Journeying to the east, in search of a dead man

Zain was feeling so uneasy as she was still around the temple. She went to the library and borrowed a few books, then she set out immediately for home. The temple wasn't safe for her to be in. She wondered how her father would react, seeing her home so early. It was quite unusual for her to be home from the temple, that early. She knew he would ask her some questions about her quick arrival from the library, but she had already cooked up suitable answers to any of his possible questions. On getting to the house, she proceeded to her laboratory which was downstairs. She didn't want to take the front door, so she went in through her sneak passage; her lab door. Getting inside the lab, she met waiting for her, Alec and Tobin. She was so surprised to see both of them in her house, most surprised to see Tobin.

"Alec, Tobin, you're at my lab," she exclaimed in astonishment, as she entered and saw them there.

"Sorry for our break-in," said Alec jokingly, "Actually you left the door open," he added.

"Yeah clumsy me, I always forget to keep it locked," she said to Alec.

"These days you've got to be more security conscious, you never know who walks in that door next time," said Alec.

"Zain it's been so long since we've actually met like this, how have you been all these while?" asked Tobin.

"Right... uh... I've been good, just returning from the temple now," replied Zain, with a nervous stutter.

She had been avoiding making eye with Tobin.

"Already?" asked Tobin.

"So Alec, what brings you both here after all this while?" she asked Alec, pretending not to have heard Tobin's question.

"Actually, it wasn't my idea to visit you today, I just escorted someone," said Alec.

Zain knew all along that it must've been Tobin's idea to visit her, but she was wondering what he'd come for. Tobin on the other hand was lost for words on what to tell Zain. He wondered how he would apologize to her, and even if he does, what her reaction would be. Zain was staring at him now, waiting for him to speak. Alec gave him a slight shoulder tackle, signaling him to speak. After a short period of silence, he finally spoke.

"Zain I know you are wondering why I just showed up, out of the blue, at your place," he said.

There was silence now, they were all silent now, waiting to hear what Tobin had to say. He continued,

"We haven't been close as we used to be before, and that's my fault. I know you must be very angry with me, but I've just come to ask a little favor from you, and it's for the renewal of the close relationship we used to have as a unit before I messed up," said Tobin.

"Tobin I don't understand what you're saying right now, who said I'm angry with you?" asked Zain, in a more puzzled state.

"So you're not mad at him?" asked Alec.

Zain shrugged.

"Wait, aren't you mad at me for what I did?" asked Tobin.

"What you did?" she asked, "I mean, what exactly have you done to me, that warrants being angry with you?".

"But I... I made you do what you shouldn't have done, I made you betray your best friend," said Tobin.

"Tobin you're not to be blamed for that, I was the one who made you do what you did, I consciously gave you the chance to do it, so I'm the one who should be blamed," she said.

Tobin was surprised to hear this from Zain. He thought she would display her anger towards him, but instead, she blamed herself instead of him.

"But you wouldn't even look at me, let alone talk to me, you even stopped coming to my place," said Tobin.

"Tobin it's not like I have been keeping some kind of malice with you, I just wanted to keep my distance so that what happened between us wouldn't repeat. I didn't want to hurt Zelta again," said Zain.

Tobin was in complete disbelief to hear this from Zain. He was glad though, that she wasn't even angry with him.

"Since you're not even mad at me, that means I'm forgiven," he said.

"Yes Tobin, I forgive you any way you may have wronged me but have to ask you something, and I need you to be honest," she said.

"What is it that you want to ask me?" asked Tobin.

Zain signaled to Alec that she needed privacy with Tobin, so he went outside.

"Tobin it's about that kiss that day," she said.

Tobin was quite confused.

"I'm sorry, It wouldn't happen ag..." he said.

"I don't mean that. I just want to ask, was it true, or were you just trying to take advantage of me, of my vulnerability?" asked Zain.

Tobin was silent now. He didn't know how he was to reply to the question she was asking him. There was no response from Tobin.

"You're not answering me, Tobin, just look me in the eyes and tell me," she said, "Trust me I'll understand," added.

There was no response from Tobin, who fixed his eyes on the ground. Tears were already starting to cloud Zain's eyes.

"Tobin you're keeping me waiting, answer the question please," she said, with a cracked voice.

"Zain I... I just can't answer your question, not now I need to go rescue my parents from the hands of De voe. I want to make sure the unit is united again before going on this suicide mission, and answering this question may not let that happen," he answered.

"You never told me your parents were taken by De voe," she said.

"I couldn't tell you, and you couldn't ask," said Tobin.

"I'm so sorry," she said.

"It's okay Zain, I understand," he said, "I just want you to escort me to the block chamber, so I can apologize to Zelta before going on the mission. And I promise, if I make it back alive I will make sure to answer any number of questions you have for me".

"There's no if Tobin, I'm sure you'll make it back alive, cus you're the ideal survivor," she said, "Let's go get your girl," she added.

Zain left the house with Alec and Tobin, to visit Zelta at the block chamber of the temple. This was like re-entering a pan of boiling oil, but she couldn't help but, thread along.

O'Neil had been so restless ever since his daughter; Iris got missing. Isabel has said earlier that she saw the men who were likely to be De voe's men take their daughter away the day they set their house up in flames. O'Neil had been going to the palace, day after day, asking and begging De voe to set his daughter free, but he had constantly denied it not to be his men who kidnapped Iris, threatening to kill Isabel if O'Neil continues to ask him about Iris; his daughter, and offering to help in the finding of his daughter, if only he would agree to join him in his ruthless rulership. O'Neil went no more to the palace after this. O'Neil further set out on a mysterious journey, to pay a visit to the great master of magic, Ivor the white sorcerer, the master of the mystic arts. It was a very long journey ahead, but O'Neil endured it, being desperate to get solutions. It was said that Ivor lived in the far eastern part of the realm, an almost desertified patched land, with no neighboring inhabitants. No one dared to go to the east, maybe due to the burning heat there, or maybe due to fear for Ivan, the white sorcerer, who was already shrinking old. There were some rumors that the sorcerer had been alive for over ten centuries past, and was still alive and healthy presently, while others believed that he was dead. Isabel begged her husband never to go looking for a dead man in the east. She knew how dangerous it would be, going out on his own, to journey through the burning desert of the east, but O'Neil paid no attention to her cries, he was so desperate for answers.

O'Neil journeyed for days on a Carmel, towards the east. He had with him, a large quantity of water and bread for the journey ahead. The deeper they went, the hotter it got, and the weaker he and the Carmel became. At night, he and the Carmel would stop to rest, then continue the following morning. He had with him, a tent, which he used for shelter. O'Neil went deeper and deeper, he rode for days, without any sight of a house, or a person. The desert was just wide and endless. As days slowly passed, their food reduced, and their water also. The Carmel developed sore knees due to the long journey, so he decided to load the tent and the food on its back, and walk along on foot. As they went, he couldn't endure the heat, and his legs pained badly. He climbed up again to the back of the Carmel, continuing the journey. At a point, the Carmel fell to its knees, refusing to move further. He tried all he could, but it wouldn't move. He ended up giving it all the remaining water, but it still wouldn't come. Instead, it got back on its feet, turned around, and headed backward. O'Neil dragged it, but it wouldn't stop, it insisted on going back. As he dragged, it increased its speed, and eventually began running. O'Neil chased after it, but at a point, he couldn't catch up with it. It ran away.

"How disloyal," he muttered, breathing heavily.

It was now that he realized that he had left the remaining bread, and the little water the Carmel remained, on the back of the Carmel. Looking back, the animal was already far out of sight.

"Oh no," he muttered, "I'm doomed".