Chapter 115
Chapter 115
Zarin bent down and picked up the arrow from the ground. He turned it in his fingers, examining the shaft closely before glancing at his own hand, as if feeling for something unseen. His green eyes flickered with something unreadable. "That's a good weapon you've got there," he muttered, his voice carrying a hint of approval. Then, without another word, he strode toward William and handed him the arrow.
William took it and, without hesitation, stored it along with the bow and quiver into his system inventory. The items vanished in an instant, dissolving into thin air as if they had never existed. The sight still fascinated him, the way the system swallowed up objects like they had never been there at all.
He turned back to Zarin, crossing his arms. "So? What are you doing here?"
Zarin didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked toward the glowing lake at the center of the cave. The water shimmered ethereally, casting rippling reflections against the jagged cavern walls. The soft glow bathed his face, making his green eyes appear even more intense. He sat down at the lake's edge, staring at the water as if searching for answers in its depths.
"I heard you're going to a beast planet tomorrow," he finally said, his tone calm yet laced with something unreadable.
William nodded. "Yeah. What? You worried?" He chuckled, trying to make light of it. "No need. With my bow, no beast will pose a threat to me."
Zarin scoffed. "Trust me, numerous beasts will pose a threat to you." He shook his head. "But that's not what I'm worried about."
The amusement in William's expression faded slightly. He walked over and sat beside Zarin, mirroring his posture. The lake's glow reflected in Zarin's emerald eyes, making them look almost otherworldly. "The heretics, right?" William asked, his voice more serious this time.
Zarin nodded, still gazing into the lake. "Tomorrow is the perfect time for them to try to assassinate you. You'll be on another planet, where your death can easily be blamed on the beasts. And without the academy's protection, they'll have a clear shot at you."
William exhaled slowly. He had considered this possibility but hearing it from Zarin made it feel more real. "They'll send someone strong, won't they?"
Zarin's jaw tightened slightly. "More powerful than an Anbu."
William stiffened. His mind instantly flashed back to the last time an Anbu assassin had been sent after him. He hadn't been able to move—not out of strategy, but sheer terror. His limbs had locked up, his breathing had turned shallow, and he had been completely at their mercy. If Zarin hadn't been there, he would have died that night.
Now, someone even stronger was coming after him?
His throat felt dry. He gulped, the sound loud in the silence of the cave. Then, forcing a grin, he laughed awkwardly. "Well... good thing you'll be there, right?"
Zarin didn't respond immediately. Instead, his head lowered slightly, his eyes hidden beneath his dark lashes. Then, in a quieter voice, he said, "I can't be there."
William's forced smile froze. "What?"
"I have to be somewhere else tomorrow."
William ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "I'm dead."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The only sounds were the faint ripples of the glowing lake and the occasional distant drip of water from the cave ceiling. The stillness made it worse. It made the reality of the situation sink in deeper.
Then, William sat up straighter. "What do we do? Should I just pretend to be sick and skip the outing?"
Zarin shook his head. "If you stay at the school, it'll be practically empty. That would only make their job easier."
William frowned. "Then what? There's no way I can fight someone stronger than an Anbu."
Zarin reached into his pocket and pulled out a small orb. He turned it in his fingers before extending it toward William.
William took it cautiously. The orb was plain-looking, perfectly round, and crystal clear—like a drop of frozen water. It felt cool against his palm, unnaturally smooth, as if it had been polished by something beyond human hands.
"What's this?" William asked, turning it between his fingers.
"A teleportation artifact," Zarin said. "Use it only as a last resort. If you encounter the assassin and things get out of hand, activate it. It'll teleport you back to this cave. But it can only transport one person."
William blinked. Then, realization set in. Relief washed over him like a wave. "You absolute legend!" he breathed, clutching the orb tightly. "This is perfect!"
Zarin stood up, dusting off his clothes. "Just be careful."
William watched as he walked toward the cave entrance. Then, with a casual yet impossibly high jump, Zarin soared up toward the exit, disappearing into the darkness above.
William exhaled deeply, shaking his head. "How does he even do that?"
He looked down at the artifact in his hand, feeling the smooth, cool surface against his palm. Then, without hesitation, he stored it in his system inventory.
Pushing himself to his feet, he stretched his arms before heading toward the cave wall. Gripping onto the rocky edges, he began the long climb back up. His fingers dug into the crevices, his muscles tensed with each pull. The cave walls smelled damp, a mix of earth and minerals, and the occasional drop of water landed on his skin, cool against his heated body.
Tomorrow was going to be dangerous.
And for the first time in a while, he wasn't sure if he was ready.
The weight of the teleportation artifact in his system inventory felt reassuring, but it also served as a grim reminder—he would need it. The heretics wouldn't just send any assassin. They'd send someone powerful. Someone who could end his life before he even realized they were there.
The thought sent a shiver down his spine. But he wasn't about to run.
But another thought gnawed at his mind. Ever since Zarin began protecting him, he had never once left his side—not even when there was no danger. Yet now, when the threat was undeniable, when his life was at its most vulnerable, Zarin suddenly claimed he had "somewhere to be."
Why now?
Where was he going?