Dhall's men continued their assault.
They're definitely normal humans.
A fist flew past his head as he moved to the side. It smashed into the shipping container and left a large dent.
Well…maybe normal isn't the right word. They don't have Blessed energy; that would be more accurate.
Every nick and bruise counted with Cass. Usually, fighting normal humans wasn't a problem. His body's toughness was enhanced, so he didn't have to worry about cuts and bruises on his hands in those situations. However, after their demonstration, he was hesitant to strike these guys with his bare hands. Luckily, given his disadvantages, he'd become adept at dodging.
What is he giving these guys?
Dhall's and his gang's bloodshot eyes were nothing new. Name a drug; you can guarantee they used and sold it. Most of them Cass had never even heard of. Lace in a little mana and you get some unique properties. Probably not the case; he'd never seen an effect like this before.
How many teeth have I knocked out of this one?
He grabbed the thug's hoodie and flung him against the steel wall of the warehouse. For a second, Cass caught a glimpse of the guy's back.
Runes? Were they moving?
He glanced at Dhall's head and saw the same thing on his bowling ball of a head. If Cass tried to focus on them, they'd shift and flow as though evading his gaze. Cass's attitude changed in an instant when he saw that Dhall had the upper hand against Tindra. A couple times in their past skirmishes, Dhall had knocked her down, but she'd quickly turn it around. It stood to reason; they were both 6th tier but she was a trained and seasoned soldier. Plus, she had more Blessed energy. This time was different; Dhall was pummeling her.
These bastards! They have a mage, don't they? I've got to find them before it's too late.
Cass broke through two of Dhall's men and sprinted into the nearby warehouse. The clash between the two Blessed had the old metal building shaking and groaning under the strain.
An augmentation spell…That means the slippery rat has to be in the vicinity of their targets.
Another of the betrayer's lessons…Cass cleared the bottom floor with no results and shot up the stairs to the next floor. By now, Dhall's men had caught up with him. Frustrated, Cass sent one flying with a kick to their chest. They flew out the window, sending a rain of glass to the street below.
It's your own fault, ya know!
Cass didn't need to worry. The man bounced off the ground and landed on his feet, heading right back into the warehouse.
They're not here either. He finished his search on the roof and leapt to the next building. Tindra wasn't faring well. The dock was a mess of debris; Dhall slammed her body into stacks of steel girders and parked heavy machinery. A crumpled forklift tumbled out of the dust cloud. Right before Cass entered the second warehouse, he noticed a stack of shipping containers that had been spared from Dhall's rampage. Scanning the containers, he saw a thin slit emanating a faint red glow.
Found you!
Cass scooped up a chunk of the decaying warehouse off the roof and launched it towards the container. It crashed into it with a loud clang as Cass lept from container to container towards the troublesome mage. The throw was enough to interrupt the spell…He could tell from Dhall's body flying by his peripheral vision. However, the reprieve wouldn't last for long if the mage was still conscious. He reached the container and ripped the door open. A blade shot toward Cass's face but he was already dodging. His fist flew forward and landed on its target with a thud. Cass's eyes widened.
That wasn't what I was expecting.
A frail old man with a long, scraggly beard rolled across the floor and came to a stop in the corner of the container. His clothes were filthy and loose. His hair was white as Cass's and his yellow, pallid skin had similar looking runes carved into them. To Cass's surprise, he wasn't Blessed. Luckily, Cass had realized this and pulled his punch. Otherwise, the old man's chest would be jelly.
Damn! Tindra!
The possibility of a second mage flashed in his mind. He rushed out of the container. Outside, flashing red and blue lights washed over the docks.
Well…I guess we did make a bit of a racket.
A second later he was soaring into the sky. Tindra had him tossed over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
The cityscape of Ebonheart proper is a sight to behold from up here.
Before long he was back at the Dogface Doxy.
"A warning would be nice, you ogrish woman!"
She slid him down, wrapping both arms around and pulling him in tight.
…This was much softer than a shoulder.
"Are you hurt?"
Cass paused.
"Like those dolts could hurt me. You're the one that was being swung around like a cheap bat."
"Yeah, old Dhall got me good."
She laughed. Cass's eyes wandered to the side. His face was hot. It was a different feeling than the ones he got from Misha or Ariayah. At least he thought it was…he couldn't be sure. Her grip relaxed and he stood up straight. His eyes widened.
"God…"
"Ain't I a looker!?"
She cackled. Blood sloshing in her mouth.
"Will you sit down already!"
Cass began to clean and treat her wounds. Blessed healed fast, but you never knew what abilities might've been used to slow this effect or even nullify it. So it was better to be safe.
'"Dhall got himself a mage, huh?"
"He didn't seem Blessed. I knocked him out pretty easily."
Her face darkened.
"Sorcery then…that's odd. Sorcery is demon magic. Only nutcases use it. Especially if you ain't Blessed. I've seen some messy scenes from sorcerers who didn't know what they were doing."
"Did you learn anything about the missing girls?"
"Not just girls. Some of the local drunkards have disappeared too."
Cass frowned.
"Karsten failed to mention that."
She shrugged.
"People around here aren't keen to talk to the cops. If no one misses them, then I doubt they even get reported. Someone's favorite girl goes missin' for a couple days? They tend to get antsy."
"They see anyone suspicious?"
"Apparently there's been people going around askin' folks if they're lookin' for work."
"Odd. If they don't post it at the job boards…must want to keep it as quiet as possible."
"Only target the most desperate people too, from what I gathered."
She leaned back and gulped down her drink.
"One thing's for sure, it's all happenin' around them damn docks! Dhall and his men probably escaped the heat too. They'll be on high alert."
"You should rest for a while anyway."
She looked distracted. She licked her hand and started rubbing the top of Cass's head.
"What in the hell are you doing!?"
"Hold still. I got blood in your hair."
Cass sighed, slouching in defeat. After he got Tindra to go to her room, he cleaned the common area and bar before heading out. It was another skill he'd acquired since coming to the slums. Misha and the rest of the maids had always taken care of cleaning and laundry while the chefs prepared all his food. Those mundane tasks had taken him an embarrassingly long time to get accustomed to. He didn't want to ask the girls or Tindra for tips…that might clue them in to his background. Instead, he'd watch them as they cleaned the bar at night. Girls without clients would banter and tidy up as needed. They'd chat about local gossip, clients they liked and abhorred…and their plans for the future. Cass had never taken an interest in other people before…Not even in the trial. In the back of his mind, no matter how real it was, he knew it was fleeting.
Well, I guess life is fleeting as well. But it's not quite the same. People have hopes, dreams…and ambition. The fog is just an illusion. Then again…an illusion of people that actually existed. So was it that different?
Ariayah was his first friend. Could he call an illusion his friend? How different was she from the real Ariayah, if at all? And, real or illusory… was she a person? He knew humanity's collective opinion. Snapping back to reality, he looked over his completed work. He had learned a lot from observing the girls of the Dogface Doxy. Not only cleaning, but how people in the slums talk and interact.
Maybe how normal people talk, period?
He had very little frame of reference for such things. He shut out the lights and headed to his apartment. In the dreary hallway leading up to his door, a small brown package laid on his mat.