The laughter accompanied with shared experiences are echoing inside the queen's hive – which treated home. Voices of different intonations sing as it glees towards the reunion of their comrades who just went back from a dangerous mission. Different foods were prepared to sooth the starving stomach of the heroes. With the abundance of the marsh, hunting for fresh foods are nothing but an easy task. The lights glittered with happiness as kisses and hugs exhibited to show the bond they had when they were still in their past world. Some are sitting on the golden chairs made of hardened nectars and some are just standing, while they talk and laugh to their hearts content.
Alex hoped that this happiness could last a lifetime, no monsters, no sudden conflicts, barbaric methods. Just coexist with the nature again. But Alex knew that idea will remain only in his dreams as new conflicts arise if what his friend, Christian is telling, is true.
Kent noticed Alex, who were sitting at the corner, looking at the others as they continue to celebrate. "You seem to be thinking a lot." Kent said as she sat beside him.
Alex stopped his thoughts from working and looked towards the class mayor who helped so much for them to be victorious. Alex gave out an awkward chuckle, "I don't know. I just can't stop thinking about what Christian had said. Do you think there's a reason why we were transported here?" he asked.
"Everything has a reason, Alex. We just don't know what that is, but apparently everything has." Kent replied, while she sipped a glass of water, she's currently holding.
Alex sighed, "What about that Sarawal, Christian was talking about? Do you think it's true?" he asked.
"Hmmm, that I don't know. Well if it is and it is indeed from one of us, then he must have possessed powers that even the guardians feared." Kent replied.
"When I first got here, I thought I could finally live happily in this land, but it turned out we came for something else." He sighed as he moved his eyes, looking at the gold-plated floor.
Kent chuckled, "An oasis in the middle of the desert."
Alex looked at Kent, confused, "What do you mean?"
"One of us would eventually become the person who will bring a great impact in this world. The question is, will it be peace of chaos?" Kent said, sipping another drink from the glass she holds. "That person can become an oasis if he/she tries to save this world, and an unending desert if he/she don't. I just hope that person chooses the former." Kent said as she stood up, "We have to tell them the situation we're possibly in. Ignorance is something we can't dare to choose." And she walked after she smiled towards Alex who was left sitting still in the corner.
Kent's right. If that person really existed, and in one of us. He/she should be the savior of this world. Alex thought and he immediately followed Kent who gathered everyone around for an announcement.
Everyone stopped talking as they witness Kent gesturing everyone to listen. Different murmurs are escalating as they expect something was going on and not just an announcement of appreciation and victory.
"We have something to say to you, everyone." Kent announced.
Everyone looked at their class mayor with deep interest as they stopped any unnecessary movements and listened attentively.
Kent proceeded with the very start, when they left the hive, Noel's disappearance, Christian's abduction, the eartheaters, Rabi, the carthae, and the battle of the turtle monster. "We really thought that the battle with the monster would be the conclusion of our demise in this land, after we defeated the queen bee, but it didn't end as we thought it to be.
"You mean there's another?" Jimmy asked.
Kent nodded, "When Christian was abducted, he met someone. Someone powerful, from the void."
"So, someone the same with that Rabi you mentioned earlier?" Matt asked, trying to clear his thoughts.
"Yes." Kent replied.
"You see, there are guardians in this place, one from each world. Rabi is from this, and Ranthi – the name of the one from the void. We haven't met the others of course, but it's clearly that there are eight lands which possess different creatures along with it." Kent explained.
"What about this Ranthi? What's the deal with her?" Now, it's Jessie that is talking.
"Ranthi said, according to Christian that one of us possess what she called the Sarawal or the one true shape. She also said it started when we were transported in this world." Kent explained, trying her best to inform the others the kind of situation they now belong.
"So, we weren't just kids who were poisoned for fun? We ought to be something big?" Emily said in disbelief.
Kent nodded, "This Sarawal tend to be the reason why the boarders of each habitat were weakened as tunnels appeared connecting all eight of them. Of course, you might think, there's no reason to be alarmed since they are just tunnels, that also means we can explore other places other than the marshes, but no. The threat is, that when this happens, creatures of divine origins will start to appear to – I don't know, destroy the world?" Kent added.
Alex interrupted, "If these creatures are a threat to the guardians, who are powerful enough to be one. Then, there's no reason for us to feel safe and treat this as no more than a trivial matter."
Everyone started to mumble as they pose their own opinions and suggestions on the matter. The supposed ecstatic reunion was soon engulfed with the matter of another discussion of survival. Hours have passed since they decided to end the meeting and put on suggestions on fixed planning on the matter.
"So, what do we do now?" asked Lyka who seemed stressed.
Well, I can't blame her feeling that. Alex thought as he stole a little gaze to his classmate when she talked.
"These tunnels, how many are these, that are situated only in the marshland?" Jimmy asked, alarmed.
"We still don't know, but I hope there's only one. In that way, we can guard and safeguard this land from possible threats, coming from other habitats." Alex said.
"Then we must locate it right away!" shouted Jessie.
Kent knew the gravity of the situation, and sending troops to guard the tunnel or tunnels will be the best choice to lessen the possible damage of creatures coming from the other side. But Alex knew they were still powerless to put a strong team to guard the tunnel, they don't know what kind or creatures, lurking beyond other places. Without proper preparations, it might turn out to be their deaths.
"No." Alex interrupted, "we can't now. We're weak and powerless. We can't send those who just acquired powers carelessly. We need to acquire more. This land is big, we met other creatures, creatures that also possess injections that can give you their animal traits. I know someone who can locate the tunnels and safeguard it for us for the meantime, until we get strong." Alex added.
Everyone agreed, they're still weak. They are currently training, but facing monsters with innate powers are not a battle they can carelessly participate and expect themselves to win. They need to acquire those powers from the creatures, even if it means killing them.
"How are we going to locate creatures with powers in this marshland? it's too big." Said Jay.
"I'll send my worker bees for help. These creatures are small and hard for monster to see. With our own mode of communication, their reports should be enough for us to know what kind of monster it is so that we can prepare and send people who can defeat it." Kent said, making use of her powers as she ensured everyone that they can get stronger, together.
The golden cloud of what looked like a storm were released by Kent as countless bees went swiftly outside the hive, scattered throughout the marshland as they locate every monster who can become their strength as they absorb their powers.
Everyone was amazed by the display of Kent's powers as thousands of bees flew away from the hive and into the marshes.
"We will wait, till we get news from my bees. Till then, let us make preparations as we train ourselves, physically." Commanded Kent.
"I really hate P.E." said Neil who were average when we talk about body sizes. Everyone laughed. "Oh, don't be, Neil. Treat this activity as a preparation for your glow up." Emily joked. Neil gave out a chuckle, "I just hope so."
"Let's rest for now, and return to our task tomorrow morning. Unlike in our past world, I expect everyone to not be late because, we are now living together and our lives are at stake. Are we all clear?!" Kent announced.
"Yes!" everybody shouted, where some continued to talk and some went immediately to their quarters, to rest.
Before they went for their mission, Kent already discussed the building of their quarters for everyone. With the help of the bees as well as their classmates, they could build it inside the hive, they also collected leaves that they used for their beds since sleeping on a hardened nectar is difficult especially to those who slept in a cushion for a very long time. Little by little, with their efforts the hive that they have been imprisoned in the past had now been their home as they continue living in this world, unsafe but surviving.
When the announcement was done, Kent approached Alex, "Who do you want to guard and locate the tunnels?" Kent asked. Alex looked at her, "Rabi. But the problem is—" Alex could not finish his sentence. "You don't know where to find her." Kent interrupted. Alex nodded, agreeing with the mayor. "I'll tell you if the bees found her, that way we can know where to go." Said Kent.
"You don't have to; I'll find her on my own." Alex replied.
"We still have the syringe from the turtle, do you want it to be yours?" Kent said.
Alex sighed, "That's selfish of me to use it without everyone asking, I'll tell them tomorrow and make my way to find Rabi, with or without the turtle monster's power." Alex said confidently, his decision cannot be halted as his voice sounded like it to Kent.
Kent just nodded, "Tell me when you need someone, I might accompany you."
"You don't need to; you're much needed here." Alex replied
"Nobody's going to lose a life, not anymore." Said Kent and went back to her quarters, to sleep and finally rest.
Not too long since Alex also decided to rest, and visit his room that they made for him. A simple room with a bed made from a hardened nectar and a cushion made from tree leaves, with a single chair and a table. Alex lied down, feeling the soft cushion as it soothes his aching back from the missions they made before coming back home.
There are still so many questions that need to be answered, but lying and resting on a bed made from the efforts of everyone should be taken into account and should be sued well, then Alex decided to close his eyes and sleep.