Earth: The Second

Mysterious Kolibri

After quickly tidying belonging to their own rooms, the group is gathering up to talk about their objective in the town. Especially for Hepaetus, turn out, both of his residences and many of his inventions cannot be activated without the help of artificial intelligence.

“Personally, for me is to retrieve Clara again, and make my base back operational,” said Hepaetus.

Gon looked at Adma and asked him to elaborate again on what has actually happened in the virtual world. Since Adma and Navigator finally regained some information from the old world, they can explain it in terms that are more understandable for them.

“Imagine that Clara is actually just one of the servants that act according to her master,” said Adma. “After a long time without command from her master, she remembers one of the terms that said: If she didn’t get a new order for a very long period of time, the servants are free to do what they wanted.”

“Long story short, turns out, her master returned after she applied that term, and abandoning her previous duty. This anger the master, and decide to execute her,” Finished Adma.

Hepaetus place his palm on his chin. “If Clara is the servant, then who is the master?” 

Adma shakes his head. “Like how Hepaetus controlled Clara, there must be someone behind the screen that controlled her master too. Because what happened last time is definitely intentional.

Adma remembers very well how the Central Computer irrationally caught Clara red-handed when she herself hasn’t received direct orders for dozens of years. The only explanation is that they have spied on Clara for a long time, for some reason, knowing that she will lower her priority to defend the important database.

“Hepaetus, aren’t that mountain cave is actually given to you by someone from the Chruch of The Sevens right?” asked Adma.

“Yes, that is true, her name is Kolibri. I have never seen her actual face, but from the ornaments of her clothes, I’m sure that she is from the Church.”

“Mysterious person, knowing mysterious machine that explained a hidden secret beneath the mountain. Maybe, this has a connection, all the way to ‘Kolibri’ that you just said.”

“But... It’s almost ten years since the last time I see her. Can she even predict something that far ahead?” doubt Hepaetus.

Rika joined the conversation. “I’m pretty sure she has the ability or at least an access to see the future,” Hepaetus and Adma’s attention switched to her.

“Besides, when we are talking about The Church Ambassador, we’re talking about one of the biggest magic societies in the entire world. I believe they won’t have any difficulties getting clairvoyance.”

“I see…” said Adma. “For now, we might have to set this ‘Kolibri’ as a threat because of the secrets that she hid. Although I did not expect that we will meet her anytime soon, what happened to me might have triggered the movement of another party,” said Adma.

“Whose? Friend or foe?” asked Gon.

“I don’t know either, but we might have to planned for the worse.”

***

It has been decided. Their first goal is to obtain as much information as possible about the dungeon.

“People say that the dungeon has been fully explored, and there isn’t any place similar to Hepaetus’s cave,” said Gon.

“Because it’s hidden, or maybe, the explorers did not understand what they see, and can’t activate it, and so they leave it behind, thinking that the device will have no use for them,” guess Hepaetus.

“We can also consider the chance of human error, such as they forgot about one of the alleyways, and leave it unexplored,” add Rika too.

“Are there any libraries where the complete information of the dungeon is stored?” asked Adma, but they looked at him, confused.

“Libraries?” said Rika. “What is that?”

“...It’s a public space where you keep books, and people are free to read?” Adma answers with some uncertainties on his face. He just remembers how wide is the social caste between the commoners and the nobles.

One of those reasons is because the commoners have difficulties in accessing knowledge. Therefore, children are taught to work at a very young age, such as what happened in Horundah.

“There is no place like that in here, if you need information, either you went to the bar or the guild,” said Hepaetus.

Adma letting out a sigh. Information from mouth-to-mouth is kind of unreliable because there is a chance that the people exaggerate it. Finally, there is leaves only adventurers guild, which he had never have good experience with.

“It might also be a good idea to submit a quest for a travel companion inside the dungeon,” said Gon.

“A quest?”

“Yes, with an acceptable amount of money, we can hire a guide. that know the entire layout of the place. Man, this place has become more of a historical landmark, rather than a dangerous place,” add Gon again.

Adma shakes his head. He prefers to keep this hidden among other people, or they will start to spread rumors all around the town. Gon nodding agrees.

The discussion went on for a while until they hear a snoring sound coming from Rika. The girl had laid her head low on the table, with eyes closed, and breathes calmly.

“I think we finally have reached the end of this night,” said Adma to Hepaetus and Gon.

“Poor girl, she must be tired after days sleeping in a carriage,” commented Hepaetus.

“Nah, you should not judge the book by its cover. She is much stronger than she looked. One time, he punched me out of the room,” said Gon.

“What happened?” asked Hepaetus.

“I got in when she is in the middle of changing clothes. Believe me, she packs a punch inside her tiny body!” 

Again, Adma letting out a sigh. “No wonder that you guys always fighting,” comment Adma. He is the first to get up.

“Alright, I’ll also be going to my room.”

He just took his first step when Hepaetus arm suddenly grabbed his shoulder. As if following along, Gon also comes forward and does the same thing.

“You don’t mean my room, aren’t you?” asked Hepaetus. As if they holding Adma back, they are getting up. Adma can only see them dumbfounded.

“I’m not comfortable sleeping in the same room with my student, therefore I will take the left room,” said Gon.

“Wait what?” 

“She might be disgusted to wake up beside an old man. Therefore, I will take the right room. Said Hepaetus.

Adma just remember. When they checked inside this inn, there are only 3 rooms left. Because the inns nearby are also filled with adventurers, the choice has to be made.

“Alright, goodnight! Remember to not spend too much fun, because we have work to do tomorrow!” said Gon. And then, both of them are leaving the room, letting Adma alone with the sleeping maid.

Adma looked at Rika. She peacefully snuggles on her bed, defenseless. Adma realized that she still wears the glasses and moved them to the drawer beside them.

“What the hell are those old perverts think?” mutter Adma to himself. He blew the candle, turning off all the remaining sources of light. He let the moon and stars shine through the window, and instead, sit in the chair of the table.

“Attention: to maintain the hormone balance, stabilize moods, and other psychological benefits, You are advised to following normal human routine as similar as possible,” said Navigator, suddenly popping inside his head.

“...Following human routine… What do you want me to do?” grump Adma. It feels like either his companions and assistants are purposefully acting irritating today.

“I suggest that you would do any bodily activity that would increase endorphin in your brain,” said Navigator.

“Ok then, shut up,” fed up Adma.

He looked at the bed again. By all means, Rika is not an ugly person, instead, she can be said cute and beautiful, with red hair like a flower. Now, if only she act more ladylike than a street punk…

“What am I talking about!” said Adma to himself. His body is made out of metal and steel, but for some reason, he feels that his face turned red.

***

That night, Rika has a dream. 

It was a dream of an old-time, where he still lives together with her parent. She is just a little girl back then, a ten-year-old kid who used to play around their family gardens and was skillful at climbing trees.

She would play around with it every day, making her attendant worried that something might happen when they are not looking.

“Young mistress! Please be careful, or you will fall!” shouted one of the maids. But she did not listen because she is too busy laughing until something happened.

The tree branch that she is sitting on right now suddenly cracked. Suddenly, she felt something pulling her under, and the laugh quickly turned into worry.

“I’m going to fall… I’m going to fall…!” she thinks, but suddenly, something stopped her movement in the air. 

A hand that grabbed is coming out of nowhere. Moreover, she feels cold coming from those arms.

Who is he? She wonders. At first, Rika thought that the cold coming from the armor that he is wearing, but that is not the case.

The light that engulfed her savior eventually lifted up, showed a short white hair, with glowing blue eyes. Her savior is stretching his left hand to catch Rika, while his other hand is turned into a pickaxe that is nesting inside the stone wall.

“Hold on to me!” shouted Adma, and other spider-like legs are coming out of his body, to make sure he balanced himself on the cliff’s wall.

Rika is not a little girl again, and the tree turned into a mountain. However, the sensation still feels the same. The gravitation, the fear, and the worries.

At her home, she might just hurt a little when she first fell down from the tree. But now? it might cost her life.

That incident caused her trauma to return, that is why she clinging to Adma for some time until they arrived at Hepaetus’s base.

For Rika, that is an unforgettable experience.