Perspective : Regina Clement
Elkdrack replied,
"Look at you being a stickler for rules".
Patrick responded,
"I always am".
"Now if you excuse me .... I have a tunnel to keep watch over".
As, I spared a glance at Conrad's face, something felt different from before, the peaceful expression he had on his face was now gone.
His forehead furrowed, his eyebrows were gathering closer together, and his usually relaxed feature became tense.
He started frowning, his fists clasped.
I, observing these changes, gently placed my hand on his forehead, in hopes of providing him comfort, to ease his troubled state.
Elkdrack noticed that,
he asked,
" What happened ?".
I replied,
"It's Conrad ... his face".
Elkdrack took a look at Conrad's face and replied,
"Maybe he is having a nightmare... we should try waking him up".
Elkdrack retrieved his water bag and poured a small amount onto his hand. With a handful of water, he playfully sprinkled it onto Conrad's face.
He said,
"That ought to wake him".
As Elkdrack said, Conrad's eyes slowly flutter open, his drenched face, glistened with droplets of water.
As he woke up he had a surprised look at his face.
He said,
"What happened?".
........
Perspective : Conrad Garnier
As I opened my eyes, I saw Kyle beside me. Elkdrack and Regina were staring curiously at me.
I asked them,
"What happened?".
Elkdrack replied,
"Nothing".
Regina asked,
"How do you feel, now?".
I replied,
"It's fine ....".
As I attempted to sit straight up, I felt an intense piercing pain in my left arm.
And I noticed slight heaviness in my head.
So, I took a quick look at my arm only to see that there was very little left of it.
"That's right my hand.. it's gone".
"What happened.. after that ... it's a blur".
My arm was bandaged up, (By who?)
(Patrick maybe.)
Kyle after noticing me said,
"Good ... you are finally awake".
For some reason I felt a different vibe emanating from him, as if he was no longer on his pedestal.
I replied,
"Yeah ... ".
Something felt different, the air was less dense, not in terms of burden, but In terms of people.
So, I looked around.
And, I only noticed, Patrick keeping watch on the tunnel, before us.
So I asked,
"Where are the others?".
Elkdrack replied,
"Well that's a long story".
I insisted,
"Care to fill me in".
Elkdrack spared a glance at, Kyle.
In return Kyle, his expression remained uninterested, his eyes appeared slightly distant and the corner of his lips were slightly turned downwards.
He said,
"Go ... ahead".
Subsequently, Elkdrack and Regina explained everything to me. Starting from the moment I passed out, to Regina and Brandon's minor scuffle, and finally the surprising revelation about Kyle's "dust binding" spell.
They also shared that how the guild master ordered Kyle to use it against us.
Which led to Emilia and others discovering the truth, as a result leaving on their own.
Upon explaining that, Elkdrack graced me with a follow up question.
"Now, that you know ... how do you feel about it?".
I replied,
"Then we must... find the others soon .. ".
Elkdrack with a disappointed expression said,
"That's it!".
"You don't feel any rage .. or anger against Kyle".
"He conspired to kill all of us".
Kyle added,
"Hit me if you want ... I deserve it".
I replied,
"No ... that won't be necessary".
"I don't believe he did ..... I think that the Guild master was behind it".
When you look at this with an bird's eye view.
It's more likely that Kyle was hired, for this sole purpose of using his unique ability, by the guild master, but why though?
And if necessary, he wouldn't eliminate us before we successfully locate and safely return with the treasure to Ustrax. The timing for any potential action would be after our return or once we leave the weeping forest behind, because he requires our assistance before that. While I may not be familiar with him, I am certain that he was not the type to intentionally attempt to harm or kill someone. If he were, he could have easily ended Ron's life on the spot without anyone knowing. There was no need for him to waste a precious mana potion on him
"So, Let's assume that Kyle is not in on it deliberately, it's most likely that he was coerced into it.".
"But just to be on the safe side, let's not provoke him ... that might put mine and Regina's life in danger".
In response to my previous reply, Kyle said.
"Are you sure?".
I replied,
"Yes".
Then Kyle with a subtle smirk on his face said,
"That's great.... you are more gullible then others".
As soon as he said that, Patrick who had been listening in on our conversation,
said,
"Don't say that ... I believed too ... you know".
Kyle with a genuine smile on his face said,
"Well that makes two gullible idiots... doesn't it?".
Patrick immediately changing the subject asked me,
"Hey Conrad how are you feeling .... any pain or difficulty moving your shoulders".
"Maybe the bandages are a bit tight".
I first thanked him for healing me and then, I replied.
"No, everything is fine ... my left arm still hurts a bit... but that's to be expected, isn't it?".
He replied,
"Hmm ... Maybe there are still some internal wounds that haven't been healed yet ... if not treated.. might grow into a nasty mutation of sorts .. ".
"But, For now... you are good".
"I recommend visiting the saint Luis's healing church... as soon as we return home".
I responded by saying,
"Yeah ... I will keep that ... In mind".
By that moment, Regina had already dozed off, by leaning on my shoulder.
Patrick Commented on the matter,
"Let her sleep for a while .... she had been constantly worried about you?".
(I know that it's not only me.. if I get hurt, it not only hurts me but It also has an effect on her ...)
(I have to be careful in the future)
Kyle said,
"We can wait... for one more hour".
As, he places his hour glass on the floor, for indicating time.
I responded by saying,
"Thanks ... ".
After that, I took the duty of keeping watch, while everyone else recuperated.
After one hour,
"Let's get moving...shall we".
Kyle said, as we followed him inside the tunnel.
The tunnel was quiet, narrow and dark.
And when we reached, the other end of the tunnel.
The room next, at first it was silent, we didn't hear a thing.
As soon as we stepped inside, our guards were up, ready for anything that might surprise us, our senses heightened in anticipation of the unknown.
Suddenly, a chilling noise reached out ears, causing us to instinctively seek covers on the dark corners of the cavern.
Elkdrack unaware asked,
"What happened?".
I in attempt to silence him replied,
"Shhhh ... just watch".
Peering through the shadows, we witnessed an Un imaginable sight, a gargantuan bug It's size similar to that of the ants tailing it, struggled to break free from the clutches of the relentless soldier ants.
Intrigued,
Regina asked me,
"Are they eating one of their own".
Before I could answer Patrick said,
"No .... look carefully it's another type of insect... probably their food that ran away".
Elkdrack commented,
"Barbarians".
Patrick replied,
"No not barbarians... the thing you are witnessing is called"Natural selection".
Those formidable ants, swarmed around that poor creature, their mandibles tore into its flesh with bone chilling precision.
As we observed silently through the veil of darkness, our eyes widened in disbelief and horror.
Elkdrack reaction to the gruesome scene that unfolded before us was,
"Argg .. I am going to throw up".
The cavernous chamber reverberated with the cacophony of that bug's anguished cries, a haunting melody that sent chills down our spines.
Each movements of those soldier ants were executed with terrifying precision.
The sight before us was a gruesome spectacle, one that was as fascinating, as it was disgusting.
With every moment, the bug's struggles intensified, its pointless feeble attempts at escaping only fuelled the ant's ferocity.
The cavern's floor became a gristly battlefield, scattered with the remains of that creature's shattered limbs.
Due to which a stench of iron and decay hung heavy in the air, mingling with the overwhelming scent of honey that permeated in their colony.
As that happened we weren't able to steer our eyes away, from that macabre dance of life and death.
The ants determination were astonishing. as if they were driven by an ancient instinct that brooked "no mercy".