Chapter 36: Greedy Merchant
A dead silence hung over the room. It had long ago become something routine for Kserx, but not for Kain.
It was hard for him to imagine that a Contender like him, who went with him to the Astral Dimension, was dead.
"Shit, yet that bitch Sylvia is alive." Kain gritted his teeth.
Kserx lit a cigar. "Yeah. After only two days, Neil's runes shuddered and crumbled, turning to dust. That meant he died. I don't know how, but he's no longer in either of the two worlds."
"What happened to mine and Sylvia's runes?"
"Well, the usual. As soon as you left the Astral Dimension, your runes shook and flashed brightly. That means that a Tainted found the Ascension Rune and will soon return. However, things were a little different with you.
"Sylvia was only a few hundred meters outside of the Orlion Tower, while you ended up quite far away and most likely not in the safest place, right?"
A nervous smile played across Kain's face.
"You could put it that way. All because of my Rune Brand."
After a few moments, Kain shook his head, dismissing the past.
"Alright, there's no point in remembering the past. Why did you bring me here, and what's next for me? I'm a Keeper now, right?"