Chapter 76

Such an unknown and bizarre treasure like this cave could change the status quo if used well, and there was something weird about that water that stirred the unknown in his mind and body. It felt deep, as if he felt touched and his Emblem was itching to get closer to something... well, terrifying.

How much worth it held? That was probably unknown because this sort of thing had never been seen before. Dreadus would know. His System and Emblem wouldn't lie, for he watched his Screens and felt the screams of his internal turmoils and merciless Eyes.

The energy of this cave was incalculable under his own hefty accomplishment. Connection to his System was unable to see the truth. That either spoke of his lacking manners, or this place was way too big even for his Rank. That was terrific or horrifying. He couldn't decide which was good or worse, but when he glanced at the girl, he could only shake his head as she took another sip from that skull as if she were drinking a lemonade. It felt gut-wrenching.

After going over his dizziness which took about five minutes to wash to a passable level, the girl left his pinky and let him go. Approaching the long stretch of walls, Dreadus observed thousands of cuts. They were rough, etched into an unknown material that was no rock at first glance. It was strange metal that was pristine and a simple touch left him speechless.

It was hard to leave a simple cut from the...knife? What were those cuts? Beside him, the girl approached the wall with a strange thing from her treasured collection. It was a lone Emblem. Looking like a small orb with many swirling lines coming from it along a couple of spikes, it was a great light source and a tool. It was undulating some energy and.... she used it to slowly cut into the wall, leaving her last cut behind.

“Oh, Benjamin... you got what you deserved,” Dreadus mumbled, letting this unknown little monster finish her last mark.

She looked at him as if she hadn't heard him. He chuckled at shameless ideas and let her continue. It will be a long learning process to become someone close to her, let alone become someone worthy of understanding her, or protecting her, or... be a father.

Shaking his head, Dreadus felt like he made a mistake of his lifetime today and there was no stopping it. The girl left her mark with a heavy heart, figuring that leaving might not be simple.

At least these people came and lived. They might be worth a try if they keep at it, though continuing was another matter.

***

Five minutes later, Dreadus met with Reaz to reveal the truth. Out of spite of something, he hid Benjamin's death, but not his Emblem.

Just the fact that it was found was enough of an answer. Some king had its feast, and Benjamin lost his ways in his last expedition. Coincidently, there was a point in Dreadus speaking to Reaz about this.

“So... he perished here?” Reaz wondered out loud. “Hm. That points to how things were nine years ago. I wonder what freak would kill a freak. Was it some freaky Irregular, or king, or some Lettered?”

“Who knows,” Dreadus said in a deadpan tone, “but the thing before was true. I found something good. I can't handle it alone. Academy might, or someone from Assembly would. The Association might help too and support it.”

Reaz was lost in thought for a moment and didn't even hear him.

That went on until he led her into that cave, and showed her that pond and crystal after hiding Benjamin's corpse beforehand.

Reaz looked at everything like a speechless clown, lost in voice and thoughts, and everything about her worth lost its value. How was she supposed to retort, or put this forth? This was too much for her? Dreadus's luck was incredulous. Too freaky!

“What is that thing?”

“Do you want to know?”

“No!”

“It is up to us or...”

“No, I mean what is this cave? This reeks of more things. Darks would kill themselves for this sort of thing, yet it was above their Holy Land, occupied by... a human girl? Those crazy whispers and tones are crazy. Just what origin does this place have? Is it even related to Emblems?”

“I didn't ask your opinion. Mine is as good as yours,”

“Than... what about her?” Reaz pointed behind her, gesturing to the girl crouching around her little home, glaring at them both. Dreadus brought that hag inside against her begrudging face and will.

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She accepted that some things moved against her will, but entering her home was another thing. There was no point. She made up her mind about leaving, and that crystal and pool won't stay here. She felt it was inevitable, so she patted her belly and hips, securing her treasures, and observed those big humans.

Her time had ended.

There was no other way around it. Perhaps she was just delaying the inevitable. Death or this, it wasn't a hard choice because she couldn't see herself going for long when her life was rotten around every corner.

But she lived. Unwillingly and lost in thoughts, she didn't notice a help came to her. Dreadus had nothing much to offer anymore. So what about Reaz?

“What is your name, girl?” Reaz asked her from afar.

The nameless girl didn't reply. She couldn't. She remembered no name. She had none.

“Ehm,” Dreadus pointed to the cut wall, indicating to Reaz that this girl was truly clueless and not that old.

“Oh, sorry. I will call you Cata then.”

“Hag...”

“Huh? You don't like the name I gave you?! If you cut into that thing, you are cutting. So you are Cata!” Reaz glared at her as if this girl insulted her family.

“I don't think that is important, Reaz,” Dreadus argued and looked at the girl. “You can decide your name if don't have one, or how about a nickname? I had no parents either, you see. Death on birth, or something. Who cares about it? I decided on my name when I became a Walker and no one found it strange. Why? No one should care. It was my choice.”

Hearing his nonchalant tone and words, the girl was surprised to hear such an opinion or option. And here she thought it was strange to think of something like names being priceless.

Perhaps she wasn't alone in this world.

“By the way,” Reaz swallowed her pride and clutched the Emblem that Dreadus gave her. “I heard you've found this somewhere. How come? Where? Why...” Her tone was serious and calm, clutching this Emblem as she sized its weight and past owner.

The girl glanced at her once to see her spite and glanced right away to nowhere. She was a bit shameless in that and she didn't even know it.

“L-listen...” Reaz began to approach her and heard some growls.

Even Dreadus was curious how she got the hang of that Emblem. Did it mean she literary cut through Benjamin's rotting corpse to get it?

Well, the answer was here and it was very close. The girl watched how Reaz got way too close and demanded the answers because she doubted Dreadus found it himself. She might say it, but he couldn't hide the truth from her.

So the girl pointed to the corner, where Hound sat in a small form. It got inside the cave after Reaz got down because it was no longer willing to remain outside. Hound was looking like a dog, its numerous eyes remained, and its head was a bit too big. It created a weird picture because it was unwilling to move from that opening area. It was in the cave, and above it was the entrance, and its instincts and spirit were in shambles because it wanted to escape at all costs, but couldn't. Two traditions clashed and it shivered because of them.

One paw, two choices. It was in madness and the girl was near, yet this cave and everything about it was very very wrong.

It could get even smaller, which was a hilarious possibility.

“Eh? Wait... does that...” Reaz looked at Hound and frowned. Did that Hound find this Emblem, or participate in killing Benjamin nine years ago?

The girl didn't know how deep this went. It was true that Benjamin died here in a nasty manner, but she didn't take anything from him. His corpse was where it remained since his death, while some Emblems weren't in her eyes.

One day, Hound gave her this Emblem that no longer had its proper link. With it in her hand, she found cutting to that wall much easier than using some bones. It was a great treasure in her opinion because it was useful and looked pretty. She didn't question how or where it got it. Whether it meant it went inside her home or not, it wasn't important for her. Hound often chewed on it to pass the time when she brought it out, but that was another story altogether.

Not like she wanted to tell it.

However, Reaz could smell the truth and got so angry at Hound that Dreadus sighed and held her back from storming at Hound, unleashing her kicks and fists until she found satisfaction in the air.

“You sick dog! Show your true colors! That is a memento of my uncle! I will murder your entire Family you filthy animal!”

Dreadus showed some restrains that day and let her speak to her heart's content. Not like the girl had some excuses to give, even when Benjamin was a founder of Reaz's whole family and someone whose reputation wasn't small in the slightest.

It hadn't calmed down for a while. Not until they left the cave, holding a treasure that might be one large magnet for all Darks in this whole continent, let alone this region.

But they had a backup. Emblem Academy and the Federation put forth an alliance because of this once-in-a-lifetime discovery. This alliance will have almost a hundred Walkers set to protect this important item and they were coming to a rescue.

Now, it was a matter of leaving this place first, securing everything, taking the girl out, and remaining alive, because rescue won't come here. Dreadus and the team had to come to the alliance, which was a problematic part that Dreadus accepted and Reaz tried to solve via her communication device.

It failed because of one reason. Destruction of Coban Holy Land created a mess and Darks all over the continent became restless. Alliance couldn't move too far into Australia, which was a reality check that Dreadus took worse than a cup made of a skull.

Just because of a single unnamed girl, the world was about to turn into a thrilling battle that would have some bounds, where deaths were to follow more thrill, and survival of the fittest was a law. Meanwhile, she was half certain she lost her favorite skull in her home, and that the world was much bigger than she thought. It was true, while some things were remorseful.

But no hills or a mountain meant no home. Stars were so far away without them, she bet there were higher peaks in other places than flat land.

She wanted to see the world, even if it was a justification for something that no one understood, including herself.

Leaving a place of many dark corners, holding onto Hound who was the only memento Dreadus allowed her to take, she felt empty, a bit angry, and looking forward to what other places were like. She heard her voices complaining, one singing and the other cussing.

It was a shame, but her home wasn't far away. It will follow her. It will always remain with herself.

At least she left her last cut for all eternity, filling her cave with her last emotions to that which might visit it sooner rather than later.