Searching For Andromeda

"Then . . ." Samuel breathlessly whispered. "Then they died because of that guy?"

"The man who unleashed the anomalies is unknown to me, the guardian. I do not meddle with your affairs, because it is not my duty." The guardian a.s.serted. "But I do know that the man who unbridled those anomalies meant to ruin the flow of fate."

Samuel clenched his fist. Were they being targeted? Or is that person after Yael and the others? Samuel didn"t know the answer. He barely knew the party, but then all the time he spent with them resonated inside his mind like a bugging memory he knew for long. 

"Why are you telling me this?"

The dragon gave no answer. 

"Answer me. Why do you have to tell me about those anomalies and whatnots?" Samuel clenched his jaw. "Why?!"

The guardian slithered its way towards Samuel.

"It is to let you know, Youngling, that evil does exist." The dragon grumbled. "Evil is what makes the flow of fate divert from the right path. Evil brings death, Youngling."

Fate. That feeble word. "What does have to do with me?"

The dragon narrowed his constricting eyes. 

"You hold the group in high regard, Youngling." Said the dragon. "The embers on your heart will die with them if I let you succ.u.mb in grief and self-blame,"

"I"m perfectly fine!" Samuel exclaimed, clenching his fist. "Do you honestly think that I"m blaming myself? Do you think I—"

"I do not think, Youngling; I know." The dragon solemnly clarifies. "I am watching all of you. I watched how that man used the anomalies to manipulate your comrades" deaths."

Samuel lowered his gaze, hearing the screams of everyone else whilst he was unable to do anything. His nails dug onto his palms to the point of his skin almost bleeding from the pressure.

"But it isn"t all for naught," said the guardian. "Because the fire within you still lives on."

Samuel listened to the dragon as he articulated the matters concerning the word fate; how every creature was bound to it even before being born. But there is something at opposes fate. And that is evil.

Evil refuses to be governed by fate and then acts as an intercession to stray the creatures on a different path. The guardian said that Wahid coexisted with evil for a long time, but it only grew in the shadows of His creation. A soundless whisperer that coerces them to their doom. 

"But the man who unleashed the anomalies," said the guardian. "His fate was shrouded in umbrae. The fire in his heart was as dark as night—yet he is Wahid"s creation and a human like you."

Samuel asked again if the guardian could describe the man at least, so they would get the basic grasp on who their proprietor would be.

"This guardian will not answer any more of your queries," said the dragon as he slithered away from Samuel. "HE had stepped inside Nar"s chambers. Now I must fulfill my duty."

"Wait—"

"You have done well, leave it all to fate—Youngling." 

Cushioning Samuel"s fall was a mountain of golden coins.

"What the h.e.l.l."

**

Ephraim"s surprised expression was enough for Samuel to conclude that the dragon did not tell Ephraim about the anomalies being unleashed by this evil guy. They talked for four hours in the guild master"s house. However, the majority was that it was Ephraim and Shey Ramgold talking. Samuel, after telling his part of the story, proceeded to shut his mouth tight.

The guardian"s words were still ringing in his mind. "Fate," that shallow word. "Evil" "Good" "Anomalies"—Samuel couldn"t keep track of them. 

"I"m going to bed."

He bid the two goodnight. It was too much for him to take. After all, they were transported to another world. Straight to a dungeon, at that. It reminded him too much of Isekai novels, except this wasn"t a pleasant experience at all. He watched people die. He barely survived. Three people in his group are missing. What more could happen, really?

After Samuel climbed upstairs, he opened the door to his room and shut it tight. He leaned his back to the door, and then slowly sat down to the floorboards. 

"Bert . . ." 

Berthold was his only family—and they were supposed to unplug Samantha"s life support after they accomplish the mission given by UHE"s president. Samuel sighed. Why did he have to accept the job? Is it because it inflated his ego? Given a job by one of the bigshots was an honor, after all. And Samuel was a sucker for all glories.

"Shorty, Ninja Guy, Bert." Samuel"s shoulders were slumped, and he was looking down at the planks on the floor. "I hope you guys are okay." He whispered.

The whole room was pleasant enough, not too fancy and not too worn-out. It was what you can call average, given this world"s technological advancements. There wasn"t electricity, only torches, and candlelit lamps. Samuel sat by the mattress. They were given fresh, new clothes by the guild master. It was easy to acquire, given the fact that just outside was a street jam-packed with all the things you could see in a typical Isekai world.

Samuel didn"t like fiction at all, but he knew these genres. They were popular now in his generation, and he bet they would be the norm for many generations to come. As Samuel lied to the bed and closed his eyes as preparation to a deep slumber, he found himself waking up shortly.

He couldn"t sleep.

He was exhausted, but there were just too many things keeping him awake. 

And so, Samuel rose and ambled downstairs to join Ephraim and Shey"s conversation again.

Only to arrive at a particularly bad time.

"I"m guessing you two will go on a journey?"

Samuel stepped away to hide to one of the pillars. He then peered to the two people talking just below him.

"We"re thinking of going to Sembilica where the Boundary Crossers might be located," said Ephraim, pointing to a large country by the map laid onto the table. "But before that . . . I,"

Samuel felt a shiver run down his spine with Ephraim"s words. ". . . I have something to fulfill."

"Something to fulfill?"

Ephraim took a deep breath, whilst Samuel"s own breathing hitched.

"Yael"s last wish." He said. "A mission he had given me before he sacrificed himself for my escape."

Samuel clutched the hem of his shirt as he lowered his gaze, listening to their conversation. The ringing in his mind was getting louder and louder. "Fate" "Anomalies" "Evil" . . . 

""Save Patriargë", "With your power, you can save those children."," 

"Yael"s last words . . ." 

"I will go to Patriargë." Ephraim said with determined eyes. "I will save the fallen country Yael and the others died to protect."

"—but," 

"But"? Samuel repeated in his mind.

"But I don"t want to drag Samuel further to this. He"s just seventeen. Even if he"s smart, I know he"s still a child. He"s underage. In fact, I don"t even know how he was a.s.signed to a task force considering the laws." Ephraim said in a matter of factly. "I was thinking of letting him stay here with you. I know you just met us today, but I don"t know any other—"

Samuel couldn"t hold it in any longer. With loud stomps to the stairs, he stormed towards Ephraim and then propelling his right arm forward—he balled his hand to a fist and punched Ephraim straight to the face.

Ephraim stumbled down, falling to the floor with a loud thump. 

Holding his cheek bruised from Samuel"s punch, Ephraim blinked several times in sheer surprise.

"S-sam . . . ?"

Samuel let out a desiccated laugh. ". . . What the h.e.l.l. I thought you"re lame, but I didn"t expect you to be THIS lame." 

"Samuel . . ." Shey mumbled.

Samuel"s fingers trembled as they slowly unfurl.

"Really. Ephraim." Samuel emitted. "You plan to go to this mighty quest and you want the glory all to yourself."

Ephraim"s brow furrowed into a deep scowl. "What are you saying? It"s not like—"

"Yes, h.e.l.l it is!" Samuel yelled. "You want to make up for the death of Yael and the others, so you want to shoulder this on your own. You want their sacrifice to mean something, so you"re going on your own. You want to go to that forsaken country even when you know nothing about it at all. AND THEN, you want to protect me because I"m a kid and I"ll probably get in your way,"

"Sam—"

"Flash news, lame leader. That is what YOU want," said Samuel, his electric-blue eyes blazing. "I don"t want that. I . . . I don"t want to be stuck here, waiting. Waiting for someone to save me. To save Bert and the others. To let other people do things for ME."

Ephraim watched Samuel perch to the floor, leveling him a meter away. Samuel wasn"t meeting Ephraim"s eyes, but Ephraim knew they were filled with remorse.

"You"re not the only one, Ephraim." Samuel addressed. "You"re not the only one who wants to save the country Yael and the others died protecting."

Ephraim"s expression gradually softened as he lowered his head as well.

"So . . . I won"t give a d.a.m.n to whatever YOU want," Samuel said. "Don"t just go around deciding things for me."

Ephraim could only sigh.

"It"s not like I can argue with you, anyway."

"Yeah."

Shey found herself smiling as she watches Ephraim rise up and then extending his arm to Samuel, helping him stand up as well. 

"Look; Yael, Hosea, Pelmon, Arletha, Vashti," Shey closed her eyes as a tear poured in her left eye whilst her lips curved into a smile. 

"This is the fruit of your bravery and sacrifice. . ." Shey opened her eyes and then walked towards Ephraim and Sam, patting their head.

"Now then," Shey said. "How about you two sleep now? We can resume the discussion tomorrow. Besides, you two have a country to save, after all!"

"You five . . . sacrificed yourselves to save the life of two young men." 

"Good night, Shey. We"re sorry about that." Ephraim said. Samuel seconded with a lowered gaze.

"Good night. Take plenty of rest."

Shey smiled at the two who then proceeded to climb upstairs. She watched them go as she sat on the table, glancing at the map of Patriargë laid atop the table. 

"And they will save many lives as well." 

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