Chapter 107 - One-Hundred-Three (1/2)

We somehow manage to finally go back to the building with all the plants were I first met Cain, but for some reason… it was on fire!

I sniff out the place while hearing shouts and seeing buckets of water been brought back and forth to appease the fire as the big flames shiny up the sky, dancing like little devils as they consume with hunger a place full of wood and plants.

I start getting worried that, amidst the flames, some bodies could be found, especially of the person that I was looking for.

Well, how much value my word would have if I get Isa killed not even a day after promising to take this annoying brat away safely?

My already sour mood was going down south quickly.

The once immaculate white walls were now black and threatening to fall as they were savagely consumed, and as my eyes pass over the chaos of the once immaculate pristine environment, I cannot stop myself from thinking how that seemed like a bad omen; how it was just the beginning… of the corruption that was bound to grow inside this place.

With a frown I finally find Isaac's smell over the dust and soot, having a hard time making sense of the scents as my nose is constantly attacked by the black smoke.

As I walk over, sniffing the air and following his trace, guiding this little pack around, I pass by the other nuns and eunuchs as they- or rather, some of them- work hard to stop the fire, while others gossip.

And of course I perch my ears to hear it better, especially when our name comes out of their mouths.

”No way, why would the Terror be here? Is a joke right?” One of the nuns ask, but by the looks of it that one was not present when the fire began, her clothes still pristine and very clean, while the other coughed as she spoke:

”Are you questioning this sister's words? How dare you!” Still coughing and trying to clean her dirty clothes, the already angry woman seemed even more displeased by the lack of respect showed by the other. ”Know your place!”

”S-sorry high sister, I didn't mean it that way, is just that is hard to believe… what does a beast like that has to do with us? How it entered the place without being seen? Is it big as a mountain as they say?”

”Silence! Your voice annoys me!” She says after sitting on the side while making the other fan her as she continues: ”And how am I supposed to know how a beast's mind works?! The only thing I saw- and I did saw alright- is that that good for nothing Isa brought him in! That I'm sure of! And I told you all from the beginning that that woman wasn't worth the air she breaths! Should have got rid of her sooner, now look at what she has done!”

I finally reach a point on the road where I'm unable to hear more of her words, but before that I'm able to see a crowd gather around her as she keeps complaining.

Well if that gossip wouldn't spread quicker than the fire behind them.

But what the hell was that about the Terror? I did not show up there! Though I can say I left a mark on the battlefield, none had gone there yet for that being the cause of this talk! How quick could that information go? Not faster than myself walking up to this place!

And as I feared, Isa was being framed, or at least put to questioning… it was only a matter of time before they realize his secret, and if so… not only a traitor, but a sinner and liar.

I cannot even phantom what punishments await him, and even though it was not my problem it doesn't mean I'll be a cold-hearted creature and leave him to die here after helping us out.

Though it doesn't mean that I will babysit him either… nor trust him.

One problem at a time, first find him, get out, save Leo, save my brother.

Suddenly his smells drift away from the main path, turning towards the woods that surround the place, and narrowing my eyes I can see that there was a hole on the barrier right there, a place where they linked together, barely able to fit a person in.

I could clearly see it with my third eye, but normal people could not, so it wasn't a surprise to see some problems with big barriers like this, is like trying to draw with your eyes close; who could blame the magicians for such flaws? Even more when more than one person was involved in such big project.

But still, how could Isa know of such thing? Could he see it too? Or perhaps…

It wouldn't surprise me if he had a few plans for running away up his sleeve, he was basically living under his enemies nose, this sort of thing was bound to happen one day.

No doubt, I finally manage to find him down the mountain, stumbling over, but sure of which direction to take, already away from the others, the darkness probably making things hard for him as his feet keeps getting stuck on roots and bumping unto rocks.

I stop, and suddenly an idea comes to mind that makes me smile and wiggle my tail in the air as I half-crouch in a playful manner that makes the others frown.