Sylver Seeker Chapter 31: The Good, The Bad

Ch031-The Good, The Bad...

-

-

*Adema

Where is he! Nyx bellowed, shoving her way through soldiers who were easily twice her height and many tis more her width. They straightened their backs and got out of her way, almost tripping over their feet as they did so.

Ah. Right on ti. The king said lazily, sitting up straighter on his throne. Out of everyone in the room, he was the only one even slightly relaxed.

WHERE IS HE! Nyx shouted, causing a few of the weaker elite guards to topple to the ground, carried off imdiately by the shaking hands of the others.

In the South Highlands. Near Adbark if I understood correctly. The king answered, gesturing with his hand at one of the still-standing n near his throne.

Hes What? Nyx asked, brushing her hair back and taking an extrely deep breath.

Adbark. He got a report of a lich waking up and getting active and took Edmund with him to kill it. Gave this to give to you when you eventually showed up. The king answered, as a small chest was placed on the handle of his throne.

He propped the chest open and inside was a severed hand, with a slightly glowing tattoo at the wrist, and a strange-looking double-sided short staff.

I What? Nyx asked, as Adema followed after her through the line of giant n and stood next to her.

You two wanted to retire, and Syl got tired of waiting. So he convinced Ed to help him handle a demi-god level lich, after helping Ed kill the head cultist of the Amphitrite cult, who just so happens to be-

-a demi-god level threat. Adema finished for him.

The two won stood there, staring at the young man in front of them and Nyx was the first to speak.

And you just let him go? Nyx asked, the tone of her voice an odd calm.

Of course. He apologized for his behavior when he was younger, and I accepted his apology. I no longer have a qualm with him or you. He asked to hold onto these for a few days until you showed up, and then pass them on to you. Which is what I am now doing. The king explained, ever so lightly moving the box forwards towards the two won.

Nyx placed her hand on the box and it disappeared along with its contents.

Are you telling , that right now, Syl and Ed are fighting a fucking demi-god level lich? Adema asked, looking the king right in the eye.

After successfully killing a demi-god level priest. And roughly 30 temples before getting to him. Which in my personal opinion, is a whole lot harder considering this isnt the first lich hes gone after. I dont understand why youre so worried. Its not like theyre going to fight it head-on. You know Syl. I know its easy to forget with his unbearably cheerful attitude, and boyish good looks, but hes easily the trickiest bastard whos ever lived. I an, Im a true immortal, and even Im a little afraid of him. Between facing the two of you head-on, and genuinely pissing him off, I wouldnt even think twice about it. The king reasoned, standing up from his throne and turning the two won around by the shoulders.

Now. Ive got the entire month planned for you two. Syl said its going to take a while for you to learn to relax, so its my job to show you all the ways you can spend your ti when you tire yourself out from devoting every waking mont to research. The king explained, walking them down the corridor and past his legendary immortal army, that now had a very faint sll of urine coming off them.

*Sylver

Sylver had mixed feelings regarding the device he was using. On the one hand, he hated it because he couldnt understand how it worked. He understood how to use it, without any issue, but he wasnt sensing a drop of mana emanating from it, and it was killing him to break it open to see what was inside.

On the other hand, he had already crossed more distance using it in half an hour, than he had during all the hours he had spent climbing by himself. So the thing could stay a mystery. For now.

There was also the fact that he had fucked up one of the eyes and knew what he had to do, but didnt want to do it. And the closer he got to the top, the more he worried about this stupid system getting in the way. He wasnt sure if using the dead mans soul as a cover over his would do anything, but he had his fingers crossed, and decided that he only needed a few seconds of confusion to get away.

Once hes inside the prison, good fucking luck finding him. If what Novva said was true, all he needed was a good hat and he was golden. Just another prisoner harmlessly bumbling his way through the town.

He held the ball of blue fire in his hand and brought it closer and closer to his masked face, before closing his hand and putting it out and smacking himself on the head. A simple illusion on top of his eye blinded him in it, but didnt require burning his fucking out eye like a moron.

The tunnel is making crazy.

*

Light had never looked as enticing as it did right now. There was so few tis in his life that Sylver was genuinely happy to see rays of light coming down on him.

But right now thats exactly how he felt. The perk that granted him night vision, made everything greyish and dull, and even the boring tunnel walls looked a little better in daylight.

Or enhanced artificial light, if he was being precise.

Still, it was so great to finally be out of here.

Sylver was ready for almost everything. A giant group of guards, Nautis himself, even a betrayal from Novva.

What he wasnt ready for is there not being a single guard anywhere in sight. There werent even any standing at the top on all the bridges. In fact, Sylver couldnt see or feel a single person around.

He walked carefully towards the town, when he felt the strangest sense of nausea. He pressed through it and it only got worse and worse as he neared Novvas hideout. Standing at the doorway, only the faintest flicker in his soul sense, made him duck and roll to the side, as the fist that was aiming for his head, went into the tal doorway instead, shattering it as if it were made of glass.

He managed to get up, just in ti to dodge again, and the fist passed through the area where his head was a fraction of a second earlier, and embedded itself into the floor.

Sylver jumped up high, and used a small burst of fla to maneuver himself onto a nearby roof, running away as fast as his magically enhanced legs would carry him.

Sylver continued to run, his heart thumping in his chest and in the closest thing to a state of panic as hell ever get. The man appeared behind him and very nearly grabbed him, as another burst of fla sent Sylver flying out of his reach.

The man tried to jump after him, but one of the shades held him by the ankles and tripped him up, slamming him into the ground.

Sylver ran faster and-

Was stopped completely in his tracks by a large hand grabbing him by the head. He tried to raise his hands to attack the source, but they were grabbed too.

He tucked his knees and simultaneously slid out of the flesh mask, and set off an explosion inside the hand holding his hands.

Soone scread in pain from getting their palm burned, while another scread of surprise, as Sylver used his shades as ledges and jumped down towards the floor.

He got 2 steps in, before being grabbed by the head again. As slippery as his bald skull might be from being covered in blood, the grip was perfectly placed, and with the perfect amount of force.

Well, no ti to see if I can survive getting my neck snapped, like the present.

Preparing to lift his legs upwards to use them to pry his head out of the mans grasp, Sylver spared a seconds glance at the mans head.

He very nearly went through with the move that would have resulted in him making his spine bend at an angle it most likely couldnt be bent, before relaxing his feet and torso, and hanging limply in the giants grip.

What the fuck was that thing on your head, Novva asked, bringing Sylver up to his eye level.

Dont worry about it. Whats going on? And let down. Sylver said, being placed down on the floor and waiting for the ringing from his ears to disappear.

Revolution my boy! One of my n saw you fuck up Nautis, and I decided that another attempt wouldnt hurt. We were actually on our way to rescue you from the hole, but here you are instead! Novva said, picking up Sylver again and hugging him so tightly he half expected to lose health from this.

So wait. In the few hours I was gone, you managed to completely take over the prisons? Sylver asked, as Novva put him down and led him by the shoulder.

Hours? Youve been gone for 2 days! Novva said with a barking laugh.

I really need to find a better way of keeping track of ti. Is Katia ok? Sylver asked, pulling the heavy leather armor off himself and throwing it in a random box on the side.

Of course shes fine, I gave my word! Shes with the twins right now, back at the new base. I even got up to level 90 from all this! Novva exclaid, flexing his muscles and just short of skipping around.

And Nautis? Sylver asked, patting the ear wrapped around his forearm to make sure it was still there.

Fucked off. But weve got enough food to last everyone for at least 5 months. Ive got all the mages we could gather ready, and lo has found a few staffs that might help us out! Novva explained, gesturing at the large guard tower in the distance, that showed signs of being repeatedly cut and punched and had a massive hole on its side.

*

Wait, Novva said, before Sylver opened the door. He handed him a long scarf one of his n gave him.

Katia said you wanted to keep your identity secret, so cover your face with this. I cant do anything about your unique class standing out, but I doubt anyone present would be able to track you down using just your status, Novva explained.

Sylver looked down at the scarf and reached with his other hand into a barrel, and took a mask he had one of the archers wearing.

It was a very simple completely white mask, with a long red line going across the eyes. Sylver put it on and adjusted it so he could see properly.

Even better. Change your voice if you can too. Novva suggested.

Hows this? Sylver asked, using Cieges voice and speech pattern.

Youre just full of surprises! I cant believe I almost crushed your head when we first t!

When did you do that? Sylver asked.

When you stood up and shouted at . You were this close, you cant even imagine how little effort it would have taken. Novva continued, holding his thumb and pointer so close together to demonstrate that they almost looked to be touching.

Lucky for all of us you didnt go through with it then. But can I get a few specifics on what exactly went down while I was gone? Sylver asked, as Novva opened the door for him and he stepped inside.

He saw a bunch of people strewn around the floor, in various states of hurt and pain, so missing limbs, a few burned, and a lot of blood everywhere. And only two n walked among them, healing them.

Novva slapped him on the back, Hes here! Our ticket ho! he shouted, causing all the wounded to look up at him.

There was a painfully loud cheer, as all the people Sylver thought to be half-dead seed more alive than Novva was a few days ago.

A few of the ones with less serious injuries, even hobbled over to him to shake his hand and preemptively thank him. But Sylver felt sothing strange as he accepted their praises and thank yous.

They were treating him like he was a hero. When in reality he was going to be selling them all off to the Cord to do whatever it was they were going to do. And it puzzled him that he was feeling any kind of guilt for that.

He didnt put them here. He wasnt the one whos going to be getting them ho. Hes just the middleman between them being here, and getting ho. Its not like lo had anywhere near enough mana to open a long-distance gate. Hed just make one big enough for Sylver and Katia to get outside through, and the Cord would be handling things from there.

And as quickly as the feeling had appeared, it was gone. And in its place remained the cold hard truth that Sylver never had a problem with before.

He didnt care.

These people werent his family. They werent even his friends.

And it wasnt like they were going to be sold into slavery to get out of here. Knowing how things like this usually go, theyd just have to owe the Cord favors. Theyd lose so money, maybe have to betray their governnt a few tis, but who cares really. A small price to pay to get out of this wretched prison and go back to their regular lives.

*

*

*

Are you sure this is going to work? lo asked for the 10th ti.

I can go over all the maths again, if you want. If it makes you feel better, but it wont change anything. Sylver replied, lowering his hands away from the device.

No, but Its too easy. It cant be this easy, soone else would have thought of it. lo said, putting his hands on the device.

It was a very large piece of equipnt, that was made from 15 staff fragnts, about 3 books filled up completely by formulae, handwritten by Sylver, and contained the shared efforts of 10 level 70 mages, pouring their mana into it for an entire week.

It looked like a jumbled pile of sticks and paper that most people would think is just a fancy bonfire that hasnt been lit, instead of an extrely advanced anti-anti-teleportation-magic device.

Its not. I just so happened to know exactly how an anti-teleportation spell would function, and my mana sense is sensitive enough for to figure out the finer and important details. Sylver explained.

And Ive used almost this exact spell myself, and know all the ways to bypass it, since Ive used it against dinsional mages significantly smarter and more capable than Nautis, or .

Why cant you do it? I dont believe you know how to counteract such a spell without knowing how to make a basic gate. lo complained again.

Almost zero affinity. On top of the fact that I dont have anywhere near enough mana to do this myself. Look If you want we can stop here. Go tell Novva hes not going ho, and the 9 people that died, died for nothing. No one will see their wives or husbands ever again, Ill be killed so Nautis cos back, and you can all go back to-

FINE! Fine, Im doing it. But if sothing goes wrong, tell Sherry I love her. lo said, getting into the stance Sylver had shown him.

No. Stop, Sylver said, pulling his hands away. Go tell her you love her, right now. He said, leading the man by the arm.

lo struggled, but was no match for Sylvers magically enhanced strength. I cant! And-

Dont want to hear it. Tell her you love her, right now. Im not letting you die with that kind of shit hanging over your soul. Sylver explained, pulling lo along down the large corridor.

We dont have ti! lo shouted, being dragged along and almost lifted off the ground by the arm.

So we have ti for you to doubt my magical knowledge, for almost 2 fucking weeks, but not the 5 minutes it takes for you to tell the girl you love, that you love her? Sylver asked indignantly, pulling the short mage off the ground to make him look him in the eye.

No, but thats- lo whimpered as Sylver kept walking with the short man in tow.

Sylver opened the door to the room he was teleported inside when he first ca here, and was now being used as their main living space.

Is anyone nad Sherry here? Sylver shouted, amplifying his voice to counteract the mask muffling it.

Everyone silently looked at each other, before a woman in the very back stood up and walked over to them. She was taller than Sylver, which ant that lo was literally the height of this womans belly button.

Yes? The woman asked uncertainly.

Is this her? Sylver asked lo, putting him down.

Yes but-

Could you co with us for a mont? We need your help with sothing. Sylver lied, holding lo by the shoulder to lead him out of the large room as Sherry followed after them.

Only a few steps later they were standing on one of the highest points in the guards tower, away from people, and prying eyes.

Youre not leaving here, until you tell her. But do it properly. Dont lie, dont apologize for how you feel, tell her in one smooth sentence, and accept her answer, regardless of what it is. Sylver explained, leading him towards where Sherry was waiting.

Why are you doing this to ? lo whispered, holding onto the fra of the door.

Because Ive told too many people that the person who just died loved them. And then I watched them cry so hard it broke my heart in a way I cant describe you. And I refuse to do that again. So for my sake, as well as yours, go tell that woman how you feel about her. Sylver said, turning him around so he was facing her through the doorway.

lo opened his mouth as if to speak several tis, before adjusting his shirt and walking towards her.

Sylver closed the door to give them privacy, but was too close not to feel their souls.

los felt like he was about to die from a heart attack. And as he spoke, it got worse and worse, genuinely making Sylver afraid the guy was going to drop dead right there and then.

And then his soul cald down so much, Sylver thought he had died. He opened the door quickly and slamd it shut when he saw what was happening. lo was being held in the womans arms, and kissing her with such a ferocity it almost made Sylver blush. The montary calm completely reversed and went right back to heart attack territory, but considering his current situation, it was far more understandable.

He walked away back to the room with the anti-anti-teleportation device, and went over everything one last ti, while lo did what he needed to.

*

I want you to be the best man at my wedding, lo said calmly, as he walked through the door. Almost 4 hours had passed since he had confessed to Sherry. And then did sothing that required them both to take a shower afterward to be presentable.

Cant. Weve never t, and I was never here. But I am glad everything worked out for you. Sylver said, walking to his spot as lo went to his.

I still cant believe it. I could have been doing this years ago! My god, she was so soft and-

I understand this is all brand new to you, but please keep it to yourself. Im happy youre happy, but its bad manners to brag like that. Do you trust my math now? Sylver asked, adjusting the device slightly.

I still think youre a crazy bastard, and this will either fail or kill us, but I trust you with my life, lo said, as he started pouring his mana into the machine.

Good enough for .

Sylver started working on his side of the spell too, and was pleasantly surprised how well lo was handling it. Even his mana felt different now. It looks like hed been really holding it in for Sherry.

And there was sothing extra pleasant about just working on a spell like this. No one was trying to hit him in the head, or kill, or eat him, there was no rush, nobody about to die, just two n working together for a common goal.

The spell took an hour to cast. And to Sylver, it felt like only a few minutes had passed. His arms were tired and aching, his hands were burning up and very lightly smoking, and he had a headache that would be bothering for the next 24 hours, but he was filled with contentnt, that can only co from fucking soone over using nothing but his knowledge.

There wasnt any lying or trickery or deceit involved. Just straightforward and honest, taphorical sodomization of everything Nautis had spent years creating. His magic was held down, very gently undressed, and violated with a ferocity that only cos from holding a grudge for having to swim in goblin shit, and eat food that had about the sa consistency.

Or at least that was the plan.

Sylver felt the backlash start in his chest, as it tore through his core and almost crumpled it inside him. He dropped to the floor and threw up blood, his lungs already filled to the brim with the liquid of life, and his eyes and ears bleeding out the sa.

It took every drop of control and willpower, for him to crawl over to the almost dead lo and suck up his rampaging mana out of him. The effect on Sylvers core worsened, as the newly added mana acted as fuel on the fire, and caused his previously red blood to co out as a smoking black ooze.

Sylver curled into a ball and exerted his will on his mana, in the way only a true master could.

*

3 hours passed before Sylver had enough spare energy to speak. lo was back to full health and was now doing the sa thing as everyone else in the room was. Standing watch over him, staring at his shivering and bleeding form.

Give your hand, Sylver said hoarsely, grabbing onto the giant mans arm and sucking out health the way a parasite would.

The pain receded, as the wound ever so slowly closed up, and he had enough in him to open his eyes again. With his face covered in blood, and his teeth as red as a demons, Sylver did not look his best right now.

But his smile was so genuine, it almost made Novva relax along with him. It even made Sylver stop caring about people seeing his face.

Hes still here. Nautis is inside the cave. And I know exactly where. Sylver said, spitting out chunks of his lung as he slowly got up.

Novva wasnt the only person with an expression that matched Sylvers.

It was mirrored by just about every single person inside the room.

Sylver switched arms for another of Novvas n, and the wound on his chest closed up completely. He finished spitting out chunks of dead flesh, drank and spat so water to get the blood out, and spoke with a dangerously calm tone.

What are you all standing around for? Weve got a sorcerer to catch. Sylver said, wiping his shirt off and walking towards the exit.