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Chapter 14 - Kael

"Arlen! Stop carrying more mutants!" Tahlia shouted.

Arlen, already balancing five mutant on his shoulders, wobbled precariously. Before he could take another step, he tumbled forward, the mutants toppling onto him.

"Told you!" Tahlia said with her hands on the hips, shaking her head.

We spent most of the day hunting mutants, gathering one of each type to bring it back to the tent for investigation.

I had managed to quietly collect eight fragments of chaos so far.

"Kira's on fire," Garis muttered to Tahlia, watching me from a distance.

Just two more fragments.

I lashed out at a charging mutant with my tendrils, slashing cleanly through its body. As its lifeless form collapsed, I approached cautiously, placing my hand on its flesh. I absorbed the fragment in silence so no one can notice. I felt like each fragment fed my shadows, making them denser, sharper, and more responsive. With every fragment I collected, the shadows grew stronger. I couldn't help but wonder how far this power could take me.

One more.

I summon my shadows, propelled myself into the air and flying far from the others to find my last target. My shadow enveloped me like wings, pushing me swiftly across the wasteland.

Then I saw a mutant resembling a camel in the distance. Its body was bloated and disfigured, its hump twisted into a jagged shell. Its long legs were stretched unnaturally.

The creature roar and began charging toward me.

I landed on the ground and extended my tendrils, striking its legs and sending it sprawling. The mutant thrashed wildly, I didn't wasted more time and striking its neck with a powerful tendril. The mutant collapsed with a guttural wheeze.

I quickly face my palm to the creature and collect its fragment of chaos, as no one saw me. A brilliant purple crystal formed in my palm before dissolving into the void.

Ten fragments, done. Now I can get my Shadow Infusion.

"Maerion!" I shouted, my voice echoing around.

...

"Maerion!" I shouted again.

But there was no sign of Maerion.

***

I stared blankly at the table full with mutant bodies.

"Kira, what's wrong?" Tahlia's concerned gaze meeting mine from across the table.

"I think... it's not there. The antidote," I muttered absentmindedly.

"Yeah, but it's clear your mind is somewhere else entirely." Tahlia caught me.

It had been two weeks since Maerion's disappearance, and I still hadn't acquired Shadow Infusion. I had amassed more than hundreds of fragments, hoping Maerion would eventually reappear with its promise, but it never came. I attempted to learn Shadow Infusion on my own, but always failed no matter how hard I tried. I felt stuck.

"It's nothing, Tahlia," I deflected.

Tahlia sighed but didn't push further.

"You might be right about the antidote, though. We've been at this for almost two months, plus two weeks with you here. And there's still no sign of it in the mutants' bodies."

"We need to think of another strategy," I said, though my mind was still preoccupied with Maerion.

"Fair enough. Garis and I will head to the nearest settlement and see what we can learn." Tahlia gestured for Garis to follow her.

"We'll be back, Kira," Garis said, patting my shoulder reassuringly before leaving.

I sighed. It was getting harder to move freely now, with Light Mages starting to developing the ability to detect shadow entities like me. While not all Light Mages were malicious, many Shadow Mages faced the same hurdles as me.

"Well, what now, big guy?" I asked, glancing at Arlen, the only one left with me in the tent.

Caleb was, as usual, outside hunting mutants like he actually enjoying it.

Arlen was dissecting a mutant on the table, giving me a look that practically screamed, "Will you help me?"

I avoided his gaze. "Well, I think I'll just take a nap then."

I lay down on the couch. My frustration with Maerion gnawed at me, I feel like I'm just getting scammed.

But, perhaps, if I focused hard enough, I could imagine his place and reach him...

...

"Oh, I'm really here. It worked!" I exclaimed as I finding myself in the familiar place where Maerion used to sit by the shimmering purple lake. The lake's glow reminded me of the fragments I had collected.

"MAERION!" I shouted with real anger.

There was no response.

Suddenly, a deep voice spoke from behind me.

WHY DOES A MERE HUMAN ABLE TO COME HERE?

I froze. It wasn't Maerion. It was the same overwhelming voice that had once rendered me weak. I turned slowly.

HUH? YOU CAN HANDLE MY PRESENCE.

The voice sounding intrigued.

Standing before me was a tall man with long black curly hair, and glowing red eyes. His royal-suit like attire screamed nobility. Despite the devilish horns adorning his head, his beauty was otherworldly.

"Who are you? Where is Maerion?" I asked, forcing my self to stay calm.

WHY DO YOU SEEK MAERION?

"He promised me something."

A PROMISE? DID YOU MAKE A CONTRACT WITH HIM?

"Yes," I said hesitantly. "He told me to collect Fragments of Chaos in exchange for shadow skills."

The demon's red eyes flicked to my Fragmentor bracelet.

HAHAHAHA

The booming laugh erupted from him echoing across the realm.

SO THAT'S WHY THE ABYSS OF ILLUSION HAS BEEN GLITCHING THIS WHOLE TIME.

He stepping closer.

MAERION, IS NOW CHAINED AND RECEIVED HIS PUNISHMENT, FOR WHAT YOU BOTH DID.

I almost stumbled back from the weight of his presence.

HMMM. YOU'RE NEARLY RESISTANT TO MY PRESENCE.

HOW MANY FRAGMENTS HAVE YOU COLLECTED ALREADY?

"About… 100?"

HAHAHAHA

Another laugh tore from him, his head thrown back in amusement.

YOU'RE QUITE A MESS, AREN'T YOU?

He gripping my chin and tilting my face toward his.

I WILL BE WATCHING YOU CLOSELY, HUMAN.

***

I awake with cold sweat covering my body. The night had fallen.

"What's wrong?" Caleb's voice snapped me out.

He had returned from his hunt, his blade resting on his shoulder.

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

I bowed my head, trying to steady myself. "I guess, I just had..."

Caleb chuckled. "I hear you're getting bored of mutant hunting."

"Huh? Who told you that?" I asked confused, literally forget about my conversation with Tahlia.

"Arlen did."

"Wait, that guy, Arlen, can talks?" I ask mocking while pointing at Arlen.

"Haha" Caleb chuckled again. "Arlen just wants to talk to me. Right, Arlen?"

"Right," Arlen answered casually while cleaning up the table.

I was dumbfounded.

Just then, Tahlia and Garis entered the tent.

"There's a settlement to the north," Tahlia reported. "It's big, probably around 200 people. It's led by a Light Mage."

"Light Mages are acting like dukes now," I muttered sarcastically, feeling a pang of jealousy.

Caleb chuckled, again.

"They probably want to stay in this dimension forever," Garis adding to my jokes.

"But remember, where there are people, there's information," Tahlia said, sounding like a school teacher.

"We'll start moving tomorrow," Caleb decided. "No point in dissecting more mutants tonight."

I hesitated. "You know I'll be a real burden there, right?"

"We'll stay near the settlement, but far enough to avoid trouble," Caleb assured me.

Arlen nodded silently in agreement.

"Fair enough," I said, standing up. "I need to train."

A pile of guilt felt heavy on my shoulder.

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