14 Conspiracy (1/2)

Ultimately, Garett avoided the topic. If he were to explain how he was able to beat four armed men and even survived a shot from a revolver, he was sure to be put into scrutiny! Even if he didn't do anything wrong, just the existence of his powers was already enough to be suspected as a spy!

”It's good that I'm the one investigating myself, this way, I'll be able to avoid the investigation, and find a way to keep myself off the hook.” He finally had arrived home, the tension that was pressing on his shoulders diminishing greatly.

Entering his apartment, just as Garett was about to stumble on the couch for a well-deserved rest, he immediately felt something amiss. Taking a cursory glance throughout the room, he immediately discovered where this sensation steemed from.

Someone had ransacked his house! Although he did make an enemy of those drunk thugs, it wasn't to this point! And he even doubted they were capable enough to discover where he lived.

Maybe the executors are still investigating me? No, Father Charles said I'm under the jurisdiction of the hunters, and they have no reason to investigate me... Garett tried to remain calm, his thoughts racing all over the place.

He was very worried that this could be related to the days he couldn't remember. Unsure of what happened during those days, he could only speculate, and everything should be related to the underground ruins and the old book hidden under Professor's Mirth's house!

”What should I do? Maybe look for the church's protection?”

Wait! Is it possible that they're still here!?... As the sudden possibility crossed his thoughts, he felt chills crawling up his back; his nerves taut with apprehension.

His body froze, he couldn't decide if he should advance or retreat; every cell in his body screamed in contradiction. Those people could be watching his every movement now!

Sweat started to coat his skin as he reached his hands to his pocket; starting to materialize a knife, he readied his body to action.

I should retreat. Alice should still be at the inn, so I can reach her in five minutes if I run... Garett inwardly convinced himself, and he suddenly controlled the materialized knife to fly and pierce the corridor's window!

He took advantage of the noise; His every step measured as he instinctively threw his body backward, and ran to the open streets!

The noise should've alarmed the neighbors, that should buy me time... He put the hastily formed plan into motion. He clearly heard the sound of rapid footsteps while his body shot backward, his assumptions proving true!

Assuming that the ransacker would first inspect the broken window, he made use of a blind spot and ran towards the back alley. Every step of his measured, controlling the weight of his sore body to minimize the noise he emitted.

If this guy is related to Professor Mirth, he could very well be a Marked, and a ritual bestowed one at that! I can't afford the risk of taking him in alone, who knows what kind of weird power he could have... Garett felt tired. In a few short days, his life turned upside down! A little over a week ago, he was a common scholar recently admitted at the College of Irmwrynn, and now... now he was a Marked currently running for his dear life!

”The college! Are they involved in this?” Garett felt a conspiracy brewing.

The college was the only neutral institution in the kingdom, not answering to neither the churches nor to the royals. How could an organization like this remain afloat while keeping its influence in a world of Marked? It surely had its own means of asserting power!

Professor Mirth Lumens was a renowned Doctor and philanthropist, his core allegiance being to the College of Irmwrynn! He might have kept some secrets to the organization, and the book should be the one of, if not the most important one!

Therefore, Garett believed to be embroiled in a situation where he was used as a pawn! Everything, starting with the day he was accepted at the institution, was somehow connected to the scholars. The only thing was that they hadn't foreseen the Starfire! With it destroying the Professor's house and making it possible to enter the underground ruins, he had been the one to profit from their plot!

It sounds a lot like infighting, was there a conflict between factions? Wait! The Executors and Father Charles should already be aware of the scholar's intentions, and they just chose not to tell me... Piece by piece, the puzzle was being completed in Garett's mind, even if it left more questions than answers.

”I'm being used as bait!” A sudden realization dawned on him, and indignance started to take root inside his heart.

Everything pointed to the churches using him to catch the scholars; this way, they could gain leverage on the neutral organization and tip the scales of power!

Nonetheless, he still ran towards Alice. If even a few alcoholics could attack him and the hunters weren't sure of what really transpired, he might have been wrong on his assumption of being used as bait.

Or maybe I'm right, just that the one monitoring me is Alice, and she is too occupied with drinking... Garett inwardly lampooned, feeling that it was a highly likely development.

After a few minutes of constant running, his already sore body was at its limit. Fortunately, he had finally arrived at the pub Alice liked to frequent, the shouts of drunk people and merry laugher a great contrast with Garett's mood.

He didn't even need to enter the building, as he could already see Alice occupying an outside table. Accompanying her were a few other customers, he could vaguely remember them from the day before.