“Maybe I will. We will see.” It felt wrong to not give an answer, but I still stepped back and freed myself from his touch. No matter how hard he tried to convince me, I still would search for a way to free myself. After all, there were still too many unanswered questions. 

I sighed and tried to take advantage of the situation. Who knew when I would have another chance to talk to Tarask like that? “So, what will we do now? You wanted me to get the artifact and I got it. What’s the next step of your search?” 

“We will try to find something.” As I had expected, he wasn’t willing to tell me anything further. 

“There’s one thing I don’t get,” I admitted. “If you were able to locate this artifact so simple in a town with countless artifacts and people, why are you unable to find this ‘something’ you seek so desperately?” 

Anger rushed through me. It was a strange sensation, as if I was mad at myself for the stupidest question I ever asked anyone. Were this his feelings? I’ve had my suspicions before, but it seemed like our connection had some side effects. 

“If I could find it, I would rush to it right away. But that’s not possible. Someone’s hiding it with considerably effort. Otherwise, even someone with senses as dull as yours would no where it is.” 

“What’s it anyway? You still haven’t told me anything about it. If we are to search for it, I need to have at least a basic notion of where to start.” 

“It’s the most important entity for me. You don’t need to know anything further than that, Duncan. You can ask me as many times as you want, but I will not tell you a single thing.” He glared at me as if he wanted to bite my head off. 

“Why are you so stubborn? Honestly, I don’t get it. What’s your problem?” There must be a reason. He wasn’t just annoyed by my questions, I was sure of that.

“Think hard, Duncan. Where are we right now?” He huffed. “And no, I am not talking about our conversation space.”

“My world. Why are you asking?” Wait. Something essential for him was in the human world? So, humans must have it, right? 

“You are smarter than I feared.” He smiled, but it held no warmth. It reminded me of a predator waiting to bear its fang at his prey. Surprisingly enough, I didn’t feel like the prey. 

Tarask walked towards me, leaned in and patted my head like he wanted to praise a dog. Great. So, was I a pet in his vision? 

“It’s here because you humans took it from me. You claimed it. Your kind is the reason I am in this crippled condition. Believe me, you can hardly imagine how disgusted I am simply by the thought that I need the help of none other than one of you vermin to regain it.” 

I gulped as my perception shifted. Until now, I hadn’t felt like the prey to him, but as his feelings dwelled up, they resonated in me. Yes, he really hated to need me. He hated it so much that he imagined twisting my neck here and now, but he couldn’t. 

Suddenly, his emotions changed. Or did he shut my out? I felt no more intense desire to kill me, nor anything else from him. 

“Humans took it from you?” They were responsible for his condition? Was he out for revenge? Was that his real goal? Had I been fooled again? But if that was the truth, why did he allow me to feel his intention right now? Shouldn’t he have hidden it?

“It doesn’t matter. We will talk about it some other time.” He brushed me off, but before I could confront him for changing the subject, he explained himself.

“It’s your friends, Duncan. They are about to enter another rift, and I am absolutely certain that they will not return from it, if we don’t hurry.” He didn’t wait for my answer, before the darkness took a hold of me again. 

I found myself in the bathroom I had left, still holding on to the sink. Had I moved no inch? It was strange to act and feel my motion in the ‘conversation sphere’ how he dubbed it. But that wasn’t the most pressing matter. Where was the rift he told me about? 

Leave the hostel and set out to the closest mall. It’s near. We will reach there in time. 

I didn’t feel the need for further discussions. As fast as I could, I rushed to the bedroom, took my robe and staff with me and set out without bothering whose attention I might catch. Thanks to the ring on my finger, I didn’t have to worry about anyone recognizing me. But how should I get past the police blockade? 

It’s a mall with numerous entries and many floors. We will find a way to sneak in. People normally don’t try to reach a rift if they can avoid it, so they surely won’t guard the whole premise. 

Yeah, he was probably right about that. If the police had enough member to cover that much ground, many things would move smoother in town. I set out and jump in the next bus I could catch. Who knew how much time was left before the rift would open?