Fifteen Journey - Chapter 14

“Boys! What brings you here?” the enthusiastic servant asked.
Mike had to answer because Rick was seriously filling up his stomach.
“We…munch…hadn’t any food…munch…left and… Stop making so much noise Rick!”
Rick looked offended at Mike and started munching again, only followed by Horous.
“Well, 3 and 7, welcome to my hut! I suppose it isn’t as comfortable as the things you are used to…”
“Please!” Rick interrupted “Don’t say that! You can’t imagine the joy I had when I entered your hut!"
The old servant was emotional.
“So, where are you going now?” he asked.
“Well, just continue to go to where destiny leads us and see what we can find.” Mike answered because Rick and Horous were still eating.
“The problem is that this isn’t that simple. You know, you can choose between two paths, each of them leads you to a different opponent.”
The servant got all of Rick’s attention.
“Tell me the opponents there is.”
“Well, I guess I can tell you. For the left, you will find Number 11…”
“Number 11… Sloan Kriff.” Rick remembered.
“He has the Imepes art. This art is really old, but very efficacious. Sloan probably will be using every property of snakes, like the unpredictable moves as well as camouflage. His secret is to attack his enemy before the enemy notices that.” Mike said with a worried look “However, it is your decision if you want to battle him or not, since I’ve already lost… But I will always follow you, until the debt is paid!”
“We will be invincible with smarty pants on our side!”
“Rafff!” Horous agreed.
“Wait!” the servant replied “There is still another option!”
They all stopped.
“Say, please…” Rick begged.
“Well, I’m not really sure, but I heard rumours that say a player has built a castle for defence.”
“Come on, I can’t take the stress! Say it in one time!”
The servant sighed.
“I’m talking about Number 12…”
‘Cassey?’
Rick turned off. Cassey did not know yet that he was a Tourch player. What would be her reaction? How strong was she?
“What exactly is an astral transmission?” Rick asked when remembering the art’s giving day.
“Well, when a person dies, his body becomes useless but the soul is still alive. Even not being exactly the same, that soul can be used in order to create a so called astral transmission, with the same size as the person’s pureness. Which means…”
“…that Cassey must have chosen her father, not only because she misses him, but also because he must have been a great men.” Rick finished.
“It is horrible when siblings die, isn’t it?”
For the servant’s surprise, the youngsters’ reactions were completely different.
“My son died some years ago. This was the second death of my life. He and I were more than son and father, we were friends…”
Mike stood embarrassed and didn’t know what to say.
“After his death, I felt really depressed. When someone who you are used to see everyday, suddenly disappears from your life, you feel completely lost. You kids sometimes feel that when you’re in holidays after the course…”
“Yeah, but it isn’t the same thing.”
Mike, the servant and, eventually, Horous, they all turned to hear Rick.
“Our family is one of the most important thing to us. We lived with them, following the rules by them taxed. We learned what they knew and, somehow, we represent a continuation of their live. Thus, we represent a part of themselves as they represent a part to ourselves too. Losing a sibling isn't a piece of cake. But the only thing you can do is to look forward and continue your path to a better future and continue your life too.”
The other two were astonished with Rick’s speech.
“Let’s proceed, troops!”
Eventually, the other two woke up to reality.
“Which one is the right?”
“Well, you need to deliberate about that…”
“No,” Rick replied “What I want to know is the opponent we will find if we go to the right…”
“Number 12” the servant answered.
“We’ve got to go.”
“Now?! We just got here!”
“I have no time to lose. Thanks for your valuable contribution but we have got to leave.” Rick thanked while packing with food.
“Good luck boys!”
They waved to the old man as they were already in the path followed by the excited Horous. Eventually, the two options appeared.
“Which one are we taking?”
“This.” Rick pointed “This is the right way…”

Next Chapter:
Too powerful. Is hiding the solution?

Author’s Note:
I’m sorry. I now my onomatopoeias are awful, but I wasn’t really inspired to find decent onomatopoeias. Notice that Rick said that was the right, synonym of the best. Which player do you think we will find now? (evil grin)
I also know that this chapter is kind of lame but is really necessary. Don't dishope!
People, comment as always! (A lot of new characters are coming in later chapters!)