Chapter 9: Chapter 8: Chart and Robin
Stunned, I can only sit silently at the cage. My eyelids are still feeling heavy, having just woken up.
"You're docile. Good. I rather not use force.", Robin said, squatting on the ground to be at my eye level.
"I'll be taking this too."
Robin takes out the book that was given to me. Knowing what would happen, I only nodded sluggishly. Without adding anything more, Robin walked away with the book in hand.
This position sure is making me stiff and it hurts. Alright, I need to freshen myself and absorb what is happening right now.
I've been restrained on my sleep, cuffing my hands behind my back and when I woke up, I was already in a cage, guarded by the Captain. He knows I am a necromancer, I know I am screwed and end of story.
It should be any moment now...
"It's not in my hand? Wait, did I drop it?", I hear Robin say in surprise from a distance. The book then popped back at my side. I hear the clinking of metal quickly approaching and behold, Robin is back in front of me.
"Are you messing with me?"
"Believe me, what happened just now is out of my control."
"What do you mean?"
Robin asks, leaning closer into the cage with his hands taking hold of the bars. Having gotten this close, I can see his pale gold eyes staring through the visor of his helmet. He looks at me sharply, but something else seems to be mixed in. Trust? Hope? Perhaps that is just me.
"I am practically cursed with this book. I tried disposing it, only for this book to come back in my hands unscathed."
"Then there is a simple solution."
Robin stood up and signalled someone to come.
"Chart, take the book and guard the prisoner. Make sure to never go too far away."
"Yes, Captain, but...why Thane? What did he do?"
"By the command of the Divine Order, we are to capture heretics and deliver them for judgement. Thane is currently suspected as a necromancer, a foul violator of life."
"Huh...? Is that true, Thane?"
I look at Chart and saw the disbelief in his eyes. Having felt I wronged him, I could only silently nod. Robin left the duty to Chart and had my cage lifted up to a different carriage. Chart sat beside me quietly, but once we started moving he looked at me and asks.
"Have you used necromancy to bring back the dead?"
"No, I haven't. I only got the book recently."
"Then do you know that you are about to be executed?"
"I do, honestly, I expect something like this would happen."
"Lad, you're about to get yourself killed for something you didn't do! Are you sure you want to be composed about it?"
"Knowing I have the power but being unable to use it to help, I feel empty. Chart, I want to give assistance, but this power just has too much risk. I could have simply refused and went to travel the world by myself, but I don't know when I would stop being...me."
"Is that why you accepted the Captain's invitation?"
"Heh, I'm not so humble and righteous to say that I only did it to keep everyone safe. Of course I found the opportunity to be tempting. I get to travel around and see the world. Hah, I didn't thought I'd only get to see the first stop."
"C'mon lad, don't say it like that. But I believe you're a good man. Of course not only because I heard your side, but we personally didn't see any undead near the vicinity of the town nor did we get any reports from the guards. That alone serves as evidence of your innocence."
I only smiled at Chart's response. Time passes by slowly with almost nothing to do. Minutes felt like an hour when there is nothing much to do but to stare at the sky. Chart would occasionally tell me stories about his town, one particular thing I was fascinated about was his promise with a childhood sweetheart. Admittedly such stories delights me. Night eventually approached and once again, the group had to stop and rest. Chart excused himself to have dinner.
"So far you've been compliant."
Robin said peaking from the curtain of the caravan.
"That guy, Chart. First thing he did was rush to me and argued. Seriously..."
Despite his thick armor, Robin easily hopped inside on one attempt and sat beside me.
"I'll feed you bread, that'll serve as your dinner. I'm sorry."
"I'm not that picky, but I sure wish I have some meat skewers right now."
Robin pushes his hand between the bars and handed the bread. Seeing no intention to uncuff my hands I leaned in and took a bite.
"I heard about it from Chart. You're aware of how dangerous it is. Necromancy, I mean."
"Of course, any child of Terra is aware of it. Since when did you notice it?"
"When a group of imps suddenly fell weak. At first I felt a brush of wind when I killed that imp, as if something is being pulled. The second it happened, my head just turned towards where it was going. All I need to do was connect the dots, and this book serves as evidence."
Even if something is invisible to the eye, Robin still noticed something is amiss. I can't help but feel impressed.
"However, the proof of your innocence still outweighs that of your label. I want to believe, but there's nothing I can do for you except to hope that the Divine Order and the Queen to do the same."
"I want to believe in myself too, but I've heard stories and how necromancers are described. Chaos incarnates that bring about destruction, power made them insane and blind with desire. The world is better off with one less threat to it."
Was this why I don't feel fear? Is this why I didn't feel angry at Robin for tricking me? I thought to myself as I lean over and take a bite out of that hard bread.
"Have you thought of bringing back the dead?"
"No, I'd stop being human if I do so. Believe it or not I'm quite fond of having my sanity intact."
"Then the world would weep at the loss of a good man. Keep that in mind. Being all sappy doesn't suit you."
Robin replied. His words surprised me and yet it warmed my heart. Chart, Robin, and even the other knights, they're all good people.
The crunch of the bread fills the inside of the caravan. Robin, while handing out the bread, stares at the moonlit sky. Seemingly deep in thought.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone