In the Aras Settlement
It was still dark, even the stars were still falling beautifully in the sky. Dawn had yet to break, and the chickens were still reluctant to crow. However, some of the residents of Aras were already seen walking around the streets, waking up to their habit of always believing that luck always comes to those who have worked before dawn.
They never knew what could happen in this harsh world. The absurd could always happen around them. But, because their lives are already difficult, it can sometimes make them not care or pay attention to what can happen in their midst.
Like now, they had no idea that their neighbor's house had suddenly disappeared. Or the two strange-looking men who walked slowly toward the flat ground carrying a boomerang and a large axe.
The two men stood staring at the flat ground where a few moments ago still stood a rickety house roofed with boards and tarpaulin. A sharp and fierce gaze tried to penetrate and search for clues as to where the house had gone.
"Where do you think they went?" asked the stocky man in a rough, hoarse voice.
"Who do you think can level the ground that well?" replied his tall friend in a lazy voice.
"Edaf?" the stocky man exclaimed with a rude snort. "Boring, so we don't get any shares?"
The tall man then turned around and walked away. "We're wasting our time here, we'd better head back and catch up with Glara to Verittam."
"What can we do there anyway? Alto and Lana have already left with her, shouldn't we have a little fun here," he suggested as he glanced sadistically at the middle-aged man opposite him who was arranging his wares on a bicycle.
The tall man clucked lazily. "We have nothing to do with the people of Earth, so stop it! But if you want to go back to prison, go ahead!" he exclaimed as he walked away from his friend.
The stocky man grunted harshly again but finally stepped up to the tall man in front of him. "Do you think the other Rania Explorers will interfere?"
"Obviously. They wouldn't let that grandfather die alone, would they?" The tall man immediately laughed followed by his friend who also burst out laughing.
"Damn the smell of this place, it's a wonder Arkala can't detect their presence. And why do these people live in a place like this?" grumbled the tall man while speeding up his walk because he couldn't stand the overpowering garbage smell. The two then quickly exited the Aras Settlement and looked for a suitable place to open the portal to Verittam.
***
Shit!
I couldn't help but feel too sick to my stomach. My head was spinning dizzily, not to mention that I landed in a terrible state when the damn hole dropped me on a rock that was of course hard.
My stomach was completely out of control, but this nausea wasn't because I smelled something bad or anything like that. But it's because the cold is too piercing and makes my body shiver so much that my teeth haven't stopped chattering since before.
"Are you alright Kazo?" said Arga as he handed me a coat. I was stunned for a moment, why didn't he give it to me earlier? I thought irritably.
I immediately grabbed the coat and put it on. It made no difference, but at least it was enough to make me feel warm. Even Arga, Father, and Grandpa Kyu had also worn the same coat.
Until then I still didn't realize the place where we landed, because I had been busy vomiting the contents of my stomach and also enduring this cold. But when I had fully recovered consciousness, I was stunned again and found out why I was shivering so much.
I thought we were in an underground cave or something because it was so dark. But this scene I saw didn't cross my mind at all. I was stunned by a stone circle right in the middle of the ocean.
Looking at the sea, which was not too large, seemed to be shrouded by thick fog and was high at the end. Then between the stones were twelve paths that connected the stones to the place at the end of the fog. I could only stare at the marvelous sight with stunned eyes.
"What is this place?" I asked in a stuttered voice as I continued to gaze at the glittering moonlight reflected on the surface of the calm water. The scenery could be said to be too beautiful, especially when looking at the black sky full of stars without a single cloud above. It's just that the air there made me keep shivering and unable to think calmly even though there was no wind at all.
"We are already inside the fifth Verittam. Each Verittam has its shape and structure, and this Verittam is the most dangerous among the others," Grandpa Kyu explained as he slowly advanced toward one of the twelve paths.
"Most dangerous?" I muttered as I looked around for the danger Grandpa had just mentioned.
"The danger is not here, but that place at the end of the fog." Father pointed towards the front. I immediately stared at the thick fog that formed a wall around the end of the road. I wondered what was behind it.
"But why are there twelve roads here? How do you know this is the right path?"
"All these roads connect to the same place. And I've been down this road hundreds of times, this road can be said to be the safest compared to the others. Because we can most likely avoid meeting the Red Valhi," Grandpa Kyu explained as he stopped in front of a thick fog that towered like a solid wall. He suddenly pulled out the stick he had been hiding and thrust its tip straight into the thick fog. Suddenly the fog parted slowly, forming a dark path within.
Grandpa Kyu then stepped forward. "We'd better hurry!" he called out.
Before I could take a step, a gust of wind rushed past my shoulder and hit the dark hole, instantly closing it again. We were stunned and immediately looked cautiously behind us.
"Why are you guys in such a hurry?" a long-haired woman exclaimed with a smile. The eccentrically dressed girl I met in Aras a few days ago.
That girl again.
Continued...