THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 210: 210. UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS

”I told you that if you ever harmed a student of Galka Academy, I would kill you.” His tone was cold and rigid when he said those words. Silence prevailed after his statement. Fighting with Captain Salka as his first opponent on his escape was the worst possible match-up.

”I only want to get out of here. I don’t plan on coming back,” Sagiri said. He was still reluctant about fighting with Salka. He was not an easy opponent. The fight would not be silent, and it would call every warrior hunting to him in the place. The fight could not do him any good or increase his chances of escape in the slightest. Even so, if it demanded it, then he would have to fight Salka. The big cat circled Salka before it came to a stop beside him again, and its eyes rested on Sagiri, watching his every move intently. It must have been the one who found him. Just how lethal were the cats trained by Salka?

”You even went as far as injuring your friend and my comrade. How do you plan on settling that score before leaving?” Salka said in the same cold tone as always. He was really not giving anything away. Salka has always been protective of Lotaga. He was like a grown son of his.

”We can fight another time. I will settle the score after I find my parents,” Sagiri said. He just hoped that he could understand the urgency of the matter.

”Your parents?” Salka asked, tilting his head and his eyebrows furrowed.

”Yes. The person who poisoned N’varu and sent this girl to assassinate me has them. He wanted me to go with him willingly if I wanted to see them again, but I could not. I have to find him and kill him, then I will find you, and we will settle this score,” Sagiri said, and the furrow on Captain Salka’s face grew deeper.

”Salka doesn’t scare the boy that much. You know you don’t want to kill him, or you would have already, since you have been lurking for the past few minutes.” Another voice suddenly joined the party as Senraki tore through the woods, swinging on his hooked rope and landing beside Salka. Salka did not even turn around to acknowledge Senraki.

”What do you mean the man took your parents. They encountered robbers on the way who stole their carriage and horses, but they should be in Galka City now on their way here,” Salka said, and Sagiri paused in shock.

What?

”It could seem this time you have fallen headfirst into your benefactor’s trap,” Senraki said, what Sagiri already knew.

”Are you sure my parents are safe?” Sagiri asked.

”I personally asked Seyika to bring them from the hideout. He might look scrawny, but he is one of the deadliest warriors Tagayia has ever hatched. Yes, some thieves stole their carriage and horses while they were eating at an inn, slowing their journey down, but the messenger bird Seyika sent me this morning told me he would be arriving with them in the academy in a few hours,” Salka said, and Sagiri did not know whether to be relieved or mad.

”So your friend being poisoned was his plan to sell his second plan. He is indeed smart. After poisoning your friend, you were sure to go mad. Anything he said after that could have had you baited,” Senraki said, and Sagiri had never felt so stupid. He had not even gone to check in with Salka to know. The man had also not left that detail out, and he had talked about leaving Salka a gift, and Senraki could be busy. He had led him by the rope and pulled his strings like a zither, and he had just gone along and danced to the rhythm.

”I now understand why you went mad. Even Salka could do the same if I got poisoned.” Senraki added after a while.

”Shut up!” Salka said.

”He said he left Captain Salka a gift in the dungeons, and the Grand Marshal won’t come to my aid because you would be busy watching the game,” Sagiri said more to himself. The deal the man had sold him had left no loopholes, and it had no opening at all. He should have known that it was a bluff. Only bluffs are that perfect.

”So he is the reason my three dungeons were unlocked?” Salka said as if he did not care much. ”I should thank him because my cats managed to get fuller than usual.” Of course, Salka could say something like that. Galka War Academy was his turf, and whatever that man had said should have sounded impossible to sagiri. However, him poisoning N’varu had sold every other word he said. His plan was for him to lose control, it seemed. He had greatly underestimated the man.

”Don’t beat yourself up. Even the best of us could have fallen for that trap,” Senraki said. ”You have, however, dug a grave not even I can get you out of. The only redeeming quality is that you have not killed the girl. So now you have one less enemy,” Senraki said. That was also true. After killing the warrior who shot an arrow at him, Sagiri was no doubt now an enemy of the warrior’s guild. He was already an enemy of the war headquarters, and if he killed the girl, then the ten schools could join the party.

”Care to tell me why you haven’t killed the girl?” Senraki suddenly asked, and the girl flinched.

”She is to take me to their hideout. At least the one she remembers. I was supposed to look for my parents from there,” Sagiri said, but now it sounded stupid because it seemed the benefactor, or that man in red, if he was the one, was far more cunning and his plan was far more elaborate. This time, he had fallen headfirst into his web, and there was no telling if any move he made was not just digging his grave even deeper.

”It could have been better if you had killed her. How stupid can you be to follow your enemy into their hideout? What if it is part of their plan?” Salka asked, shaking his head.

”Hey, Salka, you don’t teach a man to swim when he is drowning,” Senraki said to Salka before he turned to Sagiri. ”What is done is done, your parents will keep being safe in my and Salka’s care. Killing a warrior in broad daylight, those eyes, and that weapon. The list is long. Things are not looking good. There is no easy way out of this,” Senraki said.

”I will go with him,” the girl suddenly said. After the feeling they shared after they made contact, her attitude had changed. It was as if she was finally waking up from whatever thing had been holding her like a beast.

”I don’t know what has happened between you two while you were holed up in that cave, but that is stupid, young lady,” Senraki said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

”These are kids. Behave your age,” Salka groaned. Sagiri did not understand what Salka was scolding him for, but he did not ask.

”Now, as I was saying, there is no way out. There is no reason to doubt in everyone’s mind that you are from the south. The South is a sore topic not dared to be spoken of in the North. Your display right now puts a nail in that coffin,” Senraki said, and Sagiri already understood that. His benefactor had made sure to corner him, and it was an immaculate success on his side. ”However, fear can also work to your advantage now. Rules always change for the strong,” Senraki said, and Salka sighed.

”What kind of advice is that?” Salka voiced his disbelief.

”What do I do?” sagiri asked, eager to understand what Senraki wanted him to do so he could change his now tight position. This had already gone south, and perhaps his benefactor was indeed counting on him being cornered. Perhaps instead of taking a step back. Things needed to get from bad to worse.