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Savage Divinity - Chapter 276

Published at 3rd of May 2024 06:03:28 AM


Chapter 276

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Chapter 276

After months of caring for his wife at all hours of the day, Baatar still had yet to grow accustomed to his erratic schedule. Unable to even shift in her sleep, Sarnai needed someone to move her every few hours to keep from developing bed sores or putting too much strain on one part of her body. Though all this could easily be Healed, he wanted Sarnai to experience minimal discomfort which kept Baatar from sleeping for long stretches at a time, only taking short naps here and there to provide his wife with the standard of care she deserved.

It wasnt a demanding or strenuous labour, but it drained him nonetheless. In his youth, hed often stay up for days or even weeks at a time with only brief moments of meditative rest. Whether it be to fight, hunt, or train, he never blinked at the challenge, but for the first time in his life, he experienced true weariness. It wasnt from overworking, Mother knows there was little enough to do aside from cleaning and feeding his wife. No, his fatigue and enervation stemmed from a lack of hope and optimism, utterly exhausted from battling with dejection and despair.

After six months of inactivity, his Sarnai, his beautiful rose was still unchanged and it pained him so. Every time he opened his eyes and saw her face, he experienced a brief, fleeting moment of pure joy as he forgot her plight, only to come crashing down once reality settled in. Oh how he longed to see her open her eyes and smile or to hear her voice call him a dog-brained fool, her pet name for him since the day they met. It seemed like a cruel jest of the Mother to leave Sarnai neither dead nor alive. With her here beside him alive and warm yet comatose and unresponsive, it gave him just enough hope to hang himself with.Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only

Undeterred by his moments of weakness, he refused to give up, clinging to the slim hope she would one day awaken and all would be well. To this end, he strove to guard her dignity, caring for her personally and allowing no one but family in to visit, doing everything he could to keep up appearances. She wouldnt like being seen like this, so weak and defenceless, no, his rose had thorns sharper than most. She was a warrior born, his comrade in arms for years before succumbing to his persistent courtship. A woman who grew more beautiful with each passing day, he prayed for the chance to tell her how much he loved her and see her blush in response, a shy, girlish reaction she kept even after decades of marriage.

A knocking at the door interrupted his sentimental reminiscing and he scowled at the distraction. Who could it be? The servants knew to leave food outside the door and the sun was only just setting, so dinner was still an hour away. Extending his Chi beyond the door to investigate, he found a familiar presence waiting with undisguised impatience. Blinking in surprise, he retracted his Watch and smoothed out Sarnais hair before rushing to the door, knowing hed already kept his Mentor waiting long enough. Greeting him with a curt nod, Akanai didnt wait for an invitation to enter, merely strolling in with an irritated snort.

Its fine. Sarnai wouldnt mind, Akanai is family. And terrifying.

The boy, she Sent, wasting no time on pleasantries. Someone attempted to kidnap and assassinate him.

Tried. So he was safe and sound. Unclenching his jaw, he asked, How bad are his injuries?

Unharmed, for once. Already standing with head held high and back ram-rod straight, Akanais shoulders shifted as if trying to stretch her spine to show pride for her grand-disciple. Killed two men without injury after being ambushed, hes making good progress. One had an Aura and Spiritual Weapon so Yuzhen believes she will soon know the origins of our enemy. There arent many elites willing to throw their pride away to kidnap a child, and even fewer willing to die killing one.

Trying to lighten the mood before his Mentor vowed to destroy an entire faction, Baatar quipped, You say they tried to kidnap and assassinate the boy? The two goals seem rather contradictory no? Seems our enemy is exceedingly incompetent, hardly worth the effort.

His attempt at humour fell flat and earned him the ire of his Mentor. With a spine-chilling harrumph, Akanai treated him to the full force of her disapproving glare. You know good and well what they intended. Indeed he did. They meant to take Rain alive and torture him, perhaps to force him to reveal the secret to his strength, healing method, or perhaps even petty revenge. Failing to do so, they tried to put an end to the number one talent of the North, a title the boy earned through blood and suffering.

Whatever their reasons, he didnt want his Mentor to crush them out of hand.

Rain was his Disciple, so vengeance and retribution should be his to take.

Still paying the price for his ill-timed jest, Akanai continued to lecture him like a boy in his teens. How many times have I warned you, pup? Never underestimate your enemy and always be ready for the worst. The boy learns faster than you do, at least he had his guard up before the attempt. This was a sacrificial gambit, a probing strike to test our non-existent defences. If not for the boys luck, caution, and that hare-brained fools obsessive paranoia, Rain might have been taken away from beneath our noses.

As she narrated the days events, he found her response too extreme for something so minor. The assassin couldnt have been stronger than a Major-level talent considering the boy defeated him in a single blow without sustaining injury, which meant... What have you not told me?

...Our enemy sent a peak expert to Watch over the attempt, one who escaped my notice until he took to the skies and fled. The expert was seated in the same tea house as Mei Lin and your grandchildren, so he took action and risked exposure to protect them. Instead of doing the smart thing and disposing of the expert, he invoked the treaties and let our enemy go free. Mother protect me from fools and optimists. Deflating as she spoke, Akanai collapsed onto the sofa he slept in and visibly recoiled at the smell, but she soon decided its comfort outweighed its unpleasant odour. Afraid he might hurt Sarnai in his restless sleep, the couch was where he slept most days, not to mention eating and meditating there too. Living on the top floor was a sign of power and prestige, but it made bathing a real chore. Having a servant cook and bring him meals was one thing, but asking untrained men and women to carry a large wooden tub and enough water to fill it seemed cruel and sadistic.

After savouring his cup of tea, he returned to the business at hand. So Ma, he Sent, injecting a little levity into the dire situation. What is our plan of action?

Hmph. Audacious brat, just you wait till I tell your Pa about this. See if you can still smile after he tans your backside. Her smile faded as she considered the possibilities. For now... we prepare. If they are exposed, then we retreat to the mountains and cut off all ties. We can trust no one, not even Hai or Nian Zu, not if the truth is known. If not exposed, then there is nothing we need do except find willing, competent guardians for the boy.

Nodding, Baatar agreed with his Mentors assessment. Jochi and Argat were far too irresponsible, betrayed by their playful nature. A difficult endeavour considering his past and... current circumstances. Foolish child, his near-brush with becoming Defiled had turned everyone against him, in a time when he should have been celebrated as a hero. Even Gerel was affected by the reveal, heartlessly abandoned by his arrogant Mentor for fear of becoming Defiled. In Baatars opinion, being Tainted as the boy described it was nothing to be concerned of, especially in light of the Heavenly Waters ability to cleanse it.

A man or woman had no control over becoming Tainted since it hinged on the attentions of unseen Spectres. So what if Rain and Gerel had almost become Defiled? What matters is they didnt and Rain now had a weapon to use against them. Except now those arrogant bastards refused to endorse Rain as a hero of the People, instead warning everyone to distance themselves from him in case word should ever spread or he truly turned to the Father. Though hed yet to notice, Rain deserved better treatment after bringing so much glory to the People, returning home as the youngest Second Grade Warrant Officer in history not to mention his astounding accomplishment of forming his Natal Palace at seventeen years old, though that was still a secret to the world at large.

Hmph. How quickly their minds would change if they knew Rains drop of Heavenly Water was converting Spectres into Heavenly Energy, but Taduk had good reason to keep Rain from revealing it to anyone, even Akanai. A shame the droplet couldnt do the same to Defiled, else Baatar wouldve long since sent Rain after the absent cowards.

When the tea was all finished, his mentor convinced him to join her for dinner. Reluctant to leave Sarnai in the care of servants, he kissed his sleeping wife and Sent a plea urging her to return to the living, but his efforts went unrewarded. Perhaps the Mother believed he had yet to suffer enough, but so long as Sarnai lived, hed suffer anything She had in store for him.

The ten paces down the hall felt like an eternity away from his Sarnai, but waiting inside was a pleasant surprise. The members of his family both old and new greeted him with smiling faces, welcoming him as one, giant family. Husolt sat with Li Song and Sumila by the fireplace, helping the former win against the latter in a game of chess while Alsantset and Charok watched the twins play with the affectionate bears. Raising a cup of wine in greeting, Taduk poured Baatar a cup and indicated itd be waiting for him, while Mei Lin cuddled and chatted with Rain in the corner. Unaware of their close brush with danger, the twins abandoned their games to greet him with delighted screams of granpa, running over to leap into his arms as the wildcats sniffed this rarely seen stranger. Giving his grandchildren a big kiss each, he gestured for Rain to come join them in a group embrace. Squeezing him tight, Baatar said, Im proud of you, boy. Not just for your victory today, but in everything you do.

Swallowing hard, Rain joked, Oh? Even my daft attempts to feed the poor?

Yes, even that. I never belittled your intentions, only the practicality of your endeavours.

Well, isnt today wonderful. Breaking from the embrace, Rain grinned in undisguised delight as he pulled out a purse, bulging with the unmistakable rectangular shape of golden cards worth a hundred gold coins each. Not only is my gruff Mentor praising me, but I also get to prove him wrong. Some generous soul left this donation for the school today, once again restoring my faith in humanity.

Good, good. I have never been so pleased to be wrong. Gazing fondly at his gathered family, his heart wavered between joy and misery, happy to be here with his loved ones yet bitter he couldnt share it with his wife.

In the middle of their meal, the door burst open as a panicked servant rushed in. Sir! Sir! The Madame has awakened!

The next thing he knew, he was kneeling at Sarnais side, holding her hand and crying as she ran her fingers through his hair. Dog-brained fool, she whispered, scowling something fierce. How could you let everyone see me like this?

She was awake. His beautiful wife, his thorny rose, was awake, hale and healthy as can be.

Rain was right. What a wonderful day.

Chapter Meme




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