Two creatures were with Alexandre as they talked together. Tey had their mind blown by something the human told them.
"How can you actually heat something without fire in a house?" Gosh asked. He showed his hand, "Can some of you control the fire element?"
"No. It's just really hard to understand. They are many warm something. It's just that there are places where they- Well- Hum… They create energy and that energy take many forms."
The M'arrillian asked, "Like this?" he created water in his hand.
The human groaned in exhaustion, "No. It's something else that someone built that turned in into something else. It's not fires or water. It's heat without the fire."
He had definitely lost them.
Maelstrom commented, "Your kind in the Cothica really can do some strange things."
"Controlling fire or water with your body is strange for me."
The creatures chuckled.
The M'arrillian asked, "And this battlegear," he showed the metal baseball bat, "This isn't a really impressive weapon."
"It isn't."
"What is it used for?" the Mipedian asked.
The boy grabbed it, "It's for a sport I am playing at school or during summer vacation. You use it to hit a ball coming at you and sending it as far away as possible. It's really hard to explain since I only have the bat."
"Can it still be used as a battlegear? It feels like a hammer, but less heavy. Maybe even a staff, but heavier," Gosh commented as he pocked it.
"Only for malicious intentions," Alexandre answered.
"Can you show us how this game works? We have nothing else to do," Gosh asked.
"You have to keep an eye on me," the M'arrillian replied.
"I can but… we need a ball first."
Chapter 25: An Old Declaration
Alexandre lightly smiled when he thought back when he thought the two, then the others how to play baseball. That was some good time he had and it made him a little less melancholic of his home. He thought he remembered the name of the M'arrillian, but it flew away after a few seconds. They continued through the corridor as he told them that story.
"You thought them baseball?" Kaz asked.
"We had nothing to do and the M'arrillian wasn't causing any trouble. Gosh had to watch him for my and the tribe's safety. He said that he had a debt to me, so he was often around me. I was the only who defended him when he was caught and- it was something I asked," he sighed at that bad memory. He put his hand on the scar, under his black shirt. He wondered what was the name of the creature once again.
The corridor wasn't made of ice anymore, but of rocks. They were outside of the Wind Quadrant now. Despite that, it was still cold.
"How long until we reach the center of the city?" Tom asked with a little hint of impatience.
"Not too long. We'll know when we reached it. We will cross the other paths from the other quadrants. They fused into one soon enough."
"I hope it's soon," Sarah commented.
"How were the kings and queens back then? Were they chill or Chaor anger?" Peyton asked.
The man thought, "Depressed or really pessimistic, but not a bunch of emos. They lost everything and couldn't fight back. Maybe believing they were only delaying their inevitable end," he sighed, "I think. That's the only thing that would put them that way. Maybe that's why the tribes didn't fought against each other's. The rulers hadn't the mind for conflicts."
Sarah nodded, "So you don't really remember them."
"I don't remember that much," he sighed. He crossed his arms, "I should have written something like a journal… Way too late now."
The continued through the corridor they could see other paths joining them. There was one on their right. Just by looking at it, it was clear that side was hot, probably coming from the Fire Quadrant. On their left, there was two path that surely leaded Water Quadrant to the Earth Quadrant.
Cassandra thought she saw the shadows on their left, but when she looked more closely, there was nothing. The group followed a road that went up, forward.
"We are almost at the heart of the city. There is a building made where the leader of the tribes would meet. They used it a few times for diplomacy or dealing with me," Alexandre resumed.
They continued through the corridor. Little did they knew that they were being stalked. It wasn't just the Mipedian. One Danian was following far away while listening to their words. A few others came, but farther away than the first Danian, bulkier and less quiet.
Taffial decided to not act at their presence. The benefit of avoiding a fight was greater than losing the chance to learn more secrets of their past history. He focused on noting anything important mentioned by The Messenger. He wasn't expecting a little bits of their leader lost past in the city. It was clear that wouldn't get a lot, but it was far enough to satisfy his curiosity while creating many questions in his mind.
"We're here," the man said.
The thought of the creature stopped when he observed the new building. It wasn't the one they could see at the top of the city, but one inside. He could see stairs that probably lead outside and reach the top of Kaizeph.
It was a large structure that seemed made of gold. It looked like a half globe that reflected the light of the sun, outside of the inwards of the city. It had many windows surrounding it, but they were high above the group. It was clearly made so the ground troopers of any tribes couldn't easily access inside. There was only one main entrance. It was a large door made of something looking like gold. They gave a closer look and saw a smaller door at the entrance. The building was made as a last defense in case of an invasion. It was made to slow down enemies if they tried to break through the door while minimizing the attacks coming from the windows by flying creatures only.
Cassandra commented, "It's really something else."
"It's beautiful," Sarah said with her jaw dropped.
The boys were the same way as it took some effort to close their mouth.
"It is. I was like you when I first saw it," he chuckled, "I thought it was gold, but it's not. Way too hard for that."
"What is it made off?" Kaz asked.
"I don't know. Something rare," Alexandre replied.
"If it wasn't, Kiru city would be shiny. Like, Argh! My eyes! Kind of shiny," Peyton commented a little overdramatically.
The group chuckled as it might had been the case, if the walls were made that way.
"We have to go inside. I believe there is some record in there or image. I might remember more," he let out a small hopeful smile as they approached the door.
Tom asked, "What do you think it might be?"
"Not a lot, I guess. Maybe something I wrote is still there, or a plan to reach the Cothica. I think they made one," the man guessed.
"Like the map of the Cothica," Tom remembered that Mudeenu was obsessed with that. It had been destroyed.
"Maybe that map was false," Peyton said.
"Of course not. The creatures are just wrong about our world being the Cothica and the map lead to the Cothica. Not our world," Kaz dismissed that possibility.
"I guess it's that," the man agreed.
"With everything I learned about Kaizeph, maybe they really just wanted some hope," Cassandra thought.
Alexandre raised his shoulders as he approached the door.
"Can we go in?" MajorTom asked.
The man pulled the door and it opened.
"I thought it was a door you have to push," Peyton commented.
"And the door wasn't locked," Sarah commented.
"Guess it can only be locked inside," Kaz mother cut her friend answer when she saw the large lock at the other side of the door. It wasn't discreet and easy to notice. She got a thumbs up from her friend.
The group ventured inside. The five stopped to look around with amazement. It was a beautiful inside with the gold like color. They knew it wasn't gold, but it was something difficult to ignore. Nothing else was decorating the inside. Everything surely had been taken away when the creatures left the city.
"The first time I came with Gosh, I saw a few creatures of different tribes arguing among themselves. They were relentless in trying to prove who was the biggest jerk I think," the man sighed at those memories.
"It was that way when they were in war against the M'arrillians. Even when they tried to work togethers, it took effort for that. Tangath Toborn did an amazing job. He was a great commander," Tom sighed, remembering that the creature was gone now.
They reached a large door, "I hope I'll remember more behind this door."
"What's behind this door?" Kaz asked.
"Well… Something important," Alexandre answered. He pushed and it didn't budge, "Need some help here."
The six pushed with everything they had. The door creaked loudly as they managed to push the door. It took a while before they could enter.
The six walked inside the large room. It was mostly empty. There was no point of having anything. The only things remaining was a table sculped on a stone, a few tablets on it and a large kind of rock against the wall.
"This was were the leader of each tribes would meet and don't advance at anything," the man whispered as he looked around. He closed his eyes and thought more. A few memories came back to him as the others went to the tablets, "A few things came back," he joined them.
"What is it Alex?" Cassandra asked.
"One time I came… Don't think it was the first time. Najarin was there. The High Muge was certain I was 'The Messenger', because he called me that way. God was it annoying. Anyway," he rested himself against the table, "He was proving to them without a doubt I was 'The Messenger Of The Cothica'."
"Najarin believed that?" Tom asked.
"Yeah. Because he interrogated the creatures who witness my arrival. I appeared out of nowhere and the creatures freaked out a little. Then Gosh pointed his sword at my face. Some first thought it was a test by M'arrillians. It was also about my Chaotic deck case with creatures that didn't exist yet. Thought I had a card of Najarin. The things I've said was so alien to them. Creating heat without fire, how a city could have more humans than creatures of an entire tribe. What a video game is and etc," he waved his hands, "I talked a lot about our world. So many that I forgot most of them," he chuckled.
The others gazed at each other's. They couldn't say anything about their world and he could that.
"You know it's forbidden to say anything, now right?" Kaz asked.
"I know. I got the rules after my first match. Wasn't the same back then," he replied.
The group focused once again on the tablets.
Peyton grabbed one. It was written in the creature's language. They didn't get it. None of them were written in English. "Bro. Do you understand this?"
"No. I never understand it," Alexandre admitted.
"That one is in English," Sarah pointed at the large stone in the end of the room.
The group approached and saw that it was indeed written in their language.
The man closed his eyes and sighed, "I remember that one. Just thinking about it makes is killing my arms," he made a sad chuckle.
The group wondered what he meant.
Sarah asked, "You made all of this?"
"Most of it… I believe," Alexandre answered. He put his finger on his forehead as the man thought more about it.
The Chaotic Players were impressed. They didn't ask more.
The creatures were hidden and just wanted to hear more. They were excited and did everything to keep hidden and quiet. Alas for them, the humans read it without saying a thing. They wouldn't know the content now.
Taffial was glad that someone could translate it later. Something important was put by The Messenger Of The Cothica, I want to know what it is.
"I think I was very bored, or really wanted to leave something behind," he thought back. He really tried and sighed, "Before I left, I think. The tribes united as one to fight back against the M'arrillians. I could fix the scanner, but it would take a while."
Tom said, "That's what you consider really important," he was lightly smiling. He guessed that the creatures agreed. He could see a reply under it, probably from the creature who learned English. He put it in the same language.
"Yes. They were my friends and it was that important for me. I just… wanted to leave something behind about it. I was going back home soon and… never come back."
Cassandra noticed that he was avoiding looking at them. His body was lightly shivering as he tried to hold back.
"So, we declared our friendship on this. Can't believe they put it there. Probably broke their back. You know. I was naïve back then. The tribes still despise each other's. I had the first generation of Chaotic card to prove it. The Tyrant, ruler of Al Mipedim is a big example."
"The M'arrillians erase their memories, so they wouldn't remember it," Sarah replied.
"Bro. They all worked together again when the M'arrillian came back. Together," Peyton crossed his fingers together as he cheerfully said that.
"They didn't need a 'Messenger' this time," Kaz added.
The Overworlder Player nodded, "Even if they are still fighting now, we know they can fight together."
Alexandre nodded, "Yeah," he turned around and smiled, "They don't need to make up a miracle as they did on me."
His friend noticed a tear falling form his face.
The man continued, "I guess it's the way it is. Just like our world," he tried to clean his face, but tears kept coming, "Don't know why I'm getting like that. Can't remember why."
"Should we leave?" Sarah asked.
"There's nothing else I can show you. Yeah, it's getting out of control," he cleaned his face once again as he took out his scanner.
The others did the same.
Cassandra smiled. She was glad that they could put this behind. Also, she was glad he made real friends. That he managed to be happy there. That message on the large rock was proof of it. She wanted to meet them and thank them for being his friends when he was trapped in Perim. It was impossible and could only thank their spirits.
The group ported out.
The creatures came out of their hiding spot. Danians approached the tablets.
Meanwhile, the Mipedians remained invisible. They didn't want to alert the bug creatures. None of them were warriors compared to the few Danians who studied the room.
This was a big discovery and the presence of the giant stone with the message was clear. This wasn't a place where they should fight.
Taffial had one thing spiraling in his mind. He wanted to reach the Cothica. The little he heard was beyond his dreams.
Others had some apprehension. When The Messenger spoke about how many humans lived in a city and compared to an entire tribe. They could only imagine a gigantic city as large as Al Mipedim or the entire Overworld territory.
AC: This is the end of this chapter. The next one is the final of this arc. I'm happy to almost reach 7000 views. Just a hundred more for that. I'm glad many people likes the story so far.
Next Chapter: Code Yellow.
Tom, Kaz, Sarah and Peyton talked about everything they discovered. They wondered how they could convince the tribes that they weren't from the Cothica.
However, a cheeseburger changed everything.