I Refused To Be Reincarnated-Chapter 877: On the Other Side of the Gorge

Adam recovered and departed for the next village the same evening. The patrol squad drummed on their chests and cheered as their wargs sped through the gorge. The shamans didn't mingle with them, preferring to smoke Zul'Morak's defeated champion.

The journey under the mild sun was enjoyable. A bit too noisy, but not enough to distract him from his analysis of combat, how to integrate yin and yang, and surpass Cordelia's unpredictable yet elegant movements.

He divided his days between testing his understanding in the ritual duels, instructing the little Bao, and... avoiding Zul'Gora's weird desire to make him mate, or Zul'Morak's foul prophecies about his death in the next fight.

As he did, Diane paced at the entrance of the gorge. The teacher stood in the mountainous region overlooking it, one moment reaching for her hulking avian beast, the next shaking her head.

"What is he doing?" She bit her lip, her eyes locked on displays hovering beside her with the soft hum of her light mana. On the first four, nineteen dots ranging from verdant to dim green moved now and then, but on the fifth? No movements. For days! "Is the tracking enchantment malfunctioning? Impossible... Haldris won't like it..."

A deep furrow creased her brow as her mind scoured through the possibilities. One: Adam died. Highly doubtful, since the dot on his display never dimmed. She didn't feel his mana go wild or see the infamous blasts that had almost vaporised her classroom building. Two: he decided, for the light only knew why, not to hunt for food, search for water, or even relieve himself for days. Surely not. Then, it left only one ridiculous explanation.

"He removed his uniform? Why?"

She remembered clearly that he had been the only student without provisions or bags. Did he run across the gorge... butt-naked?

Didn't matter.

With a dismissive snarl, she hopped on her beast's back and shot to the middle of the gorge. The wind whipped her broad scarf, revealing her burnt left cheek and lip. Her eyes never left the display, even as smoke erupted in her path like a light devouring wave.

Her beast halted at the soft tap of her foot on its head. So did the smoke, at least for a heartbeat. It swirled, taking the shape of a hooded creature several meters tall. Of course. It had to happen.

"Teacher Diane Nyx Virelda of the human mages, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? I reckon it is not about exchanging pleasantries, not after countless cycles."

The voice was soft and didn't carry far, but she knew better than to underestimate its owner. She nodded amiably while gripping her weapon in the spatial pouch at her back. "Nothing of the sort. You know my students are ending this cycle as we speak. One of them crossed into the other half of the gorge three days ago. I mean nothing but to rescue him."

"A noble purpose, dear teacher. But..." The smoke moved its hand to tap on its forehead. "Did you forget our pact? Humans are not to step on that side of the valley. Any student found beyond our borders will and should have already been returned by my shamans. If there is nothing else, I wish you a pleasant journey back, Teacher Diane." He turned his back on Diane, his words final.

She clenched her weapon for a heartbeat. Then, released her grip with a sigh. "I was there when we signed this pact. But I was also there when Haldris himself took notice of this student. If anything were to happen, I don't doubt he'll come himself to get answers."

"Rector Haldris? Mhh." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"In person." Diane nodded playfully. "No matter how you hide it, he'll find out."

The creature let a heavy silence settle. After a brief silence, it shook its head, its ancient voice carrying ritualistic solemnity. "There are orcs and only orcs on this side of the gorge. I will pray to the ancestors for your student's safe return."

Its last omen thickened the air as the smoke dissipated. "Who knows? They might help an old friend."

"Let's hope they do for your sake, Grum'Thal. Let's hope they do." Diane grumbled as she flew back.

She couldn't break the pact. No one could but Haldris. And he would if Grum'Thal had the absurd idea of touching what was his. So, what was this old orc planning? No doubt, he must have caught Adam by now. Did he discover his affinity for all the elements? Likely. Study him until the end of the field trip?

She bit her thumbnail, hoping her trust that Adam had what it takes to remain safe didn't condemn him to three days of torturous experiments. At least, they would end now. As long as he survived, she would heal him. Erase the memories, too, plucking future traumas by the root.

"Foolish troublemaker."

With a last resigned sigh, she focused on the display beside Adam's. Cancelling the trip or creating political tension with the orcs would be unwise if he returned.

The dots shifted on the display, growing until they took the figure of Elliot.

The boy lay on his belly on the upper slope of the gorge, his eyes narrowed at an orc village. Around him, his team members wore solemn frowns, especially when their acting leader reviewed their plan one last time before the sun dipped behind the horizon.

"The orcs will close their gates anytime now. We approach with the night, and strike before their watchmen can see us. Understood?"

A cold gust of wind blew Elliot's blond hair as he mirrored the others' nods. After three days of reconnaissance and planning, they would finally attack. Somehow, his fists shook with as much eagerness as hesitation. The orcs would fight back, try to kill him, while he did the same. He had never wanted to kill someone, not even when the others called him a dimwit. But what he wanted even less was to betray Adam's training and trust.

Before they departed, the leader, Moris, patted his shoulder, his gaze torn between recognition and worry. "Elliot, my friend. I know you've become a capable enchanter. But facts don't obey our wants. You're the youngest and, for the lack of a better term, the weakest among us. I'm not insulting you. Just try to stay behind us, get yourself familiar with the battlefield, and do your best to avoid wounds."

Before Adam's training, Elliot would have claimed he would kill the most orcs with a raised thumb. Now? He knew better. Rather, he had learned what true confidence was. Not boasts. Acts—and even that he was still learning. After all, sometimes Adam didn't even bother to act. He just knew, and that was enough for him.