Chapter 71: The Outcasts And Immunity!
Neve raised an eyebrow at Cael’s words.
He looked at Ryker, who was standing silently nearby. Ryker did not look shocked by what Cael had said anymore. He looked like he already understood. Like this was the logical conclusion Cael had reached.
"Me?" Neve asked. "Why should I be in the dungeon? I didn’t do anything."
Cael’s expression softened slightly.
"Neve, you didn’t do anything wrong," Cael said carefully. "I’m saying it because of your safety. You managed to heal someone who was poisoned with the most dangerous poison in the entire beast world. Do you know what that means?"
Neve looked around the cave. He lowered his head slowly.
"Are you talking about the outcasts?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," Cael confirmed as he looked at Neve’s face, searching for understanding. "I’m talking about the outcasts. They would kill for that knowledge. They would come for you. They would kidnap you and torture you and try to force you to share that cure with them." Cael’s voice was getting harder. "The other tribes would do the same. Every enemy we have would want you dead or captured."
Neve felt a shiver move down his spine like ice.
He did not want to be kidnapped, nor did he want to be forced to do something against his own will. He did not want anything to happen to him. But what could he do about it? Nothing. He was just one person with knowledge that made him dangerous.
"I’m sorry," he muttered, lowering his head.
Cael moved closer and tilted his chin up.
"Don’t say that now, Neve. You didn’t do anything wrong trying to save someone’s life, Neve. Bella is to be blamed for all of this. But don’t worry." His voice was firm and certain. "I’m here. We are here. Nothing will happen to you. Definitely, no outcasts will be allowed into our territory."
Neve nodded slowly, blinking back the tears that were building in his eyes.
"I’ll be right back, so do not leave from here."
Cael turned to leave the cave.
He gave Ryker a short nod as he passed him. Ryker nodded back in response.
"I’ll go see Soren and ask what we’re doing with that traitor," Cael said as he disappeared through the cave entrance.
Ryker walked closer to Neve immediately.
"Are you okay?" he asked gently.
Neve nodded and moved to sit down, leaning his back against the cave wall. He raised his hand to wipe his eyes that were already itchy with tears.
"I’m not okay," he said, taking his hand away. "Who are the outcasts and why did Vaelthorn banish them?" Neve asked.
Ryker sat down beside him and was quiet for a moment, thinking.
"Well, that’s between the dragons and them," Ryker said finally. "They’ve been banished for centuries. Even before Vaelthorn was king. But who they are..." He paused and tucked Neve’s hair slowly behind his ear, the motion gentle and careful. "There were three tribes that were banished. One of them is extinct now. The ones that remain are the snake tribe and the sharks."
Neve blinked.
"Sharks?" he asked, a bit shocked.
He totally understood that snakes were dangerous. But sharks? In a beast world? He tried to imagine them in their human form, and he almost burst into laughter at the mental image. Sharks with arms. Sharks walking on land.
"I guess I’ll have to be careful from now on," he said, swallowing the urge to laugh.
"Do not step out carelessly," Ryker said seriously. "If you wish to check on that man, I’ll send Gideon to report to you daily. How long will it take before he wakes up?"
"I can’t tell," Neve said. "Since his cells were affected by the poison, it can take a week or two before his body fully recovers and he’s able to speak properly again."
"Then we’ll wait," Ryker said. "After all, he needs to be alive for Bella to get punished properly."
He stood up and started walking toward the kitchen area of the cave.
"I’ll get you more meat," he said. "Stay there."
He vanished into the kitchen.
As soon as he was gone, Neve pulled up the system screen.
The special mission notification was waiting for him. He had completed it. The survive the murder attempt mission.
He waited for the reward to load.
The message popped up in front of him clearly.
{Immunity to Poison — ALL TYPES}
Neve stared at it and did a mental happy jump.
He was finally immune to all poison. Every type. Every variation. Nothing could hurt him anymore through that method.
He felt excitement build in his chest.
He started crawling toward the side of the cave where moss was growing on the walls. The moss was not poisonous, he knew that. It could only make him sick at worst. But he wanted to test his immunity. He wanted to see how well it actually worked.
"I hope I don’t die," he said quietly to himself, staring at the wall.
He reached his finger toward the moss.
"Neve!" Ryker’s voice cut through the silence.
Neve flinched and looked back.
Ryker was standing there holding a roasted piece of meat in his hand, looking at Neve like he had just caught him doing something dangerous.
"I got your meat, so don’t eat that," Ryker said, waving the meat at him. "I know you’re hungry."
"No, I was just—" Neve started.
"It’s fine, Neve," Ryker said, his voice taking on that protective quality that Neve was starting to recognise. "Just slowly back away from the wall. Don’t eat that."
"Listen to me, Ryker. I just wanted to taste—"
"No tasting! Your meat is here!" Ryker shook his head firmly, still waving the meat like it was the most important thing in the world.
Neve felt frustration building.
He was not a child. He was not helpless. He was not someone who needed constant supervision and protection from everything.
"Wahhh! Stop treating me like a child!" he screamed, unable to take it anymore.