Chapter ³⁵ A New Ally in the Shadows
Chapter 35: A New Ally in the Shadows
---
Narration Mode Activated
"So, picture this: you've got a cursed artifact, a vortex of doom, and a sidekick who thinks motivational speeches will save the day. If this doesn't scream 'hero's journey,' I don't know what does."
---
The swirling vortex of energy around the orb pulses violently, its dark tendrils licking at the walls like a living, malevolent force.
Kira moves to her desk, flipping through her book frantically. "There has to be something we missed—a counterspell, a suppression rune, anything!"
"Take your time," I say, leaning against the wall. "It's not like we're on a ticking clock or anything."
Blobby bounces beside me, trembling. "Boss, what if it explodes? What if it summons a demon? What if—"
"Blobby," I interrupt, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Less panic, more solutions."
"I'm trying!" it squeaks, bouncing higher than usual.
---
Narration Mode Activated
"At this point, I'm half-convinced Blobby's anxiety is contagious. Between Kira's determination and my questionable survival instincts, we're one bad decision away from a disaster movie."
---
Suddenly, there's a knock at the door.
We freeze.
"Who would even know we're here?" I whisper.
Kira glares at the door, her hand inching toward the dagger strapped to her thigh. "Stay here."
Before I can protest, she moves to the door, pressing her ear against it.
"Open up," comes a low, gravelly voice from the other side. "I'm here to help."
"Help?" Kira repeats, her voice laced with suspicion.
"You're dealing with a cursed artifact," the voice continues. "And you're out of your depth. Let me in before it's too late."
---
Narration Mode Activated
"Because trusting mysterious strangers who show up unannounced is always a great idea. What could possibly go wrong?"
---
Kira exchanges a glance with me. I shrug, because honestly, what choice do we have?
She unlocks the door, revealing a tall man cloaked in black. His face is mostly obscured by a hood, but his piercing green eyes shine with an unnatural glow.
"Who are you?" Kira demands, keeping her dagger at the ready.
"Call me Kael," he says, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. His gaze shifts to the orb, and he scowls. "That's worse than I expected."
---
Blobby bounces behind me, whispering, "Boss, is he a bad guy? He looks like a bad guy."
"No clue," I whisper back. "But if he tries anything, you're on distraction duty."
"Distraction duty?!"
"Shh!"
---
Kael approaches the orb cautiously, his movements deliberate. "This artifact is ancient. Destroying it won't be simple."
"We've gathered that," Kira snaps. "What do you suggest?"
He pulls a small vial from his cloak, filled with a shimmering silver liquid. "This is purified celestial essence. It can suppress the orb's power temporarily, but it won't destroy it."
"Temporarily?" I repeat. "So what's the long-term plan?"
Kael looks at me, his expression grim. "The artifact must be sealed in a place where its influence can't spread. A void chamber, perhaps. Do you have access to one?"
I blink. "Do I look like someone who keeps void chambers lying around?"
Kael ignores me, turning back to Kira. "If we don't act now, the orb will corrupt everything around it—and everyone."
---
Narration Mode Activated
"Nothing says 'urgent' like a glowing-eyed stranger telling you your cursed artifact is about to ruin everything. As if we weren't stressed enough already."
---
Kira hesitates for a moment before nodding. "Fine. Use the essence. But if this is some kind of trick, I'll—"
"You'll do nothing," Kael interrupts, his tone firm. "Because without me, you're all doomed."
He kneels in front of the orb, uncorking the vial. As the liquid touches the orb, the dark vortex recoils, hissing like a wounded animal.
Blobby squeals, hiding behind me. "Boss, it's angry! Really angry!"
"Yeah, I noticed," I mutter, shielding my eyes from the blinding light.
---
The essence spreads over the orb, forming a shimmering barrier. The whispers fade, replaced by an eerie silence.
Kael exhales, standing up. "That will hold it for now. But we need to move quickly."
"Move?" Kira asks, crossing her arms.
"We need to take the orb to a secure location," Kael explains. "Somewhere far from people."
I groan. "Great. A cursed artifact road trip. Just what I needed."
---
Narration Mode Activated
"Because lugging around a soul-eating orb with a moody stranger and a sarcastic slime is exactly how I imagined spending my week."
---
Kira gathers her things, her expression determined. "Where do we start?"
Kael pulls out a map, spreading it on the table. "There's an abandoned temple in the northern mountains. It's heavily warded, but it should be able to contain the orb."
"Should?" I repeat, raising an eyebrow.
"It's our best option," he replies.
I glance at Blobby, who's quivering like a leaf. "You ready for this, buddy?"
"No," it says flatly.
"Too bad," I reply, patting it on the head.
---
As we prepare to leave, I can't shake the feeling that this is only the beginning of something much bigger—and much worse.
---
Narration Mode Activated
"So here we are: a cursed orb, a mysterious ally, and a destination that screams 'bad idea.' What could possibly go wrong? Spoiler alert: probably everything."
---
End of Chapter 35