Elydes-Chapter 308: The Price for Freedom

“What are you three mumbling?” Derrell squeezed past Niel and Mari to join the party. “No need to be shy if you need my help.”

Anyone else wanna come?

Kai put the bead away before it attracted more snoopers. “It’s nothing. We were discussing how far these tunnels go.”

“Down to the abyssal layers and as wide as the Lake of Myst,” Derrell said with a dramatic tone. “The cultists killed the beasts around here, but it's still easy to get lost. Which is why you should listen to m—”

“Wait.” Kai shushed his ramblings. “What did you say? These caverns extend beyond the lake?”

“Possibly.” Derrell shrugged. “A cultist complained about having to row a boat back and forth. He seemed to imply there was another option. Or it’s also possible I dreamed that conversation… You know, sometimes it’s hard to tell…” The man scratched his blond mop of hair and gave another shrug. “We’ll pick the best path if you follow me. Not to brag, but my Luck is really, really good. Like one in a million good. Once I…”

If it’s so good, how did you get kidnapped?

Kai exhaled a puff of vapor—the temperature had fallen just above freezing. Perhaps it was night outside, or they were further underground. The cold wouldn’t affect him much, but many escaped prisoners barely had rags to cover themselves.

They’ll collapse when the stamina tonic runs out.

Another reason to hurry.

“Tell me if you get any strong hunch. Otherwise, keep quiet. The echoes can carry far.” Kai pushed ahead where the tunnel became too narrow to get flanked.

Hobbes? Is it possible to find a way to the surface outside the lake? Yeah, I know we’d already be out if we could teleport like you, but… You’re a space cat, not a silly oracle cat. I know… Okay, stay close.

Behind the peeved mental remarks, his familiar admitted to not being all-knowing. He’d have to travel too far to find an exit on firm land that might not even exist.

You’re doing great, bud. Get us as far away as possible from the cultists.

Kai squeezed every morsel of his confidence through the bond. A potential underground path was much better than getting trapped on an island and swimming through beast-infested waters. If the cavern system reached beyond the lake, he could dig his own way out given time.

I did also tell Valela where we were going.

Knowing her, she must have alerted the Republic soon after he left the House of Mirrors. Kai only doubted whether the officials would get off their butts and do something. From the bead vibrating in his pocket, their time was tight.

If we go any faster, they won’t keep up.

Marching through the dark, craggy tunnels was already a hazard. The prisoners' moods were high on the spur of their escape, but they had to stumble without light or warmth for hours more. His pragmatic side was thankful to the prisoners who ran on their own and provided a distraction.

How far do we have to go to be safe? Is there even a distance?

A vague sense of ominousness lingered in his mind. The cultists could be a mile away or hot on their heels.

How far does their base reach?

The passage opened into a vast cavern with a flattened floor and a crystal filtering light from above—at least the wards had gotten scarcer.

Derrell used the wider space to poke his back. “You’re good at sidetracking me. Something’s up? I have to know what is happening to help.”

He’s not gonna give up, is he?

“I told you it’s nothing,” Kai said, hoping to drop the subject. Escaping was hard enough without the ex-prisoners going into a panic.

“Sure, sure…” Derrell rolled his eyes back so much he almost tripped on a rock. “Stupid pebbles… Wait! Did the cultist realize we escaped?”

I hate you. Damned snooper.

“Keep your voice down.” Kai grabbed his arm to drag him ahead of the main group, shaking his head as Kea was about to join. Flynn was murmuring to himself and hardly seemed to notice. “It’s nothing we didn’t expect. They still have no idea where we are.”

Hopefully.

“You don’t have to convince me.” Derrell attempted to free himself. “And I know I’m a treasure, but care to remove your grip? You’re gonna leave an imprint.”

Kai weighed the chances of Derrell making a bigger communion and let him go. “Sorry, I’m just nervous.”

“Yeah, being chased by a group of bloodthirsty nutjobs tends to do that.” Derrell nodded sagely as if he had a lot of experience on the matter. “I try to focus on the positives. This morning, I was chained in a cell. And now, look at me! Free as a butterfly! Things tend to work themselves out when you’re lucky.”

I was getting worried you hadn’t mentioned your Luck in the last five seconds.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Kai turned away to focus on replenishing his mana reserves.

Derrell either didn’t get the hint or—more likely—didn’t care. He strode by his side as if he were the one leading. “Do you have a plan besides running as fast as we can?”

“No, do you? I’m open to other ideas.”

“Well… you could let me help pick a path. Better than going at random.”

Kai almost groaned out loud, using Mind Split to speak with Derrell. “Did any of the tunnels we took give you a bad feeling?”

“No, but that’s not always how it works.”

“Did you have the whim to pick a different tunnel?”

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“Well, I—” His mismatched gold and blue eyes narrowed on him. “Now that you mention it, no. It’s strange. Some of my good fortune must have rubbed off on you. I’ve always been good at inspiring people, though…” Derrell leaned to stare uncomfortably close at his face. “What’s your Luck?”

Such a punchable face.

“That’s personal information.”

“C’mon, man. Just give me an estimate. I told you mine.”

“And I freed you from a cell and a fate worse than death. I say you got a pretty good deal.”

“Okay, okay.” Derrell rubbed his arms with a sulk. “Technically, it was your tall friend who unlocked my shackles, but fine. Let’s not get hung up on the details. I can smell a fellow gambler even if you don’t say anything.”

Uhh… At least he has lowered his tone.

Kai massaged his temples, wondering how much time the blabbering man could net them if he froze him to a wall to distract the cultists—alas, he had no mana to waste. “It’s not Luck. It’s that we’re not running blindly.”

“What?” His eyebrows spiked up his forehead. “Do you have a map…?”

“My familiar is scouting the path ahead.”

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“Oh…” Derrell deflated, craning his neck to scan the man-made tunnel. “You mean that puffy silver cat? I was wondering where it had gone. I’m more of a dog person myself. Not to be judgy. Your cat looks like an indoor pet with all that shiny fur. Have you tried trimming it?”

No, I like having two hands.

“I’ll let you try if we survive.” Kai smiled, imagining the scene. “Hobbes can move faster than people think.”

“Really? Why did your friend carry him around then? You shouldn’t teach your pet bad habits. How can he act lazy in this situation?”

Spirits, I can’t wait to introduce you two.

Kai stopped at the entrance of a jagged cavern. A whisper sent a shiver down his back, making his heartbeat spike.

Not yet.

Just as he questioned if he had heard right, his thoughts were drowned in murmurs of danger. Hobbes reached through the bond—over a dozen cultists were on their tracks, seven tunnels back.

Shit! Why are there so many?

“This way.” Kai decisively jogged down a tunnel.

Hobbes, see if you can lure them away.

Confused exclamations echoed behind him at the sudden increase in pace, though Derrell remained strangely quiet.

“What’s going on?”

“Can’t we… rest a moment?”

“Why are we—”

Kai took out a crystal light to get their attention—the time for stealth was over. There was no point in pacing themselves if the cultists captured them. “They’re onto us. Spare your breath and run faster.”

Their thumping footsteps soon became the only sound in the cavern. Fear killed any complaint and pushed their legs, too focused on not falling behind to argue with him.

Without getting asked, Derrell slowed to help Mari carry Niel, while Kea ran up to him, gripping a dagger. “How many?”

“Too many to fight,” Kai spoke firmly. “We’d stand no chance even if we were well rested. And we aren’t.”

“Can’t we set an ambush? We already did it once.”

“That won’t work again,” Kai said, shaking his head. “These aren’t like those unaware bastards in the chamber. They’re expecting us and probably have martial professions and weapons. Even if we take down a couple by chance, they'll overwhelm us.”

“Are you—” Kea pressed her lips tight. “Okay, I understand… I’ll close the line, so no one falls behind. But we can’t keep this pace for long.”

Kai split a fraction of his attention to keeping track of her. “Thank you.”

How is it going, bud? Uh, not well…

Despite Hobbes' attempts to lure them in another direction, the cultists weren’t taking the bait. They stuck to the trail and ignored any distractions—only five tunnels between them now.

Watch them from a distance, they found the trick. You can’t let them see you.

Hobbes' identity and powers were one of the few trump cards he had left.

Kai took a sharp turn into a spell-made corridor, scanning ahead to avoid dead ends. No matter how many winding paths they took, the cultists stayed right on their track.

Fuck me and them. They have a tracker skill.

Their lead was rapidly closing. He could go faster, but the rest of the worn-out group couldn’t. Kea helped a girl from tripping at the tail of the line and pulled another to their feet. Grit and fear couldn’t break physical limits. Many already heaved for breath, too weakened by the imprisonment.

They could barely keep pace, let alone go faster.

We can’t outrun the cultists.

His mind whirled in a hundred directions for a solution—a way to salvage the situation. The truth was undeniable: if he didn’t act, the cultists would catch up to them in minutes. Even if they weren't killed outright, they wouldn’t get another chance to escape.

What can I do?

Among the dozen cultists, they would have the magic to shatter an ice wall. Same for a wall of vines or dirt. Kai briefly considered collapsing a tunnel before remembering they were beneath a lake. Drowning in a dark cavern was high on his list of deaths to avoid.

The dense mana in the rock prevented Mana Observer from seeing far. And even if he succeeded, the cultists would find another way through the interconnected cave system.

C’mon, think. I must do something. There isn’t time.

The cultists were just three tunnels back, and he still couldn’t devise a decent plan. Kai hesitated before the umpteenth branching tunnel. Hobbes hadn’t had time to scou,t and Hallowed Intuition was a mess of whispers.

“Pick left,” Derrell shouted behind him.

“Thanks.” Kai followed the advice, hoping not to meet a dead end. He slowed to lift Niel off Mari’s back. Niel had passed out, and from her labored breaths and bloodless face, she wasn’t that far off. Behind them, Flynn dripped sweat under Rain’s weight, whispering under his breath.

They’re all too exhausted even to put up a fight.

“Does your Luck say anything else?” Kai asked. “I could use some advice.”

Or a miracle.

“It says my best chance is to ditch you,” Derrell said with a bright grin. “Hey! Don’t scowl at me. I didn’t say I would do it, but it doesn’t look good.”

“Thanks.” Kai watched the haggard group stumbling at the back.

While irritating, Derrell did have a point. There were only two choices left: they could either abandon the other prisoners or someone had to stay behind. Both were shitty options.

Kai cursed any gods willing to listen. He had already gotten stuck in the Hidden Sanctuary once to protect the archipelago. Did he have to sacrifice himself again to protect these strangers?

He wouldn’t have considered the option if Flynn and Kea weren’t also here.

The thirty-three runaways would fold to the cultists in seconds if left behind. How much faster could they run while carrying Neil? Enough to beat a squad of yellow professionals with home-field advantage?

Mari looked at the end of her rope, and Flynn would soon be too tired to carry Rain.

I am doing this again, aren’t I…?

His mana reserves were almost full.He was the only one who could lead the cultists away. Any other solution would gain them a handful of minutes at most.

Guess I’m doing this again.

Kai felt strangely relaxed once he made his choice. Fighting for his life looked much less stressful than leading a group. Kea would argue and cave in since she was the only one who could carry Niel. “Derrell, lead the way. I’ll try to slow them and hide your traces.”

“Okay. I’ll pray to the Moons for your safe return.” Derrell's quick response made Kai question if the guy hadn’t anticipated his choice.

Does it make a difference? I’ll punch his face if I survive.

“Wait!” Flynn stopped him as he was about to go to the tail of the line.

Kai slowed, despite having no intention of changing his mind. “It'll be easier if I do this alone.”

“I know. But Rain wants to come with you.”

Uh, what?

The siren lifted his head from Flynn’s shoulder, eyes wide awake, wandering the cavern. His face was a tapestry of purple bruises and swollen cuts, though his embarrassment was unmistakable. “Ehm… Thanks for not abandoning me. And the potions…”

“When—”

“I woke up when you started running. Sorry for not telling you. I had to clear my mind… I didn’t want to distract you.”

Kai swallowed the flood of rising questions—the cultists were two tunnels away. “You’re badly hurt. Can you even stand?”

“I can cast spells. My head wasn’t hit too badly and my mana is full.” Rain finally met his gaze, an icy determination over a spark of anger. “I admit I might have underestimated the dangers. But I can help you now. I’d rather return to the Deep than flee.”

Well… if you put it like that.

Who was he to deny someone else’s reckless decision?

Kai passed Niel's limp body back to Mari while Rain weakly attempted to stand alone. “Hold on a little longer, I’ll buy you time.”

“Best of Luck. Don’t worry about me, I’ll bring these people out.” Derrell waved with a wink before disappearing down the leftmost passage.

I’m so gonna punch him.

Mari mouthed him an apology before running after the moron. They stood at the intersection of three tunnels. Flynn lingered with a foot in both tunnels, his jaw tight and shoulders slightly hunched. “I’m sorry I’m so—”

“Don’t say stupid stuff and run. You must keep an eye on Derrell. I trust you to lead them out.” Kai curtly gestured for him to go. “C’mon, I’ll see you on the other side.”

Flynn nodded. “See you on the other side.”

“Stop wasting time and go,” Kai said, pulling the siren aside before the main group trampled them.

He moved them to the cavern on the right while the frantic mass of prisoners ran them by. Most people barely seemed to notice them; only Kea stopped to stare at him, an unconscious girl on her back.

“Go!” Kai said. “They need you. We’ll be fine on our own.”

Kea chewed her lip, gaze flickering. “Just don’t die.”

“I never do.” Kai smiled and watched her go.

There were only they left in the cavern. He sent a pulse of Earth to erase the tracks on the ground and turned to the last passage that led them here.

“There are fourteen coming,” Rain informed him drily. “I can take down half of them in this state. Any ideas for the other half?”

“Hmm…” Kai gathered every speck of Earth mana in his veins. “We’re going to bring down the ceiling.”

And pray Luck is with us.