Chapter 109: Thus, Death is Salvation

Every step he took, the sound of his staff hitting the ground echoed; his gaze was sharp, very intimidating, but he knew that it was the only way to truly be safe inside this place. It wasn’t like the Blue Rose; the Withered was the complete opposite.

He knew best, since he had also been born here.

Grabbing his long beard, the wizard looked at the marks on the wall, traversing close to the marketplace, but not fully inside of it, as if the Abyss was hiding near, it wouldn’t want to stay in the light.

Keres followed from behind, carrying his blade in his hand, so that he could react in time if something did happen to the old man.

’As if.’

He knew the Withered better than anyone in the whole of the Blue Ro

e; he was also not a stranger to its nature, but he was in no way as wise and knowledgeable as he was; he had seen more than he could think of. And all have gone on in this place.

“I’ve been meaning to ask, what are we looking for exactly, because we have been wandering around for what feels like nothing. I’m not doubting you, just that I don’t see the practicality in this.

The old man sighed, not stopping to answer; he hadn’t even moved his head, he continued to talk around and look at the walls, as if he was looking for something. But all of a sudden, in a patch of darkness, he summoned his lanters and entered the merciless shadows where a mark was drawn on the wall.

To him, it just looked like any other; after all, he had seen too many just trying to navigate around. He wasn’t dumb, so he figured that it was different; after all, it was black, unlike the others, but at the same time, he couldn’t figure out why he was different, who he was.

But the old man didn’t seem to have the same problem.

…

…

His eyes didn’t look away, they couldn’t, not after such a discovery, it was monumental, and could mind as way reshape their whole plans,

“The Abyss…. It’s alive.”

Keres looked at him with great confusion, pulling his shoulder in desperation for information; he almost hurt him.

“You’re joking, right? How do you even know that?”

The old man smiled, pointing to the mark that had been hidden by the darkness on the wall. It was inevitable proof, but at the time, not many knew about the past of the Abyss, and what these marks were, so it took some time to fully explain to Keres why these marks marked the coming of the fifth god’s vessel.

“Damn… we have to tell father, grab Orion, let’s get out of here.”

But Orion was nowhere to be found; it was as if that brat had disappeared into thin air. It made him frown; that child had run off somewhere, and he regretted bringing him with them.

“Calm down, your majesty; both he and Iris are hiding in the darkness.” And with that, he pointed to the darkness that filled one of the alleyways, without even looking inside of it. But surprisingly, two figures came out. One that belonged to the princess Iris, and the other was her trusty knight, Orion.

Keres was surprised to see his sister here; he couldn’t believe she had sneaked in and lied to him. His little sister… to put herself in such danger. He gritted his teeth as Iris looked at the ground, too shy to raise her gaze, knowing that he was looking at her.

Although Orion was the complete opposite, he wasn’t scared to stare him deep in the eyes, maybe because the knight had only done his job, that being to listen to his master, but did he not hold any fear towards him?

He knew that he had known him since he was a little child, but he was a Harbinger, and a Demon at that, he had killed people then he had probably seen, and to think that he could look at him like that.

…

After the discovery of the Abyss’s mark inside Withered, they didn’t stay any longer, their journey remaining to be continued another day. Not only did they have to bring back a very important guest, but the information that they had gained was not something you could wait to tell later.

The King had to know that the Abyss was alive, and he needed to know right away.

The wizard looked outside the carriage’s window, at the heavy rain that had started to pour. He felt sorry for the people; he had also experienced one of these storms while he lived inside this place… he wondered what would have happened to Iris if she had been caught inside.

Actually, he wondered how she even survived, after all, she was a walking target wearing many riches that could save many. People were desperate, so if they had to kill a girl like her, they wouldn’t mind.

There was no way that without someone protecting her, she wouldn’t have been attacked. So there had to have been someone, and he had to be known to the people of the Withered; only then would people not dare attack her.

…” Hey Iris, who guided you around? I never taught you how to navigate around the Withered.”

The girl broke out of her trance and looked up at her teacher with a smile. She massaged her chin, thinking about an answer.

“I don’t think you know them.” She said nervously, making the wizard laugh. “I know everyone important in this place.”

“I see, then, he was a boy around my age, who guided me around and helped me. His name… was Aether if I remember correctly. He was super strong and only a reader, just like me.”

The old man raised his eyebrows. It made him question his knowledge; he had never heard of someone like this living inside the Withered. Even more, being able to influence to protect someone as important as Iris. And as a reader nonetheless.

He needed to do more research on this… child when he got back home.

…

“I also had a question.” The old man glanced at her, gesturing for her to speak her mind.

…

“You see, I realized something, this boy… was stronger than most kids at the academy that were specially trained, and had many helping them conquer stories to increase their class. And yet, he was stronger than all of them… how did he do it… and do you think I can do the same?”

…

…

The old man burst out laughing, which flustered Iris and made her think that her question had been stupid. He ruffled her head, calming her down, before stopping his laughter and actually answering his student’s question like a teacher should.

“You only got the academy system to blame. You see, Iris, while someone from the Blue Rose may have more sync, more relics or abilities, they are mostly gained with the help of others in low-ranking stories… for people inside the Withered… they don’t have the privilege of getting help. Their desperate, and go charging inside powerful stories.”

…

“But tell me, Iris, who do you think is stronger, someone who has been helped with clearing books his whole life, or someone who has charged into a death game with nothing but their hope, and somehow survives.”

Iris looked at her teacher, considering his words.

“The latter.”

Her answer was met by applause from her teacher, who was more than happy with their students’ careful listening and deduction.

“You’re right, which is why that little percentage of people inside the Withered who ascend to a new class are so strong, because they have already fought against enemies much stronger than them, they may even be one or two ranks in front of the Knowledge rank they should have.”

With that, he turned back to the window, seeing how the rain had started to pour even harder, hail had even started to fall, of course, their carriage was prepared for any natural weather, so they were safe, but the people outside weren’t.

“But you know why there are so few who do, because their life isn’t only in danger inside stories, and neither do they only have to worry about dying to others… they can as easily die of hunger, thirst, or just mother nature.”

…

…

“People from the Withered will always be stronger, because they have already felt the end of their world, they have seen their memories flash before their eyes more than they see food.

They are stronger, because death is salvation to them.”

Iris nodded her head, looking outside the window, at the heavy hail that struck the whole district. It was dangerous outside, but luckily, no one seemed to be outside.

…

Or at least that was what she thought, as in the corner of her eye, she saw a figure, recognizing them by their blonde hair.

…

“Aether?”

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