Sid POV

  “You didn’t have to be so rude to them,” said Rohan as he distributed four bottles into four backpacks. His tone carried a hint of reprimand, although Sid could hear the lack of conviction behind it. The dim morning light creeping through the gaps in the cavern wall painted weak lines across the floor, and the air still held the lingering smell of last night’s fire.

  “What do you think we should have done? They had all but decided that we somehow murdered those guys.” Varun’s voice came out sharp. His hands twitched near his spear as if recalling the earlier confrontation.

  Sid kept working without looking at either of them. The simple act of splitting mushrooms helped him think, even as unease settled in his chest. He did not want to show how much the camp’s suspicion bothered him.

  Their biggest dependency was the healing skill. If they secured one, they could cut ties with the camp entirely. His knowledge of the terrain would let them move freely, avoid unnecessary fights, and choose skills that suited their builds. They would not need to rely on anyone’s goodwill.

  If there was one thing the Archon taught humans, it was that might trumped all.

  “But did we actually?” Rohan asked. This time he came closer, stopping right beside Sid. His eyes flicked between Sid’s hands and Sid’s face. “I didn’t want to say this in front of the others, but how did you get injured?”

  Sid paused and looked up at Rohan. “What are you trying to say?”

  “I’m just asking a question. I don’t buy the skill-training story. You don’t even have Mana Shield.” Rohan crouched, lowering himself until their eyes were level. His expression held worry more than accusation.

  Sid shifted his gaze to Pallavi, standing next to the bags, where Rohan had been before he walked up to Sid. She was folding the rope into a roll so that they could pack it. With her jaws set tight, the tension in her posture had not faded since morning.

  He caught her gaze and gestured for her to keep watch before turning back to Rohan. “What do you think happened last night? Why did we have to tie your leg to Varun’s?”

  Rohan blinked, thrown off by the shift. “I don’t remember the specifics, but I think I was too tired and passed out after dinner.”

  “You were drugged,” said Sid. “They intended to drug all of us. We would not be having this conversation if I had eaten the mushrooms.” He kept his tone steady for Pallavi’s sake. She had been wrestling with guilt, so he was prepared to take the blame for both killings, at least in front of his team.

  Rohan’s eyes widened. His breathing grew uneven, and he sank to the floor as if the truth had punched him in the gut.

  Varun reacted before Sid could speak. He raised his spear toward Rohan, jaw clenched. “You brought dinner yesterday. Did you know?” His voice had a cutting quality that made Rohan flinch.

  “Know what, Varun? I don’t know what’s happening here,” said Rohan, raising his voice, panic and anger flashing through it.

  “There are people who want us dead, Rohan. And I want to know who gave you those mushrooms.” Sid’s words had an even cadence that betrayed no emotion. He could have been more empathetic, since he trusted Rohan not to betray them. However, years of military conditioning on ‘trust but verify’ forced his hand to appear severe.

  “Bunty was grilling them on a hot stone,” said Rohan. “The two kids were helping him. They gave me a bag that was already packed.” His expression softened into confusion as he dredged up the memory, his gaze unfocused as if he were seeing the scene again.

  “That bastard is still at the camp, waiting for another chance.” Varun gritted his teeth, angling his spear away from Rohan and toward the camp.

  “Sid, let’s tell everyone. I don’t know why you didn’t just tell the truth from the beginning. Maybe the police can help us.” Rohan pushed himself up and reached out a hand toward Sid. His expression showed a mix of worry and expectation, as if he hoped Sid would take the lead and march back with him.

  “Bunty and George came to the camp last night while you both were unconscious. I had to lie in order to avoid an escalation,” said Sid. He glanced between Rohan and the extended hand but did not move. “I think they were working together. You won’t get any help from the police. There is no one on our side but ourselves.”

  “We can have Aditi vouch for us. She has a lot of sway with the group.” Hope colored Rohan’s tone, the kind that came from grasping at straws. His eyes shifted between Sid and Varun as if begging one of them to confirm the possibility.

  Sid noticed Varun’s brows furrowing at the mention of Aditi, like there was some personal vendetta between them.

  “I doubt she would do that. I had to threaten her to make her come and heal Varun. She won’t be interested in helping us again, especially when the Kurushingal family is involved.” Sid paused for a moment, his posture tightening in thought.

  Rohan’s shoulders sagged. He stared toward the camp with an unfocused gaze.

  “What do we do now?” Varun walked closer, stopping just behind Sid. He looked at the mushrooms as Sid continued sorting them, his breathing quickening with impatience.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Let’s go out on the scouting mission and stay out for at least a day. The heat will go down,” said Sid, looking up at Varun. “Long term, we need to find a healing skill so we can abandon the camp if needed.”

  “We can’t stay out at night, Sid.” Rohan’s voice had lost its usual spark. “My lighter is out, and I couldn’t get a spare from the camp. Nobody had one.”

  “I saw a couple of policemen smoking earlier. Surely they have some to spare.” Varun sounded offended and stepped back sharply, shaking his head in frustration.

  Sid noted the reaction. He had expected the camp to give them sharp looks or quiet avoidance, but refusing to share a basic tool like a lighter meant distrust had grown far deeper.

  He had not witnessed the shift himself. He and Pallavi had been busy foraging mushrooms for the trip. Naga had sorted them under their close watch. Sid allowed no one else to touch their food, and he mentally reaffirmed his plan to stagger their lunch times in the future so any tampering affected only one person.

  “What do we do, Sid? Steal a lighter?” Varun’s voice pulled Sid from his thoughts.

  Sid turned around, took a small wooden pipe about the size of a cigar, and tossed it to Varun. “Use this.” He waited for Varun to catch it before adding, “That’s a wooden lighter. I got it from the goblins.”

  Varun fiddled with the lighter, uncapping its top. There was a grey cotton gauze-like material inside. “What am I supposed to do with this?”

  “Just blow air on it. It will light up.” Sid kept his eyes on Varun.

  A flicker of flame appeared when Varun blew on the gauze, and it died the moment he stopped. “How did you even figure this out, Sid? Don’t tell me you are an expert at lighters and skills.”

  “It’s okay, Varun. You have other talents.” Sid diverted the pointed question by using one of Varun’s previous boasts.

  A clicking sound drew their attention towards Pallavi. She stood alert, her posture rigid, one hand raised to signal silence. Sid followed her gaze and saw a cloaked figure approaching.

  Sid rose immediately, pushing himself up and grabbing his dagger and magic staff. The shift in posture spread through the group like instinct. Varun tightened his grip on his spear, and even Rohan moved into a guarded stance, swallowing hard as he scanned the clearing.

  Sid doubted they were about to be attacked, yet he motioned his teammates to watch the surrounding area. Surprise attacks rarely came with a single forward scout. He tracked the figure’s slow approach. The stranger halted once they were close enough to speak.

  “I’m Tony. Tony Kurushingal.” The voice had a deep, guttural weight to it, like something spoken by a monster. Sid’s stomach tightened. Something about the tone tugged at a half-memory, but the distortion kept it out of reach.

  “Why’s your face covered? Is it so ugly that even you can’t stand to look at it?” Varun snarled. His voice dripped with mockery, sharpened by resentment toward the Kurushingal family.

  The man pulled down the cloth covering his face, and Sid froze.

  It was not only Sid who reacted. His entire team recoiled more strongly, though for different reasons. Varun and Pallavi angled their weapons at Tony. Rohan even had a Mana Web ready to launch.

  Despite the show of aggression, Tony remained where he was, his gaze locked on Sid. He could not fully close his mouth because of the tusks protruding from it. He looked like a skinny orc.

  Varun’s lips curled to the side as if he were about to throw another taunt. Sid placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

  “Hello,” Sid said. The word felt small compared to the turmoil inside him. His mind churned. The man in front of him would become a legend in the years to come, known by many names: Tyrant, World’s strongest man, Archon’s disciple. To Sid, though, he was someone else—guild master TK, the man who would reshape India’s delving industry.

  Tony took a step forward, ignoring the tension radiating from Sid’s team. “Don’t think you are off the hook. You’ll pay for what you’ve done to my family. I’ll make sure of it.” The promise in his voice felt heavy enough to fill the clearing.

  “I’m sorry about your family. I never intended harm—I was just trying to save my friend.” Sid’s voice wavered in a way it rarely did. The light confidence he usually carried thinned under the weight of the moment. It was the first time since regaining his future memories that he had felt off balance. Making an enemy of Tony was the last thing he wanted.

  The title of the world’s strongest man was unofficial, but three names dominated that list: Zhou Li, Jack Thorne, and TK. Only TK fought the Archon and walked away with an invitation to train as a disciple. He was one of the reasons humanity was treated more favourably in the Federation.

  “You think I’ll believe your lies, Sid?” Tony’s fists clenched. He leaned slightly forward, the movement small but filled with intent.

  Sid forced himself to breathe steadily. This was not the Tony he knew. This Tony was still weak by future standards. A Tier 0 ‘Novice’, maybe Tier 1 ‘Initiate’. The ‘Legend’ was still years away.

  “I was looking out for my friend. Like you would look out for your family. You would have done the same if you were in my place,” said Sid. He lowered his weapons, shifting into a relaxed stance. If he could not build a friendly relationship with Tony, he hoped at least for a non-hostile one.

  “I wouldn’t have taken Aditi hostage.” Tony’s gaze remained locked on Sid, unblinking, almost uncomfortably focused. From the start of the conversation, he had not looked at anyone else, despite the surrounding aggression.

  Varun muttered at the edge of the group, voice dripping with bitterness. “What about it? I wouldn’t have even given a skill to that bitch.”

  Tony finally shifted his attention. His head turned slowly toward Varun. The glare he gave him was sharp enough to silence Varun mid-breath. Varun’s jaw tightened, but no words escaped.

  “I’m sorry about Varun. And I apologized to Aditi earlier,” said Sid. His posture softened, and he took a small step forward, the intent to deescalate clear. “We’re all trying to survive. Let’s put the past behind us.”

  “You’re lying again, Sid. Rohan apologized to her. Not you.” Tony turned his gaze back to Sid, just as intense as before. “Don’t mess with my family or Aditi again.”

  He turned and walked away, cloak brushing lightly across the grass.

  Sid almost called after him, but he stopped when he saw his teammates. Their faces were pale. Sweat clung to their skin despite the cool air. Their arms trembled from tension, as though they were recovering from an unseen attack.

  The bastard had already unlocked his infamous trait.

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