Thal,??
Neil slowly opened his eyes, it took a moment for his vision to adjust but he could tell that he was in a moving vehicle.
The base of his head hurt like hell, the last thing he remembered was Rowan's eerie smile when he spoke into the skull, and then everything went dark from there. And judging by the pain at the back of his skull thw young woman from before, Mirabel must have struck him unconscious.
That must have been the reason why she had stood up and went to the bookshelf, his guard had dropped when Rowan took out the skull. The man had attacked Thal nonetheless, he raised his hand and rubbed the back of his head.
He was a little surprised that they had not restrained him. In front sat Mirabel who was driving a vehicle, and beside her sat Rowan.
"Is it wise to leave me unrestrained?" he spoke slowly, Rowan turned slightly and smiled
"His awake, finally. And to answer your question, no it is not but you are not much of a threat your lordship and I wouldn't want us to ruin the good thing we have going on now would I?"
Neil resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"So what's the plan, to incite chaos, bring me to your monster friend then escape? If that's your plan then it will surely fail, you will be the most wanted man in human history. Every nation will be looking for you, the church, the twelve rulers all those impossible foes will be after your head."
Rowan seemed to ponder over his words and then after a short while he shrugged.
" Let them come, trust me when I say I am an impossible prey." He winked, Neil shook his head.
" Where are we going?"
" To deliver you to my associate of course." Rowan smiled
"I figured, yet my question is WHERE?" Neil asked again
"The Khsan." he replied and turned to the path.
"How did you smuggle the vehicle into Thal, when the border security is one of the best in all the twelve nations?" he asked after a while
"I didn't take you for the talkative type your lordship." Rowan responded without looking back
"It would only be fair if you entertained me, dont you agree?"
"No I disagre, enjoy the scenery or something." Rowan waved him off
Neil turned to the windows and it was currently nighttime, he sighed and kept quiet
The drive from Jakob to Khsan was atleast six hours, so he could atleast sit back and continue his interactions with the Framework.
[Framework, Can we continue where we left off.]
He felt the air trembling right before the mechanical voice spoke in his ear, his hair standing on end.
[Command recognized.]
[Framework initializing...]
[ The host doesn't level up, rather It is a journey through understanding and mastery, where each thread of existence becomes a weapon. Every ascent opens deeper understanding of causality and consequence — but risk eroding the user's humanity.
You are the Needle that will sew the stitches into the bleeding wounds of reality.]
User: Neil Thorne
REGISTERED PATH— ACTIVE NODE
Reality Stitcher..... Status: ACTIVE
MODULES ONLINE: STITCH | ANCHOR | THREAD TRACE
[Integrity: 90%]
ESSENCE BALANCE: RED 60: BLUE 40
Under his status panel another set of words appeared.
[Class:Watcher]
You see what others ignore — the strands that hold the world together, yet you cannot pluck the threads except for those around you. A silent observer, a Watcher.
[Framework notice: The class will evolve as the host gains further understanding of casualty and consequence.]
He stared at the floating panels etched into his eyes with calm gaze. The Framework was becoming more and more interesting, he summoned another panel from the Framework
[Unlocked abilities:
Threadsight (Basic):
Can glimpse faint silver-red lines between people, objects, or ideas when emotionally heightened. Causes headaches, nosebleeds.
Minor Stitch:
Temporarily binds simple concepts — e.g., seal a bleeding wound, link a flame to a touch. Duration: 10–30 seconds.
Thread Trace (Embryonic):
Can sense the faint presence of recent actions or emotions tied to a place or item.
Costs:
Each use drains Integrity (2–5%). Overuse distorts sight and sound; reality starts "whispering" to host.]
There was a single ability he had yet to use, it was all because of how he had never been in a situation which demanded for him to use It.
Thread Trace (Embryonic), he wanted to use the ability back at Rowan's hideout in Jakob but before he could even use it he was knocked unconscious.
"What are you, your lordship?" he lifted his head to find Rowan looking at him.
"What do you mean by that?" He asked confused
Rowan regarded him for a short while before answering:
"You see your lordship, there is a certain ability found in the people of the crimson waste called, Veil sight. This ability allows them to see and interact with the creatures ajdenergies of the world beyond.
And I as a half breed, I also have a similar ability. I first had my suspicions when you walked into the café but then back at my place you opened the veil and I saw something whispering to you.
You might have the rest of the world fooled but not me, I know you are hiding something dreadful. And I hoped that i would learn your secret, can you share it with me? "Rowan asked with a mysterious smile
Neil kept quiet, if what Rowan said is true then that meant Sipho must have seen it too. And he did not know where the man's loyalty was, but in the end he took a deep breath and responded in the most neutral way possible.
"I have no idea what you are talking about?"
Rowan's smile only deepened, he nodded and turned to the road.
"Oh well that's too bad."
They continued on their way in silence, Rowan's words replaying in his mind. The man grew even more mysterious in his eyes, what he claims to have seen must be the Framework.
He already had a suspicion about the man's System path, and to learn that he may be in possession of another power one so mysterious and harrowing in such a way that it could be comparable to the powers of the Conspiracy.
The Mesa tribe, a small race locked away in the crimson wastes in fear that they might bring ruin to the world. They were rumored to be a race of savages that destroyed everything in their path, both humans and conspiracy alike.
He did not share in that believe, because he had only come across a single Mesa and that was Sipho, as for the half breed who had taken him into his custody. Well he suspected the young man was a peculiar case, a victim of circumstance.
"We have a hunter trailing us." Mirabel spoke calmly
"Mmh, that's what I was hopping for. Let them come, the more the merrier." Rowan's deep voice sent chills down his spine
...
Thal,??
The hybrid car they were in was very fast, and thanks to the built in AI and blindingly bright headlights the drive was going well.
Uncle Cedric and illantra had already reached Thal, and from their report they had found Rowan's hideout engulfed in flames. The man had made sure he would not leave a trace of himself but thankfully they had the best hunter in Thal.
She had found a scent and currently they were pursuing it, Marcellus had already sent the information they had received from Illantra back to the command center to have their team pinpoint their destination. They were currently waiting on the feedback, but she recognized the route they were headed towards.
"Could it be that Rowan is aiming for the Khsan?" Elowen asked breaking the silence in the car.
"Possibly, but why would he go there?" Marcellus asked
"What is the Khsan?" Sunphire asked her curiosity evident in her voice
Elowen smiled at her and answered her before returning to Marcellus's question.
"I am not sure, it does not make sense honestly." she answered her voice getting lower at the last part
"But come to think of it nothing about the man made sense, from his initial interaction with them he was a mystery.
I just might be in trouble, he thought himself