CURSES

Episodes 3. Azmut Castle

Well FOREST

"This place is on the edge of the forest which is our lodging post. From now on we will divide the team based on the tasks in their respective positions".

***

Moments after the announcement of the expedition team leader. All teams prepare their own equipment to start the search for historical objects in the middle of the forest well. The explorer team consisted of 24 people which consisted of 3 people into 8 expedition teams. Vincent gets a guard duty at the evacuation post. While aluna and shin jong got the task of becoming a team of explorers.

"Luna, do you believe in anything beyond common sense?", asked Shin Jong to luna who just happened to be on one team. He spoke in a soft voice looking around.

"Belie don't believe it anyway. Then why did Brother Shin ask me like that?", he asked again in a whisper.

"Look, I'm a little nervous about going on this year's expedition. It felt like this expedition was a little awkward for me", he whispered back.

Right said brother Shin. This expedition was very awkward. We can't even see the contents of the crate we'll find. Plus, why were there shamans participating in the expedition?.

***

Some time ago at the hotel before entering the forest area.

"Include me, he's Mr. dealer. He is a psychic who used to deal with unusual things around the forest. We called him just in case" Johnson said of the greenly expedition.

A paranormal? Why not just take a priest or ustadz?. Wellh, are they all the same what?. Wahh, apparently some of the seniors are believers, Vincent said in his mind.

Not only Vincent, apparently aluna and Shin Jong also think the same as him. But they do not suspect anything with the paranormal presence around them. Until their arrival at the well forest arrived.

***

Gakkk.gakk..

Suddenly the sound of crows flying passed over their journey.

"Hey, isn't it getting into the woods. It's getting darker and colder here?" said Danielle, a teammate of Luna and Shin.

For a moment they looked up at the trees and gulped down each of them in cold sweat for no reason. "Let's continue the journey", said Shin again lead the way of their exploration.

The danger!!! Banned passing.

After an hour of travel. Seen boards bearing the danger when passing. Shin Jong looked at the map he was carrying. "Well, why does this map lead to the area with the name?", Imbuhnya confused with the instructions on the map and the road they traveled.

"Just go back? What should we do now?. Obviously we cannot cross the line that was warned" Luna said.

"You're right, it's too risky for us to go into the woods. Besides why our team only consists of three people anyway?", said Daniel who began to worry.

Shin Jong finally took out the communication tool he had brought. "Test.test..this is team three. We were in trouble getting to the location, there was a warning board in the area around the road we were heading to. We need to go back to review the map of the location" Shin said using their communication tool.

"This is team one, is it really?", asked the team leader of team one in which there is professor Johnson.

"Yes sir is right".

"Alright, your team will return to the post soon. We also had problems with the maps we were carrying. Immediately back to the post", said team leader one back.

"Well, sir" said Shin.

POSKO LODGING

"How was the exploration, did it go well senior?", asked Vincent to Shin while giving him a bottle of drink.

"Ahh thank you. Well, that's. There is a slight problem with the location map. We cannot continue our journey because of it. But I've contacted Professor John. He said he would be back soon" said Shin.

"Is that so?. Too bad I didn't go exploring. I wish I could go there" Vincent complained to Shin.

"Just calm down, tomorrow you'll be part. After all today only review the location and the map whether it is true or not. It looks like tomorrow there will be a change if it doesn't go according to plan".

It was true what Shin said. The next day everyone was involved in the expedition. Vincent gets a part in the roaming team with shin and Aluna. They were accompanied by a two-man senior team of professors Lorenzo and the marina.

After a night of reviewing the map that leads to the ancient site. The historian Mr. Kenzo managed to solve the map with the help of the ancient linguist Obalyn.

I had guessed. Of the six routes on this map. Everything's headed in the direction of danger where there's a warning board in between. See when we're piecing together six maps at once. There was a green line that was faintly visible towards the midpoint. There's a chance that the middle point is the castle site we're looking for. Tomorrow we're going to divide the six groups down the six green paths that lead to that point, Kenzo.

Shin's team consists of professors Lorenzo and Mariana and includes Shin, Vincent, Aluna and Daniel. They get a route six where the rear entrance is far from the inn post. Then the six of them left early in the morning using the Jeep that has been provided to go to the intended entrance.

About an hour's drive by Jeep. They reached the point indicated by the map. Vaguely but looks like a path that can be passed by pedestrians. They walked towards the location when Jeep could not get any further. The sun was shining above them. Tiredness and thirst immeasurably hit the bodies of the six explorers. They decided to rest for a while before resting.

"Prof, our water supply is just a little. I'm going to find the nearest water source to refill our bottles in the river" Shin said.

"Well, Daniel you're coming with shin. Also bring a water and poison detector. You be careful and come back quickly" said professor Lorenzo.

Shin and Daniel went to get some water. The four of them discussed how far to get to the site. Shin and Daniel are back. They continued their journey after.

"Wahh, what an amazing gate" said professor Mariana was amazed to see the gate in front of him.

"Wahh, great..is this the site?", Shin and the others said.

Then the professor began to take out his equipment and began to analyze their journey. After you finish marking on the map. Then he started drawing and documenting it.

"John, are you at the front gate of the castle?" asked Lorenzo to professor Johnson through the communication device he was holding.

"Well, I'm right in front of the entrance gate. Professor Obalyn was looking at the cryptic pattern of the ruins at the gate. Can you check out some of the signs in the enzo's central courtyard" Johnson said.

"Alright, I'll ask someone on my team to help break it" lorenzo replied, shutting down their communication.

Then, moments later after the arrival of the six expedition teams in front of the site gate. A man in a black robe came up to them.

"Well, for your own good. Do not try to open the gate or take something inside. You will never know what will happen after that" said the black-robed man who appeared before the team at the main gate.

But the words of the man were not ignored by those who were already excited.

"Yess, we finally found the castle of the former relic" said one of the expedition participants.

Meanwhile at the back gate...

"Aluna, can you help us decipher this loma language?" said professor Lorenzo after speaking through a communication tool with prof Johnson on the first one-gate team.

After that, aluna helped one of the professors lay down some stones to fit like an ancient book that the mariana professor was holding.

Reddd...

The door opened when aluna composed the language letters of the area around Wells forest.

"Wahh, it's cool you're aluna!", Daniel.

"Maybe that kid too", Vincent.

"Good work Luna", Shin.

The first gate was successfully opened by prof obalyn. Similarly, the back gate was successfully opened thanks to Aluna and the mariana professor. The gate opened in front of them. Automatically the doors at the other four gates open.

Siall, why can humans now understand the language before!, said the black-robed man in his mind.

When team one was about to enter the ancient site of the ruins of the kingdom. "Prof, the person behind was gone" said someone looking back at the place where the black-robed man stood.

"really?. How strange. Why would he come here if he left too" Johnson said a little confused.

Without waiting for long for the six expedition teams to enter the gate simultaneously. They met when they entered the gate.

"Lorenzo, we finally made it" Johnson said, patting Lorenzo on the shoulder as he met inside the castle.

"I didn't expect, this castle was so big that it covered almost 1/8 of the forest. But strangely, why is it so hard to find the exact location?", Lorenzo still looked confused.

"You're right, anyway. Who changed the trail on the map. The beginning of our exploration is confused by being led to dangerous areas as well", replied Johnson who began to think.

"Wahhh, is this the castle of the azmut noble?. Big and magnificent as in the history books", Aluna was amazed not to play see everything inside the gate.

Aluna was enjoying what she saw with some of her notes. Johnson and Obalyn approached him to talk about some important things.

"You are aluna?", asked Obalyn.

"I heard you're from the Hoppes family, can we talk for a while outside" he said back as he headed outside the castle.

The Hoppes Family?, it was only fitting that he could read the ancient language. That explains how different he was with all the students from his class first, said Vincent glanced at aluna who walked out with professor Obalyn and professor John.

•••

Vincent's family was one of the noble families who became one of the contributors of science in England. They were hereditary scientists who were experts in physics. 

While the Hoppes family is one of the noble families who are from generations struggling in the field of archaeologists and linguists and history. But as time went on it seemed that the Hoppes family was having a hard time getting offspring that matched their expectations. The decline in quality in the Hoppes family had lowered their family image among all the noble families of researchers. Until finally the family name Hoppes no longer taken into account in the world of science.

But now, the emergence of aluna that bears the name Hoppes began to attract the eyes of scientists in England. After some time ago the expedition test was written at the well university. The team leader himself asked his members to investigate the background of aluna. Apparently aluna was the son of Ronald Wisman Hoppes, a scholar archaeologist and Bible associate of obalyn professors at London University. But because of the mother of aluna who comes from ordinary circles she does not live in the main house in London. Ronald and his wife Maria live in a well away from the Hoppes family. After Aluna was 10 years old, her mother died of heart disease. Because of her father's busy life, Aluna was entrusted to her uncle William boot hoopes who owned a cake shop at the end of the road near the university well. Unbeknownst to her father ronal, aluna follows the expedition to slightly reduce the cost of college. And unbeknownst to aluna, Obalyn was a friend of his father when he studied at London University first.

***

"Already I suspect, not many students are interested in reading ancient languages in this era. Apparently the blood is flowing to you" Obalyn told aluna.

What was the meaning of his words?, Imbuh aluna in his heart. He was still speechless hearing Professor Obalyn's speech before him.

"Did Ronald know you were on this expedition?", Obalyn asked aluna.

"You know my father" said Aluna.

Apparently he's Mr. Ronald's son. I feel like I am no stranger to him. Apparently he was the little boy, Johnson said when he learned of aluna's identity.

"Of course, he's my best friend. We went to college at the same place. I even learned an ancient language from your father Ronald" Obalyn said.

"really? I don't think you have someone as good as you professor" said aluna a little surprised by what she heard.

"Ahh can you read the contents of the warning sign on this final page?", Obalyn said again while showing the ancient book that wrote the history of the castle where they were.

Aluna looked at the book and began to try to read every symbol in the ancient writing.

THE AZIMUTH CASTLE BOOKS

In the backyard is a warning about Azmut castle. When the six seals open an early warning of disaster is coming. A locked black door reveals the same loophole of greed in man. The soul-eating red stone began to tease and gnaw at the starving soul. The darkness of the human heart eats their soul and body so that it is not in the form of returning to life in the darkness without the scorching sun.

Glek. luna gulped her saliva after deciphering the ancient writing on the last page.

"Have you finished translating?. Amazing, let me see the contents of the last page" said Obalyn who seemed eager to read the contents of the page.

Then he took the paper in Aluna's hand and read it. Obalyn was a little surprised by the content on the last page. Until he dropped the paper. "What's the matter prof?. What's written on it?" said the curious professor Johnson. He wanted the sheet of paper and then read the contents.

"Isn't this a warning" said Johnson, who shuddered slightly after reading the meaning of the last page.

Meanwhile, in the middle room of the castle. Vincent and Shin Jong appear to be observing some relics of azmut nobles. Vincent accidentally pressed against the wall that opened the door to the secret room.

"Wahh, isn't this genuine?" said Vincent, who looked through the paintings on the wall . Greddddd. Vincent and Shin were surprised by what they found.

"Hey vint what is it?", asked shin patting vincent's shoulder with wide eyes.

"Woh, fantastic. What room is this?", Vincent looked behind him where the secret door opened.

They both nodded as they walked into the room that had just opened before him.

"Wahh, isn't it very dark here", shin.

"You're right, wait (Vincent reached into his pants pocket) I think my phone's battery could be useful in this time".

"Ahh, I forgot that we have a cell phone". Then Shin Jong took out his cell phone from his pocket and began to light the path in front of them.

Using a mobile phone flashlight as lighting Vincent and Shin continue their journey. Johnson and Obalyn are still debating the contents of the last page translated by aluna.

"Based on that page. Shouldn't we be looking for that gemstone?. If there is a curse in it, then we will all be in danger later" said professor Johnson who was a little anxious after reading the final page of AZIMUTH CASTLE BOOKS.

"Are you crazy?. We spent time and energy until we got here. You're not ashamed as a scientist?. What year is Johnson?. You're still superstitious. Besides, I do not believe in anything that cannot be proven by logic and scientific calculation!", said Obalyn, who ignored Johnson's remarks.

"Professor.. Professor Obalyn...". Johnson pursues Obalyn who leaves him and Aluna at the castle entrance.

Haah. I. I. I don't know why my gut feeling is a little bad. Even though I don't believe in superstition. But the warning on the last page was frightening to me. That's right professor obalyn said. We have spent time, energy and money to get to this place.

Aluna then followed the two professors who had walked into the castle first.

***