The Moon Symphony

Pathway to Hell

"Follow the path straight to the south, starting here at Pine Lagoon," Saldang said.

"Thank you so much for your help. We appreciate your help. We will visit again sometime once everything is okay." I said.

"Sure, we will be so happy if you can revisit us. Please be safe on your job way, and remember what I told you. We still don't know who the enemy is." Saldang said and hugged me.

"Thank you." I bowed my head and bid goodbye to the Pine Lagoon.

The giant beetles brought us to the other end of the Millennium Tree. Even we stayed here for a few days only, I'll surely miss this place because of the atmosphere. After a few hours of traveling in the air, we reached the end of the Millennium tree.

I followed what Lagas and Saldang told me to do to end up on Estrella's right path. The way that connects the Pine Lagoon is divided into three.

The first one can be considered a shortcut but is filled with traps and dangerous if you are not familiar with the place. The second one is longer but covered with many monsters, while the third one would be the easiest to cross but considered the longest route.

The compass might not be helpful at the start of the path because it was covered with tremendous spiritual pressure. There are many rumors that those who ventured in the course are never returned alive. Thus, it gained the name of Pathway to Hell.

For us to not get lost, Lagas gave me a small branch from the millennium tree. We should toss it on the air and follow the path where it landed. They said that the brach from the millennium tree can be used as a lucky charm. I did what he told me, and it pointed to the path in the middle. Usually, I don't believe in things like this, well since I'm here in Orient Seas, it's not impossible, not true.

Here goes nothing; we don't know if which path we would end up, but please give me some luck.

"Let's go, guys!" And I pointed on the middle path.

We don't know what lies ahead in the path we chose; I mean, the branch decided. It's funny that our fate depends on the stem. Well, there's nothing wrong if I listen to them.

"Are you sure, Yari?" Apo asked.

"Of course, I trust them," I said and smiled.

"Let's hurry. The others might leave us. Wait for us, guys!"

We started to travel and followed the pathway. Everything seemed to be normal, and the surroundings looked fine. I cannot sense any malicious aura, so that means that we chose the longest path. The only weird thing is the silence; it's deafening. I don't know, but no sounds were produced; even our footsteps or breathing cannot be heard.

I looked at them, but it seems like they can't sense my presence. What's happening? I tried to shout, but no voice came out from my mouth. I even tapped them at their backs, but they just continued walking.

What's this, what's happening? Did we choose the wrong path? But how? Did the Millennium tree branch fail? This is bad.

I ran and moved in front of them but still, they can't sense me. Then all of a sudden, a thick fog covered the whole surroundings.

The place changed, and I was locked up in the dungeon. I saw that everyone was tied up, and most of them lost their consciousness. They are full of bruises and wounds, but someone was missing. Apo was not here. Did he escape?

I saw that there was a group of people standing in front of the prison. They were wearing hoods and looked familiar. One of them removes his hood, and I heard Baku shouting.

"How dare you do this to us! We trusted you so much but, how dare you kill Ayari!" Baku shouted in rage.

I heard the other hooded men laugh. Tears ran down my face when I saw the person Baku was talking to. What's the meaning of this? Is this true? Then the fog covered the place again. My heart was beating like crazy because of what I saw. If this is real, how can I handle this?

I looked around, and I was in a different scenario. I was lying in a room, naked. Then I saw a man next to me. It was Apo. He was ruffling my hair and kissed my forehead, and I heard him saying those words.

What's this. Please stop.

Whoever does this is playing with my emotions. I need a way to stop this, but how? And I didn't know what really happened.

The scene changed again, but I was in a big hall. I was bound in chains, and I saw the deities on the other side, looking worried in front of me where other gods that I did not know, with angry faces. Some are pointing at me with disgust, while the others are cursing me.

I saw a person that looked like a judge, raising his hand. Then all of a sudden, I saw blood on the floor. I felt the warm liquid flowing from my body, and I saw a blade pierced through my heart. I looked at Mayari, and she was crying.

Please stop! Please.

I closed my eyes and wished that I can go back. Then I heard a voice calling my name.

"Wake up, Yari, please!"

The voice was already hopeless. Then I felt someone pumping on my chest. I woke up and felt that something was touching my lips. It was Apo, trying to resuscitate me. I coughed up the water that accumulated in my airway.

"Thank goodness, Yari," Apo said and hugged me tightly. We were both wet with water.

"What happened? Where are the others?" I asked.

Apo explained to me what happened. We were freely walking on the path that we followed, and we are all glad and thought that we chose the safest one.

Something unexpected happened when the ground split and fell, separating the two of us from the others. We fell on a waterway, and the water was too deep, and it was full of Dream Blooms. They were plant-based monsters, and the liquid that they secret cam cause hallucination. Apo was lucky that he broke out of the spell, or both of us might have died already.

We are still underground, and Apo told me that he was surprised that a waterway existed here. The path to Estrella is indeed full of surprises, and we need to be on our guard all the time.

"How are we going to find them?" I asked Apo.

"I don't know, let's follow where the waterway leads to. But we should dry up; first, we are soaking wet." Apo said.

I agree, also we need to plan everything before doing any movements. We don't know what lies ahead here in the waterway. Apo asked me if what I saw when I hallucinated, but I decided not to tell him. I don't want to give him the wrong idea.

Apo summoned a fireball, and we sat in front of it to dry ourselves. I can't help but stare at him. I pulled out the compass that Saldang gave, but it's not working correctly. The spiritual pressure in the place is somehow suffocating.

I closed my eyes and rest my head on the wall. I feel cold. I suddenly felt that Apo moved near me. He grabbed my head and places it on his shoulders. I was shocked, but Apo told me to stay still and rest. My body temperature rose up quickly, my face blushing. My heart was banging on my chest loudly.

We stayed like that for some time, just resting. All that we can hear is the crackling of the fire and our breathing.

"Apo, I have a question?"

"Sure, go ahead. What is it?" Apo said.

I stayed silent for some time before asking him.

"What would you feel if the one you trust betrayed you?"

I can feel that Apo was surprised by my question. I waited for his answer.

"Why did you suddenly ask that?" Apo said.

"I want to know? To be honest, I was betrayed by many people from the past, and I might have issues trusting other people." I answered.

"So, you don't trust me?"

"It's not like that. I just want to know from other people's point of view. "

"Okay, I understand. I would feel bad; of course, anyone who felt betrayed will feel the same way. But if what that person did to me had a valid reason, I will understand."

"Valid reason?" I asked.

"If that was out of his will, in the first place, he never wanted to do that," Apo added.

"Okay, thank you for answering my questions," I said.

"Let's go, Yari. We need to find others," Apo said.

We both stood up and started to follow the waterway. It's a bit chilly inside, so Apo continued to use his flame spell to keep us warm and serve as a light. There are a lot of Dream Blooms scattered on the water. Apo instructed me to freeze them so that their extract will not go out and hit us.

"The villagers of Estrella were really smart, choosing a location away from the civilization," Apo said.

"I agree. It's like they wanted to hide from the world." I said.

We continued to take the path and encountered many things and creatures, from flying snakes to swimming insects. It's really out of this world. After traveling for some time, we reached the end of the waterway, revealing two paths.

"Here we go again!" I said and scratched my head.

"There's nothing we can do, and we must find the correct way out this time," Apo said.

"So which one should we choose?" I said and looked at him.

Apo must have understood what I want to do.

"Why me?" Apo said and laughed.

"Please, Apo, I was not lucky on my first attempt, so it's time for you to choose now," I said and laughed too.

"I guess I don't have a choice," Apo said.

"So which one?"

"Let's choose the one on the right," Apo said.

"Okay, let's go."

Okay, let's go. I said.

-

Somewhere in the Waterway

"Hey guy, wake up," Baku said to the others.

"What happened," Ani asked and looked around.

"Where are we?" Anan said and helped the others to stand up.

"I think we got separated from Big Brother Ayari and Apo," Ester said.

"Do you know if what kind of place is this?" Ani asked.

Baku shook his head and said no. The place was full of Dream Blooms too. Luckily they landed on a safe spot. The group decided to move forward to look for us. They followed the path and encountered a lot of monsters too. Baku's group also reached a dead end. They cannot decide if what path to follow. In the end, they choose the way on the left.

"Something is strange?" Ani said

"Why?" Anan asked.

"It's like we are running around in circles," Ani said.

"I noticed that too!" Ester said.

"How about we leave marks to check?" Baku said.

Baku summoned Ice shards, and they started to follow the path. He struck the wall every time they were around a corner.

"We are back again! ?" Baku said.

"What is this place? A maze?" Ester said.

"It's dangerous. We need to find the two." Anan said.