Novel Full Chapter 826: Strings Attached
Chapter 826: Chapter 826: Strings Attached
Airalai’s body spasmed, a hiss of agony tearing from her throat. It felt as though invisible fangs tore through her veins, the parasite biting deeper every time she resisted.
Her violet eyes snapped open, trembling as they locked onto Kain. Horror flooded her face. “What… what did you do to me?” she rasped. Her voice cracked, weak, yet filled with venom.
Bea, reading the storm of her thoughts, spoke to Kain. “She’s unravelling. Fear dominates her surface thoughts. She’s panicked, trying to fight back. But there’s more… flashes of memory. Black Dawn hierarchy. A superior she calls ’Bishop Marrowe’ and even the possible participation of her parents in the Black Dawn. Some of her memories are still locked away and will take time to get to, but for now, my split was able to transmit a lot of information. I will sort through it all and give it to you tomorrow.”
Kain didn’t answer Airalai. His silence pressed down like a weight. He studied the spiral scar with cold detachment, fingers brushing it lightly to confirm. No pulse, no hidden signal. The beacon was gone. Only the parasite remained, draining her strength. Satisfied, he finally spoke—not to her, but to his team. “She stays here. Darius, Miya, you’re first watch. Pairs, at all times.”
Miya and Darius both gave a sharp nod. Kain summoned Aegis, who had been silently guarding him the whole time, back to the star space. He then dismissed Chewy, the young spore flickering out with a sleepy chirp. He didn’t spare Airalai another glance as he left the cell.
——————-
The manor’s barrier glowed faintly as Kain returned with Jax and Malzahir. At first, none of them spoke. The only sounds were the low hum of the barrier’s wards and the occasional flutter of elemental fairies’ wings or the soft rustle of River Wolf Pups shifting in their sleep. The silence hung heavy, pressing on all three of them as they crossed the threshold.
Jax finally spoke, his tone quieter than usual, running a hand through his hair. “Kain… did you make her bond with that worm on purpose? Or was it just a coincidence that her contract would weaken her?” His words carried an edge of unease.
Kain’s eyes slid toward him. “Yes. I chose it for her.” He let the words hang, deliberate, heavy.
Jax fell silent, his jaw tightening, shoulders stiffening. The tension was obvious—Kain knew why. Nobody could feel comfortable knowing that their hard fought power was still subject to the wims and mercy of another person.
Darius and the rest had always believed the ritual was some ancient array he had uncovered, a subplane he merely discovered and accessed by accident. Which was what Kain had purposely let everyone, even Serena until he fully revealed Pangea to her, believe. None of them knew the truth: that Pangea was his creation, and under his absolute control.
Kain continued coldly, his tone like stone scraping. “Through your contracts, I can also track your locations at any time. I can even cut you off from them, if I really wanted.”
Which was true. This was something that Kain had discovered when Ferrin’s contract was infected by Abyssal energy last year. Back then, Kain had dispelled the contamination directly through it’s remaining connection to Pangea, and used Pangea’s Source energy to cure it. At that time, he’d also sensed that, if necessary, he could recall Ferrin’s contract back into Pangea entirely and prevent it from being resummoned.
Jax’s discomfort deepened. His cube beast emitted a static shock in the air, perhaps sensing its owner’s discomfort, and his lips pressed thin. Kain could almost hear the gears turning—he would share this revelation with the others. That was fine. That was what Kain wanted.
Although Kain liked and trusted Darius and the others (for now), people could change. In the future, as the organization grew, there would be more people that may have conflicting thoughts, goals, and loyalties. As the leader, a certain amount of awe and fear was needed to keep them all in check. So even if Alain seemed like an approachable leader, they must never forget who held the strings.
In contrast to Jax, Malzahir didn’t seem to care too much about Kain’s revelation. His will to live decreased dramatically after his grandmother died and he was betrayed by the closest members of his tribe (a betrayal he still didn’t know the reasoning behind). But Kain pulled him from the darkness, gave him power and he figured there would be a price. In fact, he didn’t even consider Kain being able to take back the power that he gave to be a ’price,’ but just a matter of course. Not to mention, he couldn’t return home and was in a strange foreign country. Kain was all he could rely on. He didn’t care what influence he had over him.
Jax shifted uneasily, the weight of Kain’s revelation pressing on him. Perhaps trying to disguise his discomfort and redirect it toward Airalai, he muttered after a pause, “Feels harsh. Forcing someone to contract a parasite…” His attempt to deflect his own unease rang hollow.
Malzahir’s wrappings rustled as he adjusted them, but his voice was steady, almost indifferent. “Parasites are common in the southern deserts. They’re used to break captives slowly, to test endurance. I went through anti‑torture training with them myself. Seeing it here isn’t strange—just familiar.”
Kain didn’t look at either of them. “Good. Stay unsettled. Do you think the Black Dawn’s treatment of you would be any kinder if you fell into their hands? No. It would be 100 times worse. Better them than us.”
Neither argued, though unease thickened the air again. They walked in silence back to the manor, exhaustion weighing on them all. When they finally reached their rooms, they collapsed without another word.
But from the shadows of the training grounds, another set of eyes watched their every move and was carefully pondering the bits of conversation carried by the wind across the distance.