Chapter 148: Left Behind

Rabst nudged the others to tell them not to move a muscle or make the slightest sound. In response, the boys held their breaths and froze like statues.Steadily, the source of the sound got closer. After several tense moments, it turned a corner and came into sight, at least for Rabst, since he was the only one who could see in the darkness.

Rabst lunged at the lumpy, robed figure before it could see the group of students. But it reacted quickly and threw the lump that turned out to be a bag the size of human at Rabst.

Rabst gritted his teeth for a moment, but in the end, his humanity won out, and he caught the bag and spun around a full turn so as not to lose all his momentum before setting the bag down. He looked up and saw the rapidly vanishing back of the underworlder.

Without a moment's hesitation, Rabst chased after the underworlder.

Zach and the other two heard and felt Rabst disappear further into the sewers. Most likely, his familiar had gone with him.

They didn't know what to do. In the darkness, they were as good as blind and handicapped. They also weren't sure if it was worth trying to catch up to Rabst. They didn't know if they should try to follow him or stay put so that he could find them later.

They hesitated. It was the first time they were in a situation like this.

Rabst was reliable. If he couldn't handle it, there was no guarantee they could provide any helpful assistance. But then again, they probably could. Zach's and Dukiel's familiars were strong, and Julius' familiar was useful against underworlders and underworld energy.

Zach put up a strong barrier. They would have to take a slight risk.

"Light, please."

Dukiel and Julius flinched at the sound of Zach's voice. They had sharpened their ears to their limits in case more underworlders came, so the loudness of Zach's voice right next to them surprised them.

But they quickly calmed down as light returned and they could see each other and their immediate surroundings. And when they looked in the direction Rabst and the underworlder had disappeared, they found a big black lump leaning against the wall.

Realizing what that must be, they quickly hurried over to it.

Even without touching the bag, they recognized the material.

"Shit." Zach cursed and grabbed the bag, turning it until he found the opening. Without waiting, he tore it open and released a gust of underworld energy into the sewers.

It was the same kind of bag that someone had stuffed Rierdan's familiar into. But this one was human-sized and had a human inside instead of a familiar.

With a grim expression, Dukiel and Julius helped Zach pull the human out of the bag. They wore rags, had dirty, poorly managed hair, and their body was severely malnourished. Part of it was probably the abduction.

But it was clear from a glance that the person wasn't in a great place in life. If they went missing, it would probably take a while for someone to notice.

The person let loose a violent coughing fit after taking a couple of breaths and then fell unconscious.

Zach looked at Julius, who in turn looked at the Mannequin.

The Mannequin walked up to the person and knelt to put a hand on their chest. After a couple of minutes, the man's face regained a more natural color, and his breathing stabilized slightly.

"He's still sick with the underworld energy. Manny just stabilized him and kept it from going out of control. He needs proper treatment."

"Do we bring him back?" Dukiel asked.

"To the infirmary? Right now? And leave Senior Rabst behind?" Zach questioned. It was one thing if they didn't follow Rabst in the pursuit of the underworlder since he disappeared almost instantly and it was too dark for them to see anything. But Zach didn't think they should leave him in the sewers. That was the least they could do.

"...I can try to keep him stable." Julius gestured for his Mannequin to continue treating the man. But it was clear that his condition was worsening by the minute.

If they stayed too long, it would be too late. They didn't even know when Rabst would return, if he returned.

"...I'm the only one who can find the way back out, right?" Dukiel looked between Zach and Julius with a serious expression. The two nodded slowly.

Dukiel turned to Zach.

"I don't like this suggestion, but Zach, as long as you don't move, you won't get lost, right?" seaʀᴄh thё Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The inner tips of Zach's eyebrows dipped slightly in a minuscule frown.

"You and Julius return to the Academy with this guy while I wait here for you or Rabst. Is that your suggestion?"

"..." Dukiel nodded once before hanging with his head. Saving the man who had been kidnapped by the underworlder would come at the cost of leaving their friend behind.

"Do it. If anyone will be fine alone down here, it will be me. I will wait for Rabst, so quick, save this guy." Zach picked up the homeless man and handed him to the Sentinel.

Dukiel nodded gratefully. Julius also nodded.

"Be safe."

"You too."

With that, Dukiel and Julius set off through the tunnels after lighting a torch.

Zach and Yanael were the only ones left in the tunnel. Zach looked from side to side in the tunnel. He turned to Yanael.

"Lovely weather we're having."

"If you say so, Master."

He wondered if he should have packed a deck of cards or something. He hadn't expected to have to wait for an unknown amount of time. If anything, he had expected that he wouldn't have to be alone for even a moment while they were in the sewers.

Oh, how wrong he was. Far from a moment, it felt like he waited for hours with nothing but Yanael as company.

He didn't mind being alone with Yanael, but it wasn't like they could do anything that would tire them out or reveal their presence to the entire sewer system. Zach also didn't want to expose Yanael's ability to talk in case Rabst returned.

So, they waited in silence until Rabst finally came back.