Free Web NovelChapter 7: Chapter 7: The Cage
Thoughts raced through my head as a voice emerged from between my dry lips:
Neil, I need to talk to you.
Neil looked at me calmly, then tilted his head slightly.
“Should we go inside, or do you want us to get kicked out like last time?”
A deep shadow surrounded his eyes as his blond hair swayed in the wind.
Inside the classroom,
Neil leaned toward me slightly and whispered with a sidelong smile:
“So where have you been? Looks like your bad luck hasn’t given you a chance to rest.” A faint, sarcastic smile appeared on his face.
My mind felt muddled:
You’re right. This is a cursed city; it seems I’m going to be cursed too.
I didn’t know what was happening to me; something inside me had started to change. I was no longer the Hidara I used to be.
Neil’s eyes widened in front of me as I saw my reflection in his; my eyes were filled with darkness.
Suddenly,
the teacher entered.
“Quiet, quiet.”
“All right, students, we have a new student. Please come in.” A girl entered quietly, with long black hair, blue eyes, and beautiful pale white skin. She said, her cheeks flushed:
“I’m Ren Kamel.”
The teacher stared at her for a long time as if he’d forgotten what to do,
then came to his senses.
“Alright, sit wherever you like.”
I muttered to myself: Even you, teacher.
Everyone around me was laughing with a hint of sarcasm,
while I couldn’t find anything to laugh at.
I looked at them and felt as if I didn’t belong here.
Ren caught my attention as she looked left and right while everyone followed her gaze; then she fixed her eyes on me, approached me, and sat down next to me. I looked at her, and in a split second, I found myself smiling at her. Ren’s features were calm and innocent, like a breath of fresh air in spring.
Neil leaned toward me, coming so close I could smell his minty breath, and whispered, “Who’s that girl? ... Is she a relative of yours?”
Then he smiled with a hint of sarcasm.
“Don’t worry, there’s no way she’s your girlfriend. Your face doesn’t help.”
I could focus on nothing but his chapped lips as they moved.
Then I whispered as a lingering breeze brushed my face:
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Neil chuckled softly, repeating: “Idiot, idiot.”
An hour later,
the teacher said:
“That concludes today’s class,” and left.
I placed my pen between the pages of my notebook, though I hadn’t written a single word.
I looked at Neil, who was gazing out the window at the towering buildings.
The sounds of iron being welded and smoke polluted with carbon dioxide from the factories reached us.
He turned to me slowly, as if he had been waiting for the teacher to finish.
I muttered audibly:
“You know what I want, Neil.
I want to know about Malisora and forbidden energy.”
Neil raised his hand immediately:
“Wait, wait. Talking to me will cost you more than a thousand an hour.”
I said to myself: Is this real or is he joking? Either way, I don’t have any money.
A soft chuckle escaped Neil.
“Just kidding, just kidding. I was just trying out how it feels to be a con artist.”
Then he leaned toward me, grabbed the back of my head, and whispered a few quiet words. He straightened up immediately and said:
“Follow me.”
I froze in place as my limbs trembled and my heart raced. I tried to stand but couldn’t, as if something were holding my feet in place.
I clenched my fist and struck one of my thighs hard.
I could hear the others whispering about me:
What is he doing? Is he crazy? Look, he’s hitting himself.
I was used to this kind of treatment, so it didn’t bother me.
I didn’t stop hitting myself until I felt my feet start to move, and I stood up with difficulty.
Ren suddenly grabbed my hand:
“Hidara, what are you doing to yourself? Where are you going?
I’m coming with you.”
Her things were scattered on the table, but her concern for me kept her from noticing.
Neil looked at her and then
said calmly:
“Okay, no problem. Let her come.”
Behind the school,
inside a sports equipment storage room.
The place was almost pitch-black.
A faint light seeped in through a dusty window.
The air was thick with the smell of old iron and damp wood.
Neil sat down on a worn-out chair and slowly leaned back.
“All right, tell me what happened.”
I lowered my head as if I were the guilty one.
My voice came out broken, and my limbs wouldn’t stop trembling.
I was kidnapped and was about to die.
If it weren’t for this girl’s father, I’d be dead by now.
I owe them my life; her father was killed trying to protect me.
Tears welled up in the corners of my eyes.
As I whispered to myself: Pull yourself together, you idiot, not now.
I clenched my hands so tightly my knuckles turned white.
The killer is still on the loose in this cursed city.
I’ll find him, no matter the cost.
And if I have to, I’ll become cursed myself.
I felt a burning sensation wrap around my eyes as I repeated:
I will drink his blood.
Neil didn’t move, didn’t blink.
His gaze remained steady and cold, then he stood up slowly.
All right, all right.
He raised a finger: I’ll tell you what I know. Forbidden Energy is a massive destructive power possessed by only a few people; it is so rare that it is nearly impossible for an ordinary person to possess it. Those who possess it are called “the Forbidden.”
He sighed.
Malysora is divided into three factions:
1. The Malysora Government
2. The Forbidden Energy Users
3. And the third faction is the cause of the disasters occurring here; they are likely connected to those who kidnapped you. They are also users of Forbidden Energy, in addition to magic and sorcery.
And when a battle rages between the Forbidden Energy Users, total destruction ensues,
casualties mount, and many are killed.
He looked at Hidara.
In other words, the people of Malisura are in constant danger.
My breath came in gasps as sweat poured down my face, and faint words escaped my lips:
Then why don’t you flee Malisura?
Neil laughed bitterly as he put his hand to his face:
The cursed city is surrounded by a magical barrier of a special kind; people enter it, but no one ever leaves.
In other words, it’s a life sentence.
Only those who wield forbidden power can come and go; ordinary people aren’t allowed to leave. They live in daily fear until they lose all feeling.
He ran his hands through his hair, brushing it back,
his eyes rolled back as he whispered:
So what are you going to do now?
