"How much was a soul worth?"
He started. I huddled close to the robots, one of them started stroking my hair.
"For Greraraska, the Emperor of Chauva, this place where we are, it was worth ten million deaths, chaos in both worlds, yours and mine. He travelled through planets finding the most desired, Soulstar. He never got it. He died in your world as the leader of the Serebanas, a tribe he created."
"What's so cursed about it?"
Sobul asked. He stood right beside Enin. They were huddled in a corner.
"Cause now you can't escape the truth. We too are prisoners of it"
"What's the truth? Can you be clearer?"
Ilira asked, impatient. The man smirked and shook his head, chuckling at the end.
"No one knows. I too am trapped here. We all are. How this world came to existence, how things go in here. There are times the robots turn into monsters"
I felt the slow strokes turn into a tight grip. I quickly pried the robot off me.
"My name is Rix, they made me in charge of here, temporarily, the Old Spirits"
I frowned.
"Can we go back?"
Enin asked. He nodded his head.
"I travel back and forth all the time. I don't know if there is a different world apart from the ones we already have but yeah. You should have a thing in you that transports you. Mine is this pen". He pulled out a golden pen, tapping on the top, "Clicks"
"Makes sense". Abhay spoke. "Mine's the IP address"
I thought about all the things and concluded that mine could be the ancient book in the temple or a spell, perhaps. The tunnel could be one too.
"You are the king"
I asked. He shook his head and leaned on the window bane.
"I'm not. Never want to be. The Old Spirits are in search of that person, or thing. I have no idea other than what I've said this far"
I looked at my friends, and our shoulders visibly sagged.
"I'd like to return"
I spoke. The robots stood by my side as I walked towards where he stood, both of us watching the sun which was as red as a ruby dipped in purplish ink.
"You have to say the spell"
Before I could go back, I turned towards him and asked a question.
"Why me?"
He shrugged. My mouth moved on its own in a spell, and I found myself back at the island. I blinked and ran outside the house but nothing. There was nobody living in this place. Chills ran down my spine. Where a hut should've been, the shroud of trees was. Where lines of statues should've been, a line of bushes sprouted.
"Anasa!"
We met at the centre where our plane was.
"That was… intense?"
I looked at Sobul.
"Let's just go back. I need some rest"
Ilira spoke. We agreed and decided to sleep on it. The next tension came as the holiday progressively lessened. I omitted parts and I was left with a shortened thesis. But that was just on the paper. My research continued.