{"id":215,"date":"2021-08-23T16:38:51","date_gmt":"2021-08-23T20:38:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/?page_id=215"},"modified":"2021-08-23T16:38:52","modified_gmt":"2021-08-23T20:38:52","slug":"chapter-17","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/chapter-17\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 017: He Does Exist?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm.jpg\" alt=\"Etherno\" class=\"wp-image-52\" srcset=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm.jpg 768w, https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm-300x113.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong>Chapter 17:<\/strong> He Does Exist?<\/h2>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin groaned and stretched out his hand. Still nothing. He reached for his pocket. He had a small energy drink in there. Maybe he could regain enough energy to generate a small servitor before Amaryllis bled out. He glanced over at the sound of her voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRe-restore from a-archive point.\u201d A blue mist swirled out and flowed down over Amaryllis\u2019 body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat the\u2026\u201d The man in the suit took a step back and raised his arm, palm outward. \u201cWhatever you\u2019re up to won\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNO!\u201d Kasai\u2019s voice echoed across the field. She stood up and took two lurching steps forward, one hand still clutched to her head. \u201cHaven\u2019t you done enough? Just leave me and my friends alone!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd what are you going to do about it?\u201d The man in the suit smirked. \u201cYou can barely stand, and I\u2019ve yet to even attack you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai lifted her right hand and made a grasping motion. The man in the suit\u2019s throat convulsed and made a gurgling noise. He shifted his hand over in Kasai\u2019s direction and let out an energy blast about a foot in diameter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">No! Not Kasai! He had to help. Onin jerked the energy drink from his pocket and shoved it toward his mouth. His arm trembled so much he spilled a lot of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai dropped her hand, pulled in closer, and shoved her palm out away from her body. The energy blast bounced off an invisible wall and ricocheted off into the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">The man in the suit\u2019s mouth pulled down into a frown. He raised his hand and another glowing disc started to form, this time red flame circled around it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Something moved off to Onin\u2019s right. He looked over. The blue mist around Amaryllis started to swirl and expand outward. It swelled out a few feet then dispersed into a thousand pinpricks of light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAh, that\u2019s better.\u201d Amaryllis stretched her arms over her head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin did a double-take. She didn\u2019t look hurt at all. Her arm was back and she wasn\u2019t bleeding anymore. There wasn\u2019t a wound on her or even a scar. Her dress was still in tatters, but other than that it looked like she\u2019d just arrived from the spa, not mostly dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat\u2026\u201d Onin blinked. Nope, not a hallucination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Amaryllis pointed her staff at the man in the suit. \u201cNow, where were we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAbout to carve him up.\u201d Saija stepped forward and squeezed Kasai\u2019s shoulder. \u201cYou can do this. Let\u2019s hit him together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">A small black portal opened in the middle of the man\u2019s stomach. He looked down at it and his eyes widened. The disc in front of his palm faded away, and he grabbed the portal and pulled it out of his midsection, leaving a bleeding hole. He flung the portal away and reached out behind him. A larger portal opened, and he dove through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin flopped back over onto his back and concentrated on breathing. His left leg throbbed like it\u2019d been stabbed, and his right arm felt as though it\u2019d been slammed in a door. He heard footsteps, and Kasai leaned over him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAre you okay? Is anything broken?\u201d She sniffed and brushed her hair behind her ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m fine. I think.\u201d Onin flexed the fingers on his right hand. It was stiff, but everything moved. \u201cArm\u2019ll be okay. How\u2019s my left leg? Feels like I got stabbed or something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai glanced down at his leg and her face paled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat bad, huh?\u201d Onin concentrated power into his hand and was able to generate a servitor that was about an inch in diameter. \u201cWell, that won\u2019t do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">The servitor bobbed and zipped up into the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai watched it speed off. \u201cWhere\u2019s it going?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLooking for an energy source. It\u2019s inefficient, but they can re-charge via high-output electricity, such as lightning or a sub-station. I\u2019m hoping it\u2019ll be able to heal me enough to make it to a hospital or something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOrdinarily, I could help with that.\u201d Amaryllis stood where Onin had last seen her. With one hand she held what was left of her dress up. With the other, she held onto her staff. \u201cAt the moment, though, I\u2019m completely out of energy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019d love to go get help.\u201d Saija came over and sat cross-legged next to Onin. \u201cOr get us out of here or something, but I\u2019m exhausted, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDon\u2019t look at me.\u201d Cerina didn\u2019t move from where she\u2019d stood during the whole battle. She kept her back to Onin and the others. \u201cI\u2019m empty, too, and can\u2019t do anything helpful for broken legs anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHmm.\u201d Amaryllis cocked her head to the side. \u201cI think I remember reading somewhere that a certain frequency of sound waves can help promote healing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Cerina merely snorted in reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo what do we do now? Wait for your servitor\u2014wait, what\u2019s that?\u201d Kasai jumped to her feet and shaded her eyes with her hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat\u2019s what?\u201d Onin rolled halfway onto his side and propped himself up with his good arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI thought I heard something,\u201d Kasai said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin couldn\u2019t see anything. Then again, it was hard to see over the grass when he couldn\u2019t stand up. After a moment or two he could see a person shaped blob on the horizon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI hope that\u2019s not that Natas,\u201d Saija said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI believe it\u2019s Tannin.\u201d Amaryllis shaded her eyes, stood on tiptoe and leaned forward, tail out for balance. \u201cYup, it\u2019s him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Cerina waved her arm off in that general direction. \u201cHow can you tell at this distance?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Amaryllis pointed at her eyes. \u201cI\u2019m half Nekotian. My ears and tail aren\u2019t the only things that are different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">It took about twenty minutes for Tannin to make his way over to them. In contrast to Amaryllis, he looked like he\u2019d been hit by a giant energy blast. A tattered collar was all that was left of his shirt, and his pants and shoes were gone. Fortunately, his boxers were still intact, just frayed and dirty. His swords though, still looked brand new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat\u2019s with the get-up?\u201d Cerina her hand in front of her face and peered over it. \u201cYou looking for an indecent exposure charge?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Tannin glanced down at himself. \u201cWhat? I\u2019m covered.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBarely.\u201d Cerina snorted and turned around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEh, ignore her.\u201d Saija held her hands out, thumbs up, and clicked her tongue. \u201cLooking good, there, stud.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWould you two knock it off?\u201d Onin rolled his eyes. \u201cGoof off later. Tannin, set my leg.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai placed a hand on Onin\u2019s shoulder. \u201cUm, does he know how to do that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSure, I do.\u201d Tannin sat down at Onin\u2019s feet and rolled up his pants leg. \u201cOnce you get about so high, my kenjutsu dojo makes us take an advanced first aid course. Even a wooden sword can break a bone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Tannin frowned. \u201cUh, you have a servitor to heal this after I set it, or should we look for sticks or something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve got one out gathering energy. It\u2019s on its way back. Hurry up before I change my mind.\u201d Onin took a deep breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOkay.\u201d Tannin tilted his head from side to side and gently pressed along Onin\u2019s leg. \u201cLet\u2019s see, no bone sticking out, minimal swelling. Your leg\u2019s not at weird angle or anything, just a little cockeyed. Doesn\u2019t look like a bad break. I\u2019m gonna pull it back into position. One, and two\u2014\u201d Tannin pulled and pain shot through Onin\u2019s leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere, done.\u201d Tannin sat down, but kept a hand on Onin\u2019s ankle. \u201cI\u2019ll reinforce it to keep everything in line until that servitor gets back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">The servitor was getting closer. It was about five minutes out, but it felt like an hour. The servitor was now about the size of Onin\u2019s head. Not as large as Onin would\u2019ve liked, but large enough for the task at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">The shining energy orb floated over and hovered above Onin\u2019s left leg. A healing beam arced out. Onin sighed as the throbbing in his leg subsided. The servitor shrank slowly as it expended its energy in the healing process. The beam faded away. The servitor was now about the size of Onin\u2019s thumb. He stretched out his hand and re-absorbed the servitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s better.\u201d Onin rolled over and rose to his feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai grabbed his shoulder. Worry filled her face. \u201cIs it okay to walk on it already?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Onin shrugged. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t hurt, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt is good that you can walk.\u201d Amaryllis trudged over to them, leaning heavily on her staff with each step. \u201cWe should leave before that Natas returns.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShouldn\u2019t we stay, then?\u201d Kasai twisted her hair around her finger. \u201cI know we\u2019re all tired, but someone needs to stop him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf we stay here, and he comes back, we all die.\u201d Saija stepped closer and rested her hand on Kasai\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI\u2019ve rested enough now I\u2019ve got about one portal left in me. Onin can\u2019t fight. Tannin\u2019s out of armor, Amaryllis can barely stand, and Cerina is too tired to say anything snarky.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai\u2019s shoulders slumped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDon\u2019t worry.\u201d Onin squeezed her hand. \u201cThe Natas is injured, too. We\u2019ll heal and rest up, then we\u2019ll be ready to face him. The question is where do we go?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Library of Caradan.\u201d Amaryllis pointed to the half-melted ring on her staff. \u201cI need to get this fixed, and Ryogin-sama will want to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo, how long of a walk is it?\u201d Cerina asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSaija, come place your hand on my staff.\u201d Amaryllis said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Saija let out a giggle-snort but didn\u2019t say anything as she grabbed Amaryllis staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Amaryllis ears lowered. \u201cThe Natas corrupt everything they touch. I will show you how Ard intended your gift to be. Relax, and open a portal. Allow me to guide you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUh, okay.\u201d Saija closed her eyes, and a blue glow shot down the staff into the dirt. A blue portal opened in the ground beneath all of them and swirled upward.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin blinked as the blue from the portal rose above his head and faded out of existence. They now stood in a large room with a stone floor. The ceiling towered overhead and stone buttresses flowed down to the main floor. Stone columns lined the main hall, and rows of bookshelves were behind each column.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Saija stared at her open palm. \u201cWow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAre you okay?\u201d Onin took a step closer to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai did, as well, and rested a hand on Saija\u2019s elbow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYeah.\u201d Saija flexed her fingers and blinked a few times. \u201cYeah, I\u2019m fine. That was just\u2026 different. Normally when I open a portal it feels kinda like I\u2019m stretching myself through an oily, slimy mass and making a tunnel to the other side. This time was more like, I don\u2019t know, relaxing in a warm bath.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs I said, the Natas corrupt.\u201d Amaryllis turned and headed toward the far end of the hall. \u201cThis way, please.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin gawked at the stone walls and arched ceilings. \u201cWhere are we, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Amaryllis looked over her shoulder. \u201cRyogin-sama is a professor at the University of Caradan, and has worked with ABG on a few projects. We\u2019re in the main library now. Ryogin-sama\u2019s office is in the back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">She led them down the hall and turned right at the last isle of bookshelves. A small door was set in the wall. Amaryllis pushed it open and led the way inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">There was a small table with snacks and juice against the right wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPlease help yourself.\u201d Amaryllis gestured to the table and grabbed an apple for herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin chose a granola bar and munched on it as he continued looking around the room. The other two walls were lined with overstuffed chairs and a sofa. A desk was against the far wall. The chair swiveled away from the desk and a young man stood up. His hair was black, and he looked a few years older than Onin and about the same height. He had black eyes and a friendly smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRyogin-sama!\u201d Amaryllis ran across the room, jumped up, and wrapped her arms around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Ryogin returned the hug briefly, then took a step backward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Tannin leaned in close to Onin. \u201cHoly crap! He does exist!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin elbowed Tannin in the ribs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWelcome.\u201d Ryogin bowed. \u201cI\u2019m sure Amaryllis has told you all about me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Amaryllis flicked an ear. \u201cNot everything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Ryogin smiled. \u201cWell, all in good time. First, you\u2019ll be happy to know that the people you rescued are being returned to their families, and we\u2019ve got a few more leads on other possible Natas encampments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne moment, please.\u201d Onin held up a hand. \u201cWe have a few questions that need to be answered first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOf course.\u201d Ryogin inclined his head. \u201cI\u2019ll do my best to answer them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFirst off, we were told that everyone only has one gift.\u201d Onin furrowed his brow. \u201cThen the Natas start fighting us with multiple powers, and apparently Amaryllis can do that, too. Is there any connection between the two?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai took a step forward to stand right behind Onin. Tannin twirled a sword around in his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Amaryllis glanced over to Ryogin and side-stepped to stand in front of him. \u201cThere is a connection, but it\u2019s not what you think. My power is called vassal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Ryogin cleared his throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">One of Amaryllis\u2019 ears flicked backward. \u201cWell, that\u2019s what I call it. Hmm. How to best put this? With a few limitations, I can essentially copy a giftling\u2019s powers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWait a minute.\u201d Saija held up a finger. \u201cYou steal powers like the Natas?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d Amaryllis shook her head. \u201cQuite the opposite, in fact. My gift requires full cooperation between parties. I can\u2019t copy someone\u2019s gift without their permission, and my copy is only a fraction of the original\u2019s power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFrom our fight with the Natas in the suit, I would guess that they\u2019ve found another person with a similar power to mine, and they corrupted that gift to steal multiple powers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOr using an artifact or a combination of the two to transfer or copy gifts,\u201d Ryogin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Saija shuddered. \u201cSo, how can we stop them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGotta find \u2018em first,\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHmm.\u201d Onin frowned and looked around the room. \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t happen to have any ideas on where to look, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell, yes and no.\u201d Ryogin walked over to his desk and spread out a map of the continent. \u201cI\u2019ve interviewed the slaves that you freed and have a few nebulous leads.\u201d He pointed to several locations spread out across the map. \u201cThey might be in any of these locations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Matari mentioned a gate.\u201d Kasai twirled her hair around her finger and bit her lower lip. \u201cWe need to find it before the Natas complete it. Have you heard anything about that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA gate?\u201d Ryogin\u2019s eyes widened. He sat down in the desk chair and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. \u201cI\u2019ve heard rumors of rumors. I had hoped they weren\u2019t true. I had thought this planet didn\u2019t have the technology for a gate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe portal users,\u201d Amaryllis said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Ryogin wrung his hands. \u201cYes, if it didn\u2019t kill them, that would work. If that\u2019s the case, we may already be too late.\u201d He pulled out his phone and fiddled with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI can send servitors to search all those sites.\u201d Onin lifted his hand and pushed out energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">A wave of nausea swept over him, and the floor tilted up at his head. Kasai caught him and wrapped an arm around his waist. Onin took a shaky breath and laid an arm across Kasai\u2019s shoulders and tried not to fall over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Ryogin handed Onin a cup of a dark liquid. \u201cHere, drink this, it will help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin stared at it then sniffed it. It smelled like ginger and another herb that he couldn\u2019t identify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGo ahead, it\u2019s just spiced coffee made with vitamin water,\u201d Ryogin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt will make you feel better.\u201d Amaryllis scrunched up her nose. \u201cWell, except for your taste buds. They\u2019ll take a while to recover. Works excellently for giftling exhaustion. Ryogin-sama first developed that concoction for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin took a breath and swallowed the cup-full of liquid in one gulp. It tasted like one of Tannin\u2019s food experiments: a whole cupboard full of spices that didn\u2019t go together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDid that help?\u201d Kasai peered into his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think I\u2019m going to be tasting that for a week.\u201d Onin coughed. \u201cOn the other hand, the floor has stopped trying to attack me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Ryogin turned to face Amaryllis. \u201cCould you show our guests to their rooms? It doesn\u2019t look like any of you are in any condition to fight. I\u2019ll keep going over the information we got from the rescued slaves while you recover.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Amaryllis smiled and brushed the back of his hand with her fingers as she turned to leave. She opened the door and swept her arm out to the hall. \u201cThis way, please.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAmaryllis?\u201d Ryogin held out his hand. \u201cYou want me to fix your staff, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Amaryllis blushed and handed her staff back to Ryogin without a word.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/chapter-16\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"211\">&lt;&lt; Previous Chapter<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/table-of-contents\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"34\">Contents<\/a> | Next Chapter >><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aarondemott.com\/newsletter\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.aarondemott.com\/newsletter\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/env_sm.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-178\" width=\"33\" height=\"20\"> Be notified when the next chapter comes out!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.ko-fi.com\/cdn\/widget\/Widget_2.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\">kofiwidget2.init('Buy me a cup of tea', '#29abe0', 'V7V05ASUY');kofiwidget2.draw();<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chapter 17: He Does Exist? Onin groaned and stretched out his hand. Still nothing. He reached for his pocket. He had a small energy drink&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-215","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=215"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/215\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":233,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/215\/revisions\/233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}