Chapter 17: Communicate

Two people, making their way through the maze. With the only source of light generated by Thera, Kai was having a hard time seeing where they would have to take a turn. At the moment, his brain was working at its maximum capacity, partly tried his best not to miss a turning point, partly worried about their savior. All she left was a piece of paper, which had now already vanished into thin air. “What would happen next when we get out of this maze?” He thought, feeling uneasy to the core while thinking about Ibel’s expression at that time.

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“So, what is a Nohigu’s job? And don’t give me answer like saving the world or something like that okay?” That’d be too absurd, even with the current story.

“Well yes. That’s exactly our job. Saving the world.” Ibel said the ridiculous thing out of Kai’s mind.

“Then I’ll pass, I’m not really into the idea of saving other people’s ass.” He said it, the thing he hated the most.

“Oh? Then may I ask again why did you save that girl? Do you not consider her as ‘other people’?” It wasn’t much of a question, more like an accusation.

“…” He remained silent, as to confirm what she said.

“And I got myself in to hell out of the troubles for doing that. Not gonna happen again.” He would be proud to hear it, if he could.

“So you’re running away from your duty?” Ibel said, with her arms fold.

“I have never chosen to be one of you, remember? It’s just that…I got dragged into this mess, that’s all.” He tried his best to avoid looking at Ibel’s eyes.

“…Is that really what you want to say? Truly?” The woman removed her glasses, and rubbed her eyes. Kai didn't reply to her question, sitting still on his spot. This looked like an interrogation with the suspect was on the verge of defeat.

“How can you still say such words? Even those you keep yearning for extraordinary to happen? You have always been looking for an answer for your question, but now you’re running away when it comes to you? I've known you for a long time, but I never knew you are such a coward.” Ibel shrugged.

“What will that answer help me if I’m already dead? I’d love to know that. ” He tried not to yell.

“Dead? Is that dead you’re worried about? Let me tell you something, Kai Yungen. There’s something in this world that is more fearful than dead, you know what that is? It’s living. Have you ever been trying to live while being hunt days by days, nights by nights, you cannot rest even for a second, you cannot even think, all you can do is run, and hide, as fast as you can? And you have to keep doing that for years after years, and sometimes you can even remember how old you are, what your real name is, and you will lose sight of your life in the process. All that left is the will to survive, you are but an animal. Compared to a life like that, I’d rather being dead, believe me. But you have to keep living, since it’s not you who made the decision of your life and dead.” Ibel fixed her gazed to Kai’s eyes, froze him at the spot.

“Is that… never mind.” He knew whose story was that, but was too afraid to ask when he saw her face. He didn’t know to describe her expressions. It’s neither anger, nor sorrow, more like a tired beast facing the hunter, begging to be slain, yet didn’t want it to end like that.

“Get it now? It’s not up to you to make the decision of what you want to do or what you want to become. You have been chosen to become a tool, and a tool should only make the best of its use or else you are trashed. That’s how this world works. That’s your life from now on. Sure you can run, but you can never get away from it, you can never get away from your destiny.”  Ibel’s cold words were pinned to his head.

As Kai were about to open his mouth to speak, Ibel suddenly turned back, and her eyes fixed to the entrance while speaking to Kai.

“They’re here, you have to go, now.”

“They? You mean…”

“The hunters. They have entered the barrier. Take the girl with you and go through that door. I have prepared everything you need. Go, and don’t come back.” Her stern order was like an invisible hammer striking him back.

“But...what are you going to do? Don’t tell me you are going to fight them?” He hesitated to leave.

“What if I am?” Ibel replied as if a challenge, which Kai couldn't possibly accept. He just stood there watching her disappeared behind the wooden door.

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How long was that since they had entered this place? 1 hour? 5 hours? A day? He couldn't tell since all he could see was darkness, the light source had run out as Thera had worn out, now had to relied on Kai to go on. Looked like she hadn't fully recovered yet. This was tiring to some extends. Not knowing where you were going, and your current location was wholly based on your memory recollection. Frustrated, and yet he had to keep calm, since he was the only one who could lead them through this maze.

“If only...” What wished was he going to make, he didn’t even know. To get out of this place? Or to have Ibel here with them right now? Was she really able to go against them?

“Focus god damn it!” He slapped his face to snap out of those unnecessary thought for the moment. Up until now it was the 9^th turns to the right, but everything looked just the same as the moment they walked in. Nine, which mean 11 more, and this never-ending walked would finish. Or so he hope.

“Do you need a rest?” Strange enough, he heard a voice.

“I’m fine, do you?” Thera was getting weaker somehow, and that worried him a lot. At first, when the light went out, she only had to lean on his shoulder, but now she could hardly walk, and it looked like she was being dragged on by Kai.

“You don’t have to do this.” Her monotone voice suited the atmosphere so well that it made him kind of mad.

“Will you drop this already? I do what I want to do kay?” He snapped back. That question should be made into the universal topic.

“Is it? Is it really you who make the decision?” She asked, reminded him of what Ibel said before.

“Up to this point, I’m not sure anymore, but I’ll do my best to survive, to live through all of this mess.” Speaking of babbling.

“You do understand that you are fooling yourself, and yet you accept it. This confuse me.” She said, with that mind-reading manner.

                  

“Then just leave it, you confuse me too with your questions, and you don’t want to get lost in this maze do you?” He had been slowing down a lot. Thera didn't ask anymore, but she kept staring at him ever since then. There were some points he caught her gaze, and he turned away immediately. More than a month had passed since he first saw her, and he still couldn't look her straight to the eyes without feeling uneasy.

“I’m tired, let’s rest.” She spoke. Her eyes cast down to the floor.

Kai was glad that she broke the awkward silence, and he was almost given on his legs already. He nodded, then carefully sat her down.        

“Say, who are you? Are you another...soul bearer?” This was the only chance he could ask her that.

Thera didn't answer, she only drew a glowing sign on the wall, which looked a bit like a tree, and a circle, but that was all Kai could tell.

“Is that you?” He couldn't think of anything else.

Thera stared at him again, then turned back to the symbol.

“You could say that, this sigil represented our power for a long time. We used it to recognize each other, but now it’s nothing more than a mere symbol. It has gone to oblivion, just like us.” He could feel the melancholy in her voice.

“To the oblivion huh?” The same feeling he got when he heard Ibel’s story. He knew that he shouldn't ask more. Then he took out the small jar from his pocket and looked at it.

“Is this really possible? To revive him?” He asked the girl, knowing she was also looking at the same thing.

“It was never dead to begin with. They don’t die, they can’t die. The vessel may shatter, rot, evaporate, but the inside will remain.”

‘But Ibel said the soul cannot exist without a host, isn't that right? Then what would happen if a soul can’t find a host and can’t die? Where would they go?” A strange thought ran through Kai’s mind, a theory which he hoped was wrong. 

“I know not.” Right, he couldn't expect her to know everything. Maybe she was also someone who was thrown into this mess, just like he was. Then this answer only added more weight to his train of thought. What would happen to “the other one” if they couldn't do something in time? He feared of that moment.

“But there is something I know, the vessel and the inside can only be connected once they share the same ideal. The vessel is the will, and the inside is the tool to carry it. I do not know how you people call it, mewtral understanding?”         

“It’s ‘mutual’. So you mean to say the reason I can’t see my soul now is that we are disagree at something?” Wasn't that like...the whole time? Since he heard the voice, they rarely agreed with each other, let alone ‘mutual understanding’.

“Isn't that something you should ask yourself?” She stood up, signaled to move on.

“I have rest enough, let’s continue.” Without waiting for Kai reply, Thera walked on.

Kai hurried to catch up, not realizing the footstep echoed from far away. 

-End chapter 17-

Chapter 18

Chapter 16