The World Of The Red Rock
I woke up, feeling strange. Almost like a part of me was missing and this part I did not know I even had. It was like I was hollow in my chest and, even though I knew it was there, my heart was missing. I just could not describe it. It was like the organs in my chest had turned to smoke or had abandoned me. I also felt another strange thing too. I felt like I had been recently in an intense fight with many gang members and I had only just barely got away by the skin of my teeth leaving me sore and achy all over.
I think I need to take a break to let my body eat and recover from that painful experience.
I shook my head.
No time to think about that! I need to get my bearings.
I slowly rose slowly to my feet, my legs feeling slightly shaky. I looked around. I noticed that the grass was not emerald green but ruby red. I looked up at the sky and noticed that even that was red too! Yet it was a faded red and the clouds were maroon.
"Do you like it?" Came, the voice of Inanis, making me jump slightly.
I had to admit that I did but I did not want Inanis to know at the time. After all he was my enemy and I knew that I should not give him anything that could be called an opening. If he did then it would only be a matter of time until he was able to turn me against Stellum.
It's too red.
"Is the world inside Stellum not all blue too?"
No, there were other colours.
"Well that doesn't sound like him. Although nevertheless it is tough. It seems that you are going to have to get used to seeing red."
I rolled my eyes at that.
Looks like I'm going to have to get used to a headache too!
"I hope that you do. It will make the time that you are in me just that more interesting."
I then looked around for Uncle Haru and the others. I soon found them near me. It occured to me that this was the first time I had ever been in another world with others. I then knelt down and took their pulse which told me that they were all alive. Then, not wanting to waste any time, shook him awake. Yet he did not wake. I shook him again and still nothing. Feeling irritated, I slapped him. This caused him to wake and he was about to give me a punch until he stopped.
He looked around and breathed in and out. It could see that he was quickly becoming alert. I could tell that this was all part of his training. I noticed that they all started to do exercises as they woke up. So I did the same as I knew that it would be a good idea to wake my muscles.
"Looks like we made it."
"Yes we have."
"So are we all here?"
"Yes, but I was controlled too and now we all are in here."
"Yes and the others were part of IRS too."
"Just like King Yaminox was in fact part of Stellum?"
"If that's true, then it must have been hoodwinking so many people into thinking that there was a large cult worshipping it for centuries!"
"What!?"
"Never mind that! We are here and we have a mission to do. So girl, what do we do now?"
I shrugged, suddenly feeling dumb as I was put on the spot like that. After all, I knew what to do but I just could not get it yet. However I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath. This helped calm my mind and gave me access to my thoughts.
"I don't know. I think that we ought to explore the world first or get a map of where we are and where we need to go. After all, we can't get Hitler's son if we don't know where he is or where we are."
"Who put you in charge?" Asked Yukio.
"Would you be better for the job?"
He let out a sigh.
"Continue."
"Well, I also agree with Aqua, I also do not see the harm in asking around either. Remember what Commander Kiryu said. When entering any foreign land gather as much intelligence as you can. There is no such thing as having too much information." Uncle Haru pointed out.
"So let's split-"
"No. If we separate I think that we will be more vulnerable. After all, magic existed in the other worlds too so I should expect the exact same here. I also would like you to remember that this place is a trap."
Yukio let out a groan.
"I'm sure we can handle it."
I rubbed my eyes.
How can I make them understand?
"Wait. I think the girl's right. I do think that we should stick together. Also, I think we should not expect that it would be anything that Disney movies have. Which means we all should be on our guard. "
"Oh? And why's that?"
"Something that she told me when she was in a deep state of hypnosis. She told us that she was tempted by all manner of ways to stay. So remember what she had just told you; this world is a trap."
"Really? What else did I say?"
He raised his eyebrow.
"Do you really want to know?"
I shook my head after thinking about it.
"But why? We worshipped the stone."
"Because that's what the stones are cursed to do." I told them.
"Oh."
We spent a long time walking around. We only had seen nothing but red grass and not another person. In fact I had started to worry that there were no other people and that there was nothing but red grass. Then I spotted the red cobbled road. We walked on it and soon came to a coral red building. Then as we walked on we saw more and more.
I walked up to one of the buildings. I looked in and spotted that there were people within them. They all had blank faces, almost as if they were sleepwalking. This whole display creeped me out.
I then turned to the group.
"Remember all that is here does not come from the real world. They are all extensions of Inanis."
"Right."
I then walked in.
"But I can tell you, the food can be eaten." I added.
"Tell me, you think that was how you became part of whatever you are?"
I frowned and looked down. I felt an even creeper feeling crawl all over me as the ripple of shock overcame me as I thought about that possibility. Yet even though I had nothing to back it up, I had nothing to disprove the theory either! It would have to be something I asked mum or Aunt Blue once I got out of here.
"What makes you say that?" I asked.
"Well the mission they happened to you showed that they seemed from both inside and outside of your body."
"All at the same time?"
"Then maybe…you know I haven't really thought about it."
"Would it have told you if this was the curse?"
I looked down.
"No. No didn't even tell me that he was alive! Or that I was turning, partly, into whatever the hell he was."
This gave him a concerned look, even though there was a hint of gilt in his eyes. Or I thought that there was. I quickly brushed this off as we continued. After all, I should know better than to think that he of all people would care about me. No, this must have been a concern brought in by the promise that he had made to his parents.
Yet it was at this moment that it struck me. That they were the only ones that did. What if I never see my mum and Aunty ever again? Would they ever know that I was alive and well? Did I really choose tripping to find a boy that I had never met over ever seeing them again?
"What?"
"Nothing."
He let out a soft sigh.
"No it is not. You are just like him."
I frowned, wondering whether or not that was supposed to be a compliment or an insult. But I concluded that it was better to drop it.
"Anyway, we need to ask around."
He nodded.
"Alright but I would hardly think that would be easy. Except some adventure of some kind. It will also be designed to be fun. It will be the kind of adventure that would make you all want to stay."
"You already said that. Though should I expect one of those table roll paint games that have risen in popularity recently?"
"I don't know what they are." I admitted.
His eyebrow raised.
"Maybe I should show you once all of this is over."
I smiled but then I let my smile face as I knew deep down I really wanted to go home after all of this. Correction, I needed to go home after this. I had to know that it existed and not just a delusional dream. I needed to get rid of this doubt of the authentication of the memories.
"What!"
"It looks like it's getting dark. We need to find somewhere to sleep."
I nodded. It was hardly a moment later when we found an inn. To our surprise, we did not have to pay. The only price was to agree to go on a quest. The innkeeper would tell us in the morning.
The Quest
"So this quest, what is it?" Uncle Haru asked with a smile on his face.
He leaned in as he looked left to right.
"It is a quest to help you find a map of this world. Although none have ever succeeded or returned. Yet there was one boy who tried and we have not seen him in years!" The innkeeper whispered as if he was about to sell us something dodgy.
"What boy? What was his name?" Asked Yukio sharply.
He let out a heavy sigh as he looked down.
"His name was Alexander Hitler. Although, he admitted that he was not proud of his surname. He never said why, just 'you do not want to know'. He never returned although he did promise that he would. Which was over five years ago now, so I suspect that he would never return."
Uncle Haru's eyes narrowed as did mine. I am pretty certain we had the same thought.
What if he's a prisoner of one of the witches here? Or worse, dead!
"He is not dead although hundreds have died here before he entered me; however none have died since! Which flabbergasts me!"
"Well I can tell you that he is not dead."
He let out a sigh of reassurance.
"Then where is he?"
"He is the prisoner of the witch's incarnations here!"
"He has fallen prisoner to an evil witch, which is why we are here."
"Alright, so will you return to the quest?"
"Yes! It is to find the lost item of the Witch Of The Tower."
"And that is?"
"No one knows. The only thing that is known is that it is found here." He said, pulling out a small map. "I know that this is hardly much, however, travellers, it is all I have."
"Why is it only of the town?" Asked Charly.
"Because all we have to go on is this. We once tried to make a world map of our own but all that tried died of spontaneous combustion. I suspect that it is the crafty work of this witch that you have mentioned."
"So there's a curse on doing that?"
We all looked at him shocked.
"Yes…it seems so. Although none have ever thought about it until your confirmation of rumoured witch travellers, like yourself, have mentioned."
I nodded.
"Thank you. We should be on our way now."
"Why so?"
"We don't know that the passage of time is in our world compared to this one." I pointed out. "After all, you should know I was born before the war."
"And?"
"Haven't you ever wondered how I'm still a teenager despite it being clearly the seventies?"
They all became pale.
"You're right. Tell me, how much is the map?"
He curled the map up and plonked it right into his hands.
"Take it! It's free."
"How come?"
"Maps are bad luck. I've been meaning to throw it out for a while now."
"Oh, thank you!"
"I wouldn't if I were you! But good luck nevertheless!"
"We will need it."
We left the inn. We were soon back on the road. We put Yukio in charge of navigation, which was a job he did well. He seemed to take pride in his competence. It reminded me of when I was young and Dad would paint his beautiful sculptures of many fantasy animals from his home country, the kappa, the kitsune and manny, many more. He would make sure that he did them well and did not tolerate anything that could have been called incompetence. Even when he made a mistake, he would always throw away the sculpture or painting.
I looked down, I could feel myself smiling again. Although I could not place why. I wondered whether or not I had become so accustomed to these things that I started to enjoy them? No, that was not the reason. No, it was more like I always enjoyed these things. After all, I always got into fights when I went to school and, I have to admit it now, some of them were on purpose! Yet despite one leaving those white streaks in my hair, I still challenged the one that put them there.
Wonder if there's something wrong with me?
That was when I looked up to see a crimson desert in front of me.
"Does the map say anything about this desert?"
Yukio looked down.
"Yes it does. 'Beware of leaving the cobbles for the desert likes to whisper sweet nothings'."
I nodded as I looked down, trying to hide my smile. That was when I noticed that we were all on a cobbled road. I then looked at the crimson same of the desert. Then as I followed the path of cobbles with my eyes I spotted that the wind brushed the same over the cobbles. This would make it difficult for us to see the cobbles if the wind continued booking like this. Which meant we could have had a problem on our hands.
I then looked around and spotted a group of fallen branches with leaves on the floor of the forest by the desert. I quickly ran to collect them and have them all one.
"What's this for?" Asked Mara.
"The sand is covering the cobbles. I think that the further we go, the more sand that could have covered them. This way we will be able to sweep the same aside and expose the cobbles beneath them."
Uncle Haru then hugged and kissed me on the cheek! I was both confused and shocked that I could do nothing to stop it. I just could not believe it, nor could I know what to do or make of it.
"You are definitely Natsu's daughter!"
"Urm…"
Cho chuckled.
"Looks like you modified her!"
I looked aside feeling both concerned and uncomfortable. Yet I could not help but feel nostalgic for my Dad and his games that we used to play. In fact we would spend hours pretending to be in the old times, he would be the hero and my Mum and me were his companions. Mum would always be captured by the evil creature that Dad sculpted and it was always up to us to save her. The one part I loved the most was that there would always be a specific way to defeat the creature, such as bow to one, which would cause water to fall out.
Yet I had to remind myself that, regardless of how much he looked and acted like my Dad he was not him but his killer. Then as I looked down, I spotted that there was a shade of sorrow in his eyes as he let me go.
What was all that about?
"Aqua, I would like you to-"
"No! I will go ahead. The girl will go behind me." Uncle Haru said sternly.
He swept in front of us as we all walked ahead, making sure that we tailed him well. We had done it for an hour, then that was when Mara lost her footing and landed upon the sand. They all looked at her as she then looked up at the sun. She became pale as she started to walk away from the group. Yet as she walked on her body became lower and lower. She then fell and did not get up. Then we saw her waist, sticking out of the sand like the roots of a tree.
What did I just see?
I soon felt creeped out. As I walked on I just could not get what I had just seen out of my head. What disturbed me the most was the fact that she did not scream or cry out! Yet I was even more disobeyed at the fact that I did nothing to save her! Soon that creeped out feeling became downtight horror.
Is that what will happen if we don't follow the instructions?
What's wrong with me, to even come here?
We continued walking until the cobbles branded out in a semi circle. This led to a wall with two doors. In between was a ruby plaque.
One door,
Leads to what you are looking for,
One door,
Traps you here now forever more,
Follow the direction of your heart,
Choose wisely and from here depart!
"Like that tells us anything!"
"Actually it tells us more than you think!" Both me and Uncle Haru said.
We looked at each other like someone had stepped on our grave.
"Never do that again!"
"Agreed!"
We gave each other a puzzled look.
"Anyway! Back on track, why does it give more than we think?" Yukio asked.
"Well-"
"Mr Aoshiné!"
I rolled my eyes as I looked back at Uncle Haru.
"Well let's analyse the riddle shall we? 'One door leads to what we're looking for. What does that mean?"
"It will lead to the object of the quest."
"Now the second, 'one door, traps you here now forever more.'"
"We will all be trapped here if we should pick it?"
"Exactly. Aqua, do the other lines!" He said, grinning like a child.
"'Follow the direction of your heart.'"
"Now that is the give away. What direction is the heart?"
"To the left. Oh!"
"See!" They both said.
"I told you to stop that!"
"Right."
That was when Uncle Haru did something that took me completely off guard, he burst out laughing! Yet it was a laugh that was filled with both sorrow and nostalgia. He covered his face to hide himself wiping his eyes.
"Ahhh! That takes me back!" He said with a bitter sweet tone.
Then his smile faded and he regained his composure.
"Anyway, we need to go!"
What was that all about?
Then he looked at me and looked away, making me feel even more confused. If I did not know any better I would have easily mistaken the look in his eyes as guilt and grief.
We opened the door, ahead of us was an orb in the shape of an egg. It was purple with blue and red stars in it. It was so beautiful that I almost fell in love with it instantly.
"Is that it?"
"I believe so!"
I then took it. I could feel that it was tingly in my fingers. Yet I could almost sense where we were to go next. Then I even saw the direction as clear as day in my mind. In fact it was so clear that I would have thought that I was somehow being dragged through the image. Yet I could not feel its ground.
"I know where to go!"
Through The Cave
"How could you know that?" Yukio snapped looking at me suspiciously.
"Simple, this showed me the way." I said, giving Yukio the orb.
He looked at it with a slight look of contempt. He looked at it very closely. He looked at the top and then the bottom. He looked all around it. His lip curled and that gave it back.
"I do not see anything."
I shrugged.
Looks like you can't please everyone.
"Well it showed me!" I said childishly.
He rolled his eyes.
"I think the girl is telling the truth. After all, she is not like the rest of us!" Uncle Haru pointed out. "Maybe it has something to do with all the mutations that she had been through."
Yukio nodded as he let out a sigh.
"Well then, ladies first!" He sighed, mockingly.
I chose to ignore this and nodded.
"Thank you, sir." I replied, choosing to play along.
I walked on, trying not to focus upon his glaring at me. I knew that making a scene would cost too much time. We followed the cobble path for a while. I tried to ignore this as long as I could. I then turned back to Yukio and took a glance at the map. I looked at where we were and pointed to the cave at the end of the road.
"We're going there."
He nodded.
"Why?"
"It will help us get through the mountain faster."
"Let me guess, the orb told you?"
"No, logic." I said pointing to the other end of the mountain. "Going around will do nothing but cost us time."
He nodded with a flicker of a smile.
"Good thinking."
"Well do not be like that! She does share my blood." Uncle Haru sighed.
He looked at me and gave a smile.
"Yes, she does."
"Stop looking at me like that!" Uncle Haru said warningly.
"Alright."
We then continued walking on and on. We soon came to the cave. That was when the orb tingled again. My vision dived into the cave. Where I saw the tunnels and all the chambers almost as if I was flying through the entire interior of the cave. Now I had a clear map of the cave as clear as day.
Then I heard a strange, bone chilling cry. It made me nervous and all my hairs all over my body stood on end. I saw that my vision was getting closer and closer to the screeching. Soon the cry sounded more like a high pitched scream. It almost burst my ears open. First I saw the talons. Then the wings. Soon I was looking at a giant red bat!
I blinked. The image was gone. I tensed up as I felt my weapons in my hands. My mind focused as my senses became alert.
"Arm yourselves. We will be in for a fight."
Uncle Haru looked at me shocked.
"With what?"
"A giant bat."
At this Yukio laughed.
"Sure."
We walked into the mouth. I followed the map in my head. I noticed that the cave was not what I thought it would look like. It had marble walls and was bumpy. The floor was as flat as a house's floor that was well polished. The curves were curves and well distinct. The whole place was like a maze with curvy corners. Even the chapters were a dome, some bigger, some smaller.
We soon came to the chamber with the giant red bat. I readied myself for the battle. I then looked back at them warningly.
"Get ready for a fight."
"What? Is it the big scary bat?"
That was when he heard the bone chilling scream. They all looked up at the direction of the scream. I then gave them a told-you-so look. They then looked at me with a pale look on their face. Yet even though Uncle Haru had a scared look on his face, there was another look in his eyes. Almost as if he was as excited about this as I was.
"Ready?"
"Yeah."
"Are you two mad? If the girl is right-"
"Then we all ought to have the training to handle it."
"Oh."
I rolled my eyes and smiled.
We then walked in, the red bat dropped. I saw that it was the size of a house with teeth and talons the size of kitchen knives.
Yukio's eyes widened and looked at me with horror.
I then ran with Uncle Haru at it. It flew back and dived right to Yukio. I ran to him, just as it dug its teeth into his neck. He collapsed with the sound of coughing. He curled up as he looked at me as my eyes widened. His throat had been bitten clean off. I don't know if I had seen anything so gruesome!
Seemed to attack the one that was clearly least ready!
Well it's the case then it should attack me next!
But it turned out that it turned its sights to Uncle Haru! He pulled out a gun and fired and fired at it. It let out a piercing scream as one of the bullets hit. I had to cover my ears as it flew back. I felt my hearing slightly being dulled. That was when it flew directly at me. I then charged at it. I flicked out my sword and then slashed at one of its wings. This made it harder to fly. Yet it did get in the air. It caused my Uncle to raise his gun and fired at the wings. I thrust my wrists to my ears as it let out another deafening screech. Yet this was much louder than the one before. I could feel my ears hurting. Then, before I knew it, the bat struck my shoulder and arm.
"Aqua!"
I looked up as Uncle Haru fired shot after shot at the bat. Before it could let out another scream it turned back to my uncle as he fired more bullets at it. He then cast aside the gun in his hand and took out a handgun and fired shot after shot shredding its side. It flew at him and crashed. This gave me the opportunity to charge up to it and I dived upon its back. I then heard more shots fired as I gripped into its fur as it flew up. I had to do all to ignore the screeching sound of its screams. Then I looked down to see that I was very high up! Yet I knew that it was lower than it looked.
So I tried to push it out of my head as I worked upon making it. It took all that I could to ignore the others as I climbed higher and higher. Then I reached the head. I drove my blade into the back of its skull. I put all my strength into getting the blade deeper and deeper into its head. It let out a blood curdling cry as it fell and fell. Soon we were near the ground and I pushed off the bat and rolled into the ground, until Uncle Haru picked me up so that I would not break any bones.
"Good work kid."
"Th-thanks!"
We soon left the cave soon after.
The Village
We crossed a great scarlet field without anything in our way. As I looked at the blades of grass I found it quite interesting. Yet I also found it odd that there were no beds of flowers in between the blades of grass. I knew that all fields would have some flowers dotted around the grass, even football and rugby fields had them. Yet, I had to admit that it was pleasant.
We soon spotted a small village up ahead that looked like it had been pulled out from a German fairytale. With crooked buildings with the upper floor that were larger than the lower floors. All the crooked buildings were made of red stones and had chimneys that twisted. Even the cobbles were twisted and turned in strange ways. Which made the streets crooked and on different levels.
This doesn't look good!
"Well, at least we have a place to stay tonight!"
"Yeah…"
"What?"
I looked up and curled my lip.
"There's something wrong with this place." I said, spotting the green smoke rising from the chimneys.
He looked at them and nodded.
"You are right. Keep close."
I took his hand and he looked at me frowning.
"What? This will be a good and secure way to make sure that we are not separated."
He nodded with a guarded look on his face.
"Yeah. That would make sense."
We soon entered the village. I spotted the sign post of the village. Written in red with a scarlet border.
Itwytd
"Strange name! We both commented.
"But is it 'It why td' or 'Eye t witd'?"
"Maybe it's 'eye t wide'?"
How do you pronounce that?
"'Eye t v eye ted'." I said after being told.
"Good evening visitors!"
We turned around and were met by a woman with silver hair and deep green eyes. Her skin was pale and she had an hourglass figure with a blue and red corset around her waist. She had a long brown dress with a laced cream and scarlet cardigan. I noticed that she was very beautiful and had a cold but innocent look to her. I wondered if I would have that figure when I grew up. Yet there was something familiar about her, something that I just could not place.
"Hello." Uncle Haru said
I noticed that he had a strange look. It was a happy look, but they're was something different about the look. I could not tell if it was excitement or malicious or both.
"My name's Vellinna."
"Haru." He said, almost as if he was caught off guard.
Her eyes dropped to me.
"Who is this?" She asked, kneeling slightly to meet my eyes.
"That's my niece, Aqua."
I outstretched my hand and she shook it.
"Pleased to meet you, Miss Vellinna."
She let out a light-hearted chuckle.
"What a polite child! You must be very proud to have a good niece like her."
"Yes. She can be. Though she has been known to be slightly shy."
I then leaned close to him. He let out a light chuckle.
"See? She likes to be very close to me."
What are you playing at?
We followed the woman to a small tavern in the heart of the village. It looked very much like the other buildings, just it was cleaner. Above it was the word.
Witavres
"This is the local and only tavern. And this is where I work too."
"Nice, tell me who else works here?"
"Just me and my mother."
He nodded.
"She's the cook."
I then tugged his sleeve. He then gestured for me to stay put. Yet I did it again.
"What is it?"
"We must remember that she is nothing more than an extension of Inanis." I whispered.
He nodded.
"I know. Just play your role and I will investigate Vellinna. You check for anything around here."
I nodded.
So that's it! My uncle's a genius! Did I just -
Yes, just don't think about that just yet.
He frowned.
"What?"
"What is it now?"
"Nothing." I lied, not wanting to compliment him out loud.
He rolled his eyes.
"Alright, as long as what is in your mind does not get in the way of the mission."
"Right."
It might be too risky saying it won't. After all, I don't want to jinx it.
With that we walked in the tavern. I then was shown to my room at the top, it seemed like I was far away from the rest of the group. This made me feel more uncomfortable so I looked out of the window. I was about to go to the door until I heard a click. I felt a sinking feeling as I walked up to the door and tried to open it. Yet the door did not open. I tried to open in again but it just did not budge.
Looks like she's locked it alright! Right then, how can I get out of here?
I then crouched and spotted that it was an ordinary key hole.
Right, I can work with this.
No I can't! I don't even know how to pick a lock!
I slapped my face, feeling very foolish.
I should have read up on how to do that!
I then looked back at the window. I ran to it and then tried to open the window. I smiled when it opened. I looked down and around. Seeing that there was not a soul in sight, I climbed out of the window. I looked around, just in case someone heard me. Yet there seemed to be none that did! That was when it hit me. The very thing that I found off about the place, there were many buildings in the village but they're was not a sight of anyone other than Vellinna! So my sinking feeling sank deeper as I slid completely out of the window.
I jumped down and looked back to see Uncle Haru talking to Vellinna. Hey break was in my direction so she did not see me. So I ran slowly from the tavern. I knocked on the door of the first house that I came to. I waited but there was no answer. I tried again, but again there was no answer. I then opened the door and walked in. I spotted that there was not a single person in all the rooms that I checked!
Strange…
I searched house after house but still there was none to be seen! I continued searching all of them but not one was occupied!
I then came to what looked like a shop. I walked up to the shop and opened the door. I frowned as it opened and looked all around to find that the ship too was empty. I looked all around at the dusty pots and jars. I looked down aisle after aisle.
I walked to some and opened the jar and spotted that there were bones in them! I looked in the press only to find that there were more and more bones. Some of them were not filled with them, but they were filled with hearts, eyes, lungs and other organs. I suspected that the jars contained all the organs in the human body. The more I opened, the more grim things I saw, some never had fresh blood inside.
What's going on here? I thought, trying my best not to throw up.
So who do these even belong to anyway?
Do you really want to answer that?
On second thought, no.
I then suddenly remembered Vellinna. Soon after, my mind flicked to the witches and warlocks I beat in Stellum. Then it hit me like a sack full of bricks. I felt my stomach slowly drop. I had to slap myself for not seeing it earlier! The witches and Vellinna all looked identical!
This must mean that Vellinna is a witch!
"A-Aqua?" I heard a voice mumble.
I looked back to see Cho Sango!
"What are you-"
"We separated. Mara's dead! That woman killed her."
"What? What-"
"She takes their body parts. She drains power from them and cuts them all out! What even is that woman? Why did she take them!" She screamed weeping.
"Come, we have to rescue Uncle Haru!"
"Where are you?"
I frowned at that. I was right in front of her, yet she did not see me. I then walked up to her and brought her into the light. Then I looked at the eyes only, to my horror, to see nothing but her eye sockets! Upon seeing this I let out a scream. Even though I had been through all that I had been through, I had never seen such horror in my life!
I could even feel myself shaking. I wondered where this came from? After all, I knew I knew that all this must have stemmed from one of us. This was a trap for all of us, yet they all just have come from one of us.
"Aqua. Where is Haru?"
"With Vellinna."
I gripped her hand.
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to leave you and run. So keep hold."
She nodded.
"You're his niece alright!" She said with a weak smile.
"You do realise I could leave you here." I said, not wanting to be compared to him.
"Sorry."
I nodded and I ran as fast as I could to the tavern and the moment that I saw the door, I kicked it in. I looked down to see my uncle on the floor unconscious. There was not a drop of blood on him. I ran to him and slapped him. This did nothing to wake him. I did it again and he still remained asleep. I did it again and still nothing!
"You will not wake him." Vellinna said as she came up from behind.
I looked back at her with nothing but anger in my eyes.
"What did you do to him?"
"I put a spell on him. If you want him to wake you are to come over here. Then do as I say and let me do to you whatever I want to you."
I felt my gut drop as I walked over to her. I could feel my heart in my ears as I looked at Cho, who was on the floor.
She's going to do that to me! If not worse.
I could see it right now, an image of myself without eyes. I could feel her hands already gripping my heart, ripping it out. I could feel my body shake all over. With each step my knees became more and more wobbly. I was shaking so much that I fell and she caught me. She then gently let me down on a chair. She then placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Are you scared?" She asked as she pulled out a knife.
I then felt myself letting urine out of my body as she brushed her blade to my cheek. I flinched and closed my eyes.
"Stay still. It will be easier for you."
"P-please don't!" I squicked before I could stop myself.
Yet I tried to stop myself from shaking but I could not. I could feel my mind racing at a dizzying rate to a point my head felt light.
Then I felt the pain in my cheek then let out a scream as I fainted.
I woke up in a room. I could feel my heart in my ears. I frowned as I looked around. I recognized the room. Yet I did but remember where I had seen it before. I looked to my left and saw a cream, black and white photograph of mum and dad.
"What is it?" My mum asked as she threw her arms around me.
"Mum?"
She looked at me. She looked surprised.
"What?"
"Whenever did you pick up my accent?"
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"What do you mean?"
She placed the back of her fingers to my forehead.
"You don't seem to be running a temperature. Come on. Daddy will help you!"
"But dad's dead!"
She then slapped me. I felt shock shoot throughout me.
"How can you say that?"
"Say what?"
"Why would you think that your father is dead?"
"You told me-"
No. There is something wrong here.
This is not real.
At this my mother started to melt. Everything did and I woke up.
"Sooo, you were able to see through the facade. You're able to do it faster than all the others that survived me."
I looked up at her.
"What?"
"I can only cut those who accept the temptations of the dream."
She sighed.
"No matter, I can still hurt you."
With that my eyes flicked at Uncle Haru. I could see him crying.
"I'm sorry Natsu! I am so sorry!" He cried.
At this I felt a shockwave run throughout my body. My eyes widened as I looked at him. Yet I could not help but feel anger slowly replace the shock.
Why is he…why is he saying that? What…what is-
He's sorry for what he did…why is he saying that now? Why is he regretting that now? Is it because of me? Why? No! He's not like that! He's not supposed to be like that! He hates me! He hurt me. He let me be hurt. So why now? Why is he having this now?
Did he love him? If so, then why did he kill him?
That was when I felt myself fly across the room and to the wall. I then looked at her. She had fire in her hand. I then felt blades in my hands. I pushed myself off the wall and ran to her. I kicked the chair at her. She threw the fire at the chair, turning it to dust. I then got closer and I was able to strike her. Yet I knew that it was far too shallow for it to matter.
She then threw a fireball at me. I dodged and she threw another at me. I dodged that and she was able to throw me another fireball when I kicked another chair at her and it hit my arm. I patted it out and then, as I spotted another, dived under a table. I then bashed under the table and it took all my strength to throw it at her.
I panted as I flipped to my feet and then kicked another at her. It then came close to her and then she jumped up, and I threw a sword at her head as she tried in the air. Her body flung back and the sword pinned her head to the wall behind.
Then Uncle Haru woke up and Cho's eyes were restored.
I looked down at them.
"Will you be alright?"
"I don't know."
"Good. We need to go."
"Yes. We do."
I took a quick wash and cleaned my clothes before we left the tavern. Then I looked at the orb. I then saw where we needed to go next. I spotted a small building at the end of the village.
"Rest there."
With that I looked back at the others.
"Inanis had given us somewhere to get a good night's sleep."
"He has?"
"Yes."
With that we walked to the place and slept. After we left the messed up village and the rest of the team behind.
The Mansion
We were walking for such a long time that I lost count of the hours that we spent taking step after step. Yet while we walked, Cho sang an old Japanese song that I did not recognize. Yet Uncle Haru looked into the far distance as he listened to it with misty eyes. I could not understand why, but I guessed that it had some relevance to his childhood. Yet I did not care to think any further upon it, I didn't need to.
It soon came to the end of the day and Uncle Haru was the first to fall asleep. This was soon followed by Cho. However I found it difficult to fall asleep. After all, I was too shocked, especially after what had happened in the village. I just could not get all that gore out of my head! I could not get the images of all the body parts out of my head. Most of which I suspected were from the previous and unfortunate souls that were lured in here. Yet I knew that I had to. I could not focus upon feeling sorry for all those that were already dead.
"I'm sorry…Natsu, I'm sorry…please!" Uncle Haru muttered as he twisted and turned.
What is going on with him?
I then shook him awake. His eyes opened as he let out a gasp. He was covered in sweat. His eyes were wild in a panic as he looked at me scared. He looked both left to right, rapidly. He then looked up at me.
"I did not kill you!" He sighed.
Then as he looked up at me and took a good look he let out a huff. His eyes became misty again.
"Looks like I did…"
"What?"
He shook his head.
"Never mind."
I frowned as his lip curled.
"What on earth is going on with you?"
"Never mind."
I opened my mouth.
"I said never mind!"
I placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Uncle Haru what-"
He then slapped me. I felt shock run through me. I just could not understand it. I felt the icy sting of the slap yet it was as if some part of it did not register. My mind went momentarily blank. Then again I relaxed after reminding myself who he was and who he was not. I felt a sting of sorrow in my heart.
Yet he looked at me, just as shocked as I was. He looked away and clenched his fist. I would have pursued the subject further, had I not been afraid of him punching me. He seemed to be in pain too. Yet I could see that he had no injuries. I just did not know whether or not I should feel sorry for him or whether I should gloat.
"Sorry." He said after some time. "Get some sleep."
I lay down. Even though I closed my eyes, my mind would not let me sleep. I could not help but turn that moment in my head like a coin. So when morning finally came, I was just as tired as Uncle Haru. I noticed that his eyes were puffy and red.
Cho then gave us something to eat.
"You two look as if you had not a wink of sleep! Did you have a family quarrel?"
I looked at her confused.
How did she know? Did she hear us last night?
Probably, we were pretty loud.
"Cho. No, just no."
"Is it to do with Nastu?" She asked, making me even more confused.
What had dad got to do with this?
That was when I saw Uncle Haru close his eyes in dread. This confused me even more. I could not get it. I just could not get it.
What is going on? Why is he acting like this? And what has it to do with dad? Was that why he was crying in his sleep? Why would he do that? He killed him! He hates me because of that! The old reason he's even here is because his parents forced him to promise to look after me.
"I think that you ought to talk about it."
"No. I would rather not."
She let out a huff.
"Haru." She said, warningly.
She then looked at me and let out a sigh.
"What about you? What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing!" I asked, not knowing how to put it into words.
She rolled her eyes.
"She reminds you of him, doesn't she?"
Then his eyes softened.
"Thought so." She said as she let out a groan. "Honestly! Is it an Aoshiné thing or something?"
I frowned suspiciously, yet I returned to eating.
Seriously, what is up with these people? I just don't get it.
After we had finished, we were soon back on the road. My mind soon wandered and soon I was too lost in my own mind to focus on anything else. In fact I was so lost in my own thoughts that I did not notice the mansion before I looked ahead to see it. It was not as big as Aunt Blue's but it was four levels high and the size of two large houses. With the exterior looking as if it was built in the Victorian area.
"Shall we go on there?" Asked Cho.
I looked at the orb.
"Yes. However, we still need to be on our guard." I said and glanced at Uncle Haru.
He smirked and nodded.
"Which means that, Aqua, you will be staying with me." Cho said, placing a hand on my head.
"Yeah, but why don't we all stay in the same room?"
She grimaced.
"No. We're girls so I do not think that it would be a good idea."
"How come?"
"Because it would not be the proper thing to do."
"Why? After all, if we need to change Uncle Haru could change in another room."
"But what if there's only one bed?"
"Well either one could sleep on the floor or we could carry another bed from one of the other rooms?"
"Oh!"
We all walked in and the hallway was wide and the ceiling was so high up that I could not even see it. It had a blue carpet and scarlet walls. There was a set of stairs in front of us and two more at both sides of the entrance, near the doors. In the centre was a weakly lit chandelier with many lit candles in the holders. That gave a dull light throughout the room.
"Wow!"
"Looks like someone wants to impress."
"I know, it looks beautiful!"
"So there is a feminine side to you."
I scoffed at Cho.
"Shut up!"
She chuckled.
We walked up one of the stairs and looked in all of the rooms. All of which had a single bed in them. Yet I could tell that all of them could contain fifteen and still you would have an easy tone walking around.
Then we all walked down and soon found a kitchen. Then I smelt the sweet smell of cake. Then I saw it right in front of me. A fruit cake with red, blue and purple icing on. I could not believe it! It was my favourite cake. Yet even though I knew that it must have been some kind of trap, I could not remember the last time I tasted it.
So I walked up to it. I reached out and plucked a handful and put it in my mouth. I smiled as the rich taste of the thick cake and fruit touched my tongue and this field my the taste of the hard icing and the soft marzipan. I could feel a tear fall as I could not remember the last time that I tasted such a sweet thing that I could not doubt. I took another bite and another and another. I could feel more and more tears fall. Soon I was crying as I ate it. Then, by the time she had finished, I was weeping.
"What?" I asked upon seeing Uncle Haru at the doorway.
"What is it?"
"Nothing!" I said as I wiped away the tears.
He let out a sigh.
"No, girl. I know that look."
"So do I. I mean both Haru and Nastu made that look many times. Haru especially, after he killed Natsu."
I frowned, breaking my sorrow.
"Why?"
"Because-"
"Natsu?" Haru said, his face pale like he had seen a ghost.
I took another bite as I looked around to see another man that looked like my father. I gulped down the last of the crumbles of fruit cake as I looked at him. My head started to spin and I could not think straight. My mind felt strange too. It read almost like I was drunk. Yet I could not taste a single drop of alcohol.
"Why did you kill me?" The man asked.
"Brother you were a traitor. Someone had to do it and I had to purify our bloodline of your tretury."
"Then why do you long for me to come back?"
"Because-" He said as his voice broke slightly.
"Tell me, do you miss me?"
He looked down, his eyes became misty again.
"Do you want me to come back?"
He nodded as he became subdued.
"Then give me the girl."
He looked up, shocked.
"W-what?"
He outstretched his hand.
"Give me the girl and the stone will bring me back."
He then looked at me hungrily.
"Will it really bring you back?"
"Yes."
"Will mum and Aunt Blue be happier with you back?"
"Yes. I will make them happy. However, you must stay here."
I looked down, feeling tears well up inside me again. I wanted dad back. I wanted dad back so much that I know I would have given anything just to see him again. Just once and I know that mum and Aunt Blue would have been the same way.
That was when Uncle Haru pulled out a gun and fired right away the head.
"I don't know who or what you are but you are anything but my brother! He would never ask this of either his brother or his daughter! And I don't care." He shouted firing another shot. "How dare you take his form! How dare you disrespect both him and his memory like that!"
I looked at him shocked as I saw the tears run down his eyes like rain.
"No! You're killing me again!"
He stopped.
"No. My brother's dead." He said, throwing away his gun.
I suddenly understood. I walked up to him and hugged him. His eyes dropped and we did not speak until the following day and we had all left through the back doors.
The Forest
We had for no less than an hour when we came to a forest.
"Stay on the path if you want to get to this Alexander that you came to get. If you remember our deal, I hope to live up to it. You will do well to kill the witch here. If you do then follow the whispers that will lead you to her."
I let out a sigh.
"Uncle Haru, Cho, I would like you to stay on the road. If you see me going anywhere, don't follow me. Inanis and me, made a deal."
"And what deal is that?"
Can I tell them?
"You can, however if you do, then I will make it harder for you to get Alexander."
At this I knew that I should keep my mouth shut. However, I knew that the others would not forgive me if I did not at least give them something to discuss. That way it would be up to the team to decide, not just me.
Give them a chance to vote on it. We are supposed to be a team.
"I could tell you but Inanis's price of that it would be harder to get Alexander."
"Then tell it!"
"But that would mean that we will be spending far too long here and who knows what year it would be once we leave here!" Cho exclaimed.
Uncle Haru placed a hand on her shoulder. He looked at her sternly, in the eyes.
"It would be hard either way. At least this way we would be able to help the girl if she needs it. And would mean that whatever deal that she made, we would help meet it faster. That way we will not have to wait, hell knows how long until she's done!"
She paused for a moment. Her eyes narrowed for a moment.
"You have a point."
"So what is it?"
"Well you know how Stellum had a spell out on him?"
"I do now."
"Well, the same witch put the same spell on Inanis too. So the deal was once the spells have been lifted then I will kill the witch, in return Inanis let us come here safely."
"So in that case we will be meeting one of those manifestations of that spell on this forest?"
"Seems so."
"Cho, I would like it if you stayed on the path. I will help the girl."
She nodded.
"Alright. But both of you, I know that it isn't the Aoshiné thing to do, but be careful!"
Uncle Haru rolled his eyes.
"Can't promise anything, but thank you!" We both said.
"We really should stop that!"
We looked at each other and just laughed.
"I'm serious."
"Alright."
We soon walked into the forest and we walked upon the path. As we did, I heard the whispering. I walked on the path and on to see where it was coming from. I walked further and further, which made the whispering louder and louder. I followed it and soon it became more distinct.
I looked at the other two.
"Well, this is where we part."
"Are you sure?"
I nodded.
"Are you ready Uncle?"
"Are you?"
I took out her blades. He smiled as he pulled out his gun.
"So. See you after you have done whatever it is you are going to do, and get back to me safely."
I gave her a two fingered salute.
"Remember, just follow the path."
"And stay vigilant. I don't think I trust Inanis enough to believe that he would not have something for you."
She let out a nervous laugh as she rubbed her eyes.
"Believe me, I know! I just wished I knew sooner."
"Here, you're going to need it." I said, giving her one of my blades.
"Thank you."
I then turned and my uncle and me, followed the whispering. Soon the whispering sounds became words. It was still indistinguishable but I could hear the faint sounds of the words. Soon I could make out what it was saying.
"Come, come here, little child. Come, come and meet me. Come, come killer of my brothers and sisters from another world." The words repeated again and again.
I soon did as the words continued which helped me find the place where we both needed to go. We walked on and on and soon we came to a large tree. I heard the voices coming from a large and high tree. Which seemed to be the largest tree in the forest. I looked up to hear that it was coming from the top. I then could see the hut at the top. It was made of wood in the shape of a miniature mansion. It looked like it had two floors.
"There."
"Right. I will go first."
He then started to climb the tree. Yet he was suddenly interrupted as the tree spun and the branches moved up and down. He climbed off as we saw the tree finally rest. Soon I was looking at a spiral staircase, made by the branches. Then the root rose up and interwoven in the end of the branches and they were all pulled up making a bannister.
"Wow!"
"Looks like we're expected."
"Yeah."
We then climbed the stairs and we were soon at the small door at the top. It was in the middle of the building and there was a wooden balcony. With a wooden set of tables char. Uncle Haru walked up to the door and walked in first. I soon followed, keeping as silent as we could.
The first thing I saw was the shelf of freshly picked mixed spices in jars next to jars of dried herbs. Then I saw the witch. She looked like the others but her hair and eyes were crimson. She was in a green evening dress with a layer of silk lace.
"Hello Stellum Shard."
"Who?"
"You. Aqua." She said pointing at me.
Then I heard the door slam shut behind me. I did not jump as I kept my composure. I did not even need to look back before I lowered into my fighting stance. I knew that I did not know how I was going to defeat the witch all I knew was that I had to.
"Oh. So we will be getting right to the point?"
"Sure. I want to get to the point and get this over and done with before the day is over."
She nodded.
"I see."
She outstretched her hand and the branches of the trees bashed in. I quickly spotted them and jumped up. However, I was not fast enough and I was caught by one of them. I then slammed into the wooden floor. I then would have got up but I felt the other branches gripped my wrists.
"Did you really think that it would be that easy to take me down?"
I looked up at her.
"No, but I hoped so."
She smiled a smile that could only have come from a mad predator. She came closer to me, yet I did not want her to. Every fibre of my being wanted her to stay as far away from me as she could. Yet she came closer and closer to me and struggled as I did, I could not get these branches off me.
"It seems you really are the killer of my brothers and sisters in another world. I have to say, I am anything but impressed. Yet since when have appearances meant anything?" She said, crouching and she reached out her left hand and gripped my chin.
"Why don't you let me go so you can find out for yourself!?"
She chuckled.
"You would like that, would you not?"
I tried to pull my wrists free but I still could not. Yet then I felt the tips tank me up. Soon I was hanging from them. I looked at the witch, eye to eye. That was when I saw something reflecting light into my eyes. I looked down to see the shiny knife in her hand!
For a moment I found myself back in Wolfram's base. I saw all the tools on the table and my body tensed up. For a moment I no longer saw the witch but those doctors that had experimented with me and Stellum.
"Aqua!"
Then I felt the blade dig into my arm. I looked up to see that the blade was in my arm! I let out a scream. She smiled as she leaned in and I pulled my arm to try to free myself from the branches. Her lips then pressed against my cut! I let out another scream as I felt the stinging sensation as I could feel her stucking my blood. I let out scream after scream as I tried to pull and get her mouth away from my arm. She gripped my arm to hold it steady.
Then she pulled away. She licked the corner of her mouth and put on a victorious smile.
"Now it hardly matters what happens." She said as the roots let me go.
I flopped down and panted, clutching my arm.
"Get up. Prepare for a fight."
I took my blade and then rushed to her. She then blocked it with her knife. I felt a kick in the gut and was pushed back. I kept my grip on my blade. I thrust it forward and she blacked that too. I spun and kicked her in the hip. This caught her off guard. I took full advantage of this and thrust my blade down. Yet she dodged and went to slash me. I blocked this and she slashed and slashed and I blocked one after the other. One came to the left, I blocked and another to the right I blocked again. I then flicked my blade down. As she went to slash I blocked it and pushed the blade up and then slashed down. She then fell.
Then Uncle Haru was freed. He put a hand on my shoulder.
"Good work."
"Thank you."
"What did you think that she meant earlier?"
I shook my head.
"I don't know."
"As long as it does not get in the way of our mission."
"It won't."
"Good. Make sure that it does not?"
This was another moment that I was reminded that, regardless of how much he was like my father and how much fun we have had on this mission, he was not another him and he would never care for me. Yet despite how much it hurt, I knew that I could not afford to show it. I knew he would ridicule me for it.
We soon collected all our things and climbed down the tree. I looked up. It was clearly getting late in the afternoon. We continued until we came back to the path. We followed it until we found Cho, who had fallen asleep. Feeling completely exhausted, we both collapsed.
I then found myself walking in a forest of woods. It was not the one that we were in. No this one would have been monochrome had it not been for the lavender leaves on the trees. I came to a woman. She looked like all the others but I could not quite tell what her hair or eye colour were. However there was something different about this witch then all the others I had seen before. In fact, something told me that this one was the original witch.
She looked at me and let out a lyrical chuckle.
"I see. So, through you I can return to life."
I frowned.
"How?"
"You shall see, in all good time, dear child."
That was when all the trees started to melt. Yet as I looked closer and spotted that nothing was melting but everything was turning into tiny bugs! This was followed by many arachnids. They soon raced to me. Then I soon felt like they were all over me! Yet the worst was to come. I then felt them all biting me. To my horror, I could feel the pain!
I woke up screaming. My heart raced and my chest felt like ice. I was covered in sweat and my hair was drenched in it! I was shaking like a leaf. I could not even speak as I found it difficult to process what I had just been through. All I knew was that this was the first true experience of the definitive proof of magic and its existence.
The Map
We had been travelling the whole day when we came to an inn. It was the next night and I could feel my tiredness beginning to get to me and I knew that none of us could afford to go a moment longer without sleep. Then once we were in, I could feel it overwhelm me.
Yet part of me was far too afraid to go to sleep. Scared for her being there. Waiting for me to call asleep so that she could make me experience even more horrors. I even started to torture myself over whatever she could do once I had fallen asleep and I was at her mercy.
We climbed the stairs and soon came to a modest sized room with two beds.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Cho asked.
"No." I lied.
Even though I wanted to talk about it I knew that I would end up crying. Which I did not want to end up doing. I did not want to appear weak, nor did I want to draw any attention to myself. Especially after what I had just dreamed of.
We soon climbed into the bed and even though both Cho and Uncle Haru were soon asleep, I was fighting it. I felt my eyelids drop but I forced them to stay open, but they continued to drop. I felt my mind start to get more and more tired. Soon my mind begged for me to close my eyes and get to sleep. Yet it became too overwhelming and I was soon asleep.
Soon, I was looking at her. I felt my stomach drop as my heart sank. She looked up at me and smiled at me. That shot fear in my heart like a bullet. I tried to run from her but as I looked around I spotted the trees had formed a tight ring around us. There was not even an inch between the barks of the trees
"Could you not resist the sleep?" She cooed.
I tried to speak but I was too scared to. I could not even control them to make myself less scared. I could even feel myself shaking. I tried to stop myself from shaking. I felt my frustration build at myself for not even being able to control my own body! This display only seemed to amuse her, much to my anger. Yet I was too scared to let out my outrage for fear of what she would do.
"Oh? Already made an impression on you?" She taunted.
I opened my mouth but I could not let a word out. I tried to speak again and again but not even a squeak came out. I felt my frustration start to break into panic. So I found myself closing it hoping that it would calm me down. However I knew better than that.
"What? Have you nothing to say?"
I shook my head. I soon felt my hand shaking in anger.
The next moment I was looking at the concerned look of Cho. She looked at me up and down. She stroked my head. Then I looked up at Uncle Haru, who I thought would get a kick out of this. Yet, to my surprise, he also looked concerned. Yet the moment that he saw I was looking, he quickly covered it up.
"What was that all about?" He snapped.
"Haru!"
"Nothing to do with you." I told him,
"No?"
I let out a huff as I shook my head.
"It had nothing to do with what you and they put me through!" I snapped angrily.
He nodded, unconvinced.
"It hasn't!"
"You had a flashback. In the witch's house I know you had a flashback."
I looked at him shocked.
"How?"
He closed his eyes, for a moment I thought that he had that guilty look on his face. However, that could have been my imagination playing tricks on me.
"You definitely are his daughter alright!"
"But the nightmares have nothing to do with that!"
"Oh? And what has it to do with?"
I opened my mouth to speak but I could not. It was as if there was something over my voice box. Suppressing it. I tried to speak about it again but, again nothing came out! I tried to do this again and again but nothing came out of it. It was like I was back in the dream and I could just picture that witch looking at me amused.
This must be her magic.
I felt my heart sink as I let out a huff. I had been defeated in this regard and I knew it. I broke the bedside table as I punched it.
"I-I-I can't say."
They both looked at each other for a moment then Cho placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes. And I can and will continue! And as I had just said, this had nothing to do with what you and your other friends put me through." I snapped.
She got up and took a glance at Uncle Haru. She soon left the room. Once she had left he slapped me.
"I thought that you knew better than to-"
I then punched him before he could finish the sentence.
"I don't care. I can't be dealing with this right now!"
He raised his eyebrow.
"Then get it out. What is it?"
"I can't say. Something's stopping me every time I try!"
He nodded with a concerned look on his face. Yet I knew better than to think that it was for me.
"Then don't push yourself. We will talk about this once we get out of here."
I nodded as I climbed out of bed and we walked down the stairs. We soon filled our stomachs and we were about to get up when a man walked up to us.
"I assume that you have the artefact?"
I took out the orb.
"Is this it?"
"Yes. It is the Passage Orb. Look into it again."
I looked in and saw the sea and then I soon saw a strange fortress that looked like an upside-down pyramid from a distance away.
"That is where he is and there are others there too."
Others?
"Yes, did you think that Alexander Hitler is the only living child I trapped here? Use your head child! Who do you think those other organs belonged to?"
I would have nodded but I did not wish to look strange.
"Why can I see it but they can't?"
"You are not nor are you becoming what the ones called Stellum and Inanis are. Yet now, you have no need of this at this point."
"Why not?"
"Because there is a map at the docs waiting for you. It is the map of the world. The only map of the world."
I nodded.
Convenient.
"That's convenient."
"Well you have freed our world a little so the world can give you more."
"What?"
"Makes sense"
"How?"
"The witches curse. It's lifting."
She nodded. We then handed in the orb and left. We soon arrived and I spotted the map almost hidden in a thin layer of sand. I took it.
"Here it is!"
"Then let's be off!"
"Where to?"
I then pointed to a ship at one of the docs.
"We need to board that ship."
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