Chapter 297 – Hunting Shadows

Chapter 297 – Hunting Shadows

 

“Turn right a little.” Caeli gestured starboard from the prow of the boat, her face buried in the blotchy map. She had taken charge of navigation since she possessed the only orientation skill.

Kai followed the directions the best he could in the uniform swirling white. Paddling both sides with a single oar, his arms burned from hours of rowing through the shrouded lake.

They had tried crafting an oar from the willows, but the mana-rich wood attracted unwanted critters from the water. The detours to avoid whispers of danger hadn’t helped with the tension. He channeled Body Augmentation to ease his burden, too prideful to let Kea take over. The vessel wasn’t made to be sailed with one oar, and two would probably still be too few.

Damned stingy sailors.

“I said to turn right slightly!” Caeli waved her arm in the other direction. “Now turn a few degrees left.”

“My bad.” Kai bit his cheek, keeping his cool despite the mounting irritation. Everyone was cranky and aching after half a day crammed on board.

They had visited two more islands, both larger than the first, both empty of any sign of the cultists. Lost in the perennial fog, Kai wondered if they would ever find anything. Perhaps he and Valela had misinterpreted a clue, and the Stygian Circle had hidden miles away or wasn’t involved at all.

“I see something…” Flynn squinted at the mist. Hobbes napped in his lap, occasionally turning to receive a few pets.

“You’re right,” Rain said, raising his gaze from pondering the lake surface. “There’s an island.”

His words jolted the group to attention. The siren remained in a strange blue mood, vaguely gazing at the water. Kea’s team didn’t know his real identity, but there was no way to hide his casual demeanor in a high mana zone. If they were alone, Kai knew his sister would question him.

Caeli furrowed her brows, studying the map and the fog. Her face distended in relief. “Yes! This is the one!”

That’s the same thing you said for the last two.

“Are you sure?” Kai tried not to sound skeptical as he adjusted the course for the third time.

When he tried looking at the waxed map, Caeli folded the paper closed and put it in a pocket. “I am. My brother must be here.”

From the conviction in her brown eyes, he couldn’t help feeling pity. Weeks of fruitless search had notably shrunk his hopes of finding the missing people alive. Still, if they unmasked the culprits, they could at least stop those madmen from harming more innocents.

I owe Niel at least that.

Enhancing his sight with Body Augmentation, Kai made out a cluster of rocks jutting out of the lake. Shiny black algae grew like a spider web over them. Beyond, a dark cobble shore rose up to host trees with drooping branches.

The island was saturated with mana: deep blue Water motes fluttered with paler Air motes. He hadn’t experienced such density since he had left the Hidden Sanctuary.

Spirits be damned, I missed this.

The colorful streams made his skin tingle. Despite the seeping cold, each breath was like a rush into his lungs. It made him feel alive, more than he had in weeks.

“Go there.” Caeli woke him from the reverie, pointing to a spot where the water was deeper. She hadn’t looked nearly as radiant when they found the previous islands. A bright smile now lit her face, months of gloominess swept away.

Does she really believe we’re in the right place?

Kai shook his head. Maneuvering the rowboat without getting beached took all his attention. The fourteen years he spent in the archipelago made him familiar with fishing vessels, but he was no sailor.

“You must paddle harder on the left to keep us steady.” Kea watched the oar with a critical eye. “I can do it if you’re tired.”

“Thanks. I got it.” He exhaled sharply. “I just need a moment.”

“We’re wobbling.”

“I can see that.” Kai gripped the oar with both hands to push them away from the rocks.

A sprinkle of Water Magic could easily carry them to shore—if he hadn’t agreed not to cast unnecessary spells. Wards weren’t the only danger. The beasts inhabiting the mist seemed particularly sensitive to magic, evoking sharp whispers of danger.

Sweat cooling on his brow, Kai sailed past the jutting rocks toward the beach. When the keel rested upon the bottom, they wasted no time stepping into the cold water and dragging the vessel on the dark cobble shore. It was almost routine.

Icy water drenched his legs, not any more pleasant than in the morning. He walked stiffly, goosebumps on his back. Expanding his Mana Observer to encompass the island, the shoreline continued beyond what his senses could grasp.

They secured the boat against a dark green shrub. Kai curbed his impulse to cast Nature Magic to hide the vessel. The no-magic rule irked him, but he had already committed this far. It was curious to notice how often he reached for a spell without thought.

Am I too reliant on them?

Kai sat on the levigated cobbles to empty his boots and wring his trousers.

“I can fetch some firewood to warm up.” Flynn gestured to the dense vegetation. “A warm meal would be nice too. We have barely eaten anything.”

Kea unloaded her backpack from the boat. “Hmm… We could take a pause—”

“There is no time to waste.” Caeli looked at the greenery, the spark of excitement in her tone clashing with their unenthusiastic faces. “We’re close. I can feel it. And we should still check if we’re safe before making a fire.”

That’s a sensible compromise…

If this island proved deserted, he could freely cast spells, practice Fire and maybe Space. He was close to maxing Astral Pathway, the last hurdle for his profession. While there might be a lesson in learning how to cope without magic, that didn’t mean he had to practice now.

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Kea paused to speak when he stepped back. “Okay, I’ll scout the area.”

“We should go together,” Caeli said. “This island looks larger than the others. We must remain close enough to help if something happens.”

“Yeah, I’ll watch her back.” Kai stood up, stretching his legs before they went numb. Trekking through wet weeds and mud didn’t appeal to him much, but the sooner they were done with this, the sooner he could warm up.

“And who’s going to watch your back?” Caeli scowled. “We came as a team. And I’ve grown up near the woods. Kea, you know I’m a great tracker too.”

“I… yes.” Kea sighed. “It’s just faster with the two of us.”

“And what if those criminals attack you?” Caeli huffed. She had stayed behind without arguments on the previous islands; now, she crossed her arms and barred their way.

Flynn rubbed his arms beside Rain. His silent glance said he agreed on staying together.

Does she really believe her brother is here? Alive…?

Faced with the determination and hope in her expression, Kai couldn’t find the energy to turn her down. The guilt for Niel ate at him, barely held in check by the desire to bring down the cult.

Spirits, protect him. He stayed out of loyalty, even when he was scared. Niel shouldn’t pay for this.

“Fine.” Kea broke away from Caeli’s gaze. “We’ll go together.” She surveyed the group like a commander looking at a green platoon. “Stay close behind me. Don’t wander off for any reason and watch where I step. We can’t lower our guard. I don’t—”

“No words. No coughs. No sounds,” Mari said sternly. Her face was still pale from the injured arm in a sling but softened by a rueful smile. “If you have to say something that can’t wait, tap once and wait for the safe signal. Tap twice if you spot a track. And three times for danger.”

She stood up and leaned on her staff. “Did I forget something? Remember, we agreed on those rules together. I’m sure the newbies know them too.”

“Yeah…” Kea set her jaw. “We can go—

“Meeoow,” Hobbes called attention to his bedding amidst the leather bags. Waking from his nap, he arched his body and stretched his paws. The ivory claws extended, scratching parallel grooves in the wood of the boat with no effort. Even his fluffy silver tail straightened before swinging down in a lazy arc.

Pleased to see them stand at attention, he acknowledged their existence with a yawn, showing pink tongue and fangs. The bond flowed with thoughts of fresh fish and a petting session.

“Mew.” He sprawled on a bag, paws up and large violet eyes watching him upside down.

Oh, don’t you play cute with me. I told you we’d be in a dangerous area. We can’t stop for brunch.

“Meeew.” The regal furball licked his paw, denouncing his disappointment with the accommodations.

Yeah, yes. I know there are fish in the lake. But… No, I can’t get you one right now. The water is freezing. Not to mention, we’re supposed to lay low.