Reincarnated Without a Body

ch21: Grasping at straws

An and Jing carried us downstair, each holding one of our arm. The confused Lina followed behind us.

The stair lead directly to the main hall, at the opposite end from the door. Theres about a dozen people in the hall. Half of them are Bear's servants. The servants are all standing by the side walls, ready to receive and execute any order immediately. Seeing them, Lina quickly scuttle over to their side, trying to blend in. But she still look out of place to me, being a little girl besides all those serious looking adults.

The atmosphere in the hall is somewhat tense. We have visitors. Bear is sitting on his chair right in the middle of the hall facing the door and the visitors. The visitor is an angry looking grandpa wearing all white attire, sitting apposite of Bear across the rectangular table. They're arguing over something.

The angry grandpa look at us and froze. The anger on his face quickly fade away and is replaced with surprise. His face turn from angry red to pale white, as if all of his blood had just been drained out of him.

An and Jing walk to Bear's right side and put us down. As usual, all eyes are on us. I'm already used to this by now. I look around trying to figure out what's happening. Bear looks annoyed. Kanan, who's standing behind Bear's chair have a serious looking face, just like the rest of the servants. Even Jing look serious for once.

As for the old visitor, there's discontent and fear underneath his surprised face. The three man standing behind the old man also have their eyes wide open from shock.

"Sir Petir, what is this?" The old man unsure of what he's seeing.

"This is the 'hoax' we use to swindle your believers." Bear replied sarcastically.

We've been bought by Bear for months, but we've never know his name. So Bear's name is Petir huh.

"Take her back upstair." He said to An.

"Hah! This must be an illusion! Why else would you be so hasty sending them away." The old man shouted, denying the existence in front of his eyes.

He took a step forward and extend his palm toward us. Boom! A shock wave of magic energy went through our body, stirring the magic flow inside us for a second.

Nothing happen.

"Is it?" Bear ask smugly.

"I... no... It can't be.. " The old man is staring directly into our eyes, shifting between Emi and me.

He steal a glance at Bear before sending another shock wave towards us. It looks the same as the first, but it's actually different. This time, it feels like I know what he's doing and why. It's as if he's conveying his intent to us without using any words.

I suddenly know he's the Pope of the royal cathedral. His thought is in shambles right now. There's fear, belief, caution, concern, help, all jumbled up together in his mind. I can't explain how I knew all that. It's not conveyed by using any words. I just suddenly know it.

My mind and heart began to race. I saw a chance from this old man. A chance to be free. I have no proof, no evidence. It could be just my imagination, my delusion, but I'm grabbing this chance in front of me.

I steeled my heart for a beating, channelled magic into our legs and jump towards the old man.

"Swoosh!"

Suddenly a surge of mana envelope us and stopped us right after our first step. We are unable to move forward. It feels like there's a thick rope binding our limbs. Then it gets worse. It feels like we are being buried completely underneath a mountain of sand. Now we can't move a muscle. Even breathing is hard. We are being held in place by an invisible force.