Chapter 40: Deal

Chapter 40: Deal

Chance raised a finger in the air. That said, Im not helping you for free. I want to, but if Im in as much danger as it looks like, I literally cant afford to.

The Old City was silent for several seconds. Chance took that as an invitation to continue.

If I help you, I want something in return. I mean, you did just tell me that the strong cultivators in Gleam could defeat Yamish. I dont need to kill him myself. Its extraordinarily stupid to even try.

Perhaps.

But if you arent lying, I do want to help you. You just cant expect me to do this on my own, can you?

No. I suppose not, the Old City said. What do you seek?

How much do you know about cultivation? Can you make things go faster for me?

My methods of cultivation are different than yours. If your path were a little more common, I might be able to provide information, but I know little about Karma. It is possible for me to instruct you in general powers, but you would not gain anything that a book could not offer you.

What about coin or resources? Those would help me grow stronger.

All things lost in Gleam are mine, but they become one with the city. I absorb them and they become one with me. I cannot give them to you any more than you could give me an arm.

Can you just guide me or something then? Youre really old, so youve got to know some useful information.

We will not be able to readily speak like this until I have broken enough of the seal restraining me. The Old City nodded back at the chains binding it. That is why I have been preparing you to fight the monsters that Yamish created. He has used five of them as lynchpins. My strength is limited until they fall.

I dont suppose this was one of them?

No. Once one falls, Yamish will know. You will have to defeat them all in rapid succession, and you are not yet prepared for that.

Well, damn. Youre completely useless, Chance said, crossing his arms. You literally cant give me anything. On top of that, Im leaving today weaker than when I arrive. You ruined my urumi!

The monster did that.

Dont play semantics with me, Chance said, rolling his eyes. Seriously. I want to help people, but youre asking for a bit much, dont you think? You literally have nothing to offer.

what about a firm handshake?

Absolutely not. Id almost rather get nothing. For some ancient city-spirit, youre pretty lame.

The Old City cleared its throat. Im not ancient. Gleam is ancient. I ah, might have exaggerated my strength a little. Awareness only came to me in recent years.

Chances eyes narrowed. Whats that supposed to mean?

Exactly what it sounds like.

How old are you? Chance asked. Fifty?

The Old City Didnt respond.

Thirty?

Still, there was no response.

Five? Chance exclaimed.

What? No! I am not a child, the Old City said, crossing its arms. I am the embodiment of the great Scholar-City Gleam, unjustly restrained by a foul cultivator. I am twenty.

Youre two years older than me.

Two years makes a huge difference. You wouldnt know until youre twenty.

I was going to excuse your slightly murder-y habits, but not anymore. What the hell is wrong with you? Chance demanded. You lobbed corpses at me! I thought you were some ancient monstrous creature, not a year or two older than me!

Two. Two years. Thats a big difference, the Old City said. And I still eclipse you in power completely.

Except youre bound and completely useless.

Well, yes. Thats the problem.The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.

Chance ran his hands through his hair and groaned. Is there literally anything you can give me?

I suppose a hug is

Then yeah, you are. You still look like you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar. Im surprised you werent able to beat any Soothounds, though. Maybe they really did move.

No, I wasnt looking for Soothounds, Chance said. I mean, I need the money, but that wasnt what I was doing this time.

Bellas gaze darkened. Was it something to do with the man that stopped Vex?

I think it might be in both of our best interests if I dont answer that.

Thats a yes, then, Bella said. Well, just be extra careful. You arent as strong as a Knight yet, and you dont have the artificial advantages I had when I was using Vexs power. At least, I dont think you do.

What advantages even were those? Chance asked, snagging onto the opportunity to change the subject.

The water itself, Bella replied. Vex gave me water that hed infused with his Essence, and I infused myself with it. That also gave him a considerable hold over me, since if I ever tried to remove it, he could have used it to kill me. After your friend got rid of him, I continued using the water for a while since a large portion of my own cultivation efforts had gone into making it powerful.

So when you got rid of it

I lost a considerable portion of the Essence Id gathered over the years, Bella said with a nod. And, ironically enough, that turned out to be what was holding me back from ranking up. I guess you cant truly grow stronger when youre leaning on someone elses strength as a crutch.

Yeah. That means Vex doesnt have any real hold over you anymore, right?

He shouldnt, Bella said with a small nod. And he already got rid of the thing that made me work for him in the first place. He did that a long time ago. Dont think I cant tell that youre changing the subject, though.

Chance cleared his throat again. Yeah, yeah. I cant say this is the exact same scenario as you had with Vex, but I think you should understand more than anyone why I cant bring other people into this.

Bella inclined her head. Her eyes flicked to the bracelet on his wrist. I know. Thats why I havent told Pete. You cant hide it forever, though. People that care will notice things are changing

Youre telling me. Chance laughed, moving his arm slightly to put the bracelet out of view. And hopefully, I wont have to. This is just something Ill be working toward on the side. No big risk at all.

If youre sure, Bella said with a shrug. Just tell me if you need anything. Im still in your debt, you know.

I will, Chance promised. He edged toward the edge of the hallway, hoping to keep her from seeing his shredded shirt. Judging by the bemused expression on her face, it didnt work. Bellas eyes dropped to the pouch at his side.

How many healing pills do you have left? Looks like youve been using them.

Chance sighed. Could you stop being so perceptive? Like, come on. Its not fair. At least let me feel like Im being sneaky.

Its hard to do that when half of your shirt is covered with blood and flapping behind you.

Chance glanced over his shoulder. He cursed. It would have been better if hed just walked out without the thing at least Bella would have just wondered why he was being strange rather than gotten proof of what he was doing. He pulled the shirt off and balled it up with a grumble.

Here, Bella said, disappearing into her room and coming back with a plain cloth shirt. She tossed it to him, and Chance pulled it on. To his surprise, it actually fit him pretty well.

Why do you have a mens shirt?

Yeo took to wandering around half naked in the mornings. He seems to think that itll help him passively absorb Essence, but the only thing its doing is scarring my eyes. I invested in a solution.

Chance let out a chuckle. Thank you, then. Ill be sure to find a replacement shirt to lend you. Speaking of Yeo, where is he?

Still out practicing with Pete. He found a new technique in the library and didnt want to leave until he had it under wraps.

Ah. I should really get on learning some techniques myself, Chance said. He patted the dictionary tucked into his waistband. Ive just got to get through this thing first. Thanks again for the shirt, Bella. Now that Ive got it, I guess Ill just go back to cultivating. Are we taking a job tomorrow?

Might as well. We all need money, and theyre good training, Bella replied. You arent going to be too busy?

Nah. Ill be fine, Chance promised. See you then.

Bella nodded as he headed back to his room. See you then.

***

Yamish let out a slow breath. Black smoke curled around his lips, rising up past his chin and into the shadowed sky above. His eyes slowly slid open and he uncrossed his legs, walking through the air to place his feet on solid ground once more.

Strands of Karma extended from him in every direction. There were thousands upon thousands, all so thin that a spiders web would have looked like a river in comparison. Exactly half shimmered with gold light, while the other half were pitch black.

So eager, Yamish mused. And so fresh. I have not seen enlightenment such as yours in millennia. What a vision indeed. You must be refined.

Around him, the Old City trembled. Two strands of black mist extended from Yamishs hand and slipped into the darkness. They returned, dragging the bodies of two Soothounds. He drew the Essence from them, twisting it into a knot as their bodies shriveled into husks at his feet.

Yamish extended a slender hand, his fingers running along one of the golden strands that extended far into the sky, piercing through Gleams heavens and into the cosmos beyond. The Essence he had gathered turned into a trilling note that echoed along the strand, vanishing into the night.

He let his hand fall and a smile slipped across his face and headed deeper into the Old City, the cracked stone parting like water before him.