Free Web NovelChapter 18: How long have you been free?
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It took close to an hour, but Theon’s injuries had finally healed enough to allow him move without feeling like his skin would peel off.
His hair had already grown back, and his face and body were partly healed, with slight burnt marks here and there which wer already healing at a surprisingly fast rate.
His gaze flickered towards Maya, whose hands remained outstretched. Her brows creased, and her eyes burned with determination. Multiple beads of sweat rolled down her clear skin as she poured more of her essence into healing him.
Theon could tell she was already exhausted due to her shaky arms, but she seemed hell-bent on healing him completely.
She had always been like that.
Since the first day Adrian brought her, whenever Theon was being tortured, she always looked at him apologetically.
He could understand what must have been plaguing her mind whenever she was brought along.
That feeling of powerlessness. Knowing you could do something, but couldn’t because it would just result in your death instead.
No one wanted to die.
And so he never blamed her for anything that Adrian did. She was just the healer after all, and a powerful one at that.
Healers were incredibly rare. Healers of her caliber, even more so— and yet, Adrian still had her in under his thumb.
’She is going to be of great use later,’ Theon pondered. ’I just have to find out what leverage Adrian has on her.’
Meanwhile, Maya lifted her gaze noticing that Theon had been looking at her. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
Her eyes met his, and a tinge of red formed on her face. ’Looking at him closely, he looks different. Hotter.’
She gulped softly. ’How did he change so much?’
Theon’s gaze lingered on hers for a few more moments, before it shifted to Reacher who stayed at the back, observing him quietly.
He had messy black hair that grew over his silver eyes, covering part of it. He was skinny— not the kind of skinny that said he was in a state of hunger but just naturally skinny. And his arms seemed to extend all the way to his knees.
’Then there’s him—’ he squinted his eyes. ’He always follows Adrian around, meaning he might be in on my murder too—’
’Do I just get rid of him now?’ he pondered. ’No. I need him for information— he doesn’t look like the talkative type though. How do I extract information from him?’
"You are a really strange person." Reacher suddenly muttered.
’What the hell does that mean—’ Theon’s eyes widened. ’Is this guy a mind-reader or something?’
"People who usually undergo this type of torture from Adrian always cry," He continued calmly.
"But you, you didn’t look scared—" Reacher paused slightly. "If anything, it looked like you were ready to pounce at him at any giving moment.’
A small smile formed on Theon’s face. ’This guy is really observant— since he has taken the initiative to start talking, I will just use it to my advantage.’ freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"Scared, huh—" Theon muttered.
Both Maya and Reacher stared at Theon with surprised expressions, both of them thinking the same thing.
’He actually responded.’
"What is there to be scared of." Theon said, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Reacher’s gaze lingered on Theon’s for a moment.
"I see," Reacher chuckled slightly. "You really have changed—"
Theon stared at Reachers expression quietly, choosing not to answer.
"Just stop resisting." Reacher exhaled.
"Why?" Theon asked, his voice calm.
Reacher noticed this, but continued either way.
"Because Adrian will eventually get bored—"
Theon suddenly laughed, cutting Reacher’s next words.
A frown formed on Reacher’s face. "Why are you laughing?"
Theon stopped laughing the moment the question left Reacher’s mouth. His eyes glowed coldly as the question lingered in the air. "You actually believe that—"
"Adrian isn’t the type to just stop simply because he’s bored. He thrives in chaos and the endless suffering of those beneath him." Theon said coldly.
Reacher paused. He knew everything that Theon said was the truth. Now that Theon had showed Adrian that he was willing to bend the knee, things were only bound to escalate.
"You should’ve just stayed away from him." Reacher sighed softly.
"It’s a little too late for that." Theon scoffed.
"No!" Reacher exhaled. "I meant from the very beginning. The moment he offered you that money, marked your end in this academy—"
’That tone—’ Theon stared at Reacher. ’Was I wrong. Is Adrian also using something to keep Reacher by his side?’
Even Maya, who was focused on healing Theon had to pause slightly after hearing the change of tone in Reacher’s voice.
"Adrian loves toying with people," Reacher continued. "It helps keep him... well, busy."
"There have been cases of him being reported to the academy authorities, but at the end of the day it is all tossed under the rug, buried as if all allegations never existed."
Reacher paused once more, allowing his words to settle in, then he continued.
"Do you get it now. No matter how much you struggle, there is nothing you can do to possibly stop him, because Adrian is protected— protected by people far beyond your reach."
That was it. That was all the confirmation Theon needed.
No wonder his death was shunned. Adrian was clearly being protected by a power that could even influence things in an academy as big and powerful as this.
This information opened up a lot of other things as well.
Even if Theon wanted to kill Adrian as soon as possible, it wasn’t possible without a large scale investigation being ran, and eventually he would be cut.
And sadly for him, he wasn’t strong enough to fight off a power strong enough to make decisions in the academy.
’This changes a lot of things.’ Theon pondered quietly. ’There has to be a way I too kill Adrian without raising questions. Come on Theon, think of something—’
Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind causing his eyes to widen. ’Of course! Why didn’t I think of this sooner. The ranking events— it’s going to be a public event where students duel right. And during duels, mistakes are always bound to happen.’
A wide grin spread across Theon’s face. ’This is almost too perfect.’
"Why are you grinning like that." Reacher questioned with raised eyebrows. "Didn’t you hear anything I said. You can’t do anything against Adrian, all you can do is let him do what he wants with you till he gets tired."
Theon kept the grin on his face. "Oh I heard," his eyes glowed dangerously. "But even Adrian’s power has to have limits, right?"
Theon asked, shifting his hands slightly— but that didn’t skip Reacher’s sharp eyes.
’What just happened?’ Reacher said mentally, a bead of sweat forming on his face. ’His hands— they just moved. That shouldn’t be possible, right? That rope doesn’t permit even the slightest of movement—’
’I’m done," Maya’s exhausted voice echoed in the hall, her hands falling loosely at her sides and her chest moving inward and outward in an unnatural manner.
"I’ve finished healing him—" She exhaled softly.
"How long?" Reacher asked, his voice cold.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Maya turned and looked at him with a confused expression.
"How long have you been free?" Reacher’s cold voice echoed once more. His essence suddenly exploded from his body as his eyes glowed with restrained wariness.
"W-What?" Maya muttered, slowly turning to sneak a glance at Theon.
A smile tugged at Theon’s lips. "I guess I’ve been caught."
He muttered then strained his arms and legs slightly— and then the ropes that hung tightly around them snapped apart and fell to the ground
"Those ropes really took a lot of time to overload—" he said calmly as he rubbed his hands softly. Then he twisted his knees and hips, stretching them out.
"Now, what were you saying again?" Theon smiled.
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