Chapter 32: Resting a little
Jamie and Arden stared at Shelly as if they were looking at some monster.
Seeing their reaction, Navin coughed loudly and spoke with a slight smile.
"Let us continue the discussion then..."
He looked at Selina and questioned.
"Did Jaden’s memory return?"
Selina’s usual calm and indifferent look fell as her lips dropped into a deep frown.
"No..." She answered darkly, her voice low.
Her words made everyone’s expressions turn dark... because if Jaden didn’t recover his memories, escaping the city may pose much more difficulty than it already does.
Suddenly, Selina remembered her session of questions with Jaden and asked.
"Do any of us have any info on the drainage system?"
Everyone, even Shelly, raised an eyebrow at her question, and Arden was one to ask her.
"Why?"
Selina looked at Arden with a slight frown before speaking softly.
"Jaden... thinks that there’s something important in the drainage... as the city hex made us not to think about it."
Hearing her words, everyone’s expressions turned solemn because none of them had ever thought of checking the drainage, even though it should have been one of the first places to check.
"I don’t have any information on the drainage," Navin answered with a frown.
"Same."
"Me neither."
So did Arden and Jamie.
Arden then tilted his head and asked as he placed his index finger on his chin.
"But, I’ve never seen anything pointing towards a drainage, so why does he think there is one?"
Selina nodded at his question and spoke doubtfully.
"He believes there is one and it’s just hidden from us."
Arden blinked his eyes a few times and shifted his gaze between Jamie and Navin before asking Jamie.
"What do you think?"
Jamie looked at him with a dark look before adding in an annoyed tone.
"The fuck would I know about this crappy city?"
’You just can’t think, Hmph!’ Arden thought before turning towards Navin. However, before he could do so, Jamie’s words fell into his ears.
"But, I think Jaden is right... Think about it, there has to be somewhere the used water and other waste go, right? It may not be a traditional drainage system... but it could be something else, no?"
’What happened to him?’ Arden thought as he nodded absentmindedly while staring at him with surprised eyes.
And his gaze irked Jamie, causing him to curse at him.
"The fuck are you staring at bitch? Do you want me to fucking gouge them out?"
"N-No."
Hearing him curse, Arden stuttered and turned towards Navin as he questioned.
"What do you think, Navin?"
Navin didn’t answer and continued to stare at the table mindlessly. A few moments passed, and finally he answered.
"If there is a drainage system... then it could be our only way to escape from the city, otherwise we would have to go through the southern forest, which is filled with dangers worse than the city..."
Everyone’s expressions turned solemn at his words... the forest was simply too dangerous for all of them to pass without suffering a heavy loss. They would be simply walking in the den of a hungry tiger.
***
Within a brightly illuminated room in the church of knowledge.
Jaden sat in a chair, and his head was placed on a nearby table as he slept. A few moments passed, and the door leading to the room opened as the curator walked in.
As soon as he entered the room, his eyes fell on Jaden, who slept there with his bare upper body open to be seen in its full glory.
He heaved a sigh and tapped at the surface of the table. A moment later, Jaden’s eyelids trembled as he woke up and looked around.
He rubbed his eyes and let out a yawn before his gaze finally landed on the curator. He blinked a few times and looked at the curator as he spoke.
"Lord curator?"
The curator didn’t reply; he just turned to leave, and his words echoed within the room.
"Get yourself covered and come out."
Hearing those words, Jaden finally realised that his upper body was bare. He scratched the back of his head and gave a sheepish smile before replying.
"I also think the same."
The curator looked at him one more time before leaving the room.
Jaden also stood up and walked to the training room, where his coat and shirt were. He picked them up and began to wear them, but before that, he sniffed himself, remembering how everyone smelled bad after doing something like this in those fantasy novels.
"Ugh! Ok, that’s true."
He stank.
"I should wash as soon as I reach the mansion..."
He mumbled as he put on his shirt and draped his coat over it. He looked around the training room he had stayed for the past seven days... which is in fact more than the days he had stayed at the mansion, at least based on his current memories.
He took a deep breath and took his time exhaling it through his mouth. A moment later, his relaxed demeanour turned serious as he walked towards the door leading him to the main arcane library... it was time for him to leave the church.
’I have to get my answers first...’
His eyes turned sharp as he stepped out of the room with the magic spells and walked towards the library, which had tall shelves.
Soon, his gaze landed on the tall shelves of the arcane library and its books. This time, he didn’t touch any of the books and continued his steps towards the centre of the library, where the curator was.
The curator sat in a chair as he looked through the scrolls, parchments, reports, and other documents spread across a heavy, solid wood crescent-shaped table.
Jaden stepped towards him and called out as he stood before the table.
"Sir."
The curator lifted his head and replied with his usual calm.
"Lord Jaden... I hope you have found your path in the past seven days."
"I did," Jaden replied with a smile as he continued. "But.. I have a few questions."
The curator raised an eyebrow at his words and replied.
"Sure, you may ask whatever is troubling you."
"Is it true that Nightshade City never believed in any god and has always revered knowledge?"