👥 Collaboration Collateral 👥

Hwa Hae Ji 🆚️ Ratu

While Herring and Haeji walked out to go buy a sweet effervescent drink. Ryo had gotten out of the corridor as he searched for the necromancer.  

What could he possibly want other than elves? Ryo thought as he hurriedly rushed to find the necromancer as he returned to the infirmary.

Hexice marched back and forth, five paces and a turn on his toes. His legs kicked into the air with each stride. He inhaled a hiss. “How unnerving. If only Pathalias and Rekēr had broken Breloq’s contract to those Rune Mages’s bloodline, I wouldn’t be in such a state.” His legs stopped for a moment as his hand touched the blood tattoo. With a sigh, he continued his rant.

“Hate to eavesdrop,” Pathalias’s voice rumbled into Hexice’s mind, “But I can’t help, but to intervene in the negative talk about me.”

Hexice stopped once more. “I said it, so that it could be heard. I want that pact to be broken now.”

“I believe ‘now’ is not a good time for Ryan,” Pathalias commented. “And for the final time, I need Rekēr to do so.”

“I couldn’t care less for that human, or any human for that matter,” Hexice grunted. His spade eye darkened as if it were absorbing the surrounding light. The memory of Ryan’s fate popped into his mind. “If only he wasn’t tied to Breloq-” His eye caught sight of Ryo.

“Hexice,” Pathalias called, “What did you see?”

“A secondary cause to this mess.” 

Hexice tailed Ryo, ignoring Pathalias’s further talk.

Meanwhile, a mysterious man walked the hall of the infirmary. He stopped at its door. Slightly tilting his head to read the sign, he placed his hand on the handle. He halted as a couple of people walked by. But once they passed, he entered the room.

“This…” He uttered, raising his arms. “Similar to an elf’s.” His heart quickened as he approached Ryan who was unconscious, recovering from his battle. “He must be a half-elf.” His hand hovered above Ryan’s face. “What a rare find.”

A blade stood next to the man’s neck as its holder spoke, “Leave the human alone.”

“A human,” the man repeated, disregarding the other person. “Impossible. Yet, that makes it more rare if not unique, don’t you agree Ryo?” He reached farther to touch Ryan.

“Nulekai!” Ryo roared, striking his sword.

Nulekai evaded the attack, missing his chance with the human. Ryo chased Nulekai away from Ryan, standing between the human and the necromancer. 

"That child must have more power than one elf if you are protecting it," Nulekai speculated. 

Ryo pointed his sword at Nulekai. "He is an innocent bystander, a being from another world. He has nothing to do with us. This feud is between us only." 

"Another world?" Nulekai sounded delighted. "That world must also be teeming with powers like him then." 

Ryo lunged. Nulekai dove forward. The blade scratched his cheek. Nulekai's hand pushed forward, aiming for Ryo's face. Ryo stepped away, arching his back to avoid the contact.