Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 705

Chapter 705: Flipside

“Do you know what’s more agonizing than having tried to gain power, and failed?”

Argrave awoke with a start, throwing his head around as he scanned his surroundings. He laid in the grass, and upon orienting himself, rose to his feet as fast as he could manage. He stood in a wide-open plain, a single tree off in the distance.

“It’s to have unimaginable power, and then lose it.”

Argrave spotted the owner of the voice. It was a small boy sitting in the tree, with black hair and red eyes. From sight alone, Argrave recognized it was Sophia’s older brother—or at least, something bearing his image. He held his arm out and called upon his blood magic immediately, and his arm exploded as a bolt of pure power erupted forth toward the figure.

Yet… it passed through. Both the boy, and the tree. It continued onward toward the sky ineffectually.

“No hesitation killing a child? I like your style.” The boy jumped down off the tree, landing and staggering. “Still, a few Heralds probably clutch their guts, keeled over in laughter at the both of us. It’s a shame they’re arrogant.”

Argrave delivered one more attack for good measure, aiming it at the ground instead. Once more, it passed through effortlessly as though it didn’t exist. It was only once he accepted the situation that he straightened his back, focusing on this figure. His mind didn’t stop searching for answers, possibilities.

“Out there, we were Gerechtigeit and Argrave, two fighters in their prime. Inside, we’re both nothing at all.” Griffin looked around. “Still… with Sophia freed, this might be considered a pleasant prison. This place was meant to contain Gerechtigkeit,” he explained, his boyish voice serving to detract none of his seriousness.

“Contain you,” Argrave pointed, wracking his brain for solutions.

“Well, you, me. What’s the difference?” Griffin shrugged.

“A great deal.” Argrave looked around.

He began to recognize some distant buildings, and his heart sank. This was Sandelabara. He couldn’t forget it—he’d spent so damned long here.

“This is where I spent all of my time when the cycles were over. Only… it was different. Sophia and I shared a prison, in essence. Separate in body, united in spirit. We went through the same week, over and over again.” Griffin walked toward the city. “My torture and death. And then… I watched hers.” He looked over. “Changing that was one half of the deal I made with the Heralds when Lorena threatened things. I confined Sophia’s suffering to a three-hour period. I made her own memories of what’d happen disappear. It was the best I could find in that hell, with Good King Norman holding the reins.”

Argrave walked after him, searching for some weapon he might use. “Why not pick out three hours while she was asleep?”

“Sophia has nightmares,” Griffin answered. “Well… had.” He looked back. “You may have changed that. And considering recent events, I may have brought them back.”

“Nice job,” Argrave praised. “Very brotherly.”

“Hmm.” Griffin smiled, looking back at the city. “But she’s free. I’ll never be tortured again. No one will return. It’s just a prison, nothing more.”

“Can you kill yourself, maybe?” Argrave asked. “Save me the trouble of solving this conundrum? Hell, you could’ve done that from the beginning. Instead, I was just looking upon a hellscape. Billions dead. An infinite number, if you go back further.” Ṙ’

“I’m greedy,” answered back Griffin. “If I view something as mine, I’ll sacrifice anything to get it. I wanted freedom—and Sophia’s freedom, too. I don’t regret anything. Well… I regret losing. Your willingness to sacrifice won you the day. We’re alike, in that way.”

“I use my own flesh and blood—not that of others.” Argrave threw a rock through the air, but again, it phased right through Griffin. “Bastard,” he cursed in frustration. He wasn’t willing to accept this result.

inhaled. “It’s interesting, though, the similarities. Or perhaps I’m just warping reality to fit

introspection I hear?” Argrave stopped in his tracks, thinking

probably right. I was very disappointed in you. Pragmatism was always your second choice. Even when I told you

unsure if he might be falling

can’t deny it would’ve gone better if you’d done

scheming partner.” Argrave shook his head.

not,” Griffin said with a hint of laughter. “Well… maybe. If Sophia

you’ve become,” Argrave

matter what was done to her, she never resorted to anything truly evil. And what I did… maybe it’s mine. Maybe

“You do,” Argrave confirmed.

over. “But there’s you. A walking contradiction

thought you’d picked up on that,

smiled. “Besides, that wasn’t what I was

has been stolen from Royal Road. If

you’re my father,” Argrave took a few steps closer, preparing to punt

let my son play stupid video games all day, wasting his life away filling out a wiki that maybe a couple thousand people even use while

“We had over a hundred thousand unique visitors

Griffin interrupted. “Either way, I said

very bottom of my list of priorities,” Argrave said,

the Heralds to defeat Lorena was to allow my soul to

“Seriously? This is

notion,” Griffin argued. “Why else would you have

she’s a sweet girl who suffered a great deal,” Argrave

else would you have seen glimpses of this reality long before coming here?” Griffin

the future. Why would I be able to?

Argrave’s body?” Griffin raised a

here.” Argrave shook his head. “But I see what’s in front of me: a big

as I am…” Griffin

hold people.” Argrave pointed to

sighed. “You can be

to hurt.” Argrave shrugged. “You’ve no proof of this. No knowledge. Nothing but a big pile of coincidences, and a lot

it was true, would

not,” Argrave

do?” Griffin narrowed his eyes. “If your continued existence ensured the cycle of judgment, could you take your life, prove

only for a few moments. “I think I probably talked myself into it, by this point. But it doesn’t matter, because it’s not

a fulfilling life, to live a life where I could die happily. And of everyone I’ve ever clashed with, you’re the only one who I think could endure all that I have and not be

scoffed in disbelief. “You’d like that,

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