Continued chapter "The Place We are in".
*
"I hope you stay alive, Class President!" were the last words Kasyaira said to Argani before leaving with Ihatra.
Unlike the door they had entered through, which led directly into a vast stone chamber, the exit could only be reached after navigating another, more chaotic stone corridor. The previous corridor had been constructed with neatly arranged stones, creating an orderly path, but the new passageway resembled a natural cave, with uneven walls and a rugged floor.
JGLEK JGLEK JGLEK!!! Kasyaira made several attempts to push open the door leading to their destination, but each attempt failed. "Don't worry. I anticipated that the path to that place would be fraught with obstacles. I'll try to break it down."
Just as she prepared to chant another spell, Ihatra grabbed her wrist, stopping her mid-action.
"What's wrong?" Kasyaira asked, puzzled.
Ihatra shook his head. "There's no time for that." With a simple push, the door clicked open, revealing their path forward.
Kasyaira stood frozen for a moment, her expression one of surprise. But she quickly regained her composure and followed Ihatra through the now-open door.
Unlike the seemingly endless darkness they had previously traversed, what lay beyond the door felt like an entirely different world, separate from the confines of their school. A stone path stretched out before them. To their left was a gray stone wall; to their right, a waist-high railing offered a breathtaking view of a forest and a cascading waterfall.
"Dddrrrrssshhh, dddrrrssshhh, dddrrrssshhh." The soothing sound of the waterfall accompanied their journey, with refreshing sprays of water occasionally misting their skin, affirming that this was no dream.
"What was that large room we passed through earlier, Syaira?" Ihatra asked, turning to the girl behind him.
She replied, "That was a battleground for the students."
"A school that provides such a place for its students?" Ihatra shook his head in disbelief, reflexively rubbing his forehead. It seemed like he had made a mistake coming here.
Kasyaira continued, "Sometimes, disputes arise in our school that can't be resolved with logic or moral reasoning alone. That's why the stone chamber was created. Two opposing sides can fight there to determine who is closer to the truth."
"You mean, whoever wins is considered right?" Ihatra asked.
"Exactly. Because Emmet Hall is no ordinary room. When activated, it can judge right and wrong and other matters, like proving someone's guilt or innocence. If someone is accused, they can enter and face whatever creature Emmet Hall conjures based on their level of guilt."
"And if they're innocent, what happens?" Ihatra asked.
"If they're innocent, the door we entered will open, and they can return to the school."
"And if they're guilty?" Ihatra pressed.
"Then they are taken down the path we're walking now, to De Poena Camerae."
Ihatra's skin prickled with fear. He had come here on a whim, with no knowledge of what he was getting into. Hearing Kasyaira's explanation and imagining what others had endured made him feel nauseous with dread.
They arrived at the imposing main gate of De Poena Camerae, a massive iron door about thirty meters high. Just looking at it made Ihatra want to wet himself, so overwhelming was its intimidating presence. He felt utterly pathetic.
"I can't imagine what it must be like to live behind this door," he murmured.
Kasyaira said, "On a normal day, this place would be guarded by humans and other beings. But because of the situation outside, everyone has been called away. This is our only chance." She tried to push the door, but it didn't budge. She attempted to use magic, but her mana wasn't strong enough to move even one of the door's lock mechanisms. She looked at Ihatra.
They switched places, Ihatra now standing before the lock.
"If this were an ordinary door, I could easily pick the lock."
"Wow, you really have a talent for thievery," Kasyaira teased.
Ihatra pressed his ear against the lock. This way, he could assess the complexity of the lock mechanism. "Wow, this is the main door of a prison. The magic combination used to keep it locked is extremely complex."
"But you wouldn't have come here alone if you weren't confident you could open it, right?" Kasyaira asked, crossing her arms.
In a low voice, Ihatra admitted, "Honestly, I came here without thinking at all. I didn't even hear what my class president said about our mission to defend the school."
"People like you usually live long lives," Kasyaira teased again.
Ihatra straightened his back and placed his hands in a triangular shape before the lock. He closed his eyes and began to chant, "Kanthi rah kula. Awit nami kulawarga Tjokroaminoto. Paringana kula berkah kagem penglihatan kangge ndeleng sedaya kunci ing donya. Bukakna!"
Kasyaira shivered a bit as she watched Ihatra. His mana control was impressive this time, unlike usual. "Are you two different people?"
Cklek.
"Wow, incredible. One of the gears moved. Can you really unlock this, Atra?" she asked, her eyes excitedly shining.
Without moving from his position, Ihatra asked, "What do you think we'll face beyond this door once it's opened?"
"I'm not sure. But at the very least, we'll be closer to finding him. We'll deal with whatever happens next when we get there."
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE??!!!" someone suddenly shouted from behind them. It was a man in a long robe with an upper accent typically worn by the school's teachers, paired with a batik shirt and jeans underneath.
Kasyaira sighed in frustration. "Haahh..." She turned to face the teacher. "Why did this have to happen when we were so close?"
"You're from the Ciptadi Livius Dormitory, aren't you? Why are you here instead of at the front lines?" the man demanded, pointing angrily.
Kasyaira, still calm, whispered to Ihatra, "Ignore us. Just focus on unlocking the door."
"Of course."
She turned back to the teacher. "Professor Hambalang, did you see Argani in Emmet Hall?"
Both of his hands rose into a ready position, his feet shifting apart to adopt a stable stance. The teacher assumed a combat-ready mode, eyes sharp with suspicion. "What exactly are you planning?" he demanded, his gaze piercing through them.
Wow, this situation is truly unimaginable, thought the exemplary student. Never imagined she would do something like this to a teacher before.