I found it ironic that despite how hard 37 disallowed me from creating flashbangs, Ing had ended up using an actual explosion for a distraction. I could actually feel 37 in the corner of my mind sulking.
Listening to the elves guarding the prison, I made sure the knapsack was tied tightly across my back before putting on the cloak.
Ing had given me some seeds in an insulated bag she had direly warned me away from touching with my skin, that would be used in case whatever she planned did not work, that I had 37 put away in the Inventory.
The knife was strapped to my lower-back, out of the way, while I held an ornate quartz 'wand' wound with a delicate vine with one hand that I was to stick to the ground once I had the opportunity. It was my key to the root ball prison, and if it did not work I'd needed to have 37 shoot one of those magic beans into a wall.
[Nori, the nearest guard is now 10 meters away. To your left.]
Good enough. I planted the wand loaded with a one-time spell and backed away slightly when it immediately glowed a familiar green.
With the curtain of roots opening, I used a hand to grab the now vineless stick of smoky quartz and darted out with the hood covering my head. Best not to leave any evidence that Ing helped me. 37 put it away without my needing to ask.
Ping!
I flinched despite having hyped myself to the test; at least I knew the shield worked in preventing me from becoming a pincushion.
"The prisoner is escaping!"
[1% Damage, Nori.]
'Got it,' I thought as my eyes took in my path to escape (I didn't really have much to do in that cell except to plan). 'Can you collect any intact arrows in the area? They'll stack, right?'
[I can take free arrows. You now have 3 slots remaining.]
"Stop!"
Obviously not, Sir Elve!
I dodged the arm that made a grab for my shoulder and used that as a lever to roll up and over the guard that had been in my path, purposely applying enough weight to unbalance him. I hit the ground running, ignoring the cursing and arrows aimed at me.
Alright. So the shield is at 80% and I have 20+ arrows in the Inventory. Of course, I didn't have a bow to shoot them with.
The edge of the elven territory was about 25km away and I'm in for a very long run without sleep.
Okay, I can do thi—
[Nori!]
And a guard dropped down right in my path.
Oh, fuck my life.