Emersyn went down a flight of frozen stairs with the men behind her and Althas in front, lighting their way. The ice was deeper than she thought. She sighed in relief once her feet stepped on the stone staircase. They went down deeper and the temperature was getting warmer. Yao Yun took off one layer of his clothing and hang it on his arm. Emersyn only had two layers, so she didn't bother. Once they arrived at the foot of the stairs, Emersyn could finally see the blinding light of the city.
"Stay here for a moment," Althas said to Emersyn and Yao Yun. "We are just going to take permission for you to enter the city."
Yao Yun nodded while Emersyn just looked around. The Locruna men stepped out then approached the guards with Althas. They talked for a long time then Althas gestured at them to stay put for a while.
"Here."
Somehow, Emersyn was already eating a sandwich she made and offered Yao Yun a basket filled with assortments of sandwiches and desserts.
"What is this for?"
"They will take a long time. If you want a heavy meal, I could cook some for you. Oh right! I should ferment some vegetables while I am at it."
"Can I join?" Yao Yun smiled as he accepted Emersyn's basket and ate one sandwich.
"Sure."
Emersyn took out a table and settled spices and a lot of spicy pastes and powder. She retrieved vegetables then began mixing the sauce along with Yao Yun. They worked as if they were already used to it and finished a lot of the fermented vegetables. After cleaning up, they sat down on the ground and ate sweets. Then, Nico arrived with a bright smile.
"Emersyn! Yun!"
"Sir Nico," Yao Yun stood up to greet him, leaving Emersyn munching silently on the ground.
"..." Nico stared at Emersyn with disbelief and surprise.
"Sir Nico?"
"Ah. Yes! Oh, yes. I am here to retrieve you two. The Elder is willing to meet you, Emersyn."
Emersyn stopped munching then nodded her head. She swallowed then grabbed Yao Yun's wrist and pulled him towards where Nico came from.
"Eh?! Eh. Eh?! Wait! Emersyn?! Why am I going too?!"
"I came to protect you, so you are coming with me."
"..." Nico was left speechless.
For some reason, he was the one following the woman as she navigated through the halls and arriving in front of a stone wall. She turned to look at Nico then faced back with Yao Yun. He understood, then pushed the button that opened the door to the room. When Emersyn heard the slidding of the stone, she turned around then entered, pulling Yao Yun in the process. The room was clean and the decoration was simple. The Locruna men with them earlier were also standing at one side of the room. There was a table before her and an elderly man sitting on his swivel chair. He smiled at Emersyn then gestured at her to sit before him. However, the woman made Yao Yun sit on the guest's chair.
"I'm sorry, Elder, but this man is my master in the meantime."
"Oh! Is that so…," the Elder smiled then locked his gaze with Yao Yun. "I heard all about it. You want me to help your people that would come out of this so-called Central Marsh, right?"
"Yes, that would be so."
"We can certainly do that."
Yao Yun's eyes twinkled then leaned over towards the Elder.
"However..."
His eyes sank.
"We have a condition. We want Miss Emersyn in exchange of our hospitality to the Central Marsh. They could live here for hundreds and thousands of years, I can guarantee that. As long as Miss Emersyn is at our side."
Clearly, the Elder was talking down to Yao Yun, who was only a dust before his eyes. Emersyn inwardly clicked her tongue then released her boundless energy in the room. This foreign force kept them from moving or even breathing as their faces went pale. Yao Yun grabbed Emersyn's hand and caressed it gently.
"Emersyn, calm down."
"I am calm."
"Deep breaths."
"Hooo…," Emersyn took back her energy then the atmosphere went back to normal. They could finally breathe, hunching.
"Miss… Miss Emersyn… please… calm your anger. We are just merely suggesting."
Emersyn's red eyes glinted under the light and it gave them fear that they couldn't comprehend. She scoffed then fell back behind Yao Yun.
"If I may be so pretentious, I want to leave this instance," she said as she touched Yao Yun's shoulder which the man reciprocated. "We will find a way to help our people. Without your help."
"Wait… wait! We are apologizing for that, Madame Emersyn. We didn't mean to. So, please! Stay with us! It isn't an order, but a plea!"
Emersyn gazed at Yao Yun who nodded.
"Emersyn will help you until we found our foothold."
"Yes! We will do that! Please, Althas, guide our precious guests to their quarters."
"Yes," Althas bowed with his hand on his chest then turned to look at Emersyn and Yao Yun with warm eyes. "Please follow me."
Once they left, the Elder collapsed on his chair as he heaved. The fine young men that stayed with him gave him wry smiles as their tension loosened, their knees about to give up. Fortunately, Emersyn was benevolent and retrieved back her power immediately, though Yao Yun was the one they were indebted to. He calmed down the terrifying woman and saved their asses from certain death.
"We… have to be careful around that woman…," the Elder mumbled as he tried to regain his footing. "We have to make sure that she will stay here. Until she dies."
***
"This room is for Emersyn and the one beside it would be Yun's. If you ever need anything, you can come down and feel free to take anything you needed," Althas said as he gestured at the doors that were two meters apart. "I will go now. If we ever need your help, Emersyn, we will be at your door."
"Mhm," Emersyn mumbled as she opened the door to her room.
"See you, sir Althas," Yao Yun bid goodbye then entered his room.
Althas smiled wryly then sighed as soon as the two disappeared from his sight. He didn't want to do this… but he had to. Turning around, he left the vicinity.
Emersyn retrieved the tupperwares she bought and then opened it. The smell of fermented radish and green onion was so appetizing that she almost drooled. She selected two whole cartons of milk and lots of mushrooms on the screen in front of her then pressed the buy button. The items appeared before her in wraps. Thankfully, there was a kitchen and oven in her room. She took out a pot then sautéed minced ginger, diced onions and cut up mushrooms. Bacons cut up in bite size were added then came the two cartons of milk then five slices of cheese. Bring to a soft boil then add five cups of rice then mix. Once it was done, she made five servings of kimchi fried rice then went out of her room to go to Yao Yun's.
"Eh? Emersyn? Is something wrong?"
"I brought dinner."
"Oh! Come in!" Yao Yun smiled brightly then arranged the tablewares on the clean table.
Emersyn took out one two plates and tupperwares then settled them on the table. Yao Yun rubbed his hands together, thanked Emersyn for cooking the delicious food then ate. The female smiled as she watched Yao Yun eat in his heart's content, his eyes widening whenever he tried the fermented vegetables with the risotto.
"You eat well," Emersyn uttered as she took a bite.
"Because this is the best!"
"What is? Eating?"
"Yes! Eating with someone… someone who resembled the one I only love..."
Emersyn's hand, that was holding a spoon, stopped in midair as her eyes stared at Yao Yun's embarrassed ones.
"When I finally reached the Gold-level, I was ecstatic to finally go out of the Central Marsh and then find her. Did you know that if you think about the person you want to be with while going in the Divine Lightning Barrier, you will be transported to where that person is? Of course not… you're new…. I was crestfallen when I was suddenly sent back to the Central Marsh and knew that instant that the barrier stopped functioning."
He took a bite, chewed and swallowed.
"It… has been two, no, three years since she was gone. Then, you came. I saw you got thrown out of a portal then I mistook you for that very person. It must be a grace! I thought, so, I invited you to where she once lived. The more I see you, the more I see the resemblance…. But, alas, I am wrong. You are a different entity than her. So, I just have to accept that I would never meet her again."
Emersyn nodded empathetically then served more rice to Yao Yun.
"... but, but I can't help mistaking you for her…. I'm sorry, Emersyn..."
"It's fine, Yao Yun. I'm sure she would be watching you from afar, no, maybe she is already close to you."
Yao Yun smiled then nodded.
"Thank you for listening to my troubles."
"No worries. It is perfectly fine. I ordered a few strawberry and mango cakes here. Do you want some?"
"Cakes?! I'd be delighted!"
Emersyn smiled as she saw how Yao Yun's sadness lifted. She took out two whole cakes then gave the man a small plate and a fork.
"Which do you want first?"
"I haven't tasted this mango yet."
"Coming right up!"
They enjoyed a hearty dessert then Emersyn bid goodbye after drinking warm milk with cinnamon with Yao Yun. She went back to her room then flopped down on the soft bed. Her eyes naturally went to the window, but she couldn't see a speck of nature's wonders. Only the stone ceiling of the whole city. Tomorrow… would be a busy day, she was sure of it.