Chapter 14:Freshwater
Our cries of distress,muffled by the sound of crashing waves.They were taking us somewhere,somewhere away from the oasis.I couldn't concentrate,my vision became fuzzy.And my thoughts turned blank.Something hard hit my knee.As my arms spreaded out,a floor of concrete was within reach.Emma pushed herself out of the water using all the strength she had left.
"Give me your hand."Emma pulled me out of the water while my clothes were dripping.
"What the hell is this place?"I looked around to see concrete floor and walls covering what seemed to be a facility.
"This water…IS FRESHWATER,MEANING WE CAN DRINK IT!"I gasped in excitement and the two of us turned towards the mainstream.We took handfuls and handfuls until our thirst was devoured by hydration.Emma sighed in relief,she was pleased and so was I.
"That felt good.I haven't drank water in days."
"Same here."
Suddenly,footsteps echoed through the hallway.A sea serpent was yelling gibberish at us.
"Beast Tamer."My eyes glowed sapphire for a second.Then I could understand what he was saying.
"Humans eh?Seems like you're intruders.Drinking from the mainstream…filled with FISH!MY KIND-"
"We aren't intruders!"Emma began to speak.She stood up and confidently stood up for the both of us.
"Listen you stupid fish,we fell down a hole looking for water,fell into a river which we drank from and now you're blaming us?"
"It's serpent property.If you wanna argue then you should speak to Queen Isura."
"Huh?"I stood up and walked over to the fish.
"She's the person who runs this place,but right now I'll have to arrest you two for trespassing."
"WHA-"
"My name's Marco by the way."Irai looked at Emma then nodded.
"I'm Irai and the girl next to me is Emma."
"Enough chit chat guys,you need to follow me or else I may have to use force."Irai shrugged and followed Marco along with Emma into the main lobby.Other serpents began to stare and whisper while looking at the humans.Marco pushed through two large wooden gates which lead to the throne room of Queen Isura.There she sat,with honour and pride,looking interested in Irai and Emma.
"My Queen,I've come across two humans who were supposedly trespassing by accident."
"I see."She stood up from her seat and walked down the blue carpet.Irai gulped in fear,staring at the ground.
"What's your name,samurai?"
"Irai."
"And this girl next to you?"
"Her name is Emma."Marco whispered in Isura's ear,explaining everything that happened.
"Well,even if it was a mistake,this cannot go unpunished."I gulped in despair.
"Wait here."She left the room and the guards remained in their spots,lurking through the dark.If we left,Isura would kill us but if we stayed,she might decide to execute us on the spot.Passing is prohibited.
These serpents take the rules very seriously.
There was no escaping.They either spare us and have mercy or we meet our deaths.Isura returned shortly after she left.The guards placed silk blindfolds over our heads,typing our hands behind our back.They guided us,through the halls.With voicing murmuring and whispering.Frantically,sweat came down my forehead.My legs,shaking.My blood,boiling.And my soul,trembling.I was sure Emma felt the same way.We didn't know our fate.
The only decision made by Queen Isura was to guide us to our fate.It's like being afraid of the dark,you're blinded,not knowing what's in it.Deep breaths Irai.In and out.I couldn't think.My thoughts were blinded and thrown into the abyss.It was scary,not knowing.Fear corrupted my soul and body.My footsteps echoed through the hallways.We had one objective,look for water.Look for water but we end up,captured by serpents.Crows,then serpents.
My luck faded,none of this would have happened if I never got into Touhi village with Maku and Sosu.None of this would have happened if I never met Hunter and Emma.
It would be guaranteed that the only place I would be at right now was the forest.Training my light manipulation.
Speaking of light,I could see again and my hands were sore but free from those chains.Emma,beside me.Feeling more worried.We were now on a circle made of concrete.What had seemed to be a suspension bridge was now blocked off by serpents.
"Irai Korenzu and Emma Gavaneno.I knew who outsiders were from the moment our eyes locked onto each other."
Emma gasped uncontrollably,covering her mouth in an instant.With tears streaming down her face.
"In fact,I was expecting you.Kraven's slaves?Freed because of you."
"THEN WHY DID YOU ISOLATE US YOU BLOATED FISH?I SEEK VENGEANCE AMONG YOUR PEOPLE,FOR PUTTING US THROUGH THIS!WE HAVEN'T EVEN EXPLAINED-"
"This facility is above an oasis.And the only reason you were there was because Kraven chased you away.You got tired and tried looking for water,only to fall into that hole.Correct?"
"That's right."Emma began to speak.
"But we had no intent of coming here in the first place.Our horses are gone and our friends too.Kraven,that monster…he took the book of secrets,containing a demon sorcerer AND the moonstone."
"Demon…sorcerer?"
"Yes,do you not know what that is?"
"I do in fact,I know a lot.What's this sorcerer's name?
"Sosu Minato.The book mentions him several times.And our other friend,Maku.He's a part of the Genshi along with Irai."
"Are you not a part of the Genshi?"Emma shook her head.
"Why's that?"
"It's a long story,I'll explain after this thing."
"OH YES!The test."A cage in the distance emerged.It was rusty,really rusty.
"I've had some trouble recently,containing this creature.And it's too big to be carried out.So I'll gain your trust if you kill it for me."
"What is this…creature?"Irai looked to the side of the suspension bridge which seemed further away than it should have been.
"You're about to find out."She chuckled awkardly.This wasn't something to joke about.Irai and Emma were about to fight the hydra leviathan.
A sea serpent hovering over things,making them look like ants.With 3 heads and a body of a sea demon,this hydra will devour ANY living organism,including its own kind.
The gates locks twisted,unraveling the beast.It lurked through the waters,scanning for prey.And a fresh scent of human flesh was a swim away.Hydra arose from the shallow depths of his domain.Water splashed onto the concrete floor.It was a flood all caused by the serpent.Irai and Emma took their weapons out,activating their manipulations.Hydra growled at them,each head having a pair of different eyes.
The one on the left had a pair of blue eyes.The one on the right had a pair of red eyes.And the one in the middle had a pair of purple.Irai knew it meant something,not the Hydras.But the colours,it-it had to be a sign of anything really.
"Quit standing there and FIGHT!"Marco shouted vigorously.
"Calm down Marco,let them take their time,I wanna see if humans are as great as they claim to be."Emma lunged forward,dodging it's laser beams.She climbed up on one of the necks and stabbed it numerously with her daggers coated in fierce flames.I pulled out my enchanted sword and bolted towards the creature.One of the heads came crashing down at me and made a crater on the floor.But they just seemed to get angrier.And I wasn't backing down either.
Because the scent of light manipulation would make them either cower or try to get rid of it.Suddenly,an orange aura emerged.This thing must have been a Tier 6 0r 5.A little stronger than me but if Emma also has an orange aura then she might be on the same level as this thing.Rapidly,I leaped into the air,slicing through this rancid creature's skin and impaling it with all my strength.Smoke started coming out.I burned it's skin and it have gotten irritated.The Hydra started roaring,moving it's 2 heads left and right,trying to push us off.
"STOP."Isura placed her hand out and the Hydra stopped moving.
"You've proven enough."We jumped off and crossed the suspension bridge,looking back at the lurking monster full of darkness.
"You've proven that you will defend me.Hungry?"
"Yes and I'm thirsty too."I exclaimed. We walked into a large room with velvet carpets and black and white squares on the floor.A man dressed in a tuxedo was playing the piano while a waitress went round ordering people's requests.
"The only rule here is that we DON'T EAT ANY SEA FOOD.Got it?"I gulped and nodded to reply.These people were very serious about their rules.
We sat at a table covered in soft emerald fabric stripped with golden yellow lines on the side of it.
Then,the waitress walked up to our table.She was taller than I expected because from afar she's the average height of a…serpent.
I was going to say human but that doesn't matter. We ordered curry rice,ramen and soba. The serpents prepared their food quicker than most restaurants here in Tokyo.And within a blink of an eye,a fortune of luxurious dishes appeared in front of us.
"AMAZING!"I screamed in delight,rolling up my sleeves and digging into the food.Everybody stared at me but I didn't give a damn.
Emma and I have starved relentlessly,fighting,running was so much work.And now we can finally rest.Yes I may have burned off all that energy but now's the time to restock it with food.Within minutes,the whole table was empty.Marco snarled at us because the plates were full of nothing while our stomachs were full of everything.
"I think this is a good time to fully explain why you two ended up in my facility."Isura looked at us seriously with her arms crossed.
She didn't look happy nor sad or angry.But rather a natural look.Yes,she looked like she had no soul.Her eyes interlocked with mine like a predator ambushing it's prey.She raised her jaw,lips shut,waiting for a response.
"Well…we were being chased by Kraven like I said before.After escaping the maze with the slaves we ran towards the desert and fell into a hole,leading to here."
"Where are your other friends if I may ask?"
"In the maze,like I said.Were you not listening?"
"No,no I was.But I didn't catch that part. It just seemed a bit odd to me that you mentioned your friends and they weren't there with you."I frowned.These stupid serpents never listen.I started to think they could be worse than cursed crows.
"If you want,we can form alliances."Isura had a slight smirk on her face now.
"Really?What's the cost?"I replied.
"There is no cost,I'll help you for free!"She smiled and I smiled back.But no,something was off,I could feel it.That smile,was fake.Yeah it was fake.There's no way somebody would help for free,would they?Could she be working with Kraven or not?I'm not sure. My stupid overthinking has led to this outcome.Even if I am wrong,It's nice to have a theory of suspecting Isura and her kingdom is evil.After all,she used a hydra leviathan to prove we would protect her.But she was forcing us so we didn't really have a choice.
"Do you think we could stay here for the night?"Emma stopped stuffing her face.
"As long as you like."Isura replied happily.After the meal,we walked through the corridors in the dead of night to the bed chambers.I thought it was going to be a lousy dirty room but…it was PERFECT!
And I'm not exaggerating.It was WAY better than Kraven's guests rooms,that's for sure.The beds were so soft,covered in silk.Everything shone bright like a diamond.Everything covered in either silk or gold or filled with all kinds of jewelry.
"You might wanna take a shower you know.There's…an odd smell coming from both of you."Isura left the room,covering her nose and shutting the door."
"So,wanna shower first?"Emma said awkwardly.
"Ehhh,no you can go first."
"Thank you Irai."
I layed down on one of the fluffy beds as I heard the sound of water coming from the bathroom. I've done so much work,we've done so much work.Escaping Kraven and ending up in an underground serpent facility.But hopefully they're going to stay loyal to us.Because although we've freed Kraven's slaves,he can still get more.His future victims are in villages near his castle.
And my uncle Aizakku isn't doing anything about it!He's greedy,acting off ever since the argument.I haven't talked to him in 3 years but maybe I should.The only thing is I don't know where his castle is.
I should find it,he might have gathered different Genshi to use for an army.There's too much on my mind.I can't think. It's like my thoughts are being erased rapidly by something.Suddenly,I felt a sharp pain in my stomach,making me want to vomit but I didn't.
"Deep breaths Irai.Deep breaths. In.Out. In.Out."I told myself.When will this chaos end?I hope this stops,I want to find peace.A world where no evil exists.
A world where everybody is a good person.Where there's no rouge murderers,robbers,narcissists or any living organism that causes a threat to people.The truth is,we can make a perfect world. We have the technology for it.But the only problem is nobody wants to negotiate.Every single species is selfish,including humans.Emma walked out of the shower with a towel around her body,covered in steam.
"That was quick!"I exclaimed.
"Well I'm done now so the shower is open to you Irai."
She had a slight smile on her face before walking into a closet to get changed with some clothes Isura has provided her.She had probably done the same with me.I crawled out of the fluffy bed,putting my hand on my back and stretching it to hear a loud crack,well a few.
I took a towel and went inside the bathroom shutting the door.The room was filled with an infinite amount of steam. So much to the point where I was coughing but a nearby window was open to let the gas out.
After taking my dirty clothes off,I stepped into the shower,turning the tap on.The water,it was filtered by these serpents to become warm.They changed the temperature.
Perhaps by boiling it a little.And I wasn't going to complain.The water that I fell into,that Emma fell into,it was like being a glacial storm. So cold my whole body went numb.But now,I could get rid of that sorrow and replace it with warmth.After the shower,I got dressed in red samurai clothes.They were made from silk and leather. It felt way more comfortable than my Genshi clothes.Emma was already sitting on the bed,staring at me but not in a creepy way.She was wearing a baggy dress made out of purple silk with gold lines on the sides of it.
"I think those clothes suit you."She said.
"Same with you."I replied.She started giggling for some reason which was odd.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing,it's just…"
"Well?"
"Things seemed to be getting a bit better ever since we got here.I mean if we have a kingdom of serpents,creatures that can use water manipulation,then we have a very good chance at beating Kraven. So I was just feeling lucky,that's all."
"After this,we're going to get Maku and Sosu back."
"Alright,whatever you say."I blew out the candle and both of us fell asleep on the fluffy beds…