Vastarael watched Chainless for a moment as he slowly opened his eyes.
'Ihate using Memory Extraction. Always forces me to watch random memories of anyone close to me.'
When he used Memory Extraction on a glaive master when he was seven, he ended up seeing the entire life story of the woman he touched and a few of the masters there. And some of them... let's just say they were too inappropriate for a seven year old to witness. Not that he was that young since he was transmigrated but still...
The rain outside the cave continued to pour. He broke the silence with a gentle voice.
Chainless, you haven't spoken much, not that I expected you to. But I've been thinking. You've chosen to follow me, yet you're still bound to me. You're not truly free, are you?"
Her head turned slightly. Before she could answer, he gestured toward the ground.
"Wait. Let me make it easier for you."
He closed his eyes, summoning Phaenora's aid.
'Phaenora, can you help me use Memory Implantation on her?'
[Yeah. What knowledge would you like to transfer?]
"Xinoraci rune language."
[Okay.... this process will need careful calibration. Touch her forehead.]
He placed his hand gently on Chainless's forehead. She didn't flinch, merely watching him with curiosity. A soft glow emanated from his palm and her eyes widened as the knowledge flowed into her mind. It was like a long-forgotten memory suddenly restored.
"It's done. Now, if you have something to say, you can write it. Let me hear your thoughts."
Chainless tilted her head slightly before picking up a small rock from the cave floor. She moved to an open patch of ground and began to etch symbols into the dirt. The runes were smooth and precise. When she finished, she sat back, waiting for him to read. Vastarael leaned forward as he deciphered the message.
"I chose you because I have no purpose. You are strong and I am weak. Serving you is the only worth I have left. I am nothing without chains. I am nothing without someone to serve. I am nothing."
He stared at the runes, unable to reconcile the woman who had fought so fiercely beside him with the broken soul who now sat in front of him.
"Nothing? You think you're nothing?"
Chainless didn't meet his gaze. Vastarael let out a soft laugh, though it was filled with sadness. He reached out, gently lifting her chin so her eyes met his.
"You're not nothing, Arletta. You've survived things most people wouldn't even dream of facing. You fought, you protected what you could even when the world gave you no reason to. That's not weakness. That's strength in my eyes."
She flushed deeply at his words.
"You underestimate yourself but I don't. I see you for what you are. That's worth something."
Chainless quickly turned her face away, hiding her expression. She began etching more runes into the ground. When she finally sat back, Vastarael leaned in to read.
"The wolf cub I dream of. The one I want to save. You saw it?"
He smiled faintly.
"The wolf cub? Yes, I thought so. I saw it in your memories. I'll help you save it and, the family who care for too."
Her hand hesitated over the rock for a moment before writing again.
"Why would you help me? You owe me nothing."
"Because you deserve that chance. And if it means anything to you, if you ever want to be truly free, if following me feels like another chain, I'll let you go when all this is over. Alright?"
Still hiding her expression, she wrote one last rune. It was simple, almost childlike in its uncertainty.
"Thank you."
Vastarael chuckled softly, leaning back against the cave wall.
"Don't thank me yet. We've still got a long way to go."
°°°°°°°
When using a Codex, it does not feel strange at all. Vastarael was surprised to see that his Codex enchantment, Invisible Veil of The Ingenious Prince, worked on Chainless as well.
The enchantment is meant to make Vastarael invisible for nineteen hours. No one, not even his parents, could see him. He experimented on it for years and he found out how his invisibility worked.
One, once he was invisible, he would turn invisible and visible again until nineteen hours were up whenever he wished. Once it was over, it would have a two day cool down before he used it again.
Two, he could share the enchantment with a maximum of ten people including himself for now. They would all be invisible for nineteen hours as well but they won't be visible until the hours were up.
Three, whatever he touched in that state turned invisible as well. He couldn't touch living beings and turn them invisible unless he shared his enchantment with them. However, when it came to objects and items, they would also turn invisible.
And finally, his abilities were not invisible whenever he used them. For instance, if he drew runes, one would see runes forming in midair. They would see sapphire materializing or a mystic circle forming.
But when it came to his Divine Weapon, he could make it invisible with him.
And the downside of the Codex was that the invisibility was NOT supposed to be used in combat. If he fought when he was invisible, he would turn visible again.
The rain outside had reduced to a light drizzle. Vastarael and Chainless stood at the edge of the clearing early in the morning. Flickering torches lined its perimeter, casting an ominous glow.
Vastarael flexed his fingers, summoning his Codex.
A soft ripple of light spread outward, enveloping him and Chainless. For a moment, their forms shimmered like heat waves before vanishing entirely. Vastarael glanced at where Chainless had been standing. The massive deer carcass they had was still visible. She wanted to carry it to the colosseum but Vastarael told her that it won't be necessary. His hand touched the carcass and it too faded from sight.
"Now remember, we've got nineteen hours. We'll be invisible the entire time but anything I do with Tethers will still be visible. So, stay close and let me handle those situations."
He heard Chainless shift slightly as she adjusted the weight of the deer on her shoulders.
"You decided to carry it, huh?"
He sighed as he looked at her. She only shrugged, holding the massive deer using its limbs.
"Fine... let's move."
°°°°°°
The guards patrolled the arena's perimeter in small groups. The downpour earlier had kept most of the crowds away so the arena was unusually quiet.
Vastarael and Chainless slipped through the shadows... or rather, the absence of them. The enchantment was flawless. Even the water on the ground reflected nothing of their passage. Vastarael led the way while Chainless followed closely. At one point, they passed dangerously close to a pair of guards stationed near a side entrance.
"I'm telling you," one guard muttered, pulling his cloak tighter against the drizzle, "something's off today. It's too quiet."
"Relax," his companion replied, yawning. "There are no fights today or crowds. Just another boring shift. Another batch of guards have been sent to look for Minafallen and the white haired masked man. They sure are monsters. Killing thirty seven of them in the rain? I'm lucky I didn't go with them."
As they walked on, Vastarael smirked. If only they knew how close we were.
°°°°°°°
The pair entered the arena through a side gate left ajar, likely forgotten in the guards' complacency. Inside, the halls were dark and damp. Vastarael's boots made no sound against the stone floor and Chainless was equally silent.
They navigated through the maze-like corridors, avoiding the occasional guard. At one point, Vastarael paused to sketch a quick rune in midair before they faded.
"This way," he whispered, leading Chainless toward the cage section.
The cage area was eerily silent. The rows of barred cells were empty save for a few sleeping figures. Chainless carefully lowered the invisible deer onto the floor.
"We'll leave this here for them to find," he murmured, pointing to a secluded corner where the carcass would remain unnoticed by guards but easily spotted by the gladiators once they awoke. Chainless nodded again, stepping back.
The pair moved deeper into the arena with their focus now on scouting potential escape routes. Vastarael's eyes scanned every corner and every shadow, memorizing the layout.
"There. Those could lead to the forest but we'll need to check where they end."
They continued their reconnaissance, slipping past guards with ease. Vastarael noted every detail. His mind worked rapidly. At one point, they passed a storage room filled with weapons and armor. Vastarael hesitated, considering whether to arm the hostages they planned to rescue.
'No. Too risky to carry anything out now. We'll return for this if we need it. Also, I can materialize ordinary weapons using sapphire so no need.'
Hours passed as they explored. As they circled back toward the cage section, Vastarael felt a sense of satisfaction.
"This place is a labyrinth but, we've got the advantage now."
Chainless didn't respond but he sensed her agreement. As they exited the cage area, Vastarael paused, glancing back at the arena.
"We'll save them. And when we do, we'll leave nothing behind but ashes and regrets for those who've kept them here. Let's finish what we started. We'll wait until tomorrow. If the king of this kingdom will be here, it's best we do it then."
They disappeared into the labyrinthine halls once more. Nineteen hours after their plan began, the trap was already set in stone.