15 - Betrayal

I stood in silence with all my senses alert and my attention focused primarily on the wellbeing of my master. He wasn't injured, neither were any of the group members, but i did notice that Malcom appeared a little too calm considering the situation. 'Did he know this would happen? he said he was familiar with this dungeon. Does that mean he lied? why?' i wonder suspicious of his intentions. I had already believed the words Master Victor said to me about Malcom being treacherous, but the now growing suspicions towards his current intent was something to investigate. I approached Malcom quickly grabbing him by the throat before he could respond and pinning him against the nearest tree. His team didn't have time to react at first, neither did Master Victor as they were still shocked from the maze shifting.

"You knew this would happen" i accused, Malcom struggled against my grip, also surprised at my sudden attack. His team now having recovered from the initial shock brandished their weapons towards me

"What do you think you're doing?!" Lenny yells drawing his sword, James wielded his staff nervously but determined to help if he could, Breea had her daggers drawn and stood ready to dive me at any second, the twins stood together confused and concerned

"Aaron? What are you doing?" Alena calls trying to understand the situation

"Aaron, what the fuck?" Master Victor demands

"You knew, and you didn't warn any of us" I again accuse Malcom ignoring the others, i hadn't been told to stop and so i would continue the investigation for as long as allowed. I released some pressure from my grip to allow Malcom to speak if willing

"We grouped at the entrance to avoid getting lost. But you knew it could get blocked off anyway. Why didn't you say anything?" i demand

"I-i didn't k-know" he managed to choke out feigning ignorance. I punched the tree right beside his head as a warning, the impact breaking the bark and leaving a dent in the tree's trunk, then, again applied pressure on his throat to express the seriousness of my actions

"Don't lie!" i growl "i'll ask you one more time" i warn glaring down at him with my crimson slitted eyes "why-"

"Aaron, that's enough!" Master Victor yells cutting me off "Put him down" he orders.

Unable to deny an order i release my hold, letting Malcom drop to the floor and gasp for breath while his team rushed towards him asking if he was okay and shooting glares my way. Alena immediately began to use a healing skill on her leader.

Not wanting to let up on the situation i begin my protest "Master Victor, are you not also curious as to why he wanted to deceive us?" i ask

"Shut the fuck up Aaron!" He demands in anger storming over to me while unsheathing his sword "Did you think attacking him without being told was acceptable?!" he shouts swinging his sword towards my chest. I stare down at him now gashed across my chest, partially surprised and partially understanding of his actions. I acted rashly, and worse, i forgot the dynamic i was contracted under. Master Victor had confused me many times by his friendly interactions with me, but i had mistakenly taken that to heart forgetting my place as his servant. Again, Master Victor lifted his sword and slashed at my already bleeding chest. It hurt, rightfully so, but it was deserving as my actions were a mistake.

"Do you have any idea the amount of trouble you cause me, behaving that way?" he demands delivering a third slash. Accepting my mistake i kneeled before my master ashamed

"I'm sorry Master" i begin to apologize.

"You'd better be fucking sorry! You're lucky we are in a dungeon right now with the only witnesses being decent people!" he yells kicking my already kneeling body to the ground. 'Decent people?' i question mentally 'he must be talking about the ones aside from Malcom' i conclude. I don't say anything in response and instead just continue to kneel with my head lowered not meeting any of their gazes.

"What the hell man" Alen scolds giving me a kick in the side as he returned to his tent now that Malcom had been taken care off. The rest of the group seem to follow suit giving me a single blow or stab as they passed to return to their tents, all except Malcom. He stopped beside me, staring down at me in silence for a little while

"I didn't know" was all he said finally before joining the rest of the group. I noticed that even Master Victor seemed to be sitting closer to the group despite having such hostility towards Malcom.

I kneeled there in silence while they re-lit the fire that had been extinguished during the maze reformation and began to share food between themselves. Time passed slowly as, at first, they ate sullenly, but gradually the mood seemed to become lighter until eventually, after what seemed like hours, they appeared to have forgiven me.

"Alright Aaron, i think you get the point" Master Victor begins, approaching me "you can stop kneeling now" he says. I stand slowly, still ashamed.

"I really am sorry Master. I acted rashly, i didn't think about the consequences"

"Yeah, yeah, i know. I said it's fine now" he dismisses, walking back to the group, i follow. Although i was still unsure and worried about the potential threat Malcom posed, in the moment i had been told to drop it. Perhaps i should have taken a subtle approach instead and confided in my master first. After all, I was not his guard or his friend and so i had no right to act of my own accord. I already learned this from many previous Masters, why had i made such a novice mistake? 'I should have taken into account what Master Victor already told me about the issues Summons have caused. Posing as such, i'm already on thin ice with the locals, yet i thoughtlessly attacked a human? how stupid could i be?' i mentally berate myself. It was unlike me to make such a mistake, why wasn't i thinking strait?

While deep in thought Malcom approached me, he patted my head as if i were a dog, ruffling my hair. Surprised, i look up at him from my sitting position to his smiling face. But it was wrong, it came off twisted and sinister as if he had gotten exactly what he wanted.

Before i could react, he plunged his sword into my chest piercing my heart.

Alarmed, Master Victor stood suddenly reaching for his sword but before he could unsheathe it he began coughing up blood. My eyes widened in horror upon the realization, he had been poisoned.

Malcom pulled his sword from my chest, using his foot to shove my body backwards. I fell to the floor helpless choking on my blood as it pooled beneath me. I may be immortal but i could temporarily die if i sustained life-threatening injuries, getting my heart pierced was one such injury. I struggled to stay conscious as the blood poured from my body, i needed to protect Master Victor. My vision was darkening by the second, my ears were ringing, and my body was becoming unresponsive, i couldn't move. I watched as the now shadowy figure that was Malcom approached the kneeling and pained figure of my Master, then with one swift motion, he removed the head of Master Victor letting his body flop to the ground lifeless. That was the last thing i saw before finally dying for the first time in this world.

STATUS:

-Fullness - 0/100

-HP - 0/100

-Corruption - 7/7

Current quest: Rise from rubble - Increase your master's level to 50 and complete the tutorial/FAILED