Stranger [2]

"Tell me your name." As the thing spoke, Isaac couldn't help but think he was in a tight spot.

The man commanded with a tone that oozed 'or else'.

"Isaac."

The old man paused, squinting his eyes as his eyebrows furrowed.

"Isaac? What about your second name?" This time, the man asked a question rather than commanding Isaac to answer. Despite this feeling peculiar, Isaac felt less pressured, but still answered truthfully.

"I don't have one." He answered truthfully.

Isaac, being an orphan at a young age, didn't recollect his second name. Of course, after an orphanage took him in, he was given a legal second name.

However, upon leaving, he soon discarded it.

The name wasn't his and always felt like something forced upon him for the convenience of others. To put it simply, he hated it.

If his name wasn't his at birth, he wanted nothing to do with it. Anything else and he'd feel fake.

Of course, this didn't mean he wouldn't constantly change his identity for his scams. No, that was different.

"No second name? Interesting." The thing stepped out of the vegetation, walking toward Isaac as they both kept their eyes on each other.

"Isaac, tell me your goal in life." The thing once again commanded. This time, Isaac couldn't help but feel as though there was a right and wrong answer.

However, despite knowing this, this question was answered multiple times throughout his life.

He had an answer that was so clear to him his mouth just moved before his brain could think, despite him feeling as though the question was a peculiar one.

"To become filthy rich." The thing showed no emotion as it glared at the boy.

Meanwhile, Isaac couldn't help but think that slip of his tongue would cost him. Therefore, he tried to correct himself.

"But that was before. Now, I'm not so sure…" Before he could finish, he was cut off.

"Pathetic." The thing hissed.

"The world is tainted with pathetic scum like yourself. There's nothing more unreliable than a man with no goal, no conviction and no strive for anything." The thing suddenly changed its tone as it wore a face of disgust.

This was the first time the thing showed any emotion outside it's unnerving smile.

If the thing had made the same statement to Isaac from before arriving into the Dark Continent, Isaac would have given him an earful.

He remembered how passionate he was about being rich. Nothing could stop him from achieving his goal.

Well, nothing but the cold touch of reality.

Isaac had barely tasted the luxury of achieving his goal, before it all came crashing down onto him. Since then, he couldn't stop thinking, 'What a waste of time.'

He'd found out money wasn't sustainable and could disappear in the blink of an eye. In a situation like he was in right now, money was beyond useless.

He was in no better position than he was a year ago. In fact, in pursuing his goal he was somehow in a worse position.

"What about you? What's your goal? What do you strive to do?" Isaac thought it was time he asked a question.

"Me? It's simple. To kill." The thing answered nonchalantly as Isaac wore a face of defeat.

'Well that isn't worrying at all.'

"That's very interesting. I wish I could talk more, but I must be on my way." Isaac said with a smile as he slowly stepped further and further away from the man.

But, he knew it wouldn't be so easy.

"Wait, before you leave…" The thing started, raising its hand.

"...shake my hand." It commanded.

Isaac's heartbeat quickened. There it was once again. The tone that made Isaac feel as though he had no choice.

"No thank you…"

"Shake my hand."

The thought of even touching something he was so on edge about made him shake his head violently.

For all he knew, if he were to touch that thing, he'd shrivel up as all the life was sucked out of him.

"I really can't…"

"Shake my hand."

It was clear now.

Isaac could either shake his hand and take the chance at possible suffering, or reject the man and definitely suffer.

Walking to the man and staring at him for a few seconds, Isaac held his breath as he quickly grabbed the hand, shaking it.

A second passed and nothing had changed. Was Isaac perhaps wrong…

"Isaac!" A familiar voice yelled from behind Isaac as the boy looked back.

Seeing Netero with a pale and shocked face accompanied by Monet who wore a similar look, though showing far less emotion, Isaac raised an eyebrow.

However, Isaac could tell they weren't looking at him.

Looking back at the thing, Isaac froze as his heartbeat quickened.

The man's face was replaced with what looked to be a mask.

With a pale and little to no detailed face, three gaping dark holes could be seen on the thing's two eyes and smiling mouth.

"What's happening?!" Isaac yelled without taking his eyes off the thing before him.

"Make a wish! Quickly!" Yelled Netero, to which Isaac couldn't help but feel confused.

'Wish? What the hell is he talking about?!'

However, as Netero urged him, Isaac opened his mouth and said the first thing that fell upon his mind.

"I wish to escape the Dark Continent!"

Everything went silent as no one uttered a word. After a few words, the thing let out a noise.

"Ai."

Before Isaac could question anything, in the blink of an eye, the scenery changed from the lush forest with overwhelming peculiar vegetation, to an open clearing surrounded by trees.

In the middle of the clearing was a tall waterfall that crashed into the large river below.

Despite building the idea that everything in the Dark Continent was dangerous, this was the first time Isaac felt as though he was back on earth.

Despite it being dark, the waterfall and river let out an ethereal glow that illuminated the surroundings, allowing Isaac to quickly spot Netero, Monet who seemed to have reverted back to a cat and the thing that seemingly brought them here.

Walking toward Isaac, Netero looked the boy up and down.

"Are you hurt?" He asked, to which Isaac shook his head.

"No. But isn't she going to…" Isaac pointed to the black cat which squinted its eyes lazily.

"You're safe for now, child. I'm prohibited from meddling in the affairs which occur in the Dark Continent. Therefore, until the Ai is done fulfilling your wish, I cannot touch you." Hearing this, Isaac sighed a breath of relief.

"Don't look too comfortable. I'll chase you to the ends of the earth in the name of justice." Upon hearing this, Isaac cursed inwardly, wanting to change the subject.

"Ai? " Isaac asked.

"Yes. A creature of the Dark Continent. A damned formidable one at that." As Netero spoke, the Ai started to walk toward the waterfall without looking back.

Isaac and Netero glanced at each other, soon nodding and following the creature as Monet silently followed from behind.

"I'm guessing you didn't know what you were doing when you carried out its commands." As Netero said this, Isaac's previous encounter with Ai played through his mind.

With a chuckle, Netero continued.

"You unknowingly fulfilled its commands and it rewarded you with a wish. That is the ability of the Ai."

Hearing this, Isaac smacked his forehead.

"I knew there was something off about the way it spoke. What would have happened if I didn't obey?" Asked Isaac.

"You would've died." Shrugged Netero nonchalantly.

'Nevermind. I made the right choice.'

As Isaac signed, they witnessed the Ai stop below the waterfall.

Without saying a word, it leapt in through a small crevice behind the waterfall, disappearing into the darkness.

"Where is it…" Before Isaac could ask, Netero leapt through the crevice right after, leaving Monet and Isaac by themselves.

As the air became awkward, Isaac quickly leapt through to escape the uncomfortable situation, soon following the black feline.

Landing onto solid earth, Isaac couldn't help but savour the feeling of being away from the man eating dirt for once.

Looking around the dark area which was slightly illuminated by the glow of the water, Isaac could quickly tell they were in a sort of cave behind the waterfall.

Seeing the Ai continue walking into the cave that looked as if it had no ending, the trio followed behind.

"I don't understand. The wish was to escape the Dark Continent. Where is it leading us?" Isaac had countless questions running through his mind.

"I'm not sure. I too wasn't expecting this." Answered Netero without taking his eyes off the Ai before us.

"Well, I expected as much. A creature that grants you any wish after obeying three simple commands is too good to be true. Especially in the Dark Continent." Isaac shrugged.

"Don't underestimate the Ai, boy. Besides, the commands are proportional to how great the last wish made was."

Isaac raised an eyebrow.

"So by that rationale, the last wish that was made was a simple one. Thus making the commands I obeyed simple as well. That's a bold statement. How do you know that?" Isaac asked this, however, Netero paused.

"Because I was the last person to make the wish."

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Hey, if you're enjoying I'd appreciate the Powerstones. They help a ton.