But, at that point, I didn’t care either way.
After so much of nothing, going from one extremity to another is always exhausting.
But little did I know, the extremity hasn’t even been close to finished with me yet.
-Okay then. We have more questions than answers. And while I would love to try and slowly extract the information from you - I said, gazing at the tied up man - I am getting tired of this shit. Time to get this started.
-Are you sure about this…? - asked For. - If I understand correctly… it’s going to be taxing for you…
-You worried about me?
-I am worried more about us - she admitted. - Whenever you want it or not, we are connected. I am not sure, but there is a good chance that whatever is that you’re going to attempt, is going to drag us in as well…
-Yeah…
Especially when she’s… they’re connected to my mind so closely…
-Well, are we certain we are doing this here? Is this place safe? - asked Kon.
-I mean… the only people that know of this place are the ones that are dead - said For. - When I said that he came with reinforcements, I meant it. That’s everyone I’ve ever seen at the main camp.
-What do you mean?! Did he really manage to get EVERYONE here in such a short span of time?
-Seems so - she nodded. - Well, you were with them, you don't know how many people were left?
-I was their prisoner most of the time - he admitted. - I only was able to get a few peeks at the encampment, tied up and hidden in some sort of a covered cage… I am not sure if we were even in the same encampment… If you didn’t contact me that is.
-Yeah, I am glad that I noticed… But I don’t believe that they never were letting you out… I swear I saw them regularly move the cages…
-Oh, they did. But they never let me out anyway, they just moved it with me…
Hearing their discussion I realized that they were indeed closer than before. Kon was no longer a stranger to her, hell, it looked like they became good friends.
They did spend a long time together, when I was out… and being connected directly with your minds certainly can help speed up the process…
-In any case, we should be fine. But, just in case, we could move to another ruin… - said For.
-Another?
-Yeah, this desert is full of them. I am not sure what was here before, but every now and again there are those countless ruined villages. This one is the largest one I’ve seen, though.
-Interesting… but can’t we just teleport away? You do have some anchors, right…?
-Er… about that…
-I… there was an accident… - she admitted, switching to talking directly into my head.
-Great… I don’t like where this is going. What happened?
-It was… when I first joined them… during one of those rituals.
-Rituals…? Oh, you mean when they made that strange weapon of theirs out of me?
-Yes. You saw how that worked, right?
-Yeah… sharing mana and all that. So what?
-Well… it doesn’t only get mana from… people… It also drains from objects…
-Oh fucking great…
-Yeah. I never realized that, so the first ritual that I was part of managed to drain out my gear completely.
-Mrh.
-Well, at least I learned why they never carry their stuff on them all the time…
-So we are stuck here?
-Well, not exactly… we can still travel manually, right?
-That’s going to take ages - pointed out Kon.
-We do have time…. it’s not like it matters to us…
-Right… Origin Crystal and whatnot… yeah it was pretty handy in this desert… I am not sure if I would survive without it…
-It was that bad?
-You don’t even want to know. It’s not like they have some kind of oasis in here… when I said “main encampment” I meant it. That’s just a bunch of tents that they move when they need to.
-Damn. Wait, how do they even live there?
-I mean, they do have provisions… most of them acquired by magic but since most of the resources go to weapon creation the rest is cautiously rationed.
-Huh. And I assume you don’t know much about the weapons themselves?
-Nothing besides that they exist and they are important.
-And they are made out of you, apparently.
-Yeah…
-Hm. Well.
I gazed at the man once more.
-I guess it’s time to pick up the pace.
-Just be careful.
-I’ll try and keep watch - said Kon. - I am not very good at spotting people with mana but if I get on top of some ruin I’ll be able to spot anyone from pretty far.
-Sure.
-And I guess I’ll keep you company. You’ll need some assistance maybe.
-I am not sure - I admitted. - But it would be better if Kon was the one with me, he can share mana with me if I need to.
-Ah, that’s not the problem - she said. - After taking part in those rituals I sort of figured out how that works.
-Oh really?
-Yeah. I can pour my mana into things.
-I am not a thing, but sure, that’ll do.
-You know what I mean.
-Okay. Let’s get to it.
The man was lying there, staring at us, uncertain about our silence. It was probably very unsettling to see us stare at each other with serious expressions for a few minutes, just to take a break to stare at him.
-Enough silence. I bet you are wondering what’s going on?
He did not reply.
-See, we are going to get a bit experimental with you. But I am sure you don’t mind, right?
I stepped closer towards him.
He did try to get away from me, but that was not happening. And not like he had anyway to go, with For standing in the ruined entryway and him backed into a corner.
-So. Last chance. Tell me.
He shuddered.
-Tell… w-what?
-Everything - I chuckled. - You know, when you attack someone, you bet you also know what they would be interested in. For example… - I poked his leg - This thing. I can tell that it’s pretty unique. And definitely was expensive. For someone living in the desert and, of course, in this world, it’s hard to get something like this. Ha. Impossible even. So, how come you have it?
-This… this world? I don’t know what you mean…
I rolled my eyes.
-Stop playing dumb. You know where I am from. Or you were hunting me not even knowing that? Hell, if that’s so, you're even less than useless. They never shared even that much with you?
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-W-what…?! I… I… That’s not…
-Not possible? Well then, it is.
I stopped, and looked at his mana.
He was more confused than anything, or, well, maybe more scared, but still. He thought that what he was telling was the truth. Even then, it was clear that he was trying to avoid the subject. So he knew more than that.
-I appreciate you being more… talkative, but I feel that it’s not quite enough. You do know who I am, you said so yourself. So, you know you should be more open with me or some… things might happen.
He tried backing up once more, but only dug his feet into sand a little bit, blocked by the corner of the building.
-Nope, there’s no running away. I told you, I am going to get the info one way or another. You have the ability to choose which way though. And, let me tell you, one is not something I’d choose willingly.
I stepped back and started pacing next to him.
-You know, experiments are my thing. And you definitely don’t want to be a testing dummy, right? I mean, if we were back in old times, that would be an honor. To work as a testing dummy for the MIRE. And the pay would also be great! Not very big prospects of surviving, but that’s what insurance is for. Oh wait! We don’t have those any more. I guess that’s pretty bad…
If he calmed down before, now I brought him back to being completely terrified.
-I don’t know! I don’t know what you want!
-Hm…
-I can’t tell you if I don’t know what! Please…!
-Oh, so then guess. You’re a smart man. You can figure it out.
-I…! I mean… The prosthetics?! Sure! It’s just as I said with the staff, it's a combination of technology and magic! I never had that leg in the first place! A birth defect! And I got that when I joined the… the MIRE…
-MIRE. So you really call yourselves that…
-Y…yes…?
-Funny. From what I heard, the MIRE here is a village of mercenaries that have a base, in, ha, funny, some swamp, a mire if you will. But we are in quite a different climate here. So?
-I… I don’t know! Maybe you have some wrong information…?
I glared at him.
-I… ! Really! Oh, I know, maybe someone just tried spreading some disinformation, that’s it! It's a pretty common tactic!
I glanced at For.
-I mean, it’s possible. Not like anyone actually had an idea about them.
I was not hiding the fact that I had a hard time believing that.
-I-I… We did have some representatives that were sent to the continent! - he quickly added. - It’s not impossible that they had some encampment like that!
-Hmm…
He was nervous. But not lying, at least it didn’t appear so. I was happy to trust his mana in his state of mind.
Even if he was able to lie to me and hide his intention, in his current state it was essentially impossible.
Fear is a great motivator, you know.
And I didn’t even start my “experiments”.
-See, how nice it is when you actually talk? Who knows, maybe we won’t even get to the interesting part if you are so cooperative.
I could feel him relax for a brief moment. I am not sure if that was because he was happy that I believed him or because he was hoping to avoid the experiments.
Maybe both.
-So. I know why you are chasing me. The old calamity and all that stuff. Fair enough. While I don’t quite understand why you’re so persistent with it after that long and that far of a distance… Well, it doesn’t matter. I assume that’s the same reason you’re chasing Axelrod?
-Yes.
-Mhm. I guess we do deserve it.
I knew he had something to say to that, but stopped himself.
-Now, to the more interesting part. I know you were using me to… create things.
He shuddered.
-I see you know. So, do you have anything to say about that?
-I… I am sorry?
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
-Ha, that’s a good one. Yeah, sure. But I am more interested in your methods. You took my body and remade it into stuff. What for?
-We… we were making weapons…
-Oh, yeah, weapons, sure, I am aware. But what for?
-To… to fight you. Your kind…
-My kind? Ah, the remnants. I mean, sure, that would somewhat work… like the amulets. Speaking of. That’s an interesting invention. Do you have anything to say about those?
He went silent for a moment, thinking of what he should say.
-I… it was to share… to copy your abilities… without turning into one of you.
-Hm. Okay. And how did that go…?
-You saw.
-Yeah. But that’s it? A millennium and you managed just to make that?
-Y-yes…
I couldn’t tell if they were so incompetent, or it was just the lack of resources that bit them in the butt… Probably the latter. But, I could believe either of those, especially if he was one of their top people. After him presenting me with how they were working with pure mana instead of trying to figure out more advanced uses of language…
I mean, both would be a good way to go about things…
Well, since they were lacking in resources it would be possible for them to get better results with using pure mana, although using elemental based magics would be more stable…
-No matter. Your research is your own. I am more interested in the technology part. You do have some on hand… plus those other pieces you showed us earlier… I mean, before on the island. Mind telling me how you got your hands on those.
-Er… we made those? I mean…
He started stumbling on his words.
-Oh, yes, I see. You think I am an idiot. So, tell me, where did you get the resources? And the machinery needed to create such precise creations?
-...
-Ah, so you’re not talkative any more? Welp, I knew that…
-NO! No! I’ll talk! - he started panicking. - It’s true, we made those, but the components are mostly scavenged.
-Ah, now, that’s better. So, where did you get those? Did you send some people to the MIRE? I mean, my MIRE.
-Your…?
-Don’t act confused. I can tell.
-I…
He hesitated.
-No.
-No what?
-We did not send any people to the MIRE. That’s a bit far outside our reach…
-Hm… Sure… Yet you managed to send people to the island where the kids were hiding… And the capital… Yet you didn’t reach me there, hm?
He looked confused.
-B-because MIRE is a lot further east?
I gazed at his mana. He was not lying.
Now he was confusing me.
The hell did he mean by east?
Weren’t we supposed to the east? I mean, Wildnorth was supposed to be to the northern-east of this world?
-You sure?
-Of course!
I was not sure if it was me who was failing at detecting lies, or there was something else at play… but what exactly?
Okay, I might not be perfect, but I am pretty good at it. At least that’s what I would like to say. But what else would be the way to explain this?
For apparently was sharing my sentiment.
-He is full of shit. The directions don’t make sense.
-Right? But… he is not lying.
-What?
-His mana. I am watching it, and either he is a genius liar, or he is not lying at all.
-Or… he thinks that he is not, right? - she pointed out after a moment of thought.
Yeah, that would make sense. Someone just fed him a lot of lies and he bought it without questioning it.
Still, it was a bit strange. If he knew anything about this world, he’d realize that the stuff he was talking about made no sense.
Was he that ignorant?
No. Well, there do exist people that would be fooled so easily and buy this bullshit, but I didn’t really take it for one of them. No… there was something else at play…
-Who told you that?
-Er…?
-Who told you about the location of the MIRE? Who told you everything?
He immediately went silent.
I could tell he got very nervous. Why, though? So far he had no problems talking away about his group, why stop now?
-Ah. Got it. You’re scared that whoever is your boss is going to give you more hell than me? Hm.
-...!
He didn’t say anything. Almost. He managed to silence his own yelp, but that did not escape my notice.
And his mana was going wild.
-Well, I can’t blame you. I haven’t done anything yet. To you, that is. If you’d talk, they would definitely blame you for that. So, I guess I have no choice… let’s have a peek at you…
Both him and For tensed up. Each for different reasons, though.
They guy, knowing nothing about my plans, was just plain scared and expecting the worst. I am not sure what he was thinking about me, but there was definitely nothing good in those thoughts.
For, on the other hand, was worried.
And no, not about me. Well, maybe a little bit. It was more the fact that I was about to “test some methods” as I would like to describe it, and it was possible that it would also affect her. And maybe Kon.
That’s probably why she agreed on him stepping away for now - she was hoping that whatever magic I was going to do, it would not reach him.
I doubt that would be the case though.
Personally, I was unsure how that was going to work, but I knew one thing: it was going to affect both of them, too. For sure.
Since our communications resumed, the mental ones I mean, I could tell that we had a lot easier time using those. Not like those were hard in the first place, mind you. Now, we were able to talk to each other even accidentally, as she demonstrated to me before…
I am not sure if she did that on purpose though, but if I was to compare it to the development of her crystal… I doubt it was intentional. It probably just… happened, you know?
So there was a very good chance that now she was going to be affected as well…
Nevertheless, I was not going to be dissuaded by that.
There’s not much that can change my mind if I decide on something. Especially when it involves experimenting with magic.
-Well then…
I focused on the guy in front of me. On his mind. On his mana.
-What do we have here…
He flinched.
Good, that meant that I managed to reach him with my words. I did that before, but confirming I could do it again was a good first step.
-What are you…
-Now to prod a bit deeper…
I started pushing my mana towards him and at the same time pulling at his own.
Wait… why was I doing that?
That did not make sense. I was supposed to look into his mana, to try and read more of him, but instead for some reason I instantly went to the tug-of-war with him. What got into me?
And yet, for some reason, it felt… correct?
It’s hard to explain, but as soon as I ripped some of his essence towards myself, I knew I was doing the right thing. Or, well, maybe not right, but what I needed to do.
And then, I was no longer myself.