Chapter 292: Across the Mirror

Chapter 292: Across the Mirror

Chapter 292 - Across the Mirror

Formless shadows swarmed over the silver surface. Valela held her arms around herself, heart beating in her ears. Mere moments stretched forever before the mirror cleared to reflect an identical room thousands of miles away.

Kai smiled slightly upon seeing her. “Hi.” His face was paler and gaunter than she remembered, the blonde locks on his forehead darker and in dire need of a cut.

“It’s good to see you’re okay.” Valela recomposed herself with Poise, praying to not sound awkward. “It’s been a while.”

“Yeah, it has...” His gray eyes carried a gloomy shadow.

Why didn’t they contact me sooner? What happened in Limgrell? Is Kea safe? Did he get there too late?

A dozen questions raced to her mouth, so many things she wanted to ask and say—one rose over the others. “Are you alright?”

Kai blinked. “I... yes. I’m fine. Just tired.” His shoulders slackened and softened his posture. “It has been a few long weeks.”

Yeah, for both of us.

“You’re in... Darvell now?” Valela recalled the location the clerk had mentioned in passing. She had been groomed to thrive in social situations, but her skills seemed to fail her now. She twirled a hazel curl over her cheek, unsure of what to say.

Stop being silly.

“It was the closest town that had a branch of the House.” He moved closer to the floating mirror, studying her. “Uh... Have you done something with your hair? It looks different.”

Valela stopped her fidgeting and pulled her hand away. “I just tied it.” A braid half circled over her ear and was fastened behind her head. It was a mess with many wavy locks tickling her face. She knitted it while running here.

It’s all Rena and Calyssa’s fault.

“I like it,” Kai said with a terse nod.

Heat rose to her cheeks. “It’s nothing much. I could have braided it better.” Valela caught herself just before touching her hair again. “We should keep on topic. Did no one else come with you? You know traveling on the mainland isn’t like the archipelago.”

From the map she studied, Darvell was a minor trading hub close to the Rattling Hills. It would take days to reach it from the Lake of Myst.

“It was the only way to send a message. And I move faster alone.” He wore a rueful smile. “To be honest, it was probably safer than staying in Limgrell.”

“Why...” Valela gulped as she caught on to the implications: he would be going back for his companions.

I warned him they should have left as soon as possible. Why does nobody ever listen?

The folder Professor Hulmus gave her weighed heavily in her spatial bag. If half of what she suspected was true... She shuddered at the thought; this wasn’t something they should be messing with. “How are the others? I’ve not heard from them either.”

I must get them away from that town.

Kai stiffened. His gaze darted around the sealed room as if expecting an attack. “Are we safe to speak?”

“Not even the consul could spy on us.” The House prided itself in the clarity and security of its mirror magic. They had guarded the secret for millennia, spreading across the continent. Valela walked closer to the mirror’s surface with a bad foreboding. “Is everything really alright? Did... did something happen to your sister?”

It had been too long since Niel updated her.

I should have hired someone to check on them.

“Kea’s fine. Well, she’s safe...” His grim look was back. “We’ve been careful to avoid danger since Niel went missing a month ago.”

“What? What do you mean he went missing?” Valela froze, wishing she had heard wrong. While she had only met Niel a few times, he had accepted her sponsorship and been under her protection. How could he...

Bloody curses! I failed them.

“We were attacked on the streets near the docks,” Kai spoke with a lifeless tone. “I tried to stop them, but...” His hand moved where he held the sword and clenched it into a fist. “I couldn’t do anything to help him. I could barely see, the mist was so thick. Then, he was just gone...”

“Meew.” A fluffy silver cat suddenly stood on his shoulders, rubbing its head against him. Kai fondly scratched the familiar without showing any surprise. Her same guilt reflected in his eyes.

“Then we’re good that I’m the one asking. You’ve already gotten me here.” She gestured to the onyx room lit by three crystal lights. “You even insisted on paying. Just indulge my curiosity. What’s your plan? Maybe I can help.”

“I’m not saying...”

Valela rummaged through her bag to take out the folder. The papers were a little unwieldy to show through the mirror, though she liked having something to keep her hands busy. “I’ve also done some research. I wasn’t certain before, but what you’ve shown me confirmed a few theories. This cult is more dangerous than you think.”

* * *

“Thank you for your kind patronage.” The clerk smiled brightly, taking his silver coins with a cruel swipe. “I hope our services were satisfactory. May we interest you in some refreshments?” She slipped a folded sheet over the counter to him, the pearly paper showed images of colorful drinks and snacks.

“I’m good.” Kai fought to keep his tone polite. “Thank you.”

A shiny bowl of mango ice cream gave him pause. He could rarely find fresh apples in Limgrell, let alone mangos. After a month of bland meals, his stomach begged him to buy the sugary dessert—the price tag helped him desist.

I won’t be tempted.

Kai strode out of the hall and descended the onyx steps two at a time onto the dusty road. How could he enjoy any food while the others waited for him? He stopped at a crossing to orient himself. It was laughably easy to find his way without the fog, the eastern stone gate soared over the building and most passersby offered him directions.

Darvell was hardly a picturesque town with its gray buildings, lack of green and chattering caravans choking the main avenue. Still, the burnished blue sky and sunlight washing over the rooftops made him gape.

Since he had trekked out of the mist, he couldn’t stop marveling at the open heavens. The constant dreariness around the Lake of Myst had been suffocating him, he only now realized the toll it had taken on him.

I have to get back.

He was already behind schedule. Valela had chewed him out for three hours straight, ripping apart and rebuilding his plan with a sweet smile. Someone had to know what was happening in Limgrell before they took any risky initiative.

The worry for his friends pushed him to walk faster. It was mid-afternoon when he exited the eastern gate behind a creaking wagon. Aside from Rain, he was the fastest runner—a logical choice for this task.

C’mon, they can survive a few days without me.

Kai channeled a stream of mana into Body Augmentation, his boots crunched the gravel of the wide road. If he kept a steady pace and didn’t take breaks, he could get back in two days. His concern and eagerness to see the matter done urged him to quicken his steps.

He ran past a team of gruff adventurers who sneered at his speed—perhaps they were going in the same direction. The flow of seekers lured by the gold bounty had never stopped, even though most only stayed a few days before giving up and leaving.

They might be jerks, but they’re right. I must slow down.

One way or another, everything would soon be over. They had spent weeks patching together rumors, statistics and hunches to trace down the cultists’ hideout. By the end, there had still been three vast areas to search. Kai hadn’t expected Valela to provide any useful intel, let alone something to narrow down the possibilities.

I owe her another favor. They just keep piling.

His rhythmic breathing condensed into white puffs as the crisp air brought relief from the heat of running. With the coming winter, the fields of golden crops had faded into muted browns and grays. Dense mana nurtured plants to grow taller and lusher, but also made the seasons and weather hasher. Bare trees and bushes lined the road, offering little cover.

Kai trusted Hallowed Intuition that he wouldn’t need any for a hundred miles or more. Realizing he had sped up again, he adjusted his pace and summoned his status to distract himself.

Living in a creepy shithole sure helps.





Name: Kai Tylenn (Matthew Reece Veernon) Race:Yellow ★ – 370,588 > 404,023 / 500,000 XPProfession:Favored Son of the Isles lv9 > 10 – max

Body stats

Strength: 36Dexterity: 37 Constitution: 42.5 (38+4.5) > 43 (38+5)Mind: 51 (42+9) > 53 (43+10)Spirit: 57 (48+9) > 60 (50+10)Perception: 37.5 (33+4.5) > 39 (34+5)Favor: 83

Boons:

Gifts of the EarthKahali’s RetributionSpatial Attunement

Profession Skills:

Natural Prodigy (lv92>100)Rippling Echo (lv77>100)Astral Pathway (lv47>96)

General Skills:

Hallowed Intuition (lv77>80) Mana Observer (lv40>44) Body Augmentation (lv36>38) Mana Analyst (lv28>30) Mana Weaving (lv25>26) Mana Engraving (lv22>23) Water Magic – Advanced (lv19>20) Split Mind (lv19>21) Arcane Enchanting (lv10>11) Elemental Swordsman (lv8>9) Hobbes (lv10>20) Runic Scholar (lv4>8) Nature Magic – Advanced (lv4>6) Space Magic – Advanced (lv3>6) Herbology – Advanced (lv99) Alchemy (lv88) Blessed Swimmer (lv73) Shadow Magic (lv43>49)Earth Magic (lv43>47)Advanced Hunting (lv34>37)Treasure Sense (lv31>35)