The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 294: Drifting at sea

Chapter 294: Drifting at sea

Correct!

A voice spoke directly into his mind. At the same time, he heard the Desert Flower Monarch yelp and look around in panic.

’She heard it too.’

The Monarch looked at him. It seemed the effects of the Space remained in place. She could hear his thoughts. Perhaps that worried her. Someone penetrated her Space without alerting her.

"A Sin?"

Hex looked at the monarch and asked without keeping his voice down. It wouldn’t matter, would it? The monarch could hear his thoughts. A person who overruled her control, could certainly too.

As soon as she heard his question, she became still. It was clear she didn’t consider that. Or she considered it but didn’t wish to confront the fact. Now that Hex spoke out loud, she forced herself to confront her fear.

But before she could do so, the Space trembled. Tremors ran through it. Hex felt his innards churn. Also, his space element circle started to flicker. It seemed to be absorbing whatever space elements came free during the destruction of the Space.

If he didn’t feel like vomiting, he would rejoice.

Crack.

Huge cracks appeared around him. To him, it looked like the world around him was made of glass and was about to shatter.

The cracks spread all around. They covered the air, the land, the sky, and the shore. The cracks deepened. Hex moved, not willing to fall into any of them. He didn’t know the consequence of doing so but he wasn’t willing to risk it.

While moving, he continued to sense his surroundings. The silvery light on the back of his hand flickered now and then. A glance at it revealed a thin line forming a full circle.

’I absorbed plenty of Space elements now. The cracks are becoming worse. I need one opening.’

The Sin seemed focused on the monarch. He didn’t save Hex at once. He wondered whether the destruction of the Space was his help. Or would he save him once he finished dealing with the monarch? Hex refused to count on it.

’There!’

The cracks deepened to such an extent, he could sense the other side of the Space. Just before he moved away, he had released a burst of chaotic energy, creating a disturbance in Space and Time. The affected area hadn’t recovered yet.

Blink Step

Hex moved away. The faint ringing shattering glass was the last thing he heard before everything disappeared.

...

"Arg."

After an unknown number of seconds, Hex started to regain his senses. With each use of the Blink Step, the time between he regained each sense, shortened. This time, they returned almost at once.

Before he could look around, his sense of feel returned. And with it, mind-numbing pain. His mind hurt and his body felt weak. At the same time, his chest burnt and his stomach churned. He gritted his teeth and pushed himself on his feet. But as soon as he stood erect, his stomach churned even more.

"Blegh!"

He doubled on the floor, vomiting intensely. Mixed with the content of his stomach, came also the acids. The burning sensation in his mouth and throat brought another wave of vomit out.

"Take this. Drink."

He lifted his head and noticed Sterling on his knees. He offered a leather sack of water. Seeing the silver-haired man beside him, his mind replayed the scenes before everything happened. He grabbed the sack and gulped as much water as he could.

By the time he started to feel a bit better, he also managed to regulate his breath and dispel the haze in his mind.

He turned his head in all directions, trying to understand what happened. The sight before him stunned him.

Hundreds of tendrils bore through the sand and stood tall in the sky. Humans dangled from them. Some of the humans belonged to their group but most were from the opposite team.

The tendrils were massive. A quick estimate put the tendrils at thirty centimeters at their cross-section. And they stood about three hundred meters above the ground.

"Are...are those desert snares?" Hex turned toward Sterling and asked.

"Yes and no. It is ONE desert snare," he said, pointing behind Hex. "Her."

Hex turned and noticed a huge rotund pod standing with half of its body immersed in the sand. It blended well with the dunes around. Even Hex needed a second to discern its shape amidst the other dunes. That too with Sterling pointing at it. Else, he might have missed it.

Light distorted around its body. He could see the Desert Flower Monarch’s beautiful appearance. Only, she seemed to alternate between being visible and invisible.

"She is controlling that thing?"

"She IS that thing," Sterling replied with a wry smile on his face.

With a start, Hex turned to look at it again. The wonders of the world at a higher level stunned him at every step. At the same time, a desire to reach such levels also took root. And speaking about high levels, where was the Sin-stage being?

"Over there."

Sterling seemed to have guessed his thoughts and pointed toward the sea. Only now did Hex realize that the dunes dividing the shores with the expanse of sand weren’t there anymore. It had disappeared.

He didn’t even notice when it happened. But it happened. Baffling as such destruction might be, Hex threw it to the back of his mind. He wanted to witness the Sin. But he didn’t see anything.

’There is the shore. The sea. The trees –. Trees?’

Hex stood up and wobbled forward. He needed a closer look. As he neared the sea, he started to see a land filled with lush forests, hills, and even animals.

"An island?"

Did the Sin travel on an island? He couldn’t see the whole area it held but if he had to guess, it couldn’t be smaller than a small city. It might even rival Notrelune in size.

The people already freed from the snares, boarded the island. They sat with blank stares.

"Time to leave."

Sterling walked toward it and said.

"What about...her?"

Hex looked back. The pod stood there. Unmoving. The figure of light flickered. Her gaze was still on him. She looked...in shock.

She has submitted to me and will be my vassal. I lost my last servant in these dry lands during the dawn of the Fifth Age.

The voice spoke again. It didn’t hurt nor did he suffer but Hex couldn’t help but look around. He knew he wouldn’t see the person unless they were willing to show themselves.

Sterling halted too in his steps. The sweat on his forehead showed having the voice of such a being in your head unnerved even him.

Gronke, with the help of Quid and the two female Knights, pried the others from their group free from the snares. They were the last to board.

Hex stood on the edge of the island. It was almost unbelievable how the distance between the shore and the island started to increase. There were no tremors, storms, or any other disturbances. Everything remained calm.

In the distance, he noticed the snares starting to disappear. The entire affair left him with a bittersweet taste. He was happy to have survived once again. He would soon lose count of how many times he survived against what others would consider certain death.

But it also showed him his place in this world. It revealed how weak he was. Even though he managed to reach the Refined Stage, he remained a mortal.

Like everyone else, he remained at the edge, staring at the gentle waves of the sea as they drifted along.

He lifted his head after some time had passed. Edune had disappeared. Only a vast amount of water flowed around them and the wind brushed against his face.

Somehow, the mountain kid in him still felt some unease in such surroundings. He preferred barren peaks, chilly winds, and desolate chasms. With a shudder, he turned to find Sterling.

Most of the people had recovered to some extent. He saw them sit, talk, and even light a bonfire to cook.

Sterling stood not far from the crowd, so he found him quickly.

"Where are we headed?" He asked once he reached Sterling and sat beside him.

"Wrixia," Sterling replied. "It’s said to be the oldest place in this world. I am looking forward to seeing what sort of treasures they have."

"And why are we going there?" Hex asked. He didn’t mind the destination and knowing that the place has a rich history, he even looked forward to visiting it. Who knew he might get the answers there he was looking for?

"The Silver Serpent’s main branch is there."

"Didn’t you say you were thrown out? Now you are going to the main den of theirs?" Hex asked with a frown.

"Den?" Sterling nearly stumbled. "We aren’t bandits or outlaws," he said with a wry smile. Hex shrugged. He didn’t see the difference but he he held his mouth.

"The branches in the different countries have their own rules and leaders. There is almost no alignment with the main branch. Yet, it remains the main branch. I don’t know why but no one, not even at the largest gatherings ever dares to disrespect it. And do you know, not everyone can just visit it. Only those chosen to be heirs are granted access."

"Hmm," murmured Hex. He leaned in and whispered the thing that he wished to know the most. "And this Sin-stage helper? Is he employed by you?"

Sterling went pale. Before he could reply, a voice rang in Hex’s mind.

I don’t work for anyone. I like to drift and I promised his ancestors a one-time assistance.

’Apologies senior,’ Hex hurried to calm the powerhouse down. He just survived one attack. He didn’t wish to die after being saved.

Let it be the last time. And stop calling me a Sin. Sins are those who went against Heaven. I existed even before she awakened. I am not a Sin. I am a Saint. Saint Calm Sea.