Prismatic

Checkpoint

I felt something nudge at me. “Wake up, sleepyhead”, I heard a manly voice call to me. If I woke up, the lovely voice might disappear. So, I pretended to snore loudly. I felt a sudden kick at my side. “Ow!” I sprung up to see who it was. Bry was sitting by my side. He was wandering his eyes around my sleepy face. Then, I looked up at the culprit. “It’s about time!” Aina was impatient. Before I could react, a victorious trumpet was heard around us.

“Welcome, champions!” said the familiar voice, “Congratulations on passing the previous floor.”

“Welcome to the first checkpoint”, he continued, “There are a total of three checkpoints. Each checkpoint is different from one another but every checkpoint lets you rest and recover. In this checkpoint, you can do whatever you want. But remember, it still has its boundaries.”

“It is forbidden to fight in this floor and the same punishment still applies”, he warned, “Enjoy and I hope you survive the next round.”

Celebratory music replaced the voice. This floor had a lot of colorful shops that looked like ancient shrines or temples. The names of the shops were in a language that I did not understand. Bry casted the spell, Detego Glossa then in a flash, the words became understandable. A blast of popping balls of colored fire painted the evening sky behind the shops.

“He didn’t say that we can’t cast magic”, Bry explained.

“Thanks, Bry, as always”, I said to him.

“Yeah”, he smiled, “We should check out what we can buy with these currencies we have.”

“I’m on it!” Aina went on ahead.

“Yeah, I should check it out too”, Tyke soon followed.

I went to the meat shop for some dinner. They were in delectable cuts, all at cheap costs. For one currency, I can buy one hundred pounds of meat. I went to the complements shop and bought my seasonings and sauces all for one currency.

We had an assigned house near the shops. When the voice left, a key fell from the sky and landed on my hands. It had a shape of three triangles engraved on it. I raised the key up and it glowed at where our resting stop was.

I set up the cooking area and started with cleaning my ingredients with clean water. I filled the pot with water and set it to a boil. When I went inside to get the meat, I was surprised to see Tyke sitting by the table. “Howdy, sister!” he said in a southern accent. I shook. I almost felt my knees fall.

“Don’t sneak up on me like that!” I scolded him.

“Ah boo. You’re no fun. I just wanted to help you with your cooking.”

“If I die of heart failure, dinner will be no more.”

“Sorry”, he frowned.

“I’m sorry for lashing out like that”, I started to apologize. “I was just surprised to see you here.”

“Don’t apologize, Jo. It was my fault for scaring you like that.”

“It’s okay. Were okay, alright”, I started preparing the meat, “Wash your hands and boil the eggs for me.”

“Right away, ma’am”, he went to do so and grabbed the eggs from the container.

“While waiting for it to boil, chop these vegetables for me”, I gave him some leafy greens.

“How do you want this cut?” he motioned the knife at the vegetable like he was going to murder it.

“Careful there, you might kill it”, I cautioned, “Handle it gently like a lady. Cooking a good dinner starts with a gentle touch. You have to handle each ingredient with care.”

“Oh, sorry… There, nice and easy”, he eased his grip from the knife.

“Guide the knife up and down like slicing a delicate fruit. You can manage to slice them with some thickness in margin, right?”

“I’ll get to it. I get it now. I am one with the knife”, he concentrated on the limp mass in front of him.

“Okay, I’ll get back to you as soon as I set the meat in the pot”, I went to the cooking area and let the meat tenderize in the boiling pot.

When I got back to him, he was already done. “Nice work there. This is exactly how I want it”, I commended him.

“Thanks. Just doing my best”, he smiled at his achievement.

“Haven’t you tried cooking before?”

“I tried but the house burned down.”

“It’s that bad?”

He nodded. “That’s why I never got to cook again.”

“Aw, poor you… Want to cook with me whenever we have time?”

“Sure. I’d love that.”

I paused to the boiling eggs. “I think these eggs are okay. Can you take them off and peel them?”

“Yes. I think I can do that.”

“Thanks. I’ll add these cut leaves to the pot and check the meat.” I went out to the cooking area. Suddenly, I heard an explosion. I ran to check it out.

“What happened?” I saw Tyke covered in egg. It was murdered.

“I just held on to it tight and squeezed it. I thought it would be faster that way.”

I slapped my face hard. Good thing the leaves were already in the pot. I washed my hands again and went to him. “What did I tell you about cooking?”

He thought for a minute, “Handle it like a lady?”

“Exactly”, I set a monotone voice trying to sound indifferent. “You murdered the egg”, I exhaled gently or at least I tried to, “Try again… you still have your chances there.”

This time, I didn’t leave him. He wiped the eggs from his body. He tried again and managed the task well. “I knew you could do it”, I commended him.

“Yeah, I know. Thanks again for reminding me”, he smiled and blushed a little.

“Just remember what I thought you.”

“Like a lady. I got it.”

I went to the cooking area and added some seasonings to the cooking meat. I let it simmer for a while. Tyke joined me with a bowl of eggs in his hands.

“You know, you make a great cook with a little more practice”, I praised him.

“Yeah…”

“Why did you decide to help me, anyway?”

“I was just jealous, I guess. Every one can cook except for me.”

“Oh, is this the survival thing or the Aina thing?”

He stuttered. “Probably both…”

“You’re honest, I like you.”

“Thanks.”

“I bet Aina would like that, too.”

“You think so?”

“Ugh”, I let out phlegm-like sound, “For a guy, you’re so dense.”

“What? What did I do?”

“Never mind”, I dismissed the topic, “Anyway, I think the food is done. I’ll go and check on it. While I do that, please prepare the table.”

He set up the table. He was smiling while doing so. I guess he was excited for dinner. He handed me the bowl of eggs and I placed the eggs on the dish. There, dinner was served. At the exact moment, Aina and Bry were back from shopping.

As we ate, I looked at what they bought. Bry bought some essentials such as bath bombs. Along with them were some bottles of potion of different varieties. He’s such a lover of potions. Aina, on the other hand, bought some clothes. These clothes looked like they resemble the tower itself. They had different colors of the same pattern but in a frilly dress. Along them were some accessories. Come to think of it, what did Tyke buy? I would have come with him if I had the time. I guess I will try shopping tomorrow. Who knows when we will be stuck here?

“So, is there anything interesting there for me? I was planning on shopping tomorrow”, I asked the shoppers.

“Well, there are these stuffed toys. They also have perfumes in stock, too. Also, some face enhancers”, Aina answered with glitters in her eyes.

“Must have been fun”, I smiled.

“Whatever you choose, Jo”, Bry interrupted, “The important thing is to have fun while you still can.”

“It must have been really fun”, Tyke jested, “Aina, what did you do with Bry?”

“What do you mean? I didn’t do anything”, Aina replied defensively, “We were looking at different stalls, I swear.”

“Whatever you say”, Tyke turned his attention to me. “Do you want to give it a try tomorrow?”

“Sure, why not”, I winked at Aina, “Surely, no one would mind. After all, we were left alone here.”

Aina was flaming red. “Yeah, go ahead”, Aina was fuming, “I wouldn’t mind, in fact, I don’t care what happens when you two are alone.”

“Stop teasing Aina, Jo”, Bry interjected, “It will be our turn to cook tomorrow, so have fun.”

Wow. How can he be so mature? I wanted to be alone with him most of all. I mean, Tyke may be buff and all but he doesn’t even have magic in his system. I wish I was just left here with him tomorrow. As if Bry read my mind, “Jo, you don’t need to be sad”, he put his hands to Tyke, “I trust this guy. He is the sweetest guy you can have. No conversation is boring with him. I don’t mind, really.”

He flashed a grin at me that reflected like mirrors through my eyes. How can he be so mature and gorgeous at the same time? I’m such a sinful woman! This will only make me want not to lose him. I will remember his smile to my grave. I think I have died already, I just didn’t notice.

We called it a night and went to our designated beds. The house was made of cement. It was a quaint four-bedroom kind. It had some elegant wood for a ceiling that matched the floor. The walls shine a neutral shine that looked dazzling when the lights were off. It had a round wooden center table that was quite sturdy despite its size. The lights used a clapping mechanism for a switch. The doors were like mahogany with the image of the tower carved on them. Each room had a single bed that was made from the same material as the door. The sheets and the pillows smelled new. A bathroom was also provided in each room.

I couldn’t sleep. I thought it was the first night effect or maybe I was just excited for tomorrow or maybe I was just anxious about what might happen tomorrow. I thought more of Bry than our original quest, Nissa. I wonder how she’s doing now. I wonder how Bry thinks of her absence. I think I was just really anxious. I wonder if he can really sleep after all that has happened. It’s not like we ever talk about her. We don’t even know about each other’s previous lives. I just respected him, that’s all. But I was curious about him, his sister and his life. He seemed like a decent guy aside from being a potion addict, I think it’s just a hobby but I don’t know.

“Ugh, this is driving me crazy!” I scowled under my pillow. I went up from my bed and took a peek at Bry. Maybe it will help me sleep when I look at him again. He was snoring soundly and I tried to press my ear on the locked door. “Nissa, don’t go… it’s only us now”, I heard a little sobbing. Oh poor Bry, I wouldn’t be able to rest after hearing him suffer. I wish I could go in and comfort him. “Jo, don’t worry… I’m here…” he mumbled idly. I rushed to my room fast as soon as I heard those words. I tripped in the middle of the house. I fell with a loud thud like a heavy block fell on the floor. Thankfully, no one noticed then I slithered to my room. I felt my heart beat accelerate so I let the beats even out. Suddenly, I drifted to dreamland with him in my arms.