Radahk's stats are close to baseline again.
Kurisu turned his gaze away from Radahk and cracked an unhinged smile at a guard.
he could probably kill a guard or two.
The guard looked around awkwardly.
Mine aren't too bad either. He licked his lips while looking at the stat screen. The sun's light faded, and Kurisu looked up.
It'll be 'bedtime' soon.
The Rhythm of picks hitting stone was interrupted by Radahk.
"Human"
"What?" Kurisu turned slightly annoyed.
Radahk grunted and nodded his head at something. Kurisu's gaze followed a pack Garru; a leathery beast of burden, its sagging skin and wide, flat feet built for the endless trek across the sun-scorched dunes. A man led it down the camp road. The Garru carried many things: tools, building materials, food, and grog.
The man tugged at the leash and yelled something unintelligible.
Kurisu raised a brow.
Huh? It's a bit late for visitors...
Scarface seemingly out of nowhere yelled from the bar patio with his arms open.
"You're here!" He stepped down, dropping his arms and lowering his voice.
The men spoke under their breath, but Kurisu couldn't make out what they were saying.
"Fuck" Kurisu muttered.
I need to get closer…
"Hmnnf?" Radahk grunted.
Kurisu's eyes flicked towards the back of the bar.
"Cover for me."
Radahk rolled his eyes.
"As usual"
He grumbled as he rested his pick down. Then promptly picked up a nearby hiver slave by the throat.
"I am sorry… bug thing," Radahk grunted.
The hiver kicked in his hands and made a screeching noise.
The guards roared.
"OI!"
They ran towards Radahk and slammed clubs into his arms and back. "Back to work!" They completely ignored the hiver helplessly thrashing in Radahk's grip.
With their backs turned, Kurisu rested his pick down and fell back behind a clump of stone.
Nice one, Radahk!
Radahk dropped the slave and fell onto his knee, giving a thumbs up between the guard's legs.
Kurisu backed off further, then went behind the bar that overlooked the mining area.
Where did they go?
He made his way around and hid behind some boxes next to the bar patio. Scarface and the merchant were talking in the courtyard as they walked towards the broken gate.
Kurisu tailed behind them, weaving in and out from cover.
"How long do you think it'll take to fix it?" Scarface groaned.
"I can get it done in a day if you've got the cats."
"Come on, Randy, we haven't had proper sleep in weeks," Scarface whined.
"Malach, it's unfair to expect me to work harder for the same pay," Randy said while shaking his head.
Spit left Scarface's mouth as he hissed
"Fine… spend two days on it!"
Kurisu clenched his fist. Fuck… He's come early.
Scarface turned away grumbling, he snatched a bottle of grog from the Garru and threw some Cats on the floor.
"Malach!" Randy said while running over and picking up the cats.
"Get it done!" He yelped as he walked towards the slave house.
Kurisu turned away and began sneaking back to the mines. A repairman shows up now… just when my stats were finally good enough? Well, I'll just go fuck myself, I guess.
He sighed and looked at his shackles, Scarface… He grit his teeth. If only there was a way to-
He stopped in his tracks.
And his jaw dropped with a grin, his stare hardened on the shackles on his feet.
"I might know one way," He went to rub his hands together.
His palm met air.
Kurisu eventually caught back up with the rest of the slaves. No one noticed a thing. It's almost like he was a ghost… Or maybe the guards just didn't care enough to see him.
This is the first time I've actually snuck about without anything going wrong… Hehe.
Kurisu let off a satisfied grin when he locked eyes with a seemingly unharmed Radahk.
Radahk exhaled angrily from his nose.
"Radah-"
Kurisu was interrupted by a guard barging into him.
"Cage… Now," Riddly casually stated, grabbing him by the arm, he dragged him towards the slave house. Radahk was being dragged also. With significantly more guards.
"Why does he get more guards? I'm a threat to y'know," Kurisu pouted.
"Shut up," Riddly pushed him upstairs, herded him into the cage, and spat in Kurisu's direction.
Kurisu slumped and hit the floor. Radahk followed after him, being forced into his own cage.
"Horny man," Kurisu nodded.
Radahk was 'forced' into the cage much more politely.
"Sound wrong"
The guards locked the cages and walked off.
"Do you have horns?" Kurisu said rhetorically.
"Yes," Radahk grunted.
"Then it's not wrong," Kurisu shrugged.
"Human gross."
Kurisu feigned shock and then sat up, pulling a lockpick out from behind his ear.
"I got some news but its not good..."
Kurisu muttered as he began working the lock/
"Yes?"
Radahk's brow raised.
"The repairman came early." Kurisu snickered
Radahk crossed his arms and frowned.
"Not good."
Kurisu cracked the lock open. "Yeah, I thought we'd have a couple more days," he said as he stepped out of the cage.
Radahk shook his head. "Can't fight way out."
Kurisu threw his arm back in a stretch. "I've got an idea..."
Radahk's eyes flickered with curiosity.
Kurisu looked towards the opposite slave house, where Scarface sleeps. His mouth twisted into a mischievous grin, "I'll be back soon."
Radahk grabbed the cage lock and bent the shackle out of place.
"I come"
"No, I'll be fine." Kurisu waved his hand.
"Not a suggestion," Radahk huffed.
"Fine," Kurisu palmed his face, "You can come."
"I do not require your approval," The Shek grunted.
Kurisu sighed and made his way down the stairs, grabbing something out of his stash. He was silent, each step precise and filled with intent.
[Stealth 47–>67]
Radahk began following him down.
"You have gotten quieter."
Kurisu didn't look back.
"You have gotten louder."
"I am stealth."
The floorboards screamed under Radahk's feet.
Kurisu cringed as he turned his head back and opened the system menu.
[Radahk] [37 stealth]
He's gonna get us both killed… Well, actually, maimed.
They made their way through the first slave house and looked outside.
Radahk leaned out further and looked left, then right.
"Clear"
They rushed outside and dashed to the opposite slave house; the lights were off, and all that could be heard was a snore.
"Plan?" Radahk whispered as they stepped into the house.
Kurisu shook his head, "You wouldn't understand."
He'd stop me if I explained it…
The downstairs was trashed, bottles of grok, half-eaten meals, and a sweaty, hot odor hung in the air... Kurisu looked to the partitioned wall near the bottom of the stairs and smiled.
If this really is like the game there is no doubt in my mind this should work...
Scarface lay sprawled on the bed behind the partition wall, half-clothed. Drunk and murmuring something in his sleep.
Kurisu stepped closer towards Scarface, and the floorboards creaked as Radahk followed.
"Human!" He shouted in a whisper.
Kurisu ignored him and edged on Scarface's bed. He stood up and loomed over him, his body turning into a shadow.
Radahk raised a brow as Kurisu pulled some spare shackles out of his trousers.
[Thievery 63->91]
My thievery is high enough for this.
Kurisu unhooked one of the shackles and got close to Scarface's feet.
Radahk grabbed his hand. "Do you seek death?" he whispered.
"Do you trust me?" Kurisu's gaze was firm.
Just then, Scarface's murmurs became telligible "b-baldy… Emrnerf" Veins popped in Kurisu's temple.
Radahk let go with a quiet grunt.
"Thanks"
Kurisu hooked one shackle around Scarface's left ankle.
Now for the right.
Scarface shifted and rolled onto his right side.
Kurisu's eye twitched.He leaned over Scarface, careful not to fall onto him, Kurisu forehead sweat as he grabbed Scarface's foot, slipping the shackle around his right ankle.
Just as it clicked into place, a status appeared [Malach] [Status : Obedient Slave]
Scarface mumbled, "Cold."
Kurisu stepped back and became a shadow once more; the only thing visible his teeth. Wide and bright, smiling like a predator.
"That'll do"
Kurisu backed up and went to the door.
Radahk shook his head, "What are yo-"
"GUARRRRDS!!" Kurisu screamed, Radahk's stomach dropped in his throat as he ran looking for somewhere to hide.
Kurisu ran and hid behind the main counter of the room as Scarface sluggishly sat up, screaming.
"Who's yabberin'?!"
Scarface palmed his forehead and then felt a weight on his feet, he looked down.
"What the f-
Guards burst into the dark room, Riddly leading the charge.
"Ahh, Riddly, get these things off me." Scarface commanded while lifting up his feet.
The guards looked at him in confusion and a mix of disgust.
Riddly sighed and stepped closer.
"Which one of you didn't lock this slave up?" He groaned.
The guards bickered amongst themselves as Scarface interrupted.
"Slave?? What are you talking about?"
Riddly unhooked his club and stepped closer.
"Malach's going to be furious."
Scarface began to stand up.
"Riddly stop fucking arou-"
WHACK
Riddly delivered a blow straight across Scarface's cheek.
"What are you!-" Before he could finish the scream, the other guards followed suit and began beating him.
He reached for his club in desperation, but it was gone… Kurisu sat behind the counter holding the club in hand, he couldn't hold it in... His face contorted and unrecognizable with sheer sadistic pleasure.
It worked!
He stuck out his curled tongue, he looked like a demon.
His face-back-arm-eye. Everywhere was being hit.
He could barely plead. "It's me-" WHACK.
Scarface stopped moving. He was asleep once again, the guards flicked on the lights, and Kurisu ducked down below the counter. In the light he could see Scarface more clearly, his visage bulging where he was hit and blood trickling from his face, his lip was busted, his eye swollen… Unrecognizable.
Riddly huffed, "Get this thing back into its cage!"
The guards dragged the unconscious Scarface out the room, Riddly turned back looking a final time.
Then he flicked off the light and was gone.
It was silent… Then.
Radahk stepped out from behind some boxes.
"What…" His brows raised and his eyes wide.
Kurisu stepped out.
"I told you that you wouldn't understand."
Radahk's brows lowered as his amber eyes locked with Kurisu's.
"Explain… Now!"
Kurisu flinched at the raised voice.
I really can't…
Kurisu's face shriveled with annoyance.
"We don't have time for that!" Kurisu ran to the door.
Radahk caught his arm, his brow furrowed.
"You will explain." He raised his fist.
Kurisu's veins bulged as his eyes flicked towards the main street.
"Later!" He said, panicked.
Kurisu's eyes narrowed.
"We have company."
Radahk let go as tracked Kurisu's vision. A group of guards walking down the main street. Both of them hid on each side of the door.
"You will tell me."
Radahk stated in a whisper and before Kurisu could respond, the guard's voices interjected.
"Gate's almost done now… Malach's cheaping out, though," A guard shrugged.
A second began to laugh.
"Bet he just wants to spend the leftovers on booze."
A third covered his lips with his finger.
"Shush! He'll hear you."
They passed, and Kurisu and Radahk's shoulders dropped with relief.
"Let's get back first…" Kurisu sighed.
Radahk nodded.
"Agreed"
They slipped out once the voices faded and snuck back to their cages. The sun was rising now.
Radahk turned as soon as they got to safety.
"Now explain."
Kurisu rolled his eyes.
In the game, if you put shackles on anyone, they'd become a slave… Including slavers, they'd even fail to recognize each other. Dev's are shitty but I'm grateful for it right now.
Kurisu scratched his head.
Problem is... I can't tell Radahk that.
Radahk grunted, "I said, explain."
Kurisu sighed and waved his hand.
"It's quite simple, really."
He took a deep breath, and his face went stiff.
"It's a contextual identity desynchronization cascade, you're treating recognition like it's intrinsic when it's actually posterior to environmental priming so once the dominant frame shifts—chains, enclosure, authority inversion the observer's patterning heuristics forcibly reconcile all incoming data to that baseline and anything that contradicts it just gets cognitively sanded down into noise, it's basic apophenic compliance with a bit of… kumquat."
Radahk blinked eyes wide.
"…Kumquat?"
Kurisu reached up and patted Radahk on the head like he was calming an animal.
"Don't think too hard, you'll hurt yourself."
Radahk slapped his hand.
"Do not patronize me… Explain"
Kurisu lowered his hand, pulled out some jerky, and began to gnaw on it.
"They saw shackles and saw a slave." He sighed.
"He is their leader." Radahk crossed his arms.
Kurisu smacked his lips, avoiding Radahk's eyes.
"I don't know what to tell you."
Radahk, unsatisfied, grunted.
"Fine. keep your secrets."
He turned and looked off into the horizon, his sour mood was interrupted by something.
Kurisu exhaled internally.
Finally… he dropped it.
That was starting to piss me off—
"Kurisu Hanto," Radahk said his gaze fixed at something in the distance.
Kurisu flinched and dropped his jerky.
"Y-Yes?" He turned... Then saw it.
A sandstorm was raging on the horizon, clawing at the sun—and… It was getting closer.
Kurisu's fingers twitched.
"Great timing," He grinned aggressively.
This might be the perfect opportunity...
Kurisu swallowed.
To escape!
Silence stretched.
Radahk inhaled slowly, his fist tightening at his side.
"Tomorrow."
[Game Saved]