FORLORN IKEWA (3)
Syton kept running in circle and he doesn't even realized it. All the other deras have already been intimidated and got scared from approaching him, since they've already witnessed how fast he could move and how strong he was.
The deras doesn't even bother trying to get in his way anymore, in fact all of them squeeze themselves on the corner trying to avoid him.
They were just confuse why he keep coming back. They couldn't even breathe in relief when he ignored them and have passed through them, since they know that he would still return and they might get killed next.
"This is endless" Syton commented as he looked around his surroundings while running.
But after a few more minutes, he finally stopped running. He tried to catch some breath when he finally felt the fatigue and tiredness from running.
"This is not good" Syton said as he clenched his fist. He looked around and noticed how similar the place looked like.
"Didn't I already pass through here earlier?" he murmured.
He shook his head and kept walking instead. "This is not the time to think of unnecessary things. I must keep forward."
"My dear, I'm getting bored from watching you. Just come to my room already, darling. I keep waiting yet you keep ignoring the door to my room" A voice could be heard throughout the hallway. The deras around trembled in fear after hearing the voice. Syton got alert and searched for the source of that voice.
"Let me guide you towards your newest paradise! Just go straight from where you are then turn left. The first door on the right of the hallway is the entrance to my room"
Syton frowned but he knows that the person is the one he must defeat. He followed the direction of what the unknown voice have said.
Once he reached the door that the voice was talking about, he courageously opened it, trying to conceal the fear within him.
When he opened the door, his eyes widened at the sight of the hideous creature in front him. He gasped, not only due to fear but from disgust.
"You're finally here" the creature turned around to face Syton and smiled sweetly, which made Syton wanted to puke.
The creature didn't mind his reaction and took no offense from it. He was just admiring how beautiful the man in front of him and how useful he'd be for him.
"My name is Plegha. I'm what you called a high-ranking dera... " the dera introduced himself.
"...and you'll become one of my man from now on" the dera continued.
As soon as the dera finished, Syton become more serious. He intently looked straight to the dera's eyes, clearly not afraid on its presence.
"Where is Stalane?" he asked.
"Stalane? Oh, that girl? Hmmm" the dera pretended to think about it for a second to tease him. Syton saw how Plegha smirked at him.
"Why don't you try thinking on what I have done to her?"
Syton's shot a deadly glare and tightly gripped its sword. He did his best to not let his emotions get over him and act based on his anger. He knew that at this point, he needs to have a clear mind and calm heart. He could feel that his opponent is way out his league without the need of using notitia. One wrong move, and his head might no longer be attached on his neck.
---
Stalane went towards the entrance of rest house to retrace the things that they might've missed earlier. She once again looked at her map to confirm if she's at the right place. As far as how she could read the map, this should be really the right place. Unless she read every all wrong.
Nevertheless, she does not have any time to think. The Forlorn Ikewa is incredibly a large place and she doubts that she could search the entire place to look for the gem if her reading was wrong. All she have to do is trust that the gem is at this rest house.
Besides, there is still the another barrier that trapped them inside, other than the barrier where Syton is and which prevents her from entering to help him.
The possibility is also high since Kaleigh's clone appeared here and even somehow confirmed to her that she would still be able to locate the gem.
Without wasting any more time, she started to look around. She didn't try to run to be more faster, but tried to investigate every corner of the rest house that isn't inside of the second barrier. She easily killed the deras that are still lurking around. Although the dera doesn't seem to have any intentions to attack her anymore, she still wiped them all out to be safe.
Few hours later, Stalane finally found some significant clue.
There was some sort of puzzle piece inside of a room and when she tried to analyze it, she recall that she may have already seen it once before.
While she tried to remember where she saw a similar puzzle before, she walked around the room to find more clues. Unfortunately, that was the only one.
Out of desperation, she attempt to contact Syton one more time to check if it'll work this time. Unfortunately, it was still the same as earlier. The barrier seems really trying to isolate Syton inside without the means of contacting anyone.
Stalane brushed up her hair as she sighs. She holds the puzzle piece and tried to read the letters and numbers that were written on it.
---
On the other hand, Keigh was sitting outside the barrier of Plegha's where Stalane last left him. He watched Syton closely and observed his next move. He sometimes glance at Stalane's hologram to check up on her. It looked like Stalane was making some progress but got stuck on something.
"27 hours left" Keigh whispered before he looked up then closed his eyes. He tried to imagine on how Syton and Stalane would be able to handle their unexpected situation.