X No Sekai

o12; Song of a Chained Abyss

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Oz needs several urgings when he didn’t believe they were still at the palace, after the short icky adventure of the doors. The 2nd ALICE practically shook him hard, saying, “Aw, come on, Oz! Don’t be such a stubborn jerk! We are still in the palace, you freak.”

“Yeah, and this isn’t a mirage,” the 1st ALICE added quickly, eyeing Oz. Oz kept saying the whole thing was just a mirage or some kind of magic.

The 3rd and 6th ALICE practically needs to push Oz forward so that he would start walking. But everyone stopped on their tracks, when they heard a very soft singing voice that filled the air. The song was strange and none of them have heard it before. But it was also catchy and soft.

“Wh-who’s singing?” the 4th ALICE asked softly when the song ended.

The rest shrugged. They glanced at the 5th ALICE, who was very fond of singing. Even she was startled of the pretty singing voice. “I didn’t sing. And the voice is clearly far away – not from here.”

“Could it be a guide?” the 3rd ALICE asked, scratching his head.

Oz looked at them and ahead of the hallway of the palace. Then he remembered something. “Hey! I think we’ve gone to this place before…” his voice trailed off. He quickly ran away from the ALICE’s grasp and ran forward. Their loud thundering feet was the only sound in the hallway. When Oz turned, he quickly stopped. His mouth slightly open and his eyes were slightly big.

The ALICEs ran and stopped behind them. Then they have the very same expression. “Is this…the dungeon again?” the 6th ALICE managed to wail. Everything was still the same, except some big holes on the ground where the chains was hit when it was attacking towards them.

Oz finally nodded his head. “Yeah. We’re back again…”

“Eh? I thought we already got out of this thing,” the 2nd ALICE complained. “I can’t believe it we’re here again. Then those chains will attack us again and we’d be running away from here and the white queen and stuffs. It’s like a repeated cycle.”

The phrase: “It’s like a repeated cycle” struck inside Oz’s head. “Wait. Repeated cycle? So you must mean…this is a trap?”

“I don’t think so,” the 1st ALICE said, taking a step forward. “It looks completely fine. And the Guardians and Hell girl isn’t around – so it’s probably safe for us to play around.”

“The word ‘probably safe for us to play around’ is tingling in my head,” Oz said, making a disgusted face. They were already walking halfway the dungeon when they heard the strange but catchy tune again. This time, it was closer.

“Where could that be?” the 5th ALICE asked, looking around.

The 6th ALICE looked straight ahead. “What’s wrong?” the 4th ALICE asked. She pointed on one jail. The 4th ALICE followed and finally saw what was bothering with her.

“Over…here,” the 6th ALICE said softly. Everyone turned around and followed their gaze. They went in front of the jail. Everything was dark and they couldn’t see anything. But they were sure the singing came from there. It was as if the singer was hiding in the darkness.

The 1st ALICE touched the metal bars. “These bars won’t hold back enough.” Then she stepped back and put her hands on front. Just then a wave of water came in. When it already touched the metal bars, it quickly turned into ice. Then the 1st ALICE closed her fists, and the icicle broke, breaking the metal bars as well.

They went inside and heard the singing voice stopped. “Who…are you?” a voice asked. “We’re just travelers. Come out and let us see your true identity,” the 4th ALICE commanded.