The Fourteenth Night - Part 5 - A More Important Ally

Both Old Ze and his granddaughter Ye jolted from the ground, terrified from the abrupt scream.

They couldn't see much in the darkness so they could only ask in worry.

"What happened?! Renir?!", Old Ze stood up with his now feeble legs.

Ye was so surprised, she quietly cried.

"Don't worry... this is part of the plan... hehe-!!!", Renir forcibly laughed as he gasped from the pain while he pulled one of his bead of revival as much as he could.

Before, Sceke was dying and he could no longer care about his well-being, but now, he could completely feel his skin virtually being pulled without ripping apart from his wrist.

He wanted to stop and rest, thinking there is still have time and rethink the consequences. But he was already halfway through, it would be devastating to repeat this over and over again because he decides to rest and hesitate because he knew he will always try one more time.

Renir steeled himself that he will not stop until he had pulled the bead out of his wrist.

As if conscious, the pair of red eyes rolled to what Renir was doing since it could see in the dark.

That was the first time the demon marionette had ever done since Renir stepping within its reach!

'A reaction!', Renir thought and made him pull harder.

It doesn't matter if he was stronger than before, the pain was still the same as sweat incessantly dropped from his face.

A whole minute of suffering, his limbs felt weak and tired, wanting to collapse, Renir finally detach the bead from his wrist as the mysterious thread-like energy appeared and snapped!

"Huff~~!!", Renir could finally rest as he dropped on the ground, the bead tightly gripped on his hand as if all his strength fell into it.

Old Ze rushed to aid him when he heard the thud of Renir possibly hitting the ground.

Renir tried to catch his breath when he sat down. He was relieved it was finally over. If this was successful, then this would be the last pain he will ever experience in Gantlet.

"Are you okay?", Old Ze got his strength back when needed, his white beard shivered instantaneously while he asked worriedly.

Little Ye was still hiding behind his back, never wanting to let go from this comfort zone.

Renir's state was akin to a patient after being injected by a large dosage of a powerful anesthetic. He couldn't feel himself for a while but when he heard that question, he answered, "Yes, I just need... rest."

Renir closed his eyes.

Old Ze helped Renir find his comfortable position in the crampy passage. Renir's unexplainable senses could identify the enemies but not space around him, and it was not like he could move any longer.

Renir fell asleep...

Meanwhile, Sceke with Veronia and Hanzee felt they were asleep the whole time and when it came to them, they were already in the Gantlet Desert.

The rune was carved on the thick tree they were touching. Looking around, they were at an oasis-like area only without water in the desert and in the middle of the night.

Clouds filled the sky, but the moonlight was bright enough for them to see their surrounding clearly.

There was no one there but their carriage and the horses were there, waiting for them.

They sighed relief since it seemed like, nobody really comes here anymore. If they do, then these precious horses and the carriage wouldn't be seen by Sceke and the two anymore.

This was their own risk they are taking to harvest some chylefruits in the past and possibly, defeat the Giganslik for its core. That always ended up in a failure, only having few chylefruits with them when they come back.

But right now, they couldn't believe they have sacks filled with water creatures each of their hands!

They couldn't be happier not returning empty-handed for once.

But it was not for them. It was for the ones they left the promise to help.

"I thought I would never see this landscape again.", Hanzee looked at the wide desert that could hypnotize one's eyes.

"Me, too.", Veronia sighed, not knowing if she should be grateful or not. If Renie didn't come back, they would be unable to escape the water creatures and dived back to touch the rune and teleport.

"Come on, Renir's waiting for us.", Sceke walked in fast and long strides to reach the carriage as he dropped the sacks onto it, all actions in haste.

Veronia and Hanzee felt Sceke was acting weird but followed him immediately. After they too, dropped the sacks on both hands, they saw Sceke's conflicted eyes.

"What is it?", Veronia asked.

"I am thinking we should just leave it here.", Sceke answered.

"Are you really thinking?", Hanzee couldn't believe what Sceke answered. Although this leader was always joking, this time, it was for real. He continued, "How will Trisha and her brother get this?"

"She knew where we're coming back here, right?", Sceke thought hard, "If she waited and nobody came, she wouldn't let her brother and herself in the City of Misfortune any longer. I assume she will come back here to look since there is no more place for her to go."

There was one thing Sceke failed to tell Renir about. Outside the City of Misfortune, challenges are unnecessary, and killing a person who refuses a stigma is possible, although killing another Rune Users is still possible according to rumors yet none tried it nor proved they witnessed it.

Even in the City of Misfortune, it was not without rules, not total anarchy. There are people governing there, upholding the rules. If breached, there will be a reduction of two beads of revival. This harsh punishment and the powerful enforcers kept anyone follows these rules.

The one who snitches will be given a reward. That is why you have to keep an eye on everyone while everyone had an eye on you.

"True, Trisha and her brother will surely sneak out and will desperately run in one direction here.", Veronia saw Sceke's point.

The City of Misfortune was large but with few residents. That is why it was complicated and chaotic at the same time.

This is also the reason why Sceke and the others can sneak out of the City of Misfortune and then sneak in.

Once, they were spotted and then was chased by other ruthless rune users wanting to reap EXP.

But the Pentafive in the past was able to fend them off.

That was when people in the City of Misfortune got the awareness of the Pentafive sneaking out.

Sceke created a plan to be sneakier than before. The plan involves leaving the horses kilometers away from the walls of the city to quietly sneak in.

The horses were already satisfied having one chylefruits left in the carriage each for a whole month. They would take a small bite every day. So they were tied in a hidden spot where they would wait to be used again.

Many more preparations were involved but surely, Trisha will be able to sneak out with the attention towards Sceke and the others.

"The possibility is high but what if she failed?", Hanzee asked.

"That will depend on her luck. This is our help to her.", Sceke sighed and caressed the horses which were like companions to them, he couldn't believe they would just leave them there, "Trisha was just more than a stranger for us. Helping her is already out of goodwill. We cannot let Renir and the pair of young and old wait any longer."

Hanzee reluctantly nodded and none of the two complained anymore.

The three looked back one last time and hoped this will be the last time they will ever be in the Gantlet Desert, of course, still alive.

They touched the rune and disappeared...