The Ranch

Fairytale Maze (15)

""It should be Tih(Boss)."" Kai and Victor speak up at the same time.

""Eh?"" They both spent so much time coming up with a compelling argument to allow Tih to go through, but it seems that was unnecessary.

The two groups laugh, partly out of embarrassment and partly because it really was funny. Quickly compromising, they all find their own pressure plates and place their hands on top. The metal door clicks open.

Tih doesn't move. He looks at Kai.

"Go ahead, we'll meet back up with you soon." Maybe because he's feeling emotional, Kai believes he needs to persuade Tih to go.

Hearing the command to go ahead, Tih makes his way through the door. Behind him, the door closes and the other door that was originally closed when the man walked in reopened.

The two groups looks at each other. "Shall we look for a way out?"

In Tih's perspective, he enters an entirely white room filled with monitors on the left wall. There's nothing else in the room except for a large, throne-like chair that sits in the middle of the room.

An elder sitting in the chair presses a button and all the holographic monitors disappear. The elder turns his head to the left to see who entered.

For a short moment, the old man looks surprised at seeing a child entering, but it's a happy surprise. Tih notices this before he efficiently tucks his surprise away.

The grandpa speaks in a soft, friendly voice," Congratulations, cough-you found the hidden room."

Tih tilts his head.

"You can only get here by answering everything correctly or answering everything incorrectly and making it through alive." He chuckles. "It's more of a secret prize besides the already announced prize. That prize is located somewhere else. Your teammates might still be able to find it."

Two real prizes, one was announced to the public and one was not.

"Are you curious about what the prize is?" He shows a kind smile with a hint of mischief. "Come over child." The grandpa beckons Tih over in a soothing voice.

Tih walks over and the grandpa pays his lap. Tih stands in front of the man and looks up at his warm smile full of small wrinkles. Short grayish-black hair is fluffed to the side.

The man softly picks up the child and places him on his lap. Comfortable arms wrap around Tih. Tih can feel a chill from the grandpa's skinny hands.

With a smile, the man answers," The prize is a wish. One wish and it can be anything within my power. Do you have any ideas?" He waits for the child to speak.

Tih remains silent, but he continues staring at the old man. The elder can feel the eeriness of those blue eyes, but doesn't find it particularly weird as an old islander. He's met many people with similar qualities over the years. He's also many many people with certain limitations. "Are you mute, my boy?"

Tih's been called that before and knows that's something people consider him to be so he nods.

The grandpa show a slight frown as this will create a problem in picking a prize. "Then let's put that aside for now. Cough- Listen to this old man for a while and let me tell you a story, child."

The grandpa then goes through his entire life story. He came to the island and soon rose through the ranks, becoming a prominent even among multiple generations. He's met many interesting people over the years. Some he's befriended, most he's watched fall over the years, and now he's the only one left.

At this mark, he lets out a heavy sigh, showing a regretful smile," I've know many things I should never have learned. These, I will take to the grave with me, as to not burden anyone else. Truly, ignorance is bliss."

After staring off into space, recalling many memories, he looks straight into the distance with perfectly clear eyes," And soon I will also pass...very, very soon." He's seems to have come to terms with this conclusion.

His resolute eyes look at Tih," You-" Before he can say more, he gives into a coughing fit.

"I'm fine." His voice is shaky.

"You've made many reliable friends." He open a single holographic screen. It shows Kai and Victor's groups solving a puzzle.

"I was looking for someone like you. Someone that could gather the trust of others on this island. I'd honestly thought I'd fail. That this would be a waste and I'd die with one more regret. Luckily," he smiles," you exist."

After another round of coughing fits," Thank you for listening to this old man's story. As thanks, take this as your prize since you can't choose one." He hands Tih an ID.

Tih tilts his head, confused.

"This is my ID. I no longer need it. There's a fair amount of kquil on it, but most importantly, it can be used as a sort of credentials to enter or buy things you wouldn't normally have access to. It can also be used as a sort of status, if you ever find yourself in trouble with reputable people," The old man's crow eye crinkles as he winks.

He seems to recall something else as he snaps," I should also have a dorm room I turned into a storage warehouse. It's been so long, I couldn't tell you wants in it, but you can stop by and check it out or use the room for something else."

After the grandpa finishes explaining its uses, he sets the boy down to leave. Tih starts leaving through a hidden exit shown by the elder. Before the child leaves his sight, the grandpa says one last thing, "And boy, be wary of headquarters. Although I've never been involved with them personally, I've lived long enough to...no matter, take heed child, live happily. I hope you get the happy ending I never had."

The grandpa's voice trailed off as Tih continued walking further. The corridor is straight, the end has a bright light he can't see through. As Tih walks, he thinks about the conversation with the elder. The ID has already been placed in his hoodie pocket along with his own.

Tih liked that old man. He reminded Tih of the old man at the orphanage. They were both kind and old. And they both taught him things.