Chapter 105: The Truth of Gleam

Chapter 105: The Truth of Gleam

They descended the mountain, finding nothing waiting for them on the way down. Despite all the commotion that the crystal had caused, the mountain was completely empty. Chance and Bella didnt question their good luck and kept a steady pace. Day stretched on and turned to night, casting the world in a silver glow.

Should we try to camp for the night? Chance asked as they walked. I think we could probably just push on and reach the transport portal.

Thats probably the best move, Bella said. "I dont think time is our friend, and well have time to rest once we get out of here. I did also just get to sit around cultivating for quite some time, so Im refreshed. Youre the one that was awake. Are you going to be okay?

Yeah, I wont have any problems. Ive been using a lot of Essence to keep my third eye open and scanning for Karmic threads, though. If we get into a big fight, I might not be quite as useful as I normally am.

Bella chewed her lower lip. Okay. Its still better to know if weve got enemies coming. Ill make up the slack, and Ocie can help too.

A rock in front of them trembled. Bella drew for her Essence, then let her hands drop.

Ocie also needs a better way to communicate than shaking rocks around.The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.

Well work on it, Chance promised, hiding a smile.

The shadows stretched longer, keeping them company as they walked. In the distance, Chance could hear the sounds of combat and muted blasts of Essence. He occasionally saw a flash light up the sky, but none of the combat seemed to be happening near them.

Without any interruptions, he and Bella made good time. By the time the moon was heading back toward its resting spot beneath the horizon and the suns rays had just barely started to begin turning the sky a muted purplish orange, they had started up the hills toward the ruins surrounding the exit portal.

Channce and Bella slowed as they passed through them, their guards raised. They clearly hadnt been the first ones to the ruins. The signs of battle littered the ground and walls. Chance brushed a hand across a large, scorched boulder. He rubbed the ash between his fingers.

Probably not worth checking the area out for anything worth taking, Chance said. We should just get out of here. Im pretty sure anything wed actually want would be long gone.

Agreed, Bella said, keeping her voice low so it wouldnt echo through the ruins. I can see the pillar of light for the exit portal, so were close. If theres somebody waiting to ambush us, theyll either be right at the portal or pretty close to it.

Chance nodded. Im watching for Karmic threads. Nothing so far. Im honestly kind of surprised. I would have thought

He froze, jerking a hand up to grab Bellas shoulder as a flicker of a glowing thread caught his eye. It was so thin that he barely noticed it, but now that his eyes were on it, he could just barely make out some of the other threads between the stone walls of the ruin.

Found one, Chance whispered. Could be more. Hard to tell because of all the walls in the way.

Well, cant say we werent expecting it, Bella said. Whats the strategy? We need them to activate the portal.

Ask politely? Chance offered.

Bella glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes. Seriously?

Maybe theyll be nice. We might need to do a bit of coercing, though. Anyone waiting around at the exit probably isnt too strong, right? The strong people would be out hunting.

Bella inclined her head slightly. Thats a fair point. But anyone waiting around probably also isnt going to be the friendliest of sorts.

Thats where the persuasion comes in, Chance said, his smile growing a few degrees colder. Ocie, want to help?

Rubble rose up from the ground, pulling away from the cracked ruins and forming into Ocies craggy form. Stone melted together, forming into a surprisingly accurate golem Ocie was getting a lot better at making herself look humanoid. It didnt even have any glaring issues this time, though her eyes were still spaced much too far apart and her nose was at an angle that Chance had never seen a nose take.

Do you want me to kill them? Ocie asked.

No, Chance said quickly. Not unless we have to. I dont want to kill when we can avoid it. Besdies, we need someone to activate the exit portal.

Keep them alive, then, Ocie said. Understood. I will engage.

Your friend told me youd be coming. Jade pushed herself out of the chair and Chance tensed, but she didnt go for the sword. What kind of company do you keep, Chance?

Lin hes his own person, Chance said. I dont keep his company. I dont think he gives people much of a choice when he decides to do something, actually. You know, now that I think about it, Ive been running into a lot of people like that recently. Kind of annoying.

What are you talking about? Jade asked. Chance opened his mouth and she shook her head. Never mind. It doesnt matter.

I dont suppose youd be willing to talk things out? Chance asked. The Shikari are after Bella and me for crimes we didnt commit. Well, we kind of did. They attacked us first, though.

Chance asked the question more out of obligation than actually expecting it to go anywhere. Hed seen Jades face in the vision within Lins Karmic threads. Shed watched Lin brutalize her mentor. If she hadnt thought he was a monster then, there was almost no chance that

Im standing here, arent I? Jade asked.

Chance blinked. What?

Im telling you to talk. Jade crossed her arms. Lin told me youd probably end up coming this way, and I want answers. He said you could give them to me.

Chance stared at her in disbelief. You mean talking it out is actually going to work for once?

Why do you sound so surprised?

Well, it usually ends with someone trying to kill me, Chance replied, rubbing his chin. You planning to do that?

Depends on how the talk goes.

Well, thats pretty reasonable. Bella, you want to come out? Ocie as well. We might as well all sit down.

The rock behind Jade rippled and Ocie stepped out. Jade leapt back, going for her sword, but Ocie just raised several chairs from the ground and sat down in one or rather, on top of one. The back of the chair intersected perfectly with her body.

Bella stepped out from behind the house, her skin crystalline. She sent a suspicious look at Jade.

Are you sure about this, Chance? Shes a Shikari.

If shes willing to talk, we might as well, Chance said. He glanced back at the portal. Although this does mean we cant exactly use her for the plan.

We can just wait for someone else to show up, Ocie said. I will keep watch. You three can talk.

Ocie sank into the ground and vanished, taking her chair with her. Jade stared at the ground, then swallowed heavily.

What was that?

Better keep the questions more to the topic at hand, Chance said, walking up to one of the chairs. He sat down. Jade considered the chair beside her for a moment, then slowly lowered herself into it. Bella was the last to sit, and she still didnt make any moves to release her Essence.

Chance kept his own at hand, though he let it pull back a little so it wasnt quite so apparent.

Okay, Chance said. What do you want to know?

The Shikari. I want to know why theyre after you, Jade said, clenching her fists. Somethings going on, and I want to know what. Theyre acting strange.

Its a pretty long story. Chance rubbed his chin. To his surprise, it was Bella that stepped in.

Its because of a cultivator by the name of Vex. If youre willing to speak, then well let you know whats actually happening in Gleam.