-Why does everyone seem so eager to turn themselves into mana?! - Kon finally exploded. - Are they insane?!

-That is a good question. One that I cannot answer. Although…

And I dragged the tied up guy closer to us three.

-HE’S ALIVE?

For was immediately snapped out of the trance she just fell into.

-Yeah. Restrained, scared shitless, confused and mana drained. But alive - I nodded. - I was about to try and get some more information from him, but you woke up.

-Good. I want to listen to that!

-I figured. Go rest. I will attempt to make him a bit more… talkative.

Both Kon and For sat down again on the sand and started observing.

Once more I dragged him into a sitting position and placed him in front of us three, with me standing right between him and us.

-So. Let’s get back to where we were. Why are you here?

I modified the spell a little bit and let him speak again.

I am unsure if he even realized that he couldn’t do that before, because he didn’t react at all, so I shook him a bit.

-Come on. We don’t have all day.

I mean, we did, but he didn’t have to know that.

-I don’t have anything to say to you.

-Oh, I bet you don’t. But let’s not be so rude to each other.

I got a bit closer to him.

I could tell, the closer I was, the more fear he was feeling.

-You know, I can make you talk. But I don’t want to. So it would be in your best interest to start talking by yourself.

-I wanted to kill you. Nothing more, nothing less. You deserve n-no more.

-Hm. Progress.

His voice was starting to tremble.

-But I know you are lying. At least hiding some truth. So let’s cut to the chase. Why are you so persistent? Why bother with so much just for me? It’s not like I am now even remotely important. I am just minding my own business.

-...

-Is it about those two? You interested in them?

A few questions later it was clear that we were getting nowhere.

-I knew it… eh, I guess it’s time to change my approach a little bit… For, you feel like having a slave?

My question made her flinch and she looked at me like I just went mad.

-Come on, it’s not that weird.

-I didn’t say anything.

-But you definitely wanted to. So, what about it?

-Can’t you do it yourself?

-I am not sure - I admitted. - With this body, it’s hard to get some kind of genetic material to actually fulfill the requirements…

-Material…

-I mean blood. I don’t have any any more.

-I…

She clearly didn’t like the idea.

-Okay, I get it. What about you Kon?

-I… I don’t feel like using that kind of magic…

Right. He was on the receiving end of it for a long while… So I sort of understood where he was coming from.

That also probably affected the lack of enthusiasm of For. Before she’d not even hesitate, just like with me…

-Okay, I get it. Another plan then.

I raised my hand towards the guy on the floor.

-It’s a spell I’ve heard, but I am not sure how good it’s going to work in current circumstances… But you’re not going to complain, right?

-What…

-You had the time to speak before.

He shut up immediately.

-For, you got a knife or something?

-Er… Yeah, there’s…

After a moment we managed to find a knife that probably belonged to one of his underlings.

With one stab, I drew some blood from his hand and smeared it across my own hand.

-Doy niptuhu itvut qypove, nepe itvut me kyhotvu, fosy me wisup ey itvut nusvohove, no usfupet em wo voekp.

It was the same spell that Melle used on me a long time ago.

Since I didn’t create any kind of magical circle or didn’t have any kind of preparation beforehand, I was uncertain about its power. But, I had his blood to use, so the connection at least probably should be stable…

As mana left me, I noticed that the blood that I had on me started glowing, and… steaming? That was a rather interesting visual.

The steam, or the smoke, did not just vanish, it instead made its way towards the guy I was targeting and wrapped itself around his head.

-What’s going on?! What are you… AAH!

It went directly up his nose.

Definitely not a pleasant feeling, judging by how he was flailing about in the sand, even though he was tightly bound in place.

A seconds later, as the haze cleared and the remains of the blood were gone, he finally calmed down, and slumped down.

-Oi, you awake?

I poked him with my foot.

-Yes…

His voice was a lot calmer. Unlike his mana. That was still in disarray and completely wildly panicking. Maybe even more now than before.

-That’s progress… Look at me.

He raised his head.

His eyes were completely glazed over.

-I think that is a success - I commented. - So, who has questions first?

For shrugged.

-It’s you who knows the most about these people it seems.

-And they were after you… - pointed out Kon.

-You too, I remind you.

-Weren’t they only just after us to get to you?

-They thought me dead, so I don’t think so.

-Instead of that, why won’t we ask him?

-Right!

-So, why were you after these two? - I asked the guy, pointing towards Kon and For.

He raised his head, looking at them.

-They are dangerous. Connected to a known murderer - he replied with a calm voice.

-That’s it? Just connected?

-We were unsure if they were their co-conspirators, or were forced to cooperate with threats or enchantments. Decision was made to keep them under watch until they acted hostile.

-So I guess that was because of you…

-I mean… it was sort of my fault… - For mumbled. - But I couldn’t just let you stay like that!

-I thought you didn’t know about me…? - I asked. - I was “dead”?

-Not you. Kon.

Kon, on that mention, started shuffling uncomfortably.

-I am sorry…

-Sorry for what? It’s…

I was not going to listen to them bicker about that stuff, instead I again focused my attention on the guy I was questioning.

-Okay, let’s get back to business. Who sent you?

I was not going to waste time on some random questions. It was important to know what exactly we were dealing with. I honestly was doubting that we were dealing with an actual leader of that group, considering his demeanor, but it was better to make sure.

I think he knew that as well, because for the first time I noticed some sanity behind his look once more.

-I cannot tell you that.

Wow.

This spell was useless.

Last time, when Melle used it on me I was so talkative it was hard to stop. Okay, I might have been a bit overzealous and not careful back then, but still. He had enough presence of mind to shut up. Ha, even better, to straight up tell me that he’s not talking.

But, that confirmed one thing.

-So, it’s not you then?

Behind his glazed eyes there was some recognition.

-There’s someone higher up then. Eh, not like I didn’t expect that, you’re just some small fry, aren’t you.

-I… I…

He was about to say something, but he bit his tongue and once more stopped.

-This is getting irritating. Fine then. Let’s start from the beginning. What is your name? Who are you?

-I… I am Robert Mire.

That’s an interesting name. Or surname, rather.

-I am a leader of the Last Arrivals.

He managed to bite his tongue again to silence himself, but that was enough to give me some food for thought.

Last Arrivals? Wasn’t that how the group that For was from called? No, it was First Arrivals. So wait, he is connected to those?

-Are you connected to the elves then?

This time it took him a whole minute to reply.

Was the spell losing power already? I know I used a bit of a scuffed way to cast it, but still, I didn’t expect for it to be so shit. As he was trying to not reply, I was pretty sure that it was going to be the last thing he was going to tell me and it’s going to fade completely.

-What are elves?

I rolled my eyes, disappointed that he didn’t even reply to the question without the spell breaking completely.

-Fucking trash spell.

I started cursing and thinking of a better way to get information from him.

-Don’t we have some other way to interrogate him…? - asked For.

-You can take a slave.

-Yeah, but isn’t that going to just do the same thing to him? It’s not like we can force him to talk… only to tell the truth.

-I mean, we probably would be able to think of a contract that would provide us with a way to force it out of him…

-But we first would have to know WHAT to force out - pointed out Kon. - If I understand correctly that is.

-Stupid elven magic.

But, we were not out of ideas just yet.

-Hey, last time… with Goldie… did you manage to get something out of him…? - asked For.

-Eh…? I… Well, sort of. What, you think it would work on him?

-Why not?

-Well… with Goldie… Huh. I guess there was no connection besides Axelrod, that is, and that’s a bit far… But that’s still a connection. With this guy, there’s nothing besides a tiny bit of his mana flowing through me, since I absorbed it…

-Wouldn’t that be enough? I mean… It’s not like we are losing much…

-Sure…

-But… don’t you have some connection with him? - asked Kon. - They were using your body, right? That has to count for something.

-It’s not like they tried fusing themselves with that - I pointed out. - I feel that It’s going to have as much influence on that as me draining him beforehand…

-You say that… - started slowly For, looking directly at the guy. - But… when I look closer… he has some familiar mana inside…

-Wait, you don’t mean…

-I am certain… Is he…

She stepped closer to the guy, staring intently.

Finally she pointed towards his left leg and pointed towards it.

-Here. It’s… there’s something…

Without a second thought I grabbed him and checked the place she was pointing out.

The moment I touched him, I froze.

His leg was… made out of metal?!

I couldn’t believe what I was feeling so I straight up ripped his clothes away to see… and I was correct.

Instead of regular flesh and muscles, he had a metal prosthetic. I say prosthetic, but it was something a lot more advanced than that. It was definitely made out of a mix of metal and plastic, I could even recognize some screws here and there, but on top of that I was able to feel… something else.

Mana? Inside a metal? Weird.

But that wasn’t the most important detail.

-That’s… Where… how the fuck did you get that?! - I asked, stumbling on my words.

-...

Right. He was not going to answer.

I guess it was time to get weird.

I focused on his mana, just like I did before, but this time, I attempted pushing more, at the same time, asking him again.

-How did you get that!?

Like with Goldie, it wasn’t that hard to get some kind of response, although unlike with him, the connection I got here was absolutely perfect. Just like with For and Kon, I could clearly hear his thoughts. Maybe because I already managed to connect with him before, although only one way…

-Why the hell would you care?! What, you can be completely made out of rock and I can’t even have a piece of me replaced?

-I don’t care why you have it, I want to know WHERE FROM.

He jumped. No wonder, like everyone, the first time realizing someone is hearing your thoughts is a disturbing realization.

-I don’t know what…

He started mumbling some bullshit explanation, yet I wasn’t listening. I was more focused on his inner thoughts.

-What is he?

-”He” is in your head right now. And he wants some answers - I projected directly into his head.

-I don’t know anything. Leave me alone!

-No. No. I don’t. Nothing. Empty. Stop. No…

Fucking great.

He was employing the same tactic as For the first time she realized I was listening to her thoughts.

In her case it was more annoying than anything, since I was hearing it more often than not, with him it was actually sort of working. Currently, I was only able to listen to his… let’s say “outside” thoughts, so repeating bullshit on loop was a good tactic that would certainly work.

That is, if I was not persistent. And annoyed.

-What are you doing?

I guess I did keep the pair out of a loop. They were hearing a one-sided conversation after all…

-I was trying your ideas. But he’s being annoying.

-Yeah, I… we know, we heard that.

-You what?

That one caught me by surprise.

-Well… yeah. We could hear that. I guess our connection is still strong…

True, we were sharing a good connection, but I never expected for them to use it without me noticing. A bit concerning. But since I didn’t have much to hide at that point, I just shrugged it off.

-Damn, your crystals are indeed evolving. So if you heard, then why are you asking?

-Because I know what you’re trying to do - said Kon. - You want to look deeper inside his head, right? Don’t you think that it’s a bit unsafe…?

-Like that matters…

-True, but still. We don’t know who else he is connected to…

-Who knows, maybe he’s connected to that boss of his, or whoever is in charge - added For.

-I am banking on it.

-You want to reveal yourself?!

-It’s not like they won’t realize after this… - I gestured towards the glassed buildings. - I bet those missing people, even if not important, are going to be hard to not notice…

-True… but…

-But what? You have a better idea? Besides the classic torture?

Surprisingly, Kon didn’t even shudder. For was more affected by that question than he was.

-Doesn’t work with them.

-Wha?

Both me and For gazed at him with surprise.

-I tried.

-Excuse me?!

-What, you think I was letting them capture me without any plan? Please…

-That’s… wow…

-Ookay… What plan then?

-Well, it was a bit hasty, but I wanted to get some information from them too. When they took your body… I knew that it wouldn’t be the end. After all, I managed to survive inside a tree. And you…

-You give me too much credit.

-But was I wrong?

-Well…

-Exactly. So, I wanted to get some information on them… Like what did they want from you. From all of us. But, the only thing I knew was that they were just collecting people… excuse me, recruiting people that were skilled in magic. And us being… “enchanted”… caught their attention.

-I feel like that’s not the full issue here…

-Exactly. That’s why I am telling you that I didn’t learn much. I do know that they are the most interested in… remnants. Like us.

-No wonder… that does give you a boost in mana capacity… along with other benefits that they would find… useful.

-I thought so too… but when I was a part of their group I noticed that there was none. After such a long time I figured they would’ve found at least one person willing to join their cause, right? Unless…

-Unless that was not their aim at all… - finished For for him.

-Exactly. But what was their aim? I have no idea…

-Intriguing… But… ah…

I sighed.

I grabbed my head and sat heavily on the sand.

While true, that whole situation was not the best one, it was not what I would consider the most important revelation right now.

The fact that both of them were so calm… and Kon being… well, like that… It could only mean one thing.

They were being integrated more and more into the Origin Crystal.