Chapter 40: Deal


    Chance raised a finger in the air. That said, Im not helping you for free. I want to, but if Im in as much danger as it looks like, I literally cant afford to.


    The Old City was silent for several seconds. Chance took that as an invitation to continue.


    If I help you, I want something in return. I mean, you did just tell me that the strong cultivators in Gleam could defeat Yamish. I dont <em>need </em>to kill him myself. Its extraordinarily stupid to even try.


    Perhaps.


    But if you arent lying, I do want to help you. You just cant expect me to do this on my own, can you?


    No. I suppose not, the Old City said. What do you seek?


    How much do you know about cultivation? Can you make things go faster for me?


    My methods of cultivation are different than yours. If your path were a little moremon, I might be able to provide information, but I know little about Karma. It is possible for me to instruct you in general powers, but you would not gain anything that a book could not offer you.


    What about coin or resources? Those would help me grow stronger.


    All things lost in Gleam are mine, but they be one with the city. I absorb them and they be one with me. I cannot give them to you any more than you could give me an arm.


    Can you just guide me or something then? Youre really old, so youve got to know some useful information.


    We will not be able to readily speak like this until I have broken enough of the seal restraining me. The Old City nodded back at the chains binding it. That is why I have been preparing you to fight the monsters that Yamish created. He has used five of them as lynchpins. My strength is limited until they fall.


    I dont suppose this was one of them?


    No. Once one falls, Yamish will know. You will have to defeat them all in rapid session, and you are not yet prepared for that.


    Well, damn. Yourepletely useless, Chance said, crossing his arms. You literally cant give me anything. On top of that, Im leaving today weaker than when I arrive. You ruined my urumi!


    The monster did that.


    Dont y semantics with me, Chance said, rolling his eyes. Seriously. I want to help people, but youre asking for a bit much, dont you think? You literally have nothing to offer.


    what about a firm handshake?


    Absolutely not. Id almost rather get nothing. For some ancient city-spirit, youre prettyme.


    The Old City cleared its throat. Im not ancient. Gleam is ancient. I  ah, might have exaggerated my strength a little. Awareness only came to me in recent years.


    Chances eyes narrowed. Whats that supposed to mean?


    Exactly what it sounds like.


    How old are you? Chance asked. Fifty?


    The Old City Didnt respond.


    Thirty?


    Still, there was no response.


    Five? Chance eximed.


    What? No! I am not a child, the Old City said, crossing its arms. I am the embodiment of the great Schr-City Gleam, unjustly restrained by a foul cultivator. I am twenty.


    Youre two years older than me.


    Two years makes a huge difference. You wouldnt know until youre twenty.


    I was going to excuse your slightly murder-y habits, but not anymore. What the hell is wrong with you? Chance demanded. You lobbed corpses at me! I thought you were some ancient monstrous creature, not a year or two older than me!


    Two. Two years. Thats a big difference, the Old City said. And I still eclipse you in powerpletely.


    Except youre bound andpletely useless.


    Well, yes. Thats the problem.


    Chance ran his hands through his hair and groaned. Is there literally anything you can give me?


    I suppose a hug is


    Dont even offer that. I do not want a hug from a sentient rock.


    They stared at each other for a few seconds. Then the Old City heaved a sigh. I  Ill rece your weapon with something good. An Urumi that actually has some power to it, not a dead hunk of metal.


    Chances eyes lit up. Like a magic sword?


    Yes.


    Why didnt you offer that before? he asked. I would have said yes on the spot!


    Because it doesnte for free, the Old City said sullenly. It takes a considerable amount of the power Ive cultivated. Permanently.


    Chance raised an eyebrow. More significant than what the other cultivators would ask of you?


    No, the Old City admitted. Not even close. Can you at least make me a promise?


    Depends on what the promise is.


    If we both survive this, youll be powerful. No reneging on your deal and trying to establish some contract with me.


    Chance shrugged. Sure. Thats a big if, as Im probably going to get killed doing this, but its not like Ive got much of a choice. If you arent lying, Yamish is going to kill both of us. I wont try to take advantage of you after hes dealt with.


    The Old City nodded. It reached into its chest, a hand sinking deep into the stone. A rumble shook the ground beneath them. Cracks spread through the statue and rocks tumbled down it as it slowly pulled a de from within its chest.


    Its hilt was made of tarnished bronze, wrapped in jagged purple leather. The links of the whip-sword were smooth, but tarnished streaks ran through the metal like a bolt of lightning had been frozen within it.


    Dont betray me, the Old City said, its body crumbling apart. The sword ttered to the ground and the rest of the statue followed after it.


    Chance knelt, picking the de up. The wrapping bit into his hand slightly and he grimaced, studying the new urumi. His old one certainly looked better, but the de felt light in his hands.


    He flicked his hand and the links extended without a sound, whipping through the air and sinking deep into a stone wall. Blinking in surprise, Chance retracted the de and examined it in a new light.


    The weapon wasnt the prettiest, but it was sharp and responsive. He was far from a sword expert, but he was willing to bet that this de was of far higher quality than hisst one. Where the magic in it was, he wasnt sure.


    I wont, Chance promised. Assuming I dont die, Ill help you.


    He turned and the wall behind him rippled, forming into an alleyway that led back into Gleam proper. As Chance walked into it, the de writhed in his hand, shrinking and turning into a purple blur and wrapping around his wrist before he could react.


    There was no more trace of the weapon. Instead, a thorny purple bracelet hung just below his hand. Chance blinked. Huh. Thats convenient. I was thinking that I needed to get a sheathe, but I guess thisll save me the money.


    Chance brushed himself off as best as he could, all too aware that it wouldnt do much when he had several giant tears in the back of his shirt, and walked out into Gleam. Hed spent more time in the Old City than hed thought.


    The sun was already low in the sky. Chance winced. Hopefully nobody asked too many questions. It wouldnt be too easy to exin his shirt. Luckily, when he got back, nobody was in the bottom floor.


    Breathing a small sigh of relief, Chance padded inside and up the stairs to his room. He pulled his ruined shirt off and tossed it onto the floor. Then he froze.


    Shit. I dont have a change of clothes.


    Chance looked around the room, hoping hed somehow missed a dresser. He hadnt. And, even if he had, it would have been empty. Groaning, Chance tugged at his hair and knelt, picking his ruined shirt back up.


    <em>I cant afford to save my money right now. Sorry, Mom, Dad. Ill have to wait to find you for a little longer, or I might be the one that ends up dead this time around. Guess buying a new shirt fits under vital supplies.</em>


    Chance pulled his shirt back on and headed into the hall. He didnt make it two steps before Bes door swung open and she poked her head out, making Chance look like a deer in the headlights.


    I  uh


    Youre alive, Be said, stepping into the hall. Thats always a good start. Why are you looking at me like that?


    Chance nced down at himself. The front of his shirt looked fairly normal. It was only the back that was ruined.


    No particr reason, he said, clearing his throat.


    Be rolled her eyes. Chance, it doesnt take a genius to know that you were hunting monsters. Ive gone out to do it more times than you have, I reckon. You cant sell their bodies to the Shikari base, though. Not on your own. Youre still part of the team, so theyll ask what you were doing.


    Chance rubbed the back of his head. Hedpletely forgotten that half his goal in heading out to the Old City was to kill some Soothounds for coin. Things had kind of just happened. I dont have any monsters.


    You didnt seed? I thought you were heading back to where we found all the Soothounds. Are they gone? You handled one on your own no problem when we werest there.


    Am I that obvious? Chance asked.


    Do you want me to lie?


    No.


    Then yeah, you are. You still look like you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar. Im surprised you werent able to beat any Soothounds, though. Maybe they really did move.


    No, I wasnt looking for Soothounds, Chance said. I mean, I need the money, but that wasnt what I was doing this time.


    Bes gaze darkened. Was it something to do with the man that stopped Vex?


    I think it might be in both of our best interests if I dont answer that.


    Thats a yes, then, Be said. Well, just be extra careful. You arent as strong as a Knight yet, and you dont have the artificial advantages I had when I was using Vexs power. At least, I dont think you do.


    What advantages even were those? Chance asked, snagging onto the opportunity to change the subject.


    The water itself, Be replied. Vex gave me water that hed infused with his Essence, and I infused myself with it. That also gave him a considerable hold over me, since if I ever tried to remove it, he could have used it to kill me. After your friend got rid of him, I continued using the water for a while since arge portion of my own cultivation efforts had gone into making it powerful.


    So when you got rid of it


    I lost a considerable portion of the Essence Id gathered over the years, Be said with a nod. And, ironically enough, that turned out to be what was holding me back from ranking up. I guess you cant truly grow stronger when youre leaning on someone elses strength as a crutch.


    Yeah. That means Vex doesnt have any real hold over you anymore, right?


    He shouldnt, Be said with a small nod. And he already got rid of the thing that made me work for him in the first ce. He did that a long time ago. Dont think I cant tell that youre changing the subject, though.


    Chance cleared his throat again. Yeah, yeah. I cant say this is the exact same scenario as you had with Vex, but I think you should understand more than anyone why I cant bring other people into this.


    Be inclined her head. Her eyes flicked to the bracelet on his wrist. I know. Thats why I havent told Pete. You cant hide it forever, though. People that care will notice things are changing


    Youre telling me. Chanceughed, moving his arm slightly to put the bracelet out of view. And hopefully, I wont have to. This is just something Ill be working toward on the side. No big risk at all.


    If youre sure, Be said with a shrug. Just tell me if you need anything. Im still in your debt, you know.


    I will, Chance promised. He edged toward the edge of the hallway, hoping to keep her from seeing his shredded shirt. Judging by the bemused expression on her face, it didnt work. Bes eyes dropped to the pouch at his side.


    How many healing pills do you have left? Looks like youve been using them.


    Chance sighed. Could you stop being so perceptive? Like,e on. Its not fair. At least let me <em>feel </em>like Im being sneaky.


    Its hard to do that when half of your shirt is covered with blood and pping behind you.


    Chance nced over his shoulder. He cursed. It would have been better if hed just walked out without the thing  at least Be would have just wondered why he was being strange rather than gotten proof of what he was doing. He pulled the shirt off and balled it up with a grumble.


    Here, Be said, disappearing into her room anding back with a in cloth shirt. She tossed it to him, and Chance pulled it on. To his surprise, it actually fit him pretty well.


    Why do you have a mens shirt?


    Yeo took to wandering around half naked in the mornings. He seems to think that itll help him passively absorb Essence, but the only thing its doing is scarring my eyes. I invested in a solution.


    Chance let out a chuckle. Thank you, then. Ill be sure to find a recement shirt to lend you. Speaking of Yeo, where is he?


    Still out practicing with Pete. He found a new technique in the library and didnt want to leave until he had it under wraps.


    Ah. I should really get on learning some techniques myself, Chance said. He patted the dictionary tucked into his waistband. Ive just got to get through this thing first. Thanks again for the shirt, Be. Now that Ive got it, I guess Ill just go back to cultivating. Are we taking a job tomorrow?


    Might as well. We all need money, and theyre good training, Be replied. You arent going to be too busy?


    Nah. Ill be fine, Chance promised. See you then.


    Be nodded as he headed back to his room. See you then.


    ***


    Yamish let out a slow breath. ck smoke curled around his lips, rising up past his chin and into the shadowed sky above. His eyes slowly slid open and he uncrossed his legs, walking through the air to ce his feet on solid ground once more.


    Strands of Karma extended from him in every direction. There were thousands upon thousands, all so thin that a spiders web would have looked like a river inparison. Exactly half shimmered with gold light, while the other half were pitch ck.


    So eager, Yamish mused. And so fresh. I have not seen enlightenment such as yours in millennia. What a vision indeed. You must be refined.


    Around him, the Old City trembled. Two strands of ck mist extended from Yamishs hand and slipped into the darkness. They returned, dragging the bodies of two Soothounds. He drew the Essence from them, twisting it into a knot as their bodies shriveled into husks at his feet.


    Yamish extended a slender hand, his fingers running along one of the golden strands that extended far into the sky, piercing through Gleams heavens and into the cosmos beyond. The Essence he had gathered turned into a trilling note that echoed along the strand, vanishing into the night.


    He let his hand fall and a smile slipped across his face and headed deeper into the Old City, the cracked stone parting like water before him.