"I found it an optimum decision. I thought of flying but this feels better. A free ride."
Said Jaran, astride a giant wolf. There were two wolves galloping on the track.
Joseph and Amani rode the other one. There was a shy smile on Joseph's face with a titter. There was nothing on his face to respond to.
Seeing this, Jaran understood the befuddled Joseph, who found no right word to put forward.
"It generally takes time; once you get accustomed to this new world. This hesitation will vanish."
It all takes time. Joseph thought, I wonder how far others have reached.
Joseph held a lighter in his hand, while others he kept in his pocket.
"What's that?" asked Amani, pointing ahead for her.
Joseph checked the map and confirmed It was the blue dot. However, he wasn't pleased.
He had heard from Maya there will be a place they will have to enter. There's no flying over it, nor going around the place. Both options were impossible; they didn't know why but they were.
Entering the city was ineluctable.
Inwardly, Joseph sighed.
[Watcher 'Golden Crown Prince" is telling his vessel to be cautious.]
[Watcher 'Eye That Holds a Grudge' is telling vessel to go crazy.]
Thank you for your concern. Joseph felt the sincerity in the watcher's worrying.
However, that can't be said for Jaran's watcher.
The city, which could barely be discerned, was soon visible to a great degree. It was small and didn't have any edifice. With muddy cubic houses.
At the end of the city was a raised area with one side sloping and the other end down to dead. At the top, flat surface, was a mansion with a dreadful feeling emitted from it.
They stood at the entrance.
"I have nothing against going in but there's a feeling we might not get out of there." Said Jaran.
Joseph glanced at him. regardless of whether they are having bad feelings or not. They had to enter the city and get out of it.
"It wouldn't be bad," Joseph said.
All we must do is get out; it won't be that bad.
"We will be safe, right?" Amani asked.
Joseph formed a forceful smile and looked down at the girl, stroking her head gently.
"We will be; you have me and Uncle Jaran. There's nothing to worry about; besides, you're a strong girl, right?"
Amani nodded, furling her fingers into fists and her determination sparkled in her eyes.
"I'm strong."
The cuteness of the girl made Joseph smile; however, this fleeting smile vanished before the dreadful city.
Slowly, they walked into the city. Their cautious eyes took glimpses of the house around them.
The strange and eerie shadows in the small valley between the houses send chills down the trio's spines.
Joseph gulped down the saliva and mustered the courage to gaze longer at the valley.
"There's nothing unusual I find." Said Jaran.
[Watcher 'Eye that Holds a Grudge' is disappointed.]
"Could it be that the little guy's words are true?" said Joseph.
That was a possibility; maybe he was right. if he were. Author would have told them about it.
"Author called them mischievous beings and amoral. They can't sit well without lying." Jaran said.
Joseph bobbed his head up and down, agreeing to what Jaran had said.
Just then there was the sound of faint steps coming from their left side. Their heads swiveled to the left, minds sharp and guarded.
"What was that?" asked Jaran.
He soared into the sky to get a better view of the potential danger lurking near them. But as he reached a little higher from the ground, he crashed into an invisible wall and plunged down to the ground.
Joseph and Amani came running.
"You alright?"