Elydes

Chapter 193 - The Discard

Flynn's screams tore through the room, barely muffled by the piece of leather between his teeth. His eyes shot open, awake, but they did not seem to register anything he saw. Muscles tensed against the bonds keeping him tied to the bed, as he wanted to rip his arms off. His skin turned red, and his mana veins swelled like roots ready to burst.

He didn’t curse, didn’t ask for help, didn’t beg for the pain to stop. He just screamed like an animal being hacked limb by limb.

“Stay back. You can’t help him.” Yeiko’s cold voice cut through his shock.

Kai looked at her with wide-open eyes, only then realizing he was standing beside the bed. He wanted, needed to help him, ease his suffering in some way.

Another scream brought him back to reality. There was nothing he could do, except get out of Yeiko’s way. Reluctantly, he stepped back. His gaze glued to the writhing form on the bed.

What’s going on? I knew it would be bad, but this…

Mana Sense didn’t bring him any relief. A swirling of chaotic essence raged inside Flynn. His mana veins were unfolding from the thinnest capillaries, ripped from his network and seeping out his skin.

Thousands more filaments rose from Yeiko’s hands, moving with intent over her patient. Some were thick and solid like ropes, perhaps elemental in nature, they wrapped around Flynn to stop him from hurting himself further in his thrashing. Others were thinner, ethereal, passing through his skin, losing themself in the maelstrom of mana.

Blinded by the chaos, Kai couldn’t begin to guess what she was doing, but it was more than he would be able to. Flynn screamed his throat raw till his yells turned hoarse, his body slacked on the bed like it had lost all strength. Maybe it had. His eyes were still awake, darting around aimless and full of tears.

Yatei have mercy. Why—

When Kai thought the worst was over, blood started pouring out. Crimson droplets flowed from his eyes, nose and ears, then from the pores on his skin. The white sheets were stained red, and the smell of iron choked the room.

“Do something!” Kai snapped, nails digging into his clenched fists. “Help him!”

“I am,” Yeiko spoke with infuriating calm. Her attention never wavered from her task. “It will only make it worse if I intervene before the Guide is done. Stay silent or leave the room!”

Kai tasted blood in his mouth, teeth clenched, he must have bitten his cheek without realizing it. He couldn’t feel pain, or much of anything.

There was so much blood, more than a person should have outside their body. Flynn convulsed against his visible and invisible bonds. Muscles and tendons strained like twines about to rupture. Mouth opened soundlessly. Pain contorted his features and blood blinded his eyes.

Why does it have to be like this? Why can’t the Guide make it painless? Is it to discourage people from changing professions?

Mana Sense showed Flynn was still alive, heart obstinately beating. The mana channels of his profession unraveled one by one.

Kai didn’t know how much longer he could bear the sight, despite being only a powerless spectator, or maybe because of it. He wouldn’t wish this on his worst enemy, and certainly not on a friend. “Why is it going so slow? How much longer is this going to take?”

The healer scowled at being interrupted, again. “It’s a mercy. He wouldn’t survive if the Guide went any faster. Since he has a low-level red class, the whole process won’t take more than ten minutes.”

“And… How long has it been?”

“About two and a half minutes,” she said curtly.

How is this just a quarter of the way through?

Knowing Yeiko was about to kick him out, Kai swallowed his questions and quietly observed. He wished he still had Meditation to bring him away from the present, instead he focused on Mana Sense to monitor the discard and Flynn's conditions—perhaps to not see the bloody spectacle too.

Keen Spotter had woven an intricate network of channels through his mana veins. Now they were being undone one by one. Kai lost himself in the unraveling stream of light that flowed away. His whole existence focused on their shifting glow.

“It’s done,” the healer announced at last.

If someone had told him an hour had passed, Kai would have believed them. Opening his eyes, he shivered at the sight. Blood covered every inch of the wiry body on the bed. With the process over, Flynn had slipped into unconsciousness, his eyes closed, almost peaceful.

“W—will,” Kai swallowed to firm his voice. He didn’t dare take a breath in the blood-soaked air. “Will he be fine?”

The healer stood impassive, not a stain of crimson on her white robe. A nebulous green glow surrounded the bed, her hands moving between a series of precise signs—probably a language of power.

“The discard went well. There is no permanent damage to his body or channels, though I can only be certain when he wakes up. You should go, he’ll sleep for a few days.” Her tone made it clear he had consumed her patience. “The House will take care of him till he recovers.”

He’ll be fine. He must be.

Kai thought it’d be hard to leave. It wasn’t. As soon as he opened the door, he ran out of the building without stopping. It was a lovely late summer day, the sun's warmth caressed his skin, but couldn’t make him stop shivering. He puked his breakfast on the side of the road. The acrid stomach juices filled his mouth.

A few passersby muttered in disapproval at the uncivilized peasant who came where he didn’t belong. Kai glared back, daring anyone to meet his gaze. None did.

Cowards.

He recomposed himself, cleaning his mouth with Water Magic. Guilt took the chance to catch up to him. He shouldn’t have left that room till he was sure Flynn was okay, but his legs refused to move towards the building complex again.

The staff won’t let me back in.

It was an excuse, he knew. Kai strode down the hill, he needed to get away. He didn’t stop till he found himself aimlessly wandering in the streets of the outer city.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Flynn had reached Orange ★★★ and kept his profession at level 4. They had taken every precaution possible, done everything by the book to make the discard go smoothly.

Maybe that was smooth. She said it went ‘well’. What does bad look like?

Everyone had told him discarding a profession was dangerous, and he had also read accounts about it. Nothing could have prepared him for that. He had naively thought they were exaggerating or hadn't made proper preparations.

So much blood.

No matter how far he ran, he could still smell its metallic scent. Kai had never considered himself squeamish or scared of pain—not the physical kind. Injuries and wounds healed, suffering passed. But this was on a different scale.

Mana Child was at level 8 and it had a boon on top. How would it be for him? Even if he bought the best potions and hired the best healer to make it through unscathed, could he bring himself to go through with it? Should he?

* * *

Kai visited the House of Enlightenment each morning and evening. Flynn had been transferred to a pristine recovery room with a window on a park. The administrator had sent word that he would make a full recovery and ignored any other inquiry.

Guess she got what she needed.

Apart from his pallor, Flynn slept peacefully. Half of his mana channels were gone, and the remaining flow was stilted, showing the damage wasn’t just physical. Kai had learned the basics of medical diagnosis from Dora, but his skills felt wholly inadequate for the task.

He’ll be fine.

On the fourth day, the receptionist informed him Flynn had woken. Kai raced to the room, uncaring of her protests. Yeiko stood over the bed, interrogating the patient about the process. She froze him in the doorway with a glance.

Flynn sat with his back on the headboard of the bed. He looked tired despite his long sleep, but his eyes were alert, darting to him with a weak smile.

“We’re done for now.” The administrator finished writing down her notes and closed the journal with a snap. “I’ll be expecting you back in a week. Don’t overwork yourself and don’t consume any mana if possible.” With a curt nod, she was gone.

Kai closed the door and waited for her steps to disappear into the distance. “How are you feeling?”

“Good.”

Kai arched an eyebrow. “Now the not-bullshit answer.”

“Hmm… It’s like I’ve been grinded to pieces by a clumsy butcher and then put back together, only some parts went missing in the process. Don’t worry, the scary woman said there shouldn’t be any long-term consequences and I should recover in a month.”

‘Shouldn’t’… Never thought I’d wish for someone to lie.

“Do you— Do you remember what happened?” He needed to ask. The blood had given him nightmares and he wasn’t the one who lived through it. “Sorry, you don’t have to answer.”

“It’s fine.” His gaze wandered lost on the trees growing outside. “I do and I don’t. My memories are fuzzy, worse than the time I got into a drinking competition with a sailor. I remember the very beginning, the pain and screaming, then it all meshes together.”

It’s probably better this way.

“But I don’t regret doing it,” Flynn added with a bright smile. “You should see the feat I got. Not to even mention my list of professions!”

Kai advanced till he loomed over the bed. “You went through them without me! You need to tell me. Now. Which professions? How much Favor did you get?”

“Calm down. My head hurts and I can’t really recall with you this close…” Flynn held his empty skull with a look of dramatic suffering. “Also, they said they’ll start charging me for the room if I don’t leave within the hour.”

Damned cheapskates.

“Let’s go then. Do you want me to carry you home? I can run with you on my back. We’ll be faster.”

Stop stalling, I need to know!

“No, not home. I’ve not eaten any real food in four days. I wanna go to that fancy restaurant, you know, the one where the waiters offer you tiny snacks at the entrance.”

Kai rolled his eyes. Of course, he wanted food. “Fine. Get off your lazy ass and start walking. I know the place.”

“I’m still convalescent. I don’t think my memories will come back if you treat me like that…”

It’s written right in your Guide! You sadistic monster!

He smiled through gritted teeth. “Would you please follow me to the door? Or should I send for a carriage?”

“Thank you, my faithful servant. My legs will do fine.” He attempted to stand up, swaying on his feet and falling back on the bed. “Uh… thinking again, how long will it take to fetch the carriage?”

* * *

The floor of the house had not been swept and dirty pans waited in the sink. It had been a frantic few days. And who knew dust accumulated that quickly?

“Five points of Favor!” Kai almost didn’t believe him.

“Can you stop yelling in my face?” Flynn buried his head beneath a pillow on the couch. “I wasn’t joking when I said my head is killing me.”

“Uh, sorry. I didn’t expect the feat would give so much.”

I mean, he just had to go through excruciating suffering, possibly crippling, and a small chance of death. I had the right idea to have him do the test run.

Favor would weigh on the list of pros for the discard, though images of blood were still fresh in his mind. He wasn’t sure which way the scale was leaning. “What about your professions? How many did you get?”

“That’s personal information.”

“C’mon, just a few hints. Don’t make me beg you, or I might think torture could be more effective.” Kai poked his ribs. “You can’t even defend yourself in this state.”

“You wouldn’t dare! I just woke up from a coma.”

Kai’s grin widened. “Try me.”

“Spirits! You’re terrible when you want to get something. I got four, one more than last time.” He sulked, hugging a pillow. “But the scary lady said I shouldn’t take one for another week since my mana veins are still weak.”

“That will give us time to discuss what's the best option.”

Flynn narrowed his eyes. “Isn’t that just an excuse to get more details?”

“Yep,” Kai confirmed with no shame. “You tell me more and I’ll buy you ice cream.”

“I’ll tell you something about my awesomeness, but it better be some damn fine ice cream. And you need to use your tricks, I don’t want to get it half melted.”

“We have a deal. Now, talk.”

“Well… let’s say it was a good idea to take the magic skills…” Flynn gave his information like a greedy merchant with his coin.

Before the discard, Flynn had traded Vigilance and Close Combat for Shadow and Lightning Magic. With two high-level Perception skills, he would notice danger without an ability to stay alert. And Daggers covered most of the fighting in close quarters. It hadn’t been an easy choice. There was no useless skill, just some that were less valuable than others.

Kai couldn’t deny he was a little envious of his higher affinity for Shadow, but it was Lightning that burned him. Of all his elements, he didn’t have anything that was naturally offensive. Evolving Water Magic to create ice had padded the problem, but it still wasn’t as efficient as a bolt of lightning. Even without a skill, it could easily incapacitate a person.

After he managed to tease enough information out of the greedy bugger, the discussion ended up being shorter than expected. Six months of training and a higher grade had not gone unnoticed. There were four options but only one offered a boon, so it was no choice at all.

Kai took five more days and three barrels of ice cream to coax the description out of Flynn. Finally, he had the words written down on paper.

Profession: Shifting Shadow

Main Requirements: Daggers lv50+; Controlled Appearance lv50+; Stealth lv30+; Acrobatics lv30+; Shadow Magic lv1+; Defeat 5+ stronger opponents with a stealth attack.

Description: You’ve learned to hide in the shadows or in plain view, so no one sees you until you strike with your cool daggers. Become a badass fighter, infinitely better than any shorty mage, and stab your enemies in the butt!

Attributes: 0.5 Strength, 1 Dexterity, 0.5 Mind, 0.5 Perception per level.

Boon: 1

Skill slots: 2

“So this is what it says?” Kai reread the description and gave him a long look. ‘Shorty mage’ seemed oddly specific.

“Word for word.” Flynn solemnly nodded without a crack, hand on his heart. “The values are correct.”

Cheeky bastard. You better tell me what boons and skills you’ll get.

They still had to wait a few days for that. Promising he would have his revenge, Kai retired to his room to brew some potions before bed. He was cleaning his cauldron when someone knocked on the door.

I didn’t even cause any explosion or noxious fumes this time. Damn neighbors.

Kai stifled a yawn and headed downstairs. The knock grew more insistent. “I’m coming! Just a moment.” When he unlocked the door, he froze.

A pair of burly enforcers locked eyes on him. The older one in his thirties stepped forward. “Kai Tylenn?” Instead of waiting for an answer, he consulted a paper and gave him a once-over. “You need to come with us.”