The Arcane Guardians Chapter 17: Chapter 15: Infiltration

Read chapter 17 of The Arcane Guardians by Mercynarie on NovelPedia.

The duo walked wordlessly through a deserted village. Whatever was left of the few houses in that village was almost done rotting, and the wild animals had long moved in. Several families of crows had made their nests on the roofs of the straw huts, while a small group of alligators basked in the moonlight, flicking their tails lazily. Felix ignored them and continued walking. He wasn’t in the mood to talk, and his companion looked like she would agree with that decision. But a strange headache had been bugging him ever since he reached this place. So he opened his mouth to distract himself. “Why are you obsessed with the Guardian Council?” His raspy voice barely punctuated the sounds of croaking frogs in the nearby river. “A Magi of your power and status can easily get a comfortable, high-paying job anywhere. Why put your life on the line by joining a law enforcement organisation?” “It’s not about the money,” Kleopatra replied. “It’s about what’s expected of me; of someone of my social status. I know I’ll never live up to the Vice President himself, but the least I can do is come close enough. My whole family’s in the Council, so it only makes sense that I join as well.” Felix frowned. “Even your mother?” “Not anymore.” The girl’s voice dropped. “She was killed in action during a mission. Dad thinks I was too young to remember, but I do. That’s why I must get stronger. I mustn’t allow the same to happen to me; Dad won’t be able to take that blow again.” “Then you really shouldn’t be following me.” Felix stopped in his tracks as his voice softened. “Where I’m going is highly dangerous, even for a trained Guardian. I’m not expecting to return from this unscathed. Look, I know we’re just schoolmates. But if anything happened to you—” “All the more reason for you to accept my help.” “Are you that eager to prove yourself?” Kleopatra looked away. “I… Okay, I lied earlier. The truth is, I can’t just stand idly by when someone is in trouble. This is just… the right thing to do. Even if my deeds today go unrecognised, I’d still back you up. And don’t give me that crap about doing things yourself. I do not doubt that you’re powerful as hell, but you’re not a god.” Felix clutched his head. The ringing in his brain was ramping up dangerously in intensity and did not seem to want to leave any moment soon. “These criminals are going to wish I were,” he muttered behind gritted teeth before pointing at an abandoned castle in the distance. “There. My sister’s locked up somewhere in that castle. Prepare yourself, Kleo. We’re gonna have to fight our way in— Argh !” The boy fell to his knees, clutching his head with both hands this time. “Felix, what’s wrong— Ah !” Kleopatra shrieked as well, her body suddenly flattened against the ground. Cracks began to appear on the nearby rocks as a vibrating force sent tremors along the ground. She tried stretching a hand towards Felix, but was not able to even lift her head against the immense weight pressing on her entire body. Thankfully, the force left as abruptly as it came, and the girl was finally able to stand up gingerly to her feet. She knelt beside Felix, who was already sitting with his knees hugged close to himself. “I’m sorry, that was me.” Felix shook his head, shutting out the memory of when he destroyed his middle school compound five years ago. “I lost control over my psychokinesis briefly, though that hasn’t happened since I was thirteen. Guess I have been more stressed out lately than I realised.” “Of course you are.” Kleopatra helped him up. “Your sister has been missing for days, and now you have to go up against a crime syndicate to get her back. I don’t think I’d have the mental strength to go through all of that myself.” “Well, you do what you have to do to survive in this world as a Meta. And besides, I’m not all by myself now, am I?” Felix chuckled slightly. “I really appreciate this, Kleo. But I’ll thank you properly when all of this is over. For now, we gotta take down all these