The Reaper's Wicked Obsession-Chapter 166: The Tunnels

"He left?" Isadora asked.

"I saw him around here somewhere but I don’t see him anymore," The crowned warrior replied as he coiled the thick ropes he held. freёnovelkiss.com

"Oh," she mumbled under her breath.

’I was hoping to see him before I left,’ she thought as a sad expression morphed against her features. ’Why did he leave? We haven’t seen each other for over a moon and I thought I might before I go.’

"Is there anything else you need, Lady Raven?" The warrior asked as a smile found his lips. "I’m happy to help."

Isadora blushed. "N-No, thank you," she replied in a stutter. "That is all."

She turned away quickly and hurried her steps. She still wasn’t used to being called Lady Raven.

From the moment she left for the training grounds this morning, every ravenite she encountered called her that and also bowed to her.

Was that normal? It definitely wasn’t, and Isadora was flushed the whole time.

How was she supposed to handle something like that? She only knew their hate, not adoration.

It was strange to have them show such respect toward her. What had she done to earn such respect? That confused her the most, they were probably acting like that because they feared Lord Raven’s wrath.

Isadora halted her steps as her eyes skimmed the place one last time hoping to catch a glimpse of Rav but he was nowhere to be seen.

Sighing in defeat she turned on her heels and walked away.

Rav emerged from a corner, resting his palm against the wall, his eyes pinned on Isadora as she exited the training ground.

His sad gaze lingered on her until she disappeared. It would be a while before he would see her again and the thought caused a pain in his chest.

Despite honoring the wager, he couldn’t bear to see her off, because he knew what he might do. He would have tried to convince her not to go.

Was this mission even what she wanted? Kraven had dragged her into this, just like the Hunt.

Rav prayed to the gods that Logi would keep his promise because he couldn’t interfere. He trusted Logi to do the right thing when the time came.

’Forgive me, Isadora.’

~♧~

Isadora made her way back to the cave where Logi worked.

The sharp sound of his whistle filled the air along with the hammering against the wall. He had been working on this for days and would be done today.

Isadora still didn’t understand what he was doing and how it related to their mission.

Suddenly a hand grasped her waist pulling her down to a lap—a warm breath flushing against her neck.

His gravelly voice murmured close to her ear. "Did you see your precious Rav?"

Isadora tensed as his grip on her waist tightened, digging into her black leather armor corset.

"You don’t sound pleased," she replied, noting his shifted tone, he made it very obvious.

"I’m not pleased."

Isadora turned her head to face him, her ambers locking on his silver orbs, the darker shades from the pupil slipping into the iris like a dance of light and shadow.

His eyes were becoming her favorite color, it was strange how moons ago they brought terror to her bones at the mere glimpse of them but now it simply reminded her that the crescent moon could be seen during the day.

Isadora noted the glint of disapproval despite the amusement that drowned them. She frowned at this as she spoke. "I just wanted to bid him farewell but didn’t see him."

"Hmm," Kraven mumbled, the sound vibrating in his chest causing goosebumps on her skin.

He could tell she was saddened by this and did nothing to hide it.

Kraven gazed down on her with an eerily calm expression, his fingers flexing for something but he chose to keep them secured on her waist.

"Shouldn’t it be the other way around then?" he said. "You’re the one going on a mission, it should be him who bids you farewell."

Isadora stiffened at his words, they were true, and there was no use arguing about it. She said nothing as she turned away, her fist clenching against her knees.

The silence stretched between them but the occasional hammering sound and Logi’s whistles eased it.

Isadora grew nervous because she felt Kraven’s gaze on her like a hawk as if he wanted to open her head and see what was inside, strip her soul bare until there was nothing left to hide.

There was nothing else there except being hurt by Rav’s actions. He was a friend, shouldn’t friends be there for each other? She missed a chance to see Vanya before she left and now Rav too.

It felt like a bad omen was upon her and her mood squashed along with it.

"W-What’s he doing? It’s been on for so long," Isadora asked, hoping to diminish the pressure in the air and avert Kraven’s interest.

"Making a tunnel."

"Like the ones we used for the Hunt?"

"No, those were old tunnels already existing, this..." He pointed to it. "Is a Faemade tunnel. The tunnels are gateways linking across lands."

Isadora’s eyes widened in shock. "Logi can create such a thing?"

Was there anything the genius could not do?

Kraven chuckled at her astonishment, she looked like a child finding out that it goes dark at night like it was some mystery.

"He’s an earth weaver, a few earth weavers are blessed with this ability but there’s a limit to it."

"What kind of limits?"

"Exact locations. Unlike the old tunnels where the locations are pinned and altered, the Faemade isn’t specific."

"Why didn’t we use the old tunnel here then?"

"The ones here are different. When we first settled here we found out the old tunnels lead within the mountains and not outside. One of the strange phenomenons of this place."

Isadora narrowed her eyes. "But the ones we use for the challenges led to Sigil beasts and the Eating woods."

"Such a curious little thing," Kraven mused, nibbling the helix of her ear.

Isadora flinched at contact, the feeling of his sharp teeth caused chills down her spine.

"Those, love, are warp tunnels. Warp tunnels are made when there’s a mistake in the craft. This is why Logi needs deep concentration, and a lot of time to avoid anything unfortunate."

Isadora gulped. "He doesn’t look like he’s careful." She noted the whistling he did as he entertained himself with a tone.

Kraven chuckled deeply, leaning more into her. "Relax, love. In this craft, Logi never makes a mistake."