(CHAPTER 32: OLD FRIEND)
"Smokey, how is it going? You sure look older after all these year." The figure blocked down the incoming smoke with another gush of golden wind.
"True. I am not like you Fei." Seeing him, Smokey seems to be a bit surprised, but manage to get over it.
He sure did arrive.
"Sorry, I needed this arrogant brat." Fei approached me and carry me up. I am barely conscious by then, all I can feel is that strong alcoholic smell drilling into my nose. "My boss needed him." "If you insist, I have no way to stop you too." Smokey took out another packet of cigarette and began smoking once again. "What, no more fight? Come on!" Fei seem quite eager for a fight.
"Unlike you Fei, I am getting old. For the sake of old times, you can bring him back." Smokey didn't seem too eager to fight. If he is still at his twenties, back at his prime, they are equal, but right now, he is too old, too weak to Fei. "Thank you, here is some present of reunion." Fei smiled, tossing a small bottle of whiskey to Smokey. "Still drinking lots?" Smokey caught the bottle and raised his eyebrow. "Still smoking lots?" Fei joked back "The Ice General had his eyes on him, be careful Fei." With those words, Smokey left, disappearing amongst the forest of smoke.
"You sure are an arrogant bug." Fei stare at me and mocked. I am too wounded and tired to argue. This is the true gap, the gap in everything, feels like heaven and hell, sky above and the land beneath, the unchangeable difference. "You need some serious medical attention, but this will do it for now." He stare at my wound and without any warning. He pop open another bottle of whiskey and drizzle it on my. The fucking pain, holy hell, I just straight up faint in pain. What happened next, I had no idea, all I know is drifting in the never ending darkness…
"My lord, this is all the information regarding the Planet C22 of Universe W20" I am back at my office, as I stare at Alex handing a stack of paper to "myself". Looks like I am back here again, back at my office. Looking at things in the other dimension, feels like watching a movie at the cinema. "Send a Hero down to there." Without even reading the information, "I" ordered. "But that world is quite balance for now. We couldn't tip the scale, that's our j-" "Bitch did I stutter?!" "I" growled at him. "Send one. Now!!" With a swipe, the paper slam right on his face, raining within the office.
"Sure my lord." He mumbled under his breath, tears rolling in his eyes as he slowly backs up. I felt hurt, seeing him like that. But I couldn't do anything. All I could do is to watch, and hope one day he would realise. I approached to take a glance at the scattered paper all across the floor, and one look is enough to send an electrifying shock into my mind. Planet C22 of Universe W20, isn't this, the planet I am currently at? What is he trying to do, kill me? Who is the Hero? The dream started collapsing, I reached my hand out, trying to salvage every single bit of information I could got. But it was too late, always too late.
"No!!"
I jolted back in reaction as I wake up. Beads of sweat rained down from my face. This planet is in danger, we are all in danger. "Finally awake sleeping beauty?" I lift my head up, and was met with Fei leaning against a pillar, chuckling. I take a look around, I am in a gigantic room, lying on top of a bed in the middle of it. The bed was surrounded by a gigantic body of water, which some sort of jellyfish like creature within it. Colourful, beautiful, illuminating the room dimly.
"This is a healing chamber. If not for this and my whiskey, you would've been dead. " Fei replied my question before I even ask. "Where is Aiko!" I immediately remember her. "How is she?" "She is back at the village, minor burns, nothing much." Village? Where are we right now. "Here, get dressed." He tossed me a set of neatly fold cloth with a peculiar design on it, disrupting my thoughts. "Since you are here, you should've pay your old dad an visit." My dad, where do I got a dad at this world. "Where am I again?" I asked.
"Get dressed, then follow me. Answers later, it is a loooong story." With that, he walk out of the room and exited. "Quick! I am still waiting!" Through the huge marble door I could still heard him urging me to be quick. I immediately wear the outfit he gave me. It was made out of a very peculiar, dyed red, although lighter than silk, but ten times harder steel. It was encased with designs, regarding mystical plants, creatures and spells embedded into the cloth. It felt comfy for me, a pair of shirt and shorts, my kind of dressing.
"Took ya long enough, sister." The moment I exited the room, Fei mocked, leaning against the pillar beside the room. "Follow me." Without any single hint, he gestured me to follow him, as the two of us walk down the dark, long hollow hallway. The hallway was created by a smooth marble like item, black and white, arranged in a chessboard pattern. With gigantic pillar holding up the roof. The rood was created purely by glass, I lifted my head up and take a look, still darkness. No moon, no stars, no sun, no cloud, just darkness.
If the outside world wasn't dark enough, there is no light source within the hallway. Just a few sphere balls, levitating around the pillars, emitting a weak, neon light. Feels like walking in the throat of a monster, straight into the belly, disintegrated into nutrient. "Where are we again?" I consciously walk closer towards Fei as two of us walk down the never ending hallway, feels like walking in a void, feels so uncomfortable. "The land where the sun never rises." He replied blankly.
"The Moon."
Under the moonlight, smoky lean against the window of his office. He stare at the cigarette in his hand, somehow he lost his interest on it. He toss it into a metal cup on top of his coffee table before continue staring at the moonlight. The moon seems to be like a time machine, bringing him back to his glory days. The good old days, all turn into tapes, flashing in his mind. He let out a sigh, walking back to his leather chair and collapse on it. If not for Fei, he maybe will continue to drift and drown in this river of greed. He look at the mirror in front of him, he see an old man. Regret, greedy, injustice, hated, with nobody alongside him.
Going to die alone.