Chapter 16 - Deal

Blood?

Valac's eyes flickered open, his vision blurry from the haze of sleep and disorientation. Pain pulsed through his head after surviving a mana outburst, but what shocked him more was the sharp, cold blade pressed against his throat and the smell of blood.

Golden eyes glared down at him with an intensity that made his breath catch.

"How?" The voice was low and full of fury, laced with disbelief. "How did you know that code, Noctis?"

Valac blinked, trying to process the scene before him, not worried about the sword pointed at his neck.

Nico Leitzier. He came.

"Why did you come here if you were so suspicious? Just ignore it. Simple, isn't it? Nico Leitzier."

Nico was gripping his sword so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His face was filled with suspicion.

Wow! He came here even when he doesn't trust me a bit. It must be nice having a cute sister.

Wait... Am I being jealous, right now?

Valac didn't flinch, even as the blade pressed harder against his skin. The sting of it, a thin line of blood trickling down his throat, was a stark reminder of his current weakness. But, fear wasn't something he had the luxury to entertain... not now.

I've been through many situations as Isis and Aamon. What's a little trembling sword that doesn't even intend to cut me?

"You talk too much for someone with a sword at their neck," Nico said, his tone steady hiding the urgency he felt in his thumping heart.

"You don't listen much for someone who came here for information, Leitzier."

Nico's golden eyes narrowed, the suspicion in them deepening. His grip on the sword didn't loosen. "I'm listening just fine, Noctis. What I'm not hearing is why I shouldn't kill you right here and now."

Valac let out a small laugh, shaking his head slightly, as much as the blade would allow. "If you kill me, you lose any chance of finding her. You're desperate, Leitzier. I can see it in your eyes. You wouldn't be here, standing over me with a sword, if you had any leads. But I do. I know where your sister is. I know how to get her back. But you won't get that from a corpse, now will you, Leitzier Information Guild Leader?"

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, the tension between them was suffocating. Valac could see the conflict in Nico's eyes, the war between wanting to cut him down and the desperate need for the information Valac claimed to have.

Slowly, the pressure of the sword against Valac's neck eased. Nico didn't lower it completely, but he took a step back, allowing Valac the room to breathe again.

"Talk," Nico demanded, though his voice was strained. "If this is a trick, I'll gut you where you stand."

"I'm sitting."Valac rubbed his neck, feeling the warmth of his own blood on his fingers. "Anyway, I don't want to be your enemy. I'm offering you a way to save her. That's more than any of your elders have given you so far, isn't it?"

Nico didn't respond, but his silence was answer enough.

Valac pushed himself up from the bed, his movements slow and deliberate, careful not to provoke Nico.

I cannot lose my life.

Valac gestured toward the small table near the window, offering a seat. "Let's talk like civilized people. Or, do you prefer hovering over me with a sword?"

Nico's eyes flicked to the table, then back to Valac, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. "This better be good, Noctis."

Valac smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Oh, it will be. But first, you need to promise me something."

Nico raised an eyebrow, clearly not in the mood for games. "You're in no position to make demands."

"Oh I am in position to make demands,," Valac conceded, crossing his arms. "I'm not an idiot, you see. You want information, and I want to stay alive. It's a fair trade, wouldn't you say?"

Nico stayed silent, his gaze unwavering, but Valac could see the calculation in his eyes. He was weighing his options, deciding whether Valac was worth keeping alive.

"Fine," Nico said at last, lowering the sword fully but still keeping it in his hand. "What do you mean alive? I'm sure if you are this smart, you know I won't kill you yet. And, if you actually give me information that can save my sister, you'll be my benefactor. You definitely mean something else. What do you want?"

"I like smart people, Nico."

With that settled, Valac moved to the table, pulling out a chair and sitting down with a sigh of relief.

His neck still throbbed, and the venom coursing through his veins hadn't stopped weakening him. But at least he wasn't about to get his throat slit.

Nico remained standing, his sword at his side, watching Valac closely as if expecting him to pull some kind of trick.

"Now, listen. I know where your sister is," Valac began, his tone more serious now. "The kidnappers who took her didn't just want to ransom her. They were after something bigger... an elf artifact hidden in the Moonlit Cavern. They plan to use your sister as a bait to get Elves in one place and blow them off."

Nico's eyes flashed with anger, his hand gripping his sword tighter. "The Cavern is sealed. No one can enter without—"

"Without the right key," Valac interrupted. "Their leader has it. I don't know how though. My information is limited."

Nico's expression darkened, his distrust evident. "Why would you help me? What do you get out of this?"

Valac leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly on the table. "You want your sister back, and I want a favor. I want that key and your help in keeping me safe when I enter Moonlit Cavern, and in return, I'll help you find your sister and get home safe."

Nico's eyes narrowed, clearly unconvinced. "Why should I trust you?"

Valac chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Trust? Oh no, you don't have to trust me. But you do have to consider your options. Right now, I'm the only one who knows who are the kidnappers. You kill me, and you lose your only lead. That's not trust—it's necessity."

Nico's jaw clenched, the weight of Valac's words clearly sinking in. He hated it—hated being forced into a corner. But the desperation in his eyes betrayed him.

He was willing to do whatever it took to get his sister back.

"Fine," Nico said through gritted teeth. "But if you try anything—"

"Yes, yes, you'll kill me." Valac waved a hand dismissively. "We've established that. Now, let's focus on what actually matters."

Nico didn't sit, but his stance shifted slightly, a sign that he was willing to listen, even if begrudgingly.

"Tomorrow night," Valac continued, "there's going to be a meeting in the lower district. Some of the bandits involved in the kidnapping will be there. We can ambush them, get the key to the Cavern, and then we move to find your sister. Simple enough, right?"

Nico's eyes narrowed. "And how do you know about this meeting?"

"I have my sources," Valac replied smoothly. "You'll just have to trust that I know what I'm talking about. Or don't... your call."

The silence stretched between them, thick with tension. Nico was clearly weighing his options, trying to decide if Valac was worth the risk.

Finally, Nico sheathed his sword, though his eyes never left Valac's. "I'll go along with your plan. But if this turns out to be a trap—"

"It won't be," Valac interrupted, standing up from his chair. "We have a deal. I'm not a traitor unlike some people."

"I'll send someone to clean this up. See you tomorrow, Valac Noctis."