Chapter 45: The Price of a Lie
Ren slumped against the cold, damp wall of the alley, his hand pressed tightly against his stomach to stem the dull ache. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to stand, his fingers clawing at the bricks for support. He wiped his face with a trembling hand, his eyes never leaving the figure in front of him.
Wex stood there, hands tucked casually in his pockets, watching Ren with the cold detachment of a predator. "I gave you a chance, kid," Wex whispered, stepping closer. "But you wasted it."
With a flick of his wrist, the bone-white dagger was at Ren's throat. "You insulted me. You thought you could lie to a Shadow Master?"
Wex lunged with the blade, aiming for Ren's stomach. Ren's instincts, honed by the "Ina" memories, screamed at him to move. He twisted his body at the last second, the dagger sinking deep into the brick wall behind him with a spray of dust.
Ren didn't try to run—he knew Wex would catch him in a heartbeat. Instead, he collapsed back against another wall, his voice cracking with feigned terror. "Please! Please let me go! It was a mistake! I... I didn't mean it!"
"Why are you attacking me then? Why is the King after you?" Wex demanded, his voice like grinding stones.
"It's... it's the debt!" Ren cried out, grasping at the first lie he could find. "I owe King Ziro... I owe him 50 Purple Core Shards! That's why his men are after me! I just need time to pay it back!"
Wex paused, his red eyes narrowed in thought. "A debt? You're telling me the King of Aethelard is hunting a gutter-rat for 50 shards?"
"Yes! He wants the interest too!" Ren pleaded, making himself look as small and pathetic as possible.
Wex stared at him for a long moment, then reached into his pocket. "I almost feel sorry for you, kid. Here... take this."
Before Ren could react, Wex's fist blurred.
POW!
The punch caught Ren square in the jaw, sending a fresh spray of blood onto the pavement. Wex grabbed Ren by the hair, yanking his head up to force him to look into those terrifying red eyes. "Don't ever lie to me again. I know a debt isn't why the King wants you dead. But for today... I've had enough of you."
Wex let go, and Ren fell to the ground. "Get lost," Wex hissed. "Get out of my sight before I change my mind. If I see you again, there won't be a third chance."
Ren didn't wait. He scrambled to his feet and ran, his legs heavy and his chest burning, disappearing into the crowded streets.
Wex watched him go, then looked down at his own dagger. "The kid is a mystery, but the King doesn't need to know I let him walk."
With a grimace, Wex drove his own dagger into his side, then slashed a jagged line across his own cheek. He wiped the blood across his mask, making it look like he had been in a life-or-death struggle. With a silent leap, he vanished over the rooftops.
Vaner Academy: One Hour Later
At the main gates, the atmosphere was tense. Lira, Adam, and Mika were standing with Kimo, who was pacing back and forth, his eyes constantly checking the road.
"Where is he?" Kimo growled. "He should have been back by now."
"Should we check his device?" Adam asked.
Lira and Adam looked at each other in confusion. "Device? What device?"
Kimo stopped pacing and looked at them. "You didn't know? We implanted a tracking chip in the back of his neck. It's the only way to keep tabs on him."
"Why would you do that to a student?" Lira asked, her voice filled with suspicion.
"Because the potion didn't work, Lira," Kimo said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "He didn't absorb it normally. With Mika's help, we actually gave him a refined poison—a 'trigger' meant to either fix his Vane flow or kill him before he could turn into a Feral. But he survived both. He didn't turn, and he didn't die. He's an anomaly, and we can't let an anomaly run around Sector 4 without a leash."