Chapter 04

The blonde-haired girl felt uncomfortable being in the Daponia academy school. Everywhere, she is always being watched. The faster she walked, the more it felt like a mysterious gaze was glaring at him. It was as if the blonde-haired girl had done something that was not allowed. Her heart was beating fast. Feeling deep fear after being bullied by Sapphire and his gang.

Her body was shaking even though it was over. The jaws of her teeth were constantly shaking. Her eyes couldn't leave her eyes glancing here and there. The eye lens and pupil are dilated. The hairs on her neck shuddered. The blonde-haired girl gulped. Since her meeting with Sapphire and friends, he has always been isolated from other people. In her heart, the blonde-haired girl always protected herself with the strongest fortresses. Not easy to believe and choose silence is the key to it. To avoid unnecessary trouble. In addition, she is easily suspicious of others. It doesn't matter how nice the person is to the blonde-haired girl.

Some students walked while looking at the blonde-haired girl. Glancing at her eyeballs ignoring their presence. As long as they didn't say hello first, she wouldn't reply. The fast footsteps of the shoes worn. Tried to relax, but couldn't. She rushed to the girls' bathroom. Go inside and open the door. Don't miss it, she goes into the closet. Closing the door while locking the door tightly. Her two legs are pressed together. Take a long, slow breath. Her eyes glanced slowly. From the right position to the left. Try to focus on listening to any sounds around the bathroom.

Suddenly, the blonde-haired girl heard the sound of the door opening. The sound of shoes stepping into a sink. The blonde-haired girl imagined that the person was looking at a rectangular mirror. Pulled the lever up, the water came out quite fast. The palms of her hands were washed clean. Rub-rub until the base of the palm of her hand is completely clean. The sink was pushed down. The sound of dripping water. Take a tissue near the sink and wipe it dry. After that, she threw it in the trash. Walk towards the exit. Just as he touched the doorknob, the sound of plates breaking was heard in the bathroom.

"Hello?" asked one of the girls.

Step by step she walked. Hearing the sound of plates breaking again. So loud and painful ear hole. Her palms approached the source of the voice. Cautiously, the girl approached a door located on the right. When opened, the blonde-haired girl got out of the bathroom. Push the door forward. Holding another girl's hand to leave the bathroom.

"Wait, what—"

"Get out of here!"

The sound of the third plate breaking was heard again. This time, the figure of an astral being pierced through the walls of the girls' bathroom. The creature was not in human form as usual. Without eyes, nose, ears, lips and any internal organs. Only a flash of white light shone on her body. Like an invisible silhouette.

When the blonde haired girl held a fellow girl, she felt an unusual sensation. A sensation that cannot be expressed in words. Heart pounding. Pumping so fast that her adrenaline raced faster than usual. For a blonde haired girl, it had been a long time since she had had an interesting experience. Her lips curled into a smirk, feeling better after getting out of the girls' bathroom. The blonde-haired girl held her breath. Both legs bent forward. Her hand touched her thigh. One of the right hand shaken. Glancing sharply at the blonde haired girl.

"What was that just now?" he said trying to catch her breath.

"I don't know. But what is clear, the broken plate is a marker."

"Marker?" he asked again.

"A sign that something has happened in this school. And we have to find out soon," replied the blonde haired girl.

"Wait! Did you say 'we'? Are you out of your mind, miss—" the blonde haired girl cut him off.

Apparently, the girl was busy smelling something. He glanced back. However, there was no one behind. Just smelled weird. Stab into the nasal cavity. Until now, the blonde haired girl was being cautious. Her face hardened as he looked around him.

"Tiecia… Tiecia Kydwelly. That's my name," said the blonde haired girl.

The girl he had saved pulled a piece of paper on her back. Unknowingly, Tiecia snatched it away quickly. Sharp gaze pinned on her writing. In the Epuni language, it has a meaning which means poor or penniless. Growling at not being able to convince others that he had a brilliant achievement. Exhales roughly exhaled.

"What are you doing in the bathroom alone?" Tiecia asked.

"About that—"

Suddenly, a cracking sound was before Tiecia's eyes. Her neck was rapidly twisted by the astral being. Watch with horror.

~o0o~

The sound of crows squawking, one after another. Wakes Isaac when he is unconscious. Her eyes slowly opened. Her neck twitched as he looked up at the sparks in the fireplace. The crows perched on top of the fort. Screaming incessantly. Issac's eyes flickered. Glancing around. Feels silent from the sense of hearing. Somehow Isaac was here. Her right arm rubbed her eyeballs. Seeing a young man her age. Seen she was pushing some wooden branches in the middle. The wood he was holding continued to be moved along into the fireplace. Sparks fell. Produces a loud sound.

The young man was wearing a black robe with a flared pointed hat. Similar to a pirate. His eyes flashed curiosity towards Isaac. The silver haired boy stared at him for a longer time. The person he was staring at felt uncomfortable. Put a stick of wood at the end inward. Put it back while looking back.

"You seem to have survived the Bulprogi attack," said the young man in the pointy hat.

"Thank you?"

"What are you doing? After all, I didn't do anything for you," said the pointy-hatted youth as Issac thanked him.

"It's up to you," Isaac sneered.

There wasn't any conversation between them. Issac saw a young man in a pointy hat reaching into his bag. Dark yellow color in a ragged state. The shape is like a sling bag. Contains several medicines such as herbal medicines to cure internal diseases and wounds. A bottle filled with alcohol, mixed with a dark shabby cloth. If thrown in the intended direction, the bomb will explode, the fire immediately spreads throughout the area. However, it only lasts for a few seconds. It's not enough for a long time. However, its spread is wide. Not just thrown away because the spread is widespread.

Issac stared at the Molotov cocktails. Lightly, his palm touched the bottle containing the explosive bomb. However, the young man moved half of his body to the right. His shoulders stiffened. Increase the alertness of the pointy hat youth. Isaac lowered his hands. Take a wooden skewer filled with food. A fish caught by him. Issac chewed voraciously. It didn't matter that there were small bones, he just ate them straight away.

"You must be hungry, right?"

"Just know."

"Am I wrong?" asked the young man in the pointy hat.

But there was no response from him. His eyes looked up at the fireplace. The silver-haired youth shifted the wood inside. The flames began to grow. So warm after experiencing soaking wet from the rain.

On second thought, Issac realized something was wrong for the first time. He heard the sound of pouring rain from outside. Both of his eyes flickered. Looking up at the ceiling of a room. What a shock the place he knew.

The place contained old books and was full of cobwebs. In every corner, there is a spider hanging while knitting with its web. There is nothing special about a place to stop over except for books in an untidy state. Issac doesn't understand people now. Leaving a dead thing is the same as letting a thief take things. If the place was cursed, then Isaac couldn't blame the circumstances.

"Humans are never satisfied."

"Are you talking about personal experience?"

A nod from the words of the pointy hat youth. Issac held his palms close to the fire. His eyes were fixed on the closed room. There is only a door on the left. In a locked state because a piece of wood was shifted.

"New person?"

"New person?" said Isaac, frowning.

"Usually, the person who was here for the first time would be confused about finding a way out. Even the students."

"You know a lot about this place," said Isaac.

"Reynold Ellis. You?"

"Issac. Issac Garretwards," he said shaking hands.

The young man in the pointy hat named Reynold accepted the position from Issac. The two of them shook their arms for a moment. Until one of the parties let go of the tight grip. Apparently, it was Isaac who let go first. Looking up at a room in amazement.

"What exactly is this place?"

"Aeckland Stronghold. Or you could say a castle defense from Dark Sideth attacks. A monster that has devoured all existing life. Until this moment, no one knows what it looks like and why it appears."

"Until now?" said Issac flabbergasted in disbelief at Reynold's explanation.

However, what the pointy hat youth said had some truth in it. His eyes opened the scarf draped around his neck. His lips were licked by the tongue. Rotate clockwise as it dries. Isaac actually wanted to ask something. But he canceled his intention because the time was not right.

"By the way, how did you find out about this place? Did you just cross the middle ground?"

"Y-yes… the middle ground. So what?"

"That is the origin of a dungeon called Unknown Origin. A place for people who wish to commit suicide in a tragic way," Reynolds said.

"Suicide? I didn't think of that."

"For normal people, yes. But for Outcast like us, it is a gift to be grateful for. Even the Goddess Ila himself takes special care of us."

Again God Ila, Issac muttered to himself. The silver-haired youth did not blame him for his misfortune. Even so, Issac did not want to linger in this place. His legs were trying to stand up.

"Besides, Unknown Origin should not be connected to schools. Too risky. Not to mention, every existing dungeon will change randomly. Are you going to be put in a tomb, castle defense, fort and so on. Until now, no one realized what Unknown Origin was like," Reynold said enthusiastically.

"Does any Kingdoms or Empires know of this place?"

"Not. If they find out, their lives will fall apart. There are times, only certain people and have a steel mentality can go there. It doesn't matter how hard our lives are, as long as we can keep our sanity."

Isaac muttered long. He stroked his chin as he looked at the clothes Reynold was wearing. For some reason, it doesn't reflect properly a student in general. From head to toe filled with dirt or traces of the ground that was stepped on. In addition, the clothes worn contain mixed animal waste elements. Issac covered his nose and kept his distance from him. His legs move backwards along with the thighs being moved. Then the palms of the hands are raised again. Felt that it was time to warm up.

The silver-haired youth took off his uniform. Fear of catching a cold. After that, he took it off and dried it by the fireplace. Reynold pursed his lips and his brows furrowed. His nose snorted in annoyance. Throw a thick cloth for Isaac. The silver-haired youth smelled the odor on the blanket he was wearing. It smells like animal carcasses. The surface of the blanket was rough and blackened. Didn't expect Reynold to keep something this smelly.

"Don't complain so much," Reynold grumbled.

"Who's complaining anyway, you idiot!" spat out Isaac. His two fingers stroked his chin as he said. "But can we find a way out? Honestly, this place is a bit strange and it's easy to get lost for a first-timer like me."

Reynold waved his left palm with a wry laugh. His lips tilted to the left accompanied by a click of the tongue. His index finger touched the corner near the left side of the nose. Right on the optic nerve. Suddenly, the left arm trembled. It had been a long time having an unnatural resonance. A smile on her lips, opened the black bandage. Reynolds slowly opened it. His eyes focused on the bandage. Spirally rotated. Rapid eye blinking accompanied by irregular breathing. Hoping the young man named Isaac could stay away from him.