CHAPTER 14
When Hirayon and the group reached the region's center, they were welcomed by a plaza full of oddities. They surrounded a circular platform in the middle with a transparent blue wall of Aura resembling a waterfall.
Even after the hover car entered the platform, the people cheered nonstop. They know that with their chief's personality, they won't be able to see the child, but that doesn't stop them from getting excited. In fact, there seemed like a festival because of the decorations and stalls lined up in the plaza. It couldn't be seen from a distance before, but Hirayon could now clearly see water orbs decorating the place. They were in different shades and also seemed translucent because of the continuous swirling of colors.
"It looked like they will celebrate for the whole week," Zeno commented when he saw the number of stalls selling food and other things. "Should we make them stop?" He added, considering that the oddities did not ask permission to build the stalls.
"Let them be for now and give every family a large plate of monster meat from the sea monsters the hunting team had slain," Hanan ordered.
Monster meat in Diwana could be eaten like animal meat. They only need to be cooked properly by experienced professionals, as some monsters have toxins that need a thorough cleaning. Most of the time, they also purify it to clean the meat and make it safe for eating.
"Understood," Zeno answered and quickly opened his Oddilens to send a message to the Head of the Water Clan Hunting Organization. They were responsible for managing everything about hunting, from the teams, missions, awards, and Monster Cores, up to the management of the monster corpses. Other than using it for food, they would also gather functional parts of monsters, such as their tough skin, horns, teeth, and others, to use as materials for weapons and other things.
After a moment, Hanan used his Oddilens. "Oddi, change the mode of transportation to a marine car," he said in his mind.
A monotonous voice answered, "Changing mode into a marine car."
The hovering car slowly descended. Nothing changed in its appearance, but all opened parts of the car were closed, and another coating of protection was added to the exterior to withstand the water pressure.
Once the vehicle touched the platform, the intricate logo of the Water Clan glowed brightly. Then a hologram appeared before Hanan, showing a list of names and meters. Some even had a description of what could be found in that depth. Hanan then clicked their Destination in the hologram, Alun City.
Oddi's voice rang in his mind, "Destination - Alun City. The platform will descend in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1."
On cue, the platform sank like an elevator, and the still glowing logo illuminated the dark passage they were falling into. The drop was slow initially but became fast after a few more seconds, making Hirayon lose his balance.
Hirayon felt like he was riding a ride in the Fantasy Park and clutched onto Hanan's shirt for support.
"It will be done soon," Hanan said, holding the child on both shoulders to prevent him from stumbling. Although the drop was smooth, the new experience and the still muscleless body of the child prevented him from standing still.
After a minute, their descent slowed, and they were submerged in water. The car did not float and continued sticking on the platform, continuously plunging below.
Then the path got wider, and the walls became illuminated with glowing blue lights, outlining the entryways with its name and depth written above the entrances. Beside each entry, there were oddities holding spears, guarding them. They bowed and remained in that position when they saw their chief's car until the platform dropped lower.
That continued for four more minutes until the platform finally stopped in front of an entryway outlined by white light instead of blue. Above it says Alun City 1,200 meters.
"Why is it white?" Hirayon asked as it was the only entrance outlined with a different color.
"The color of the light signifies if a car will pass through that entrance. It is so that the oddity knights will know if there will be an incoming car because they need to open the current," Zeno explained.
"What current?" Hirayon curiously asked.
"That," Hanan said and pointed at the front.
When Hirayon followed where Hanan was pointing, his eyes widened as their car was suddenly pulled forward and traveled at speed. The good thing was that Hanan was still holding him, or he might've rolled to the back of the car. He also couldn't see anything outside as their vehicle was surrounded by bubbles because of their speed.
It didn't take long for them to slow down, and Hirayon's jaw dropped when he finally had a clear view outside.
The scenery was majestic and out of the world. Hirayon felt he was no longer in Diwana as he marveled at everything he saw.
Alun City differed significantly from the cities above the island. Here, the buildings were mostly glass and looked exceptionally technologically advanced. Most buildings were also decorated by water plants and veins, while some had gigantic coral wave patterns.
If the region above the island is serene and peaceful, the area below is glamorous and surreal.
As it was deep underwater with no sunlight, all the buildings were lighted and almost glowing in the dark. Because of that, Hirayon could see several fishes and marine life shoaling around. There were also schools of fish moving in synchrony, making Hirayon realize they were deep under the water.
"Welcome to the capital city of the Water Clan, Alun City," Zeno said, thrilled at Hirayon's reaction.
The car moved in a direction, and Hirayon saw other water vehicles there. Some were closed like what they were riding, but most of it was open and just a long steel rod with both ends bent in the same direction. The rod was thick enough for oddities to grab, and the bent part released bubbles.
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One oddity holding into it passed through their car. The person was holding into it with one hand while the other hand was inside his pants.
Hirayon looked at it strangely as it looked like the person was swimming with his hand stretched forward but remained still.
He was about to ask, but Zeno spoke as if he knew what Hirayon was thinking.
"Those were Water Rods. They pull water and release it with strong enough pressure to drag an oddity in their desired direction. It is the most common transportation used here that can be used by all ages. Well, some just swim, but it is faster to use rods and more practical since it is small."
Then another oddity passed through them, but this time the person was sitting in the middle of what seemed like a soft glass.
"That one is an elemental ability called Bubble. It is one of the most common innate abilities that oddities gain as a Normal Oddity," Zeno explained again.
"But I don't have that ability," Hirayon said, enumerating all his innate abilities in his mind.
'Right now, all I have are Water Breathe, Water Pool, Water Orb, and Water Wall.'
"I think it is because you were living in the forest. Our environment greatly affects our Aura and abilities. You were in the Earth Territory, and their specialty is defense. That is why you didn't gain Bubble and instead had Water Wall, which is a defensive type," Hanan speculated.
"Will I gain Bubble in the future?" Hirayon asked while looking at the other oddities inside their bubbles.
"We won't know. But you don't have to worry; not everyone has the same ability. I don't have Bubble as well," Hanan said, trying to ease Hirayon's worry.
"Why? You also lived in the forest?" Hirayon asked.
"No, in the volcanoes," Hanan stated as if nothing.
"Huh?" Hirayon and Zeno reacted at the same time. The child looked curious, while Zeno looked at his chief like he had gone insane.
Zeno couldn't help but react that way. After all, fire is the opposite element of water and is completely incompatible. He couldn't believe his chief had lived in the volcanoes, the home of fire oddities.
"My father wanted me to be strong, so he made me train in the volcanoes with other fire Oddities," Hanan explained.
Zeno then realized something, "That is why you and Fire Clan Chief Alab were best of frie-"
"We're not friends." Hanan cut quickly, repulsed that Zeno thought he and Alab were friends.
"Yeah, I misspoke," Zeno said while avoiding Hanan's glare.
But in truth, his chief was closer to Chief Alab than Chief Daram. Zeno wondered why before but never dared to ask because the two vehemently denied their connection. Now he understands why.
"I trained there when I was a kid. That is why instead of Bubble, I gained the ability of Steam which I used to heat your drinks."
"Can I also gain Steam?" Hirayon asked.
"I don't know. Why? You want it?" Hanan asked with a hint of a smirk on his face. He could see greed in Hirayon, which he was sure the child inherited from him.
As a kid, he was also greedy and competitive, leading him to become more powerful and eventually earning him the position of chief.
'Looks like if he wanted, he could definitely be the next chief," Hanan thought.
"I want it because it seemed useful," Hirayon said, returning his gaze outside the window.
Hanan smirked and thought about how the chief of the Fire Clan would react if he saw his son. Hanan is pretty sure that he would be envious of him too. Although Alab has a son, he is already an adult and highly uninterested in the matters of the clan. Thus, Alab lost all hope of passing the position to his one and only son.
Because of that, Alab was always pissed, especially when other chiefs bragged about their brilliant kids who wanted to be the next chief.
"That's our house," Hanan said while pointing to a large building resembling a modern glass mansion.
"Beside it was a current that looked like an underwater waterfall," he followed and pointed to the left side of the building where the massive current was. It seemed like a waterfall but looked more similar to a black hole with its alluring but deadly pressure.
"Where does it lead to?" Hirayon asked.
"It leads to the marine sanctuary and home of the Auveasts. Only those with permission could ride the vehicle to get there. If they tried to enter the hole with any other car, they would be crushed by the pressure and face an instant death," Hanan answered darkly that even Zeno, who knew about the current, got scared.
'I don't think that's alright for the young master to hear,' he thought.
"There is also a large training ground located at the very bottom, which is the deepest area that could be used by oddities," Hanan added.
"We are here," Zeno said as he noticed their car entering an open space inside the building. When they were completely inside, a gate came down on the entryway, enclosing them inside.
After a few seconds, the water subsided, draining the water using the large slits on the floor.
When the water was completely gone, Hanan opened the door of the hover car and went down, ushering Hirayon. Hirayon then scanned his surroundings and noticed they were inside a steel room with many drains in the ceiling and floor.
On the far right corner is a door they all approached. When Hanan stood before it, the door automatically slid open without Oddi's help. It revealed a spacious hallway with cream walls and sparkling chandeliers above.
They walked in the hallway, and at the end, the group was welcomed by rows of people wearing clean dark blue uniforms, all bowing at the same angle. At the very front stood four people wearing white and dark blue clothes with designs that differed from one another. They were bowing as well, with their hands resting on their abdomen.
"Welcome back, Master," they all greeted in unison, their voice reverberating inside the mansion.
Hanan nodded and placed his hand on Hirayon's shoulder, urging him closer.
"This is Azur Hirayon, my son. From now on, he is the young master of this house. Treat him with proper respect," he said with pure authority while scanning all the employees with his cold silver-blue eyes.
"Understand?" He asked sternly.
"Yes, Master," All the employees answered, louder than their greeting earlier.
Hanan then motioned the four people to step closer. When they did, Hirayon finally saw four middle-aged oddities looking at him with curious eyes.
"Hirayon, I want you to meet Head Butler Veno. He takes care of all of the matters in the house. He is also Zeno's father. Next to him is Head Maid Larise, who oversees all the maids. Beside her is Head Chef Habana, responsible for cooking all the food, and the Head of Marine Sanctuary, Lev," Hanan introduced.
They then bowed at Hirayon and greeted him.
"Welcome, young master," Veno said calmly with a professional smile. The man with some grey strands in his hazel hair did not look Zeno at all. The only similarity that Hirayon found was their blue-green eyes.
"If you have any food request, just say it. I can cook everything," Habana said happily and even struck a pose by putting his right fist on his left chest.
"Just call me if you need anything," Larise, the head maid, said shortly and gave the child a warm smile.
"You want to visit the sanctuary?" Lev asked with a raised brow. He heard from Zeno that the child wanted to see the marine animals.
Because they spoke one after another, Hirayon didn't know who to greet and answer first. Hanan noticed that, so he pulled his son slowly and glared at the four.
"You can talk to him later. He is tired and needs rest," Hanan said, which made them shut.
"I just woke up," Hirayon said and looked up at Hanan.
"Right, you should eat something first," Hanan said, thinking Hirayon was hungry.
"Ready some breakfast. Make sure there is mushroom soup, bread, and chocolate milk," he ordered Habana.
"Understood, master," Habana said and left immediately, followed by two lines of oddities wearing white caps and uniforms.
"You should rest in your room first while waiting for breakfast," Hanan said, motioning Veno to usher Hirayon.
"But I'm not tired," Hirayon declared.
Hanan shook his head. "You might feel you aren't, but we were traveling for days, and you need a proper rest. You don't need to sleep. Just lie down in a bed," Hanan said softly, convincing Hirayon.
When his son reluctantly nodded, Hanan smiled. "I will meet some people first. I'll be back to eat breakfast with you," he said before looking at Veno and Larise.
"Treat him well," he said sternly with his usual piercing gaze before walking toward another hallway.
"Let's meet later, Hirayon," Zeno bid to the child and jogged to catch up to Hanan.
"Shall we, young master?"
R E H I L I Y A