The goblins dragged Sara out of the cage and bound her hands even more tightly.
A low, vulgar clamor rose among them, but Noa remained motionless on the cold stone at the very edge of the village. Though he was blind, the faint flows of mana around him served as his eyes.
Noa's inner voice — calm yet calculating — spoke:
«How much will this cave benefit me this time?
If the pain is as unbearably intense as the first time, I won't be able to absorb a large amount all at once.
If I take it in small doses, the suffering will ease somewhat… but the result will come much more slowly…»
He continued inwardly:
«Rion will definitely try to follow me. That's certain.
I can't take him with me — he would only get in the way.»
Then X's voice rose, low and serene, as if surfacing from underwater:
«That is the right decision. We must also find a way to return Rion to the empire.
On the path we have chosen, he would become a major obstacle.
