Chapter 259 – Rescue

Chapter 259 – Rescue

 

His hands clawed the water for the surface. No matter what spell or skill Kai tried, he was always dragged back down, plunged into depths without escape. His chest scorched by the need for oxygen, he hung on to consciousness by a thread, just enough to prolong his suffering.

A distant voice whispered of rescue, offering him a glimmer of hope. Then it was gone, and he was left alone in the bottomless abyss.

No!

Kai jolted awake, heaving for precious mouthfuls of air. He swung his arms wildly to free himself from the white linen sheets and reach the light. The sun outside the porthole illuminated a curved plank ceiling.

How did I get here…?

Heart still pounding, he touched the bandaged lump on his head with a grimace. A piece of the Intrepid had nearly cracked his skull. There had been a storm, pirates that weren’t really pirates, and a crazy bastard intent on choking him. Then…

The memories were fuzzy, muddled by his throbbing headache. There had been blood and perhaps a voice, or was that a dream?

Someone or something killed the pirate…

The gentle rocking made clear he was on a ship. From the plain room and lack of intricate enchantments, it wasn’t the pirates’ vessel—they wouldn’t have left him unshackled in a room.

Guess the Fulcrum wasn’t done with the surprises yet…

Kai was relieved to notice the disturbance obscuring Hallowed Intuition was gone. Fighting deadly duels without the skill wasn’t an experience he wished to repeat, ever. He wasn’t going to compromise that veil of protection again, though there were more pressing issues.

Where am I?

Whoever rescued him must have some morals since the silver ring was still on his finger. He was debating the risks of using Mana Observer when the door flung open.

Flynn barged inside—a smile split his face. “You’re awake.” Before Kai could fit in a word, his friend had already thrown his arms around him. “You were barely breathing when they fished you out. No one could tell me when you’d get better.”

“I’m fine… ouch.” Kai grimaced when the teenager brushed the lump on his head. “I’ll be fine.” If his Constitution hadn’t cured him, it must have been quite the wound.

I should still have the balm from the Sanctuary…

“Let me help you.” Flynn snatched the jar from his hands. “The captain was too cheap to use any decent potions. I lost most of my money when the Intrepid sank. And I had to use everything to get this cabin,” he grumbled while undoing the bandages. “Don’t squirm so much.”

“If you’d be a little more delicate.” Kai scowled, forcing himself to sit still on the cot. “Wait! Where are we? And who fished me up?”

“Oh, right… This is the Melenia.” Flynn gestured to the plain cabin with a flourish. “The apex of luxury and high-living on the Vanean Sea, at least according to the captain. I think it was just an excuse to spill us of anything of value. It looks more like a retrofitted fishing vessel if you ask me. The passengers aboard…”

Kai cleared his throat to bring him back on track. “And how did we get…”

“Sorry, that captain just makes me…” His hands clenched around the air. “The Melenia was sailing the coast when the captain claims she heard a cry and hurried over to help.” His tone oozed with skepticism. “As if you can hear a voice miles away at sea. It would have been more believable to spot the wreckage, but she couldn’t even bother to come up with a believable story.”

Kai nodded along, piecing together the situation. “So, there are more survivors…?”

“Fifty-three got to the Melenia, including us. There could be more who got blown in a different direction by the storm.”

Fifty-three… so I only killed a few hundred…

“Ahi!” Kai jerked away from the spike of pain. “When did you get so clumsy?”

“I was trying to push the stupid thoughts out of your skull.” Flynn gave him a long, meaningful look. “Don’t deny it. I can read them all over your face.”

“I— I caused the mana storm.”

“And saved more than fifty people with it. If you hadn’t used the Fulcrum, we’d all be dead or taken by the pirates.”

“We don’t know what could have happened. Maybe… maybe the pirates would have left after they got what they wanted. Or kept us alive.”

“Do you really believe that?” Flynn held his gaze. “Would you do things differently if you could go back?”

“I…” Kai bit his cheek. Whether this was the best outcome or not, he couldn’t celebrate their survival after so much death. “No…”

“Mhmm… glad you haven’t lost your last speck of common sense.” Flynn finished changing the bandages. “It will scar, but it shouldn’t be visible beneath your hair.”

“What about the pirates? Some got left behind on the sinking ship, they could have also been hidden in the wreckage. I—”

“We’re safe. Despite being a miser, Captain Karin isn’t a fool. She wouldn’t allow anyone suspicious on her ship. The five or so raiders they found in the wreckage were all dead. Probably some fluke of Fate…”

A double knock came from the door. “Sorry. I hope I’m not disturbing you.” A young stranger stood in the doorway. His short hair was already white, though he couldn’t be much older than him. “I heard your friend finally woke up. I wanted to see how he was doing.”

“And you are…?” Kai turned to Flynn since he appeared to know the intruder.

His friend stared at the newcomer with a slightly stunned look. “Uhm… this is Oraine. He was a passenger on the Intrepid. And the one who pulled you out of the wreckage before Captain Karin found us.”

Him…?

“I’m so happy to finally meet you, Matthew.” Oraine offered his hand with a polite smile. “Flynn was so worried you wouldn’t wake. You must be great friends.”

“Yeah…” Kai stiffly shook his cold hand.

There was something magnetic about the teen that made him unable to avert his gaze. It was more than the fact he was annoyingly handsome, or that his pale hair reflected a blue hue—probably for the light reflecting off the sea.

Is it some kind of social skill?

“Thank you for saving my life then… I don’t remember seeing you aboard the Intrepid.”

“Uh, I get that a lot.” Oraine scratched his neck with an awkward smile. “You see, I’m not a fan of crowded spaces. I stayed in my cabin sleeping for most of the journey. It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but I only realized we had been boarded by pirates when the sound wards failed. By then it was too late to do much.”

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Flynn gave him a pat. “You did the best you could.”

“Mhmm… thanks.” Oraine nodded weakly.

Isn’t that awfully convenient?

“Did you see a pirate when you rescued me?”

His platinum eyebrows formed a small crease. “A pirate…?”

“Yeah,” Kai pushed through the headache to recall the nebulous details. “A man dressed in black was trying to choke me. Then someone slit his throat… was that you?”

Being convalescent should give me a pass on social etiquette, right?

“I didn’t see anyone else near you.” Oraine gave him an apologetic look. “The sea was full of debris and bodies when the ship broke. Your head was also bleeding pretty badly. Is it possible you misremember what happened?”

“I—” Kai wished to say he was certain of what he saw. Was he really? “Maybe you’re right.”

I don’t remember everything, but the crazy murderhobo definitely followed me…

“Well, I should let you rest. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. Flynn has told me some very interesting stories about you. We can talk more when you’re feeling better.” Oraine dipped out of the cabin with an unnatural grace.

What’s his grade— He froze in shock, uncomprehending. What Mana Observer told him didn’t make any sense.

“He’s a pretty great guy, isn’t he?” Flynn grinned. “He also convinced the captain to not take your ring in exchange for the bandages. I would have gone crazy if he wasn’t there to listen to my rants.”

“Oraine is at the peak of Yellow,” Kai stammered, still dumbly staring at the door. His voice choked an octave higher. “He can’t be much older than you.”

“He’s sixteen. Less than a year younger than me.” Flynn said as if that were nothing special.

“How— how can he—?”