he crawled towards the sword. He was unable to find that moment where the Knight of the Lake stabbed his heart.
But halfway through his destination to the Lionheart, the Knight of the Lake turned away; its sword was returned back to its sheath, and it walked away without saying anything. It adhered to the oaths of the knights of the old era, and would not attack anyone who had lost their ability to move.
[What’s going on?]
Tirst looked at it in confusion, not understanding why it stopped attacking. But he did not let this opportunity slide and put in even more effort to reach the sword. The distance was gradually shortened, and he finally laid his hand on the hilt.
The moment he grabbed the sword, a sudden warmth entered his entire body. He felt energy coursing through him, as though every pore within him was able to sense the world around him. His injuries itched for a moment before they repaired themselves.
He lowered his head to look at the wound on his heart, and discovered it was already gone.
[What!?]
Tirste stared at the Lionheart, but to his surprise, the light on it that had enveloped him was rapidly fading away.
It was turning into stone.
He was startled and nearly threw the sword away, afraid that it was somehow going to turn him into stone as well. However, when he took another closer glimpse, he could not see any signs of magic on it. He carefully felt the blade with his finger tips; it had already turned into rock.
He looked at it in confusion. Based on the strange event earlier, it ought to be the Lionheart sword as it invoked a holy power, but it was now a rock in the shape of an odd-looking sword. There was a strange feeling in his heart; it was as though the sword was rejecting him. The sword was clearly in his hands, but it did not feel like it was here.
He finally glanced at his surroundings again. He and his knights had searched this place carefully, and there did not seem to be anything else in the vicinity. The item in his hands was probably not a fake, but there was no answer to why it had changed. He looked back at the shadows carefully. The Knight of the Lake should be there somewhere, staring at him.
But it still did not appear even after he took a few steps away from the altar.
He sighed with relief and decided to bring the rock back with him.
“This trip is truly a nightmare…..” He shook his head hard and ignored the corpses around him, picking up another longsword as he started walking out of the forest.
============== Brendel’s POV ================
The Sage Slate in Brendel’s hand finally stopped. It was the first time it had resonated this long. Everyone was staring at the artifact until it stopped vibrating before they cast their eyes back at Brendel.
The prison fell into an uneasy silence, with the occasional dripping sound of water from somewhere far away.
“A sealed Sage Slate, Lord Trentheim?” Bosley said.
Even though he was a prisoner, or perhaps Brendel’s temperorary retainer, his attitude did not diminish in the slightest. He was almost expressing himself that he was likely to go back to the Royal Faction anytime, but Brendel did not seem to react to his actions.
It surprised him and made him feel uneasy, almost believing that he would be better off being imprisoned. But the warm fire and promise of fresh air stopped him from thinking.
Brendel glanced at him and appeared as though he had understood his thoughts. He had took on the role of Guild Commander in the game, but he had never gotten his own territory and acted as a lord. Even if he was in the position now, he did not feel like he was one.
Moreover, his attitude seemed to be acknowledged by the people who followed him. Amandina had to agree that his usual easygoing attitude solidified his men as a group better, although the most convincing aspect was how he seemed to have endless confidence in himself. She believed it to be charisma from a unique person.
“You know what this is?” He asked with a curious glance at Bosley.
“Sage Slates— They are described in the Poem of Grey from the Miirna and the witches to be fragments of the Stars. They are able to establish relationship to Fate itself, and in truth many mortals know much about the Sage Slates. Seers use them to find prophecies by having the Sage Slate establishing a resonance with something else. With the hints from the reaction, they are able to foresee the related events in the Sage Slate. The Saint Statue is able to see the future in the same way. As long as you place them on the Saint Statue, you would be able to receive the answer your heart wants—”
[Indeed, the gamers have validated these rumors themselves. This setting is in the game. But knowing that it’s sealed? Not everyone understands one of the oldest runic words. Perhaps as a blacksmith for the royal family, hearing rumors about it is natural. Understanding them is abnormal…… Though I doubt he’s bluffing here.]
“Indeed, this Sage Slate is sealed. Since you understand these things well, can you tell me what the words on this Sage Slate mean?” Brendel asked.
His question was actually forcing the impossible to happen. Even he did not understand what the chicken scribbles meant; though he guessed it had to do something with the Lionheart.
“Let me see…..” Bosley received the artifact almost smugly, but his face gradually turned solemn. Very soon, both of his hands were trembling. “The symbols of the kings, the saints…..”
He rubbed his eyes and looked at it again, before he took a step back with disbelief and looked up at Brendel, almost like he was testing the waters: “The Lionheart?”
Brendel’s face was even in a state of shock when he heard the name.
Scarlett let out a small yelp. Even though she did not understand what all the fuss was about, as an Aouine’s citizen, she had heard the most famous story about the King Erik the kind, and the Lionheart sword he possessed. She wanted to ask Brendel for confirmation, but he already answered in a hoarse voice:
“How did you know?”
August 2, 2017 @ 8:26 pm
A tip, female breasts should ideally be stretching the clothes they’re contained inside. It makes it look like they’re about to burst out of their shirt. For example
http://www.mangareader.net/onepunch-man/97/2
Note the cleavage? It’s a simple trick that makes breasts look WAY better.
August 2, 2017 @ 9:47 pm
Terrible tip. Clothing is done by how relevant it is and what kind it is. Also it looks way to improperly stretched as it is. Timescale of story setting in medieval age tight outfits that wrapped the form as well as modern type cloths literally did not exist.
Breasts in picture look more naked then clothed right now
August 2, 2017 @ 10:20 pm
Thanks breast anon
August 2, 2017 @ 8:58 pm
Thanks!
August 2, 2017 @ 9:25 pm
Thanks for the chapter
and I agree with Darsk, also for some reason I feel the mouth is kinda off, I love the color of the hair and the skin looks nice but the clothes is also feels not finished yet, need more polish and coloring, hmm the eyes looks awesome but it doesnt seems to be synchronized with the whole face to make an expression and made the face to fall into uncanny valley albeit only a little
welp im far from professional and just draw as a hobby so I might be just not able to understand the nuance you are aiming for, also im not familiar with this kind of style, im more into animeish-manga style user
keep up the good work
August 4, 2017 @ 7:31 am
I agree, the mouth is off. It’s the perspective. Her left (my right) side of her mouth is too short. The whole jaw looks a bit odd. Can’t quite say what it is, but definitely needs work.
Also, if we’re not dealing with stretchy clothes, than there shouldn’t be an underboob either. That part would be hidden by the heavy and loose fabric. Only stretchy clothes show off the breasts that much.
August 2, 2017 @ 9:46 pm
this makes this character the first to really throw question marks up in front of the MC. He thinks he knows what he is asking but then this guy goes and gives him curve ball after curve ball. Brendel really has no idea how to recruit this guy. Well the holy sword might do the trick though.
August 2, 2017 @ 9:47 pm
His little speech in front of the fallen nobles of the royal faction might actually start paying off in a big way.
August 2, 2017 @ 11:36 pm
Just somethimg, the ear is a bit too small. If you trace your own ear horizontally across your face, the higher point should be about level with your eyebrows, but here is far too small.
August 3, 2017 @ 2:31 am
While I do agree I need to make it slightly bigger (the ear is about the size of the nose to eyebrows, I’m a little off), I don’t think you’re supposed to have the ears horizontal when you tilt your head.
http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/a9987166e8a14504b4637cf78bda977c/eight-year-old-girl-slightly-tilted-head-on-left-side-mr703u-ffxh13.jpg
https://www.sira.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0020/21593/side_bending.jpg
August 3, 2017 @ 12:36 am
Agreed on the ears, bottom should be in line with the top of the lip (and it roughly is) and the top of the ear should be in line with the eyebrows. Other than the clothes being out of period (the word fantacy can make up for it) the tight fitting clothes should mean that the breasts streach it rather than making the cleavage visible. Finally I feel that the tips/end/corners of the lips are too pronounced for her face and the angle that the drawing is on.
Not saying that I can draw to that standard as stickmen is my limitation.
August 3, 2017 @ 6:22 am
i think the lips for romaine look a bit off. like the edges of the lips that curve up, makes her look like the joker very unnatural. lose that on both sides i think.
boobs are too big and circular, make then slightly smaller and more teardrop shaped.i think one of the reasons her boobs look weird is the spot between her left boob and left lower arm, that rectangular looking section should probably be more triangular
August 3, 2017 @ 6:49 am
LOL, a fan of small boobs, cough? But yeah lots of things to improve on. My goal was to make a trolling smirking-like smile, given how Romaine acts in the story (does no one feel like she’s doing that all the time?).
August 3, 2017 @ 2:01 am
How about Freya? She’s Everton’s daughter right?
August 3, 2017 @ 2:07 am
Mentioning Freya’s name may get him interested in Brendel I think… I’ve been thinking of that since Everton’s name was mentioned. Hmmm
August 3, 2017 @ 3:05 am
Yes, she’s Everton’s daughter.
August 3, 2017 @ 2:44 am
A drawing/painting! You got skills!
Well, people is pointing out the flaws, so I think I add my observations too.
There is some perspective issues. The ear, nose and mouth is drawn much too “sideways.” The ear especially, it looks like drawn in side view and then scaled thinner. Its three dimensionality is gone.
The eye is too dry. Specifically it us missing the tear line. The tiny amount of tear that collects at the edge of the eye lid. It is an important feature to add when drawing a realistic eye.
And I don’t know if you are going for the cartoon of more realistic style, but certain details are missing or wrong if it supposed to be realistic. Smile lines are not there when she has this very large smile. Smiling also causes the eyes to squint, but here the eyes are too relaxed. In realistic open smile, the corner of the lips don’t curl like that. Missing are the canines. The tongue and lower teeth is also missing (drawn like a cartoon).
I would also suggest to add a little red or orange in the edge of the shadows. Subsurface scattering in the skin is helpful to add life to the skin.
August 3, 2017 @ 3:04 am
I’m not really going for the realistic drawing, hmm, but her smile is actually really small and a bit of a smirk, I don’t think you can see her lower teeth. Not even sure whether tongue is necessary under all the darkness.
The ears I can agree about having a little more volume to it, the lips need tweaking but I’m not sure how I can improve the nose. Can you explain a bit more as to why it looks drawn sideways?
Is it possible to post pictures of the tear lines as well?
August 3, 2017 @ 4:59 am
You are actually going more realistic here with all the shading and details (like the eyelashes and eyebrows). The eye specially is very drawn in detail.
The lower teeth would show a little, very little, like the top peeking out a bit from the lips. The tongue can be excluded since it would be very subtle. If you do put it in, it would show a bit because the tip of the mouth is close to the opening of the mouth and hence receives more light than the rest of the inner mouth. It would appear as a less dark part of the interior of the mouth.
The nose needs to point less to the side and more to the front. I tried my best to paint what I think the nose should be like: https://i.imgbox.com/7FWsW8gu.png
Tear line is just the tears that collect at trough between the eyeball and the eyelid. You can just add some highlights there, like this: https://i.imgbox.com/u8kn8IhQ.gif
August 3, 2017 @ 5:24 am
Hmm, I think I see what you mean about the nose, but I don’t think I can fix it easily without studying more faces. Her nose is mean to be pretty sharp so it blocks off the light coming from the top left.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3c/d2/84/3cd2848126c9e647faa8c11efa226ddd–rembrant-lighting-techniques.jpg
As for the tear line, got it, thanks for the tips.
August 3, 2017 @ 6:31 am
I think I got it now. It is the shadow that is wrong. Romaine’s hear is raised upwards the reference has her head down, but the shadow on the side of the nose is the same. That throws off the appearance of the nose
August 3, 2017 @ 4:59 am
I’m no art expert, but I feel like there’s something off with her face… I think it’s the ears and the eyes. Sorry that I don’t know how to describe this better, but maybe you can see what I’m talking about.
August 3, 2017 @ 5:05 am
Someone give me a pointers, Brendel – Lionheart?
August 3, 2017 @ 5:12 am
And oh! The act of lifting the corner of that mouth would always makes the smile lines deeper. A smirk still does that.
August 3, 2017 @ 5:28 am
It’s quite a pain to get the facial muscles right with a smile, so I didn’t really draw in that supposed shadow. It’s in between realistic and cartoonish anyways =X
August 3, 2017 @ 8:29 am
This picture sure looks pleasing to the eye.
August 3, 2017 @ 4:47 pm
I would like to say as a barber, It kinda makes me feel a certain way when I see her hair. I believe you put a bit too much hair towards the back of her head that flows to her right shoulder, if you can trim that amount down I believe it will look better.
December 19, 2017 @ 3:23 pm
First image I’ve been able to see on the mobile version of the site since the map. Even with the flaws that the other mentioned I really like the image and appreciate it since it gives me a picture to use for Romaine in my head. Thank you very much.