Chapter 315 - High Tensions

Char Char dashed down the path toward the sound of yelling and scuffling. The path turned through the bamboo thicket, then opened up to the arched gate to the garden.

Corbin was in the midst of the fight, his left hand clutching his overly tall top hat on his head, while his right wielded a fencing cane. He had his back to Char Char, facing the gate where a number of servants in robes were advancing on him.

Half-lying on the dirt behind Corbin was young Master Reza. His left hand gripped a bleeding wound on his right bicep as he struggled to push himself to standing. His unbuttoned suit jacket was covered in dust, the linen shirt underneath was ripped. He was shaking, hair matted with sweat.

Horror was in his eyes as he looked at the dead, emotionless expressions on the faces of his servants.

“Micah… Ping An… Wake up—“ His lips trembled, his voice was a weak, quivering murmur as he failed to understand how these familiar, warm people had ended up in this state.

One of the servants lunged forward toward Corbin.

Crack!

Corbin’s cane landed on the neck of the servant. He followed up with a thrust to the man’s sternum, sending the servant toppling backward.

“Corbin!” Char Char yelled, running down the path to assist. Aetheric light flashed as she started to draw her sword.

“Don’t!” Corbin barked. “They’re not in their right mind!”

Char Char skidded to a stop beside Master Reza, sheathing her sword from Corbin’s order.

With another succession of strikes the other two servants were launched back through the gate. Corbin stepped forward, kicking the first servant who was already halfway up.

At this point she noticed that the servants had multiple bruises on their legs, neck and arms. Corbin had already knocked all of them down multiple times, but his attacks had no intention to kill.

“We were all escaping—“ Master Reza choked, “Then Micah’s face changed and she suddenly attacked me.”

“We need to snap them out of it.” Corbin said, his eyes were grim and filled with uncertainty, “Somehow.”

A moment later the three servants were attacking once more with their bare hands, and subsequently thrown back through the gate, their bodies tumbling on the dirt path.

Corbin followed them, stepping firmly under the gate. He continued to strike the servants in the limbs to prevent them from standing. Despite their seeming obliviousness to pain, their movements were getting slower as the damage accumulated on their bodies.

Char Char ran up beside Corbin, her hands clenched as she recognized the soulless look in the servants’ eyes. Her mind flashed back to the twitching body of the servant girl who she had cut in half— She trembled as she briefly relived that terrible moment.

She had wanted to ask Corbin how she could help but her voice caught in her throat.

Thud. Crack. One of the servant collapsed as the knee of her left leg shattered. Still she moved forward, dragging herself along the ground, her leg bent at an unnatural angle. A repressed look of horror and sadness fell upon Corbin he unwillingly continued to press them back with his cane.

“They’re gone…” Char Char whispered softly, “Whatever happened to them… their souls are gone.”

Corbin grunted as he kicked the next servant back, sending him tumbling onto a flowerbed. There was plenty of time to react to their advances now, their movements were getting duller and duller, though they still acted with the same emotionless, single-minded intent.

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Finally they stopped moving completely.

“Micah was one of our best maids— She served me since I was a little boy.” Master Reza said with a trembling, quiet voice.

Corbin and Char Char turned to look at him. He was standing under the gate clutching his injured arm. Even with his clothes ripped and his black hair matted, he still managed to hold a strong posture. He looked upon the dead expressions of his once loyal servants with sadness, but also a sense of grim responsibility.

“Why is this happening?” Char Char asked, “What’s going on?”

Corbin frowned, “We were up late last night discussing business, Reza and I, when a mysterious force transported us away. We found ourselves in a mausoleum under the garden, long since buried by the family.”

“It took us several hours to dig our way out.” Master Reza said, looking down at his hands which were grimy with dirt and blood, “Though we were more confused than worried. We even laughed about it a little once we were out in the air, we thought we would return to the mansion with a wondrous tale. Strangeness aside, things didn’t seem dangerous until Micah suddenly attacked.”

“It was right as we passed under the gate…” Corbin said, “As if a lever had suddenly been pulled in the three of them.”

Corbin’s words sparked an epiphany for Char Char. She cast her eyes on the gate as she nodded, “The same happened to me. I was attacked by one of the servants as well, but only when I stepped past a certain point. Until then was as still as a statue.”

“Not a point, a line.” Master Reza suddenly said with certainty, “The estate is full of them— Lines in the architecture. Threads of metal embedded in the wood. Gold embroidery in all those charms that the servants hang everywhere for traditions’ sake. My father always went on about stories about spirits and mystics passed down by our ancestors, who built this house centuries ago.”

“I don’t believe in that superstition— Didn’t believe—“ Master Reza paused, considering their current circumstances for a moment, “The Reza family follows the teaching of Lord Noga, we stopped praying to gods several generations ago. However our servants still follow the old ways. They pray to the Byran God of Pre-Eminent Wisdom, Renshu.”

“Perhaps if we found one of the older servants they might know something.” Corbin said, regret flashing in his eyes after his words, “That is, if they’re still alive and well.”

“The head of staff—“ Char Char’s eyes lit up suddenly, “I sensed something wrong with her.”

“Su Mi?” Master Reza’s eyes furrowed, “What was wrong?”

“It was just a feeling… I sensed that we were unwelcome, and that she was trying to stop us from going to the servant’s quarters.” Char Char briefly recapped her hunch about the unfortunate happenings during dinner the night previous. Master Reza looked as if he wanted to dissent and speak out in support for Su Mi, but kept quiet.

“It seems like there’s something wrong with the servants. We may not find luck with getting information from them.” Corbin said.

“My father— He always spent a lot of time with the servants. He always wanted to know more about the old traditions.” Master Reza said, “If we can find him perhaps he would know… And it would comfort me to know he was safe.”

“Then let’s find him.” Corbin nodded, walking toward the gate, “It will be best to move quickly, we are probably not the only ones in danger.”

“I don’t think he’s that way.” Char Char said, “The mansion is empty.”

“You looked for him already?”

“Yes— No— Well, kind of.” Char Char said, “I walked around for a bit, the whole place was empty.”

“Did you check Old Man Reza’s bedroom, or his study?” Corbin asked.

“No, I don’t even know where those are.”

“Let’s go check then.” Corbin declared.

Master Reza followed Corbin as he took the lead of their small group. As the pair stepped under the gate Char Char saw the arm of the nearest servant twitch ever so slightly. A shiver ran up her spine as she quickly followed Corbin through the gate on the path toward the complex.

To Char Char’s relief, none of the fallen servants came back to life.

“What if—“ Char Char said, “What if everyone else was sent somewhere, just like you were? That would explain why the building was empty.”

“You weren’t transported.” Corbin countered matter-of-factly.

“That’s—“ Char Char frowned, “That’s different.”

“Why?” Corbin’s lip curled up in a tiny smirk, “Because you’re special?”

“Okay, look.” Char Char felt the hair on her neck bristle in agitation, “I’m trying to help.”

“You can help by keeping an eye out for danger, or other people.” Corbin said. He frowned, sighing to himself, “This is serious, Char Char. We can’t afford to take this lightly. Those servants are dead, and we don’t know the true cause of what’s happening yet.”

“I’m not taking this lightly!” Char Char growled sharply, “Does the blood all over me not say enough? Why would you think that I’m not serious?”

“Just be careful so we don’t get another repeat of the plaza in Plunes.” Corbin muttered.

Char Char’s teeth ground together as she felt her whole body tense up. She nearly exploded in a fit of angry yelling but caught herself. She took a deep breath while biting her tongue, then replied in as calm a manner as she could manage, “That won’t happen again.”

“Glad to hear.” Corbin said coldly.

“Good.” Char Char muttered, “I’m glad you’re glad.”

“Excellent.” Corbin replied.

“Splendid.”

“Fantastic.”

“Superb.”