Chapter 13
"Lost Sheep"
The golden radiance was relentlessly shimmered upon the three mortals, who were devising a possibly potent plan. Derron calmly concluded the plan, looking at Adrian and Allie with constant gaze.
"Do y'all understand?" He asked solemnly, his words flew in the air with his warm breath.
Adrian and Allie collectively nodded at him, soon Derron leaned against the wooden table, looking at the fragile wooden ceiling of the abandoned cabin. He then fixed his eyes on Adrian, before saying, "I never expected we could become your friends, Cadeyrn… this is really a new experience!"
Adrian chuckled quietly upon hearing that, while Allie intently glanced at the cracked windows of the cabin. Derron soon mumbled about Tyva and Helmond, while glaring at the windows with the falling ashes of the fallen, "I think we were able to defeat Tyva, but I'm uncertain about Helmond…"
"You're uncertain about Helmond, why would you? Is he that strong?" Adrian questioned, raising his eyebrows in confusion.
Derron was driven into cerebration, thinking about the question and trying to answer it. He sighed and gently murmured to Adrian, "I don't know… but I feel he's too strong for us-...."
Derron intentionally sensed a tiny movement of something, he immediately shut his mouth in bewilderment. He soon grabbed the lantern and plucked the black stone from it, killing the golden light in an instant.
"Don't make any noises…" Derron whispered, staring at them in horror.
When the silence was entirely filling the cabin, a sound of heavy approaching steps shortly swept into their ears. No words dared to come out or echo, indeed their life was at brink. They were able to hear the heavy breath of the unknown thing, perhaps a beast or something more mysterious.
The shadow of the nameless creature was caught on the floor, resembling thick fur and a twin of horns. Adrian breathed heavily, trying to think straight even in the most absurd situation or perhaps bloodcurdling.
In one minute straight, the creature relentlessly divagated outside, carelessly ignoring the gelid condition like a mindless murderer. With no life spotted, the creature soon left in dissatisfaction, leaving its trails behind.
They soon exhaled in relief, their hearts rattled rapidly like a tumultuous engine in work. Although they knew this was only a childish game, yet putting their lives at stake.
"What the hell is that!?..." Adrian questioned, wiping his sweat with his red scarf.
Derron shook his head, he stood up and looked at the window near the aged table, viewing and trying to confirm the creature had gone. Derron then let out a calm breath, sitting down once again in ease.
"I don't know either… we're fine now, I think." Derron raised his head up, glaring at the ancient ceiling with a faint smile.
This game feels so real… It's like a dream in a dream… Adrian looked down, covering his face with his hands in bewilderment and questions.
…
After a few hours, the ferocious gale began to settle and left nothing but ashes on the deceased ground. Derron looked at the two, nodding and giving them a sign without voice. As he slowly opened the wooden door, harrowing ashes immediately kissed their feet.
They were instantly horrified at it, forcing themselves to break through the ashes in an attempt to free themselves from the abandoned haven. As they walked without guidance in the cruel, and colorless world. Indeed they were lost sheep without their shepherd, adventurers without compass.
"Derron, where are we heading now? There's no clue for the location of Tyva and Helmond…" Adrian muttered, looking at the sun in horror.
Derron adjusted his glasses, turning his gaze toward Adrian, he then gently answered the question in a calm tone, "We're heading south, perhaps north, I don't know either… I hope we're lucky and find something in this… terrifying world."
As they journeyed through a likely abandoned world, their steps echoed in the silence realm. With Derron guiding Adrian and Allie, he carefully tried to not misguide them as he could.
"Allie, how's the game? I think I found it kinda… exaggerated in a bad way. This game feels so real, and I don't think I found any fun in it… for now." Adrian asked curiously, while his red scarf was fluttering by the gentle breeze.
Allie found no fun in it, her gaze behind her mask was absurdly chilling. Yet, she tried to find the fun that Tyva probably had mentioned. She then responded at Adrian, rubbing her hair gently, "I-I think… there's no fun at all, it's like a nightmare for me…."
Adrian nodded quietly, turning his gaze back to Derron who hardly tried to lead them somewhere. As they ventured through the tranquil yet terrifying world, their gaze was instantly locked to a mysterious haze…
The fog was grayish in color, and they were able to smell the scent of aged woods that emanated from it. Feeling puzzled, they tried to uncover the secret behind the thick fog that perhaps hid something.
Derron soon became the first person who stepped into the enigmatic mist, followed by Adrian and Allie behind who were curious but also worried deep in their hearts.
The three mortals, trying to decipher a mystery within this surreal world. They were wading arduously through the fog, attempting to find something in there. Perhaps an ancient legacy?
With the thick fog cleared from their vision, they were instantly surprised and fascinated by what they had found. Their eyes witnessed and marveled by a long forgotten, abandoned village. No words left from their mouths, they were stunned and speechless.
The village itself was located near a beach—and the water color was absolutely terrifying. The water had void color like a horrifying deep space, devouring the faint light wholly. Their eyes sharply glared at the village, looking around in amazement.
"I-is that a village!?..." Adrian mumbled in a low tone, leaving his mouth agape.
Derron turned his gaze to Adrian, nodding at him in wonder. He soon curled his lips into a faint smile, responding at Adrian while glaring at the village, "It is… h-how about we go there? Maybe we could find something useful?"
Adrian and Allie nodded together, followed by them walking toward the village in curiosity and also in search of something useful. They discovered a broken wooden gate, dark brownish in color which was devoured by time. Derron crouched down, picked up the little remains, softly clenching his right hand, and instantly destroying it easily.
"I think the village has been abandoned for a long time, even the material made for the gate is easily crushed." Derron muttered, his words immediately resounding in their ears.
They then proceeded to explore the forsaken village, viewing around as the calm atmosphere grasped them into an absurd tranquility. Derron then spotted a house that caught his attention, he immediately told Adrian and Allie as he walked to the house.
With a single motion of a swinging leg, Derron tore the wooden door apart, allowing him and his friend to get in. Derron soon searched the entire house along with Adrian and Allie. Until Allie found something inside a wooden chest, an old paper with other mysterious stuff.
"Um… D-Derron, I think I found something… could you come over here?" Allie quietly whispered, taking the paper out and trying to decipher it.
She immediately handed the paper to Derron, but unbeknownst to him. The paper was written in a kind of ancient language, foreign to himself. Oddly, Adrian was able to read the content within the paper, becoming a temporary translator.
"Uh… what is this? I don't even understand everything written on this paper…" Derron asked, slightly tilting his head in confusion.
He then quickly added, handing the paper to Adrian with hope, "Cadeyrn… do you know what this text means?"
"Eh… I don't have any idea but… I think I'm able to read it." Adrian replied, solemnly checking the paper.
Derron soon requested Adrian to translate it, his voice was calm also with curiosity, "Go on, explain it for us."
"'If you read this message, then I and my kind were already abolished. We, the Greyenian, will resist the seeker of that ring... even though death is the price.'" Adrian explained, his words made Derron and Allie feel uneasy.
Soon Adrian added in a low tone, explaining it furthermore, "'Cross the Black Sea, and you will find the ring. I hope nothing but you to keep the ring in right hand.'"
With the final line echoed, they realized they must cross the Black Sea to reach an unknown place mentioned in the text. Derron adjusted his glasses, sunken into deep thought. He let out a cold breath, glaring at the two in certainty, before saying, "Let's cross that sea, finishing Tyva and Helmond to accomplish this game."
Adrian and Allie right away nodded, following Derron as he stepped out from the house. As they went to the harbor of the village, Derron spotted a sole wooden boat leashed onto the silent harbor. They immediately jumped into the boat, and then liberated it from the harbor.
Derron gently sat on the back of the boat, Allie in the middle, and Adrian in the front. There were two wooden paddles in the back and the front of the wooden boat. Derron quickly grabbed his own, he then glanced at Adrian before saying, "Cadeyrn, could you help me row this boat?"
"Sure!" Adrian uttered, curling his lips into a smile.
As they slowly departed from the forsaken village, in an attempt to cross the Black Sea. However, deep in Adrian's heart, he felt so puzzled by his own role.
I got the Star card… but I feel I don't act like a main character…
Adrian was driven into an abyss of thought, thinking it through the journey to cross the Black Sea, a placid sea that was likely also hiding something.