Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 79: Chatting through cobwebs

Narinder watched his cult, scattered and engaged in the party. The followers were reclining, some with glasses of wine and beer in hand, others voraciously devouring plates of food. Laughter and toasts echoed in the air, and although their faces radiated pure joy, Narinder felt an abysmal disconnection with that environment. He smiled gently at them, but it was an empty smile, a mere gesture that hid the tiredness that was eating away at him from within.

Without thinking too much, he decided to leave the cult and go to the mystical merchant. "Maybe an empty chat with him will clear my mind a little," he thought as his feet automatically carried him towards the portal that connected to that strange merchant.

Upon arriving, he was greeted by the enigmatic presence of the merchant, surrounded by artifacts and mysterious relics. "Greetings, mystic," Narinder said, his voice sounding more tired than he expected, "I've already dealt with Kallamar and I have several god's tears. Spare me the roulette this time and just give me the rewards straight."

The mystic, with his distant but ever-enigmatic air, replied, "Kallamar didn't care that I lost my hearing, because he was never inclined to listen. As foolish as he seemed, he wielded the power of his crown without discrimination."

Narinder looked at him and took the rewards—necklaces and blue tablets—without much enthusiasm. He looked at them for a moment, but his mind was elsewhere. He fell silent, wanting to say something more, wanting to prolong the conversation somehow, perhaps hoping to find some comfort, or at least distraction. But the mystic was not the kind of company for such conversations, and Narinder knew it.

Without a goodbye, Narinder left the merchant behind and headed for the portal to the Silk Cradle, the region where his last brother, Shamura, resided. He felt the weight of his dark thoughts tightening his chest, and his only way out seemed to be to face more enemies, to unleash his anger and anxiety in battle. "At least that will distract me for a while," he thought as he passed through the portal, his mind mired in restlessness.

The journey through the Silk Cradle had been frustratingly monotonous for Narinder. With his power and aura increased after the last sealing ritual, any creature that crossed his path—heretics, poisonous spiders, scorpions—receded without even trying to confront him. "They don't even have the courage to try," he thought, feeling the emptiness that consumed him deepen. What once would have been an almost thrilling confrontation was now a simple walk in solitude, and the adrenaline of yesteryear had become an unbearable burden.

As he neared the heart of the Silk Cradle, where his showdown with a servant of Shamura awaited him, something caught his eye. In the distance, he spotted a figure dragging what looked like a creature wrapped in thick web. As he came closer, he instantly recognized the white rabbit leading his victim. It was Fera, the new companion of Helob the spider merchant.

Fera smiled at the sight. "Oh! Just look! If it isn't the three-eyed cat that escaped my trap the other time," he said with a light laugh. He sat down on the trapped wolf he was carrying. "What brings you here? Or do you want to buy this wolf from me? It's a bit heavy, but I'll let you have it for 40 gold coins."

Narinder watched him silently for a moment before slowly advancing towards him. "I could just steal your prey or attack you for it," he said in a tone that was dripping with menace.

Fera, however, didn't seem intimidated. His answer was calm, almost carefree. "It's possible, of course. But from hunter to hunter, there is honor, isn't there? I know that if you wanted to kill me, you would have done it already.

Though I must say, that aura you carry is a very effective repellent." He smiled, showing sharp teeth that did not belong to an ordinary rabbit, but to a predator disguised as prey.