"Me, call it to stop?"
Kael froze for a moment, not understanding why Dox had suddenly turned to him, but he still nodded instinctively. "All right."
Then Kael turned to the flashing words in the Human-Faced Pattern's eyes on the banyan tree and prepared to call it to stop.
But just as Kael opened his mouth wide, a gust of wind surged straight into his throat.
Caught off guard, Kael swallowed a mouthful of cold wind and could not help bending over in a fit of dry coughing.
Even as he coughed, he looked at Angel with puzzled eyes.
That sudden gust had been sent into his mouth by Swift Spirit! After spending this time together, Kael had come to understand Swift Spirit's temperament well. This elemental creature possessed a rare steadiness and quietness for a wind-type being, making it virtually incapable of pulling pranks.
So the one who had acted against him was probably Angel, Swift Spirit's apparent master.
But why had Angel acted against him?
Faced with Kael's questioning gaze, Angel did not deny it and merely nodded lightly. However, he did not speak. Instead, he created a Mind Tether and linked it to Kael.
Just as the Mind Tether connected and Kael was about to ask why, a voice reached his ears before he could.
"I told Swift Spirit to do it." Dox's voice came through the Mind Tether.
Kael fell into a daze. "..." You were the one who told me to call it to stop, yet you were also the one who hurt me?
Dox continued, "Whatever that tree says, you just go along with it. Aren't you afraid someone will sell you off?"
Kael asked blankly, "What do you mean?"
At that moment, Angel spoke. "Actually, this was what happened..."
When Kael discovered the