You cant be serious, Bella said.
I absolutely am, Jade replied, crossing her arms. This is the only way I can know for sure that youre telling the truth. Its my duty as a Shikari to seek justice. Since theres no way for know for sure one way or another if youre telling the truth, I have to follow my gut and that ans finding out myself.
Whats to stop you from just telling the Shikari where we are? Bella asked, matching Jades pose. How can we trust you?
Youre claiming that youre the ones wronged, right? So you arent doing anything bad.
Right, Chance said slowly.
Then youve got nothing to worry about if I tag along, Jade said, as if it was so logical that she couldnt even comprehend why they wouldnt have understood it. Whats the drawback here?
Bella stared at Jade. Did you hear a single word I said? You could sohow report back to the Shikari or otherwise try to hinder us.
Ill give my word that I wont. Jade stared expectantly at them. What? Is that not enough?
I an Chance glanced at Bella, then chewed his lower lip. He really didnt know much about Jade at all, but she seed very honest from what little he did know.
Im not sure if adding her to the group is the wisest decision, but having more people would make traveling safer, and Id really rather not have to fight Jade. But can we really just trust her like that? I dont want to get killed because the Shikari show up while Bella and I are asleep.
Even if youre telling the truth, how do we know that the Shikari cant sohow track you? Bella asked. Its entirely possible.
Do you really think they care enough about a Knight Rank to waste all the effort of tracking ? Jade asked with a laugh. I dont have any trackers on . Im sure theyd love to retroactively do it, but then theyd be able to do the exact sa thing to the two of you. Maybe they are. Either way, it wouldnt change anything.
Bella pressed her lips together, but she didnt respond imdiately. After several seconds of silence, she glanced at Chance.
What do you think?
You an youre okay with it? Chance asked, blinking. Dont take this the wrong way, but I kind of figured
That Id be the one whod say no, Bella said with a wry smile. Yeah, I normally would. But she deserves a chance to see what the Shikari really are.
Oh. Bella sees a bit of herself in Jade. I dont think the situation Jade is in is nearly that bad, but I think I see the resemblance. Well, that leaves the decision to . Jade hasnt done anything that would make believe shes got an ulterior motive, so Ill give her the benefit of the doubt. Thats the right thing to do.
Would you mind if I take a look at your Karma? Chance asked Jade. I wont force you to say yes, but it would help put our worries at ease.
You need my permission to do that?
Well, no. But its pretty impolite. Itll basically let look into important events in your past, Chance said. Id only do it without asking if you were an enemy or I thought you were plotting against us.
Jade chewed her lower lip for a mont, then nodded. Okay. I can agree to that. I guess its only fair.
Chance didnt wait for her to change her mind. He peered into the strands of Karma surrounding Jade with his third eye, watching the visions within them flitter by. He started with the largest ones, skipping past the most one that tied her to Lin.
Over the course of the next few minutes, Chance quickly got a pretty good understanding of Jades past. He saw multiple glimpses of Gibson within them so seed directly tied to him, while others he was simply just present. Surprisingly, that comforted Chance. Gibson hadnt been the nicest man, but hed felt like he hadnt been a bad person.
The visions in Jades Karmic strands seed to repeat themselves over and over. Most of them were fighting either against other people or against monsters. Chance watched Jade as she threw herself against Soothounds, Imps, and a variety of other monsters within Gleams streets.
Sotis she won, and other tis she lost and had to retreat. She had almost no Karmic threats that were just normal interactions with other people. It felt like she was always in so sort of fight and, more notably, she was nearly always alone.
Aside from the smallest, mostly unimportant, threads, the only big ones tying her to other people were those to Gibson and Shae. Chance watched as Shae shoved Jade into a teleportation circle, using her to test it and make sure it was safe before stepping onto it himself.
His expression darkened.
What? Jade asked.
Nothing. Your ntor was a real piece of work, though.
Gibson?
No, Shae. Was he not the one assigned to you? Chance asked.
Jade shook her head. No. I ran into Shae while on this job. Why? What did he do?
You realize he used you to test if a teleportation circle worked, right?
Jade shrugged. Thats just how the Shikari work. Im less important because Im lower rank. Its our job to protect people, and that includes our superiors. If one of us died, it would be better if it was .
Chance and Bella looked at each other, then turned back to Jade.
I think you can co with us, Chance said, releasing his third eye and shaking his head. And youre going to really need to work on your self-esteem a little bit.
Jade frowned and tilted her head to the side. What do you an?
Thats a conversation for later, Bella said. If youre going to be coming with us, then youre going to have to help out as well. We cant have dead weight.
As long as you arent doing anything criminal, then Ill do everything I can to help, Jade said. She paused for a mont, swallowing. Wewere leaving the Ancient Realms, right? I really dont want to run into Lin again. Hes terrifying.
Dont worry, Chance muttered. We feel the sa. And yes, were leaving.
Great, Jade said with a relieved sigh. Lets go.
Bella grabbed Jades shoulder as the girl walked past them. Jade paused and looked back at her. What?
We cant just get on the teleportation circle. Itll take us back to the Dancing Cloud sect, Bella said.
Jade blinked. Oh, yeah. I guess you wouldnt want to go back there. What was the plan, then? Wait until sobody showed up and hitch a ride with them?
Pretty much, Chance replied with a nod. Hopefully, itll be soone agreeable. To be honest, thats kind of what we were hoping you would be.
Actually, we thought you were probably soone waiting to ambush us, Bella said. Chance insisted on trying to talk first.
Thats a good policy, Jade said with an approving smile. So we just do that again?
Yep. We just have to wait for soone else to show up, Bella said, leaning against the stone wall of the house and looking up out of the valley. Hopefully it doesnt take too long. I think weve all agreed that itll be good to get out of here before Lin cos along.
***
The three of them set up in the small hut, peering out the windows and waiting for soone to show up. Light started to dim as they day dragged into night and shadows lengthened.
Chance busied himself by absently playing with a tendril of golden mist. None of them had spoken much after the first conversation, each lost in their own thoughts. Chance was no different.
I wonder if Quinn is okay. I feel like I should have invited her to co with us, but sohow that just didnt feel like the right move. Was I just being paranoid? Then again, she wanted that power. I dont bla her. If I was in Quinns situation, I would have done the sa. Then again, she really felt like she was acting about sothing as well, and I dont know what it was.
All this suspicion I really dont like this. I wish the Shikari could get off our backs. Constantly having to look over my shoulders in suspicion is grinding down. Its hard to help people when Im worried half of them are going to stab in the back.
Chance suppressed a sigh as he watched the shadows of the trees dance outside. In the far distance, he could hear the sounds of battle once again. Nothing seed too close, luckily.
I really hope this ans soone will be heading by soon, though. And, if we get lucky, maybe we wont have to fight them either.
The golden mist tingled against Chances fingertips. He paused, glancing down at it. The tendril he was playing with had looped around and sank into the ground. Chance cocked an eyebrow slightly.
I think soone might be coming soon, Chance said.
Really? How can you tell? Jade asked. I cant sense anyone. Are you using aura vision?
Just listen to him. Bella rose to her feet and held a hand out, pulling Chance up to his. She paused a mont, then offered the hand to Jade as well. Jade pushed herself upright on her own.
Thanks, but I dont need the help, Jade said with a polite smile. You wont have to worry about looking after . I can watch my own back.
What? I was just
Its fine, Chance said, shaking his head. We arent worried you wont pull your weight, Jade.
Bella shot Chance a look that told him that was exactly one of the things she was worried about, but she was standing in front of Jade so the other girl couldnt see it. Chance smiled in what he hoped was a comforting manner.
Jade was alone in just about every strand of her Karma. Im not sure what that ans, but I get the feeling shes not much for working in teams. Well, shell learn.
Where are they? Jade asked, glancing around. Should we be ready for a fight?
Just wait a mont, Chance replied, glancing around the treeline. He reached into his chest, activating his aura vision. Several seconds passed. Then, at the edges of the trees, he saw a splotch of brown. There!
I see them as well, Bella said.
As do I, Jade added. Whats the plan? Wait until they run onto the circle and run on to join them?
Chance grinned as the splotch grew brighter and eventually erged from the trees. No, we wont need to do that.
Would you look at that, Bella said with a mixture of dry humor and relief. We got lucky.
Quinn! Chance said, raising his voice just enough to let it carry and raising his hand in greeting.
Quinn, who had already begun descending the valley to make for the transportation circle, sprung nearly ten feet into the air in surprise. She flailed for a mont, then righted herself and landed on a pillar of stone that shot out from the ground to catch her. Staring at them in surprise, Quinn hopped back to the ground and approached them warily. Chance and the others headed over to et her.
Whats going on? Quinn asked, coming to a stop as they drew closer. Why are you waiting here?
For a pretty similar reason to you, Chance admitted, rubbing the back of his head. We cant head back to the area we originally ca from.
You all ca from the sa spot?
Chance nodded. Jade just joined us, but yes. She just ca a little bit after we did. Did everything go okay with the crystal?
A smile passed over Quinns lips. Yes. Thank you. You did two pretty big favors there.
Technically, Im not sure how much I did, Chance admitted. But Im glad things worked out. Nobody deserved to be treated the way Nia was treating you.
What happened? Jade asked.
Another ti, Bella said, shaking her head.
Did you want to join us in waiting? Chance asked. Were hoping soone will co by and we can snag their jump back ho.
Even if Quinn wasnt totally forthright about everything, I dont feel like she was actively malicious. Probably.
Actually, I was planning to use the portal back to my ho sect, Quinn said. Her eyes darkened. Im not done with them, and I have friends that were in similar situations to .
Chances shoulders tensed.
Theyre keeping more slaves?
Slaves? Jade asked in surprise. The Scholar Cities have banned slavery. What jurisdiction are you under?
Quinn snorted. As if the Scholar Cities send patrols out that far into the wilds. Im in was in the Brackern Sect.
How strong is it? Chance asked slowly.
Its a small sect, Quinn replied, glancing over her shoulder as a distant explosion echoed through the valley. Nia was the daughter of a sect elder. Im not going to try to take all of them out. Im not that strong. But I can definitely free so of the others.
Well, I think we found our portal out, Bella said, rolling her neck.
Quinn took a step back. What? You an
Chance nodded. Well help, provided you arent lying. Its the right thing to do.
Ill help as well. Jades features were stormy. And Ill be following up with the Shikari when I return to Gleam as to why this was allowed to happen.
Quinn swallowed heavily. Why? Why do you care?
Its a sad world where you need a reason to care about others, Chance said. Are they going to say anything when you show up without Nia?
Not if youre all with , Quinn said slowly. I was planning on just running when I arrived, since I doubt theyll be expecting anyone to return this soon. But, if Ive got Rank Three cultivators with , they might actually have to think twice before doing anything. The sect isnt big enough to challenge all of you without figuring out who your backers are.
Then we have a plan, Chance said, a smile crossing his lips. With all that had happened in the Ancient Realm, he was happy to have sothing straight forward to do. And, judging by how he felt his Essence trembling in anticipation, he got the feeling that it agreed with him.
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