Chương 22: The Misfit City. (Arc 3: Cursed — Begins)

(Arc 3: Cursed — Begins) Three figures stood in front of me, I had seen them before, they were bishops, who were back in Elderwilds. Back in those ruins, and somehow they were here. They stopped in front of me.

"So, you're the one who freed all of them." The older bishop said. I didn't say anything. Just looked around and saw everyone had bowed their heads, including Oren and Freya.

"The Archbishop wants to see you."

"Who is the archbishop? And why does he want to see me?" I asked. The older bishop stayed silent, he didn't reply for a moment. I thought I might have offended him by asking those questions directly. After surviving through everything my mind instantly thought, was this some kind of trap? Then he spoke.

"The Archbishop wants to thank you in person, for what you did for these people. We aspect your presence in the morning." Then all of them started walking away, before I could ask them anything else they were walking away and the people started surrounding me.

"Wow, the archbishop really wants to thank her in person, she is so lucky." A man said among the people.

"Well of course he wants to thank her, who wouldn't, after all she is our saviour." And the people cheered, louder. The celebration continued, people resumed dancing and singing while some ate their hearts out. Oren and Freya sat near me, I still had a lot of questions in my mind.

"Uhm… Oren, Freya…" They both turned their heads towards me.

"Is something the matter, dear? Is food okay? Or do you need more?" Freya said.

"No… No… I'm full. And the food was delicious, really." They both smiled.

"I'm glad you liked it."

"I was wondering, can I ask you some questions about those bishops and the archbishop?" A lot of questions were in my mind, ever since I saw them in Elderwilds my mind couldn't hep but think, there was more that meets the eye. I have to know what I am getting into. I'm fairly certain they know something about them that might be able to help me somehow.

"Yes, we'll be happy to answer any question you have." Oren said.

"You are new here… it's only natural that you don't know about them." Freya said.

"They aren't simple to explain. But we'll try." Oren said.

"So go ahead, ask. What is it you want to know?"

"Okay… Who are these bishops? And why was everyone bowing their heads to them?" They were silent for a second and looked at each other. Their eyes stared down to the ground.

"They were the reason we still survived." Oren said slowly.

"When this city was made we were living our lives like normal. But then one day — A few of our people died suddenly. And it all started spreading then." His voice got quieter.

"We didn't know why all of this was happening. We believed that it's a way of punishment that was given to us misfits by the divine. It's a curse that we misfits have to live with. Then, one day at midnight, the archbishop and the rest of the other bishops came along with him, they brought a hope to this curse that we live with. They brought the Holy water." Wait… Holy water. I had seen that before. Back in those ruins in Elderwilds. Those three bishops carried that Holy water through that sealed door.

The same door that wouldn't budge. Something shifted in my chest… Like two separate pieces were somehow connected, telling me the answer which I was looking for all this time was now in front of me. They know the way back to Elderwilds, maybe with their help I can bring Scar here…

"The Holy water saved many of our lives, it was a blessing that they came to this city. But soon after, he came. Drago."

"It was said, even the archbishop couldn't defeat him, he was a monster. We were all helpless against him."

"Then, you came… you saved me… saved us." He paused.

"You brought us our happiness, I wouldn't be surprised if the archbishop wants to reward you with something valuable. None of us were able to see the archbishop, only a select few were blessed with his presence. And you are now one of them." I see… so that's what happened, but something doesn't fit here, none of the people know what the archbishop looks like? Why? Is he hiding something from them? I still need to know more about this world, and the archbishop may have the answers that I am looking for.

"You said, there is a curse right? What is it?"

"We don't even know what the curse is, but we know that people die from the curse a nd the holy water saves them." They don't know about this, I am not a believer of the curse… but I was not a believer of magic and dinosaurs existence and The Log itself. When it comes to this world, I feel like anything is possible, but there could be a strong chance that it might be a disease that spreads among them. I could be wrong but I won't know until I see it with my own eyes.

The archbishop definitely knows something that these people do not. I must find out in detail.

"I think I'll go tomorrow to meet the archbishop."

"Oh… that's great that you are going, he is really a kind man. The people who had privilege to see him told us many stories about him." Freya said.

"But… there is one problem?" I said.

"Oh, what is it? I am sure we can help out however we can."

"Uhm... actually, I forget to ask where he lives, I don't know this city..." My voice lowered as I scratched my face, "and, uhmm... you see... I don't have a place to live." Freya stared at me as I kept fumbling with awkwardness, she softly chuckled and then patted my head gently, smiling. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

"You don't need to worry about that, you can stay with us… and we will take you to the archbishop."

"Oh, it's fine… I can live somewhere else like a hotel." An expression of confusion suddenly appeared on their face, as they tilted their head sideway.

"A hotel? — What's a hotel?" Suddenly I realised, as I looked their faces all confused. Oh crap, I forgot this world doesn't have hotels and it's an ancient era. Quick I need to think of something to explain myself here.

"Uhm… from the place I come from, we have places which were created for travellers, which were called hotel. So, if there is some kind of place similar to this, I would go live there temporarily." The look on her face changed fro confusion to sadness.

"Why, do you not want to live with us?" Freya said.

"We are misfits but this is the best we could offer you." Oh damn, It came out all wrong, now she thinks I am trying to avoid them cause they are called misfit, but thats not the case. I just didn't want to impose on them.

"No… No, it's not like that, I think you misunderstood, I just thought that it would be a burden on you." As she listen to the words he face changed again, s he smiled gently.

"You're not a burden dear, you will never be a burden to us. But if you do want to live separately, we understand it completely. But, until you find a place to live you can live with us. That's the least we could do." It's true, I don't have a place to live, maybe I could live with them for a few days until I find some place to live.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, dear don't worry."

"Thank you so much." Both smiled.

"Okay, so when you are finished eating all of that, we could go." Oren said.

"Oh no no... I am completely full. I couldn't eat anymore. People are celebrating its better we leave it here and let them enjoy." Both nodded. And so I left it there, I had no capacity to eat even a one bite of that, how these people were eating it and surviving with this food was actually surprising. Shortly, the celebration ended and people started heading towards their homes.

"Come, let's go." Freya said. I reached their home, it was a sturdy layer of mud bricks. I traced my fingers on the surface, the walls were uneven. It felt cold, and dust particles settled in my hand and covered entirely with mud instantly. I gazed in every direction, the houses looked the same everywhere. This was an ancient era, this is how they all lived. I wouldn't be surprised if there were even more surprises waiting at the moment.

"Please come inside." I nodded and entered inside through a wooden door, not polished, rough on the surface.

"You can stay in my daughter's room." Freya said.

"No… No, it's fine…" Freya raised her index finger and waved it side ways.

"Nova, don't forget you are like my daughter. And I won't let you sleep just anywhere. Besides, she hasn't arrived from her adventure." This wasn't something I was expecting it to go. I smiled awkwardly, she came behind me and started pushing me towards her daughter's room.

"There is no need I can manage."

"No, no... you will listen to what I say and rest here. Am I clear." Her words didn't felt like she was treating me as a guest, the tone of her voice felt like she was scolding me.

"Now don't you move and get some sleep, we will wake you up when the time to meet the archbishop comes." It felt like I was being grounded in a weird way. She walked out and closed the door. I looked around the room,"Well, it's not fancy… but I couldn't complain, it's better than sleeping under no roof." As I laid there, my muscle started to feel a sensation of relief, like when you lay after standing for a whole day. within just a minutes, my eyes started to close and then I slept like a log…

morning came and Freya woke me up.

"Nova…" she called my name again.

"Nova…" Her voice made me feel like my mom was waking me up.

"Mom…" Then my eyes opened slowly, it was blurry. Then it opened and Freya was there, smiling. It reminded me that I was here on this planet and this was my reality. Then later, they offered me meat for breakfast, the taste from yesterday still lingered in my mouth. So, I made up an excuse and avoided it…

"I think I might be late… I'll eat later." And I started walking out. That's the kind of excuse I used to give when I was leaving for my school.

"Wait, let me take you there." Oren said.

"No, it's fine I can find it on my own. I'll ask around, it wouldn't be a problem."

"Okay, if you say so." He replied. As I walked down the street, I saw people had resumed their lives like before. Some gave me a polite nod, I don't remember any of their faces but I nodded back politely. I gazed in every direction as I strolled down the path. The streets were lively.

"Take some high quality woods… for some fruits."

"Fresh meat… fresh meat come trade for anything." Trade? Wait, this city doesn't have currency? I looked around and people were exchanging their goods for whatever they needed, it was a barter system. I had never expected that the currency hadn't been invented. It took me by surprise. As I kept walking in the street looking around in my surrounding, I accidentally bumped into someone. It was a young boy, alone.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, are you okay…" He looked at me and didn't say anything. I extended my hands towards him but he kept staring and didn't move a muscle. I crouched down to him, he looked hesitant.

"Hey, hey... it's okay — I'm not going to hurt you." I smiled at him and offered him my hand again. This time he held my hand and stood up.

"What's your name?"

"Ilja" he spoke softly.

"You have a wonderful name, Ilja. By any chance are you lost?" He simply nodded no.

"I was going to the ruins." Ruins? Does he mean that there are ruins here as well, what if they are dangerous?

"Ruins? Are there ruins in the city?" He nodded yes.

"That's where the archbishop lives." He said.

"Hey, I'm going there as well. Could you take me there?"

"Okay, follow me." He walke ahead of me, I had no idea why he was going there all alone. So I walked alongside him and asked him.

"Why are you going to the ruins, Ilja?" He paused for a moment then said.

"I work there." This kid works there at his age. Why? Shouldn't his parents take care of him?

"Why do you work there, Ilja?"

"I have to work there for my mother." His voice got quieter and eyes were heavy like he was carrying some grief within him.

"She is cursed." The curse, it was real and it existed. I didn't believe it at first, but his words and the way he spoke… I knew he wasn't lying.

"I work there to get Holy water for my mother."

"So what is this curse, do you know anything?" He nodded no.

"I don't know what it is but the bishop told me, she can't move too much or go out because of the curse. And if she does she will die. I only know this that t he Holy water is what gives her the strength to live."

"I see, that must be very hard for you. Where is your father, does he also work at ruins?"

"My father, he left us." He said quietly.

"He left us to work for him, he wasn't alone, many of them from the city were working for him." He is talking about Drago. I'm certain.

"But he must be here right? Everyone who was gone came back. Y esterday I was waiting for him… Everyone came back but my father was the only one who never came back." How is that possible? Everyone came back to the city… all sixty one — Wait there were sixty two of them and Drago killed one of them, was he the father of this kid?

"We are here." He said loudly. I stood before the entrance of the ruins where The Archbishop lived. It wasn't the same ruins as what I saw in Elderwilds. It was bigger than anything I expected. The walls were covered with strange symbols, there were no vines covering the ruins, it was clean and massive. The bishops surrounded the ruins and two guards stood at the arch shaped entrance of the ruins.

"I must get going. Thank you lady for helping me out earlier." I crouched down, smiling and patted his head.

"You don't need to thank me and you can call me Nova. Okay." He nodded yes.

"Wait, before you go. If you ever need someone to help you, just remember you can always come to me, Okay."

"Really, you would help me." His eyes widened with surprise.

"Yes, you can think of me as your big sister, okay."

"Okay." He smiled and ran to the place where all the workers were working. Just left to the ruins. I stood up and stretched my arms as knuckles cracked.

"Okay… Let's meet this Archbishop." I walked to the entrance of the ruins.

"Halt, hold it right there." One of the guards spoke.

"State your purpose of entering the ruins." The security was tight, it was clear they were not letting anyone in even if it was a regular citizen.

"I was invited to meet the archbishop."

"Wait here." The guard went inside the ruins to call someone or ask for permission perhaps. Then a figure appeared. It was the same older bishop from yesterday.

"Oh, you're here. Excellent. Follow me, The archbishop is waiting for your arrival." I stepped into the ruins, the stairs were leading downwards. It was narrow and the fire torches were on the side walls to keep the darkness away. As the stairs ended, the passage extended into a massive hall from inside, brighter. The hall that my eyes never imagined existed. The small fountains of waterfalls in the distance, The bright light emitting through the ceiling. It was like I wasn't in the ancient era anymore.

"This way, follow me." I walked just behind him. We reached in front of a massive door, twice as large as me. Strange symbols were drawn on the door as well.

"Please go inside, he is expecting you behind this door." The door opened and I stepped through the door. It opened into a passageway, tall enough that I felt small inside it, light emitting from the ceiling and a long passageway leading straight. I walked through the passageway slowly. I still didn't understand any of it. Then, I heard footsteps walking in my direction from the front of the passageway. An older man, hair slicked back to his collar, wearing blue and gold colored robes approached me.

"You must be the hero who protected the city." He smiled at me.

"I am the archbishop." …

"Beldor."