(Part 11)

Soon everyone dispersed completing their specific tasks. Xavier smiled patting Alan's shoulder. "It's alright… he isn't that bad just a little over protective. Don't worry." he comforted heading back. Alan looking at them altogether nodded, "Well that king is ready to listen to me. I don't think that's a bad progress." Chuckling at the rabbit who blinked his eyes, twirled his ears and tilted his head confused, he too set his gear up.

Fifteen minutes later the fourteen of them including Alan settled around in a circle before the cave's entrance. Food kept amid them, the atmosphere felt tolerable yet heavy.

Adam diving in first like usual gulped down as Heber and Ryan stopped him with Cassiel and Azazel sighing simultaneously caught in between. Alan gazing at the tea cup resting before him excluding a heavy smoke looked at the boys one by one while they stared.

Poseidon sitting beside him alongside Xavier heartened the mood as Kenzo, Helios and Seraph sat stern right in front. Cassiel tracing the uncomfortable silence spoke up, "So the overall situation is that we were caught and left on this mountain with no connections to the outside world afterwards Alan also joined us facing the same condition. However, the main point we all have in mind is to leave this place as soon as we can right?"

"Of course." Gabriel concurred.

"Currently reading the trajectory of our current position. We are on the half top of this mountain. Neither in the middle nor low, so going down would take us days or even weeks if we try to. So what should we do now despite adding the factors of danger and weather change it might take us even more?" Cassiel asked the rest who pondered.

"So the top is closer to us than the land hun… but what benefit would it be climbing up in the first place? It's no use." Feng said. "Yeah, he's right. What are we supposed to do climbing up? Not as if we can go back home that way." Heber agreed.

"Moreover, there's something which makes me uneasy from the beginning. The moment we were left here our gears were alongside us the whole time. Why is that so? Our gears and bags were scattered but not missing, why? If the ones who kidnapped us did it out of enmity, why leave us with even a slightest chance to survive?" Seraph put his hypothesis forward.

Alan immediately worked out, "He isn't wrong… I was left the same way too but why?" The boys thought even harder. "Furthermore, Leaving us at the utmost top of the mountain why so?" Xavier added, "How much time did they have in their hands to leave us so high above along with our gears which are twice as heavy?"

Kenzo squinted his gaze doubtfully at Alan. "What if they deliberately want us to climb the mountain's top?" Alan assumed out of the blue.The boys looked at each other puzzled. "But, why? Why go through such hassle just to call us up?" Ryan asked. "Because they have already gone through this hassle that they want us to come up. Maybe, someone's pulling the strings from behind." Helios guessed.

"But who would want us do all this?" Azazel asked scratching his hairs. "Who…?" Alan thought.

"Someone… who must know us?" Kenzo guessed right on the mark, "Someone who is familiar with all of us."

"Abducting and leaving us altogether at the same place close to the top, with all our gears intact… who would do something like this, who is that certain someone who knows both us and Alan very well?" Ezekiel summarized in a whisper as Adam too wondered.

Suddenly Alan shot up, his expression widened and mouth slightly agape. "No way…" he whispered realizing.

Kenzo curious asked, "Who is it?"

Alan suddenly called out, "Everyone, we have to climb up at all costs now! Get ready!" The boys startled over his sudden order stood up one by one. "Why? What's wrong?" Azazel asked baffled. "I think I might know who's behind this all! More than anything I want this hunch to be wrong. However, I'm afraid I know it won't be. Else than that, I have no other suspect left!" Alan told tying his shoelaces. Seraph getting ready alongside Helios and Xavier helped the young ones.

Kenzo walking towards Alan questioned again, "Who is it?"

Alan eyeing him from the corner of his eye replied, "You'll know once you reach the top, your highness."

Kenzo glaring at him grave asked once again, "Who is it?"

Alan turning around sighed, "You know, after Isa you're the second person in this world to leave me so helpless." he immediately turned around walking away, "I won't tell you anything no matter what you do. Follow me or not, it's your choice."

Kenzo grinning asked, "Afraid that I might lose trust in you if I knew?" Alan twitched his brow annoyed. "Boy… your trust doesn't matter to me one bit! Follow me if you cherish your lives or else go die!" he replied taking over Rauf's viscious demeanor for a moment soon leaving.

The others coming closer looked at the two of them restless. "Heh~ even his patience has its limit hun?" Kenzo murmured mischievously. Xavier smiled coming to his side. "You also know who's behind all this, right little genius?" Kenzo grinned.

Xavier nodding followed Alan, "Yup. No wonder, I wasn't able to catch the culprit before." Kenzo whispered, "So it's the two of us who know now." Helios and Azazel followed behind. Seraph patting Kenzo's shoulder advised, "Stop teasing him already." Kenzo however sneered mischievously as Gabriel rolled his eyes.

Suddenly Adam called, "Hey, Sera! Sera! What about our food? Shall I collect it? Or else it might just go to waste." Seraph exhaling waved his hand directing him to do anything he wants. Adam collecting the food alongside Ryan and Feng made their way to the top of the mountain beside the rest following Alan one by one.

Alan making way through the bushes pondered, "No wonder I didn't saw him from the pitch at the end and no wonder Rauf didn't forcefully stopped me. If that would've been the case even Kazuna and the others would have done everything in their might to stop me. These boys were never expelled in the first place it is just a temporary suspension! Tch! Dragging me into his damn games he must be laughing at me from somewhere up there. Just wait and see until I find him!"

On the top of a frosty, dry, flat mountain a large built man holding a huge bottle laid down on a wooden pallet wide enough to accommodate two people. He stared at the silver, white, dull and dominating sky decked by flying eagles and birds. A sneer rested over his lips.

His clothes charred with light hiccups leaving his throat he whispered gulping the drink down "So… HICCUP! That rascal… found out hun? How interesting…HICCUP! Now come up and take you throne you brats!" he challenged amid the widespread endless land.