George read out from his screen.
"The final mission is to recover some notes from the chief of this village. Juda has been there, so go with Killian to retrieve it and if they're survivors."
He locked eyes with Killian. "Kill them."
They have really lost me here.
George had said nothing about Juda's actions and now spoke of silencing everything. Killian wondered if it was his attempt at covering up Juda's mistakes.
If it was even a mistake.
Yet he was willing to overlook it. Juda was his family member, and hasn't shown such hostility to him.
"Where do we meet when we are done?" Killian asked George.
I should just complete the mission and go home.
"At the cliff we started at." George started walking away. "Come, Evelyn."
Evelyn glanced at Juda, then Killian. "Be careful." She said as she left.
Killian didn't know if she meant to be careful of the orcs or his partner. He turned to Juda who watched George and Evelyn leave.
He sighed.
"Lead the way to the village."
"I don't want to… do it."
Killian frowned. He didn't know if those pleading words were directed at him, but he was the only person there.
He leaned down since Juda whispered suddenly.
"You are the only one amongst us who have been to the village. Should I keep searching and—"
While Killian spoke, the ember in Juda's eyes bloomed again. Juda rose from where he sat, and a smile crawled up his lips.
"Don't mind me, Killian. Let's go."
Killian stayed quiet. That reaction made Killian feel off, but he brushed it for the time being.
After the first mission, they would be given suitable time to rest, and he'd be too busy practicing his Fire Element to think of Juda's actions.
Juda moved ahead and Killian walked behind him. His hands were out of his pockets and his eyes weren't just on the path ahead, but behind him too.
He couldn't be completely sure that George left him alone. He controlled the Earth around him, so there's a good chance he was still tracking him.
Either way I'm definitely not using the Void here.
He left me with Juda for a lame mission but I could still be on watch.
"So you should be alert."
"That's what I'm being." Killian muttered under his breath.
"Of the one in front of you."
Killian's gaze shifted slightly to Juda. He had been acting weird, but what reason would Juda have to attack him, even under George's orders?
"What did you notice?"
There was no reply, and that made Killian feel worse. He and Juda continued in silence until they reached a cave, dark and narrow with a chillier air.
Killian looked at the bright skies for a second before walking in. His eyes were dim till he adjusted to the low light coming from holes in the cave.
He asked, while he walked. "Why is the path to the village inside a cave?"
"Shortcut." Juda's reply came quickly.
Killian halted and a frown settled on his face. His eyes stayed on Juda for a second longer, wondering how he knew a shortcut when it was his first time here.
The tendrils under his legs swayed.
I hate to do this, but to keep myself safe…
His tendrils stayed low, spread thinly on the ground and kept their form as he moved ahead. They would be ready to react at any moment.
He sighted the end of the cave, but it led to a darker dense forest. That shouldn't be right.
He hesitated for a second, then sent one forward.
Just one. If I mark him, I can just use it to protect him if I turn out to be wrong.
Nothing should go wrong.
The tendril slipped toward Juda's leg, got close.
And then—It shrank back, writhing as if in pain.
That had never happened before. He retracted the tendril, feeling sorry for it as he felt the temperature in the cave rise again.
Killian's brows pulled together as he slowly lifted his head. Juda had stopped walking.
"What is it?" Killian asked first. "And are you sure you know where you are going? That's a forest ahead."
Juda looked at his side, directly at the ground beside his right leg.
Did he sense it? There's no way.
"Killian."
"What—"
"Killian." Juda called, his tone deeper.
His head stayed lowered to the ground, then slowly, he raised it. His eyes were gold, and they weren't glowing. They burned.
The ember inside of them had shrunk. "Did you try to fucking touch me… with that dirty thing?"
Killian's breath caught for a second. The voice he heard wasn't Juda's.
"What are you talking about?" He stepped back.
The temperature in the cave rose higher and his breathing felt difficult. Even the presence of the Void in his head felt distant.
Fire flared out from Juda's arm as his response. It wasn't Juda's yellow healing fire. It didn't even look like fire, with its white cast and stable movement.
This isn't good. I just walked right into—
Killian stopped his thoughts, reacting immediately. Shadow writhe snapped out to cover him, forming a barrier around his body as the blast came straight at him.
It hit his side when the tendrils shrank, pulling away. Killian twisted at the last second to avoid taking the full hit.
He grazed his arm on the wall, and stayed slumped onto the cave wall behind him. Pain shot through his arm.
The space was too tight.
"The tendrils are averse to his fire."
"I can see that. But why?"
His body wasn't fully rested after going through the simulations. The heat within the enclosed space was rising.
Juda, or whoever that was, walked towards him with relaxed steps. His body looked bigger, taller, and his arms were muscular under the white robe.
Killian clicked his tongue, holding his arm, and standing straight. His eyes stayed on the flame burning on Juda's hand. The closer he got, the more certain the feeling was.
That wasn't Juda.
And that wasn't ordinary fire either.
The tendrils pulled closer to Killian's neck arm to support it. Some slithered towards Juda but always shrunk back.
"Who are you? What did you do to my cousin?"
I was so busy watching George.
I never realized Juda got possessed.
Juda cranked his neck, and a grin spread across his lips. "Your cousin? You almost sound concerned, anomaly? Do you have a heart?"
Killian narrowed his eyes on him. How could he know exactly what he was?
"I asked you a question. If you have business with me, challenge me directly and don't get others dragged in. Is everyone a coward these days?"
"Careful, this is a…"
"Cowardice?" Juda's tone dropped.
"After struggling to find a suitable vessel to possess, I am termed a coward?"
"And by a dirty pest, no less."
"A filthy being unsuitable for Her perfect world."
"Truly, anomalies need to die."
"Starting with you."