Grizzled

Episode 43

Waking up in a place with a blood-red daytime sky, I immediately knew my position. Unlike the daytime sky outside the room which is gray with a lot of fog, the daytime sky in the room does tend to be reddish, but I have never seen such a gripping one. I should have been happy to wake up in a protected area so there was no need to bother chasing monsters, but the fact that I was alone in a cubicle with this kind of atmosphere kept me from lowering my guard. What's the matter?

The door of the room which is just a wooden board rests upright in its position. It was astonishing to know the door was tightly closed without anyone propping it up. I'm approaching the door. Two steps before touching it, the massive energy pushed out, throwing me deep into the corner of the cubicle. Grimacing in pain while trying to get up, I saw another abnormality in the sky. Red gush like auroras twitched against one by one the purple fireflies who wanted to fly low before me. Teleportation Sakti rejected. It's getting confusing.

Once again I approached the door. Again two steps before touching it, I felt the repulsion of the energy preventing me from approaching. This time I was more careful, moving away before crashing again. Then I saw a light as thin as a shield wrapped around the door. I approached again, slowly touching. My hand pierced through it, no more signs of rejection. The glow of light that seemed to support the door vanished, instead this door board collapsed on me unexpectedly. Not too heavy, but it was quite a shock.

“I thought only you could open it,” said someone who had just appeared behind me. From his voice I can recognize that he is Sakti. I turned to see not only Sakti was still shrouded in purple fireflies intermediary teleportation, but also the sky room that was all red softened, no longer gripping like before.

“Open what, Sakti?” ask me while getting rid of this wooden board, enforce it in the position it should be.

“You know some cubicles are sometimes locked and we can't get into them? It happens when the chamber's defenses are too vulnerable, so sensitive to other energies. Absolute defense protects such a chamber, locks the chamber from all sides and prevents anyone from entering. Well, that's what just happened in this room,” obviously Sakti also leaned on the door board.

“Then how can I wake up here if this room was in absolute defense?” my question is not to understand.

“Entahlah, probably because your appearance from the world of origin cannot be detected, too random. You yourself also can not choose to appear in a certain position ‘kan?”

“Iya, anyway! Sometimes outrageous, I appeared on the top of the second floor roof, near the gate of the monster nest. Adrenaline immediately triggered me when something like that happened!” i'm upset. Sakti just chuckles softly.

“But how can I end the absolute defense of this chamber? Is it okay?” my many.

“Energi that you bring seems suitable and is considered not harmful. Actually you're safer in a room with absolute defense mode, no one can enter and you can't get out either, but don't we want to investigate the gap of light tonight?” tanya Sakti's.

“Ah, true too! Have you seen the Eagle?”

“Not yet, I suspect he's stuck in a cubicle with the same absolute defense mode.”

“Then how? Can you take me there to unlock it?”

“Can't, Shira. You know for yourself my teleportation was rejected and you can't get in from the outside. The only way is to wait,” Sakti replied.

“Really? Will it be very long?”

“Um, I don't know, we know immediately if the Eagle can come out because he's in the next room.”

“Really? Ah, hopefully not for long,” I hope. I can imagine how the Eagle can't stand being locked in there and having to keep quiet when something is planned.

Sakti asked about the six key investigations in the six directions. He was surprised me and Eagle had found the position of the six keys.

“We haven't confirmed everything yet, anyway! Even one point we suspected found nothing there,” I replied. Me and the Eagle don't know what to do next.

“Sabar, that's a pretty good development! We'll find him together. The next step we will probably know after the position of the light gap is also found,” replied Sakti.

“Ya, hopefully. I hope the investigation of the light gap tonight has not found any difficulty, though ... yes, though ...”

“You are still traumatized by the incident at the front gate huh?” tanya Sakti's. I just keep quiet. Anyone would definitely not be happy to see his friend almost killed. Then now we have to comb the edge of this world which is a nest of monsters. Of course there are fears that the tragedy will repeat itself.

Sakti's hand at the top of my head surprised me.

“Don't worry, I'm not afraid to die because I'm dead. I don't feel pain from being hurt. I'm always ready to be the front cover when something happens to you,” he said with a warm smile. For a moment I regretted being too crybaby, always whining in fear before a war. Someone doesn't care about facing danger to protect me. The eagle is too. All I have to do is keep moving forward.

“I detected an energy change around here. In a moment, let me check the next room,” said Sakti then out. I'm sure he'll be careful without me reminding him. A few moments later he returned with the Eagle. The remains of my classmate's sloppy expression really can't be covered up.

“How, friends? You guys got plans?” tanya Sakti immediately started the discussion.

“I want to hear the considerations of people who have lived here for a long time and quite know all the ins and outs,” replied the Eagle. Right, we need that information to determine the movement.

“What can I tell ya? Actually, the boundaries of this world are the same as the limits of your school. Beyond that I don't know anything. Only the black atmosphere was as far as I could see beyond the limit. The world is designed like a prison that complicates access out. The closer the edge of the boundary, the stronger the influence of black magic and the more difficulties we encounter,” answered Sakti.

“Can you be more clear, Sakti? What kind of difficulties?” my many.

“For example the two gates in front and back are monster nests, we cannot approach the area with low vigilance. Then the hallway at the southern boundary is very dark and narrower if we don't get out of there immediately. Lastly, the small courtyard behind the north building, there was a lot of sand suction where there were the most casualties. Many lost souls end up there,” explains Sakti. Well, I guess it's gonna be that hard. Now just think of how to deal with it.

“The south passageway is straight ‘kan?” ask Eagle.

“Yes, the mouth of the passageway is covered in various obstructions. It is located behind the leading booth of the south building, somewhat visible from the gate. We must open it carefully so as not to attract the attention of the monsters. While the other end of the hall is next to the room you call the sports hall. Judging from the position of the row of cubicles with a sports building in line I can make sure the hallway is straight,” answered Sakti.

“Alright, I want to start the investigation from the south aisle first. It does not matter if the hallway is getting narrower and darker as long as it is straight, all we need to do is move as fast as possible,” replied the Eagle. He can still see in the dark.

“With the condition of such a passageway, I'm sure the monsters won't chase after us. For a while I wanted to avoid them first,” said the Eagle again.

“That's a good consideration. How's Shira?” tanya Sakti's.

“I joined the Eagle plan,” I replied for a while also wanting to avoid chasing monsters.

“Alright, then let's move immediately!” the word Sakti held our hands together, decaying into purple fireflies that flew and vanished in the sky. A moment later, my feet fell back on the ground after arriving at the first room of the south building, room XI MIPA 5.

“It is better that you wait here, I will secure the situation outside and open the barrier at the mouth of the passageway,” Sakti said. Me and the Eagle obeyed, staying in the room while keeping the door closed.

“After school I checked the parking area, Shir. The key to the trap at that point is in the banyan tree right in the middle of the parking area,” said the Eagle breaking silence.

“Oke, four positive points. Means the remaining greenhouse that we have not checked,” I replied.

“It was a bit difficult, not easy to get permission to go there,” replied Eagle.

“Oh yes? Where do you think I got replacement plants in a dead garden? From the greenhouse, Lang! Easy to ask permission to Miss Lasmi!”

“Oh, Miss Lasmi huh? Pulling!”

“Why?”

“No, I still need some proof.”

“Heeh?”

“I see why you want to avoid those monsters. They are indeed troublesome,” Sakti said.

“What was it?” my many.

“I had time to distract the monsters around the gate. Their numbers had already decreased at that point. We'd better get moving, they might not be long. The barrier in the mouth of the hallway also managed to get rid of,” answered Sakti.

Me and the Eagle nodded, following Sakti who was leading in front while the Eagle stood guard behind me.

“Do we need torch?” askaku took one that was installed on the side of the corridor.

“T won't help much, but just try to bring it,” Sakti replied. We arrived at the mouth of the hallway. Scroll briefly the front gate with a black atmosphere on its outer side, deserted. The darkness in the hallway was no less dense either.

The tense sensation finally felt after we entered a few steps. The walls of the hall that flanked us were only as handsome as my waist, feeling cold and mute. The light of the torch that had already moved in Sakti's hand was invisible to me that even just behind him, was too gloomy. I doubt if the torch is capable of lighting the path one meter in front of him. Looking back, it was just as dark. Eagle's not far behind me ‘kan?

“Street continues, don't look, Shir!” said Eagle. Ah, if only I could see in the dark like him too!

“Don't forget our destination, friends! Please pay attention to every wall, floor, and ceiling. It should be easy to find light in this dark place,” Sakti said.

“I just realized something. Should be when only light is sought, we do not need to go in and trace along the passageway ‘kan? We just need to look at the mouth of the hallway. When it's just dark without any flickering of light, it means something we're looking for doesn't exist,” Eagle said. Wow, that's right too!

“That makes sense under normal circumstances, but ..”

Sakti's words were cut off when it was finally completely dark. The dim light of the torch did not help much, but once it went out I felt as if I was blind. We're swallowed up by darkness. I calmed down a little after grabbing Sakti's back in front of me.

“ ... but the black magic in this area is too strong it can even swallow light. Look at our torches gone out. The slit marks of light we're looking for may not be visible from the mouth of the passageway. We have to make sure of it up close,” continued Sakti.

“Next how?” my many.

“Next keep going, the wall around us narrowed even more,” replied the Eagle pushing my shoulder. What he said was not wrong. The distance between the walls is now only half as wide as the right-hand-tight arm. What we have been looking for has not been found so far.

I don't know how far we've come. I hope we get away with it before it gets squeezed into a limp here.

“What are these walls really moving narrowing? It could be that this hallway tapered at the end there,” I said.

“No, I once entered this passageway from the other end, initially loose. After I realized it was getting narrowed, I turned back and found the end of the hallway where I entered was not as wide as before,” replied Sakti, “ah, briefly, I remember when entering this hall that day. Two hundred steps after entering there will be ... Ouch!”

Sakti reflexes step back. I who was not ready to be pushed back hit the Eagle.

“What's up?” my many.

“This is it, from here a lot of sharp rocks to somehow far. Our movement is also increasingly limited in the future,” replied Sakti.

“Let me check,” said the Eagle advanced past me. I don't know what he's doing.

“Wah, pretty sharp. It's a kind of broken glass, but it's embedded in the ground,” said the Eagle's voice sounded low. It looks like he's squatting. Next came a clanking sound a few meters in front of us, repeatedly twice.

“From the reflection it sounds I don't think it's too long. The floor of this shard is only twenty meters, but if we force a pass, our legs will be injured,” replied the Eagle. “Twenty meters it's too long when to pass through a torturous floor like this, Lang!” my answer.

I don't know what happened, suddenly it was as if something was lifting me up, the foot no longer treading the ground. Sakti and Eagle too.

“It looks like we are allowed to fly on it,” said the Eagle sounded quite happy. He pulled my left hand behind and we continued our search. Whatever power that suddenly helped us float this, I am very grateful for it.

However, somehow we drifted higher and higher, as if being sucked up faster. I anticipated this by protecting my head. A second later my body seemed to be overturned hitting the cold floor. I heard the Eagle cursing softly, not expecting the incident earlier.

“Ouch! What the fuck was that?!” ask me while stroking my neck that feels pain. Only Sakti sounded not complaining.

“The gravity's motion changed,” he replied.

“Our advantage now is to be able to pass without getting hurt ... Ah, crap! There's a sharp object falling from above!” said Eagle.

“Ah, I also got hit!” my timpalku felt something fall scratching my hand.

“Luck it, our position is now reversed. The sharp rocky floor is now on top and the stones may soon fall upon us,” Sakti replied. Without warning, we got up and half ran. The clanking of the sharp rocks sounded behind me. After a few meters, my body lifted up again.

“Prepare, friends! The sharp rocky floor area we have passed. Gravity is back to normal!” sakti warned. I should have immediately switched the position of the legs with the head, but it was not easy in this narrow and dark place. I don't know where to move, again falling head first. Although I had my head protected with my hands, but my neck was not too flexible to withstand such a hard blow.

“Shir, are you okay? Hey?” asked the Eagle to shake my shoulder. I did not answer, still curled up to withstand the pain that had spread. What is okay?! My neck was almost broken, my breathing began to cramp. I just remembered that my asthma could recur in a place with this condition, but I didn't want to make anyone worry. I've promised to try to stay strong for the rest of the adventure in the gray world.

Sakti touched the sore part of my neck, starting her healing technique. Of course he understood without me telling him. My mind was read by him, but I refused, forcing us to keep moving forward. The walls of this hallway are getting crowded. He also has no other choice. We continue the journey. Hopefully the other end of the hall is not far away. I can't stand being in here!

This is only a search of one side, there are still three other border edges that have not been checked. I hope the clues about the light gap are found soon, so we don't have to check the edges of the other boundary. Unfortunately, as far as this dark passageway traverses, not even a speck of light has been found. Once we met, it wasn't the light we wanted.

Our steps stopped. A pair of orange light spots flashed dozens of meters ahead. In a pinch like this meeting orange light it is not at all a good thing. It's pekaka! The devil who created this world is ready to execute us. The whimper that barely escaped the throat immediately swallowed me back. The eagle held my mouth tight.

“Do not make a sound!” low whispers. I just gulped.

“Listen, he can't hurt you with that form, the one the devil is after me. Let me first,” whisik Sakti, “a few more steps turn left, the end of this hallway leads to the main page. You two take cover in the room, okay?”

The eagle answered with action. He pulled me away towards the path that Sakti had directed. A moment later came the wind and the commotion followed. I hope Sakti can still do a lot of things with that little wiggle room. Hopefully he can escape danger.

The mouth of the hallway we were supposed to be out in was covered in wooden planks. The eagle immediately smashed it in one kick. Something more shocking intercepted both of us.

A group of monsters surrounded us.

I soon realized something. Sakti's same Sectional words and worries ring in my ears. About lost souls who end before the third full moon. If I can beg, I don't want tonight to be my last episode.

.Seriate.

Okay, Shira nego. What is author must, :v?