CH.35 The Betrayer and the Betrayed

In the shadows, secrets lie concealed, The Betrayer and the Betrayed, their fate sealed. Whispers of an organization, plotting in the dark, A clandestine scheme, ready to make its mark.What unfolds next, only time will unveil, The stakes are high, a story yet to be unveiled. Keep your eyes peeled, for the plot thickens, In this intricate web, where deceit quickens.The Betrayer and the Betrayed, side by side, Their graves a reminder of the secrets they hide. The organizations' next move, an unknown threat, A revelation awaits, a twist not to forget. Blood of Poison: The Merchants Guild."Theban Necropolis, a vast complex of tombs and burial sites on the west bank of the Nile River, 'Valley of the Kings'," a man screamed in agony from his prison cell. The cell had iron bars and was located inside the Tomb of the Theban Necropolis. A fire cast a black shadow of his hand on the ceiling as the man hung upside down, his mouth bleeding and some of his teeth scattered on the floor. A man dressed in Armor, with a thick brown rope in his hand, stood before the man in the cell. He was sweating from the heat of the fire and the humidity of the cell. He ordered one of the soldiers, "Here, take over from here, and don't stop until he speaks." "Yes, Commander!" the soldiers shouted. The man in Armor, Commander Akhet, had a light brown tanned skin with black hair that reached up to his eyes. One half of his face was burnt, while the other half was spotless. His eyes shone a dark red in the firelight. He walked to the corner of the cell, picked up his helmet and sword, and walked toward the exit. The helmet resembled none other than Commander Akhet on the Anubis, and indeed, this man in Armor was him. Akhet walked outside the cell, closing the door behind him. He turned towards the pathway, which was lit up with torches attached to the wall. On the other side of the pathway, there was a rope acting as a railing, as beyond it lay a small canyon that could be fatal if someone were to fall inside.As the sound of Akhet's steady footsteps filled the hallway, clack, clack, clack, he advanced with purpose. After covering a few meters of distance, he paused momentarily, his commanding presence felt in the air. With calm authority, he called out, "Nefru, I see you. Come outside." From the depths of the flickering fire's shadow, a living shadow emerged, transforming into the figure of Commander Nefru of the Anubis. Stepping forward, he stood unwavering before Akhet, their gazes locked in a silent understanding. "So, why were you following me, Nefru?" Akhet inquired, his voice composed. "I was trying to find you, Akhet. Your shadow is too strong, making it difficult for me to possess it and know your whereabouts at all times," Nefru explained, his tone resolute. Nefru continued, bringing attention to their imminent mission. "Did you hear the boss's orders to prepare all our people?" "Yes, I did," Akhet affirmed, his conviction unwavering. "The Merchants won't remain idle. They will make the first move. Blackwood is not one to stay calm," Akhet declared confidently. Nefru reminded Akhet of an additional concern. "And by the way, did you hear about that guy who challenged us?" Curiosity piqued, Akhet sought further information. "Who?" "The one with the brown attire. The one the boss wants," Nefru clarified, referring to Jack. Recognition dawned upon Akhet. "Ah, yes, I remember him now. His power was intriguing, but he failed to demonstrate his true strength," Akhet recalled, a faint smile gracing his lips. Nefru disclosed an intriguing development. "Well, he has aligned himself with the Royal Family. They are on a mission with Setka to acquire some Chronotex." "Keep a close eye on him. We need him alive. His power holds potential value for our mission," Akhet commanded, aware of the strategic advantage Jack's abilities could provide. Seeking information on another matter, Akhet inquired about a troublesome figure. "And do you have any leads on Nehru The revengeful flame? He has been causing disturbances within our organization. Last week, he claimed the lives of 20 of my men." Nefru's response held a touch of uncertainty. "No, no one knows much about him. He remains elusive, his background a mystery. It's possible he hails from one of the small towns, most likely reduced to rubble by now." Akhet's gaze shifted toward the pale moon above, a symbol of the unknown future that awaited them all. "I wonder what the future holds," he mused aloud, his voice tinged with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.BACK AT THE CAMP "Iliaz, come forth," Kasib commanded, his voice firm. One of the special unit soldiers brought Iliaz forward and said, "Here you go." Kamil and General Setka both joined Kasib and he took Iliaz to the back of the tent, going around to blindfold him while Setka and Kamil distracted the Soldiers outside. They entered the tent from the back door. The tent was spacious with multiple doors.Kasib said to Jack as he brought Iliaz inside the tent blindfolded, "Here you go, now do your thing." Kamil and Setka, who were distracting the soldiers outside, also came back inside, eager to see how Jack would collect the fingerprints. "Okay" Jack whispered. Iliaz was placed on the chair in front of the table. Jack placed charcoal powder on a piece of papyrus paper, ensuring a generous amount of it. He then took Iliaz's finger and pressed it firmly onto the paper, capturing the fingerprints. After each impression, Jack wiped Iliaz's finger with a piece of cloth and repeated the process ten times on both of Iliaz's hands.Jack gathered all the samples of the fingerprints and began matching them to the initial one found on the bottles. As Jack examined the fingerprints through the piece of crystal, Ramon, Setka, and Kasib leaned in, trying to get a glimpse. They whispered in amazement. "Wow, so this is what they look like," Ramon said in amazement. "Amazing, Jack" said Setka nodded in agreement. Kamil chimed in, "Hmm, I wish we could see it again and again."Kasib observed, "I think they match.""Yes, they do," Jack replied. "They match with his thumb and index finger a lot." "What is going on?" Iliaz asked, confused. "You're the betrayer, that's what's going on," Setka replied as he grabbed Iliaz by the neck, taking him outside. Setka stood resolute, his grip still tight around Iliaz's neck as he led him outside through the back door. Removing the blindfold, he discarded it behind the tent, presenting Iliaz before the assembled soldiers who eagerly awaited their leader's decision. "Soldiers!" Setka's authoritative voice resonated through the air. "This man you see before you, Iliaz, is the betrayer. Two of our comrades witnessed him with the bottle of poison." A collective outcry erupted from the soldiers, their voices thundering in unison. "Punish him!" In response, Setka pronounced his judgement with unwavering resolve. "Therefore, I hereby charge Iliaz with the murder of a fellow soldier, as well as dishonesty against our kingdom. He is sentenced to imprisonment." The soldiers, momentarily jubilant at the prospect of justice being served, prepared to celebrate their victory. However, their elation was abruptly cut short as Iliaz collapsed to the ground, the sudden change in the soldiers' voices alerting Jack and the others to the unfolding scene. Rushing outside, they approached Iliaz, who lay motionless on the ground, his body limp. Saliva poured from his mouth as his weakened voice struggled to utter his last words. "Sorry, General... I was forced... forced by him... Tarek Amunet of the Merchants Guild." Silence enveloped the scene as Jack's solemn voice broke through. "Iliaz is dead," he announced, his words resonating with a mix of surprise and worry. "He met the same fate as the one he took. His face turned bluish-purple," Jack added, highlighting the grim symmetry of the deaths that had unfolded. OUTSIDE THE CAMP ON A HILLTOPThe wind howled, carrying with it a chilling reminder of the darkness that had enveloped the camp. On a distant hilltop, a mysterious figure dressed in black surveyed the scene below. The sky, shrouded in an ominous blanket of clouds, cast an eerie glow upon the camp, illuminated by the pale moon's feeble light. "Iliaz, you have fulfilled your role. Farewell..." whispered the enigmatic figure, fading into the shadows of the hilltop. "Iliaz... Iliaz... Iliaz..." Kamil called out, his voice echoing in the night, hoping for a response. "No, don't bother. He's gone," Jack interjected, his tone filled with a mix of resignation and worry. "He met the same fate as Taheri, succumbing to the poison. And who is this Tarek Amunet?" Jack inquired. Ah, him. Tarek Amunet is a member of the Merchants Guild. His power lies in the deadly realm of poisons," Kamil explained, his voice tinged with caution. "We will discuss this later. For now, we must lay Iliaz and Taheri to rest," Setka commanded with a solemn authority. "Yes, General," several soldiers responded, stepping forward to carry the lifeless body of the betrayer away. Thirty minutes later, the mournful burial of Iliaz and Taheri took place. Jack observed from a respectful distance, watching as the soldiers carefully laying the bodies to rest. Through the pathway created by the soldiers, he caught glimpses of the sombre ceremony. A bittersweet thought crossed his mind, "The betrayer and the betrayed, side by side in eternal slumber. Such is the harsh reality of our world." Gazing up at the pale moon above, he pondered the uncertain path that lay ahead. After the burial, the group reconvened within Ramon's tent. Setka, Ramon, Kamil, Kasib, and Jack found themselves lost in contemplation, their thoughts burdened by recent events. Curiosity burning within him, Jack sought answers. "What does Tarek Amunet's power, the poison, entail exactly?" Kamil, the voice of knowledge, replied, "We have limited information about him and his abilities, as he is a relatively new member of the Guild. However, we do know that he must mix his own blood with the poison in order to wield and control it." Jack absorbed this information, his mind racing with thoughts of the evolving Chronotex powers. "What other types of powers exist?" he asked, eager to expand his understanding. Setka interjected, "Well, Jack, the powers associated with the chronotex's all revolve around time and unseen forces. However, we have recently witnessed emerging abilities that involve manipulating the very earth itself." Ramon, feeling the weight of exhaustion, stifled a yawn. "We can delve deeper into these discussions when we have more time. For now, let's rest. I'm exhausted," he said, stretching his arms skyward in anticipation of sleep. "You're right. We can resume our conversations later. I should get some rest as well," Kamil agreed, rising from his seat. As they prepared to depart, Kamil addressed Setka. "Shall we go, General?" "Indeed," Setka replied. "But make sure you all get some much-needed rest. We can't afford to have sleepy soldiers tomorrow." "Yes, General," the trio responded in unison, their voices filled with tiredness.Setka and Kamil exited the tent.The three of them lay in their beds, trying to sleep. Jack was the only one with his eyes open, staring at the ceiling of the tent. He couldn't shake off the thought of wanting to go back home.Suddenly, a phantom voice resonated from within Jack. "You can... you can... go back." Jack was startled, looking around the tent in disbelief. He recognized this voice (CH23); it was the same one he had heard at Nefertari's party when he was distributing honey cakes. His heart raced as he sat up in bed, his hand on his head, pushing his hair back. Jack whispered to himself, "I better go to sleep before I hallucinate even more." With that, he lay back down, trying to find solace in sleep.