Chereads / Order and Chaos: Harbinger / Chapter 4 - Chapter Four: Scheme

Chapter 4 - Chapter Four: Scheme

"You're going to help me, how?", Rio asked.

"It's pretty simple actually, we go into the dungeon and get whatever it is you want", Cain said with a confident smile.

"Wow, if only I hadn't thought about that", Rio said sarcastically. 

"You expect me to believe you can guide us into an A-rank dungeon in and out unscathed when I can't even sense a shred of magic from you", He said.

"That's weird", Cain said confused, then he suddenly remembered about the magic equipment that sealed his powers.

As he deactivated the equipment Rio felt a sudden pressure from Cain that almost made him unconscious.

"Well?", Cain asked.

"Yeah, now I believe what you said", Rio replied feeling uneasy.

"I meant what's your story?", Cain questioned.

Rio looked puzzled while asking," What do you mean?".

"You possess no magic", Cain said bluntly.

"While there have been cases of people born without being able to use magic, in those cases the people affected couldn't even sense mana but you, you have mana in abundance and yet I sense no particular type of magic from you", He stated further.

"So I ask again, what is your story?", Cain noticed this about Rio since they met at the alley and was even more curious that such a strange person was using runes easily.

"That's none of your business", Rio said coldly.

"Fine then I guess you don't need my help anymore", Cain said. "I'm sure you'll be able to enter such a high level dungeon all by yourself since there's no way the people who own this building are letting you come with them", He said remembering what Davion said earlier.

Finally giving up, Rio asked, "What do you understand about mana cores in humans?".

"It's the source of magic in humans, it's where we store all the mana we absorb from the environment and converts stored mana into the magic of our affinity", Cain replied.

"Correct but I was born with a defective mana core which means I can absorb mana from my surroundings but my core cannot convert the mana to any magic of my affinity", Rio explained with a solemn look on his face.

"But that doesn't explain why you need to enter a dungeon ", Cain said confused.

"Well, I have a plan to fix my core or better yet replace it", Rio said.

"What do you mean replace it?", Cain asked.

"It's just as you've heard I plan to replace my core", Rio said.

"If you say so, when do we leave?", Cain asked.

"Midnight", Rio said.

"I don't have to work for the next few days so it's the perfect cover", He explained.

"Works for me, where do we meet up", Cain asked.

"By the city dumps", Rio replied.

"Weird choice but okay", He agreed.

 As he left Rio's lab, he noticed Davion standing close looking deep in thought. 

"How much of that did you hear?", Cain asked.

"Enough", Davion replied coldly.

"Can you really help him and bring him back unharmed?", he asked before Cain could even speak.

"You have my word", Cain promised.

"Just keep him safe", Davion said.

Curious, Cain asked," I thought you'd be against this why are you so calm about it?".

"I've known him for over five years and I haven't seen him this determined and alive in a while, he's always been buried in some book about magic so if there's any chance you can help with what he needs I'll always agree", Davion said.

"It's no surprise really, one thing I've realized is that people tend to shun anything different from what we perceive as normal", Cain said.

"Can't imagine what it must have been like for someone his age", Davion thought out loud.

"Don't worry, I'll bring him back in one piece", Cain said then left immediately.