Chapter 37

The dawn of glory [the half-breed]

Chapter-thirty-seven

Theme: Telepathy and Pain

Her feet slipped off the fifth step, and she was forced to roll back to the first floor. All her singlets and leggings were now ripped. Her hair has turned yellow due to the dust of the fountain valley. It was like she had been living here for centuries.

Her breath was ragged, and her eyes were filled with dirt that had mixed with her tears. She could feel her arm aching badly, her muscles so tired that she could hear them complaining to her.

As she attempted to stand up, her back and ribs made a creaking sound at the same time, which forced her back to the step floor. She sighs in fatigue, stares at the hot sun and lets her tears fall freely. If the death angel could just open the door for her, then she would jump from the fifth step again.

However, it was futile. She had tried that thrice and hadn't succeeded. She ends up meeting herself in the same spot again. She had even tried biting her tongue, but it was all useless.

Her dog licked her lip again, and that reminded her that she still had a long way to go. Taking another deep breath, she examined the same step she had been trying to climb since the morning, and the sight of it made her heart sore.

If it's not because of Bingo, who keeps giving her hope and exhilaration, Joy was sure that she would rather sit here all day, and wait for hunger and thirst to kill her.

Could that even happen? She thought. It was like she was in misery. Though she knew this was part of her imagination, she couldn't bring herself to let it fade away. She had done that several times without a number, but it was futile.

She had summoned all the power in her hand and used all the methods and skills she knew just to climb these seven steps, but it was useless.

"Just seven steps," she thought. She couldn't climb just seven steps. She couldn't even make it past the fifth one. She had even dehydrated all her strength while trying to climb the previous one.

She could see the top of the fountain valley from the bottom of the steps. She could see the green leaves, the oak trees, and all the fruit trees. She could hear the chirping of birds and the chatting of humans. Yet, she couldn't climb the seven steps that led to her destination.

She heard her dog whine beside her again, and she felt sorry for the poor soul. The dog looks old and worn out, yet it's trying to be strong. The sight of the dog reminds her of Dan, and that sparks something in her.

Joy knew if she could make it to the top, she might find a way out of this misery realm.

How long had she been stuck here? She couldn't tell. Still, she was sure of one thing. If the time here was the same as in her realm, then she was sure that Lord Darius would have wiped all her friends from existence, and imprisoned those that managed to survive.

The thought alone made her heart sink and boosted her strength at the same time. She couldn't imagine the news of Dan's death. Not only that, she wanted to kill Joel with her bare hand. She wants to make him pay for betraying her.

She wants to scold Mrs Sandra for not telling her about this journey. She wanted to insult her because she hadn't prepared her for this journey. Finally, she wants to do it for her dog. She couldn't bear to see her dog's dead body. That poor being has tried enough for her, and she must protect her at all costs.

Joy returned her gaze to the fountain top after taking another deep breath. She was now determined to make it to the top. She got up on her feet, wiped her tears and sweat, and then picked up her dog. She rubbed her fur and kissed her forehead. Now, she was ready to hike again.

Slowly, Joy started hiking up the fountain steps. Stride by stride, she was dragging her feet and breathing heavily at the same time. She could feel the sun burning her skin violently and sending a series of pains to her body. She could feel her arm aching badly and blood oozing out of the cuts she had sustained.

She could feel and hear her dog's heavy breathing. She could feel her leg slipping on the step, but she tried to maintain her balance. All the seven steps were dry with no traces of water. Yet, she couldn't phantom what was making her leg slippery.

At graduation, she made it past the fifth step for the first time. If it was under normal circumstances, Joy would have screeched in elation. But now, she can't do that. She knew what was in front of her. She knew that her leg could slip again.

Taking a deep breath and examining the last step, Joy forced herself to continue. Just like she had predicted, her leg slipped again. She was about to roll down when she grabbed a sharp edge tightly.

The harsh verge cut her hand, drew out blood, and sent a series of pains to her body. Yet, Joy didn't let it go. She was ready to make it now. She couldn't allow herself to fall, nor did her dog suffer again.

So, summoning all the strength that was left in her body, Joy forced her body up. She could feel a strange force trying to pull her down, but Joy didn't give up. After letting out a deep cry of pain, she dragged her body to the seventh step, and her dog followed automatically.

Her body rolled away from the edge of the step, her breathing so heavy and her throat so dry. She was weary and Joy knew that she would die of hunger anytime soon. By her side stood her dog. She looked rough and dilapidated.

It was all thanks to the big trees that were on top of the fountain. They did a great job by providing a shade for her which protects her from the beating of the hot sun.

However, everything disappeared as they came. All the once green leaves are gone, and the optimistic voice of the bird is gone too. It has now been replaced by a long, narrow bridge. Not only that, she felt rejuvenated and strong.

All her pain is gone. Her wound was healed. She couldn't see the wound from the sharp edge again, and she could feel her feet getting stronger. It was like she hadn't sustained any injury before. She could also see her dog leaping up happily, which means that the dog was also healed.

Seeing this, Joy quickly stood up and examined her surroundings. She lies down on a narrow bridge with a long rope on each side to support her standing. Without being told, Joy knew another test was ahead of her.

Her thoughts were cut short when a male voice boomed out of nowhere. "Welcome to the fountain of pain," the voice said, and Joy quickly scrutinised her environment for where the voice might be coming from.

"You knew that was impossible, didn't you?"

After clearing her throat with a little saliva that was left on her tongue, Joy said, "Why are you guys torturing me?" Her voice was cracked, and she could hardly keep back her tears.

The voice said with a melancholy tone, "I have seen all your pains, and I didn't want you to go through any more stress again. However, this was necessary. It's a test which you must pass because it will help you on your future journey."

"What did you mean by my future journey?" Joy asked, naively.

"It's not for me to tell you, but you will soon find out." The voice elaborated.

Joy, seeing that the owner wasn't going to let her answer her questions, said, "Now, what's the way out? My friends need my help. I'm tired of this awful place."

"Your next test is easy, yet dangerous." The voice begins "This is a place where your skills will be sharpened. When you reach the end of the bridge, you are one step away from reaching home."

Joy examined the strange bridge, which had no beginning, and fear crept into her heart. She couldn't see the beginning of the bridge, nor could she see the bottom. It was void. The only thing in front of her was a portal that was shimmering brightly.

Without being told, Joy knew that that was her way out. Gently, she picked her dog up and made her way toward the exit. She was halfway through when her clone started emerging from the portal.

The difference is that they were grouped into three lines, and each group was wearing different clothes. The first group was holding a spear, the second group had a sickle, and the last group was holding a blade and shield.

"The rule of the game is easy," the male voice cut into her thought. "Defeat them all and enter the portal. Lastly, they are telepathic. Attack one, and the rest of the group will be in pain. Kill one, and the rest will double their attack."

"How did you expect me to win this without any weapons?" Joy complained bitterly.

"You can do better than that. Meet me on the other side of the bridge. Good luck, Bildad Joy." the voice said and withered.

T.b.c