Chương 410: Chapter 383. A Meeting Of Explosive Minds

/ Thump! Thump! Wiggle... / Horror... Disgust... The feeling that something like this shouldn't exist. Those were the feelings that were swimming through my mind, heart and soul. The golden light of my Holy Flame illuminated the hell I've stepped into. All my eyes could see were strangely constructed stands that looked like fake walls. On the walls were bits of pink flesh and organs still wiggling and moving as if they were still alive.

The components that make up a face were arranged like a child playing with fridge magnets. All I could do was mutter my thoughts as I viewed such disturbing things." What the hell is this?" I moved closer to one that drew my attention, it was the least distasteful to my senses. Granted that wasn't saying much, dark-brown skin, ash-like white hair and yellow eyes told me what it was I was staring at. All of these things... They're what remains of Dark Elves.

This must be something like a trophy room for Alfheim's torturers. Chill! A chill ran down my spine as I thought about what would've happened to me if the Mind Magic actually worked on me." H... e..."

"!" / BUMP! / I was shocked, there was a mouth hidden in one of the layers of skin attached to this board... And it... It can speak..." You... Can speak?" A deep feeling of sadness welled up within me... These Dark Elves must all still be alive. I look around and I notice that the eyes on the boards... They can follow the light from my flames. I looked back at the skin on the board that scared me... If he's still alive... Maybe I can heal them?" Holy Heal!"

My Spell goes out and it envelops as many of the boards as I could see. I look around with hope... Only to be met with despair." HELP ME!"" AHHH!"" END IT!"" GET ME OUT OF HERE!"" Why!?"

"!?" I healed them, but they didn't reform into a normal body... What went wrong!? They're wailing... They're in pain... I can't take the sounds they're making! Do I need to heal them more? No... There's no extra flesh or way for them to grow flesh, that's why the Holy Heal didn't work...." Maybe if I cast Regenerate?"" John, it won't work." Angela's voice rings out as I attempt to gather the mana needed for the Spell. I stopped in my tracks." What do you mean?

Regenerate is exactly as it says, it should heal them, right?"" If they were attached to their internal organs and the like, maybe that'd be the case, but currently... It's worthless to try. The only thing that's connected all around is their pain receptors. The Elves... No... Torturers in general... They've gone too far, loss themselves, forgot that they were dealing with People and not meat... It's too far gone. Your time would be better served looking for their brains and stabbing them.

There's no hope for these Dark Elves anymore."" I can't just kill them off like that! There has to be a way!"" No, John, there isn't, I've seen mortals be put in similar states, when their Souls came to us, they wept in happiness that the pain was gone... You need to let go. you can't save everyone."" That's ridiculous! I can't just give up like this! Listen to them!" I stopped speaking and allowed the wails to overpower my voice to let Angela hear them... But instead of that, something else happened." No, Human.

You need to give up."

"!" A deep voice rang out into my ears above the wailings of pain. I looked around to find it." No, not there, I'm in front of you." The voice guided me to look back in front of me... The skin... It... It reformed?" There you go, Human. Judging from what you've done, I'm guessing it was a strong Healing Spell."" You.. You're..."" Alive? Conscious? Yes. I guess I should thank you for that..."" You're a talking head!?"" That explains why I can't feel anything besides my head...

Still though, the pain is gone for me, that's a silver lining if there's any."" HELP!"" Oh, hang on a moment." pressure. / Woosh! /"..."" Wh... What did you just do?"" I numbed them. It's a simple Spell."" You can use Magic?"" Why wouldn't I be able to?"" You.. Your Mana Center?"" Huh? Oh! It's somewhere around here, Kid. Like I said, you took the pain away, but my full body is around here. With the pain away, I can think coherently, unlike My People... And with that, I can cast my Spells and help them somewhat.

That's beside the point, why did a Human heal us? Aren't we enemies still?"" Are we supposed to be?"" Lad, what year is it?" The head seemed confused, now that I look at him, he looks middle-aged, there were many creaks and dents in his face that seemed to show that he was quite old. Almost like he was 60 years old if he were a Human instead of a Dark Elf." I.. I don't know?" The Dark Elf looked puzzled at my answer. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings."

Has Promethia stopped keeping time? No, that makes no sense... Kid, touch my forehead for a second."" Why?"" Just do it, I'm a head, I can't hurt you. My Magic didn't even work on you either."" You tried to cast that Magic on me too?"" Yes, you were freaking out."" Fair point. I think the shock of seeing you kicked me out of that state."" Well, that's good, I guess? Anyways, touch my forehead, I'm going to read your mind."" How can you?"" It's a part of my Job as a Mind Mage.

It's a whole thing to explain, I just need you to trust me on this one. You can trust a Dark Elf, can't you?"" Trust..." I thought of Charlotte when he asked me that question... But still... I don't know this guy." It's fine, John, his Magic in this state won't be strong enough to affect you, even if he could, I'll break you out of it."" I thought you said you couldn't interfere like that?"" My Favor has some interesting effects, don't worry about it." With Angela's assurance, I walked forward." Good.

Just touch my forehead with your finger. I'm just going to read your memories to catch up on what I've missed." touch... warm... I did as he said and placed my left index finger on his forehead. I felt his mana come in through my finger before joining with my own mana and then dispersing. After a moment, the Dark Elf finished speaking." I see... What a life you've been living. An Otherworlder making his way in Diablos of all things... It looks as if this "Warrick" has a good head on his shoulders as well...

And your wives... As well the rest... Even a Princess from Darkheim, how did this Brat cause that? No, I shouldn't focus on that, it's been 2000 years at least... But that Charlotte... I know that face... So, Dan and Evelin made it out? They were able to save Our People... Good... That makes things easier..."" Hey, what are you talking about?" I questioned the guy.

He seemed to be ruminating on something and then it looked like he took a deep, comforting breath, like he realized something that's calmed him down significantly. He heard my voice and then looked at me in my eyes." First things first. John, it's nice to meet you, my name is Ryan. I was the brother of King Daniel, the Dark Elf King from around 3000 years ago. I was the Diplomat chosen to try and broker a peace with Alfheim back before what led to My People's exile to what is called the "Shadow Forest" in Diablos.

When I was there with my group of Politicians and Guards, I felt something off about the King at the time. Using my Mind Magic, I attempted to take a dive into his mind as he slept one night. Seeing how I've ended up, it's safe to say that I failed to find anything conclusive."" But you found something, didn't you? That's why you're here like this?" Ryan smiled at me." Yes, you're correct. Well, it was more of the fact that I was forced out before I could find anything. That was the sign in and of itself.""

You were forced out?"" Yes, now, I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I was considered the best at Mind Magic in both Alfheim and Darkheim."" So... Something stronger than you forced you out?"" Yes, if I had to guess, I'd put it to either the Humans or Dragonkin, but I've fought every Race on this planet and nothing's given me the same chill down my spine than when I was forced out of King Laurence that night."" What about King Maximus?"" The current Elf King?

I'd shake my head if I had muscles attached, I'd need to actually see him in person to see if I'd have the same feeling from back in my day. A memory is only a memory after all. Besides, if the King really was a "sleeper cell", good term from your world by the way, the new Kings and Royalty wouldn't need to be brainwashed, they'd only need to take on the teachings and morals of who they view as their parents. From what I can tell, it looks like they've been teaching similar views as the Promethian Church...

What was the name?"" The Teaching Of The Light Gods?"" Yes, those idiotic ramblings... How can a benevolent God or Gods teach hatred of other beings simply for existing?... That's beside the point. I can't say for sure that the current King or any members of his family are working as foreign agents." Ryan closed his eyes and scrunched up his face in frustration from now having the answers I was hoping for. After taking a moment, he took a deep breath and continued." John, I'm sorry I can't give you more.

I can only offer little help, though what I can help, might just make you able to make it back home."" What do you mean?"" First thing's first." pressure... / Woosh! / Ryan looked like he's reassured himself of something, he then closed his eyes and began to concentrate. I felt his mana begin to condense in front of his head, before long, a red, oblong jewel formed in front of his face where the mana was condensing. Eventually, the jewel floated towards me. Grip! I grabbed it with my hands.

Ryan's voice filled my ears." Take that with you, it's an exact copy of my memories. I want you to give it to my Nephew, King Leonard. The boy is angry, why wouldn't he be? His People have lost his Birthright and then they had to bow their heads like beggars to receive shelter and safety. Give that to him. We Dark Elves used to get along with our lighter-skinned brothers and sisters. We intermarried, the whole 9 yards. Show him what was, what can still be. Show him my truth, see if that can help.""

What about the night with the King?"" It's in there. Don't be foolish like I was, John, I gave My People no way out. Now, all I can offer them is to numb their pain for a brief moment... As well as one more thing."" What is that?" drip... drip... Tears began to fall from Ryan's cheek as I asked." C... Could you spare one of those bracelets to a tired old man?"" Wait!" I quickly tried to put a stop to what he was about to say.

But before I could even put up an argument, Ryan quickly addressed me with a hint of frustration in his tone." John! You need to wake up! Whether you like it or not, this is the way things are, not even a High Paladin granted with the Favor of an Archangel could heal us. Angela was right, the only way out is death. Along with that, I can make a way out for you." / Woosh! / pain..." Ah!"" I'm sorry, John. I didn't want to have to do something like that. All I did was-"" Directions." Yes...

In my head, I can see it... No, I know it. The way out of the dungeon we're in. No... There's more." I used my Magic to send my consciousness out to find the way out of this dungeon and the City of Krystalbaum. After that, you'll need to head Southwest through the surrounding forest to find your way back to Diablos. I'm sure Hank can fly you home in a few days... I'm afraid you don't have the mana yet to warp back to Paradise from this far. You can go home, you can hug your wives, you can greet your Friends...

And if you'll allow me to be a bit of a selfish Uncle for a moment, you could also stand to invite Charlotte on a date or two."" Wha-"" John, I've traced your memories, I know you feel attracted to the women around you. Trust me, Charlotte doesn't dislike you, she wouldn't come over for dinner so often if she disliked you."" I'm Married, Ryan!"" In a Land where Polygamy is allowed, this isn't like your Home Country, John.

Bring it up to your wives, I'm sure they won't get mad as long as you remind them that you'll always treasure them and keep their Ranks in the Hierarchy." It was like Ryan had said, I could see a mental map of how to get out of Krystalbaum and what was a surefire way of getting back to Paradise... As I was feeling happy from that, Ryan blindsided me by bringing up Charlotte's name to me... And now... He's... He's scolding me? Sure, I'm a guy, but that doesn't mean I'm a hound dog!"

Just because you "can" doesn't mean you "should". Also, I'm a Marquess. I can't just invite other women into starting a Relationship with me."" Hm? Is that so?" heavy! Ryan seemed to have thought of something, by the time he'd started a different Spell, it was already too late to stop him. For some reason, the jewel in my hand now felt heavier. No! Wait! It is bigger! And I can feel Ryan's mana floating into my body again! / Woosh! /" What did you just do!?" Ryan looked at me with a grin and spoke."

Oh, you know, just a little something, don't worry about it. You'll be fine. Call it "insurance" for my Family's Future if you'd like. Anyways-"" Don't just cast a Spell on me and try to avoid it!"" Relax! It was just a Spell to help calm you down... Scouts Honor, John!"" You've never even been a Boy Scout!"" Ah, it's the intent behind it. Go on, ask Angela if I've done something untoward." I quickly phoned up Angela for her impression on what just happened."

It's fine, if anything, I'd wish he could do something like that for me."" What do you mean?"" Don't worry, it's nothing bad." I took a few minutes to calm down." Now look, I appreciate the comedy show at the end, but it's time, John. Place one of the bracelets on top of my head, I'll time it for when you step out of the dungeon and then... I guess I'll meet Angela."" Are you sure?"" John, don't look so sad, we just met. I'm an old man and this is the best thing for My People and me. You're doing us a great Favor.

It's okay to leave us here with the bracelet on my head." I placed my hands on my head as I tried to calm down from the various emotions running through my mind. I looked at Ryan one more time. With a deep breath, I began to cross myself before I offered a small prayer to any Gods that would listen. After spending a moment hoping for them to cross over gently, I placed the bracelet on Ryan's head." Thank you, John. And good luck."

I nodded my head as I headed to the hidden door that was behind the fake wall that Ryan's head was on. I left my Holy Flame there, so they wouldn't be in the dark until the end. I refused to look back as I walked away. / Thump! THOOOMMMM! / Just like Ryan said, the first step I took outside, an ear-splitting explosion signaled the next step of my escape. I placed the jewel he gave me in my shirt, and I never looked back as I made my way to the forest to the Southwest of this city.