Chapter 5: Planning

Silence hang in the air, while Zyro enjoyed his respite. He had long grown sick in the man's mucking voice, shutting his neighbor off satisfied his desire. Strangely, he couldn't avoid but feel a sense of unease in the man's silence.

"You gain my respect, this root cage is part of a Devine's tomb. Being able to peirce through such thing, you must have a really high mark" Said the man, his voice was calm and composed, Contrasting his previous behavior.

'I didn't go to school though, never got a mark... Oh, I forgot this made of roots...'

A sudden epiphany cut his thoughts. If this is made of roots. Then, what about the collosal wooden structures flowing down? And what kind of plant need such cyclopean roots?

He marvel involuntarily, remembering the darkness above that shrouded them in shadows. It's simply too humongous, to be above clouds. Added the gigantic tree like structure that fall below the land to be mere roots. Zyro's mind was in state of recovery, but he atleast remember that tree doesn't spawn roots that's comparable to the biggest tree on earth. Just imagining the sheer size of what the land held above made him want to faint. Which his more than happy to do so. His mind had more than enough shocks and pain in a single day, that made him worried for his dear mental health. Unfortunately, he have more important matters to tend to.

Mentally shocked, Zyro put aside his thoughts. And focused in the conversation, his neighbor seemed to regain some sanity. Seeing hope in Zyro's accomplishment, as if he had just seen a key in the cage lock that have long imprisoned him.

Still, the sudden change in the neighbor's behavior is quite disturbing. He had no idea if the man's regain his sanity or worsen. Either way, as long as Zyro get clear information, that's all that matters currently.

He hesitated for a moment, being traumatize in speaking inside the cage. The thought of it filled him with dread. But considering the later action he did, which the cage didn't react. Perhaps the man might be able to let him speak, that is quite the mystery. Maybe it's a prisoners trick he have yet to learn, unfortunately, zyro had no intention of staying any longer.

"You can speak, even if you don't. There's simply no choice but to trust my words, or else we'll get nowhere" reasoned the man truthfully, erasing his doubt.

"..G-go" He tried with dread, still doubtful of the neighbor's words. After confirming no trap is triggered, he continued his sentence.

"Go straight to the point."

Zyro didn't want all that suffering to went in vain. And noticing the rationality in the his neighbor's voice. The conversation ahead might be better than the last.

The neighbor replied calmly.

"As you know, the Gricks domain is considered one the most dreadful prison of all. As far as I know, none ever scape the Gricks grip. That is, thanks to the Devine's Tomb of Grick, unlike the Helios tomb. Grick's tomb are capable of sustaining itself through blood. And there's endless amount below, added the Gricks sacrifices. Making it more active and more powerful. It won't only suck any form of power dry, it will constantly torture you to the edge of death. Banning communication and struggles, Added, a Devine's tomb is considered indestructible... Until now" Explained the man, detailed and calm. As if he had turned into a wiseman.

Zyro was satisfied in the man's explanation, even though he lack understanding in most of it. He could atleast comprehend the main problem, it's the roots toughness. That his neighbor exaggerated, only to admit defeat in it's indestructibility. But indeed, the roots resistance surpassed normality. However, nothing is indestructible. In summary, Zyro possess the key of the root cage.

"I'll go straight to the point, with your assistance, breaking out of the cage is a piece of cake. The real problem lays after that, we'll be left with two choice. It's either up or down."

"Down" Zyro suggested impatiently.

Hearing his response, the man continue. "The down one... We'll either fall in a unimaginable height with the hope to survive, that I doubt even an elite can. Or traverse the tomb main roots, the colossal ones below. And safely reach ground. Sadly, we can't. After hours of our disappearance, the Gricks will notice and send hawks to hunt us down. And I'm sure they'll first head towards the collosal roots. Plus, we don't have a way to reach the main roots at this distance, or else we'll fall. Furthermore, even if we miraculously reach it, those colossal roots are still part of the tomb. Thus, same as our cage, it will follow the royals will."

Zyro listened in silence, pondering about his neighbor's words. From his observation, his explanation connects to the situation outside. With the exemption of variables such as Gricks and Hawks. Which showed his neighbor superior understanding and rationality. However, somethings been bugging him in this entire exchange.

"Say, how can you be certain that no betrayal will take place? It's easier to flee alone, and I hold the key and you have none. I can scape without you and the same goes for you after the first step."

His neighbor argued.

"I wouldn't be certain about that, we both share Argon's blood. And as for why none of us can scape solely... You indeed have the key, but you can't hide. That alone will not suffice. You don't have time, knowledge and skills that I possess. We wouldn't even have this conversation without me. Furthermore, you simply have no choice but to cooperate with me."

"Time?"

Indeed, Zyro's short on knowledge or skill. Compared to his neighbor's arsenal of knowledge and unknown skill.

However, the man's abrupt mention of insufficient time is something he have not foreseen. He generalized that prisoners have grand amount of time in solitude. Hence, he have more time for planning and experimentations, as well in recovery of his mind and body. But, that plan of his seems to blur.

"... Two days before the king come back, by then, your execution will take place. An interrogation in the morning, followed by your execution in the afternoon. As for the method... They'll use Healing hell, they'll perform various torture while using a painful healing potion over an over again. It's expensive, but the Gricks won't care as long that it brought you to your knees, and begging for their forgiveness is the only word you can speak... You don't want that do you?"

'Two days? Shorter than expected' Zyro fall into deep thought. There's also the possibility of the man's lie. But, considering the gains on it, it'll just rush their plan. Which significantly effects both of their success rate that can cost their life. thus, his neighbor have simply no reason to lie.

Without waiting for Zyro's response, the man continue. "Other matters aside, we only have one choice. And that's to head upward, fortunately, their pride towards the tomb brings the Gricks flaw. They're so confident, and dismiss the idea of guarding the hanging cages. I can't blame them though, this roots is more than enough constraints. So there's completely no guard, until we reach the top."

"Then?"

The man fell grim silent, then chuckled. "Hehe, then we'll steal an airship and head down safely."

Zyro could sense the wrongness in his words.

His neighbor continue.

"The problem is, we'll be at the Highland top. Where thousands of Gricks awaits us."

He had no idea what a Grick are, but seem to be a formidable warriors. Facing a thousand of them is paramount to suicide. However, do he have a choice?

'....So it's two versus thousand in their territory. With only a day of preparation. Sigh, I'm ganna die aren't I? Atleast I'm not alone'

Zyro's mind had enough in a single day, feeling a heavy weights in his mind. Added the disturbing comport for sleep of the dark cage. The thought of resting was really alluring.

The moment he close his eyes, he fall into oblivion.