"Huff, huff, huff"
Kim Hyesung panted heavily as he looked back at the crossroad to make sure no one was following him, then he leaned against he knees and took deep breaths, he seemed to hear some message about his stamina increasing by 0.5 making laugh sardonically as he faced the seemingly mocking lava hot asphalt road, slapping his face with more heat mercilessly making him sweat harder.
Few days ago he had gotten info from his bodyguards that someone had achieved some kind of prophetic constellation's discipleship and thus were able to see and perceive things of future. From what he had heard this was just a rumour with no source.
To be honest Kim Hyesung knew that that such prophetic capabilities were fully capable of manifesting, after all nothing seemed impossible in the world which was ruled by constellations, the lot that seemed to possess legendary powers as mentioned in the long forgotten myths.
He had initially decided that it would be for his best to stay away from such early bloomers, since they were undoubtedly stronger than him currently, thus he if he could befriend them naturally it was his luck but he absolutely would not go and create trouble with them for no reason, no he would avoid doing so, not atleast until his unique talents germinates and he gains a degree of control over them.
But for some reason, trouble came to him anyway.
It seemed that the 'prophet' as everyone deemed him to be, seems to have formed what could be called a cult. From his information the prophet, before the rift, was a priestess of the temple of Indian Hindu goddess 'Aditi' who was often related to what could be defined as the human's very consciousness of the past and the future.
If Jihan would have been here he would have shivered to his core on hearing this name and would have nodded in respect towards him in acknowledgement.
Goddess Aditi, was one of the few gods who were not widely preached despite being an important goddess mentioned in the holy scriptures of Vedas, in Hinduism. Since they were close to the level of Primordials themselves.
A very fine line of difference between the majesty of constellation and Primordials could be defined as such. The constellations had to enact an entire play that was accepted by the masses to form a story, in a way it could not even be called story per say but 'history'.
While the Primordials could directly write of such stories, they had no need to prepare such elaborate history.
And this very difference in power spoke volumes and thus a constellation that was close to such level was a terrifying existence even for the Hyesung and Jinha at later stages, let alone in the very beginning when a simple thought from them was enough to their existence.
But of course, the president was unaware of such thing and felt that the prophet must have started a cult of sort with the previous fellow believers of the Goddess and was targeting him for some reason that he had no idea about, he could currently could only imagine it to be a past grudge.
'Or was it something she saw in the future?'
Sighing Hyesung looked down at his phone and took out the item he had received from Jonghyun, out of his inventory. It was an artifact in the shape of flute called 'reeds of nymph'. To be honest Hyesung felt it looked more like a broken pan flute.
The item worked like a one sided message sender as well as receiver. To explain it in simpler terms Jonghyun was the only one to receive messages while the sender could be changed as per Jonghyun's requirements and Jonghyun could not send messages to any to the receiver, he could only receive their messages.
It was in general a very unique item.
Hyesung informed Jonghyun about his location and hid himself deeply in the shadows of the towering buildings as he rested his body while wondering where did he go wrong when suddenly a shadow formed over him which chilled Hyesung's heart.
'I didn't feel any presence!'
"Are you alright?"
Looking up at the innocent girly voice Hyesung looked up reflexively and was shocked.
"Seo Jinha-ssi?"
The girl smiled at Hyesung as sweetly as sugar.
.........................
Jihan looked sideways at the boy sleeping on his shoulder, the boy's eyes were twitching maybe because of the glaring sun, his skin was red and sweaty as he quietly huffed. Jihan felt slight pity for the 8 year old as he covered him with a soft cotton clothe he was gifted by the tribe's ladies under all the village's men's watery eyes that they claimed to be just sweaty.
".....ha."
Jihan felt the little boy's around him tighten as he snuggled more closely to him. Jihan patted his back and looked back at the rope that was following him closely, maybe because he was his creator Jihan felt his emotions. The best way it could be described as was having miraculously grown a sensory organ capable of sensing the shit-coloured rope's emotion.
And right now the rope seemed anxious for the boy that Jihan was carrying while following Biru and Shiru and other members of tribe that the tribal leader allocated as his entourage.
Last night Jihan had talked to boy in his arms, according to him he was named Jiho and when the Yaonamo tribe was bringing him back the rope had 'jumped' on him out-of-nowhere and when he tried to run, it had tied itself to him.
He then had desperately begged Jihan to save him from this guy, looking at the shit-coloured rope's crestfallen expression Jihan felt quite satisfied.
Chuckling Jihan explained to Jiho about what the rope wanted making the rope quite flattered as he watched Jiho getting less guarded against him. Of course Jiho still was not comfortable enough with him yet due to his past trauma but the rope still felt gratitude towards Jihan and thus helped Jihan pull out whatever was inside the earth dragon easily.
............................
ITEM- ??? INK
RANK- ???
DESCRIPTION- ???
...............................
What came out was a ink pot of unknown name and rank but Jihan could feel the vicious aur surrounding it. Jihan asked no questions as he watched the tribal leader solemly close that little pot in a very luxurious looking box covered in gemstone.
Then that wrinkled women had given Jihan a polite smile as he immediately tasking Biru, Shiru and a few more to help Jihan to his quest and they had left immediately.
And they had been switching to walking and running since then, Jihan thanked heavens for his high stamina, the child was also carried by him since he seemed to feel most comfortable with him, which made Jihan quite surprised, after all he was not the friendliest and people seemed to stay away from him.
"We are here human."
Jihan heard Biru's proud thundering voice that woke up the sleeping Jiho on his shoulder who rubbed his eyes sleepily then flinched at the sight of the shit-coloured rope wiggling at him, but he calmed himself and hesitatingly waved back at it, overjoying the shit-brained rope into doing a mini wiggle dance.
"......"
Jihan felt disgusted.
As if feeling it's owner's emotions the rope flinched then it smacked Jihan's hands as he slithered away huffing and puffing.
Looking back towards the view Jihan was slightly at awe. Deep blue water and an island in the middle of it all. Jihan put Jiho down.
"Human, we will be swimming there."
Biru announced to which everyone started shedding their clothes. Jihan nodded in understanding then got rid of his clothes too, except for his boxers put them all in his bag and turned to Jiho.
Jiho was holding his clothes to him quietly.
'A sensible kid.'
Jihan thought as he smiled and took his clothes and put them in the bag too, then he covered it with the water proof cover.
"Oi, shitty rope."
At his calling the rope slithered over reluctantly.
"Tie us all together, you know what I mean right?"
The rope imitated a reluctant nod as he lazily slithered over and tied a knot to everyone. It was so that they don't get lost while swimming since Jihan was not the best swimmer. Then he gave Jiho a piggy back ride and the rope tied them tightly together.
"Keep your head above the water, hold me tightly."
At his words, Jiho nodded shyly as he held onto his neck tighter choking Jihan slightly.
'not so tight kid.'
To be honest Jihan had hoped that Jiho had just stayed back at the village or went his own way to the main quest but this shit coloured rope didn't allow Jiho to leave neither did it allow him to leave Jihan as he dragged him to wherever Jihan was making that poor child cry several times.
He had no idea why the rope did so but in a way he was currently stuck with this little kid and felt a sense of responsibility towards him since he too in a way was stuck with a starnger doing an unrelated quest. Thus he vowed himself to safely get this kid to the main quest area, after that he won't concern himself with him, that shitty rope could just away from him for all he cared.
Sighing at his misery Jihan turned back and cocked an eyebrow at everyone watching him curiously. He looked down at himself and then the others and realised why it was so.
Standing in front of him was a group of tall-bulky men with dark tanned tattoo covered skin white he was standing there with a pale white sickly looking body holding a child behind and a bag in the front.
'It is quite the contrast.'
Jihan ignored there probing eyes and walked towards the sea as he slid his bag in front of him and held Jiho while walking towards the water faster.