Chapter 6

After 5 hours of travel from submarine, the children who escaped gathered in a circle position on the floor with a serious expression on their faces. They are not afraid of leaving the steering wheel behind because of the auto-pilot command came from the flash drive they inserted earlier which the stone golem encoded before handing it over to them.

Silence took over them as no one wants to start a conversation nor they did not know what topic to throw. The children inside were all in a dazed and lost on what step to take after freeing themselves. 24 with mission in her mind and finding host for housing her new found power does not know whether to convince the her comrades to join her mission or not. Such conflicting gaze was seen by 6. "What are you thinking of 24?", asked 6 making the children all look to the direction of 24.

"Huh? What about me?", 24 asked back earning a laugh from 6.

"You look like you want to take a poo but can't. What are you thinking of?", said 6.

"Nothing", said 24 giving them a reassuring smile which all of them doubted her. They might not spend a lot of time being together, but training together makes each one of them aware if something is wrong.

"I'm not buying it. Come on say it, we are not gonna judge you for it", said 6 which all of them nodded towards hesitant 24. "And maybe, we can think of our next step from what your little brain is wrecking right now", said 6, further convincing her to spill the beans. 24 looked at each of her comrades to which they nodded and smile. After some silence, she gulped a large amount of saliva before dropping the bombshell that she has been carrying all along.

"I found the lost kingdom", said 24. The remaining children all have wide eyes and gasp from the shock from what she said. All of them except 24 was frozen from their position. They could not process the statement that she said in front of them. How would they? The information about the lost kingdom's exact location is still unknown. Nations fight for a single drop of data just to find the said kingdom. Also, finding it is like finding a needle in the rainforest. So all of the children present knows how hard it is to obtain intelligence about the lost kingdom. That the 4-major powered nations are willing to go in the depths of hell just to get a small idea of its location.

They also knew how dangerous an individual can be when it comes to holding the data about the lost kingdom of Nichmize. That person will be forced to tell the ones who hold the authority even if it means to torture you to death or extract the information from your brain in the most gruesome way. And after getting the information, of course the person in power will surely kill that individual who holds the information to keep the data for themselves. So holding even if the tiniest clues will surely make one person's life a living hell.

7 is the first one to regain her composure and faced 24 with a serious face.

"I-is that true?", asked 7 to which 24 nodded in response. All of them don't know what to say to 24. They all know how important is the search for the lost kingdom is. It is one of the reasons why the three great empires: Grisaia, Normeka and Briyanka were at war. Greed flooded the said empires which resulted into the current war. Who wouldn't want to have the ancient kingdom and its resources belong to its hands? Especially to hold their technologies which is many times better and futuristic than the current ones. It may seem not bloody war like the physical ones which we all see in a typical war but this war involves assassinations, pressuring each other, and many more which subjects too silent war. The reason why the research institutions would take slaves and victims is to conduct an experimentation for "Force Awakening" research to increase the Grisaia's military strength power and reserves. Which resulted to the five successful awakened children out of hundreds of failures.

But right now the situation started to become a bit complicated. As the institution not only started to search desperately for the missing subjects who escaped their clutches but also to find replacements as soon as possible. They cannot take their time than the previous one as the the enraged Crown Prince pressures the institution to hasten their search and blame their incompetency for the escaped subjects. Thus, the children gathered now to rethink their next steps to avoid them being captured again and living in this harsh reality called "society" blending in until they can stand on their own and fight the institution toe-to-toe.

Especially 24, who needs a new host for her developing foundation and power to grow. Her forced awakened body and mana core will not be able to handle the power surge as soon as she reawaken and utilize the knowledge she received from the person called "God". Once she starts to harness the power and make it her own, for sure her forced awakened mana core will start to form more cracks and then shatter into pieces. While her body will wither along with the destruction of the mana core making the knowledge and power she received useless.

"When?", asked 30. They all wanted to know when and how she did obtain such information that every country is still desperately finding for. They all know that such information, no matter the amount of money and resources, any nation will pay for it. After all, they can get the lost assets by reclaiming the said lost kingdom. So naturally, the children surrounding 24 would like to know where she extracted the location of the kingdom.

"How do I start?", said 24 while scratching her head. Then she started to tell everyone how, when and what she did to the person who told her such knowledge. She leaved out the information about the deal she made with God and its existence where she got the information. She cannot reveal the deal that she is about to get after gathering the four powers and the kingdom ownership as an exchanged for completing the mission. Also, the kingdom's exact location was left out of the information she revealed. She only said that after gathering the powers, the entrance of the Nichmize kingdom will appear. She did not share them the information of how many powers are needed to gather, how to find them and what to do to towards the gathered power.

How could she not? The information she carries is extremely valuable. Plus, 24, herself also does not know what to do right after gathering the powers and how to find the entrance to Nichmize. The only way for her to know is by praying towards God for guidance upon completing the mission.

The children silently listened from 24's story. They slowly digested the information they got and started to formulate on what to do with their lives from now on. After all they are all now free on what to do and what destiny they should take. 24 just silently waited for their reactions. She doesn't know who are going to betray her just from the data she gave to her comrades. She is hoping that they would help her on her quest. She is also thinking of giving something to her comrades who are going to help her. She is not the type to forget and throw all the people who helped her. She will make sure to repay the kindness she received equally.

24 realized she cannot do the given mission on her own. She needs someone who can not only keep her secrets but also someone to rely on and have her back at all times.

"I am willing to help you 24", 18 suddenly blurted out. 24 looked at his face and saw a determination and will to truly back up on what he said. As for the rest of the children...

"I will also help you"

"Me too"

"Count me in"

Said all the children with hint of light through their eyes. When you look at it, it feels like they all found the their goals through their destiny or fate or whatever you call it. Resolve can be seen in their eyes and they all wanted to help their friend. Even if they did not say it through their mouths, they are all thankful to her because she not only gave them a reason to find what they have to do next but also saved them from the institution's leash. After all, if 24 does not meet that person, they will surely be stuck in the island and will go back to the hellish place before betting on the dangerous escape route they planned to escape.

"Thanks guys. I will remember this"