Chapter 745: Kali’s task

One hundred and eighty thousand points each meant five hundred and forty thousand for all three.

Elion winced.

That would take a substantial bite out of his points, but it was worth it. He had spent enough on himself already. If this helped them survive even one dangerous encounter, he wouldn’t regret the expense.

He checked the gains from his quality time with Isolde, briefly studying the notifications before dismissing the panel. There were more decisions to make, but they could wait until everyone was awake the next day.

After making sure Isolde was comfortable, he quietly stepped into the adjoining room.

Mira and Tessa were still asleep beneath the blanket. Tessa had claimed most of it, leaving Mira to cling to the remaining portion with one hand.

Elion shook his head with a faint smile, summoned another blanket, and covered Mira properly before leaving them to rest.

Outside, the camp was quiet.

The small stone houses stood around the dying fire, their entrances closed against the cold. A few embers glowed beneath the ash, occasionally brightening when the wind swept through the camp.

The temperature had dropped considerably, though Elion barely noticed it. His physique kept him comfortably warm as he glanced around, checking that everything was as it should be.

Kali was lying on the ground a short distance away, staring up at the sky.

She had folded one arm beneath her head, while the other rested across her stomach. There was an oddly melancholic look on her face, one he couldn’t remember seeing before.

Elion walked over.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing important."

She had sensed him coming, of course, but she didn’t turn to look at him.

He glanced up at the stars before looking down at her again. "You don’t look like someone thinking about nothing."

"And you are quite the caring lover."

Elion paused, briefly considering what she meant by that.

Kali’s lips curved into a smile.

"The blankets were a nice touch."

A sheepish laugh escaped him as he understood her meaning.

"Were you spying on us?"

"You built a few stone walls, Elion. What exactly did you expect them to keep out?"

Right.

She was a Saint. His little house might have afforded them some privacy from the others, but hiding anything from her senses was another matter entirely.

"I suppose I should work on that."

"Perhaps."

He lay down beside her, folding his hands behind his head as he looked up at the pale moon.

For a while, neither spoke. Away from the day’s conversations and constant movement, the camp felt strangely peaceful. Elion turned his head toward her, a teasing smile appearing on his face.

"You know, you’re welcome to join my harem. There’s always room for another beautiful woman, especially my very own bonded companion."

Kali laughed, finally looking at him.

"Do you have any idea how old I am?"

"Two hundred and seventy-four."

"And yet you still say such things." She shook her head. "I’m old enough to be your great ancestor."

Elion shrugged.

"You don’t look it."

"How reassuring."

"Besides, I was trying to flatter you."

"I noticed. You aren’t particularly subtle."

"Would you prefer me being subtle?"

Kali regarded him for a moment before laughing again.

"No. I don’t think it would suit you." Kali looked back up at the stars. "I have no desire for that sort of meaningless physical intimacy."

"Meaningless?" Elion raised a brow.

"To me, yes." She shrugged. "This world bores me. Perhaps it is simply because I have spent my entire life in this cage, but there is very little here that interests me anymore. That’s why I want to leave."

"Well, if you’re bored, perhaps you should give it a go. You won’t know unless you try," Elion said with a shameless smile. "Perhaps you’ll love it. Maybe even more than you love eating my flesh."

He wasn’t really hoping for her to say yes; in fact, some part of him already knew she would reject, which is why he had even suggested it.

He was simply speaking for the sake of it, to make conversation before moving to the important stuff. Kali turned toward him, looking oddly thoughtful.

"Perhaps." There were more important things to discuss, so he left it at that.

"Anyway, do you think you can take Albert if it comes to a fight?" Her smile vanished.

"I can keep him occupied. Defeating him is another matter. His spatial magic is troublesome, especially if he decides to avoid fighting me directly."

Elion nodded. That wasn’t particularly reassuring, but at least she hadn’t promised an easy victory just to protect her pride.

"I would rather avoid fighting him altogether. We need him to understand what we’re dealing with."

"And if he refuses to listen?"

"Then we need another option." Elion sat up, resting his arms on his knees. "There’s still a chance that you won’t be able to leave, despite our bond. I would say it’s a fifty-fifty, as things stand. Until we know otherwise, we have to assume that the formation can still kill you once you cross the boundary."

Kali frowned, though she didn’t interrupt.

"And then there’s Eva. I don’t feel right leaving her here, especially now that we know what will eventually happen to this place." He sighed. "The trials seem to be our best chance of resolving all of this, but I can’t take them. You, however, might be able to."

"You want me to take them if Albert refuses?"

"Exactly."

She considered it for a while before giving him a light smile.

"For the right compensation, yes."

Elion smiled wryly. He could already imagine what she meant by that.

"We can discuss your compensation when the time comes."

"Of course." Kali sat up beside him. "But do you even know where these trials are?"

"Not for certain, since there was nothing else in the underworld we explored. If I had to guess, perhaps they’re somewhere near the place Albert and his people abandoned their homes to reach. Whatever he’s planning requires a specific location, and that might give us somewhere to start."

"That is quite a lot of guessing."

"Unfortunately, that’s all we have right now. Which brings me to the work I have for you tonight."

Kali gave him a displeased look.

"You’re fast, and you can fly without needing to rest every few hours. I want you to go back to Albert’s settlement and track their movements from there."

"Tonight?"

"Yes, tonight. We’ve already spent several days traveling. We don’t know how much time we have before he attempts whatever he’s planning."

Elion glanced toward the stone houses before continuing.

"A group large enough to empty entire settlements can’t move without leaving traces. There should be tracks, abandoned camps, something. Find out where they’re going, and if you spot Albert, keep your distance. We need information, not a fight."

Kali clicked her tongue.

"You are becoming quite demanding for someone who compensates me so poorly."

"I thought you wanted to leave this cage?"

"I do. That doesn’t mean I enjoy being sent halfway across it in the middle of the night."

Despite her complaints, she got up. Elion rose beside her, rather pleased that she had agreed without too much arguing.

"Once you find—"

Her hand suddenly gripped his upper arm.

A sharp tearing sound cut through the quiet, and Elion staggered, his right hand clamping over his left shoulder. He bit down on his lip to suppress a scream, tasting blood as pain shot through his body.

"Fuck, Kali!" he hissed. "Warn me next time!"

She was already rising into the air, giggling as she waved his severed arm at him.

"Payment has been collected."

"You could have just asked!"

"And you could have offered."

Her mouth stretched into a dreadful maw, swallowing the arm before he could say anything else. A moment later, her features returned to normal, and she licked her lips with a pleased smile.

Elion glared up at her while his flesh began knitting itself back together.

"We’re heading south from here," he reminded her through gritted teeth. "You should be able to find us once you’re done."

"I know. Try not to miss me too much."

Then she vanished into the night, leaving a powerful gust that stirred the dust around his feet.

Elion stood there for a while, waiting for his regeneration to finish. Once his new arm had fully formed, he flexed his fingers and rotated his shoulder, wincing at the lingering discomfort.

His bodysuit extended over the exposed skin, repairing itself until there was no visible sign of what had happened.

"This woman is unreasonable," he muttered. "Why does she insist that my flesh tastes so good?"