Drewells976
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Chapter 293 - Brewing Shadows
🕑 Added 2024-10-27 02:08:03 +0000 UTC-----------
Kai forcefully shut the notebook and stored it in his ring.
Everyone had poured their mind over the plan—Valela included. It was foolish to believe he would catch a detail they all missed, yet his mind couldn’t stop restlessly brooding over it.
It’s as solid as it’s gonna get.
The pervading cold when his feet touched the floorboards of his bedroom welcomed him back to Limgrell. Kai stretched his sore legs, casting a miniature storm to shower before wearing some clothes.
It’ll soon be over.
Whether they located the missing people or failed, Kea agreed staying would be too dangerous.
He had pushed his body and skills to the limit to return before the gates shut for the night. As the mists appeared over the sloping hills around the Lake of Myst, the whispers had started brewing in the back of his mind, more insistent with every stride.
The warnings to stay away had spiked when the guards questioned him at the gate. If they had shown outright hostility, he would have written it off as mistrust for an outsider, but they had let him through with barely a question—someone had taken notice of his absence.
Did some Republic official wake up to do their work? Hmm… no, that sounds wishful even in my thoughts.
He had expected they’d be targeted after Niel was taken, but as people continued going missing, the cult ignored them. Had Hobbes scared them off? Or were the remaining members not worth their time?
We’ll see who smiles at the end.
His sister and friends had holed up in their rented houses to stay safe. He couldn’t hide his trip to Darvell, but only Flynn and Rain knew about his meeting with Valela. There was no time to solve Kea’s mistrust for her. The rest of the group thought he had gone to gather supplies and information at the Hall of Seekers there.
I’ll explain once we’re away from here.
He had studied the wards guarding the town from every angle to figure out how the cultists moved. The enchantments had been laid by a master more skilled than anyone in Limgrell. No one could sneak past them undetected—except for one inevitable flaw.
A knock at the door sent mana surging to his fingertips.
“You up?” Flynn poked his head through the crack of the door, looking reassured to find him there. “We’re ready when you are.”
“Yeah, I’m coming.” Kai grabbed the bandolier with his sword from the chair he used as a cloth rack. They took precautions to avoid direct confrontation, but his plans had the tendency to go awry. He didn’t want to worry about revealing his spatial artifact if he was forced to draw his blade.
Every rule has an exception, right?
“How’re you feeling?” Flynn sat at the dining table, polishing an array of knives before him. One by one, blades disappeared into his sleeves, inner pockets and boots as if he were casting Space Magic. “You looked pretty beat up last night. I can ask Kea to delay another day.”
“It’s just a little soreness. It won’t bother me.” Kai flexed his shoulders to warm the muscles. If the cultists had caught wind of him, they couldn’t afford to stall this cold dump.”
“Ain’t that the truth…” Flynn’s lazy smile turned weary. ”I never thought I’d forget how the sky and sun look…”
“Hmm, I miss the sea…” Rain stood up from the couch to join them. “Not that I want to go back.” He added, rubbing his arm. He wore a loose gray shirt and trousers under a long blue coat and fluffy purple hat. Over the last weeks, he had narrowed down the least amount of clothes he needed to feign the cold bothered him. “Do you know where we are going to visit next?”
Kai bit his cheek. “I… haven’t decided.” Unmasking the cult had been his entire world since Niel went missing, but the perpetual fog hadn’t chipped Rain’s confidence. For him, the cultists were merely an inconvenience in the itinerary. “Maybe we could go to some place warmer?”
“A few friendly folks would be good too,” Flynn said, going to grab a glass of water. From his smooth movements, no one would guess he was carrying an armory worth of blades. “And better food! If I have to cook another bland stew without salt or meat, I’m going to rip my hair out. And the world doesn’t deserve the loss.”
The siren furrowed his pale brows, then nodded. “Yeah, I’d like to see a real squirrel. And a hedgehog!” Suddenly he leafed through a booklet with lifelike pictures of animals and scenery. “Maybe a moon phoenix. They say they’re breathtaking…”
Where did he get a tourist guide?
A smile lifted his gloomy mood as his friends drafted an ever-increasing list of requirements. Yes, this was just another step. “We’ll figure it out once we’re done here. Unless the plan has changed since I left…?”
Last night he dropped dead exhausted after recouping Valela’s intel. It wouldn’t affect their plans aside from drastically reducing the search range.
“It’s still the same,” Flynn snooped over Rain’s shoulder. “Caeli wanted to split into teams and cover more areas, but her idea was sunk.”
“Oh, thank Yatei.” Kai massaged his temples. He understood Caeli‘s worry for her brother, but being close to the finish line was a reason to be more cautious and not rush ahead.
“Yeah,“ Flynn said. “Though it wasn’t an ethereal glowlight that argued her down for two hours.”
“Then Rain also had my deepest appreciation,” Kai chuckled. Ignoring the affronted look, he took out his ticking pocket watch. ”We have to go meet with Kea. Check you’ve gathered what you need. Essentials only. I have a little space in my ring if you need it.”
Regardless of success, they might not see this house again, and running around with full luggage would alert the cultists they were up to something.
“I‘ve got everything I need.” Flynn patted the only visible dagger he carried strapped to his belt. Throwing open the kitchen cabinets, he found a piece of jerky and stuffed it in his mouth. “I’ve also checked the rooms. Rain stored my other stuff in his artifact.”
Uhm… We’re really doing this.
The merry vibe puffed out. No one spoke as they left the stark apartment. The fog had swallowed the street outside. Elemental motes pulsed in Kai’s veins, ready to be unleashed.
If that will even help.
The day of the ambush remained vivid in his mind: how his skills and essence had deserted him. The memory chilled his blood. From Rain‘s knowledge, it could be the result of a portable array or a profession skill. Such powerful effects often came with heavy restrictions unless the difference in grade was huge.
His attacker had been a shadow and blade cloaked in mist, but they definitely hadn’t reached Green. Fending off the assault, Kai had been too focused on not dying to realize his opponent hadn’t shown any skill. Did the nullifying effects not distinguish between friend and foe? Hobbes had scoffed at the idea that his blinks could be affected, so whatever they used wasn’t invincible.
I just got to figure out the exact restrictions.
Truth be told, he’d rather not experience that powerlessness again.
The fence of Kea’s house came out of the fog across the streets. Three figures stood in front of it, their postures tensed before relaxing in recognition.
“We’re ready.” Caeli blurted just as a privacy ward bubbled around them. Her frenetic gaze lingered on Kai. “You’re good to go? We’ve delayed enough for your errand. I could have told you there was no point looking for intel elsewhere.”
“It was worth a try.” Kai shrugged, keeping his tone polite. He would act much worse if his brother had gone missing for two months. How long could someone tensely wait before breaking?
“Then we can move!” Caeli grinned. ”I still think we should split up. Even narrowing down to three locations, it’ll take us days to sweep them. More chances for the culprits to notice us. And we all wanted to avoid that.“
“Caeli. We’ve already discussed this. We are not splitting.” Kea firmly stated. Her posture was steady and alert, though exhaustion painted her face and weary eyes.
“I see…” She pursed her lips. “I’m the only one who wants to save them.”
“Oh, don’t you dare!” Kea growled, spitting flames from her eyes.
Yatei have mercy on us.
Kai stepped between them before the argument degenerated. “Why don’t we take a deep breath?” His selfless action earned him two glares. “There is no point splitting. We don’t need to check the northern ruins and the wooden hills.”
Caeli blinked in a quiet stupor while Kea turned to him like a hound. “What do you mean?”
He raised his hands to appease her. “We‘ve just learned of it.”
“Bel received new intel.“ Rain said, skirting the truth. “She didn’t want to speak until she could confirm it. Multiple adventurer teams have checked the ruins up the north shore. And the hills don’t match the timing of the last abduction. She could still be wrong, but it’s unlikely.”
The mention of the clerk blanketed the street in silence. Finding how the girl fooled them had been a hard blow to swallow; Kai wished to slap the spectacles off her face and then himself for falling for it. If it wasn‘t for Rain, he would have kept playing her jig.
The siren had brokered a deal to get intel in exchange for his discretion. And despite the desire for retribution, Kai knew they would have never managed to narrow down the locations of the missing without her help.
“Do we really trust that viper?” Caeli scoffed and crossed her arms. “She has already tricked us once.”
“Not on her intel. She never led us astray on that.” Mari muttered, reminding everyone of her presence. The hood cloaking her face let her blend in her surroundings. She had become even quieter since Niel disappeared, rarely leaving the house.
“That still doesn’t mean—”
“I’ve also had a hunch since I came back,” Kai said. It was hard to gauge Treasure Sense and Hallowed Intuition—and he might be biased from Valela’s knowledge—still, he wasn’t lying. “I think we are on the right track.”
Caeli bit her lip, they had all witnessed the efficacy of his skills. “Do you want to bet everything on it?”
“It's our best shot.” He held her fiery gaze. This investigation had been built on theories and deduction from the start, they wouldn’t get definitive proof without exposing themselves.
Now I just have to hope Valela was right.
“Okay,” Kea gently patted her friend back. “But if we’re going to do this, I want to talk to Bel.”
Rain nodded before Kai had a chance to argue. “We can go together. I planned to check on her before leaving in case she found something else.”
That’s not a terrible idea…
He had avoided the manipulative clerk for weeks, though he wouldn’t mind giving her one last middle finger. “I’ll come too.”
“Fine.” Calie shifted her attention between them, still irked. “But if we're going to search the lake, I need to change my bags and supplies.”
Hmm, she must be afraid to find her brother dead…
Kai stayed quiet to not restoke conflict. The supplies to move around the lake or across it should be pretty much the same since they were going to camp on land. A waterproof backpack was also a necessity with humid fog.
“Someone should check with the fisherman who promised us a boat,” Mari said, pulling her cloak tighter around her. “I’d rather not find it has a hole when we are in it.”
Caeli let out a sharp sigh. “You’re right. We can ask Aldred if he can lend us his just in that case. I don’t think he’ll mind.”
The middle-aged man was always eager to help any adventurer looking for his daughter.
Reaching a consensus, they moved into their apartment. Caeli and Mari disappeared into their room while Kea discussed the next steps with them. A handful of tedious minutes later, they went back into the cold mist.
“I’ll go with them.” Flynn gestured to the two girls. Moving in groups remained their best defense. There had been no other cases of people attacked in company aside from Niel—the exception that made all the difference.
“Okay, be safe.” Kai watched them disappear down the street. While both teams counted three people, their combat power was quite different.
Hobbes? Can you keep an eye on him?
The furball rested on a windowsill behind them, never going far from him. He agreed to the task with surprising swiftness, perhaps feeling some gratitude for being carried on his back for the better part of two days—or in a gracious mood.
Yeah, I promise we’re almost done here. Then we can go somewhere less boring. And yes. With better food too.
Warm approval flowed through their bond, the impressions growing gradually stronger and clearer. Kai hurried to keep pace with Kea, who marched ahead toward the Hall.
Rain closed the line with him, peering in Hobbes' direction through the dense fog.
No time better like the present.
“Uh,” Kai scratched his ear. “I… wanted to thank you for, well… everything. We couldn’t have gotten here without you. And you didn’t owe us— me anything.”
Rain tilted his head, the usual serenity marred with confusion. ”You don’t need to mention it.” His pointy smile lit his face. “We’re friends, right?“
“Yes. But not every friend goes that far,” He let his gaze wander along the paved streets of the center. ”And I don’t take it for granted.”
“Then it means we’re best friends,” Rain beamed, a glimmer of amusement flashing in his eyes. “And I honestly didn’t do much. It was fun.”
Okay…
The siren might be the only person who could call a month-long stay in a creepy town shrouded in mist and hunted by cultists fun. Kai decided he wasn’t going to question it. Maybe supernatural creatures of the deep ocean worked by different rules.
“Hey, we’re here,” Kea announced over her shoulder.
The crumbling facade of the Hall emerged from the mist. Kai was surprised when the heavy door swung open without a metallic screech. Someone had finally oiled the hinges.
The vast Hall inside was silent, letting their boots echo on the hardwood floor. No adventures mingled around the free tables: the sight had become almost commonplace in the last weeks. Stranger yet, the desk where Belice sat to observe seekers coming and going was vacant.
“Do you know if it was her day off?” Kai asked, his words uncomfortably loud in the vast emptiness.
Rain shook his head, wrinkling his nose. “She didn’t mention it.”
“A clerk always mans the front counter. Or at least they would leave a sign.” Kea advanced toward the polished desk.
“Wait! Something is off.” Kai hastened after her but his sister didn’t slow. There was no other human in the Hall, a stack of papers lay scattered over the desk, nothing that resembled a sign. A single blotch of red ink marred the sheet on top.
Kea froze a step from the desk, a hand rising to cover her mouth.
“What— Shit.” Kai stood rooted beside her.
The coppery smell wafted over him at once. Looking past the counter, Belice’s body lay crumpled beneath her chair. Chestnut hair spread messily over her face, twisted in pain and shock. Her listless eyes stared at the ceiling. A black dagger stabbed to the hilt in her heart, drenching her pink blouse in dark blood.
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A/N: Thus it begins.
Comments
Conrad Manaugh
Rip
John Lim
I’ve been enjoying this story and have finally caught up again. I look forward to more though as has been said in the past few chapters the time skip was questionable in the extreme but I believe in the quality of your work. I’m excited to see how the cult are involved in the next arcs. I’ve also been very much enjoying rain and all the perspective he brings.
Kyfe
There was a time skip, so yeah, you're literally missing context, lol. Hopefully we learn what it was through conversation or flashback or something.
Mina She
Yah I guess I thought that was always the plan especially when Belice got involved that this was always going to be too big for Kai and friends and more powerful people were going to get involved and the best they could hope for was just to rescue some people and discover some information. In the meantime we would have an adventuring side arc or something.
Mina She
💯
Mina She
Yah very true. Things were sort of coming together before the timeskip. To be honest the draw to the story is definitely not the action and fighting but the journey which is what has been skipped
Gopard
Yeah everything before the timeskip were minor annoyances that you could explain in the story. The problem was that a the Cult was too strong to be a good adversary for the group at this juncture I feel and that consequently this time skip was necessary to avoid situations where they really just shouldn't succeed? (This is also why I think the plot felt it was dragging so much BC realistically they just couldn't really do anything against this kind of powerful organisation.)
Gabriel Medeiros
I don't mind that Kai behaves so irrationally when it comes to Kea. I think it's ok for readers to be annoyed at things MC does. I do agree that as readers we were presented a mystery, but as readers don't have much clue as to how the team solved that mystery. The time skip doesn't help in that regard. And all of that makes the discovery seem unearned and the upcoming battle rushed. This despite the fact I thought the plot was dragging, precisely because the team was not making enough progress beforehand.
Gopard
Yeah I think that connects to the time skip... As I said in an earlier chapter to reads a little bit like the author wrote himself into a corner where he didn't have or noticed his original idea to "have the group resolve the investigation" was either just unrealistic or waaayyyy to long and then decided to skip over the meat of this arc staying very vague about what actually happened
Gopard
I agree honestly I would moreso say it's "bad compared to the rest of the story" in my opinion which has me disappointed... The story so far actually did a great job tying up those small or big but really interesting "side-plots" and for this arc it feels like we time skipped even over the "main-plotline". I mean as a long time reader and from the tone of this story so far it wasn't ever really in doubt that the group would find Kea still alive so that while interesting wasn't "THE BIG HOOK" for the Arc. Which leaves investigating a scary ass evil cult as a potentially great plotline. But then it was all more about "Kai still can't say no to his sister and so he needs to commit to this dimmed mission". But even that would have been fine I think if we got a good pay off after the reveal about Belice and then the Neil kidnapping chapter. Become damn if that wasn't superbly written to catch us readers interest "Holy shit this is a huge chance they may actually get them? And then oh they got Neil? Did Kai see something Hobbes hurt one of them can they use that maybe?" And that THIS tension was then time skipped over is the one decision in this arc I would say is objectively Bad. Everything else is flavour and cam be up for debate of you're bothered by the MC being "forced into conflicts" or with "kind of really stupid decisions by characters" and it's absolutely the authors perogative to decide those and he used that well until the timeskip. :)
Mina She
I really agree with your points on this arc though I still think it’s not that bad. There is a lot of potential, it just needs a lot of work. Like you pointed out a better start less running to save Kea, considering their history that was probably the first eye roll. Just a few tweaks with the conversation with Valeria, even a casual you know when I helped you and you agreed to kind of work for me. There are people from the archipelago in trouble can you help. Kea can be added or not though I think she really didn’t add anything to this. Another missed opportunity is him actually working on his skills, I was just rereading some earlier chapters. I had forgotten that even class skills had the thresholds and you can choose to specialize that could have been interesting. For some reason I feel like the author is really trying to skip over “ favored son of the isles” . There was such a big deal of him later changing his profession but now we know nothing about it. Another thing Rain , another missed opportunity, was really excited when Kai decided to learn from him instead of being jealous. Kai really needs to fix his build after the Sanctuary and he has someone better trained than most. A couple of chapters of that between everything wouldn’t have been bad. There is also the book with Elijah’s name, what happed to that plot? Then of course the investigation was really excited when I found out about Belice being part of the house of whispers, a lot of interesting things are going on it’s just none are being written about for some reason which is frustrating and once you get invested in something, the story moves to something else.
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter! Yeah while very interesting I wish the arc just got it over with by now... We learn essentially nothing on the "how did they figure all that out?" this final battle was pretty much clearly foreshadowed anyhow so like from the moment off the time skip this feels a lot like filler which would much better have been used actually showing us the investigation instead of talking about how "hard and difficult everything was" without actually saying anything concret "they made a deal with belice" Seriously? That's as far as I can see the ONLY actual specific fact on "what actually happened during the time skip". Since the arc will conclude with the battle anyhow (I hope!!! Even the characters themselves have said the want to stop this "quest" already xD) I now kind of wish we get that quickly and epically to have a good closure for the arc. One of the huge problems I also noticed is the lack of us readers (or maybe thats more specific to me) having oppertunities to really get invested in this "Quest" KAI always felt much more like "Its incredibly and totally idiotic and suicidal to stay here and do this and I'm only doing it because Kea is too stubborn to leave" this isn't a great start to get readers invested into an Arc... And its followed up with the fact that the person they were looking for (Caiden) Just is completely unknown to us... hard to get invested when we never ever saw a single POV of the character or with him in it. Then right as I suddenly got a very very personal stake in this Arc when NEIL got abducted the one we got to know who talked to Valela who was with Kai I thought "Wow this happened right in front of Kai's nose is he gonna get some clues from that maybe and they can get Neil back?!" we get a time skip right till basically the "go suit up before we fight the villain phase" if that comparison makes sense? :) Hope this is not too annoying me writing these long ass comments under I think now 3 or 4 chappies in a row? I can't help myself for stories I really like^^
Jake Swartz
This chapter confuses me. I keep reading it and I just feel like I’m missing some context as to what’s going on.
A B
Edit suggestion: recouping Valela’s intel -> reviewing Valela’s intel
Trevayne
Thanks for the update. I bet Belice wishes everything went without a hitch or bloodshed too. "Her listless eyes stared at the ceiling. A black dagger stabbed to the hilt in her heart, drenching her pink blouse in dark blood." Pretty sure that listless should be lifeless, since listless suggests the person is alive.
Mina She
Tftc, I am not sure about all the secrecy when it comes to what’s going though. There is little information being said about what was discovered, it just makes it seem like for the past month Kai and team haven’t been doing anything. It’s more we are being told about what happened than being shown .
Jon
So good! Can't wait for the next chapter.
Rylie Harris
tftc
FeelingsandFoibles
Thanks for the chapter!
FeelingsandFoibles
Oh shhhiiiittttttt
