The Way Back Home's
Walk Out
“I hope you joke about the latter,” said Farrell, still glancing down the aisle.
“Ngak. But, if we stay here. That could have happened. They have a keen sense of smell especially when it comes to blood.” Christo glanced at his wound.
“We can't get out now but they can get in here, like that?”
“We can get out and they can get in here. I think it's more precise. Getting out is riskier for us. Staying here is safer while praying that they don't come.”
“If wolves really enter from that passageway, we will not be able to run. We're like rats in a cage.” Farrell circulated his gaze around. The way out of there is only one. While folding his hands, Farrell muttered, “There must be another way out. I don't want to wait all night here with danger that can come in at any time.”
“If we can magic, we can fight them. The wolf is easy to beat, the people said.”
“But, you said you couldn't magic.”
“Indeed. I studied since childhood and never managed to control magic even if the spell was true. Sorry disappointed. I'm really not talented about this.”
“My fingers!”
Christo frowning. “What?”
“You learned from childhood and know the correct mantra. Teach me magic.”
Christo laughs instead, “You're going to get us both toasted. Magic is not that easy to use. A little wrong and we both get killed. I'm not going to risk it.”
“How about magic tools? You don't have anything with magical powers?”
“There. Rope that can extend to hundreds of meters and paper that can write itself.”
Farrell scolded. “Then, we should think of another way— Wait! This place is on the edge of a cliff, how did the witches get here? Is there a big way here?”
“There are only trails. The nearest town is located about thirty kilometers from here. No one wants to walk from there.”
“Then, they must have used another trick. Teleport or portal, maybe?”
Christo nodded. “Your guess is right, there's a magic portal near here. The portal was directly connected to the city. We can secure ourselves, find lodging there, devise a plan to return here tomorrow morning. Only, there are two problems. One, the portal was also outside the boundary of the protective statue. Two, only witches can use it.”
“Just witch. What do you mean?”
“Only those who know the portal spell can pass.”
“Let me guess. You know the spell but never managed to use it.”
“Nine of the ten trials, I went somewhere else. Just a few kilometers from the original coordinates. Worst of all, I once landed on the brink. Look on the bright side, at least I managed to move my body, intact.”
Farrell rolled his eyeballs. Christo's words horrified him. Forcing Christo to use magic will only lead him to another danger. He wants a solution with the smallest risk. “So, there is not a single magic that you can do correctly?”
“Actually there is one. Magnifying magic. I can make something so many times bigger. Unfortunately, I think that magic is useless right now.”
Farrell circulated a glance and smiled knotfully. His eyes looked at Gizmo who was looking at the two of them. Christo turned his head, following Farrell's gaze. Without needing to ask, Christo could guess what Farrell was thinking.
Christo shakes. “You don't think to— “
“I don't think I'll like this idea.”
Christo doesn't know what poisoned his mind until he finally indulges Farrell's idea. First, they had to get out of the cave. The cave has only one road with torches along the wall. Each time they stepped, the torches would light up on their own and then extinguish as they moved away.
“What is this real fire?” ask Farrell.
“Strue or not, which definitely do not touch with bare hands.”
Farrell felt the temperature around him begin to drop rapidly. His own breath began to emit white smoke. Faintly, he also felt a soft gust of air from the front. Maybe a sign that they're getting closer to the exit. There is also a voice. The sound of the wind roaring loudly. Either the weather is as bad as what awaits them on the other end.
“You're not cold?” farrell asked, glancing at the clerk beside him. Christo was only wearing a thin white coat and gloves.
“I've ever felt a cold worse than this.”
“So, Eden’s Lodge is indeed frequented by snowstorms?”
“I guess because it is located between two worlds, the weather here is unstable. They trigger strong winds and snow.”
Both keep moving. Farrell began to feel tired and sleepy attacking. He brushed both of them off with self-suggestion. In his place, it was still noon. It's not midnight yet and it's not time for bed yet, Farrell repeatedly talks to himself while circulating his gaze to ward off boredom.
Gizmo was in front of them. He flew from one stalagmite to another while waiting for them to approach. “Tell me about Gizmo,” pinta Farrell.
“He's my pet owl. I found it in the woods near the inn a few years ago. Looks like she's separated from her mother. So, I took him and I kept him there. I like birds. Eagle, owl, penguin.”
“I don't see penguins near here.”
Christo just grunted amusedly. “What do you think we are?”
Hearing this story, Farrell understood why Gizmo wanted to accompany them even to escape. Apparently Gizmo Christo's personal pet. It reminds him of something else. “When Gizmo saw me in the dining room, did she tell you?”
“Of course. If not, I will not run there. Denise knows that the three of you don't know about the door and the wizarding world. That's an advantage to him. He also forbade all employees from telling you. Even if setting up William is a bit difficult.”
“I now understand William's strange remarks,” sighed Farrell. Whether intentionally or not, William often misspoke. “Christo, why did father and uncle never tell us?”
“I know your father. I'm sure he'll tell me after the right time. This magical world is dangerous, especially for a child. If your uncle..” Christo stops for a moment. “I don't think your uncle is as good as you've ever imagined. He fought many times with your father.”
“But, they always look fine. Wh why? Is it because you want to see us always get along? I remember my father repeatedly telling us to look after each other, to love each other, to care for each other. How bad is your brother, he remains family.”
Christo stopped suddenly. Farrell didn't notice until a few steps ahead. When he turned around, he stopped too. Before long, Christo sighed and looked at him. “Thank God you understand that. It's nice to have a warm family.”
“You haven't told me about your family—”
“Ayo, fast! The exit is near.” Christo did not let Farrell finish his sentence and instead cut it off. He swung a step faster until he got ahead of Farrell.
