-Oi, I found him!

-What?!

As she was dragging him away from the ruins, I could tell that everyone else was encroaching on my location, but soon passed me and instead started focusing on the unconscious guy.

As careful as I could, I emerged from the house and hid in a different one. Bit further away, but not far enough so I would still hear them.

-He’s alive, but blacked out.

-Hey! Wake up.

-Oi!

What followed was something that probably was a couple of slaps to try and wake the guy up.

-Nothing?

-Fuck, man…

-What’s wrong with him?

-Fuck, did you found anyone else…!?

-No, why?

-The pair working is missing. I thought that they might have defected… and seeing this that’s probably the case.

-Defected!?

-Yeah, that damage tells me everything.

-You’re a bad luck charm.

-Fuck you too. But what was that about damage?

-Don’t get so interested.

-Oh come on. Don’t take that out on me. I know I am new, but I can be helpful. And I am not stupid. Was that the dealer who fucked off?

-Grh…

-Oh, come on mate. She’s been pretty helpful back in the base, maybe she can be useful…

-Useful… yeah right.

-What, you think that I did that to him?

For laughed.

-Of course not. I am not stupid. You’re new, you don’t have access to that stuff.

-Shut the fuck up!

-Where exactly did you find him?

-That…

She hesitated for a second.

-I moved. You can show them.

She flinched, hearing my voice, but quickly regained her composure.

-You good?

-Yeah, just… fucker’s heavy and I might have sprained something…

-Ha. Weak ass.

-Fuck you. Want me to show you or not? That one. Let me…

She guided them to the house I attacked the guy in.

-Here.

-Yeah, there’s been something here.

-Something?

-I mean, look at the sand.

-That’s probably just me fumbling with his body. Fucker was on the ground and I ate shit because of that.

-Ha!

-Funny.

-Of course it is. But, besides that, there is something in the air. Someone used magic here.

-You sure? Doesn’t this whole place have random mana residue…?

-Oh, it does, but this is a bit fresher. They probably set up a trap.

-Can he even do that?

-I mean, who the hell knows? Those kids are so unpredictable…

-You think it was the small one? Nah, couldn’t be… He’d…

-And what, you think he just randomly decided to change his mind and set us up? Fuck no!

-Like you wouldn’t!

-You son of a…

They were arguing for a good few minutes.

From what I could overhear, they were a part of a larger group. I am not sure if they were part of the same one that the guy who knocked me out was.

Good news though, they didn’t suspect that I came back to life. Instead, they thought that the pair that I got rid off had taken off with me.

I mean, that was a fair assumption: they couldn’t have expected for me to randomly wake up and attack, right?

That is the best part. I am not sure they were even aware that I was a person!

How’s that possible, you ask? Well, your guess is as good as mine. While I was a headless torso most of the time, or at least I have to assume so, I had some features that were human, right? They were even able to cut off my fingers, so they had to know that they were dealing with a corpse. Well, a bit lively and definitely unusual, but still!

Nah, I think that was just bullshit they were feeding For.

I was not interrupting nor trying to contact her for now, but it was clear that some of them didn’t trust her at all, calling her a newbie and all.

She apparently only was able to join this party of theirs because they were missing some members… the same ones that were now suspected of betrayal. I guess my resilience paid off for her.

But what exactly was she doing here?

That question had to wait until we’d managed to deal with them, and it seemed like it’s going to be a while.

-Okay, we need to split up. You four stay here, wait for us.

-What for…? Can’t we just go wherever the hideout is supposed to be…?

Hideout?

-No. A smaller party is better. And we’re going scouting anyway.

-So go alone.

-I need at least two of us. I can’t be going alone with them on the run.

-But…

-Shut up, newbie. You’re staying here and there’s no discussion..

-Fuck off.

-We don’t want to have an untested member in the field when we are dealing with runaways. Last time that happened we ended up with another dead.

-That’s why I am a better choice. I don’t have any ties to them. I can delete them as soon as I see them. You’re gonna hesitate.

-It’s bold for you to assume that we have any ties like that.

Someone laughed.

-Yeah, that’s not going to be a problem. You just sit here and guard the straggler. Since that idiot is down for the count, we need to take care of his pair. Who knows what stupid shit can come to their stupid head.

-Eh. Do what you will.

-Good girl.

-Fuck you. Better tell me how long am I supposed to be waiting here?

-To get where we want we need about a day or so, depending on circumstances. If everything goes according to plan we are going to be back in less than three days.

-Three days?! I am supposed to stay in this dump for three days?!

-What, can’t handle the heat?

Another laugh.

-You’re gonna be alone anyway. Go have some fun, why don’t you. You can use the two however you want. Just don’t break them.

-Oooh, how generous. Damn, now I am starting to be jealous. I can only imagine how mad this idiot’s going to be when we tell him what he’s going to be missing!

-Don’t get stupid ideas.

-Oh, of course, mistress, everything for you, mistress.

-Piss off.

-Joking aside, we’re going to move. And don’t be so crestfallen, those ruins are not so bad. Go have a look, maybe there’s still something useful in there. Last time I was here, I managed to find some relics. Got me some coin, maybe you’re going to be lucky too.

-Aha, sure.

-I doubt that.

-Anyway, those in the back still have most of the walls left, so if you want to hide go there. We’re out.

-Yeah, yeah, whatever. Go.

With that, they split.

I couldn’t believe our luck.

Not only the group split, they left me here with For, an unconscious guy, and two, what I only could assume from their conversation, slaves.

I waited a good few minutes after they disappeared from my range of senses before I even tried contacting her again.

-They’re gone?

-Yeah. You heard what they said?

-Most of it.

-Good. Then you know it’s safe.

-Safe? What about the two others…?

-Oh, they are going to be happy to see you too.

-What…?

-Well, maybe not with that body… but nevermind, come out.

I was confused, to say the least, so I took a closer look at the people in question.

Well, after she mentioned it, I could tell that there was something familiar about those two… I couldn’t really place either of them, but I definitely did see them before.

Nevertheless, I was not going to reveal immediately, instead just started approaching carefully, under cover of ruins.

But, when they were in my eyeshot, I immediately understood what she was about.

The other two were kids.

I mean, sure, I already figured that out, but seeing them without their wraps I recognized both immediately.

While I didn’t have much time to look at them before, I could tell that those two were part of the group from the “orphanage” that Kon was part of.

That also gave me a good idea why exactly For was trying to pursue them. But still, I was unsure on the bit “how”.

-Ah. Them. Better hold them so they won’t run away.

-Way ahead of you.

I shrugged and emerged from the cover of yet another ruined building.

All of them immediately turned to me and started hiding their faces.

-Don’t worry. It’s him.

Both of them looked confused.

-I am not your enemy - I announced, slowly approaching.

They did not look convinced, although on the sound of my voice their expression changed from wary and scared to just scared, and their mana somewhat started to calm down.

-How in the hell did you all end up here…?

-I want to ask you the same. What happened after… Did you die…?

-Die…? Well, you tell me. My memory is somewhat hazy…

-What do you remember? - asked For, now also curious.

-Well, the last thing is that idiot zapping me with something and me losing consciousness.

-Losing consciousness? Ha. That’s… an understatement.

I gave her a confused look.

-Your head literally exploded.

That shocked both me and the kids.

-Okay, one step at a time. First off, what happened to you, kids?

-Ah, that - nodded For. - I do have some information, but those are better from the source. What exactly happened?

Kids finally realized that we were talking to them and shook off the initial confusion.

-Er… I don’t know for sure what was supposed to happen… but we were taken away from mister Jack by someone here… that’s about it…

-Here? This… ruin?

-No, no, I meant the desert. I had never seen this place before. Or… maybe we did? All those ruins look similar… The guy opened a portal and told us to go through, that he’s adopting us all. At first we were a bit suspicious, but then we recognized that he seemed to know mister Jack and he encouraged us to follow him… There were a few others with him too… although I am not sure who they were. Some looked like they were familiar with him, too…

-Jack, Jacob, Goldie, Felix. At least - explained For for them.

-Well, with that party no wonder Jack just let them go…

-You did force him a bit…

-You know what I wanted.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Okay, what happened next?

-Er… - kid continued. - They teleported us to some kind of camp in the middle of the desert… It was a bit scary, but soon they gave us clothes to change and told us that they are going to give us permanent jobs and guardians. After that, they split us into pairs and since then we were tasked to help them with their responsibilities…

He did not elaborate, but I didn’t ask. I could see that on his face that it was not just some random chores. That, and I did witness the ritual before. I assume that it was not the worst thing they were used for…

-I understand… Thanks… But where do you come into play here, For? They said you’re new here…?

-That I am, to this group at least. I’ve been working undercover, so to speak, for the past few months.

-Months? Damn, I’ve been down for that long?!

-Yeah, it’s been a while. But I forgot to ask. HOW DID YOU SURVIVE?!

-I mean, you know what I am made of. Can’t you figure that out?

-Yeah, sure, but YOUR HEAD WAS MISSING. You were not moving. And if that was not enough, you were then broken into small pieces! They dragged you through a portal. IN PIECES! You were literally a pile of rubble!

-Well fuck… I don’t have an explanation… When I came to, I was lying somewhere on the sand, covered with some kind of tarp and missing my head.

-Still in better shape than when I saw you last!

I couldn’t tell if she was more happy or more scared.

I mean, if what she said was true, I hardly could blame her. I essentially did come back from the dead. At least to her.

-Eh… good to see you… a bit changed, but still.

-Yeah. You too. But how did you get here exactly? Don’t tell me that you followed them here?

-Of course I did. What do you think?

-What, you just jumped after him?

-Like hell I did. What, you think I am that stupid?

-Well…

-Shut up.

-No. After he shoved your… rubble inside his bag and ported away, we immediately started thinking of some way to follow him. And you.

-What did you figure out?

-Remember, you lost something. A certain part of yourself.

For a second I was confused, but soon I realized what exactly she was talking about.

-My hand? And how does that help…?

-Remember my “epiphany” about teleports…?

I was unsure if I should be amazed or disappointed.

-You used my own body as an anchor.

-Yep.

-And how did that work?! If that was to work correctly it’d put you… where exactly…? Wouldn’t that send you to some kind of relative of mine or something? Back to my world?!

-Well… we thought of that risk…

-What, my world was so interesting?

-NO! I mean, yes. I mean, we did mean to follow you and…

-Eh… yes, yes, I get it. It was Kon’s idea, right?

-Yeah… I think he still had some information from the one inside his head or something… He knew that you couldn’t be dead…

-I guess… Okay, what happened exactly?

-Well, the teleport did get us towards you. But what we didn’t account for was that we’d land right in the middle of their encampment.

-Oh for fucks…

-But Kon actually planned ahead… and saved me.

-He saved you?

-Yeah. He opened another portal. I am not sure what exactly he used, but he opened one using something on him and shoved me inside. I landed in one of those buildings.

She gestured to the ruins next to us.

-You… landed here?

-Yeah. I never expected that I’d meet you here though. That’d be helpful to know.

-Damn. I am not sure if you are lucky or what, but those are some levels of bullshit I am having hard time believing.

-I can say the same about your miraculous revival. What, did you put yourself together just like that? You were shattered, like a broken glass!

-I don’t know what to tell you - I shrugged. - I awoke headless though. Drained my captors, who, realizing that they were losing, offed themselves.

-They what?!

The last sentence shook not only her, but also the two kids next to her.

-Er… What…?

-Are you sure about that?! You’ve seen that?!

-I mean… I didn’t have my eyes back then… nor my head, but I am certain that after I started draining, when they were low on mana, they just disappeared. And not like it was teleportation, I’d notice. Just “poof” and gone.

-That… yeah. That tracks.

The two kids were on the edge of crying. She was holding herself up, but inside I could tell that she was crestfallen.

-Can you at least tell me what are you on about before you start crying? - I asked. - Those were my captors. I don’t really feel bad.

-One of them was your captor. The second one was just an unfortunate soul.

-Everyone in here works in pairs. Or at least so it seems like it. In reality it’s just a slave-owner relationship. And the slaves are, as you can see, kids. Kids that you have entrusted to me.

-But I only attacked one of them?! What happened to…

-This.

One of the kids reached into their clothes and pulled out a necklace. I think I’ve seen a similar one before, but I couldn’t really place where exactly.

-Everyone is forced to wear one. It’s… cursed.

-Those are linked to their owners. And help their owner cast the spells. You have probably seen the ritual, right? That’s one of their uses. Using other’s mana as your own…

-Are you telling me… that I was attacking both at the same time? Wait, that doesn’t make sense. Why aren’t one of you down? - I pointed towards the unconscious guy. - Isn’t one of you linked to him…?

-I am. And I do feel weak.

-You were lucky - said For. - It’s just that those kids have a lot more mana capacity than those idiots. You just drained him faster than he was able to regenerate by stealing from him…

-Okay, but that still doesn’t explain why the other two disappeared. If what you say is correct, the situation would be pretty much the same there! Or I’d be left with a kid in tow. And I am sure that both of their signatures disappeared!

-Say… did you hear any spell being cast…? Because that’s how it usually goes…

-Spell… Well, maybe? I couldn’t really tell. I did feel some mana activity though.

-Remember what my “brethren” did when we captured one of those…?

-Are you telling me that that idiot offed himself in hopes of destroying me?! And also used the kid’s mana to increase the effect!? Are you kidding me?!

But, that would explain how I was able to regain so much energy so fast…

-I assume it was more of “if I can’t have him, no one can”.

-Are you kidding me?!

-That’s why I was working undercover. I couldn’t really attack them out right. I had to find a way to avoid… the thing that happened to you.

- Why are they so stubborn!? - I bursted out, annoyed. - Can’t they stop for a fucking minute without exploiting someone?!

-You’re the one speaking… But yeah, I get you.

I gave her an annoyed look. Or rather an annoyed feeling, it’s hard to convey feelings with my face alone.

-Well, in any case, I don’t know for sure why they target everyone that is around you… but maybe that’s enough for them maybe…

-What do you mean by that?

-They are targeting you - she simply said. - That much is clear. I guess since we had some kind of contact with you, they figured out we are co-conspirators of yours or something…

-Wait, pause. I thought they were targeting Axelrod?

-Oh, they are. But not only. See, I’ve noticed… those aren’t exactly just some random thugs… Or, well at least not completely. At the core, they do have some kind of organization.

-Organization is aiming to get me?! What the hell did I do to them!? And Axelrod for that matter?

-Well… it probably is in their name…

-Name?

-They call themselves MIRE.