Downgrade

Going Somewhere

Kinzel was looking beyond the large area of the Old Mill – the roof had been damaged due to a storm, the green painted walls had already turned into dread ones and the door had been hanging from its grip, swaying with the wind. The well from the right side was covered with a boulder. And the pine tree where they used to play along from the past wasn’t there anymore. It was different. The place was a bit heavy to bear. It wasn’t working, abandoned, but behind it, there’s something secretly happening that an eye doesn’t see and know. It is a right spot to do anything that is obscure and coerced. The windmill beside the building was turning around with the uprising wind. It was a bit dusty. A patch of hay was covering a subtle land. Sheep are wandering around, without no any hint of what’s going to happen afterward. Stubby and traditionally wooden barrels squandered the place and so do the sawdust that came from the large snithes of logs that have been piled in the right corner of the mill. It should have been a beautiful place to visit but it seems that it had turned to be worse than what they saw before. Burnt leaves are everywhere, newspapers, even empty barrels were scattered.

The gate was in chains and a padlock was there enough for anyone not to pass it. The crude wire meshing fences are even hard to scale, just so right that spikes are at the very tip.

Guilbert walked through the sides. They couldn’t cut the chains or break the lock. It will be suspicious and they might cause a trouble. His hands traveled down the fence and saw something that can be their answer to go in. He didn’t snap and didn’t wait for any moment to pass. He signaled the team to come over him and pointed a specific part of the fence. It was damaged, like it had been cut by someone, leading to a small opening through the inside. A smile was waving over Kinzel’s face. She patted her brother.

“Great eyes.” She complimented him.

Without a doubt, Kinzel led the team and slowly passed the fence. Assisted by her brother, the Era was able to get inside. They are having their early victory not until a man stood still just a few meters away from them inside the mill. He was wearing a dark brown cape with a hood, which made them hard to recognize the man’s face. A smirking face appeared on them as the guy slowly made his way to where they stopped as if he waited for them to arrive.

“Is he…the messenger?” Guilbert asked taking turns in giving glances to the others and the man.

“Be ready. We still don’t know him.” Kinzel demanded. Everyone was ready to engage in battle but the man just walked silently, he was moving like an aristocrat. His eyes turned into serious ones. As soon as he’s in front of them, the serious act turned into a soft squeal. They heard a familiar voice. The man patiently removed his hood and the team was widely frozen from their feet. It was Mr. Elikai, the Informant.

Kinzel immediately pulled the man by his cape and said, “What are you doing here? Did you sell us?” Her face was in range, kind of gritting her teeth. It was a rude thing, but Kinzel will always be Kinzel. The man raised both his hands as if he already had pulled out a white flag. “I’m not here to cause any trouble with you,” he said and looked over Kinzel’s hand currently gripping his cloth. “And can you stop doing that? I paid a load just to buy this thing.”

He snapped her hand and hissed. Kinzel sighed and crossed her arms. Guilbert was stomping his feet while looking around. It was getting dark and the skies are getting gleamed. “Why did you take us here?” Loshiana muttered.

“I didn’t take you in here, it was your decision.”

“Then why did you give us this address?” Kinzel said and pulled out the paper in front of him. Mr. Elikai’s reaction told them that he doesn’t know anything regarding the message. He’s not the messenger.

“He’s not the one. You’re an Imposter!” Quinten ruggedly squirmed. “Woah. What are you talking about? I don’t even know what brings you here.” Mr. Elikai defended himself.

Guilbert scratched his head and made himself stood in between the others. “Okay. Clearly, all of us don’t know why we’re here, and…the messenger is not Mr. Elikai.” He calmly talked.

“What? Who’s the messenger?” Mr. Elekai had not even know who are they dealing with. He has no clue of what’s happening.

“We thought you’re the messenger who sent us this message.”

The man took his heed to the vellum. He slowly grabbed it and smelled. The scent was unfamiliar but he was quite sure that it didn’t come from any of the Lowies.

“This is not from the first level.”

“Are you sure?” Kinzel was a bit shocked as she heard the man.

“Yes. The quality of paper…I can’t seem to find any resemblance from the ones they sell in the market. I think it comes from the other levels. I’m quite sure this piece of the sheet can be seen there above.” He gave in a sudden pause. Mr. Elikai found his voice and muttered, “The message looks like the same as what I got a while ago.”

“You’ve received such message?” Loshiana pondered.

“Yes. When I came back from the Church, I just found a message being written on a white cloth over my door. It conveyed a different one but the time and address were the same as yours.”

“Damnit. We’re being played here.” Kinzel uttered with annoyance. “That messenger, who even is he?”

Guilbert looked at the large opening of the levels at the top of the Long Range Fountain, from a distance. “We really have to go to the next level and find some answers. We don’t have to rely always upon Mr. Elikai.”

The man nodded. “That’s right. I’m just an Informant. I don’t seek all the information. It’s time for you to move your sticking butts.”

A dangling perilous movement in the darkness made them into a battling mode. Something had moved just near the gate. Guilbert put his hand above his eyes and tried his best to have a clearer view of it. Often, wild boars roam around like it’s fine, not minding that people do exist to kill. Guilbert's eyes went round, his feet were glued on the ground. Quinten recognized him.

“I-Is something wrong?” He asked and eventually looked at the dark alley and the gate. A cold breeze blew to him.

The rattling sound became louder. Kinzel and Loshiana have heard it also.

“W-What’s going on?” Loshiana worriedly asked, gently squeezing Quinten’s arm from behind.

“They’re here…” Mr. Elikai whispered and told everyone to hold their mouths and keep still. As much as they can, they headed to the piled-up hay and hid themselves. Silence came in. They heard the chains fell off the ground. Mr. Elikai can hear his heart pounding hard just like a thunderclap. They watched carefully as the gate slowly opened wide and a group of guards, wearing their military uniforms went inside to roam around. There are about twenty of them. It was a question for all why they needed to inspect the place and to add the number of them is a bit drastic.

“Why are they here?” Kinzel whispered as she knelt on the ground, her right hand was taking a hold of the hay. She kept looking secretively unto the guards who also just started to check the place. Something is off, she thought. The night is falling to its sleep and it was getting colder. After a couple of minutes, a young woman in her thirties had appeared near the gate. Her long sleek snow-white hair was flowing freely through the thin air as if it was her last. She was wearing a furry greyed coat with a veil to cover up her face except for her eyes. She walked towards the guards who eventually took the shield and gave her a bow. The queen had returned from ashes, she gave in a simpler. The way she looks at things was familiar to Guibert. He thought he have seen those grim eyes and features. After some time of thinking, he had realized.

Guilbert held Kinzel’s hand tautly under such tension. “She’s…”

“Penelope Hamington…” Loshiana hoarsely said, her body trembled as her eyes locked to the woman who’s talking to the guards.

She was pointing from different directions. With a snap, they hid themselves behind again as Penelope turned her gaze in their direction, her ears became sharp as if she heard something and saw it moved. The Era and Mr. Elikai covered their mouths. Penelope stayed for seconds until she decided to go inside the mill with some of the guards. The others went into the other sides encircling the building. Now, everything is getting into a zeal. A scoff just came from Quinten’s mouth which was also answered by a chary smile from Loshiana. Guilbert nodded and directly knew what’s going on.

Everyone put on their scarves. Guilbert placed his hand in the center and each one of them gently placed theirs on top of one another. They didn’t think twice as all their eyes met. In a split second, they all vanished and appeared on the right side of the building where ten guards are standing and looking around. They’re caught in bewilderment and baffled at how a group of people had known their positions and the Old Mill. Just before they could think and act, Quinten forcefully grabbed the two guards and punched them over their napes which made them lose consciousness. Cold chocolate brown eyes flashed upon them. Kinzel made herself leaped towards the five and wacked them off with a sleeping potion. It’s not her time to use her own powers, and potions are her best alternatives to win a fight. Guilbert went for the other five. Using transportation, it was hard for them to catch him and in return, they’re firing some potions and hefted their cudgels towards the Era.

“Don’t let yourselves get hit by that thing! It will stop you from using your powers!” Mr. Elikai screamed.

They shouldn’t be affected and warry, but they felt infuriated by the man’s words. The team nodded and was conscious of their moves. They needed to be alert. They needed to catch up with Penelope inside, who’s a vagabond who had ran away to deal with her luscious plans. Mr. Elikai’s power is useless in combat, but he didn’t want to be left behind. With a nagging sound, he engaged unto two guards and used his staff for battle. He hit one over the face and the other straight on balls. The two fell on the ground, wimping with pain. The old man kicked them in the sides with a smirk and went off to help the others.

Quinten barked in laughter as he continued to punch the remaining hindrances. He could cry his eyes out as he enjoyed fighting with the guards. How he wished it to happen was satisfaction for himself. Kinzel rubbed her temple when she perceived all have fallen and barely moved an inch. She feigned a smile and was deluding herself for thinking that they have already won. They still have someone to chase.

Quinten stepped out from the dark and hurled to the men. “Do we still need to dispatch them?” Kinzel scowled and gently turned her gape high above. Killing wasn’t their main goal after all and shedding blood isn’t a thing to scorn. She exclaimed a sigh and scratched her hand. “Let them withstand the pain and let them experience what it feels like to float.” She reckoned.

Quinten snorted from his stell and patted each one of the guards. In an instant, all of them are floating. The time that they will revert themselves, they would see how anti-gravity power works.

“I can’t wait for them to wake up,” Loshiana said. Era made its way inside the building. It was quiet. The sound of echo lingered around as Guilbert whistled. Machines have been covered with thin clothes and are now pervaded with dust. Penelope was nowhere to be found. Mr. Elikai was pushing his pear-shaped brown truncheon as he wandered around, looking for possible ways as if Penelope and the others directed themselves in a secret passage. It would be safer for the Era to stick around. Guilbert’s voice was gruff, interspersed with gulps. Taking a glance through the long-obsolete rectangular window, where termites have taken colonization on it, Loshiana didn’t recognize the remaining officers. They just vanished from nowhere.

The oddity of the scenery had offered them despondent, feverish chills on their backs. Quinten rubbed his arms. Seeing Kinzel having a sage and somber expression, Loshiana tried to neglect the overbearing place. “Do we really need to chase the leader of the Royals right now?” She blunted.

“To think, we’re the only ones who’re here, why not try to teach her a lesson.” Quinten brazed himself, taking both his hands under his pockets.

“The messenger had sent that message for us to see something else. It might be connected to them, but the person responsible for leading us in a ruckus has an important thing to relay. We need to find that person and the reason why he chose to get our attention.” Kinzel pondered.

Mr. Elikai made his way to the left corner where a ruggedly low shelf was located. Tiny bits of grass inside the cylindrical opaque jars. They’re experiments. The ceiling was wide open, it was late at night. Droplets of water entered the place, flowing from the high-ceilinged walls. It was slowly turning into a stronghold by someone they can’t see. It wasn’t natural, they knew. It was a specific power by someone who can control water. But who is it? Where is the person? Kinzel looked beyond the thick obscure redwoods. There should be someone out there, patiently looking over them.

The old man started to press things over the side, from bricks to walls up until the floorings. They suddenly felt panic crippling. Water was a natural resource and only a few have given the strength to empower such a gift from the gods. Loshiana and Quinten opted to help Mr. Elikai and started to move things. Hoping to see a passage was their only chance. As Loshiana was touching things over the shelf, she witnessed something which’s different from the other jars. It was triangular. She sluggishly towed it from its place. A creaking noise underneath was kenned. The ground began to shake harshly. The team walked a couple of steps back as a secret passage slowly appeared in front of them, dust was pouring their grand entrance. An infinitely long treacherous path was leading to a dark portion underneath. They couldn’t see a thing and a peculiar sharp odor beset the place, marring their eyes. “Man, that’s gross. It’s rotting here.” Quinten wriggled.

Guilbert lit a pine-knot red torch. Kinzel gave him small claps as a compliment. Siblings should congratulate each other even in times of menace. “You’re a lifesaver.” She spoke and went underground. Mr. Elikai was the next one to follow the woman. Loshiana assisted the old man by bringing with her the shaft. Quinten hurriedly went with them leaving Guilbert in the entrance, still holding the torch. He was dubious from the start, as if everything was well planned. Are they leading themselves in a devil’s trap? That was he thought before following the others. The way was narrow and it will be pitch black without the torch. The dark moss-covered walls are even hard to handle together with the smell. The ground was wet with water coming from a distance.

“How long is this going to take?” Quinten’s intolerant side was bestowing.

Someone just stomped unto his toe. He snagged Guilbert who was in the focus of lighting the way for them. Loshiana lost her balance as she thought that Quinten just pushed her, giving him a death glare. Mr. Elikai’s shaft suddenly hit Kinzel’s head. A maddening face was seen through the wavering shadows of the light. Now the whole team became injudicious. They began to push and strangle each other until they stopped when they heard a woman’s voice. They just reach the outside…and it wasn’t just a place to mesmerize…it was the forest itself. They just went out from Embreal City.

“Did you find them?” A woman was fixed beside an officer. It was Penelope. She was acting strange as if she’s cautious of what’s around. It’s not her place to rule anymore. Her eyes showed that she’s afraid of what’s lurking behind those thick bushes and trees. After all, she has done such things to those people who’re eliminated from their ranks. Era just found a way outside the city and that somehow brought joy to the team. But the felicity they cherished at the moment, without warning, vanished by the next words that came from Penelope.

They stood still behind the shadows at the very end of the path, carefully listening to their conversation, disregarding the fact that they almost got into a fight with each other.

“We didn’t find them. We lost track again. The lead had just been erased and a new one was just delivered a while ago.” The officer steadfastly answered.

“Those damn wrenches should be captured. I can’t believe they just went back here. You should get rid of them or the consequences will rest upon you.” She demanded with authority. Her words are sharp like a sword, digging through the man’s conscious that they need to fulfill their mission or their lives will be at stake.

“Yes, Madame.”

“Three days,” Penelope was gritting her teeth, her eyes are hideous to stare, “Three days, that’s all you got. If you can’t bring them back here or kill them inside, then you will know the answer to your question.”

The officer bowed his head to the master. Quinten was getting an inch all of a sudden which made him stumbled and fell upon Guilbert as if someone just pulled his foot. The torched went off and all was in darkness. Kinzel sighed in frustration but eventually turned into a conscious reaction. Penelope was distressed about what she heard a while ago over the hay. She was debating if she had seen someone moved back then. Taking some small steps back to the path in Embreal City, she felt something just grabbed her hair. It was getting out of hand – a dark foolish aura had embraced all of them. Kinzel coercively silenced the whole team, watching carefully Penelope’s movements. The woman continued to walk in their directions. Kinzel directly conveyed the others to move back.

Penelope hoarsely rushed through the path. Disappointed welcomed her – there was no one. She thought that she’s just into her delusion for bringing herself out of the city. The Era was able to hide themselves in the dark, quietly.

“We have to close this way immediately.” Penelope muttered, her eyes stared blankly at the forest.