Doubt

Rihan's expression immediately changed drastically when Raphael Andra Waldermar intercepted him in the middle of the road. He reflexively exhaled annoyed and decided to ignore Andra. Right now he didn't want to see him nor his two other friends.

"Wait! No matter what, today you must come with us!" Andra held Rihan's shoulder firmly. Don't want to let him go.

"I do not want!" Rihan shook Andra's hand roughly. He stepped back but again Andra held him.

"Sorry. But I have to do it." Andra hit Rihan's neck in instant which make that man fainted.

Gina rushed out from a car that parked on the side of the road. She helped Andra lift Rihan to inside and of course tied both Rihan's hands and feet.

"I hope Alvi not angry." Andra commented when he glanced at Alvi which sleeping on the back seat.

"It's for her own sake. In future, there will be more and more enemies. Alvi must fight, and in order to fight back, she needs the nullified power stone," Gina replied.

The black SUV started leaving Yi Lu towards Alice Nebula. The distance is quite long and must take around 5 to 6 hours to be arrived. Maybe it could be faster since Andra speeding up.

"For her sake, you guys are just too desperate." Rihan's words disturbed the silence of the car.

"Sorry." Andra apologize sincerely.

Rihan fixes his sitting position and rubbed his wrists alternately.

"You—" For a moment Andra lost his focus on the road. His eyes repeatedly stole a glance at Rihan's hands that should have been tied behind the back. How could he untie the knot? Andra curious.

"Calm down. I won't run or do anything." Rihan was busy untying his legs. He was well aware, running or make sudden attack was a futile act which could harm their life. So why stay stubborn?

Hearing those words, Andra feel a bit relieved and now he can rest assured while focus on driving.

"Waldermar, does she always like this whenever she uses her flames?" Rihan wondering.

"Not always. Alvi can freely using the deadly fire with a note that the Corrosive power can be suppressed. So far the only thing that suppresses is the stone that holds the nullified power." Andre answered.

"How scary is that Corrosive?" asked Rihan again.

"Corrosive is a double-edged power. It can kill enemies in instant, but can also take the user's life. Dad—I mean, the current Dragon King forbid Alvi to use that power." Andre replied.

"Then why not just seal it away?" Rihan begins to use his interrogation skills to find out more.

"We've done it before. But the day after, Alvi had a high fever for a whole week and there was no sign of recovering. Strangely, when the seal was undone, the fever went down in just one night." Andra explained patiently.

"Troublesome," Rihan commented subconsciously.

"As long as those fear stay in Alvi's heart, then she will not be able to conquer the Corrosive power. That trauma… it's hard to overcome." Andra said.

The car finally got into Alice Nebula and straightly rushed into the headquarter; the Nebula Tower. The tallest skyscraper in entire Beta Urora which said that there is a human-made dimensional space that provides a wide arena for competition and can accommodate up to thousands of spectators.

Andra, Gina and Rihan both got out of the car. "I will take him to Sasha's place," Andra said to Gina.

"Then I'll take Alvi to the hospital." Gina moved to take over the driver seat.

The main lobby of Nebula Tower was emptier than Rihan expected. Apart from one receptionist and two security guards, there was hardly anyone in sight. Andra took Rihan to the elevator and they went up to the 53rd floor.

The cubicle doors seemed to face each other as the elevator doors opened. Weird, Nebula Tower should be an office building. But why does Rihan feel more like inside an apartment rather than an office?

They walked across the single hallway corridor until Andra knocked on the very last door three times. Without waiting for an answer, he immediately opened the door as if the knock just now was a mere formality.

"Three months… Faster than I thought, Waldermar," Sasha chimed when she saw Andra take Rihan into a small 3x3 room.

Sasha Muller is a friendly woman with large round thin frame glasses. Her appearance and the crystal ball between her hands made anyone think she was a fortune teller, a seer or something similar.

"If any longer, I afraid there will be casualties," replied Andra with a faint smile on his lips.

"Thanks for your hard work. Don't forget to write a report to your supervisor," said Sasha reminding.

"Thank you. Then I will leave Daniel in your care." Andra gave a short bow before leaving the room.

After that Sasha Muller turned to Rihan. She carefully inspect the man in front, and again, the clothes that Rihan wears get a very negative impression. What's wrong with a bear's head T-shirt? Rihan not understand!

"Go ahead and filled this stone with your nullified power." Sasha said while handing something like a white pebble.

"The method?" Rihan asked in confused.

"The theory is to transfer the energy within you to the object in your hand. You can find out the rest by yourself." Sasha returned to focus on the crystal ball in front of her. She completely ignored Rihan who was still full of questions.

Minutes turned to hours and Rihan was still struggling with the pebbles in his hands. Nothing has changed from the pebble except its surface which is already wet with Rihan's sweat.

"Sasha, an hour ago I received a report from the team at the ruins of Samsara's Fortress. Can you trace the whereabouts of these people?" Someone suddenly walked in and handed over a large brown envelope.

A man. His appearance is very pleasing to the eyes with a reddish brown hair color and is about the same age as Rihan. The uniform of Nebula Tower officer with combination of white shirt and special suits for the elite team perfecting his entire looks.

"Oh, this is the person Andra found?" he asked and turning to Rihan.

"Yes. It's a shame that nullified fell into the hand of an uncharismatic person like him. I hope he was at least a bit dignified like you, Julius," said Sasha very honest.

That woman words pierced Rihan's pride.

Julius chuckled. "Sasha, don't judge a book by its cover. You can judge me however you like. But don't hurt this little friend's feelings." Julius patted Rihan's shoulder while continuing to laugh.

"Yeah, I hope the contents are hundred times better than the cover." Sasha replied while opened the envelope which she had just received.

"Well, I also think it's ugly. The bear head T-shirt doesn't suit you, my friend." Julius laughing nonstop.

"If you already find the missing team, please put the results on my desk. I want to visit Alvi for a moment. And you…" Julius landed his gaze on Rihan for second time. His azure blue eyes met Rihan's dark brown eyes in an instant.

"Good luck, okay?" Julius patted Rihan's shoulder twice before walking out at a brisk pace.

Rihan's eyes followed Julius' back until the man's shadow disappeared behind the door.

"If this stone is full, can I leave straight away?" Rihan suddenly asked Sasha.

"Yes, of course you can." Sasha nodded without a second thought.

In a blink of eye, the air in this entire 3x3 room turned breezy. The image on the tracking crystal ball in front of Sasha suddenly flickered and blurry for a split second before returning to normal. The small pebble that was originally white have now turned into bright orange and are lying on the table.

"I'm leaving now. Thank you for your care." Rihan said in hurried tone before exiting the door at full speed.

*****

The elevator doors closed with 2 men inside. The destination is the ground floor of Nebula Tower while the number on the elevator screen started to countdown from 53.

"Rihan Daniel, what are you doing to make a living?" Julius Aditya Kane asked with a deadpan expression on his face.

"Detective, but more likely information gathering." Rihan answered the trite question.

"Detective huh… really suit you," Julius commented with his shoulders starting to shake.

Rihan noticed the strange behavior of the man beside him. Julius' hand seemed to be lifted over his mouth as if he was trying to hold back the laughter he had been holding in for so long.

"But… a bear head T-shirt… why did you have to choose such an outfit, my friend? This cute little bear really not suit you," said Julius, still holding back his laughter.

"Can you not comment on me? I still feel betrayed in my heart." Rihan replied with an annoyed tone.

Julius raised his head to look at Rihan. The laughter had subsided a bit. "What? You think I leaked your whereabouts?"

Rihan refused to answer.

"Sasha's crystal ball can track the trace of the people she wants to find. Not to the specifics of the residential address. But at least could give the city or province." Julius tried to defend himself. "But I thought your hideout would be found out sooner or later. Our people will come to get you, Daniel," he added.

"I'd be happier if you didn't bother me or dragging me to any of your trouble. Better let me stay in shadow," said Rihan from the bottom of his heart.

"Even though the one whose is looking for you is Alvi Veenessa Endley?" Julius' words sounded fishy.

Rihan smiled bitterly. "I don't know her and don't wish to know about her. The nullified stone is filled up and I'm leaving."

Julius smiled as the elevator doors opened again. On the elevator screen is written the letter G which means ground floor. "Are you that badly want to run and keep hiding for you entire life?" he asked as he stepped out of the elevator.

"I'm not stupid to expose myself and giving chance for them to come and cut my head, Julius," Rihan snapped with a face made as flat as possible so that people on the ground floor would not notice their close relationship.

"Yeah, yeah, I know you're not stupid. Strategy, analysis, planning, each of it is your specialty. You're genius and skillful. So there's nothing wrong if I hope that this genius Daniel will stop running and start to face the world. Challenging them like before," said Julius.

"What can I challenge now?" Rihan has lost all interest about matters happened in Beta Urora. He just wants to live a quite and solitude life without anyone knowing who he really is.

Julius stopped on the front porch of Nebula Tower. "Yourself," he said.