Villain Path

Chapter 79. Mercury

The day before Shen was supposed to go to the capital with the great general Ir Shuer, Muan received a note that made him put off packing and come down from Peak of Lurking Wind.

Near the protective barrier, Muan Era was waiting for him.

"You could have come in, you know, you have a pass for the League's barrier," grumbled the lord instead of greeting.

The girl, dressed in men's camping clothes, winced slightly, as if her brother didn't understand the obvious.

"I didn't want to publicize my arrival."

"What made you leave the school and pay me a visit at the League?"

"I think I've found a way to break your bond!"

Muan hesitated.

"What? What's with that weird look?" Era frowned. "You think I am wrong this time, too?" 

"I just... I want to break this bond, but for now..."

"No time to delay, the League's affairs can wait! You must come with me right now."

"Right now?" Muan flinched.

"What's wrong? Isn't getting rid of danger the most important?"

"Shen's leaving for the capital tomorrow, and I have to go with him."

Muan Era angrily raised an eyebrow.

"Have you become his lapdog? That's not like you."

"I haven't become anything!" Lord of the Glory Peak fumed. "But now Shen is sick, and I wanted to keep an eye on his condition."

"Sick?" Era stiffened. "How seriously?"

"Lord Zag said he might die."

Era's eyes widened in fear. 

"Die? Did you say ‘die’? Do you have any idea how grave this is?! How dangerous it is for you?! You will come with me immediately! We must do everything we can to break your bond! Of course, I hope that Lord Shen will be alright, but you can't risk your life because of his irresponsibility! Do you understand? After all, it's your fault that you’ve become linked to him, and it's up to you to deal with it. So let's go!"

"Sister..."

"Let’s go, I said! I've had enough with our parents, so I'm not going to mourn you too!!"

There were tears in Era's eyes. She had been playing a hard and strong-willed girl all her life, but now her feelings were betraying her.

"For me. Brother, please, do it for me."

Muan Gai stared at the tears on her lashes.

"All right. Let's go."

That same night they flew into the air on their swords. The path to the place Muan Era had found was not a short one.

***

It looked like his mind had really gone haywire. Shen went outside, not knowing what to do with himself. His hands were shaking, and he wanted to sob in pain, but all he could do was keep his back a little straighter than usual. His thoughts were muddling, and he let the voice of reason not disturb him. Later, later, he would come up with good arguments, but now only despair occupied his entire mind, his body trembled, and his thoughts raced incoherently inside his skull.

In the Winter Pavilion, there were still many empty rooms left, Shen entered one of them and locked the door behind himself. The room was dimly shadowed and smelled of wood and damp. Lord of the Cursed Peak walked over to the purple-draped couch and sat down on the floor, leaning his back against it. Then he slid to the left, resting his forehead on the wooden floor. He didn't know if his body was shaking from emotion or from the effects of the black pill. He covered his face with his hands and closed his eyes. His hair fell into his face. Then he put his hand on his shoulder, loosened the collar of his robe a little, reached under the fabric, and dug his nails into the bare skin. Blood began to gather beneath them and trickle down his shoulder, quickly soaking into his clothes. Shen ran his fingernails slowly, leaving four red furrows on his shoulder, then again, again, again, and again. Until his skin looked like the flesh of a wild beast torn by the claws of a predator, until the pain in his chest seemed a little more bearable.