65

Ianthe stared at Hecate, whose expression was far from okay. She looked pained, “What happened?” Ianthe asked as they sat at the table, waiting for their food.

“Where he grabbed me, I think he did something and my left leg has been on fire since then,” Hecate said.

Ianthe didn't know what to think. She was impressed at Hecate's ability to put on an act even in pain, but the fact that she hid something so concerning was stupid.

"Hella... why are you so reckless?" Ianthe asked, slamming her forehead on the wooden table. The salt in the plate shuddered at the impact.

“I just… didn’t want to worry Iris anymore. It’s already going downhill as is.”

"No. We'll only make her more worried if you try to sneak off in the night in search of a healer. There's already a search underway for the missing people, and then there's the innkeeper who you're seeing things on. The last thing we need is to lie to Iris," Ianthe said in exasperation. "We tell her, after that, we can search for a healer or curse breaker, depending on what has happened to you. I don't know Winchester's nature, but he's far from a saint."

Hecate nodded. Ianthe glanced at her leg, but the pants and shoe hid it completely. "I think we made a mistake accompanying Iris," Hecate said, her fist clenching. "She already met death once because of me." Ianthe could tell that Hecate was trying to hold back tears, but she was not good with them either.

"We did not. You did nothing to deserve what happened, and there's no guarantee he wouldn't have just attacked Iris if she were alone. Let's not dwell on him," Ianthe said. She never thought she would be giving advice to someone who was basically a Duke of the Laks empire.

"Right."

After that, they had dinner, and Hecate was back to her cheerful self. Ianthe tried hard to understand if Hecate had somehow forgotten her pain in the excitement of the new dish, or if it was all an act. She couldn't believe it was later. How could someone attract the attention of the entire kitchen for no reason? In the end, she concluded that Hecate's excitement was just like that, which was adorable in its own way.

…

It was nine o'clock when Hecate and Ianthe returned from dinner. Iris was meditating, but her meditation was broken when the door slid open.

"Welcome back," Iris said. She noticed that Hecate was not walking normally and that Ianthe was supporting her. Hecate looked pained. "Did something happen?" Iris hopped off the Orb platform that she was meditating on.

"Nothing happened," Ianthe replied as she slowly lowered Hecate to the bed. "She's been like this ever since that Winchester guy let go of her."

"Am I the only one who doesn't know anything?" Iris sighed. Of course, this had to happen.

"I just heard everything on the dinner table," Ianthe said tonelessly.

Iris turned to Hecate, waiting for an explanation. "My legs are burning from the spot he grabbed them," was all she received.

Hecate took off her shoes and slid up her pants, revealing a red handprint on her ankle. Ianthe touched the spot and Hecate hissed.

"Stay still," Ianthe whispered, as she closed her eyes and channeled her mana into the spot. "It's just residual mana, nothing to be concerned about," Ianthe concluded.

"Should I disperse it?" Iris asked.

"My ice would leave a lesser wound," Ianthe said, as ice began to form on the red patch. Hecate's legs shook several times as she tried to move away, but she managed to stay put. Iris could see the nerves on her forehead from the pressure. Her face was completely red, and her breath was shaky.

"Done," Ianthe said. A layer of blue ice completely covered the handprint. "You'll have to stay like that until morning. I'll bring a healer to heal the wound."

“He intentionally left the mana,” Iris muttered to herself. She was tempted to say he liked to torment the weaker, but that would be a lie. If his rings and sword were any indication, with his ability to quite literally hold souls in the mortal realm, he did nothing to them.

Then why? To know their location. Iris sucked in her breath. This place was not hidden. But it should be a distraction, he should’ve expected them to find it and then sigh in relief because there was something else. Her hand shot at the wound on her neck. She had, of course, healed it.

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She sent a jolt of lightning through her body and clenched her jaw as pain hissed into her like lightning shredding her flesh from her bones. But it was just a feeling. She was fine—mostly. Except for a little sensitive skin that might start bleeding at the slightest touch.

She tasted blood, and her lips twitched—her lightning was unkind, even to its master. She used her sleeve to wipe away the blood that escaped her nose. “I’m… fine.” Iris barely muttered. Ianthe and Hecate stared at her like owls, tilting their heads at her words.

“What are you doing?” Ianthe stood and approached her in concern. Iris raised her hand and gestured her to stop in panic.

“His blade touched my neck,” Iris said, her voice shaking. “More than likely, he has left a way to know our location. What he did to Hecate was either a distraction or a sick joke to make me panic and do this to myself. Either way, I’m not taking the risk.”

“I’ll recover in a few minutes, until then please don’t come close to me, I’m very sensitive.”

Iantha sighed and flopped on her side of the bed. “I want to sleep,” she mumbled through the pillow.

“What! We were supposed to play cards!” Hecate whined, slapping Ianthe’s ass. Ianthe shot up and stared at Hecate’s mischievously smiling face.

“What are you doing!” She screeched.

“I said we play cards,” Hecate replied, her smile showing her shiny canine teeth.

“I am tired,” Ianthe said. She slipped and sat, bringing her knees close to her chest, as if afraid of where the next strike would be.

“We have no appointment, so you can sleep late into the morning, and we can search for tickets in the afternoon,” Hecate replied, already scouring the bag for the tickets.

“Can we please plan in the morning?” Ianthe pleaded. “I’m so tired.”

Hecate’s excitement died as she saw Ianthe’s tired expression. “Fine…” She said.

“We’ll play tomorrow, I promise,” Ianthe whispered and dropped on her back. “Hella, I’m sorry. I know this is your first trip, so you’re excited, but I’ve lived most of my life travelling. To me, it’s nothing new or exciting.”

“It’s fine,” Hecate replied, her hand tightly holding the cards. “I just wanted to make this trip happy for you.”

“Thank you… Your thoughts are enough to make me happy.”

Hecate turned to Iris, “I’ll sleep as well. What about you?”

“I shall do the same,” Iris replied.

…

It was six in the morning, and Iris was not sleeping. Even thinking of doing that in her current predicament was outrageous. Right now, she is under Hecate. Her hands wrapped around her, and her knees completely locked Iris from moving. She had been defeated.

This position only served to further her grievance with her small frame. At least, she did not have eyes, so she could pretend she was not staring into Ianthe’s eyes, who stared back. A disbelief expression was painted on her face. Iris was sure she would do no better if she saw a level 6 caster being humiliated like this by a level 5.

“Iris,” Ianthe muttered, her lips twitching to smile.

Iris stayed put; she was asleep.

“You don’t need to pretend; I can see you’re awake. You may not know, but your eyebrows slant closer when you’re tense. Give up!" Ianthe chuckled. “Do you need help?"

“I would be eternally grateful."

Iris had not expected the events that followed. Ianthe grabbed Hecate's hand and right ankle and hurled her like a cloth. Hecate screamed like a scared cat; before she could do anything, she was dropped back, but Iris had rolled away by the point.

“W-wha..” Hecate sat up, looking at them.

“I was freeing Iris off your paws. Sleep,” Hecate nodded, flopped down, and fell asleep, but not before picking up a pillow as Iris’s replacement.

Iris sighed. “That was unexpected."

“I have learned how to handle Hecate pretty well,” Ianthe replied. “Do you want to sleep more?"

Iris shook her head. “No. I will take a bath and then go search for a healer. If possible, one that can travel to the shattered realm with us since I do not have a way to heal you two."

“I am sure we can find a healer if we get injured, traveling with one would be awkward.”

“I see, are healers not rare?” Iris asked as she felt the floor shake. Another gust. This room was enchanted, so they barely felt a tremor and had a relatively peaceful night. “If it was that hung Inn, we'd all be in rubble, and possibly to my death."

Ianthe chuckled. “She’s excited by almost everything."

“Especially danger.”

“Yeah.

…

Iris used the platform to travel; she loved the fact that she was not childlike if she just flew a foot above the ground. She was as tall as adults, which was ironic since she was an adult.

She stood outside the inn and was searching for anything. Then she realized she could ask the innkeeper.

She went in; the counter was right next to the door. “Excuse me,” Iris called. The counter was empty. “Is there anyone?” She called again. To her dismay, there were none.

“Miss Iris,” Iris turned and found the innkeeper. He held a tray in his hand. “Is there something I can help you with?"

“Good morning, Mr. Innkeeper. I am searching for a healer; do you have any idea?"

The innkeeper ‘hmmmed’, and returned to his seat. “You can look into the Merc Federation, or if you’ll follow my advice, then you can find a healer in the western district. He’s a very capable man and the only titled level 5 healer I’ve ever seen."

“Thank you,” Iris said and turned. Ignorant of the innkeeper’s smirks

Iris reached and looked to her left, which was the west side. They had come inside from the opposite side. And the entrance to the shattered realm was in the north. Iris turned west and flew into what one may consider the mage’s side of the city.

Or so she thought, but three thieves—level one mages—stood in her path.

“Hmm?” She tilted her head.

“You can leave... by giving us all your money—you loaded noble,” The muscular man in the center said.

"Right, I can’t believe the delusion or bravado of walking out alone like this." A lanky one snickered.

“Leave it to me, boss." Only the girl of the trio spoke out as she made her way to Iris. “Listen,” she hissed; it was a hushed whisper. “I don’t want you to get hurt. They are dangerous. Just give me half your money, and I will convince them to let you go.” She craned her neck and looked behind. An impatient frown on the big guy’s face.

“How about… I set you free,” Iris whispered, a smile playing on her lips. She saw the runes carved in her flesh. The same rune carved in the other two’s flesh. They were slaves.

For some weird reason, despite never being a slave, she found her blood inadvertently boiling at the sight of slaves.

Let me free you.