Broken Earth: Unveiling the Secrets of the Worlds

The crow appears

By the time Xerxes arrived, Rupert and Ramirez has already bought the number of crossbows that they need. “They are going to deliver the crossbows later. We are going to check it all again.” Rupert reports to Xerxes right after he arrived. “How about, the katanas? Are they ready?” Ramirez then place all the katanas in the crate and are ready to leave.

Samantha and the others are worried about the three when they are all ready to leave anytime when they get everything they have. “Are you going to leave immediately?” Samantha ask Xerxes who stops what he is doing to answer her. “There is an emergency. Our friends on the other side needs weapons because of the new monsters that are appearing in their world. More stronger and larger monsters, that’s why we are in a hurry.”

“Aren’t you going to stay the night? You will not be able to enter the portal immediately.” It is then that the three remembers the countdown for them to be able to enter the portal yet again. Xerxes slams his fist on the wall. “Sh*t, I forgot. We need to wait for the countdown. A whole day. But I guess that’s fine. Its only an hour inside.” Xerxes sat one the chair with a gloomy face.

“Master, lets just wait for another day. We can’t enter the portal and there is no helping that. Lets just hope that they are fine.” Rupert says and pat his back. “Ferdrick. Did he get anything done?” Xerxes turns to the others who seem to be excited about something. “What? Did something happen? Did he do anything wrong or different?”

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

“Yes, go on and melt like that. Yes, go on and melt like that. Yes, go on and melt like that. Yes, go on and melt like that. Be a good metal and follow my will. I will do everything I can. I will make you all into a masterpiece. And you will see the glory that no man has ever seen. Haha! Haha! Haha! Hahahaha!”

“He’s been like that ever since he failed making something like this. He worked his ass off and even skipped meal because of his addiction. I think he is now addicted to crafting.” Britt says and points at the plates and trays that have been collecting dust.

“He did not even notice us when we were talking to him. We tried dragging him away from his workshop but he seems to have a tight connection with the workshop. He even overwhelmed us even with his tiny body.” Berto says with a worried tone.

‘’What is he trying to make?’ Xerxes picks up the thing that Ferdrick tried to make and then quickly turns to the crafter who is excited in crafting his greatest work yet. “That guy, he is really trying to make the battery. This guy is incredible.” Xerxes says and puts down the piece of what Ferdrick is making. “Lets just not disturb him for now and leave food for him to eat after he works. Looks like his work is nearly finished.” Xerxes then looks around and sees other things that he had done created.

“Are you sure that we should leave him be? Won’t he die from starvation? He hasn’t been eating much in the past few days, he might collapse if left alone.” Cynthia says but then Bianca tells her that Ferdrick is used to not eating much knowing that he had been like that ever since he got the talent of creating things.

“Its better not to think about it too much, Mr. Ferdrick does t hat but doesn’t understand that it will take a toll on his body in the future. I think the best thing we can do is wait and ready everything for his medication when he returns to being his self again. Lets just wait for him to run out of gas. Maybe he will return to normal these days.” Bianca says to the others.

“Bianca is right. Once he runs out of gas. You can think about it later. There are people like that, they will not stop until they finish what they are doing. Otherwise you are just wasting his time and might hinder his concentration.” Xerxes agrees. “Rupert, how much money do we still have?”

Rupert scratch his head and answered. “I think we still have enough to spend for the next fifty years, that is if we are still alive by then. We made so much during those commissions that we almost filled a room with our earnings. I believe we can build a castle and live like royals for ten years.”

Xerxes nod his head and decided to celebrate their return for today by holding a feast in their shop. Hunter Benedict happen to pass by and ask to join in as well Cynthia close the door on his face.

SLAM!

“I really hate that guy. He had been popping out every single day since the day you left. I really want to bash his face right in but these guys are stopping me. They said that you will not like it if I did that so I didn’t. But I don’t think I can stop myself from hitting him once he shows his face once again.” Xerxes sees that the others are ready to stop her anytime and realize how she really likes to smash Benedict’s face right in and admire her courage.

“I don’t think you should be doing that Cynthia, he is a hunter like us. And I want to have someone to help you when something happens and we are not around. He will surely help you.” Xerxes said as he walks out of the door and takes a katana with him.

‘Where the heck is that guy?’ Xerxes saw Benedict walking along the road and calls out to his name. “Mr. Benedict!” it is as if he has ear all over his body that he immediately turns to Xerxes. “Mr. Xerxes, what is it that you want?” Xerxes run towards him and grab his hand. “Mr. Benedict, can you promise me to look after my employees from a distance while we are gone? We have some business inside the portal tomorrow and might be gone for a few days or week or even months. Please be on their aid if something happens.” Xerxes hands him a katana.

Benedict is shocked to see the weapon that he had been longing for is now in his hands but then he realize something off from his remarks. “Are you expecting to stay inside the portal for a year?” he asked with a concerned tone. “To be honest, I don’t know. There are things that we discovered inside and for a while now. There are things that have been on my mind and the things that we discovered inside the portal are the answers. I need answers to the questions in my head. And because of that I need to leave, that’s why I am asking you to look after them. That way I can be rest assured that they are safe.”

The old hunter’s interest is piqued by what Xerxes said but then quickly discards the thought and promised Xerxes. “Don’t worry. I will look out for them in your stead but what are you going to od? You said that there are more dangerous monsters on the other side of the portal. Will you and the others be fine?” it took Xerxes a few minutes to answer and the old man knows that even Xerxes is not certain of his fate once he enters the portal.

 “I think there is a possibility that we might die inside the portal. I will just do everything I can to survive. That is the best thing we can do. We can just learn on the way. Thanks Mr. Benedict. I gave you quite a huge task.” The old man just smiles and shakes his head. “I should be the one thanking you Mr. Xerxes. I get to have a weapon like this because of you. I am going to hold my end of the bargain. I will do my best to guard them. So just be careful inside the portal and come back alive.” He says with a smile and bow his head.

Xerxes and Benedict talked a bit more and the young man left to go back and return to their shop. “I wonder what he meant by questions inside his mind for a long time?  Well, I guess I have to ask him about that next time we meet. He really is an interesting fellow. More importantly, this weapon. I wonder how sharp it is. Looks like I will have a new favorite.” Benedict smiles to himself as he walks back to his group.

“Where have you been master. Britt says that he can’t wait any longer but thanks to miss Bianca, we were able to subdue her brother.” Rupert said while holding Britt down like a wild dog. “Now that I’m here. Please stop holding him down like that? He is a human you know?” Rupert and Berto then let go of Britt who immediately settles down and pant.

“I thought I was going to die by their hands. They did not held back at all.” Britt says. Everyone laughed right after he speak up. “Now that, everything is ready, we need to eat now before the food gets bad.” Xerxes said and they started the feast without Ferdrick, who is still locking himself inside his workshop.

A few hours later before Xerxes and the others leave for the portal. The hunter leaders and the marquis’ men entered the portal to confirm Xerxes’ report. “I don’t think this is a good idea. If those three people refuse to join then his report must be credible right? The beetles alone are going to be a hard hurdle to overcome if we face one.” One of the hunter leaders says when they are about to enter the portal. Another hunter made fun of him because he is afraid of mere words from a person they don’t even trust.

“There is no way that its all true. He might have made up everything to be on the good side of the marquis.“  another hunter said when they crossed the portal and saw nothing. “See there is nothing here on this side. There is no need to worry about anything. We can just accuse him once we get back later. How dare he lie to us.” The hunter added but then the others warns him to keep his voice down. “Are you an i***t? You might attract other monsters if you talk that loud.” A hunter said while keeping his voice down but the other hunter refuse to listen and even speaks louder than he already had.

“There’s no problem right? He is just trying to trick us.” The hunter says while the others shakes their heads in disappointment. “And you call yourself a hunter? That other hunter is right, you clearly have no concern experience inside the portal after that incident.” The officers that marquis sent to be with them said.

The other hunter wants to argue but then some of the hunters alerted them, they heard the gusting of the wind just above their heads and the flapping of wings, a strong wind almost swept away their equipment. They all then wonder what kind of creature would be able create such a thing so they look for it, but found nothing.

A large shadow hover above their heads and as they look up, they felt a bone chilling figure flying in the sky. A dark feathered creature that resemble something like a bird, is diving towards them. Then one of them recognize the creature, the large black bird, is a crow.