Chapter 126: Sacrifice

Chapter 126: Sacrifice

Chapter 126 - Sacrifice

Muffled mutters buzzed in the back of his mind, too faint and confused to make anything out.

Give me a hint. What do you want me to do?

Hallowed Intuition refused to give him a straight answer, so Kai turned toward the only person who might know. Whats going on?

Lower your voice, Flynn whispered pleadingly, glancing at the ends of the alley. You need to take your family and leave Sylspring now. You need to trust me, I cant explain.

The murmurs in his head got louder and more insistent, but they still gave him no clue as to the nature of the danger. As if it was everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

What did you do? Kai grabbed Flynns arm, forcing him to meet his gaze. The crafty green eyes lit with frantic desperation. Why do I need to leave?

Im sorry. I cant stop them. Theres no time to. Flynns gaze shifted behind him.

Hallowed Intuition screamed at him to move as Mana Sense detected a strange glow he had somehow missed.

Kai didnt get the chance to activate any of his skills before darkness swallowed him.

***

His head was spinning. The migraine made Kai wish he could go back to sleep. His thoughts had to wade through a swamp of confusion.

What happened? Where am I?

Something blocked his sight. A crude wooden floorboard was scratching his arm. He attempted to get up but failed, his hands were stuck behind his back. As he tried to speak, only muffled grunts came out.

Despite the jumbled mess in his mind, the pain was too real to be a dream. His silver ring and satchel were gone, only the cold metal of Viryas amulet still pressed against his chest.

See, I told you I didnt hit him that hard.

Kai took several seconds to understand what he was saying. It was the voice of a man from the archipelago, but not a familiar one.

As his mind put all the pieces together, panic swept through him with the inevitability of a rising tide.

Damn, how could this happen?The roots of this story extend from novell bìn origin.

He had thought nothing could happen to him in the middle of town, that he could avoid any danger with his skills. He had been such a fool. Mana Sense had failed him and he didnt even fully grasp how Hallowed Intuition worked.

I should have run at the first whisper.

Let me worry about our needs, a cold female voice spoke with authority. We cant afford to raise their attention when were this close.

The man grunted. It was your boy who went to speak with him. Spirits know what would have happened if I didnt follow him.

Kai tried to take off the blindfold to get a glimpse of his surroundings. He might have heard the male voice before. Maybe one of the hundreds he heard around Sylspring.

With his ankles tied, he tried to wiggle when a kick sent him crashing into the wall. Unable to protect himself, he hit face first, screaming into his gag. Fear pierced the haze in his mind, blocking his breath.

Dont move, you mutt. Thank the ancestors that fool insisted youd be more useful alive. If it was for me, I

Go back to your duties. Now, the woman hissed. We cant afford any more mistakes today.

After a brief silence, his steps moved away, followed by the creaking of a door. Kai didnt get the chance to put his pounding head in order. Without a warning, someone hoisted him on a chair and took off his blindfold.

The sudden light made him squint. A spartan room came into focus, the bare walls and crude crates offered no clues of his whereabouts. His attention was taken by the only other person in the room who sat across from him. So close, their knees were almost touching. A woman no older than his mother, but without a shadow of Alanas warmth. Her hard gaze was framed by an angular face, made up of stern sharp edges.

I know you must be scared and confused. But if you do as I say, I promise youre going to be fine. Her tone softened with a hint of worry.

The way her features turned warm and gentle was too sudden to be natural. Kai fearfully nodded. Whatever the case, antagonizing his captors before he had any idea what was going on wouldnt be wise.

The woman smiled, a genuine heartfelt ray of sunshine that made Kai want to trust her.

Fuck, shes dangerous.

Im Maela and Im here to help you. Your name is Kai, right?

Kai heightened his surprise with Improvisation. His head was pounding and his thoughts moved at a crawl. All he could do was rely on the skill and hope it would pull him through. He could only formulate a better plan if he was alive to think about it.

You dont have to be afraid. Remember Im here to help you, but I can only do that if you behave. The sincerity in Maelas voice was like sweet poison.

Yeah, I beat up and kidnap all the people I want to help too. Somehow they never believe me when I tell them. I really dont know why

Shes batshit crazy. It will be a bloodbath.

I see youre still not ready, Maela said, sounding almost sad. I know for some its difficult to accept the truth.

Fucking lunatics.

Kai was about to drop any pretense and free himself with his magic when the door opened. Two new sets of steps walked behind him.

A sweep of Mana Sense made him freeze in his tracks. The woman in front of him was yellow tier in both race and profession, while the people who entered were just a step behind with their race at the peak of orange. Same as him, except for his lack of profession and the undeveloped body.

More signatures pinged him outside the room. Maybe he could have had a chance with his sword, but it was stored in his missing ring.

Seems like youre truly good with mana skills. I almost didnt sense that, Maela said, then addressed the people behind him. Make sure he doesnt try anything funny.

Kai didnt get any more time to consider his options. Two pairs of hands had grabbed him. As he opened his mouth to scream, a sour substance was forced down his throat.

The kidnappers forced his mouth shut when he tried to spit it out. Kai struggled desperately without holding back, he couldnt compete with the strength of adult men. When they were sure he had swallowed, they gagged him with a rag and blindfolded him again.

Poison? That would be a convoluted way to

Dont worry, I wont give up on you. Well have more time to talk after everything is done.

The door was locked after them as they left him on the floor of the room. This was his chance to do something, but he was just so tired. Whatever drug they used it was fast-acting.

Fucking overzealous fanatics, I need to

Kai fought against the slumber for as long as he could. He hardly wigged on the floor. The effects of the drug were too strong. His racing heart slowed down, then his thoughts. He wanted to use Empower, but he couldnt remember how to activate the skill.

Darkness took him once more.

***

shit! Im so sorry. Damned spirits, I

Whispered curses and apologies alternated. Someone was pacing before him, each step resounded through the floorboards like the beat of a drum in his ear. It made his head pulse as if his skull was about to split open.

Each part of his body was heavy, weighed down by an invisible burden. Not that it mattered, even if he were able to move a muscle, his arms and legs were still tightly bound. It had been years since he felt this powerless.

Shit!

The irritating drums continued to batter him.

Can you shut the fuck up! Im trying to think. After much convincing, his mouth let out an annoyed grunt.

The steps stopped. And two hands pulled him in a sitting position. The sudden movement made him want to puke.

Youre awake the voice sounded disbelieving. Im sorry, I fucked up.

The voice now was broken by weeping sobbing. And Kais brain decided to work enough to identify the familiar voice. Then his blindfold was removed.

You shithead, stop pitying yourself and give me a hand. More muffled grunts got the message across.

Sorry, sorry.

Finally, Kai could breathe properly. His mouth and throat were dry, but he didnt need them to send a killing glare at the idiot in front of him.

Fury burned through his veins. With his hands tied, Kai was a step from head-butting Flynns nose. Unfortunately, his body only slowly flopped forward.

I swear Ill skin you alive and use your insides as fish bait!

The boy grabbed him before he could hit the floor. Kai tried to speak but only managed a dry cough.

You must be thirsty, wait a second.

You bet, shithead. I dont know if they told you, but your accommodations kind of suck.

Flynn helped him drink from a flask of water.

Im sorry this happened. He began to sob again. The richer districts will take the worst hit and I wanted to warn you. I swear, I didn't think Tridel would follow me.

What. Did you. Say? Kai croaked, though already knew the answer. If a crew of pirates came to pillage Sylspring, the raid would focus on the wealthier neighborhoods.

I need to warn my family. I need to warn them all.