Chapter 23 A Difficult Choice (1/2)
”You're leaving tomorrow?!”
Master Zhao nodded ”With the attention the battle at Windsong'sbefore the Acadeer than the previous ones”
”But can't we hide?” Arran asked ”After we fled Fulai City, we didn't see any signs of the Acadeain?”
”Because I killed over a dozen Acadees,” Master Zhao said plainly ”Before, they were just looking for an initiate with a forbidden Real for someone who attacked the Academy”
Arran frowned ”So there's no way for us to hide?”
”By myself, I can hide quite easily,” Master Zhao said ”And even if they find , it will be far more difficult”
”If they find us, can't you just fight them?” Arran asked The battle at the monastery was still fresh in his mind, and from what he had seen there, Master Zhao had little reason to fear the Academy
”Probably,” Master Zhao said ”But if I defeat the ones who are searching for us now, er than the last Any victory would merely draw even more attention”
”What happens to me after you leave? Without your help, I don't stand a chance of escaping theh to uide them to safety, what chance did Arran have by himself?
”You have two choices,” Master Zhao said
Arran listened intently, understanding that what Master Zhao was about to tell hiht well determine whether he would live or die
”The first is to hide away by yourself,” Master Zhao continued ”The Acade for me, and you should be able to escape their notice at least for a while Using that time, you could travel to a remote location in the mountains, where the Acade you”
”And then what do I do?”
Master Zhao shrugged ”Spend a century or two training, and you will probably be able to become a Master, or even a Grand alive without ht, Arran shook his head Even spending years alone in thecenturies training by himself? Even if he survived, he would probably lose histhat it would be so
”The other option is to join the Shadowflame Society,” Master Zhao said
”The Shadowflame Society?” Arran had heard the name before, but he did not knohat it was
”There are four Great Societies in the Empire,” Master Zhao said ”Each of the one of the Empire's borders The Shadowflame Society is one of these Great Societies”
”Won't the Academy be able to find me there?” Arran asked
”Even if they found you, there would be little they could do,” Master Zhao replied ”The Great Societies are powerful enough that even the Acadehtly Certainly, they would not start a conflict with the Shadowflale initiate, forbidden Realm or not”
”What's the catch?” Arran asked with a frown If this Shadowflame Society was as powerful as Master Zhao said, surely the ested it earlier — unless there were some major downsides
”The catch, as you put it, is that it will be dangerous”
”Dangerous?” Arran asked ”But I thought you said I would be safe froer would not come from the Academy,” Master Zhao explained ”To join the Shadowflame Society, you will have to serve across the border for a year, hunting es Most of those who join do not survive their first year of service”
Hearing this, Arran sed hard