Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 167: Talk on a Cloudy Day

Ramael's breath was heavy and erratic, condensing in the cold air like small clouds of steam that mixed with the thick fog in the environment. His eyes were fixed on Narinder, filled with a terror that made him slowly retreat, crawling on the wet ground while his trembling hands sought support on the slippery earth.Each step that Narinder took towards him resonated like thunder in the ram's ears, reminding him of the fateful confrontation that he thought he had sealed with a draw. But now, faced with that intense red gaze, Ramael realized how wrong he had been. In his mind, images of that duel, of the moments exchanged and of the final moment in which he thought he had balanced things, repeated themselves."I-I have nothing..." Ramael stammered, his voice breaking with each word. You beat me... I am no longer a god, I have no crown... do not hurt me...His words, steeped in fear and despair, struck Narinder's heart harder than any weapon ever could. Though he knew Ramael's fear had been crucial to his victory, he had not expected to see him so broken, so vulnerable. At that moment, Narinder felt a pang of guilt, not wanting Ramael to see him as a monster.With elegant, controlled steps, Narinder came closer, leaning slightly toward the ram as he watched it with a mix of pity and determination. His voice, melodious and soft as a caress, rose through the mist."It's true, you are no longer a god," he said, letting each word fall calmly. "But you are still alive. Why do you think that is?"Narinder's tone was not threatening, but laden with deeper intent. His face, though still elegant and serene, revealed a glimmer of genuine interest. He wanted Ramael to understand that his survival was not a punishment or a mere coincidence.But for Ramael, that closeness was too much. His eyes moved frantically between Narinder's face and the surroundings, looking for a way out that did not exist. Although Narinder tried to approach him with kindness, all the ram saw was the figure of a conqueror ready to devour everything that was left of him.Narinder, sensing the intense tension in the environment, decided to take a step back. His posture was no longer dominant, and his gaze, previously fixed like a spear on Ramael, shifted to one side, as if he wanted to free the ram from the pressure he felt. It was a calculated gesture, an attempt to convey calm and allow Ramael to regain some confidence.With a deep sigh, Narinder broke the silence, his voice now low and full of sincerity."You... were impressive." I don't know how to say it, but... the first time I felt your aura... I... I had no chance against you. Your power was absurdly superior to mine in every way.Every word was laden with a mix of admiration and resignation. It wasn't easy for Narinder to admit that, but the truth of what he had faced in the Great Trial was undeniable. His eyes narrowed slightly as he searched his memory for the exact moment he knew Ramael was an opponent completely unlike any other."How did you achieve such purity?" Narinder continued, his voice tinged with frustration, but also curiosity. "How did you have so much power? Because... despite the fear and doubts I sensed in you... how were you so... at peace?"The revelation was both a compliment and a confession. Narinder recognized something in the ram that puzzled him, something that even he himself lacked.Ramael, still sitting on the ground, blinked in surprise. Narinder's tone was so different from the one he had shown during the test, so human and full of vulnerability, that he found it hard to believe it was the same being. But he knew it was; the heartbeat he heard so clearly was unmistakable. It was the same Narinder, and yet now it seemed... different.The ram tried to get up, though its legs were shaking so much that it could barely stand. Its gaze remained fixed on Narinder, still filled with a mixture of caution and wonder."What are you saying?" Ramael asked, his voice shaking but beginning to regain some firmness.The bewilderment was evident in his eyes. Narinder's words had thrown him off balance, both by the unexpected recognition and by the fact that, for the first time since their confrontation, he felt like he was talking to someone other than a simple adversary.Narinder let out a sigh, a mix of frustration and patience, as he watched the ram intently. From his crown he pulled out a relic and holding Shamura's skull in front of him, slowly turning it between his fingers, as if the object itself could give him the answers he sought."The relics you used... were those of the bishops of your world, were they not?" he asked, his tone controlled but inquisitive. As an example, he held up Shamura's skull in front of Ramael, his piercing gaze studying the ram's every reaction. Part of my reward for winning you was to ask for your relics, but... they are not as strong as the ones you used... so..." he paused, his tone taking on a hint of impatience, "tell me what you did to make them so powerful. I need to know."Ramael stared at the relic for a moment, then looked up at Narinder. His expression, though still wary, began to harden."I will not," he said bravely, his voice firm but laden with suppressed emotion. "You are an evil being who does not deserve more power."The ram's rejection struck Narinder deeper than he would have admitted. He had expected resistance, but not this direct accusation that hurt him unexpectedly. Yet he maintained his neutral stance, his expression unchanging, as if Ramael's words had failed to penetrate his façade.Without saying anything else, Narinder reached for his crown and pulled out the blue gift box, carefully wrapped with a shiny bow."As a sign of good faith," he said, holding the box in front of Ramael, "I have prepared a gift for you."The ram reacted immediately, hitting the box hard. It flew away, rolling on the ground before disappearing into the mist. The blow resonated in the air, but louder than the noise was the echo of rejection.Narinder watched the scene in silence, amazed by the ram's beastly strength, even now that he was no longer a god."Oh, wow," Narinder thought, suppressing a look of amazement. "He still retains that brutal physical strength."Ramael, for his part, faced him with determination, his eyes burning with a fire he had not shown before."So what? Now that's your plan?" he exclaimed, raising his voice. "You want to buy me with gifts? Do you think I'm like any adept who can gain faith just by receiving something nice?"Narinder remained silent, allowing the ram to vent his frustration."I know I lost," Ramael continued, his voice firmer, "but I still don't plan on bowing to you. And besides... if you want that information so badly, why don't you read my mind?"The challenge hung in the air, but far from being enraged, Narinder felt something different. It was strange; anyone else who dared to shout at him like that would have been immediately punished, locked up in jail or subjected to his will. But in front of this ram, who looked at him with determination and a face that, to Narinder, was surprisingly beautiful, he felt something he could not describe.For a moment, Narinder was speechless. There was something in that expression so similar to that of Lambert and Goliath, something that disarmed him.Finally, breaking the silence, Narinder answered firmly, although his tone was unusually soft:"I... cannot read your mind."The statement was direct, but behind it there was something else, a sincerity that he could not hide. Narinder knew that, even if he had the power to do so, he would not try to read Ramael's mind. There was something about him that inspired a respect that he did not fully understand. Perhaps, even, it was something more than respect.Ramael trembled more with each passing second. The cold of the mist, which he had not paid attention to until then, began to penetrate his mortal body. His breath came out in small white clouds, and his skin now showed signs of human vulnerability: a slight tremor in his legs and a shudder he could not control."And what are you going to do with me now?" he asked, his voice strong but with a tremor he could not hide. "Are you... going to get even for our battle? Or are you just going to put on a show of trying to indoctrinate me into becoming a servant of your faith? Do you want to gain my trust so I can tell you the reality of my power?"Ramael crossed his arms, as if trying to protect himself from the cold and, at the same time, appear defiant.Narinder, meanwhile, watched him silently, his tail moving just a little, a reflection of the thoughts swirling in his mind. Although the ram faced him with harsh words, its vulnerable appearance only fueled the feelings that Narinder didn't know how to process."Right now I just want to be able to hold you, protect you from the cold, be able to feel your wool, and understand more of that inner peace of yours that you had..." his mind thought, his gaze fixed on the ram's trembling and the softness of its battered fur.Ramael, as if he could sense Narinder's thoughts, took a step forward and, with unexpected courage, pushed him with both hands. It was a strong blow, full of physical strength and frustration. Although Narinder didn't fall, he took several steps back, surprised by the momentum.When he stabilized, Narinder didn't show anger. On the contrary, a strange and obsessive smile appeared on his face. His red eyes shone brightly as he looked at him, as if something was ignited inside him."His touch, although strong, is very gentle. I want him to be mine. This ram... is like them." Narinder thought, his mind filling with thoughts of desire and fascination that he couldn't control.Ramael noticed that smile and took a step back, his courage wavering."So what? Tell me!" he cried, his voice shaking more from the cold than from fear. "What will be my fate once you have the information you want from me? When you have what you seek, I will simply be thrown away, will I not?"His words were a challenge, but also a cry of desperation. He knew what it was like to be on the brink of uselessness, he knew what it meant to be a means to an end. Now, as a mortal, he feared that his fate was doomed.Narinder wanted to respond. He wanted to tell him that he would never do such a thing, that he did not see him as an object, but as someone he wished to understand and protect. But, just as he was about to speak, his mind filled with memories.Images of his brothers appeared before him like specters from the past. He remembered the moment when, after obtaining the relics, he had sealed them in the Veil. He remembered their screams, their looks of betrayal. He had justified his actions as necessary, as a sacrifice to fulfill his vengeance, but at that moment, guilt hit him like a wave.His expression changed. The obsessive smile disappeared, replaced by a mix of sadness and terror. His red eyes, which had once shone brightly, now seemed dull.Silence stretched between them, broken only by the sound of Ramael's labored breathing and the murmur of the mist around them. Narinder said nothing, but his face said it all: he was facing his own sins, and for a moment, he seemed more lost than the ram himself.The cold was beginning to take control of Ramael's body. His wool, thick and well cared for, was not enough to protect him from the freezing environment that now enveloped him. The worn clothes he wore, made of torn and faded rags, offered little resistance to the frigid wind. His mortal body, devoid of the divinity that had protected him before, trembled visibly. Each breath came out in short, white, choppy puffs as his stamina ebbed.Still, the ram's eyes remained fixed on Narinder, filled with unwavering courage. Noticing the downcast expression on the god's face, Ramael let out a soft sigh, mixed with the trembling of his body, and said,"I was right, wasn't I? If I had to guess... I'd say that when you got what you wanted from the bishops, you got rid of them."The words seemed sharp as daggers, and the ram's voice echoed with a mixture of reproach and bitter understanding. His eyes narrowed as he spoke, remembering the horrors he had witnessed during his fight in the Great Trial."The corrupted relic you used to defeat me... those colorful chains, the screams and wails of despair coming from every link..." Ramael paused, his voice shaking between the cold and pain of the memory. "Your hands aren't even stained with blood; it's your very soul that's stained."Suddenly, a bitter laugh came from his lips. Although his body trembled, he stood with impressive firmness, as if his pride wouldn't allow him to show weakness."Let me tell you something, and listen to me well."Narinder, still wrapped up in his thoughts, was startled to see the ram standing in front of him, challenging him with the force of its presence. Deep down, Narinder's heart began to pound. For an instant, he lost himself in the ram's eyes, eyes that reminded him so much of Lambert and Goliath. That determined look, that resilience in the midst of adversity... it was hypnotic to him.Ramael, ignoring the tremors in his body, continued:"Even if you knew what I did to purify my relics, it is something that a dark, lying, deceitful and manipulative being like you could never understand."The words hit Narinder like a hammer. He felt a mixture of rage and sadness at being judged so harshly, but he could not respond. Something in the ram's strength disarmed him, made him unable to raise his voice.The cold continued, but Ramael did not give in. With an instinctive gesture, he caressed the scar on his abdomen, as if remembering something painful but important."You are someone who would never leave pain behind," Ramael said, his tone filled with an almost painful certainty. "You are the kind of person who would cling to suffering just for fear of ceasing to feel something."Narinder felt the words pierce him, more accurate than any weapon. He wanted to scream, to defend himself, to tell him that he didn't understand anything about what he had suffered or the chains that still bound him to his own torment. But he couldn't. His voice remained trapped in his throat.It was then that his eyes caught something. Through the holes in Ramael's worn clothes, he saw the scar that marked his abdomen. He watched it silently, understanding that, although he didn't know the history of that wound, he knew that the ram had suffered a lot.Without saying a word, Narinder turned around. His steps crunched on the frozen ground as he walked to where the gift Ramael had thrown earlier had fallen. His figure, shrouded in a blanket of mist, looked as serene as it was in pain. Although the ram had rejected him, Narinder was not going to give up.The ram, exhausted by the weight of his emotions and the relentless cold that seeped into his bones, fell to his knees with a dull thud. The damp earth beneath him cushioned the impact, but it didn't stop his body from shaking even more.Ramael raised his head, his eyes filled with a mixture of resignation and defiance."That said... you're not going to get anything out of me," he said in a voice that tried to sound firm, although the trembling gave it away. "Now you can finish me off and end this farce."Narinder, who had been picking up the gift box, stopped suddenly. His dark fur bristled, reflecting the alarm he felt at those words. The mere thought of hurting the ram was unbearable to him, although his pride and mask of neutrality didn't let him show it completely.Ramael, with his legs bent and his shoulders shaking, added in a sharp voice:"If you don't... I'll simply run away somewhere else. You'll never hear from me again, and I'll never hear from you."Narinder slowly turned towards him, and for the first time, his emotional control wavered. A wave of compulsion swept through him, and his eyes glittered with a mixture of desperation and obsession. He stowed the gift box in his crown with an almost mechanical movement and took a step forward."That won't happen," he said in a low, yet shaky tone, as he tried to maintain his composure. "I won't kill you, and you won't run away from me."Narinder paused, his mind churning with a storm of emotions. Finally, he spoke, with a hint of fear that was strange to him:"If you manage to escape from me... I will follow you to the ends of the world. No matter how difficult it is, I will never let you go."From Narinder's perspective, those words were his way of confessing what he felt. In his mind, they were the manifestation of an obsessive and passionate love, a promise not to leave the ram out of his life. But Ramael perceived them in a completely different way.The ram felt how a memory buried deep within him suddenly awakened. The phrase "the ends of the world and I will never let you go" resonated in his mind like an echo of something he had heard before, something that filled him with panic. His breathing became ragged, and he hugged his legs, folding over himself as if trying to protect himself from an invisible danger. His body trembled, not only from the cold, but also from the fear that consumed him.Narinder watched the sudden change in mood in Ramael, and his face reflected a mix of surprise and confusion. He took a step forward, gently extending a hand, as if to comfort him."Ramael?" he murmured, his tone almost pleading as he tried to touch his shoulder.But before he could reach him, Ramael swatted his hand away, his eyes filled with terror."Get away from me!" he cried in a broken voice, before awkwardly getting up and running forward, not looking where he was going because of the fog.Narinder stood frozen in place, blinking in disbelief as he watched the ram go. The mist slowly enveloped him, hiding him from view, but at least Narinder knew that the path he was heading towards was safe, as the Ram was heading straight to the cult."But what was that?" he whispered, confused, his heart pounding in his chest.A few steps away, the Mystic remained motionless, observing the interaction in complete silence. His enigmatic gaze followed every movement of Ramael and Narinder, as if he were analyzing something much deeper than either of them could understand. Without intervening, the Mystic continued there, his presence almost ethereal, simply observing.