Chapter 73: Pain As promised, the town guard never followed Riven inside the Passersby Inn.
However, he lingered outside for a few more minutes, quietly observing the building in hopes of getting a better look at the people staying inside.
Hushed whispers
From the second floor, he could hear quiet whispers drifting down toward the street, as several children cautiously peeked through the windows while trying to catch a glimpse of the guard standing below.
However, after studying them for a while, he failed to notice anything particularly unusual.
None of them appeared to be Ascendants.
None of them had green eyes like Riven.
’Hmmm...’
He thought, as he slowly rubbed his chin.
’In most sects, the unascended aren’t even granted official disciple positions, yet this Redpine Sect is sending an entire group of them out on an official mission?’
The thought lingered in his mind for several moments.
’Something about this story ain’t right...’
He concluded, as he eventually shook his head before turning around and disappearing into the busy streets of Stoneville.
What he did not know, however, was that Garron had already noticed his presence from a nearby rooftop, and from that very moment onwards...
The town guard had quietly been marked as a potential threat.
Meanwhile, Riven slowly climbed the stairs leading toward the second floor before carefully pushing open the door to the communal room.
The moment he stepped inside, every conversation came to an abrupt stop.
Nearly every child inside the room turned to look at him with expressions that were anything but welcoming, as within seconds, several of them surrounded him, forming a loose circle as the atmosphere rapidly turned hostile.
"Hey!"
One boy with long golden hair snapped, as he stepped forward and shoved Riven hard in the chest.
"I don’t care if you’re a panther killer! You don’t get to put my life in danger!"
He shouted.
"I’m not going back to being somebody’s slave because you couldn’t follow one simple order!"
Another child immediately stepped forward.
"Where the hell did you run off to?"
He demanded.
"Did you meet some slave trader outside and sell the rest of us off for a share?"
More suspicious voices immediately joined in.
"Why’d you leave?"
"Didn’t Garron tell us not to?"
"Have you completely lost your mind?"
"I... I..."
Riven stammered, as he instinctively searched the crowd for familiar faces, hoping somebody would speak up for him.
Instead...
He found Garsim standing near the very back of the room with both arms folded across his chest.
The look on his face seemed to say only one thing.
’I told you so.’
Standing beside him, Mary and Stacy remained equally silent.
They did not look angry or afraid, just.... Disappointed, as the expression in their eyes seemed to quietly ask him why he had ignored everything Garron had warned them about?
Finally, Riven’s gaze found Dara.
Unlike him, Dara had somehow escaped everyone’s suspicion, as standing near the back of the room, he merely gave Riven a small shrug before silently mouthing two words.
’Don’t sell me out.’
"We asked you a question!"
The golden-haired boy barked once more, stepping forward and shoving Riven in the chest for a second time.
"Where the hell were you?"
Riven lowered his head.
His lips parted slightly.
However, no words came out.
He couldn’t bring himself to tell them the truth.
Yet at the same time...