Atlan (2)

Atlan is built on a mountain at the bottom of the sea. Overall, the houses in here are neatly arranged and very homely along the body of the mountain. The road consists of sloping paths interspersed with stone steps. This place used to be a very esthetic. But now it seems like a burial ground.

Thick dark green moss wrapped on each of the building, and there was not a single living being that Rihan met during the journey to the top of Atlan. Not even light emanating from the windows of the houses.

Rihan arrives at what supposes to be a traditional market. Products and merchandises are simply abandoned at the stalls. Judging from the badly rotted food and the thick dust on the table, it could be concluded that this place had been neglected for a very long time. After that, Rihan glanced across the street. His eyes suddenly fixed on a small shop selling various masks. He grabbed a mask and examined the front and back carefully. The painting on the mask is a bit unique, seems to highlight the characteristics of certain inland tribes.

Rihan once again look through surrounding. "Is this place really uninhabited?" He considered his original plan while idly putting the mask on his face. After that he looked left and right as if playing with the mask.

"Maybe I should go to the top," thought Rihan rushing up the stairs without removing the tacky mask from his face.

*****

Contrary to the silence in Atlan. The Blue Labyrinth was starting to get tense. This time the situation was slightly reversed. In the past the Arinas desperately hunted every member of the Endleys, but now the Endleys came to their den by themselves.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa… look who's coming to our home?" Both Lady and Lycan welcome these unique guests. Their presence was quite surprising to the Dragons and Alvi Veenessa Endley. Didn't Lady and Lycan die during the attack on Tanah Agra?

"Don't be surprised. Our bodies have been given immunity to the fire of the dragons and the Deadly Black Flame. In other words—" Lycan didn't have time to finish his sentence because an arrow had shot through his face.

The hole in the Lycan's forehead slowly rejoined like water that could not be harmed by any physical attack. "Apparently even the most majestic ancient creature could commit such disgraceful acts." He sneered, glaring at Regina Waldermar.

"Fight me. Don't talk too much nonsense," challenged Gina.

Lycan didn't want to hold back any longer either. He immediately charged forward while Lady jumped backwards onto the labyrinth wall. A pipe-stringed instrument came out and the first note was strummed.

When Raka and Andra are holding Lycan, Alvi and Gina attack Lady. Of course, the instrument is not played arbitrarily. Not sure what will happen if they hear the tones for too long. Hence, Alvi must stop Lady immediately!

Lady always jumps back from one wall to another every time Alvi tries to approach her. His fingers continued to pluck the graceful soft notes without any intention of fight back.

Alvi knows Lady is buying time. But she is not giving up to keep on narrowing down the distance between them. Gina's arrows are also not as helpful as it should be since the vibrations produced by the strings of a pipe musical instrument are able to bounce the arrow.

"Rafl, please help them." Ririn realized the situation wasn't very good for them. Although 2 versus 4 and Lycan seemed to have been suppressed by Raka and Andra, the situation with Lady was a little worrisome.

They will literally lose if Lady's plan succeeds.

Rafl jumped out of the pot and climbed onto one of the walls of the labyrinth. Rafl's petals seemed to fully bloom together with fine powders that floated in the air of the Blue Labyrinth. When the powder touches the surface, a similar Raffle Flower grows just like that.

At first, these plants grew independently at random points in the Blue Labyrinth. Then little by little their roots intertwined with each other until a Rafl colony was created which controlled a quarter of the labyrinth.

The original Rafl, which considered as the parent, moves the long leaves to the left and right as if dancing happily to see its 'children' thrive. But the children still need a little more time to become adults.

On the other side, frozen flame smoldered for a moment as Raka's twin-sword slashed at Lycan's arm and shoulder. Another flame was also briefly seen when Andra swung the machete and attacked from the back side of the Lycan.

Lycan Horizon is too optimistic about his body-water. As a result, the fires left permanent cuts at all over his body. Damn, he finally understood why his father, Marc Horizon, spent years plotting to bring down Tanah Agra.

In the midst of unfocused thoughts, Lycan accidentally stepped on one of Rafl's child. Suddenly all the vines belonging to Rafl's colony stretched out and attack Lycan.

Even though Lycan's greatsword managed to cut the tendrils in front of him, he didn't manage to overcome the tendrils that attacked from behind and side. His waist and legs were instantly shackled by tendrils and his weapon was finally let out due to the increasingly of the coil. With the movement already restrained, Lycan had indirectly lost the fight.

The same thing happened to Lady. The woman also accidentally stepped on a Rafl's child. Her body fell down not far from the Lycan.

"Wait, wait, wait…." Indra Saka Horizon rushed out from his hiding and intercepted Gina, Andra, Raka and Alvi who were about to kill his half-brother.

"Ririn, and her friends… can you not kill them?" Indra begged in nonsense.

Gina, Andra, Raka and Alvi exchanged glances before the four of them threw all the decisions on Ririn. However, Arin Valka Endley was instead glued at her position and look to other direction with a shock look.

A spoiled roar sounded from the wall above Alvi's head. When Alvi looked up, Lily had jumped down and was trying to hug her in dramatic way. The snow leopard always looked excited whenever she met Alvi.

"Lily." Alvi complied with Lily's wish and hugged the big creature. Lily's fur felt soft and warm.

After being satisfied with the hug, Lily enthusiastically bit Alvi's shirt to where Ririn was standing. Alvi confusedly followed the will of the sweet snow leopard. After feeling close enough, Lily let go of her bite and started prancing around Ririn twice then walked towards the two middle-age women who just arrived.

Alvi followed the direction of Lily's movement trying to digest what she wanted to convey. But her eyes suddenly fell on Luna Endley's figure. Luna was also looking at Alvi with a thousands feelings that could not be described.

Luna Endley advanced step by step in slow. This time it didn't matter if words couldn't come out of her mouth. It doesn't matter if she looks weak and miserable. She just reaches out her hand and only needed one touch on the faces of her two daughters. Alvi Veenessa Endley and Arin Valka Endley… in her entire life Luna Endley never thought she would meet them again.

Luna lightly touched Alvi's cheek who was still frozen. With teary eyes and trembling mouth, Luna ventured to put a real touch on Alvi's cheek once again. This isn't a dream… She's not dreaming! Ever since separating from Alvi who is still 3 years old at that time, she really misses her eldest daughter. And now, everything seems to be back to normal. They finally meet and Luna was very grateful while immediately hugged her two daughters tightly.

"Alvi..." Raka didn't know whether the two women who came with Lily could be trusted or not. Gina and Andra also thought the same thing. The three of them prepared to go forward when they saw Rihan's sacred-weapon bracelet wrapped around Luna Endley's wrist.

They doubt and worried in confusion.

"That bracelet…?" Raka tried to ask for an explanation.

"We got it from a man named Rihan Daniel. He came with you guys, right? Friend?" Tiana Roselake in place of Luna answered.

Regina Waldermar and Rafael Andra Waldermar pretended not to know. Meanwhile, Raka was too annoyed to answer.

"What's the next step?" Andra especially asked Raka.

"Get out of here. Our goal has been achieved. There's no point in wasting time in here," replied Raka as he turned his sacred-weapon back into a ring.

"Th—Then what about your other friend?" What Indra means is Rihan.

Raka smiled wryly and replied. "Just leave him. He is not a child." Raka was clearly still angry with Rihan's self-act.

Indra and his mother, Tiana Roselake, looked at each other not fully understand. As far as they know, the bond between the Dragons is very tight even to those who are not blood-related. But what they are witnessing just now so contradictory?