The Human Path

Chapter 24: Rafiki

Suddenly Hope opened her eyes and looked at Koren with an apologetic gaze. She sighed "I'm sorry Koren, but we can't get the rest of that ore".

Koren was taken aback by Hopes words, it wasn't like Hope to say something like that, especially when she knew what was at stake.

"I don't understand big sis, why" Koren mumbled, anxious at the thought of breaking his promise to his friends.

Hope creased her brows, and thought hard about what she should say next. Koren was adamant at saving the villager's, she knew that if they could not find a way to charge the Armor, Koren would still go and fight with his life on the line.

She turned to Koren and spoke. "Koren, when I first saw that ore, I thought that it was just a small part of a larger piece, and according to the Kino's, I was right. However, it seems I severely underestimated the nature of the chaotic energy. How is it possible to have something filled to the brim with pure chaotic energy."

"The Kino's surveyed the underground tunnels and discovered a very, and I mean very, large cavern. As soon as the Kino entered that cavern, it was destroyed. However, it was linked with the other Kino's at the time, so everything it saw was transmitted and stored."

"What did it see, sis?" Koren asked, apprehensively.

"A Creature, a huge creature." Hope activated the hologram on Koren's display, and brought up the image the Kino transmitted.

Koren looked at the image dumbfoundedly, there was no doubt about it, the thick short legs and the heavy shell, this thing looked like a giant turtle.

"Do you see the crustacean on its carapace, the Kino detected chaos energy emanating from those. It's very likely that this is the ore we have been looking for."

Koren looked at hope, and her rueful gaze. He sighed and then spoke "Big sis, thank you for caring about me, but I have to do this. If this is the only way to help protect everyone, then I have no other choice."

Hope grimaced "You can't, that thing is bigger than a battle ship, a single breath from it would be enough to shatter the Armor and turn you into dust."

"I know." Koren admitted. "But I have to do this."

Hope could hear the resolve in Koren's tone, he was going to do this no matter what, and she knew that she would do everything to help him.

"If we are going to do this, then we do this my way Koren." Hope continued "All we need is for one of those crustaceans to fall off, that would provide us with enough power to solve the immediate crisis."

"Thank you Sis." Koren smiled, as his eyes turned misty. "for always being there for me."

"Well, I am kind of stuck with you, so I never really had a choice dummy." Hope said, light-heartedly. "Now here's the plan."

************

Andre was huddled behind a large dune on the outer ring of the Oasis. This distance was perfect, as his soldiers will be able to apprehend any scouts, and would have a clear view of any incoming ships.

Andre looked at his long spear, appreciating its sharp aura and its breathtaking beauty. He stroked the long spear and smiled, the spearhead was made from a dark obsidian metal, forged by the blacksmiths of the Roku Mountain, it was given to him by the 2nd Princess for his absolute loyalty.

"Stay where you are" Andre said as he heard someone approaching him from behind. He turned around to see one of the Squadron leaders under his command.

"Where is he" Andre asked, his strong aura causing havoc in the surrounding sands. "I wanted him brought before me, and yet you come here empty handed."