Chapter 315: Ch 314: Out of a Cage

The smell in the domain was so rancid that Kael had a hard time moving forward. His vision kept blurring due to any sudden movement, and the domain itself looked like it was fading in and out of focus.

Sigh.

"It seems like Iris had no intention of coming out on her own. It seems like I will have to drag her out myself."

Kael let out a sigh before he allowed himself to get hurt by the corruption that was lingering around him. It made the smell of his blood sink into the air.

He waited a few seconds for anyone to show up before he decided that it was time to move forward.

But just as he did, he noticed a small body hiding not too far away.

The person was trying their best to stay out of his vision, but Kael knew that tiny head was there.

"Eep—"

The person noticed Kael and decided to make a run for it. Kael looked at that small form for a while before he realised who she was and decided to run after her.

"Iris, wait! I am not here to harm you. I just want to have a talk with you—"

Kael called out, but Iris was too fast for him to catch up to.

He felt like he had lost his way while moving around, and he looked around, only to notice that he truly did not know where he was.

"Where the hell did I end up now?"

He questioned, feeling exhausted. He panted and put his hands on his knees, only to notice that the small form he had been chasing was standing in front of him.

Iris shuffled on her feet before she offered her small hands to him.

"Are you alright?"

Her hand felt cold but nice against Kael’s skin, and he allowed his eyes to close as he leaned into her touch.

"I am fine. What about you? Do you know where you are and who you are?"

Kael asked, and Iris hesitated but nodded.

That was good. At least she was not totally unaware of what was going on. But now it was time for the next question.

"Iris, do you know who I am?"

He asked, and the young girl looked at him intently before she shook her head.

"I am sorry. I don’t think I have seen you before. I-If I have, and I forgot, then I am sorry. I... did I offend you?"

Iris looked like a nervous little thing as she looked at Kael with her wide and innocent eyes. Looking at her made Kael feel sorry for her.

"No, it’s fine. I am not anyone important for you to remember. It’s more important that you recall who you are. Now, shall we get out of here?"

Kael extended his hand toward Iris, who did not take it. Instead, she kept looking at him with narrowed eyes, which made him feel hesitant.

"Is something wrong?"

Kael asked, and Iris frowned at him.

"Mommy told me not to grab a stranger’s hand, no matter what he offers me. But you are not a stranger, right? I have a feeling I know you well."

Iris questioned while taking a step back and forward. She was not able to decide whether she wanted to reach toward him or away from him.

So Kael gave her the choice and kept still. He also gave her a smile that he hoped would put her at ease.

"The decision is yours. Your mother is right in saying that you should not take a stranger’s hand. But the choice is yours to make. Would you like to take my hand?"

Kael asked again, and this time, Iris looked surer as she placed her hand in his own.

"I feel like I can trust you, mister. So I will take your hand and allow you to escort me."

The young girl grabbed Kael’s hand and started to drag him behind her.

He was supposed to escort her, but in reality, he was the one being escorted because he had no idea where they were going.

He decided not to ask and allowed Iris to take him outside. And as soon as the first ray of sunlight hit him, he realised that he had left the gladiator’s arena.

Kael stepped outside into the sun, but his hand that held Iris did not move. She had not taken a single step into the sunlight, nor did she look like she wanted to move.

"What’s wrong? Are you not going to come out?"

Kael asked the kid, who looked uncomfortable. She looked at the sun like it had personally offended her. But the longing in her eyes was ever-present.

"I... am I allowed to come out? Master said I am a dirty little bitch that is not allowed to show her face outside because I don’t deserve it. I—"

Kael let out a sigh before he grabbed her arm and pulled her into the sunlight.

Iris let out the loudest yell he had ever heard her make, and she closed her eyes and started sobbing.

"No! This is not right! The sun will hurt, and I cannot be here. Master will—"

"It will be alright. I can cast a spell so that the sun won’t hurt. As for your master, I will talk with him so that he does not hurt you. All you have to do is trust me."

Kael told Iris while wiping the tears from her eyes. He tried to comfort her, but she still looked unsure.

But her tears had stopped, which was nice.

"Do you promise? You promise it will not hurt or Master will not yell?"

She asked in a small voice, and Kael let out a sigh.

"I promise. Now, open your eyes and take a look outside. This world feels better out here, right?"

He asked Iris, who let out a deep breath before she nodded.

"Yeah, it does look a lot better than I expected. I...I am not afraid now."