Elydes

Chapter 300 - The Silver Lining

The splitting headache made Kai wish he could slip back into nothingness. It felt as if his brain had been squeezed and pounded, worse than any skill strain or mana exhaustion he had experienced before. Yet, some stubborn instinct dragged him toward wakefulness.

Lucidity brought a new wave of pain. Everything hurt. From his head to his feet—probably his toes and ears too, if he could feel them. His body seemed wrapped in a hazy shroud as if his flesh and bone had been beaten to numbness.

Kai squeezed his eyes, unsure if they were open or closed. All he could see was darkness. Attempting to rub his face, his arm was held firmly above his head. He pulled harder, spiking the pain in his wrists.

What… Happened… Where am… I?

Something was deeply wrong. If only his head would stop throbbing enough to stitch his thoughts together…

Clenching his jaw, Kai delved into his muddled memories. It felt like moving a boulder just by blowing, but with each attempt, his mind became a little sharper, and the pain receded.

His body hung from his arms, compressing his chest and making it hard to breathe. From the hard metal edges that dug into his wrists, he was tied with steel cuffs.

Dammit.

Shit. How…

As he regained control of his body, memories flooded back: the islands amidst the misty waters, the passage hidden in the meadow, the damp tunnels, and the betrayal. Searing rage boiled his blood, banishing the sluggish torpor.

That bitch! I’m going to slit her fucking throat.

While exact details remained fuzzy, he remembered enough. Caeli and her fuck-head brother lured them into a trap. When the array in the cell buzzed to life, it was already over. Mana drained from his veins and his skills turned unresponsive, similar to when he confronted the cultists during Niel’s kidnapping.

Disoriented and unable to cast spells, he had struggled to stand, let alone fight back. No living being could survive without mana—draining it was equivalent to siphoning their life away. His recollection of the fight was fuzzy. Masked men in black had swarmed the room, he had punched and clawed till darkness swallowed him.

From the stabbing pain each time he breathed, one of his ribs might be cracked. Those assholes hadn’t been gentle when they pummeled him to the ground, though at least he couldn’t feel any broken bones.

I should have realized something was off when they found the underground door unguarded.

His anger overrode the pain. In hindsight, the signs seemed so blatant. Caeli rushed them to check island after island till they randomly ran into the cultists opening a secret passage. Despite the strange coincidence, Kai thought his Luck was finally paying off.

Cursed gods, Virya told me a hundred times that Luck isn’t reliable. I played myself.

The descent underground had been even more convenient, but instead of stopping to reconsider, he had chased after Kea. Like afucking moron. So now he was chained in an underground cell by a cult of bloodthirsty madmen, unable to help even himself, much less his sister.

As the gravity of his predicament sank in, panic threatened to submerge his mind. Brushing a gruesome death was hardly new, but having his friends and family with him was a first. A tug confirmed that the shackles suppressed his mana and skills. He was in deep shit, and this time there was no one to help him out.

Valela knew of their plans, but even if she begged the Republic to investigate, the chances they’d find the hideout were slim. While the chances of getting rescued before the cultists used them for their unhinged purposes were akin to zero. The Stygian Circle didn’t kidnap people for pets and cuddles.

It’s not over till I’m dead. Time for my brain to pay rent.

Reining in his frantic worries, Kai slowed his breathing and analyzed the situation. As his senses sharpened, a faint glow came from beyond the metal door, reflecting on the bars of their cells. On his right, Kea hung limply against the rough stone wall, her breaths barely audible despite the proximity.

Thank Yatei, she’s alive.

Kai tried to extend Mana Observer to check her condition but was starkly rebuffed by his cuffs. Not being able to access his skill or mana was like losing a limb—an intrinsic part of him missing.

Inhale. Exhale. Keep calm. It’s not the first time this has happened. There is always a flaw to exploit.

He just had to analyze the enchantments in a runic alphabet he barely understood while in semi-complete darkness—no big deal. The chains wedged above his head didn’t help the examination. Several forceful tugs only served to scrape his wrists raw. There wasn’t the slightest give to hope brute strength would be the solution.

Dammit. If I can’t…

He squinted to make out Rain’s figure chained at the left end of the cell. Dark lines of blood crusted his temples down to his chin, his clothes were a patchwork of rips and blotches, and he sported an additional shackle around his neck.

When the treacherous siblings sprung their trap, he alone managed to put up some kind of resistance. Kai distinctly remembered the crunch when Rain threw a cultist back like a ragdoll, trying to reach the door. From his state, each punch had been repaid twice.

Merciful spirits… He can’t… No, they wouldn’t hang up a corpse.

Kai prayed to whatever entity was willing to listen. If Rain hadn’t died in the clash, his Constitution should pull him through, though he would offer no help in the meantime.

I must find a way out of here.

Being the only one awake increased his worry. “Kea…” Kai stretched the chains to nudge his sister with his knee. “Kea, are you—”

The scraping of boots froze his tongue. Two sets of heavy steps moved in their direction. Kai hung his head limply, forgetting to even breathe. It was too soon. He needed more time to come up with a plan.

Still as a corpse, the dull thuds moved closer before waning down the corridor; the guards strode past him without stopping.

Kai slumped in his shackles, Strength fleeing his limbs.

I’ve got time. They’re not here for me…

Seconds later, an odious creaking cut his relief short. The guards came back, a muffled shuffling added to their steps. Eyelids closed, Kai recognized the sound of a body being dragged.

“No, no, nonono… please, not again…” A faint sobbing left little doubts.

The body was alive, Kai didn’t know if he should be happy or scared. Whatever those psychos did here, he’d rather leave his curiosity unsatisfied. The cultists could be back for him and his sister at any moment, and he’d be powerless to stop them.

Think! What can I do? What are my options?

Chained without mana and skills—very few. His raw attributes and grade were meaningless in such a state. Favor was the only thing that might help him, and if his current predicament were anything to go for, it was foolish to rely on it.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Hmm… Right, my ring!

Rubbing his numb and bleeding hands, he smiled, feeling the metal band still on his finger.

Thank Yatei I never showed them.

Fiddling with the smooth surface soothed his panic, though he couldn’t access the wealth of goods in his spatial storage without mana. Worse, he had been wearing his wand and serpent sword when he got captured, which meant they were in the cultists’ hands.

No matter where he looked, there wasn’t the tiniest foothold to leverage. If he had time, he might locate a flaw in the suppressing enchantments to break free. But even in ideal conditions, deciphering the jagged runes would require days, when he didn’t know if they had hours.

Basically, I’m utterly fucked… Kai tried to hunch his shoulders, but the chains denied him even that relief. No, there must be a way. Think clearly.

If he couldn’t find a solution himself, he’d have to look to others for it. Rain would be the most promising candidate if he weren’t gravely injured. “Hey, wake up please,” Kai whispered as loudly as he dared, but after a minute of trying, there wasn’t the slightest sign of stirring in him.

Dammit.

His attempts to nudge Kea awake proved equally fruitless. Mari was chained on his other side, her face wan even in the dim light. She had already been wounded before being captured. It was nice to know that not everyone in the group was a traitor, but she would be no help anyway.

Hmm… Where is Flynn?

In the dark, he had assumed they’d all be there. Kai squinted at the corners of the cell, Flynn’s familiar figure was noticeably absent despite the metal rings to secure two more prisoners to the stone wall.

Terror gripped his guts.

Did they already take him? or is he dead? Wait…

Digging through his foggy mind, Kai remembered seeing Mari and Rain follow him into the trap, but not Flynn. His friend had stayed back, wary of the strangeness of the situation.

Did he escape? He was always good at sneaking…

The discovery lightened his mood, though Kai contained his optimism. Even if Flynn managed to evade the trap and the cultists, he’d still be stuck underground in the middle of a mana zone. If Luck was on their side, he might last till Valela sent for help; at least that way, someone would know what happened here.

Please, stay hidden.

Kai discarded any fantasy of rescue. The cultists would prepare in case Flynn came for his companions. The risk was too high compared to the chances of success.

So I’m back to the start without a shred of an idea. Fuck me and those treacherous shits!

He’d curse aloud if not for fear of attracting his jailers. After his years of strenuous efforts, a careless mistake made everything pointless. He was outmatched. Perhaps an opportunity would present itself when they came for him, but counting on someone else’s mistake was a flimsy plan with slim chances of success.

Out of hope and ideas, the despair he meticulously walled in the corners of his mind came flooding in. Kai groaned and jerked the shackles, ignoring his injuries. Warm blood wet his hands—the pain was just an afterthought. This time even the gods of the archipelago were too far to hear his prayers. He was alone. There was no one else who could…

Hmm…

His gaze snapped over the humid cell. Aside from Flynn, another figure was noticeably missing. Closing his eyes to focus on his inner self, he reached for the familiar bond. He fumbled for a few seconds before grasping it. If the magical tether was usually like a shining star in his consciousness, it now looked like a dim bulb behind a matte pane.

Hobbes?

Kai forced his thoughts through the bond, stubbornly barreling through the obstruction.

Hobbes? Are you okay? Can you hear me? Please, I regret every time I cursed your snobby fur. I’ll buy you whatever snack you want and carry you around. Just answer me!

Minutes passed slowly, his pleas grew more frantic and creative at the enduring silence. Were his messages not coming through? He scraped his mind raw, uncaring of the mounting migraine, without receiving the slightest peep in response.

Just as he was about to give up, an amicable grumpy presence bloomed in his mind.

Hobbes…? I can finally reach you! Where are you? Are you safe?

A deluge of questions streamed from his thoughts, only stopped by the wave of exasperation his familiar sent back. Hobbes jumped in with the tales of his mighty exploits.

The foolish cultists danced between the claws of his paw. Flynn was safe and sound too.

Thank you, Hobbes. If you weren’t there… I… You did well.

He struggled to articulate his budding elation when his familiar reciprocated with a cascade of inquiries. Faced with his demanding overlord, Kai explained their circumstances; Hobbes’ reproach rang like the dressing down of an exasperated parent.

I’m fine… We’re fine… You don’t need to worry.

Alone in the dark cell, Kai lowered his gaze in embarrassment. Images and intentions flowed through the bond with disorienting vibrancy.

No, don’t come! We’re not seriously hurt. Kai snapped, reading Hobbes’ intentions. His familiar was their best shot at freedom, he couldn’t risk him getting caught in some unknown array or noticed by the guards.

Hobbes’ displeasure rang across the bond. He did not think much of the cultists’ crude tricks. Images of his claws ripping steel and stone flashed along the bond, held back by a thin thread of hesitation.

Cocky furball. Kai narrowly held back the thought.

Knowing his familiar could prance into the humid cell at any moment, Kai scrambled to convince him to take a more cautious approach. Given Hobbes’ prideful nature, any mention of danger was a challenge to show his superior skills; he needed a better alternative to convince him.

Kai bit his cheek, his eyes wandering over the unconscious figures of his companions to the enchanted metal bars blocking the exit. Only a glimmer of light seeped from the outer passage, illuminating the jagged patterns of the runes—spirits knew what those arrays did.

Hmm… Is that…

He leaned forward as far as his chains allowed, squinting at a slit in the metal door: a keyhole. Picking a magical lock was equivalent to breaking the enchantment, but a physical mechanism opened more possibilities. Hope jolted his senses awake. He crossed his hands above his head and brushed the metal bands of his shackles.

Yes!

His fingers traced a similar rent. Keys were easier to use with no mana proficiency; the jailers probably kept a pair nearby. Hobbes was somewhat puzzled at his discoveries, though he quickly grasped the concept once Kai shared more images of what he needed.

The keys should look something like this.

After a few seconds of deliberation, Hobbes grumpily agreed to the plan and shut the connection.

Wait! Show me what you are seeing. Don’t…

His thoughts slammed against the invisible pane clouding their bond—apparently, it took two minds to bypass the shackles. Frustrated, Kai tried to force his way through only to be assaulted by a wave of dizziness. He slumped against the cold stone to keep his balance, utterly drained. If he wasn’t careful, he might slip back into unconsciousness.

Shit… It’ll be fine. He’ll figure it out.

If Hobbes found the key, they’d have a chance to escape even if he tripped an alarm. It wasn’t ideal, but they were long past being able to pick—

With a silver glimmer, Hobbes pranced between the steel bars, tail held high. He regarded the metal door with a disdainful look, a ring of lightly jingling keys hung between his canines.

Uhm… That was quick…

The silver feline basked in his astonishment, preening as if the grimy prison floor was a runway. Violet eyes watched him haughtily before taking in his pitiful state. Worry and reproach flooded the bond.

It’s nothing serious.

Hobbes rubbed against his leg, watching him unconvinced.

Really, I’m fine. It’s just a few scratches.

Kai focused on the most imminent matter to avoid being drawn into a losing argument. Can you give me the keys? The guards could come back at any moment and raise the alarm.

Hobbes’ piercing stare saw right through his intentions. He still blinked onto his shoulders to pass him the haul, lamenting the gross taste of metal on his palate.

I promise to buy you however many fish you want once we get out of here.

Kai held the keyring between his weak fingers, careful not to make the metal jingle. There were over a dozen keys, ranging from the size of his pinky to double his palm. Choosing one at random, he struggled to maneuver it to the right angle, his hands slick with blood and numb from the shackles.

No hurry.

Worried the keyring might fall and attract the cultists, he slowed his movements and craned his neck upward. In the semi-complete darkness, sight was little help; he worked mostly by touch till the first key slid into place. It was a perfect fit.

Please work…

Anticipation rising, he gave a gentle twist. Click, click. A sound more beautiful than the breeze blowing through the palm trees. The metal cuff compressing his left wrist slackened, letting his hand slip out. Blinking in disbelief, Kai used his unchained arm to free the other.

Guess my Luck still works when the spirits feel like it.

The rush of his mana washing over him was more exhilarating than a drug. Lost in his euphoria, Kai noticed too late when the key slipped out of the cuff. He twisted his body to catch it before the metal could clang on the floor. With his ankles still tied, he was forced to absorb the fall with his back, suppressing a groan.

Given the circumstances, the noise had been minimal. Kai clutched the keys to his chest and strained his ears for the cultists’ footsteps, slowly counting to ten before relaxing. Lifting his gaze, Hobbes looked down on him with judging eyes.

Hey, that was a perfect save.

Glad the darkness hid his flustered face, Kai ignored his familiar and riffled through the keys to free his legs. His body was sore and battered but decently responsive. He channeled a trickle of Body Augmentation to steady his limbs and moved to unlock Kea’s shackles.

The keys were the same ones used for his cuffs. He gently lay her on the ground and fed her a healing potion before going to help Mari and Rain. Examining their injuries with Mana Observer, Mari and Kea didn’t seem in immediate danger despite their weak flow. Rain’s patchwork of injuries was more worrying, though Kai didn’t possess the medical expertise to diagnose a siren.

We just need to get out of here.

“C’mon, wake up…” Kai whispered, tapping Kea’s cheeks. He couldn’t drag three bodies out of here by himself. Finally, her eyelids began stirring. “Kea, can you—”

“Did you hear something?” A cold voice echoed from the passage.