CHAPTER 176: KEY (ALETHA: PART 33)

""Aletha! Aletha! Aletha!" Chanted the audience as she panted and sored from the victory.

(Did... Did I do it?) The sea of faces roared its approval, with an old man holding a trophy standing next to her.

After the race, Aletha and the others gathered around the podium with the audience running to her, reaping the rewards given.

Phthonus, Pridia, Alai, and Emine gave Aletha a high five. Emine, who had looked drained, whispered to her as she gave her a charming thumbs up.

"I knew that you could win." Emine said as she applauded with the audience. "I gave you the victory because I knew how important that locket meant to you. I could have won and saved my family. But I figured how important this race was to you."

Following the shower of praises and the pile of Gincoins, the old man gave an amethyst-like locket to Aletha in reward for her service.

A pulsating grip grasped her hands as she held the locket, as if its very presence acknowledged she was there. The gem flickered, showing the activity of it.

"I... did it. I won!" Aletha said as she rubbed her eyes off of sand, her memories of training flowing vibrantly. "I suppose NOW I am the strong girl from the prophecy now."

"Indeed." Phthonus said as he stepped away from the group. "You even managed to kick the cheater senselessly."

"Never knew stupid girls can win a five mile race." Pridia said as she rolled her eyes, winking her eyes. "But I suppose you earned the victory. So good for you."

And finally, Alai, the one who had trained Aletha ruthlessly, gave her pat on the shoulder and winked as her ruby hair flowed with the refreshing breeze.

"You even managed to kick that cheater with blind eyes."

Aletha blushed deeply, keeping the locket close to her chest. Just as the locket scraped her heart, suddenly a deep feminine voice resounded in her mind.

(Aletha?...Is that you? What are you doing here? Where am I?)

As Aletha got showered in appraisals, she witnessed Runa, the cheater, getting dragged out of the podium after losing to legitimacy. Just before she was dragged, she spat on Aletha’s shoe and snarled saying...

"This is for Zomrack! My efforts shall be accounted for."

This in return, caused Alai to slap her head in shock, saying...

"You cheated. And she won fair and square. Just give up already."

Pushing Alai to the side, two tall men stepped in front of her, saying

"We’ll handle this.".

Aletha squinted at the woman, caressing her trophy tightly. While watching the others escort the man, she heard the same deep feminine voice echo in her mind.

("Aletha, are you there? It’s me, Drimi!) The voice sounded distressed, completely shifted. "I don’t know what the hell is going on, nor do I understand how I got here. All I see is a black landscape, everything is dead.)

It was at this moment, It would seem that Drimi’s soul was captured inside a gem. Nothing could explain this occurrence, not even other stories.. With no explanation, she gave her a false promise, saying

(Don’t worry Drimi. I WILL find a way to get you out of there.)

With that, Drimi fell into shock, sounding as if she was crying.

(Please, save me. I’m scared. I can’t see a dawning thing.) Never once had Aletha thought that Drimi, the usually strong woman, screamed for help. It seemed as if she was tormented inside that gem by the essence of the Perfect Darkness wrapping around her.

(I must find a way to free her.)

As the gem lost its amethyst glow, Aletha dropped the trophy and ran to the group. The Gincoins were placed in a neat pile, all of it organized in bliss. Before Aletha could ask, she was approached by the group, unwary of the situation.

"Aletha, that was wonderful." Ubel commented as he turned to the golden sun, brushing his hair and wiping down sweat. "Even in such harsh conditions, you managed to persist on, fighting windstorms, creatures, and even falling into blindness."

The silver haired man patted Aletha’s back, saying.

"To put it in the simplest words, you did good. Just like the races from my homeworld. You managed to overcome it."

"You too, Alai." Phthonus admitted as he pulled his scarf off his face. "If it wasn’t for your brutal training, she would never have won."

"Just like how my sensei had once believed in me." Alai commented with trembling lips.

While the clouds drift over the ball of light, Pridia had intervened in the conversation, clueless about the gem.

"The way you fought those zombies and how you skidded on the ground, and rolled and jumped." She said, twirling her body. "Never knew you were such an athlete, Aletha. That training paid off."

Aletha, pushing away the thoughts of her earned victory, desperately asked everyone for a way to release Drimi.

But no matter the person, not one of them had any clue about her situation, not even Ubel, Pridia, Phthonus, or Emine had a clue.

Moreover, her last resort, after having asked EVERYONE in the group, was to ask none other than the Queen of Linuxinia, who had watched the race alongside Isa and with her followers even after that sudden weakening event.

"The incident from Clearstar manages to have a grasp on us all." Kali said as she moved her pure green hair.. "There has to be a way. There MUST be some method to counter it."

Aletha, who had looked drained beyond compare, stepped forward and saw Kali’s vibrant lavender green hair fluctuate with the crisp warm wind. She took a deep breath and scratched her chin mumbling to herself while the audience reeled back, afraid to surround their majesty.

"K...Kali Leila?"

"Could the Perfect Darkness be a clue? Could our magic return from the Sealed Beatific."

To capture her attention, Aletha had to raise her voice. So, clearing her throat and capturing a vivid presentation, Aletha shouted at her, saying

"KALI!

Suddenly, after hearing her loud shout caused her to jump, saying.

"What? What?"

While twiddling her thumbs, Aletha quickly answered, saying in a defeated voice.

"Do you know any way to free Drimi from this crystal?" She handed the locket onto her hands, trusting her as a certain platinum haired woman approached from the background.

"Free Drimi?" Kali retraced her words in legitimacy, holding onto the crystal."No, I have never heard a figure like that. But I recognize this power.. it’s... it’s THE PERFECT DARKNESS?! How did you manage to get a hold of this?"

And then pushing from the crowd, was none other than the platinum haired girl, Sally. Her hot pink eyes anchored their gaze to the glittering object saying,

"Drimi! DRIMI is in there!"

"Sally? What are you doing here?" Phthonus asked, quiveringly.

"I was hoping Emine would win the race." Sally said. "I never knew Aletha would compete."

"Wait, you counted on Emine to win the race?" Aletha said as she clenched into the heart locket. "Why not me?"

"Because I couldn’t get a hold of you. I promised her that if she won, she would give me the locket."

"h... hold on, do you know of a way to get Drimi out?"

"No. It’s just... I love Drimi, okay. I never heard her being so scared. I want to free her. I want to free her from that crystal."

"Hmm, I have heard one way to get that person out of the crystal.:

Immediately all their attentions fixed on the mysterious shrouded shamrock-haired lady

"You have to pass three trials of the Linuxinian Mountain." She pointed toward the peak fabricating its shadow over the city and the nation itself. The peak was encircled by swirling clouds that seemed to have thundered cyan lightning all over. There were floating pieces of what seemed to be a castle and houses dotted about its gargantuan epic center. "If you want to free Drimi, you have to reach the Primal Joyroot, and defeat the dragon encircling its shadow.

"So what you’re saying is... is that we have to climb the peak?" Aletha said as she perked her head

The shrouded figure kept silent, jumping from wall to wall before leaving Aletha and the group entirely.

"Now come to think of it... Aletha hadn’t completed her training for the Adventurer’s License. Is this our last destination?"

"Climbing Linuxinia Peak isn’t as easy as you think." Kali blatantly said as she stared at the birds flying about. "let alone fighting the dragon.

"It is said that the dragon that encircled the peak had always tested their physical abilities by fighting. And many, and I mean, a LOT have failed."

"But instead of worrying about the future," Alai said as she clapped her hands, pulling her red pony tail back. "Let’s savor the present."

* * * *

The gold, despite being heavy, was carried to Alai’s house by a secure wagon. Instead of going directly to Linuxinian Mountain, they have successfully reaped the rewards from the race and used it to their fullest extent.

The air hung heavy, thick with the scent of roasting boar, its rich, gamy aroma mingling with the sweetness of baked bread and the earthy fragrance of simmering root vegetables. The flickering torchlight danced across the rough-hewn tables, casting long, dancing shadows that mimicked the flames leaping in the massive hearths.

A symphony of smells, a culinary testament to a fleeting moment of peace of victory; Ubel, Aletha, Alai, Phthonus, Sally, Emine, and the rest decided to buy a massive feast.

"I never knew you were such a cartographer." Sally and the others said." Or even a cook."

"Hey, I already cooked for two of you before, you shouldn’t be surprised.

"Oh and Sally, Emine, and Phthonus, and Pridia you are all welcome to my house. For a night of course. Alai replied with a pouty face.

"It’s not like I care honestly. Okay screw it,, I love cooking for you guys."

Deep in her eyes, held a fire that burned brighter than any hearth, reflecting a spirit unbroken.

Aletha, who had looked to be completely exhausted, made Pridia laugh awkwardly, saying to Alai.

"You almost trained her to death. Give the dumb girl a break."

"I will.. if you just shut it." Alai said exasperatively. "And besides, I HAVE been giving her breaks."

The weight of leadership pressed heavily upon her. "Her power proves to herself that she can wield the Sealed Beatific effectively. Anyways, shut up and enjoy the food!"

The boar, succulent and dripping with juices, was a testament to the bounty of their land, the richness of all the Gincoids. They savored every last droplet of the feasts, exchanging conversation.

Aletha devoured it and gulped it down by sight, Pridia consumed it in two cuts, and Phthonus pulled his scarf off his face and ate.

The vegetables, roasted to perfection, offered a burst of color and flavor, providing a moment of respite from the that painted the landscape around them.

Each dish was carefully chosen and prepared, representing not just sustenance but also a deliberate attempt to create a sense of tranquility.

Sooner than they knew it, night had arrived..Aletha and the others enjoyed the feast,, and now fastened asleep on her beds with the heart locket whispering her cries, they all, including Drimi, had sweet sweet dreams.

. . .

Meanwhile,

"Got the girl?" Said the hologram as a metal humanoid creature clenched onto a device.

"I believe we have found the right candidate."

Pushing from metal walls and purple and black tiled floors, a girl with platinum hair screamed and cried.

"LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" A portal was seen behind, showing the tall green mountains of Linuxinia behind its frame. Eventually it disappeared, revealing only pink luminance outside.

"Runa, is her name." Said the black and magenta like beings, crossing their arms. "We have all witnessed this ’contest’ and believe that she... your majesty, shall be your key."

Slamming the metallic door shut, the robotic people dragged Runa toward a black throne embedded onto the amethyst floors.

Carvings of strange cryptic symbols sat before the throne, gleaming under a purple glow.

"My guards, you are dismissed." Said the woman.

As the black steel doors shut, a beautiful dark-haired figure with amethyst eyes ordered.

"So... tell me, what is your basis? What is your motive?"

Every word she spoke it had this impact that rattled everyone’s ribcage.

"I see nothing in you. Nor do I have nothing in me.. So answer me... young one, What happened in that race?"

Runa, absolutely terrified, tremblingly answered to the amethyst silhouette with shaky, fearful eyes.

"I... I lost a race to a white haired. I... cheated." But as the tension of the room grew thick with power, her shrill voice echoed over the walls. "Why did you kidnap me? What... What are you going to do?"

"A white haired girl you say?" The woman mumbled as the very silence hurt everyone’s ears. "Guards, where did this candidate come from?"

"She came from the lighter depths of Linuxinia, your majesty." they replied.

"Ah," she said. "That valueless nation that brooks no care to its people. A nation of weakness that even Sergil couldn’t stand. Hmm, although you sound to be powerless, how about I bestow you on my accord."

The young woman, absolutely terrified, took two steps back and screamed.

"W-What.. are you planning to do?"

After a buff chuckle from her, the dark haired woman summoned a magenta luminance on her hand, with a black vortex sucking up all the particles. With a wry smile on her face, the dark haired woman shoved her fist through the young woman’s heart and whispered as she got closer and closer.

"How would you like a taste of my power?"

At that moment, the mask of fear Runa had had dissipated, morphing into a sinister smile.