Chapter 316 – Picking up the Pieces

Chapter 316 – Picking up the Pieces

A spark of consciousness stirred in the depths of oblivion. Once aware of itself, the rise became inevitable, dragged by insistent pain and confusion.

Kai mourned the fleeting rest.

Every muscle, ligament and mana channel hurt as if they had been pulled through a grinder and just stopped bleeding. A dull throb split his head—likely skill strain. His thoughts waded through a swamp to connect.

What the hell did I do?

Untangling himself from the sheets and blankets, he pulled up on his elbows. Soreness made him huff a groan. It took him several tries to lift his back on the headboard of the bed and adjust the pillows.

How—

Underground tunnels. His lungs heaved cold air to run. They were being chased. The cultists. A fight… Mist. Blood. A woman with crimson eyes and a lot of pain. He was burning alive. Then sinking…

Did we… escape?

Nothing made sense.

The thick curtains on the window left the room in darkness. Kai brought his hands close to see—he wasn’t chained or constrained by any enchantment. The sheets were scratchy but clean, the mattress lumpy but warm. Only sharp pain stopped him from using the mana in his veins.

Where am I?

Kai spun the spatial ring with his thumb—everything was still inside. The room seemed to belong to an inn. How had he gotten here? He remembered throwing Rain into the lake and fainting beside that crazy woman.

Did I escape that monster? Is this part of some twisted game? A skill or ritual I—

“Kai?” A figure roused in the shadows beside the bed, her voice hoarse. When she stood, a chair creaked, wood on wood. “Kai? Are you awake?”

The bright light from a crystal made him squint. When his vision refocused, Kea stood a palm from his face, eyes red and puffy. Her lips parted in hesitant relief as if seeing a ghost.

“Yeah… I’m awake.” Kai relaxed upon seeing her face—she was safe. That meant Flynn, Mari and Niel probably were too. He’d deal with the aftermath later.

I must find a cure for Niel. I could ask Reishi… or Valela for help…

Whatever bout of Luck let them escape, he felt overwhelming gratitude.

“Hey, it’s okay, Kea. I’m alive. Just a little sore.” Kai shuffled back under the intense scrutiny and took the glass of water that was thrust upon him. He didn’t realize how thirsty he was till he downed it. “Are you alright? Also, my name’s Mat.” He added, setting the glass aside.

Kea nodded and rubbed her eyes with a sleeve; his words didn’t seem to register. “I’m happy you’re fine. I… I was worried. The healer said there was nothing they could do for you except wait. But you didn’t wake up for four days and I…”

Excuse me?

Kai sat straighter, sore abs protesting. Any movement that sped the mana in his veins sent new waves of pain. How had he slept that long?

And I still feel like shit…

“I’m… I’m sorry.” Kea fell back into the chair, hands folded in her lap. “I shouldn’t have trusted Caeli. Or Caeden…” She gazed at the window as if it weren’t covered. “I thought I could handle it, but I couldn’t… my mess almost got you killed. If you hadn’t come, we’d all be dead. Or worse…”

“It’s… alright.” Kai stretched an arm to pat her, unsure how to react.

Irritation had long left him. Staying in Limgrell was reckless, but he couldn’t blame her. Who would imagine a pair of siblings had joined her group for months, woven a fake friendship, all to use them as pawns for a cult? It was too deranged to consider. And if Kea had realized the manipulation and tried to leave, things might have turned out worse.

You can’t reason with crazy.

“I’m just happy we made it out. No one could have predicted—”

“Hmm,” Kea extended her arms around him in an awkward hug. “I’m also glad you’re okay.” She patted his elbow twice and jerked back, face flustered. “I—I should probably go tell Flynn and Rain you woke up. I’ve promised to tell them. They were so anxious.”

Before Kai could get in another word, she retreated to the door, fumbled with the brass knob and ran out.

Hmm… that happened.

He might make a more acute realization if his head weren’t pounding. As things stood, a blinking notification captured his attention.

C’mon, out with it!

*Ding*

You’ve been granted a Feat for your actions:

Slippery Investigator: You’ve uncovered the culprits behind Limgrell’s disappearances and escaped the cultists’ hideout alive. You are awarded: +5 Favor!

Huh, I’ve gotten away…

It wasn’t some elaborate mind magic; he escaped and had the reward to show—more Favor.

Take that, Derrell!

His triumphant fistpump caused a spike of pain and immediate regret. Kai flopped on the pillows, waiting for the throbbing to fade.

This is just a coincidence. I’m still luckier!

Even breathing and getting excited hurt. How could he be so battered after days of rest?

I did overuse Spatial Shift to run…

The skill warned of a heavy strain that escalated with repeated casts. How long would this last? None of the potions in his ring could soothe bruised channels. And Kea said a healer had already visited him without success.

In his excitement over the new profession skills, he failed to consider that the price for abusing them would be just as high.

I wish someone had told me.

True, he would have recast Spatial Shift anyway, but still, why did nobody prepare him? Not Elijah, Dora, or his supposed friends. This was a good reason to complain and metaphorically shake his fist; the righteous indignation helped alleviate the pain.

If I got a feat for getting away, I should be safe from the cultists.

Looking for more distractions, Kai summoned his status.

• Name: Kai Tylenn (Matthew Reece Veernon)
• Race: Yellow ★ – 404,023 > 452,100 / 500,000 XP
• Profession: Favored Mystic of the Isles (lv0>1) – 2,324 / 18,000 XP

Body stats

• Strength: 36
• Dexterity: 37
• Constitution: 43 (38+5) > 44 (38+6)
• Mind: 53 (43+10) > 55 (43+12)
• Spirit: 60 (50+10) > 62 (50+12)
• Perception: 39 (34+5) > 40 (34+6)
• Favor: 83 > 91

Boons:

• Gifts of the Earth
• Kahali’s Retribution
• Spatial Attunement
• Minor Elemental Attunement

Profession Skills:

• Natural Prodigy (lv1)
• Echoing Empath (lv1)
• Astral Pathway (lv1>2)
• Water Cannon (lv1>5)
• Nature Healing (lv1>3)
• Spatial Shift (lv1>8)

General Skills:

• Hallowed Intuition (lv80>87)
• Mana Observer (lv44>49)
• Body Augmentation (lv38>45)
• Mana Analyst (lv30>33)
• Mana Weaving (lv26>33)
• Mana Engraving (lv23)
• Water Magic – Advanced (lv20>27)
• Split Mind (lv21>27)
• Arcane Enchanting (lv11)
• Elemental Swordsman (lv9>13)
• Hobbes (lv20>27)
• Runic Scholar (lv8>11)
• Nature Magic – Advanced (lv6>7)
• Space Magic – Advanced (lv6>11)

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

• Herbology – Advanced (lv99)
• Alchemy (lv88)
• Blessed Swimmer (lv73)
• Shadow Magic (lv49>50)
• Earth Magic (lv47>50)
• Advanced Hunting (lv37)
• Treasure Sense (lv35>37)

Not too shabby.

Nothing rewarded experience like flirting with a gruesome death—the Guide was consistent with that at least. Hallowed Intuition had grown by a whopping seven levels, and other skills made similar leaps. Shadow and Earth Magic had hit their first specialization, though choosing could wait till his mind didn’t throb.

It was crazy progress worthy of the craziest week of his life.

The XP from general skills flowed into his Race, while his Domain XP fully went into his profession. He didn’t regret the distribution. Each level in Favored Mystic of the Isles netted him six attributes, and he had already hit the first one.

He needed all the power he could get. How many monsters like Aela lurked on the mainland? Tens of thousands, or more?

I’ve gotten too comfortable with my advancement to Yellow.

In a life-or-death battle, no one cared if he wasn’t yet fifteen or a century old. Complaining was the privilege of the living, and he not only lacked strength but also the knowledge. His grasp on the applications of mana and professional skills was embarrassingly shallow; when he fought the cultists, he stumbled in the dark to guess at their abilities.

I cannot avoid dangers I ignore exist.

Bridging the gap to Green was an endeavor of several years, but he should at least know what to stay clear of. The encounter with Aela woke him up enough. Even with 91 Favor, he didn’t wish to tempt Fate more.

I got away…

Kai slowly massaged his temples. Now, he understood why people favored their profession over their grade. Even with Yellow ★★ relatively close, the next profession level was much closer.