After the delegation, we all started thinking of a plan of how to deal with this many people.
"I think the cons outweighs the pros, but let's weigh them first," Kofi said.
"You are right, the only thing we need from them is mostly information about here. They are far more familiar with this place. But we have to save them while fighting monsters and trying to fight information, maybe with them we can take safe routes to reach our destination." Eira explained.
"But to where exactly? Where's our destination?" Kairi asked.
"Anywhere that will lead us to earth and places we can find information on why we are here. Let's go inside and start asking questions." Seraphina said.
We moved inside and we were met with a grim and sad look from the people inside.
"Are you going to abandon us too?" bard asked.
"No." Seraphina replied without any change in her expression.
"Don't lie to us! We heard you guys arguing whether to save us or not." Bard said angrily.
We looked at each other, I was about to address bard before seraphina replied him:
"Yes, I was against it at first because it will be a lot on us, but they already convinced me, you should thank them. The truth is we were not sent by the realm to save you, we were cast aside by the realm. The realm thinks everyone in nightveil is dead and you have been consumed by the underworld." Seraphina explained.
"Oh, so that's why there's no star or moon in the sky." Bard said as if he understood something.
"You guys use to have that?" I asked.
"Yes, it was really beautiful, you should have seen it. I heard there are no sun, stars or moon in the otherworld, their sky must be really boring." Bard sighed for a while and said: "When the monster attacked, everything we cherished and enjoyed was lost."
After reminiscing on the past for a while bard finally asked:
"What did you do that the realm casted you aside?"
As seraphina was about to reply eira whispered:
"Let me do the talking this time."
Seraphina allowed her and she moved forward and said with a sad smile on her face:
"We graduated from the academy a few months ago, we were recruited by the apex legion squad, there was a mission we were assigned to a mission with a Saint named valek, the mission was to extract people from a village that was being consumed by the otherworld, but valek was not a good person, he told us that evacuating those people would stress him that he was not interested, he told us to rest. We weren't comfortable with that idea, we contended with him but he didn't agree. We then decided to report to the upper echelon, due to our rank we were disregarded. We knew if valek find out we'll be in trouble so we avoided him for a while the best we can at the end he caught us and threw us in here, how he did that we don't know. Even the portal we passed through has been closed. So we'll like to make a deal with you guys. You'll give us every information you know about this place and we promise to try our best to save you, you don't need to give us everything now. You can tell us as we go on our journey."
After eira finished talking I thought to myself why she lied to them.
'Why did she lie to them? Won't it be better to gain their trust if she told the truth? Then again her story is very believable but I'm curious about the logic behind. This girl is really something.'
"That is...that is really a lot. You guys did the right thing but at the wrong time. It's common knowledge not to piss a saint. You should be lucky he didn't kill you. We accept your offer, we'll tell you everything you know." Bard said.
"Shouldn't you consult like your leader before you make a decision?" seraphina asked.
"The leader is currently not stable so he's mostly asleep, it's surprising he's dead yet. I'm sure he'll accept your offer too. He's a kind man." Bard said then pointed to the skinny boy who was the Rouser he showed us before.
"Davy, tell them what they need to know I need to see someone."
Bard then left us with the boy Davy.
"What so you guys want to know?" Davy asked.
"Everything you know that can get us out of this place." Kofi said.
"Well the truth is, there is a way out of here but it being guided by a strong monster. I don't know how strong the monster is but it's strong enough to wipe out my friends." Davy said while clenching his fist.
"Your friends?" I asked.
"Yes, we were around 10 before, they all split up and went to an expedition they left me and serif in charge. One of our own have a transmission type of ability so before he died, he transmitted the information that he found a Portal north of the city, it was being guarded by a strong monster, I don't know its rank but it was strong enough to wipe them out." Tears started rolling down Davy cheeks as he said that.
"That's sad, where's serif now?" Seraphina asked.
Davy started sobbing, he then composed himself and said:
"When the shady man told us about a way out of here. We started moving to that location, serif sacrificed his life while protecting us from a pack of monsters so we can move forward. At the end we are still stuck."
"I promise we'll try our best to get you out of here with less causality." Seraphina said.
"Thank you for the help. The portal to get out is on the opposite side you came from, I don't know how powerful the monster that is there is so that's why I never dared to go there because I'll definitely lose. Moreover the journey will be tedious because of the monster along the way. I know a way we can pass that we won't encounter lots of dangerous monsters. I also know where we can get food and other basic necessities except they are not so very top quality." Davy explained.
'How does he know the exact portal we came from, I believe we never mentioned that. Kairi really jinxed this. Are they brainwashed by the person who did that to Chara? I don't sense any ether from those Rousers so must likely not. We still have to confirm.' I thought to myself.
"Thanks for the information Davy, go take some rest because tomorrow is going to be a hell of a day. We'll move immediately tomorrow, tell bard." Seraphina told Davy.
Davy thanked us excitedly and got lost in the mist of the crowd, we moved upstairs to ascertain our next step.
As we were moving I heard Kairi asked eira:
"Why did you tell them that story?"
"A way to gain that trust, if I tell them the truth their expectations of us would be high due to our connection towards the hexa embers. So we must seem normal and good at the same time. Also it was a way to constrain valek in the future if we survive this." Eira explained.
"How does that work?" Kairi asked.
"You see Rousers have a strict rule not to kill a mortals, it always a great punishment. If we manage to save those guys, they'll want to protect us against valek." Eira said.
"But what if valek kills them?" Kairi asked.
"He won't, cause you will escape." Eira said sharply.
"Huh?" Kairi said confused.
But they couldn't continue their conversation because seraphina asked:
"What do you guys think?"
"I think we should kill Kairi for spoiling things for us." Kofi said jokingly.
"Something might actually be off with them, probably being brainwashed by the guy who brainwash chara, he's most likely the shady guy they are talking about." I said.
"But we are obligated to save them now, maybe not all of them." Seraphina said.
"What are you going to do about it?" Chara asked.
"The path they are going to make us take is probably an easy one with no monster or weak one. That's why we are going to do otherwise. We are going to kill those exalters monsters. We are going to clear a path for ourselves." Seraphina declared.
"That will be too dangerous, exalter monsters are not something we could handle at our level. Most of us are still nascent, and increasing our rank in this place that's scarce of ether is close to impossible." Chara complained.
"I know all that already, even more so we can't take any chances that'll be too dangerous. Killing the exalter monsters is dangerous but going to an unknown path is more dangerous. We don't even know if the portal they said exists is a trap, but we have no choice. Also I should be nascent by tomorrow, we'll go early tomorrow. But I don't think even with me being nascent it'll be enough. It's all about risk in the end." Seraphina said.
'She is going to be nascent eh, that's good. But wouldn't that make her more bossy or something. Well I'm glad for her. Her plan is dangerous, too dangerous in fact. But it's needed. And I'm is about to argue with her again on doing anything else.' I thought to myself.
"Congratulations on your ascendant, not like I'm completely accepting your plan, but you need to make a plan that'll give us a small chance to victory." Kofi said.
"I have a plan, but hopefully it'll be successful and we won't turn to a meal to our food. Humans must taste really good to make those monsters come after us. And they taste good too. I wonder what part of us they like the most. Blood? Bone? Flesh? Hearr? Or maybe even our soul. Don't turn into a meal guys." Seraphina tried to make a joke.
Everywhere grew silent after seraphina bad attempt to make a joke. We all looked at her with a deadpan expression. Until eira started laughing very loud, she stopped laughing for a while and said:
"This is so funny."
Chara looked at the princess of crimson family and asked:
"What are you trying to do?"
"I made a joke to try and ease up the mood." Seraphina replied.
"That was a joke? It was really nerve wracking." Kofi said.
"It was funny. Look eira laughed at it." Seraphina said.
"She is laughing at your bad attempt at making a joke." Chara said.
"No actually I was laughing at her joke and the fact that you guys were perplexed. It was a really funny scene." Eira retorted.
"I must say something is wrong with you." Chars said.
Kairi moved towards me and whispered:
"Was that really a bad joke? I find it funny....and scary."
I looked at him bewildered and said:
"There aren't a lot of normal people in this place. I might be the only normal one here. I need to stay away from you guys or I might become abnormal."
Kairi looked at me with a bit of sadness and went back to being passive.
Mira moved towards seraphina and said to her:
"Please don't make a joke again."
"I was only try to lift their moods." Seraphina said.
"Dance for us and we'll be happy." Kofi suggested.
"What? No." Seraphina instantly rejected it
"Uhm...seraphina, will you mind having a spar with me." Eira requesting for a spar quite shook everyone.
"I didn't think you will ask for that, I have been meaning to have a spar with someone too.." Seraphina said.
"Just pure hand to hand combat, no weapons or ability. I just wanted to have a spar with you before you become nascent." Eira said.
"Alright, I think everyone should join in too, it'll be fun that way." Seraphina said looking at all of us.
"That seems stressful." Kofi said.
"I want to spar with Kofi." Chara said.
"And I want to spar with Kairi." I said.
"I am feeling a bit left out here." Mira said.
"I could spar with you." Kairi said to Mira.
"Well that's decided, we are having a spar. It'll be fun and great experience." Seraphina said as she went somewhere. Eira followed her.
'She most love sparring. Her face lit up when eira brought it up. But why did Eira bring it up, she doesn't seem like the type to do so.'
Everyone started a light preparation for the Spar. Then while they were preparing I was listening to Chara conversation to Kairi.
"You are really handsome you know. If only you took care of yourself more." Chara told Kairi.
Kairi chuckled while blushing and said:
"Hahaha, that's an overstatement but thank you anyway."
"Overstatement? It's actually quite true. Most people would agree. I might even date you for your looks."
"What? Someone like me isn't worthy to be with someone as pretty as you. I'm sure you can find guys who are much more better than me."
"I don't think I'll find any guy as handsome as you. I won't deny that when I first saw you at the academy you face stood out to me. That's why I remembered you."
"You saw me at the academy? I didn't see you."
"Yeah I know, I wasn't in the normal class as you guys. I was in a special training class for assassins. That day was a test. I was going when I saw you."
"I see. Did you pass the test?"
"No, I failed wonderfully."
"Sorry."
"It is okay, I never wanted to pass."
"Why?"
"I thought they'll see how much of a failure I am and let me be." Chara paused for a while and continued. "But it didn't work out, they just made my lessons harder. Cute little me going through all that."
"Would it be bad if I said I wish I had an opportunity like that?"
Chara laughed a bit and replied:
"Trust me, you wouldn't enjoy it. It is hell."
"My mom always say hell might be your best option at some point."
"Oh, I guess so. After all we are preparing to enter hell tomorrow. I'd love to meet your mother."
"I would love to meet her too. My parents killed each other when I was really young. I can't remember their faces anymore."
"Sorry I didn't mean to bring up a sad thing like that."
"It is okay, it doesn't really bother me anymore. After all hell is my only option."
'Isn't that a sad way of thinking?' I thought to myself as I listened to their conversation. I decided not to interfere cause I wanted Kairi to have more connections with the others.
"I must say that's a sad way of thinking. I'll braid your hair so you can look more good."
"Why? I thought only girls do that."
"Guys can do it and I think you'll look really good. Your hair is too long and rough."
I left them alone to talk more to eachother, after all they treated me like I wasn't there.
'It doesn't hurt I swear.'
I saw Eira and Kofi on the other side and heard them talking.
"You know, I hate this realm, I hate the world, I hate my dad, I hate my mom, I hate my sister. I really hate everything. But at the same time, I love this realm, I love the world, I love my dad, I love my mom, I love my sister. I really love everything." Kofi said.
"I don't quite understand." Eira said confused.
"It is just that I hate a part of it and I love a part of it. I still love the part I hate of it cause without it, it wouldn't be the same. I don't even know what I'm saying." Kofi sighed then continued. "They say you only love or hate the things you care about. My sister once told me the opposite of love isn't hate, it's indifference and I agree with her. Because if you don't indifferent to something you can't love or hate it. That's what I wished to achieve here."
"How is it going?"
"Not so well."
"Why are you telling me all this?"
"Because I might die tomorrow and I feel like you are the only one who would understand me here."
"I must say we are quite different."
"I know yet we are also similar."
"Do you want to hear a secret?"
"Sure."
Eira whispered into Kofi's ear. I couldn't make about what it is.
'But I must say I'm doing the wrong thing. Eavesdropping in people conversation like this.' I thought to myself.
After whispering Kofi was in shock.
"Wow, that's really something. Why did you tell me?"
"We are similar remember and it was eating me I had to keep that to myself for long."
'She told him who Anna brother is already? She could have just told everyone.' I was questioning why she told kofi instead.
"Why didn't you tell her then?" Kofi asked.
'Her? Is it a different secret. This girl sure has lots of valuable secrets.' I deduced maybe wrongly.
"I am scared, confused? I don't know. I can't bring myself to tell her. I don't how she'll feel. Well I do but I'm scared she will have changed." Eira replied.
"Do you want me to tell her then?" Kofi asked.
"NO! I mean not yet. I need to prepare myself mentally for it."
"I am not going to rush you. But I'm looking forward to that day. It'll be really interesting."
'What is it they could be talking about? Who are they talking about. Maybe some-' as I was trying to deduce what the secret may be I heard a voice beside me.
"Quite an eavesdropper I see." Mira addressed me.
I looked at her embarrassed.
"It is not really my fault. I just don't want to interrupt their thing."
"I understand." Mira said and grew silent. She then started looking around the ruins.
After a while I thought:
'What is this awkward silence, she's too quiet. I should say something. Yes let me ask her that.
"Any tips on how to become an exalter?" I asked Mira
"It will be useless for you in this place. When we make it out."
"Alright."
As I said that seraphina showed up. She was wearing a sleeveless top, which show her well defined biceps. They were not lean or filled with fat showing she workouts often. Her build was just like mine. It doesn't look really manly though. It made her looked really good and a bit intimidating.
Kairi and Kofi came standing beside me.
"I think she'll destroy me in a hand to hand combat." Kairi said.
"Me foo." I second it still mesmerized by her physique.
"I think I'll let her dominate me." Kofi said.
"Me too." I replied then realised what he said. "Wait no, what the hell man."
"I am sure we both like that Idea and maybe Kairi is he knows what I meant." Kofi said.
"What does it mean?" Kairi asked.
"Don't tell him." I cried out to Kofi.
"You want to keep all the fun thought in your head to yourself?" Kofi said.
"No, let's just focus on the please." I said pointing to seraphina and eira who took a stance and was about to fight.