The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 388: Becoming a member (1)

Chapter 388: Becoming a member (1)

Hex sat on the ground waiting for the spies to return. At first he made small talk to Marriane – he learned her name while discussing the benefits of working for her gambling den – but it turned dull at some point.

It was clear to him she was only talking in order to find a gap or a clue to find more about him. She, like Hex, knew that things might not end just with Trid’s potential recovery. The Seachurns would haunt the culprits as anyone else who they believed to have taken advantage of them.

’Just taking a million Wrixian coins won’t be enough,’ Hex thought, while waiting. ’I won’t be able to use it freely without raising some suspicion. One, Sterling and his team will wonder how I found the wealth and on the other hand and two, the Seachurns will uncover his identity within a short amount of time.

’I need coins to gather resources, grow my membership tier, and of course, to train myself. I doubt Sterling or Quid being ignorant about those tiered items. They will haunt me for a long time to learn about my source of income.’

Hex had specific reasons for wanting to earn his coin. But he had to think about the method to pull it off without alerting everyone. The reason behind his secrecy was simple. Keeping the various goals divided and covered for a long while would help to hide his intentions for a short and mid-long term.

’Information is the most dangerous weapon an opponent can wield. I rather keep everyone guessing about myself and the power I possess.’

...

"I heard you know what is wrong with my son?"

The man standing before Hex and Marianne was tall and resembled Trid a lot. Only his gray sideburns and wrinkled skin around his eyes revealed his elderly status. The man was Trid’s father and the current leader of the Sunken Isle.

Once the man learned from the spies that someone knew the cure for his unconscious son, he decided to pay Hex a visit by himself.

"I do," Hex replied without a change in his expression. He hadn’t expected the ruler to arrive by himself. He wasn’t alone. None of the others had expected him to come on his own but he did.

"Poison, right?" Trid’s father asked to confirm the state his son was in. "Did they tell you the Dryads have tested for poison? And yet you claim it is poison?"

"Of course." Hex said. He sensed the power coursing through the man opposite him. It was like he stood before a tumultuous wave that could drown him at any time.

"And if you are mistaken? It seems no one knows you around here." The man’s eyes stared at him as if he could swallow him. Perhaps it was something he wished to do but couldn’t because of his desire to see his son survive.

Hex knew he was being probed and told that there was nothing to support his claim about the poison.

He ignored the probe.

"To assure you, I will tell the type and source of the poison up front. But in the presence of an Elder and a Dryad. I believe I can convince you sufficiently."

Hex had learned in the past few days that Wrixia lacked notaries. Sales, agreements, and other stuff such as marriages were done in front of an Elder. In the event of a dispute the said Elder could be summoned to testify by taking an oath on the Elder’s mark. It was something each Elder received. And when the Elder died or left, the mark returned to the Council. The records remained inside the mark and could be used whenever it was needed. Irrespective of time and place inside Wrixia.

Trid’s father agreed, albeit reluctantly. He was an outsider. Despite the honorable reputation of the Elder’s mark, he viewed it with scepticism. He was a leader too. As such he knew how easy it was to falsify official documents. But with no other choice and with a ticking clock on his son’s life, he brought Hex to the Inn he stayed at.

The official part was concluded rapidly. Both, the Dryad and the Elder, remained to listen to the explanation. Marianne, too, stayed. She was part of the deal on behalf of her employers. Even if they failed to profit this time, learning something they didn’t know yet was also considered good.

They all expected Hex to take them to Trid and explain while examining him. But Hex didn’t need to see the guy to know what was wrong with him. He had seen and sensed it during the match.

"Your son is poisoned," he started. But the Dryad jumped in.

"I heard you have said this a few times. But I can assure you we didn’t find anything."

To which the elder added, "Dryads are exclusive to Wrixia and their reputation is significant behind their income. I feel compelled to tell you, if you can’t support your claim, we will drag you for a hearing before the Elder Council."

Politics. Hex hated it but knew he couldn’t circumvent it. Luckily, he was a hundred percent sure about this case.

"He isn’t poisoned with a poisonous substance," he said, earning confused looks from the people present. He continued, though.

"Poison is anything that harms the body, mind, and or soul. In Trid’s case the thing that poisoned him was...water."

"Impossible!" The Sunken Isle’s ruler spoke before anyone else could. Their expressions supported him, though.

"Trid is an expert Water element user. His body has been accustomed to it ever since he was a child."

"I am not refuting that" Hex said. "But water differs too. Trid is used to seawater and its swiftness in the open air. His body has adjusted itself to the water around him. So, water filtered to lose minerals or other substances, poisoned him once he absorbed it during the match. Unless the waters are split, he won’t recover. Worse, his body will deteriorate even before he dies."

There. He had provided cause, effect, and cure. The people had fallen silent. Hex waited. Waited for one more thing. His big chance would come now.

"It seems plausible," the Dryad said slowly. "The symptoms match perfectly. But I have never seen a case like this."

"Can you guys cure it?" Trid’s father asked. He could care less about it being something new for the Dryad.

"I-I am not sure," the Dryad stammered. "Dividing flows that have fused with the user to some extent is something only the most advanced Dryads can do. It’s not something just any Dryad could do. Certainly not me."

"Useless!" The father cursed. The Dryad seemed upset but struggled to counter. "If you guys can’t heal him, who can?" The father continued

"Ahm, sorry to interrupt, " He said slowly. "I know one person that stands a chance of doing it."

"Who?" The father and the Dryad asked at the same time. Their tone differed, though.

"Hex...Hex Darkenmane."