Book 4: Chapter 44: A Brewing Storm II
The old man opened his mouth but then hesitated. How close were you with the fighters of your group? he asked.
Zeke frowned. From this alone, he could pretty much guess the identity of the second traitor. Ishaan?
The old man nodded with a grim expression.
There was nobody to stop him? Zeke asked.
The old man sighed. Its even worse than that, he explained solemnly. After he was done with the fighters, he snuck into the main building and attacked even more people.
Zeke steeled himself. Are they all dead? he asked. Fortunately, he had bought Ashen Wolf before tragedy struck, but there were still Ripper and the others.
No, the old man said. Zekes relief was short-lived, however, as he immediately went on, But it would almost be better if they were.
Zekes face hardened at those words. His voice held a dangerous edge. What do you mean by that?
Palms raised placatingly, the old man said, Its not what you think, and I dont say this because I look down on them, either.
Zeke calmed down. What happened to them? he asked.
The old man averted his eyes. Do you know what a Marrow-Shackle is?
[Notice]
The Marrow-Shackle is a short-range projectile weapon developed by the dwarfs. The technology was designed to counteract Life Mages. It works by embedding tiny Voidiron splinters into the bone marrow of its target, interrupting the flow of Mana. The wounds caused by these weapons cannot be healed.
I know about it, Zeke nodded grimly. What is their condition?
Again, the old man sighed. Most cant even walk, and none of them can fight anymore. For the Chimeroi, this might have been an even crueler fate than to kill them outright.
This time, Zeke kept his cool. Why is that?
The old man looked at Zeke with a hint of reproach. Surely you dont think that the Master will keep a bunch of useless slaves around to feed and care for until they die of old age?
Zeke met the old mans gaze calmly. What then? Is he going to cast them out? Kill them?
Their gazes clashed. The old man was the first to avert his eyes, shaking his head. No decision has been reached so far. And that isnt likely to change anytime soon, either.
Zeke raised his brows. In his opinion, the master of the Lions Den was a decisive man. Why?
The old mans eyes glazed over for a moment. You are right. Normally, he wouldnt do that. Zeke felt a palpable sadness radiating off him. His gaze then traveled to Leo, searching for an explanation.
Leo didnt disappoint. Do you remember how we said that Ishaan snuck into the main house?
Zeke nodded slowly, a bad premonition creeping up on him.
He didnt only attack the slaves, but some of the Mages too, Leo explained. Among them
Immediately, Zeke understood. Sunil, he said softly.
Leo nodded. He is alive, but
Zeke met Leos gaze and gave him a curt nod. Not only did Zeke consider Sunil a friend, but he knew firsthand how much Ravi cared about his son. Now, it all made sense. If Ravi's son had been among the victims in addition to the familial bonds, Sunil was also his only descendant and heir. If the young man was crippled, then it was as good as ending his line.
How is he holding up?
He is in and out of consciousness, the old man said. He tries to put on a brave facade, but it breaks my heart to see him so.
Zeke grimaced. The last time he had seen Sunil, he had been sporting his trademark carefree smile. The young Mage surely hadnt deserved such a fate. And Ravi?
The old man shook his head. Not good, he said. He hasnt left his sons side since this happened, and he refuses to speak to anybody. He doesnt even seem to be interested in revenge. I fear I fear his spirit has been broken.
Zeke gnashed his teeth in both anger and frustration. He had counted on the Lions Den for support, especially after learning about what had happened. However, it now seemed as if he couldnt depend on them.
Leo put his hand on Zekes shoulder and looked at him with a warm smile. Can you walk?
After a moments hesitation, Zeke forced some strength into his legs and got out of bed. Even though he was a little wobbly, a short walk shouldnt be a problem. He nodded to his brother.
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I can take you to see them if you want, Leo offered.
Zeke agreed readily, but inwardly, he felt ashamed. Leo must have misunderstood his previous expression as worry for the wounded fighters. In truth, he had merely been frustrated that his plans had been ruined.
Zeke bade farewell to the old man and followed Leo down the corridor.
The building they were in was wholly different from anything he had seen before in Korrovan. Instead of the lavish architecture and luxurious decorations, everything here seemed to be spartan in nature. Even the floor and walls looked to be mostly primitive, carved out of yellow stone.
Do you have a plan? Leo asked as soon as they were out of sight.
Zeke sighed. Not anymore. I expected the Lions Den to be eager for revenge, but with Ravi in such a state.
Leo nodded and didnt say anything else, silently guiding the way. They descended thrice before coming to a halt in front of what looked to be a storage cellar of some kind. Leo hesitated for a moment, a melancholic look on his face.
Whats the matter? Zeke asked, noticing his brother's odd behavior.
Leo gave him a crooked smile. You better brace yourself. Its not a pleasant experience. Immediately after saying that, Leo entered the room.
Zeke, not knowing what his brother meant, followed right after. However, the moment he stepped past the door, he felt it. The atmosphere in the room was so oppressively gloomy that it was almost a physical thing.
There were some crates and shelves on one side of the room, forming a big pile. This place must have originally been a storage cellar. However, that wasnt the case anymore. Most of the space was now occupied by rows upon rows of mattresses.
Zeke approached the closest bed. There, he found a young man who looked almost fully human, aside from the bit of fur around his neck and shoulders. He was one of Ishaans fighters.
On his first day here, he had fought against the young man several times before eventually beating him. From this fact alone, it was clear that the Chimeroi was not very strong. Zeke had not been using any Magic, after all. However, Zeke remembered him vividly, not for his strength but for what had happened after the fight.
Instead of getting dismayed, the young man had looked at him with a gaze filled with fighting spirit. He had even vowed not to lose next time. Zeke hadnt taken the challenge to heart. Even so, those eyes had been so full of life and vitality that the scene was hard to forget.
Zeke looked down at the figure in front of him. Even though he had been standing right in front of his bed, the young man didnt acknowledge his presence in any way. He was lying in bed without moving, staring at the ceiling with open yet sightless eyes. There was no fire in his gaze anymore, no vitality, no life. If not for the slight rising and falling of his chest, Zeke would have taken him for a corpse.
You are back already? somebody said.
Zeke turned his head, recognizing that voice. It was Kaaria, the hybridian who had guided him on his first day. However, she had not been talking to him. Instead, she had stopped in front of Leo, staring at him with a tense expression.
Zeke was intrigued. From the familiarity of her tone, it seemed as if Leo came here quite often. However, Kaaria didnt seem entirely happy about that.
As if to prove that point, Leo was acting flustered. He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. No, no, miss Kaaria, dont misunderstand. I am merely guiding a colleague today.
It was at this moment that she noticed Zeke standing there. Immediately, Kaarias body stiffened, and she hastily bent her waist. Her bow was so deep that her long hair touched the floor. W-welcome, Master Blood Dragon.
Zeke sighed. Hello Kaaria, have you been well?
Yes, Master. I have been well. Thank you for asking, she said without raising her head.
Leo lifted a brow. You two know each other?
Zeke nodded. She guided me on the first day.
Leo frowned and crouched down next to the bowing woman and poked her face from the side. Why are you treating him so respectfully when you are so casual with me?
Keo is Keo, and Blood Dragon is Blood Dragon. Figure the rest out for yourself, Kaaria scolded in a hushed tone.
In any other situation, Zeke might have smiled. His brother really had a knack for putting people at ease. Somehow, she was talking comfortably with his brother and even berating him openly. This was far from normal for a slave.
Kaaria slowly stood back up while keeping an eye on Zekes expression. After noticing his mood, she spoke hesitantly, May I ask what you have come here for, young Master?
I wanted to see how my comrades were fairing, Zeke said as he gestured at the beds all around.
Kaaria quickly hid the frown that had emerged on her face. However, Zeke had still caught it. Is there a problem with my request?
No, young master, she said. Is there anyone in specific you would like to visit?
Zeke remained silent. There was indeed somebody he wanted to visit. However, he was afraid of what he might hear when asking about her. After a momentary pause, he still spoke her name. Ripper.
Kaaria took out a small clipboard hanging at her belt. Her lips moved silently as she went through the names one by one. Zekes heart clenched as he watched her finger move down the list without coming to a halt. Was she dead, after all?
However, he didnt have to suffer for long.
[Notice]
Dont worry, Host. She is here.
Zeke let out the breath he had been holding. Thankfully, the worst hadnt happened. Just as Akasha had said, Kaaria found her name on the third page. She signaled for Zeke to follow before giving Leo a warning glare.
After walking a few steps, he couldnt suppress his curiosity anymore. Mr. Keo doesnt seem to be welcome?
Kaaria sighed. Not by my will.
Then who?
Karria hesitated for a moment before an even deeper sigh escaped her lips. The patients
What? Zeke exclaimed. He had expected some nefarious plot, not this. Do they dislike him that much?
Its not that they dislike him. It's just hard for them to talk to somebody like him.
Somebody like him? Zeke asked.
Mr. Keo is a very optimistic person, she explained. However, sometimes hope can be an eyesore to those who have none.
Zeke fell silent, remembering the eyes of the young man he had seen earlier. He didnt ask anything else and quietly followed behind Karria. After passing by at least two dozen patients, she came to a halt. After a nod toward the bed, Karria left.
Zeke carefully approached the bed, inspecting the figure lying there. Her hair was long and wild, a tangled mess of deep ebony locks. Even now, her bare upper body displayed an impressive set of corded muscles. This was the woman he remembered if not for a single fact. Her emerald eyes were vacant and unfocused. It was an expression he had never seen on the proud warrior. The sight was so alien that he almost didnt believe this was the person he knew.
For a while, he just stood there, hesitating on what to do. Would his visit bother her? However, he soon dismissed that thought. He was already here, and it was too late for second thoughts.
Zeke sat down on the floor next to the mattress and leaned his back against the wall. Ripper didnt react, but he hadnt expected her to in the first place. However, what was he supposed to say? It somehow felt like a simple hello wouldnt cut it. Even worse was the fact that the longer he waited, the more awkward he felt.
This couldnt go on. Before the situation got even worse, Zeke just blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
You look like shit.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l