The Ace Of Disasters
Episode 3
The mulberry hotel is close to the Cathedral Bridge. The building is also quite large. It was obvious that the hotel was quite crowded. Filled with people carrying large suitcases. Ayhner continued to cross paths with the hotel attendant who was walking hurriedly around him. I don't know what they're doing. But it seems, they are very busy today.
Ayhner climbed one by one the steps covered with a red carpet and a ladder handle lined with varnish. However, just a few steps he walked past him, a monster trap was accidentally stepped on by him.
However, lucky he immediately pulled his foot before finally the red rope that appeared from inside the stairs tied him up and dragged him into the stairs. And just maybe, those unwanted problems happened if he was caught now.
Ayhner was delighted that her arrival was met by an unexpected trap by her. His smile was formed so knowing, Master Luois was watching him somewhere. ”Sugly welcome. I really appreciate it.”
...~o0o~...
”What does that mean? He asked me to come by at 8pm? Does he know what he will experience?”
Eldric was still paying attention to the piece of paper that Ayhner had put in his pocket. He started thinking about saying this to Aciel and Ivonne. However, behind the paper it turns out that it says, ”Don't tell anyone about this.”
It clearly made Eldric flustered as if Ayhner wanted him to come alone to it. Ayhner also did not write that he had to come alone or bring troops to the place and did not write whether this meeting was dangerous or not.
However, what Eldric had in mind right now was just a child as small as Ayhner, it was impossible to make a big problem to the point of sacrificing lives. But, it felt like he still had to fight about yesterday's events. As for the gunman who wanted to kill Ayhner before the end, his Father and Aunt started to move to protect him.
”Ahh! Why can't I think of anything other than this?!”
Eldric's mind slowly began to fall apart as if Ayhner had mastered himself with the various puzzles he provided. Why did he have to come there and why did Ayhner trust him so much? He may not have fulfilled the call in his letter and chose to take care of his affairs. But, if it had been like this, he couldn't possibly destroy his trust right?!
”Yoo, Young master Hanley. What are you doing alone here?” Ivonne greeted from behind while patting him on the shoulder as he was next to her.
His arrival made Eldric a little surprised and immediately looked at him. ” Miss Leory? Why come to town alone nights like this?” he said while keeping the paper in his pocket.
Ivonne sighed. ”... I'm looking for Ayhner. Since this morning, he has not been home.”
”Is he really like that?”
”Yes, that's it. It had been five years ago that he was hooked on killing the monsters and zombies he saw. If not for his mother who ended up being a monster meal, maybe he would have been a good boy and would not have acted casually.”
Eldric looked a little surprised to hear his story. It was as if she had not expected Ayhner's mother to also be a victim of these two human species. It was only fair to see his face, Eldric always saw Ayhner's side that had a strong will. However, on the other hand he also had a bad past and it happened right before his eyes.
”Then, every time he is always in danger?”
”Not really. He only killed the monsters or zombies he saw or invited him to a place. Sometimes, he also always played around in the city alone. I don't know what he's doing here until he doesn't feel at home living in his own house.”
The inviting word, instantly began to disturb Eldric's mind. The invitation that came this afternoon using a puppet, began to provoke Eldric's suspicion. In his mind, he was very considerate, don't tell me that the invitation was an invitation from a monster or a zombie who wanted to avenge him for killing their species? As it turned out, his thought of a 14-year-old who was unlikely to bring trouble even to the point of risking a life was completely wrong!
Ayhner said to meet him immediately at the cathedral bridge at 8 p.m. And now it's showing 7, 55 minutes. He only had five minutes to arrive on time. Of course he also did not know what kind of trouble could possibly happen if he arrived late.
”Nona Leory, let me find her. You just go home. It is very dangerous if a woman wanders around on nights like this.” Eldric advised.
”Heh? You consider me a woman? I can still find it myself even though it has to be until midnight.”
”Ya, already. I'm asking for help to get Miss Leory home soon. I'll find him soon and drive him back.”
Quickly, Eldric immediately ran away leaving her as soon as he was done with his words. While Ivonne was confused to see it as if she was trying to hide something from him. Luckily the streets around him look lonely so to run was not a problem for him.
There are only two minutes left to get to the bridge. The distance from the bridge is quite far. It takes at least five minutes to get there by running. It's too late. If only he had not taken the time to think or talk to Ivonne, he would have already gotten to that place.
On the other hand, Ayhner was opening a hotel room door that was different from the others. The door looks big and heavy with a thick wood width. Once inside, he had seen some shelves filled with books and even some books were deliberately placed under the shelf because they did not fit. Although his surroundings looked neat and spotless, he still smelled the scent of blood that was all around him.
In front of the window that was emitting a full moonlight, a throne chair was parked there with a long-haired male sitting there looking at him. He held a sharpened knife and several shapelessly torn books under his feet.
”You look like you're depressed huh, old man.” welcome Ayhner, not far from the locked door.
”I don't like it when you match me with the human species. Because after all, I am a child of man.”
”You refuse to accept your destiny. The monster that passed the disease on to you was Alzert. A powerful and always loyal monster became my subordinate. It seemed that he had made a mistake while searching for food. She didn't expect you to stab her heart while she was eating your mom.”
Luois paused by putting her knife under the window. ”... I'll give you a chance to live. The monsters here are very impervious to seeing your whereabouts and are eager to kill you. But, if you willingly become my subordinate and continue to serve me, I will ask them not to kill you. How?”
Ayhner paused for a moment and thought about it. ”... A good deal. I can't believe you really appreciate my life. But, compared to being a monster, I would rather die. And, no one has the right to be above me.”
After speaking, Ayhner directly took out a knife from within his robe and moved to attack Luois from the front. However, his movements were restrained by a transparent wall that blocked him.
”You don't really appreciate your own life, apparently. Then I will fulfill your word. Die now!”
Ayhner was surprised to see the side of the window showing a man wearing a black hood behind him lighting a match. Quickly, he immediately turned his head back and saw the rope grenade that would blow it up if the thing were to actually catch fire. He turned his head back towards Luois. And it turned out, the body he saw had changed with the same doll he had seen this afternoon.
”You really want to see me die huh?” Ayhner grinned.
The man opened his hood and after he showed his face, it turned out that he was Luois. ”... I just want to see if your movements can be as fast as Alzert to avoid a bomb that will destroy your entire body.”
The doll sitting on the throne seat immediately tied itself to Ayhner, along with the fall of a match that lit up on a cable connected to the doll.
In just a few seconds, the bomb exploded and destroyed the entire room, burning it to ashes. As the smoke and debris had stopped falling, Luois who was still there no longer saw Ayhner in front of her. The boy seemed to plunge into the river.
Not passing by from those seconds, Eldric came to the cathedral bridge and already saw an explosion that occurred in one of the rooms in the mulberry hotel. The explosion sent debris from the building falling into the river. From a considerable distance, Eldric was able to see a human figure who also fell along with the fragments of the building.
At that moment, he immediately knew that it was Ayhner. Quickly, he immediately ran up to her and as Ayhner was about to land on the surface of the river, he immediately threw himself into a sizable river.
It was a little difficult for him to find Ayhner amidst the rubble of the building that also fell into the river. Not to mention, the water currents that pulled it deeper into the riverbed. He must quickly find Ayhner before he himself runs out of breath.
”I can't move anymore.”
Slowly, Eldric began to give up on continuing to swim. Simultaneously, he saw a blood clot swimming in the water. Of course, this blood came from Ayhner's body drowning in the river. Quickly, Eldric went back to swimming, following the blood clot that guided him.
Eldric felt his lungs were no longer strong to hold his breath while his mouth was already filled with water. In fact, a little more he almost grabbed Ayhner who he had found a while ago.
”Did you just get here?”
Suddenly, Eldric felt a hand thrust that helped him move quickly. Instantly, he managed to grab Ayhner's hand then directly pulled her away towards the surface. Not infrequently, Eldric continued to be hit by fragments of buildings to make him injured and have bruises.
It was not until a minute that Eldric finally managed to bring Ayhner out of the river. He felt so relieved that he was finally able to breathe again. Ayhner closed his eyes because he drank too much water.
Eldric immediately moved quickly to help him. Seeing him not breathing, Eldric pressed his chest until water came out of his mouth. Not yet there, he also gave an artificial breath until he was finally able to breathe again.
His fingers slowly showed movement despite looking slow. Eldric was relieved. Because if he's a second late, Ayhner might not survive. ”Thank God I came in time.”
PLAKK!!!
From his sleeping position, Ayhner immediately slapped Eldric's face with the rest of his strength. With a look of annoyed face and breath still panting, he said, ”Stupid! You're so late! It's different from my original plan.”
Ayhner fell back asleep as soon as she finished saying her sentence as if giving Eldric no time to answer it. Eldric was surprised to get that slap. However, on the other hand he was also happy because he could save his life even at the end of time. After this, he had to take her home and fulfill his promise to Ivonne.
On the part of the mulberry hotel that was hollowed out by the explosion, Luois stood there and watched the two of them even though the distance had to cross the width of the river. The regret was clearly visible on his face. However, he kept thinking of interesting things that he would design later.
”The son of man did not realize that what he had saved was a monster. I have to make her realize that she will be the next victim.”
