After seeing what happened to Ace, Noah then calmed himself so as not to panic.
"Alright, luckily he managed to survive and is only unconscious, ok. What do you think, Yona!"
"Yona! Are you alright.." said Noah, confused.
Turning around and seeing a sight that was unbelievable.
Yep, that's right, Yona started to feel scared and covered herself with a blanket.
Yona felt chills after seeing the creature that blocked Ace's path, and eventually she covered herself using a blanket with a cute and warm sheep motif.
Then she glanced toward Noah, still feeling frightened, "Noah, you said it would be alright," still scared.
"But, what was that, what kind of big creature was that, why could it be in there. Hey Noah, answer me!"
Hearing that, Noah could only scratch his head and smile wryly, "What should I do!"
Noah began to look toward the mirror with a heavy heart.
"Ace, forgive me for having to do this." He thought.
At the place where Ace is now. After some time! Ace finally regained consciousness, then slowly opened his eyes. Even though he was awake, that didn't necessarily mean he was fully recovered.
Because of the impact that was too strong, Ace could only rest for now.
=Master, are you awake?= Asked the system.
"A little bit, ...I guess!" Answered Ace weakly.
=From the way you talk, it seems you should rest for now. Because of that heavy impact, you must have suffered a great shock!=
"Yeah, that's right, this is quite a journey full of surprises." I replied.
Ace then rested himself to ease the pain.
"I didn't expect that this would become such a surprise in my life."
"This makes me a bit annoyed."
=Hey, don't say that. As a man, you're already pretty cool, you know=
=Emm, maybe=
"Thanks for the compliment. Turns out you can praise too huh."
After feeling a bit better, Ace then rose from his rest and prepared to continue his journey.
Standing in front of a large iron door, Ace then asked the system to immediately open the door.
The system responded, then began processing the opening of the door.
Without waiting long, the iron door slowly opened until it was fully open.
Seeing it, it turned out to be another dark corridor. "System, can you turn on the lights in this corridor!" asked Ace.
(Scanning) =The system in this corridor room is already destroyed. There's nothing that can be hacked at all in this corridor=
Hearing that, Ace could only exhale. Then he patted his face to keep up his spirit.
"Alright, I'm ready."
As a means of lighting, he then took the lantern stored in his bag, "Luckily, I still have this lantern. The lantern that accompanies me out of the darkness."
Adjusting again, then lighting the lantern, "I thought when I was in the staff room, I would find a flashlight for my lighting."
Staring at the lantern he was holding, "But it seems my expectations were too high, but this alone is already good enough to light my journey for now."
"I'm truly grateful for the service you've given me." Then he turned his gaze forward again.
He then stepped inside. Continuing his journey to get out of this strange place.
His journey this time felt very smooth, yet: there's something you should know, a smooth dark corridor still needs to be watched as it should.
Yes, that's if your courage is big enough to go in, but don't act like it's just a bravery test, because! You might not come back in one piece or safely.
Halfway through the journey, Ace accidentally stepped on something that made him pause for a moment.
He lifted his foot back, then bent down to see clearly using the lantern. When he looked closely at the object, his expression became surprised.
He then picked up the object which was none other than a pendant with a half-heart ornament, and there was a small engraving (Sister) and on the other side (Forever).
"?"
"Sister? Forever? Did someone drop this."
Feeling curious, Ace checked the pendant and found a small slit, indicating that the ornament could be opened.
When he opened it, he was immediately shocked to see what was inside, there were two photos of little girls inside with happy expressions like little angels.
One had yellow hair and the other red. They seemed to wear noble-style clothes.
"What is all this, was this accidentally left here!" He wondered.
If this item was really lost here, I'll keep it in my pocket for now. After I get out of this place I'll find the original owner.
Hopefully, I'll manage to do it safely.
He kept walking straight ahead and hoped to find a way out, but fate said otherwise.
Feeling he had reached the end of the corridor, with a joyful feeling, instead of finding a light leading to an exit, now he could only stand still and see the reality in front of him.
Not an open door, but a large mirror stood right at the end of the dark corridor.
Ace approached the mirror, looking at his reflection in it.
A weary gaze, blue eyes empty like a silent sea, and a face almost losing hope because of trauma.
"....., a mirror!"
"When was the last time I ever looked into a mirror like this." Staring closely.
In my place, things like this are associated with people whose lives are already messed up. They see themselves in the mirror's reflection, a face of a life already ruined.
Because they feel disgusted with themselves, eventually that mirror is shattered to pieces, out of self-hatred.
Although I once felt depressed, but I'm different from them.
When I wanted to give up on life! Without realizing it, a motivation from the light of hope appeared and began to change my life.
All the journeys I've gone through now have a meaning.
Because I live doesn't mean I'm weak, but I live because I can surpass it too. Something impossible becoming easy, that's not just willpower but also embracing and building a strong bond that's needed.
We're not perfect, but if we cover each other with sincere hearts, all those flaws will become a foundation that cannot be shaken by anyone, even the most evil ones.
Exhaling, "If only I could talk to my own reflection, that would surely calm me right now." His hand reached for the mirror.
When his fingertip touched the mirror, unexpectedly a crack appeared.
Seeing that, Ace stepped back a few steps to avoid being hurt by the shattering. However! the crack from the mirror began spreading in all directions.
The strangeness didn't stop there. The room that was previously silent suddenly began to shake violently, due to the cracked mirror.
Feeling shocked at what was happening. From the initial crack Ace had touched, now a light began to appear.
However, that light didn't just appear!
"What the—"
Something had just shattered, and a light emerged from the direction of the mirror. Turning to the mirror immediately made Ace surprised! Where a large hole suddenly appeared with a bright light inside.
"Wait! Is that the way out!" Still confused.
Feeling that this place was about to collapse, Ace had no choice but to break through it.
When Ace was inside that room, he then saw something ahead of him, until finally!
At the place where Yona and Noah were. The two of them were still focused on thinking of a way to rescue Ace from the mysterious place. The mirror used to monitor Ace now began to act strangely until!
Something appeared from the mirror. Until finally that happened.
Ttrrrreezzz
The mirror suddenly shattered, and its fragments scattered everywhere. That immediately shocked the two of them, since no one was watching the mirror at all.
Or maybe, something had just broken through and, without realizing it, had also destroyed the mirror until its shards spread in all directions.
And that something was none other than Ace, breathing heavily, finally he managed to get out from the dark place.
"Finally.. I... meet... someone..." Smiling.
Due to exhaustion, Ace began to lose consciousness and finally fell.
A few moments later!
In a garden, Yona was cleaning the scattered glass shards with her magic.
[Magic: Clearing up]
After cleaning all the fragments, Yona then rested for a moment under a tree.
Exhales
Yona recalled when Ace had just arrived here. She seemed relieved because Ace was alright. "I was worried about that young man. Even though we just met, his face already shows that he's gone through the bitterness of life."
"Even when under pressure, he can still smile sincerely and fight to the end."
"I don't know why, I feel guilty for involving him in this mess." Feeling gloomy.
"I guess your words were right too." Said Noah.
Feeling a bit surprised, "Ah, turns out it's you, Noah, how is he now?" Asked Yona.
"Safe, his condition is starting to improve now." Answered Noah.
Smiling softly, "Thank goodness if he's getting better, I hope he recovers soon." Replied Yona.
"You're right, I hope he returns healthy and strong as before," added Noah.
Noah then approached Yona, then also rested near the tree, beside Yona.
"Yona, you know, I also feel worried about Ace. But we can't just help living beings recklessly if they can no longer manage." He said calmly. "But because of this rule too, life stays balanced."
"But, does it really have to be that way. Because our existence is considered divine entities, we can only help a little. That too only if the situation is dire."
"Don't talk about that, I hate hearing it." Said Yona a bit annoyed.
"Alright, fine, more importantly have you prepared it!" Asked Yona, with a serious gaze.
Smiling softly, "Of course, as planned." Answered Noah, crossing his arms, since the awaited moment had finally arrived.
Standing up from rest, "Good, with this we're ready to thwart his plan!" Said Yona, clenching her fist to the sky.
In a certain room, where Ace was currently resting. His condition was now slightly better and only needed time.
Opens door
Apparently, someone had just entered to visit him. But why did it have to be a girl with cream-colored hair.
"Well, well, well, let's see what we have here." Gentle tone, but suspicious.
She started observing Ace, circling the bed like a robot following a single path.
On the other side of the bed, the girl accidentally noticed Ace's bag, "that's quite a big bag. But taking one of your things won't hurt, right." Smiling slyly toward Ace.
"Don't get mad, because this is part of the orientation here."
Ace was still unconscious.
"Alright then, since you're just staying quiet, that means," while checking the bag's contents, "wait a second. Aha, that means your stuff is mine now." Holding up a colored marker, then raising it to the air.
=Sorry, if I'm disturbing your fun!=
"!"
"Who's there! Hey, listen, I'm not afraid of anyone! Remember that!" Staying alert to her surroundings.
=I should be the one asking you=
=What are you doing with my Master's belongings=
"Oh, you mean this colorful thing," twirling the marker on her fingertip, "since he's a newcomer here, that means he has to go through orientation too, to be fair."
=Oh dear, who made such a stupid rule=
The girl then posed proudly, with one leg up resting on the bed's edge, "of course it's me who made it. The mighty Rena!" Bold and loud tone.
Her appearance was beautiful and charming, but her personality wasn't as smooth as her face (too childish)
[ Name: Rena Wignine
Gender: Female
Status: ??? ]
"That's enough for now, I've got important business to do." Walking toward the exit.
Humming
Before she left this room, for whatever reason in her mind, she then took one of the markers and drew on Ace's face.
After doing something bad to Ace, she then left feeling happy after doing her mischief to him.
=Hey, don't come back here again=
Closes door
=Hah, women...=
Do you think what she did was justified?
End of chapter (Can we work together!)