章 18: The Unwritten Rule

Chapter Nineteen: The Unwritten Rule

The night air hung heavy with tension, the sound of Bandit boss anguished cries piercing through the silence.

Adam watched from the shadows as his final Air Bullet struck true, passing clean through the bandit leader's leg. The leader fell to the ground with a howl, clutching his wound, his face twisted in pain.

The once-dominant figure was now reduced to a writhing mess, crawling on the forest floor as he muttered incoherent curses.

His eyes darted around in confusion, desperate to locate his attacker. It was clear from his panicked state that he couldn't comprehend what had just happened to his men—or why he was being targeted.

Boss's desperate cries filled the forest as he flailed helplessly. Adam, still cloaked in invisibility, took slow, deliberate steps toward him. His mind was calm, focused.

"Let's see what you're hiding," Adam thought, his sharp gaze fixed on the bandit leader.

As Adam deactivated his Stealth and Invisibility spells, his form became visible. Standing tall amidst the chaos, he revealed himself to Boss, his expression cold and calculating.

Boss froze. His wide eyes locked onto Adam, and for a moment, his breath caught in his throat. The sight of a 15-year-old boy standing before him made his mind race.

"You… You're a mage?" Boss stammered, his voice trembling.

His reaction made Adam smirk. "So, he sees me as a mage. Interesting."

Before Adam could respond, Boss's face twisted further in fear. He scrambled backward, his voice rising in panic.

"If I had known a mage lived in this village, I never would have attacked! Never!"

Adam raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the man's words. "So, mages hold a lot of power in this continent," he mused silently.

Without giving away his thoughts, Adam stepped closer, his face devoid of emotion. His sharp eyes bore into boss, who now cowered beneath his gaze.

"I only have one question for you," Adam said, his voice steady but laced with authority. "Who are you, and why did you attack my village?"

Boss gulped, visibly trembling. Raising his hands in surrender, he muttered, "My name is Mark… I… I'm a former branch member of the Soku Clan."

Adam's mind raced. "The Soku Clan… That name feels familiar. I must have read about it in the memories of this body."

Mark's voice broke through Adam's thoughts. "Please, spare me. I was only following orders," he pleaded.

Adam's gaze hardened. "Orders? You're going to need to do better than that. Why attack my village? If you don't give me the right answer, this will be your last night alive."

Mark's panic intensified. His hands shot up defensively as he shook his head. "You… You can't kill me," he said, his voice quivering.

Adam frowned, taking a step closer. "I just killed all of your men. Why would you think I can't kill you?"

Mark's voice wavered. "Because… Because you're a mage!"

Adam's confusion deepened. "And that means… what, exactly?"

Mark hesitated, his face a mixture of fear and disbelief. "You don't know?"

Adam's tone grew sharper. "Don't test my patience. Explain yourself."

Mark swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's… It's a rule. A common law. Mages don't kill members of the Sword Clans, and the Sword Clans don't kill mages. It's been this way for 500 years, ever since the war ended and peace was established. No one has ever broken this rule."

Adam's mind reeled. "A truce between mages and swordsmen? No one ever mentioned this to me. Why doesn't this body's memory have this information?"

Adam's face remained stoic, hiding his growing frustration. He extended a hand toward Mark, his fingers crackling with energy.

"Here's the thing," Adam said, his voice low and menacing. "I don't care about your so-called rules. If you don't give me the truth, you'll be six feet under like the rest of your men."

Mark's eyes widened in terror. His breath came in short gasps as he realized the seriousness of Adam's threat.

"Wait! Wait! Don't kill me!" Mark cried, his voice breaking. "I'll tell you everything!"

Adam's hand remained outstretched, his expression unyielding. "Start talking."

Mark took a shuddering breath. "It's true, I'm no longer a branch leader. But I'm still a member of the Soku Clan. This… This was a secret mission. I was ordered to destroy this village by the higher-ups in my clan."

Adam's eyes narrowed, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "Destroy my village? Why?"

Mark shook his head frantically. "I don't know! I swear, I don't know! I was just following orders!"

Adam's fists clenched at his sides. "And how exactly would anyone know if I killed you here and now? You're nothing but a rogue."

Mark's face turned pale. "No… No, I'm not a rogue. This mission was sanctioned. If anything happens to me, the others will know."

Mark lifted his hand, revealing a strange tattoo on his wrist. It depicted a half-moon beside a sword, both etched in intricate detail.

"This crest," Mark said, his voice trembling. "It's a trigger. If I die, it will activate automatically. The Sword Clans will be alerted, and they'll send reinforcements. No one dares cross the Sword Clans—not even the royal family of this country."

Adam studied the mark carefully, his mind analyzing the situation. Mark's words carried weight, but Adam could sense that there was more to the story.

Mark continued, his voice growing steadier as he sensed Adam's hesitation. "The Sword Clans are the only force that can rival the Megas Towers. Their enmity has existed for centuries. You must know this. If you kill me, it could spark another war."

Adam's brow furrowed. "A war between the Sword Clans and the Megus Towers?"

Mark nodded quickly. "Yes. That's why this rule exists. To prevent a conflict that could destroy the entire continent."

Adam remained silent, his thoughts racing. "Why don't I know any of this? Is there a part of my memory that I haven't unlocked yet?"

Adam's gaze shifted back to Mark, his expression unreadable. "If everything you're saying is true, then why are you here? Why risk breaking this so-called truce?"

Mark hesitated before answering. "I told you, it was an order. I didn't have a choice."

Adam's eyes narrowed. "I should kill you for what you've done to my village."

Mark recoiled, his voice rising in desperation. "Please! Don't! I swear, if you let me go, I'll never return. You have my word!"

Adam stared at him for a long moment, weighing his options. The memory of the destruction he had seen in his vision lingered in his mind, pushing him toward a decision.

The chapter ends here, leaving Adam's choice hanging in suspense.