NOVEL NEXT 216
Chapter 216 : Run-In (1)
“S-stop it. Psycho.” Shula protested. She was currently attempting to pry Bracha’s arms from around her neck.
“You like it, no?” Bracha said in response. She had no intention of releasing the Imp. Not when her cuddles were so comfortable.
“How does Agni keep you around and NOT love on you? It’s impossible.” Bracha said as she ramped up her efforts to “love” on Shula. She nuzzled her , cheek to cheek, winning a grimace from the Imp.
“I warned you.” Shula said as she lifted a finger and tapped Bracha on the bridge of her nose. Almost immediately the woman began to drowse. She released the Imp and stumbled backwards by several steps. This was enough for Shula to act.
“Shula? Where did you go?” Bracha shouted as she wiped her eyes in an attempt to waken.
*Baaaaka.* Shula thought inwardly as she hovered several meters above the crowded square, her invisibility active. Shula smirked at the sight of a nonplussed Bracha as she floated upwards with one thought in mind.
*Ugh. How dare both of them leave me.* She thought as she floated away from the Square.
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*Dead.*
*Enslaved.*
*Ash.*
These three words formed in sequence, conveying a grim reminder of the death of one young woman which was fresh on Agni’s mind. She couldn’t help but take note of the woman’s expression as the flames consumed her. Michelle reached out in the last moments. To someone -- anyone who would endure with her. The result of this was two wounded women, one of which would presumably never use her arm again.
Agni had never seen an ‘imperfect’ person amongst the inhabitants of Adventia. Her experience was only about four months worth, but in that time she had never seen anyone with body imperfections of any types. In short, they were as they were intended from design, nigh perfect in every way. Fat, husky, skinny, slender or fit -- all of them had the proper digits, eyes, ears and noses. Even the Grimlock, which were full of danger, were majestic in their own way.
Today was the first time Agni witnessed a wound that simply would not close or recover. In such a short time she’d acclimated to her new existence that she’d already begun taking things for granted. Even death was a mere formality in theory. As long as one could avoid dying twice in a row, said person could live a long life.
But today’s events left a sour taste in her mouth, overturning this notion which formed in Agni’s mind. It didn’t sit well with her, and she had yet to reconcile it. Which is why she was standing in front of this man. The same man she’d had a life or death battle with so many weeks ago. Perhaps it was instinct that moved her feet, but it was correct. He definitely had information that would help her make sense of the shifting landscape.
As she rummaged through her thoughts Glint cleared his throat, regaining her attention.
“I thought you’d have more questions. And my time is limited.” Glint said before he launched into what he wanted to say.
“I know you’re a newbie but, you’re really weak. You need to get stronger.” He said, folding his arms as he inspected the Succubus from head-to-toe.
“What?” Agni could feel her agitation flaring, the man’s words rubbed her the wrong way.
“I was strong enough to defeat you and everyone else you brought along. I’m stronger now than I was then.” She said, struggling to keep her anger in check.
“Indeed. You did. But, I’m not at full strength. Nowhere near it. You know how to inspect other adventurers for basic information right-- tell me what you see.” Glint responded as he tapped his temple.
“Glint Hargrove Rank 2 Fighter.” Agni said aloud, almost instantly.
“That’s right. Rank two Fighter.” Glint responded, placing a heavy emphasis on the last three words.
“And your rank is?” Glint then asked a question with an obvious answer that, once more, rubbed Agni the wrong way.
“Rank 0.”
“Exactly. So if rankings were so obsolete, why then would a rank 0 be able to defeat someone hundreds of levels higher?” Glint asked.
Agni had no real answer for this. She initially attributed the result to beginner’s luck and the heavy use of her ‘Whisper’ ability. The more she thought about it, the less likely this seemed. Katrin managed to hold her own as well and Agni was able to subdue several stronger foes during the battle. Only the pair of rank two adventurers were able to put up a decent battle.
“I don’t know.” She finally said, reluctant to even answer the man. She half expected him to chide her, to antagonize her but this never came. Instead Glint switched gears entirely.
“There are beings that defy logic in this world--did you know?” Glint asked before chuckling to himself.
“Of course you do, you’re one of them.” He added.
“When we awaken in this strange new world of ours, we find ourselves in a fantasy story. Monsters, magic, it’s all so promising.” Glint explained.
“But they never tell you about the dark parts. The shadows that creep about, corrupting anything they touch. You’d think we all started with a clean slate, as equals but no--clearly some of us have better abilities than others.” Glint continued.
“Look at me. I’m a Fighter. You know what that gets me? I can master any weapon and use it to its fullest. I can unleash weapon abilities that cleave metal and stone, I can do things that would make a normal human envy. But compared to someone like you? It’s nothing.”
“I mean, you can compel someone to do your bidding with a single word. Do you know just how mind blowing, how...broken an ability like that is?” Glint asked. Though he was laughing, Agni got the distinct impression that it was due to irony. She also detected a slight hint of bitterness.
“But you know, there are worse things out there than you. Worse people. People who are insatiable. They can never get enough, no amount of suffering, pain or anguish is enough to quench their thirst. You think you know what monsters are? Grimlock, they are nothing compared to the terror instigated by some people.” Glint said, his mood turning sour. As Agni watched she was stricken with a sense of deep sorrow.
“I’ve heard stories about Succubus who enthralled a legion of people and forced them to do unspeakable things. The older adventures whisper about your kind, did you know that? They say things like:
‘Another Succubus is born. Will she be like the other one?’
‘Oh no, anything but that. It took an army to stop the last one.’
Yet, standing here before you I can see, they are wrong. You’re soft.” Glint said as he thrust a pointed finger towards Agni.
“And if you keep it up, you’ll be the one consumed by monsters. Real monsters!” Glint shouted. His emotions were now bubbling as he recalled all that had been lost to him. Watching the woman he had meaningful bond with, reduced to a fuck-toy. Watching his best friend chained, tortured and murdered. Pleading for his life -- only to be denied the mercy for another person’s enjoyment.
“If you keep this up, you’ll end up like me. Chained, broken and unable to protect anything or anyone that matters.” Glint said finally as he reigned in the emotions ravaging his heart. He clenched his fist, his resolve reaching a peak as streams of tears ran down his cheeks.
Perhaps it was his display of raw emotion but Agni couldn’t help but be drawn into his words. She could feel the pain within them, a sense of helplessness which miraculously never destroyed a flicker of hope.
“He’s coming for you.” Glint said, his face returned to a stoic expression once more. The magical script formed a new word as he spoke. As he spoke Agni noticed the man grimace.
“Who? Who’s coming for me?” Agni asked, yet still a part of her knew the answer already. She’d seen too much evidence to the contrary.
*Memento Mori* The magical words shifted.
*You are marked. You are hunted.*
*Be prepared.*
*He won’t stop.*
Glint’s breathing became raspy, almost labored. He hadn’t expected his emotions to come bursting forth at such an inopportune time. This, in turn dulled his focus, causing the pain of his slave mark to take hold.
Glint shook his head fiercely, as if to dispel the cloud of agitation building there.
*I wanted to say so much more, to explain properly. But, I’m out of time.* He thought inwardly. He resigned himself to his fate and turned to walk away without another word.
“Wait. I still have questions.” Agni said with a start.
“Watch the company you keep. Otherwise you may end up on someone’s leash.” The man glanced over his shoulder to relay a final message.
“I said wait!” Agni called once more, but it was no use. The man dropped a smoke bomb and quickly disappeared in the lingering cloud’s diffusion.
“Hmph. He saw me.” Shula’s voice echoed suddenly. Agni was taken by surprise as the Imp showed herself. She floated downward, landing next to Agni in the process.
“Was that the snatcher from before? What’s going on?” Shula asked, her arms folded. Inwardly she was a bit agitated herself.
*How did he see me? He definitely noticed when I arrived.* Shula thought.
“Nothing. It’s nothing important.” Agni replied before stating, “Let’s go back.”
