The Cursed Paradise (Edentia Online)

Chapter 12

"That's really delicious, thanks Iza" he licked his finger.

"No problem." I thumb up. "Sho, I think we should prepare..for the journey."

"What journey ?" I showed him the [Broken keys] piece. "Ah... that key, sorry almost forgot that. Well we should take rest first, and decided what we will do then." he said. We walked along crossed the field. As the eastern sky turned red.

[Sunset] time phase.

We reached the settlement of warriors, [Gemova] city with its wooden wall as the barrier. The statues stil stood proudly facing the sunset, few flower decorated the statue's base, many bench placed near the statues. Some player are sleeping on it, some are have a chat with their friends.

A narrow hallway with door on each side, we entered our room. The room has two beds, a desk is placed between, curtains hung above the bed. I lay on the bed, stared at the empty ceiling, slowy I closed my heavy eyes. Not long after I slept, I heard people walked out the room slowly, I abruptly waked up, Sho wasn't in the room. I opened the map menu, and searched for him. HIs current location pointer showed, the place when I used to met him. A notification message popped

[Broken keys] are taken from your inventory.

"Waht are he doing with this stuff ?" I grunted. Quickly I ran out from the inn. "I hope I'm not late." I ran trough the narrow streets, soon I saw a dead end, but Sho's was near there. "Where's he going ?" I starched my head. "Hmm is the map could be zoomed out ?" I moved my thumb and fore finger apart, the map picture became larger and visible now.

The map zoomed out, and I found a secret passage to a meeting room. The meeting room was small, obscurelly lighten with a lantern. Sho's handed the [Broken keys] piece passed it from the table, a man covered in black robe received it. The man observe the piece in his skinnny hand, he also removed the hoodie that covered his whole head. A shoulder black hair with brown streaks, his vile smile saw the [Broken keys] piece. I was shocked, then I didn't realised I stepped on the wooden floor, it leaved a creaking sound.

"Who's there ? show yourself !" Sho asked, and swinged his axe near the wooden plank where I'm hiding. I crossed my arms defended myself. The wooden plank destroyed in a blow, as the dust pieces gone his eyes opened wide. "Iza ? what are you doing here ?"

"I ask you first..what are you dong here ? And why do you give this guy that [Broken keys] piece ?"

A girl dreesed in red robe answered "As you see..Abeshouta is one of the howling wolf guild part, he's the right hand of Adam; the guild leader. Sho said that he found the key, and he want to trade it..for money" she played her forefinger to the table.

"Sho..why..why..are you lying to me ?" I shook my head. And snatched the [Broken keys] piece from Adam.

"Apology me miss, I knew you determined to do this. But, just be realistic from now. You can't do this, leave your path, before you're dead." Adam opened his palm, demanded me to give the [Broken keys] piece.

"Leave it to someone else" Sho said.

"Then what will I do now ?"

"Just kill your time for another thing.." the girl interrupted

"What do you mean ? if you keep on killing time, time will kill you..that's why I walked on this path."

"What could you do ? you're just a girl, alone, in this cursed paradise ? tell me what would you do ?" the girl asked me, her eyebrow raised many times. Her thin lips curved in smile.

"Finish the game." I opened my eyes wide facing her.

"Everyone want to get ouut this game too, miss" Adam shook his head, he almost laughed by my innosence answer.

"I..I don't know..I just..want to finish this, and released from this curse." I sighed.

"Okay, enough for this chat..how about we arranged a duel..and the price.." she took it from my hand. "This !" she raised it to the sky. "Adam, you may start now." she said.

"Ahh at last, a chalenge...facing a real player, not pixelized monsters." he let out a sword that formed an unicorn horn, like the palladin sword that the hacker have, but its more smaller in size. "Let me introduce myself.." I shocked when the weapon driped some blood on it. Is he the hacker, or just someone who imitates him ?

"No need." I shook my head, he smirked.

The [Health point] bar above my head changed into blue color, so does he. The dark meeting room became brighter with blue lights that dimly shone. A holographic barrier emerged, Sho and the girl steeped back. A blinking number showed above my head, It blinked from 10, and counting down to zero. The number vanished now, and we're both prepared or weapon.

Adam jumped and raised his sword, he aimed at me. I rolled to the left averted his attack. He landed and leaved a crack to the ground, a damageful skill technique from earthen element, but why that attack could be earned by knight ?. He swinged the sword to me once again, I tried to hold his attack, but I fell to the ground. His aura is strange, there are brown with black streak like a shadow.

"You scared of me ? heh.." he said. His hand punched me on the belly. "You're just agirl, and weak." he tried to punch me once more, but I hold his hand firm.

"I'm not scared, I know what will happen then," I get up and stand, seathed the sword. "Slicing style ! beaming sword !" red aura bathed from my hand and channeled into the sword, then it shoned brightly. I rushed to him. "I don't even scared at you !"

"Nice try miss," he smiled, then let out a crystal sphere. When the tip of my sword reached his chest, he dropped the crystal, a cloud of smoke twirled. "But, I don't wanna fight this time." he disappeared.

"See you next time." the girl then vanished from view. Sho's was left there. Luckily, the[Broken keys] piece left in the table. I took it then put it on the inventory.

[Morning] time phase.

"I'm sorry Iza, I can't live like this..I just want to enjoy this game." he face to the ground

"Then leave me.." I turned a last sight "alone" then I ran, chasing the sunrise.