The next day Arav and Kiara departed for Caito City. Once Kiara left, it became difficult for the Earthlings to communicate with the natives. They learnt to speak in bits and pieces. And it was worthwhile. As long as the idea is communicated.
The earthlings learned and grasped this otherworldly concept. They weren't going back any sooner. They could only learn to survive in this place. Also, they can't take refuge forever. They had to learn to sustain.
Asahi was able to grasp the concept of magic. He wasn't able to heal anything but he could make his finger glow. It was huge progress. Samuel was told to take a rebirth. Him able to do magic was hope for them.
"See, I can do it, I am a prodigy you know", Asahi boasted about himself.
However, his bubble of happiness was burst as Suho's hands glowed.
" What do I do next?", Suho asked Tomo Horo, who had been teaching them.
Suho was happy inwardly but his face was expressionless. He had learnt to never show his real emotions. He believed showing emotions was a weakness. He was a star kid, had to be presentable everywhere. When they were on the cliffed coast, he realised they were not on Earth, but his inability in communication do not let him present his ideas. His bandmates were totally out of it. He felt that if he told them the truth, they would go crazy. When Hwang Ahjussi was leaving them, he found him too stupid. He was going with a bunch of willful and arrogant people. He argued with him. He told him, those guys would leave him behind the very moment he gets into trouble. Now, only God knows how he was faring. He had served in the Army so he should be fine. Why should he care about him? That Hwang Jun Ki had said they can die if they want. He doesn't care about them anymore. He had also called him profanities, that killed all his care for him.
Now in Sanka, he doesn't have to be presentable or perform for anyone. He felt free as if all the burden were lifted off him.
He was adjusting to life there, he was happy. If they found a way to go back. He would gladly choose to stay back.
Fifteen days back, Jason and his group departed from the cliffed coast. Jason had scouted the area earlier. All he could see were Jungles all over. Towards the west side, jungles were thinning. The jungle was full of wild animals, he wanted to get out of the jungle as fast as they could. Jason had also thought about going down the cliff, but the height had scared him. So, they chose the path that took them out of the jungle. Arav had chosen to follow the river course which flowed through the jungle. Jason chose a path that took them out of it.
They were 35 people in total, By the time they came out jungle half of them were missing. Nobody knew what happened to them or they simply left them behind. Cindy was worried about their dwindling strength in numbers. Jason outrightly ignored her. Hwang Jun Ki was still in the group. They were not in very good shape. No one had any experience of survival in the wild. And their leader only cared about his survival. They were the selfish one's, who left people behind. They were in no place to complain.
Relationship between Jason and Cindy was getting worse and worse. Jason had hurl abuses at her many times before, but he never raised his hands. For the past few days, he crossed that limit as well.
He would bicker about everything and take out his anger on her. Her other friends, her so-called BFFs weren't bothered at least. She felt alone. She loved Jason a lot and took all of it.
They were attacked by a few boars which they dealt with. They had a hearty meal thanks to the boar they caught. There weren't many animals that attacked them. Most were harmless birds and animals. On the other hand, they were the one feasting along the way. When they finally got out of the jungle, there was a huge grassland with no end to it.
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"What now? There's nothing up ahead", said Mingming, a friend of Cindy and Jason.
" Stop with that. It's not like he's been here before", said Nicole siding with Jason.
"Well, isn't he the leader. We have been walking for ages. There are no sign of people"
"We should have stayed on the coast. Rescue team might have come to them. Oh no! What if they decide not to tell them about us. We are so screwed", said Philip with panic.
" Stop it, keep bullshitting and I'm leaving you behind. There's one eyesore enough for me. Can't take your wailings now", Jason responded with frustration.
"Eyesore, are you calling me an eyesore. Why are you treating me like this?", Cindy couldn't bear it anymore and said.
" You-"
Before Jason could start speaking, Nicole replied instead of him.
"Why are you still tolerating her. Honey! I can't pretend anymore. Tell the b&@#% she's nothing to you"
Nicole approached Jason and clinging to his arm intimately.
Seeing this, Cindy's mind went blank. She never saw this coming.
"It's true. I'm tired of you. Tired of pampering a rich b@#$% like you. I was only with you because of your tycoon father. I was eager to tolerate you for the rest of my life if I could live a lavish lifestyle. But now, you get on my nerves"
Cindy had no words as she watched her boyfriend with her best friend. She stumbled and fell on the ground.
"Well. Don't worry. I'm not that heartless to send you away. At least that much responsibility I will take. And I will keep this ring as a remuneration. I wasted 5 years on you. I deserve at least this"
Cindy was disgusted. She wanted to run away from there but her legs gave away. She knew, if she separated from the group she would be dead. She didn't have any skills to survive in the jungle.
The group moved ahead. Cindy was dragging herself from behind. None of her friends was lending her a hand. When they were back in England, these friends would always linger around her. Now when they no longer have any use of her, they were ghosting her. Her emotions were all over. She was betrayed by her best friend, boyfriend, a friend she had known all ages.
"Ahhhhhhh"
Suddenly Hwang Jun-ki yelled, holding his leg. His leg was swollen and had turned blue. Cindy was pulled back from her thoughts from this yell.
"What is it?"
"Snakebite"
"Weren't you in the military? How can you be careless?" asked Jason angrily
He was very much reliant on Hwang as he was capable of fighting. And there were only three guys including him. He didn't have any expectation from the girls.
Cindy took out a part of cloth from her bag and tied it around Hwang's leg. She had learned a bit from observing Samuel and other people helping on the coast.
"Now let's move on, we have to find a place to rest when night falls"
While they were distracted by Hwang, a small brown hyena-like animal came very near and attacked Philip.
Philip never knew what came to him. He was down the very second it attacked. Many animals approached and dragged him away. Everyone else started running. Shrieks resounded from all over. Cindy carried Hwang and ran. They had no idea where they were running.
"Dddddaiiii"
Suddenly a bullet shot was heard. The hyena looking animal that was chasing them was down and was bloodied.
They saw a few robust men in leather jackets and hats. One of them was holding a musket.
Jason saw his saviours. He was happy to finally see any people. He approached them.
"Thank goodness. We nearly got killed. I am Jason and you are"
"…."
"We are lost. Can you help us? See our families are rich. You will be awarded handsomely"
The man didn't reply and eyed the girls. Seeing this he said, "you can keep them as well. Just get me out of here" "You talk too much", the robust man hit Jason and made him unconscious. " wait. Don't hurt us. We can give you money. Our family can give you money", Nicole was scared silly. She stammered. "Five will make good money"
Those men were speaking in a different language. None of them understood what they were saying. They only knew that they have fallen into very dire circumstances.
They came forward and brought out handcuffs and chain. They started binding them. Cindy and others could hardly resist.
One of them blew a whistle and some birds or animals came flying down. These birds had a body of a leopard and wings like eagles.
They started pulling the captors towards the birds. Suddenly, a masked man came to a robust man pulling Cindy. He grabbed his arm and send him flying. Others saw this, finding
the masked man to be stronger than them, the leader came forward aiming his musket at the man. The masked man pointed towards Cindy, and said, "I will take her. You can keep the rest." He then disappeared from the grasslands with Cindy. The robust men than took the baffling captives with them on their semi bird-animal carrier.