Chapter 8 - The Disciple Who Shouldn't Be Alive
Lightning hit the tower.
Not near me.
Me.
Pain erased the world.
I woke on the ground with smoke rising from my sleeves.
[Minor Tribulation survived.]
[Reward: Lightning Resistance I]
[Heaven's Debt reduced: 11 → 7]
Mira stared down at me.
"You smiled before it hit you."
"Did I?"
"It was disturbing."
We ran for the western cliff.
Half the outer sect chased us.
Jace Thorn reached us first.
He dropped from a pine tree with his sword already drawn.
A-rank spirit root. Body Tempering 6. Perfect stance.
My old friend.
"Kai," he said. "Come back. Veyr says he can fix this."
Mira laughed.
Jace glanced at her. "Who are you?"
"The girl from the cage your sect pretends doesn't exist."
His sword lowered a fraction.
I showed him the tag from my jar.
He read it.
His face changed.
Then horns sounded behind him.
Jace looked toward the approaching disciples.
"Go."
I stared.
"What?"
"I'll tell them you jumped the cliff."
"Why?"
He looked angry that I asked.
"Because I laughed when they called you trash. I don't want that to be the last thing I ever did as your friend."
We jumped.
Mira used a wind talisman to slow our fall.
We landed in the river far below.
The system chimed.
[QUEST COMPLETE]
[Lie exposed.]
[Escape achieved.]
[Reward: 40 Defiance Points]
Then another notification appeared.
[Jace Thorn has altered his predicted fate.]
May you like
[New outcome: execution in 3 days.]
