-Okay, so where’s that stupid thing…?

I said earlier that it would be easy to find the bag and the loot inside it since it would be enchanted and my mana was sort of hard to miss, but there was a small problem. When they made the blade, one of them swung it a couple of times, releasing a rather large amount of mana. While it did not weaken the blade, I think at least, it created a scattered field of mana signatures all over the place.

If the sword was not hidden inside the bag, it would be easy to distinguish. But inside, that was a problem.

I knew that the sword was powerful, but the bag was definitely not. Regular ones weren’t exactly shining beacons, easy to spot, and since that one was apparently different, who knows if it wasn’t even less noticeable.

So, we had to manually search through a whole lot of space.

Meanwhile, Kon was still on top of one of the buildings, watching everything from above. I did ask him for help, hoping his ability to distinguish mana would be helpful, but for naught. After all, all of this was made out of my own, so there was no difference, besides the size. And that every single one of us could tell.

Well, maybe not the guy who was essentially our prisoner now, but not like we were counting on his help.

I instructed Kon to keep an eye on him, while me and For started looking for loot.

It took us some time.

It definitely did not help that I was not in any sort of rush.

I decided to take this opportunity to recharge on mana even more. I was feeling pretty okay after draining some people, but why would I pass this opportunity to feed myself even more? Especially since this residue was essentially mine.

And, it was making it easier to look through the place.

One by one, I drained the spots, removing them from the space, and soon I was starting to get worried. Not because of the fact that I was getting too much mana. I am not sure if that was even possible any more.

It was because we weren’t finding shit.

Yeah, no loot, no remaining scraps from the “smithing”, or tools, and definitely no void bags.

Or swords.

-It’s not here - announced For obvious after we searched through every single mana signature in near vicinity.

-I don’t understand…

He started getting defensive even without any of us asking.

-Well, we can expand the search a bit… - said Kon, bored from watching us stumble through the sand.

-No point. They were never there, and those signatures are so small that I doubt that it’s anything interesting - replied For.

-Yeah… the only large ones were near the center of this place… I wonder why…

-I drained the rest - I explained. - But it’s strange, I did think that one of those larger ones near here would be it…

-Is it possible that he is lying?

-Lying? Nope. I can tell. But about hiding something… well, while I doubt that, it’s possible.

-Yeah, no. He is scared. He wouldn’t dare.

-Yeah… - agreed For. - So what now?

-Not like I was planning on using that thing… It would be useful to have, and now we have a problem…

-Hm. Yeah. How and when did it disappear?

-Precisely.

-You don’t think that… someone’s grabbed it and left…?

-Is that even possible…?

That was a good question.

I found it hard to believe that someone would do that. I mean it was possible.

For one, could it be that one of the people I’ve thought dead was hidden somewhere and just grabbed this shit and teleported away?

While it would be possible for me to mistake someone weak to the remaining scraps of mana scattered all over, the fact that they would be so mana-starved, I feel it would take almost all of their mana to open a portal. Not to mention to even pass through it without my knowledge.

Besides the fact that they would be barely even moving after casting it, I would definitely notice a portal opening somewhere, especially in this empty environment.

The second version was a bit more plausible, but still a stretch.

That someone came here and took it.

The obvious problem would still be the fact that they would for sure have to teleport in and out of here, and by extension alarm me of their presence and spellcasting.

But if not those two, what else?

I honestly didn’t have an answer to that question.

-I am not sure… maybe…? - I replied after a moment of thought.

-I didn’t feel anyone, though…

Kon apparently shared my opinion. He was the one watching us for a while.

-You think that they can mask their presence or something? - asked For.

-They do have those weird artifacts… that apparently are confusing even for Mor…

-Fair…

-I mean, it could’ve happened before…

-Befo… Right!

That was some good thinking on his part.

While the fact that their technology was… curious and what they said might have actually been possible, there was an easier explanation.

After all, there’s a good moment during which we were… “absent”, so to speak.

The vision we shared.

Wouldn’t it be possible that during this time someone managed to take the loot and get out?

I am not even sure how long we were out of it, there’s no one to tell us. So barring the possibility of us being out for hours or days, whoever did that had an amazing timing.

If they were hiding here, it meant that they were able to read mana, meaning probably not someone from this main group, at least according to this guy.

If they were from somewhere else… well.

I honestly didn’t want to assume that someone just got lucky and managed to get here during the perfect moment…

But if that was not it, it meant that we were watched.

And who else would be the prime suspect?

Someone with Origin Crystal themselves.

I don’t want to admit, but my thoughts went back right towards Axelrod.

I swear, it started feeling like I was being obsessed by him.

Well, it was not that far off the mark: we were on a way to eventually merge with the same entity, that is if we were to give up.

And I don’t think any of us were planning on that.

Not yet.

-So… Robert, that was your name, right…?

-Er.. yes…?

-Do you know of any people that would like to… take it?

-Take it…? There’s no one here!

-Yeah, yeah, but what if?

-If…? I mean, we are making items that are… Well, unique! Why of course someone would want to take those! Anyone!

-Yeah, well, if you put it that way… Fair point. There was no way someone would pass on something like that. But! They would have to know first.

-Know…?

-You said it yourself. Those are unique. One of a kind. So someone would have to know what to look for.

-It was in a void bag! Anyone would take a void bag!

-Hm.

He was right.

Yet, still, I was not going to believe that we were just plainly unlucky.

No.

-Well that’s a problem for later. Let’s now maybe see the current problems.

-Which is…

-You of course.

He froze.

I think for a while he forgot that he was a prisoner of ours.

I didn’t mind it since he started being a lot more talkative, and the rest were also more interested in listening to him than trying to treat him like a prisoner.

-M-me?

He’s back to being scared already. Kind of expected.

-Of course. You still were the one that attacked me. Killed me, essentially. You are our enemy, did you forget that already?

-Let’s not get too hasty…

-Hasty? Oh, this is far from being hasty. We’re still talking - said For.

Even though she was stone-faced, I could tell that she also had problems with figuring our current situation out.

-I… did… I mean, I didn’t really… “kill”, I mean… you’re alive so…

-Pff. Yeah, sure. So you think we’re going to be what, friends with you or some stupid shit?

-N-no…

-Let’s get this straight. I don’t really care that you attacked, I just want to prevent ANOTHER attack.

-I won’t…

-I know you won’t do anything. I can tell. I basically can taste your fear right now, so you’d be totally idiotic if you were to do that.

-So…

-No. I still want to make sure.

-Eh… - sighed For. - I guess we… I can do it. You know how to bind a slave, right?

-Yeah, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I have some other ideas.

-Other ideas? - she asked curiously.

-You don’t have to do something risky if you’re just doing that for my sake - added Kon. - It really doesn’t matter if… he’s enslaved.

-Really? No problems with that?

-Problems are to be overcome.

-That’s quite a lookout on things. But no, I am also curious. I want to experiment a bit.

On the mention of “experimenting” both of them bombarded me with mixed feelings. Not on purpose of course, but still.

-Relax. Those aren’t very “destructive” or “risky” - I said, feigning irritation. - We’ll be fine. Or, well rather us three will be fine. The test subject, however… not sure.

-Test subject?

-Our dear friend Robert, of course - I smiled. - I doubt he’ll have any problems with giving us a little bit of help.

-What are you planning?

-Oh, just something they came up with. Those items that they were making out of my own crystals, right? They did use them to somehow have control over the kids. So why won’t we use those ourselves?

-Er… but how?

-We have our very own guide to ask, right?

-Hm… right… And besides, that thing should be… I don’t know, shouldn’t it be easy to use? Like, it’s made out of your… well, our own flesh. Wouldn’t that mean that it would be easier for us… to control or something?

-Let’s ask him first. Then, if he’s not compliant I’ll just poke his brainhole once more. And if that won’t help, we’d go with just using regular binding.

-That is if by that point he’ll be sane.

-Or alive.

-Oh, don’t be so pessimistic you two.

-So, Rob. Tell us something.

-Eh…?

I am unsure if he was more unsettled by me calling him “Rob” or my sudden change in demeanor.

I was quite excited, to be honest. Not everyday you have the opportunity to experiment with your own flesh and not be bothered by repercussions. Or pain.

-How would one go with using one of these…? - I asked, dangling a crystal on a string right in front of his face.

-You still have…!

-Of course I do. It's a pretty important piece, don’t you think? You seemed to be keen on using those constantly.

-You…!

-Nah, I don’t want to blow no one up. I’d rather everyone stayed in one piece in the foreseeable future.

-So then what do you want?!

-What? Weren’t you using those things as a… well, “safety”? To keep your slaves in check? I doubt you’d manage that with just a threat of detonation.

-We… I…

I could tell he was very, very conflicted. And scared.

I guess the fear won.

-It’s not… It doesn’t work like that… mostly.

-The fuck is that supposed to mean?

-I… It doesn’t blow up… It just links people's mana together.

-Yeah, I sort of figured that one part out.

Kind of easy if you can see the mana flow in the air.

-So… So you put those on someone… and they become your own personal… power source.

-Yes, yes, we know that.

-And… That’s it. It’s just it.

-And how, pray tell, would that make anyone obedient? - asked For. - I can think of a couple of ways that it can go wrong.

-It’s not to be used for obedience! It was just a help for the ritual! - he quickly assured us. - It was to help us get their mana… to make crystal items!

-So how did you do…, what, you’re telling me that every single one of those kids were just straight up enslaved?

-Y-yes?

I couldn’t believe my ears. And eyes, to boot.

He was not lying. He genuinely believed what he was saying.

And yet, I knew it was a lie.

Those kids were not enslaved.

They couldn’t be.

Weren’t they supposed to be branded by For, or Jacob?

Wait.

Supposed.

They were to be. But then, they disappeared.

Just to be sure I asked For.

-I know you already have an idea, but I have to ask anyway. Did you brand those kids?

-No.

-Did you order Jacob to do it?

-Yes.

-Of course….

He just stole them. Plain and simple.

-Eh… great.

-But we didn’t brand him! - he said, pointing to Kon. - I don’t know why but we couldn't do so, we instead were keeping him…

-Yes, close watch, blah blah, heard that bit already - I cut him off. - Fuck. But, aren’t we forgetting something? For example this magical thing…

I put the necklace around his neck and still keeping hold on it said:

-Lunipdo. Stand.

I could feel everyone freeze and stiffen.

Whoever wasn’t standing yet, stood up.

-Mor, fucking…

-Ah right, you too… Anyway, what about this handy function?

-What, how standing up would help?! - he yelped.

-What, only one command? - I asked, disappointed. - You’re slacking off…

-Then you go and create something like that!

For a second he regained his previous bravado.

-Ooh, feisty. Calm the fuck down.

He immediately shut up.

I suddenly heard For talk to me inside my head.

-If we’re not using that, can we turn this shit off?!

Ah right, For was still under the “spell” so to speak.

To be honest, I was unsure how I would go about that, but the first thing that came to mind was to repeat the same command, so…

-Lunipdo.

It actually worked. Surprisingly simple. I guess that’s what I should expect after some untested magic.

-Thanks. I’d rather you not used that any more.

-I’ll think about it.