"She's nowhere to be found" I mumbled. "Did we make a wrong turn?" Kirt asked. "Nope, this place is right, isn't it Reina-chan?" I stated.
"Yeah, this place is right. But the structures are kinda different" Reina stated. "Let me see" I stated, as I hold out my hand to her.
I mumbled, "What the heck does this mean?"
*
"Ed, are you there?" Gino knocked at my room. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "You, as well, why are you at your room?" He asked.
I answered, "The infirmary had too many students who was heavily injured at the semi-finals and preliminaries. Plus, this place makes me relax"
"I see…" Gino mumbled. He gasped. "That's not what matters now!" He suddenly exclaimed, as I jolted.
"You see, we went to the place you told us to go" Gino started. "Did you found the two?" I asked.
Gino shook his head, "They were nowhere to be found"
What..?! But the detector stated they were.
"Also, Ed" Gino called. "What?" I asked. "The structures of the place we arrived at were different with what was written on the thing you gave us" Gino explained.
"Huh? That's impossible…" I mumbled.
"Where are the others now?" I asked. "The others split into two and is searching around that place, and I am here to inform you" Gino said.
"Different structures, huh?" I mumbled. "Did you notice something?" Gino asked. "No, not yet…" I mumbled.
I am sure that the map written on the detector I created is correct. Then, why was it different in reality?
Is there some kind of illusion magic casted upon that place?
"Gino, was there some kinda strange feeling when going to that place, like feeling nauseous or something?" I asked.
"Now you said it, I kinda remember feeling like some of my ether was taken, what about it?" Gino stated. "Ether being taken..?" I mumbled.
Is that what it means?
But, that is impossible, after all…
I laughed.
"What's wrong, Ed? Have you gone nuts?" Gino asked. "Maybe, I am" I mumbled, as I smiled happily and a bit scared, at the same time.
I don't want to think so, but my mind is telling me so…
"Gino, we'll be going!" I stated, as I got off my bed. "Eh? Where?" He asked. "To where Fiore and the others are, of course!" I answered.
Gino gasped. "Mmkay!" He nodded, as he followed me.
"Ed, did you get it?" Gino asked.
"Kinda" I mumbled. "It's more of a speculation. But I have too many proofs, even though I don't want my speculation to be true"
Gino spoke, "Hurry up and explain it to me!" He looked at me with eyes shining.
I sighed.
"You remember the condition of Anna and Reina's room?" I asked. "Yeah, it was tidy and somehow it kinda stink" Gino stated.
I nodded. "At first, I thought that Lux pooped at their room, accidentally. That's why it stinks and that Anna was kidnapped outside their room. But I was wrong" I stated.
"What do you mean you're wrong?" Gino asked. I looked at him, as I smirked.
I spoke, "The reason it stinks was because of the "kidnapper" who took Anna and Lux" Gino gasped. "Wait, I get that part… but, what about it?" He asked.
"Then let me ask you, if you are suddenly carried while sleeping or even touched just a bit, wouldn't you wake up?" I stated. "Well, yeah" Gino nodded.
"Anna's bed was messy, so I assumed she woke up and tried to fight the kidnapper. But, she didn't manage to win. More or less, she got carried easily" I stated.
Gino mumbled, "If it is someone who can carry Anna easily, then it is a man" He gasped. "But, if it is a man, Anna wouldn't be able to fight him, like what you're saying, Ed"
"Well, it is likely out of reflex and fear that she managed to fight back" I stated. "Out of reflex, huh?" Gino mumbled.
"Gino, if your mouth is grabbed by someone, what would you do?" I asked. "Of course, I would bite that someone's hand" Gino stated.
"If you do so, the predicted actions will be the back off of that someone and the happening of fighting, then that wouldn't explain the fact that the room was tidy" I stated.
Gino nodded. "Maybe the kidnapper cleaned the room!" Gino stated. "Does he have any reasons to do so?" I asked. "No…" Gino whimpered.
"But, everything would fit in if the "Kidnapper" is a Demon" I stated. "If it was a Demon, Anna wouldn't be able to bite his hand, since Demons are dirty and they stink" Gino stated.
"And they don't feel such little pain" I added.
I stated, "It would explain why the room stinks. Surely, Anna tried to fight back. After all, her bed was in a mess"
"She bit the Demon. But, the Demon didn't feel such pain. So, the fight didn't happen, which would explain why the room was clean" Gino added.
"Exactly, let's say that Lux got included. Since, he probably tried to attack the demon, but it didn't work" I said.
"It will fit, but that is only possible if the barrier isn't casted upon all realms, Ed" Gino stated.
"What if it had a small hole then they managed to enter through? Even, I don't want to think so, but it is the only possibility Gino" I stated.
When we arrived to where Fiore and the others were, Russell and Forth weren't there. But we explained everything to Fiore, Reina and Kirt already.
"I see… So, you're saying that the Demon put on a barrier that teleports us out of the place near where Anna and Lux is" Fiore stated.
"Or, there is something he's trying to have us find for him" I said. "What do you mean?" Fiore asked.
"He can just teleport us out to the city, but this place where we are right now is near to where Anna and Lux are in" I explained.
"So you're saying that he's keeping us here, because he has something for us to find?" Fiore confirmed. "Yeah, but I don't know what that is" I said.
"Maybe it is a Lost Logia" Fiore stated. "Lost Logia..?" I mumbled.
"Lost Logia is what they call…" When Fiore was about to explain, Forth and Russell had arrived back from their search.
"It is what they call remnants of the Demons that infiltrated this Realm, during the second holy war. They are known to be extinct now" Forth appeared out of nowhere.
Remnants of the Demons..?
Wait, I remember Fiore telling me about that.
He said that there are 8 well-known Lost Logia, which nearly destroyed the whole world and killed humanity.
Forth spoke, "I did say that these remnants are already extinct. Though, it seems that some are still here like this." He showed us a flute made from bones.
"A Flute?" Gino mumbled.
And it is not a mere flute, but is a flute made from bones. Are those human bones? It kinda seems familiar, though.
"I'm sure this is the Serenade, isn't it?" Fiore said. "I think so" Forth nodded. "Serenade you mean love song?" Reina stated.
"Yes, this is a flute that was created for a famous musician, back then. Didn't think this still exists, though?" Fiore stated.
Why did he just talk as if he was there during the long time ago he just stated?
Plus, made for a famous musician… I'm a bit surprised that "that" musician accepted this flute that is made from bones.
Is it made from the bones of an important person or something like that?
Wait, I naturally thought of that. But, would a normal person request for someone's bones to be used to make a flute?
I sighed. "Is something the matter, Ed?" Fiore asked. "No, it's nothing" I answered, as I looked at him.
Ah, right.
This flute named "Serenade" is written in the book, entitled "Seven".
There it was written as a flute that sucks the ether of those who listen to it, a cursed flute. Just by playing this flute can kill thousands and maybe millions.
And, Fiore did tell me a story about this kind of flute, back then. He always told me stories he made up, with some being based on true stories, as a way to pass time.
So, that's why it was a bit nostalgic.
Reina called me, "Ed"
"What is it?" I gasped. "I was wondering but, perhaps, this is the one the Demon is trying to have us find" She stated.
"Probably, but why did he have to kidnap Anna and Lux just to use us in finding this?" Fiore stated.
That one, I don't know.
Surely, the objective of the Demon is to kill everyone in this city, since that will give him a large amount of ether, assuming the number of people here right now.
But, did he have to use us just to find this?