System Change

Chapter 325: Bones and Ogre

You know, Bones, Derek said as he wrapped his arm around the scrawny man and walked him out of the cell. You sure are taking being captured and imprisoned well. Why is that?

That Bones hesitated to answer as they walked. With the Time Prison being cleaned out for the dragonkin, there were no places to have a proper conversation, so Derek pulled out a table and a few chairs and led the man to sit in one. Bones didnt put up any struggle as Derek had him sit downinstead, his eyes seemed to linger on Vanessa through the dim lighting.

Dont bother looking at her, Derek said. Like she said, she is no longer part of the Assassins Guild. In fact, she works for the Kingdom of Cydaria now. Shes turned over a new leaf so to speak.

Derek saw Vanessa roll her eyes as she also came to the table and took a seat. Avery also took up one of the seats Derek had placed. Though the archer did seem to be enjoying the show, he was still riled up after all the fighting, and anything else seemed boring to the man.

Derek, of course, gave himself his specially crafted chair and had a seat. So, are you going to answer my question?

Bones shot another glance over at Vanessa, and the woman shrugged. With a sigh, he began. We are taught very young about what happens if you fail a mission or are captured. We are in your hands now.

In my hands? What do you mean? Derek asked.

He means that because of his failure and capture, there is a price on his and Ogres heads. It would have been the same with me, but Im not worth the risk as long as I dont move directly against the guild, which, from my oaths from my previous position, I cannot. It doesnt hurt that it was the kingdom that I ended up working for, either. Vanessa answered for him. Those two, on the other hand, have no such protections. They are mid-level and while there may not be many, there are enough assassins ready to collect the bounty on them should it be known that they are in the kingdom.

Actually, their best shot would be to leave Cydaria for another kingdom, or even cross the ocean to another continent, she continued. That or find a backer that the guild doesnt want any problems with. She eyed Bones to the side. The man was studying Derek and Avery intently. Finally, something seemed to click.

Avery Swan? Bones blurted before anyone else got a chance to say anything. Avery raised an eyebrow at the man in confirmation. Then the skinny mans eyes moved back to Derek. Just who are you?

None of that matters for now, Derek replied, ignoring the intense gaze from the man. What matters are the questions I have for you. First or I guess second, now why are you so unaffected after being imprisoned in my Time Prison for so long?

Was it long? the man asked with genuine curiosity. I really could not tell. Stuck in darkness with no pain or hunger is not real tortureat least not after what we, as members of the Assassins Guild, had to go through to survive.

Is that so? Derek rubbed his chin in thought. The man really didnt seem any worse for wear. In fact, he was even a little jovial at the situation, and it seemed that though all system access was cut off, his body still healed itself while he was locked awaywhich seemed odd since his metabolism was kind of paused during his incarceration in the prison.

Very much so, the man answered. Starving, whippings, fighting others to survive thats how all orphans who choose to join the Assassins Guild grow up if they grow up. A little sensory deprivation without pain was more of a vacation than anything.

Interesting Derek said. He couldnt help but think of the difference reactions of Bones, a trained assassin, and Clay Torith, a young, pampered noble, to the prison. One came out happy and for the better, while the other begged for death. There really were all kinds of different qualities of human beings.

So, youre now wanted by the Assassins Guild, not welcome in Cydaria or probably any other kingdom on this continent that knows of you, and youre basically homeless. Is that right? Derek asked.

That would seem to be the case, Bones answered.

You also dont seem to be afraid of me, Derek said.

What use would their be in being scared of you? You hold the life of myself and my brother in your hands. We will either live, die, or be imprisoned again. There is no sense in being afraid of something so far out of my control, Bones answered earnestly.

Uhem Bones coughed from the side. I believe I know the reason.

Everyone turned to look at Bones, including Ogre. In an instant, Ogre shoved Derek to the side and scooped up Bones while doing a little spin. Bones!

Hey Oggy! Bones patted the giant man on the back. After a few seconds, Ogre set Bones down. Then Ogre backhanded Bones, sending the skeletal man flying.

Bones hit the ground and bounced a couple of times before skidding to a stop. Standing up from his intimate moment with the ground, Bones rubbed his cheek and winced, then walked back over to Ogre. Ouch!

Bones tried to leave Ogre! the ten foot tall man shouted, his voice reverberating throughout the lobby of the prison.

It was a strategic retreat, Bones answered back. I would have come back for you. Besides, it didnt work out, now did it?

Ogre looked around, his eyes falling on Derek once again, then on Vanessa. Shadow Lady! Even the dimwitted giant man seemed to know the difference in power as he bowed to the woman.

You dont have to do that, Oggy. The Shadow Witch isnt part of the guild anymore, either, Bones said, not bothering to explain any more.

Ogre seemed to take that in stride, as he quickly stood straight and ignored the former Vice Leader of the Assassins Guild. His eyes fell back to Derek, and he stared so hard that Derek could almost feel a hole burning in him. Put me back in room, he said.

I cant, Derek answered. Once someone leaves the cell, they cant be sentenced again for two weeks. I dont make the rule. Besides, why would you want to go back in, anyway?

You see Bones cut in to answer. When we were locked away in your prison cells, we didnt experience pain or hunger, like I said before. For me, it was like a vacation, but for Oggy, I imagine it was like heaven.

Why is that? Derek asked.

Well, Oggy has a condition that comes with his race and class that causes him to have a near constant hunger. It takes so much food or very costly, high-quality food to keep him full that we never had any extra coin after completing a mission. Everything went to our food bill. Though it was overlooked, we did choose some of our missions based on how much food we could appropriate during the mission.

So, with your prison taking away the hunger, Oggy was able to live without the gnawing hunger pains for the first time in his life. Therefore, he would want to go back in, Bones finished with his explanation.

Oh, Derek said. Well, maybe some other time. Like I said, I couldnt lock you back in for at least two weeks, even if I wanted to. But you said that high-quality food worked as well?

Yes. Bones nodded.

You two stay here and discuss what we talked about earlier, Derek said. Ogre! he shouted, getting the giant mans attention.

Hmm?

Have you ever eaten dragon?