"....*Whiz*.... *Whiz*...."Linri tried to open is mouth to talk but he could not speak a word. Blood was dripping from cracks of his lips. Slowly they made it into the end of his chin and dripped to the ground. The feeling of it was disgusting.
His blood was so thick that it almost felt like a solid object. He was frustrated and scared. He made it all the way here. He planned everything down to his conversation. He bet his own life just so he could get a slight advantage but was he going to die without saying a single word?
Of course not!
He was going to talk even if it costed him life. He was not going to lose his life without even trying his best.
"... ah -*Cough*"
This time he was able to make a slight sound before a coughing fit started. He was despairing inside but something inside his mind was whispering him that everything was gonna be fine because this was a "perfect" plan. When he thought of his "perfect" plan Linri his lips curved upwards slightly.
Why was it?
He did not know. He was despairing and calm at the same time. Two contradicting emotions. It should be impossible to feel this way but here he was. He could not find a word to describe it.
A cold bright light appeared. It was so bright that Linri was forced to close his eyes. After the light disappeared he felt something on his lap.
He opened his eyes to see that there was a water skin bag on his lap. He was overjoyed. He could finally see hope in his situation.
"Drink" The ancient voice boomed in his head again.
The deity did not need to tell him twice. With the last bit of his strength he moved his arms and brought the skin bag to his mouth. He drank a whole two mouthful of water. He wanted to drink more but he restrained himself. Firstly he was afraid that there might be something wrong with the water. Secondly he was afraid that drinking too much water in this state might be harmful rather than saving him.
Linri could feel that his organs were shutting down. Unless immediate medical care was given he was most likely not gonna survive.
After counting to sixty in his mind he took another two mouthfuls. Now that he did not have to think about how thirsty he was he noticed the odd part about this ordeal. The deity had given him the water but did not heal him. Linri created him so he knew that if the deity wanted he could easily cure him. So was this a show of his att.i.tude? Unlikely. The original Linri was not supposed to know that the deity could heal him so it can"t be that. The fact that there were things he did not know about made Linri annoyed. Why was it so hard to put in some effort and write some more detailed backgrounds?
During the hour Linri was drinking water slowly he kept thinking. He could be considered to be walking on a tight rope. If he fell he was going to h.e.l.l but if he could traverse it he was going to heaven. There was no room for mistake.
Once the water bag was emptied, the time for "negotiations" had arrived. Linri had already found out what the deity was planning from the clues he gathered in this place and what he wrote. Linri could not help but feel excited. His lips moved upwards again. He found a strange joy in his predicament.
"Young man do you want to leave this place" the ancient voice spoke again.
"Hahahahaha" Linri started laughing maniacally.
There was no reaction from the deity.
Once Linri stopped laughing he started to talk.
"Old man! What bullsh*t are you spewing! Leave? What good would it do to leave? I am dying so why would I want to leave? I think this is a nice resting place so unless you have a way to fix me don"t bother talking to me" Linri arrogantly shouted towards the empty room before him.
Some might think this was a foolish idea and indeed it was. He was talking down a G.o.d of a civilization. It was akin to signing his death warrant. Then again this was actually the most reasonable answer he could give the deity. Because "Linri" did not know that he was talking to a G.o.d and he was just some teenager on the verge of death. It would actually be weird if he was respectful. Also more importantly he would lose his initiative.
During his time thinking Linri noticed that the reason Togk deity did not heal him was because he wanted to use that as a bargaining chip. According to what he probably thought he was gonna give Linri some hope with water and once he agreed to their terms he was gonna fix Linri. From the start he had no intention to let him die. That"s why Linri made such an arrogant remark. He wanted to take one of the deities chips from them before even talking.
"Such Insolence! Do you even know who you are talking to!" the voice boomed in his mind more forcefully this time. Linri felt dizzy but he knew that the deity fallen into his trap. It was to be expected, what kind of a deity would take it lying down when insulted by an act like existence to them. The fact that he did not kill Linri was already a testament to his magnanimity. Though Linri knew that it was because the deities "needed" him.
"No! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" Linri shouted back.
There was silence so Linri continued.
"I AM LINRI HARCLAW! The son of Arkady and Lyra Harclaw. Heir to the Frostback Wolf Clan. Son of strongest Kitsune ever lived. Now tell me you battered old spirit. Do I have to pay respect to you even when you are too ashamed to name yourself? Especially when I am dying!" Linri looked upwards with lifeless eyes and closed his eyes indicating he was not gonna talk any more unless he was healed.
There was a period of silence again. Linri knew that he caught them off guard with what he said. He was bullsh*tting about being the heir of the werewolf clan but there was no way that they could confirm it. After all his father was currently on the run from the clan but he was not caught yet. Shouldn"t it be obvious that they actually did not want to catch Arkady at all. Who could confirm that the werewolves were not actually putting up a façade to please the Kitsune. Aside from Linri that is.
He was also saying the truth about everything else. His mother was really strong among her kind but he was not sure if she was the strongest because he never really fleshed her completely. Still it would be weird if someone who could create a ritual that could combine the bloodlines inside him. This was precedented because before Linri there was not a single mixed blood that was awakened so what she did must be walking on uncharted territories. So she must be quite strong was Linri"s conclusion about her.
A sudden warm feeling distracted Linri from his thoughts. He could tell that this warm and kind energy inside him was healing Linri"s wounds.
"So she has finally stepped in"