Chapter 71: The World Beneath

Chapter 71: The World Beneath

You? Youre Riyans contact Vir said, unbelieving.

Amin. Pleased to meet ya!

This seems awfully lucky for us to run into each other like this, doesnt it?

Riyan had said his contact would find Vir, but what were the chances of it happening here, of all places?

Nah. Riyan said youd be seeking membership in the Brotherhood, so I figured Id bump into you sooner or later. I spend a lot of time down here, yknow?

But how did you know it was me? Vir asked. Just because I know your affinities?

You had to be. Really few people know that, and I've never met you before so you have to be. Also, youre wearing makeup.

Vir raised a brow.

I can tell. Youre pretty good at it, though. No need to worry about most people finding out.

The boys words were less than comforting to Vir, who relied on his makeup to ensure his safety. He knew his skills were up to scratch. Amin was just highly skilled, which gave him some credibility.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

But still

I need some proof that youre Riyans contact. For all I know, you could be someone just pretending to be.

You always this paranoid, or you just having a bad day?

Humor me, Vir said, refusing to let this one go.

Fine. Riyans a big scary guy, black beard. Always grumpy. And uh, youre supposed to be Ashborn, and you came to him a little more than half a year ago for training. Oh, and you're supposed to be prana scorned, but I dunno if I believe that one. Never met anyone like that before.

If the boy knew that much, then he had to be Riyans contact. Amin might have been lying about this all being a coincidence, but then again, maybe not.

You dont sound convinced, Amin said.

I guess I was just expecting someone older. Youre a bit young to be doing this kind of thing, arent you?

Hey man, I do what I gotta do. People see a kid, they dont ask questions. Especially someone who looks like an urchin.

Vir didnt miss the looks like part. Certainly, disguising oneself as a young orphan would let them get away with a lot under the guise of looking for food.

How much can I rely on you, Amin? Do you know why Im here?

I mean, its not like Im only Riyans agent here in Daha. I work for a buncha people. But I guess I owe Riyan some favors, so you can count on me. Ill help ya out if I can! And nope, got no clue why youre here. Care to share?

I think itd be safer for both of us if I didnt, Vir said. For now, I need a guide. You look like you know your way around this place.

Its good to know the sewers. Handy. Why?

You know where to find some Jatu?

Oh, the Brotherhood initiation mission, eh?

Vir had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. Did literally everyone know about the initiation task?

Yeah, he said.

Sure, I do. But uh, youre kinda in the wrong spot. Theyre pretty far from here.

Can you lead me there? Vir asked.

Huh? Oh, yeah maybe. Gee, I dunno. Im kinda hungry, and this bread aint gonna last me a long time, yknow?

Vir blinked at the boy. What?

Okay, well maybe Im not that bad off, but can you blame me?

Youre Riyans agent. Youre supposed to help me. Isnt that what you just said? That you owed him some favors?

Hey now, I said Id help, but Riyan never said I had to help for free, did he?

Vir debated what to do for a moment.

He looks easy to overpower. Wouldn't be hard threatening him, he thought idly, before realizing how cruel that was. That was how Ekanai would think. Not him. Amin was just a kid. And besides, he needed the boys cooperation in the future, so that would be a terrible decision.

Then again, if he just gave in, Amin would see him as an easy mark and fleece him, just as the urchins at Saran did.

So he opened his leather coin bag and pulled out a single silver.

Understood, the boy whispered back.

The darkness hid him from Amin, but Vir walked several paces away to be sure, before placing a hand onto the ground and sucking prana into his arm.

Activating Dance of the Shadow Demon, he sunk into the realm of shadows. The entire tunnel network was essentially one great shadow, allowing him to appear anywhere within a radius of twenty paces.

This task didnt require his entire bodyjust an arm. He located a Jatu sleeping at the very edge of the colony and snaked his arm out beside it.

With an Empowered swipe, he yanked the bird-like animal down into the shadow realm with him.

Instead of appearing next to Amin, he reappeared at the limit of the abilitys rangeabout twenty paces away, as far from the colony as he could manage.

The captured Jatu woke the instant they reappeared from the shadow and Vir suddenly understood how these creatures saw.

The entire tunnel flooded with Shadow prana, utterly blinding his Prana Vision. The Jatu shrieked and in his confusion, the bird escaped.

Hey! Shut it up! Quick! Amin hissed.

Acting out of reflex and using Prana Vision to track it, Vir grabbed it, securing it again and clamping its mouth. Luckily, it hadnt woken its friends.

Instead of killing it immediately, Vir took some time to analyze what was happening to Prana Vision. Shadow prana fired off every which way, bouncing off of walls and polluting the area with prana.

In terms of sheer prana output, it was weak, but there were so many motes that it completely blinded him, making him dizzy. What intrigued Vir the most was how these motes of prana bounced back into the Jatu, being reabsorbed.

Its using Prana to see, isnt it?

It made him wonder why it had a pair of tiny red eyes, but he wasnt here to study these creatures.

He tried breaking its neck, but the Jatus skeleton was surprisingly durable. So instead, he placed a hand on the damp sewer wall and sucked prana into his arm.

With a quick Empowered jerk of his hand, its neck broke, ending the pings. Luckily, theyd been far enough away not to alert the rest of the colony.

It was the first time hed successfully used an Empowered attack, and while what hed done was merely a crippled workaround of the real Talent, he couldnt deny that it worked.

Virs eyes lingered on the dead beast. It bothered him that Prana Vision could be corrupted like this. Hed grown to depend on the ability, and the fact that it could be thwarted meant he needed to be wary of enemies in the future who could do the same.

Vir contemplated removing its eyes, but decided to forego that unpleasant act. Surely the Executor would be happy even if he returned the entire body?

Amin, Vir whispered. Its done. We can go now.

Phew! Amin replied, reactivating his Magic Candle. Gave me a scare there when it woke up. Howd you do it? I didnt even notice you.

I have a handy Talent for stuff like this, Vir said, omitting the details.

It took only a few minutes for them to retrace their steps back to the stairs.

Youre following me out? Vir asked.

Hey, its not like I want to be in this stinky place any longer than you do.

As they approached street level, the guards obnoxious snores grew louder and louder. Vir had to rap on the gate for a full minute, shouting at the guard before he woke.

Dance of the Shadow Demon wouldve allowed him to bypass the issue entirely, but after going through so much trouble to hide it from Amin, itd be foolish to reveal his hand now.

Ah! Its you! Stayed ere late just for you, yknow? he said as he shuffled around for his key. And I see you found a friend? Sewer rat, no less.

Thanks for staying late, Vir said, tossing him ten coppers, earning him a pointed stare from Amin and a thankful nod from the tired guard.

Cant believe youre so generous to someone like him, but youre so mean to me. Amin huffed as they walked through the alley. What of my payment?

Vir promptly handed over the promised silver. I have no issue paying for services rendered. I just dont like being taken advantage of.

Dont we all? Amin said, walking off.

Wait! Vir called. How do I find you?

Amin turned around. Where do you stay?

The Market Square Inn, across from the Brotherhood building.

Ill drop a note, Amin said, waving to Vir as he sauntered off into another alley. The boy's answer didn't give him any confidence, but he doubted Amin would divulge his home base. Even if he did, it'd be easy enough to relocate somewhere else.

Vir looked down at the bird corpse in his hand.

Well, guess its time to find out my Balar Rank, he muttered with a grin.

Tomorrows gonna be an interesting day.