Chapter 184 – The Unspoken Hurt (II)

Chapter 184

The Unspoken Hurt (II)

Rayce ran through the steep slide and through the thick garden of trees, his forehead glistening with sweat. It was as though there were ghosts chasing him, as he never seemed to slow down until he finally reached the split in the ‘path’, taking a sharp right for about half a mile and coming upon a maw in the mountain.

It was rather inconspicuous–no different than any other maw that led to a cave–yet he could recognize it through the invisible specks of mana littering the outer edge of the rocks.

The darkness swallowed him, yet he confidently continued to walk, navigating the winding tunnels with pinpoint precision until he emerged into a wide and open chamber.

There, seated against the stone, was Iryan.

She appeared distracted and deep in thought but quickly came to as she heard his footsteps.

“Something terrible’s happened!” he exclaimed.

“What is it? Are you hurt?” She shot to her feet, walking over and grabbing his hand.

“No, not me! Up in the Castle! I heard… I heard that seven were killed last night!”

“Seven?!” she exclaimed in shock.

“Yes! It must be that damned bloodsucker… but, but he never killed so many so quickly. What is he planning?!”

“Did you see anything suspicious up there?”

“Suspicious? What do you mean suspicious?”

“Never mind,” she shook her head and sighed. “It’s unsafe to go up anymore. You should probably stay here from now on until that monster either calms down or leaves.”

“No, no, I can’t!” Rayce exclaimed. “I have to go help them!”

“Help them?”

“They’re just ordinary people, Iryan! They have no idea what they’re up against!”

“And how will your explaining to them what they’re ‘up against’ help?”

“–I don’t know,” he admitted, unwillingly, after a brief pause. “But I know I can’t just hide here while they all become food for that monster. I didn’t escape the clan to hide forever, Iryan, not when I can help.”

“And what if the bloodsucker discovers you and kills you?” she asked, seeming a bit angered. “Do you think he’s like the rest of those morons that have come after you? That you can defeat him if you just get a bit lucky?!”

“N-no,” he stumbled back, feeling a bit overwhelmed. “Of course not. I know I’m no match for him… but there’s a chance!”

“A chance?”

“Hm! I saw a cultivator in the castle! If I explain to him what’s happening–“

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“–hah!” she interrupted rather quickly. “A cultivator?! You want to ask a cultivator for help? You truly have gone mad! May as well just walk up to the bloodsucker himself and ask him to kindly stop what he’s doing! Do you not remember any of the teachings from the clan? Just because they’ve wronged y–us doesn’t mean some of what they were saying isn’t true! Cultivators are monsters, Rayce. They are monsters wearing human skin. That man would sooner behead you for simply speaking to him than help you.

“And, if for some unholy reason he does decide to help you, what if he’s not strong enough, either? You should just listen to me–we need to hide!”