"His words were true!" Allen exclaimed, shattering the silence left by the recent thud of the stone door. He stared anxiously at the tightly sealed surface. "The door closes as soon as someone enters, and now we have no idea what's happening inside."
"You're right, Allen!" Alvin replied calmly, though his eyes remained fixed on the door. "Kazien's decision was the right one. If we had forced our way in together, Hudeon might have been injured by some unpredictable trap. And Kazien would have felt terribly guilty if the boy got hurt."
At the mention of Hudeon's name, Arken let out a harsh snort. He turned and glared at the dark-green-haired boy with a sharp, intimidating gaze.
"I still don't understand why you insisted on following us on an S-Rank mission!" Arken grumbled, his voice heavy with dislike. "You're nothing but a burden."
Feeling cornered by Arken's murderous aura, Hudeon scurried over to hide behind Alvin, burying his face against the High Elf's arm. He didn't dare look at Arken, who clearly wanted nothing to do with him.
Alvin sighed deeply, then turned to meet Arken's gaze with a look that was gentle yet firm.
"Don't frighten him like that, Arken." Alvin advised. "You must remember, in our fiancé's eyes, this child is quite precious."
"That's not the point, Brother Alvin." Arken countered, his tone leveling out but remaining stubborn. "We are on a dangerous mission where lives are at stake. Why is this boy following us? Does he have some hidden motive regarding our fiancé? I don't like how he constantly clings to Kazien."
Alvin smiled playfully, as if suppressing a laugh. "Ah, I see what's going on now, Arken. You're jealous." Alvin chuckled softly. "Don't worry. Even though Hudeon's face fits the physical criteria Kazien likes, our fiancé would never let Ritalia, whom he loves dearly be hurt by his actions."
Alvin paused, glancing back at Hudeon, who was still peeking out fearfully.
"However..." Alvin added with a teasing lilt. "If Hudeon had met our fiancé long before he met Ritalia, the story might be different! I'm certain Kazien would have fallen for Hudeon at first sight."
Arken went silent. He couldn't find a retort. Deep down, he knew Alvin was telling the truth. The "cute and cheerful" type, exactly like Hudeon was indeed Kazien's weakness.
Arken could only huff in resignation.
Hudeon, meanwhile, was stunned by those words.
I never imagined that my appearance was actually Brother Kazien's type. Hudeon thought in disbelief, his cheeks flushing slightly. But for some reason, I feel happy hearing what Brother Alvin just said.
Behind the sealed door, Kazien stood in darkness for a moment before his eyes caught a brilliant light shining at the far end of the vast room. The light seemed unnatural, swirling slowly and emitting a powerful magical aura.
What is that light? he wondered, curiosity piqued. Does it have something to do with the many people who have gone missing here?
Without hesitation, Kazien walked casually toward the source. His footsteps echoed softly on the stone floor. As he drew closer, the light intensified until it consumed his entire field of vision.
The moment he stepped across the boundary between the dark room and the light, a strange sensation seized his body. It felt as though he was being yanked by an invisible hook. The light was so blinding that he instinctively closed his eyes to protect his sight.
A breeze blew.
The scent of damp earth and fresh grass hit his nose.
When Kazien slowly opened his eyes, he was shocked by the vista before him. He was no longer inside a stuffy cave. He turned left, then right; the same scenery stretched as far as the eye could see.
He was standing in the middle of a vast grassland. All around him were quiet green hills, surrounded in the distance by a dense, dark forest. Above, the sky was a deep violet dusted with stars, indicating that night was approaching.
So that's how it is! Kazien thought, quickly grasping the situation. This is the answer to why everyone who enters the cave disappears. It's no wonder there are no bodies. Behind that door lies a random teleportation trap.
Kazien scanned the horizon once more, searching for signs of life.
I have no idea where I am. he thought while analyzing the constellations. Judging by the sky alone, I'm certain I'm no longer on the Azvel continent.
He knew he had to inform the others immediately, but he was also curious about this new land.
"Alright."
Kazien closed his eyes and concentrated his mana. His body glowed briefly before he split himself. A shadow clone, identical to him, appeared by his side. They shared their tasks: one body would explore the grasslands, while the other would return to the cave to meet Hudeon and his three fiancés.
Zap!
The teleportation magic activated, and one version of Kazien vanished from the plains.
Back in the ruins, Allen, Alvin, Arken, and Hudeon were still waiting warily in front of the stone door. The heavy silence made the tension almost palpable.
Suddenly...
ZAP!
Kazien appeared out of thin air right in front of them without a word of warning.
"UUUAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
Hudeon, who had been lost in thought, jumped nearly a foot into the air, screaming hysterically from the shock. His voice echoed wildly off the cave walls.
Kazien and his three fiancés also flinched, startled by the sheer volume of Hudeon's sudden scream.
"Why are you screaming like that, Hudeon?" Kazien asked, baffled, as he held his own chest, surprised by the boy's reaction.
"P-Please don't scare me like that, Brother Kazien!" Hudeon gasped for breath, clutching his heart as if it were about to pop out. "You appeared out of nowhere like a ghost! You nearly scared me to death!"
"Hahaha." Kazien laughed heartily at Hudeon's pale face. "Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
Alvin quickly stepped in, his curiosity outweighing his shock. "So, my dear, what is actually inside?"
Kazien's expression turned serious. "Behind that door is a random teleportation trap!" he explained plainly. "It's no wonder people go missing. They enter, get thrown somewhere else, and can't find their way back."
The four of them stared in shock.
"Random teleportation?" Allen repeated.
"Yes. I was just sent to a massive grassland." Kazien continued. "And I'm sure it's not on the Azvel continent, or at least it's very far from here. Because it was almost night there. My clone is exploring it right now."
Creeeeak!
Before they could respond, the sound of grinding stone filled the room. The massive door that had been shut tight suddenly opened on its own, revealing the same dark corridor as before.
The group was stunned by the door's mechanism.
"The system resets automatically after the victim is moved..." Kazien muttered, analyzing the trap. "I'm going to check it again! I want to see if the destination is always the same or if it changes."
His three fiancés nodded in agreement, trusting his judgment.
Kazien walked toward the door again, leaving the others watching his back with a sense of apprehension. He stepped inside, and the cycle repeated: the door slammed shut, darkness fell, and a brilliant light beckoned at the end of the room. He stepped into the light once more.
Whoosh!
A searing wind immediately lashed his face.
When he opened his eyes, the grassland and the night sky were gone. This time, as far as the eye could see, he was in a vast desert. The weather was sweltering, the air shimmering with heat waves, and the sun beat down from directly overhead.
"It really is random!" Kazien muttered, wiping the sweat starting to bead on his forehead.
He scanned his surroundings for anything useful. This time, he found it. In the distance, faintly visible through the heat haze, he saw a long, solid structure. It was a city wall.
Kazien smiled with relief, as if finding an oasis.
I don't know where I am exactly, but it seems better to bring the others here instead of that middle-of-nowhere grassland. Kazien decided. There's a city wall ahead. And where there's a city, there's bound to be information.