The Chronicles of a Scalebound Sage: Wandmaker Vol.2

WM [99] Don't Think About It

"You can't seriously be thinking of going back!" Eliska screamed, her voice breaking as tears welled in her eyes.

Isin met her gaze, his expression unreadable, his body rigid as if bracing for a blow. They had fought about this for days, ever since he told her he was leading the return team to Echo Site 15. He had to report to Nuriel, had to convince her to release more humans to him.

He wouldn't tell her he already made it to the Alpha Extraction Site only that he believed he could find it. As far as Nuriel would know, the others who had gone with him were all dead. Giving them the time to work in secret and strengthen the foundation of what could be humanity's greatest chance at freedom.

He wanted to stay but it had to be him. If anyone else tried, Nuriel would kill them without a second thought. As much as he hated it Nuriel had an odd fascination with him. He knew that out of all humans she wouldn't let the only son of Bazaath die.

"Eliska," he said, his voice quieter now, almost pleading as he reached for her. "I have to."

She recoiled, swatting his hand away. "You don't have to do anything! You're choosing to go back to that monster!"

"If I don't, no one else will make it out." Isin said. "Nuriel will kill them on sight."

"What's to stop her from killing you?" Eliska asked.

Isin took a deep breath keeping his expression neutral. It wasn't that he hadn't thought about it, of course it was a possibility. He thought about death at Nuriels hands over and over. He had played out every possible outcome, every path this mission could take. The odds were slim even Laxy said so. It didn't change much though things had always been slim.

"What am I supposed to do if you die?" Eliska's voice was quieter now, raw with something deeper than anger, deeper than fear. "What are we supposed to do?"

Her hand drifted to her stomach, barely noticeable, but enough for the breath to catch in his throat. He knew. He had felt it. Even before she told him, before she had the chance to say it out loud. He looked up at the ceiling then back at her despite knowing what he was leaving behind, he was still leaving.

He knew in his heart he would not stop here. He would not stop until he could free humanity and kill every divine that believed humans were cattle to raise and butcher. Isin clenched his fists, swallowing the regret that threatened to rise in his throat like bile.

"I am not going to die," he said, forcing steel into his words. "I will come back. I swear it. And when I do, we'll be together. Safe. Here. Where none of those Divine will ever touch us again."

Eliska stared at him, her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something. He expected her to say something. To beg him to stay, curse him for leaving. Something. Instead, she set her jaw.

"Fine," she said.

Isin stepped closer to her holding her close and she didn't pull away. Isin knew she didn't believe him. She didn't think he was coming back. Worst of all deep down, neither did he.

***

Bjorn woke up precariously near the edge of his new sky island. He groaned as he smacked his dry mouths, one letting out a yawn. He scanned his surroundings quickly the island was small with a single defining feature being the rock formation at the far edge that almost looked like a perfectly carved octagonal spire. Thankfully he had not passed out on an island with monsters or he would be a very dead hydra.

"Seven hours." Failsafe said. "Night is approaching."

Given how odd day and night felt in the Chaos Lands Failsafe was their time keeper. Somehow the reincarnation construct always knew exactly what time it was. So any time he slept he asked Failsafe to remind him of the time. It was important since they were on a bit of a time crunch. If possible Bjorn wanted to be done before the month was up but would hope that Tanisha's group will come through on lengthening time by destroying the androids.