Chapter 19: Home
The reunion of the class was giving even more beauty than the vast turquoise sky above the marshland. Elated of the appearance of their once lost classmate, Christian back to the group as well as the escape of Kent from the black birds who tried to mate with her, even giving another powerful trait to Gloyd that increases their survival in these lands.
"You've always wanted to be an angel, now you have it." Christian said to Gloyd, chuckling.
Gloyd laughed back, "You know right?! My wings are phenomenal!"
They both hugged each other, still smiling as if it's a tattoo painted on their faces.
Alex looked at the sky above and sighed. He felt that this moment should be cherished for the fact that they haven't lost anyone.
"We can't still find Noel." Darline muttered, while her head gazes around the venue of the past battle.
Alex forgot the disappearance of their friend, Noel who can transform into a panther that can use invisibility when the moons rise.
He stopped gazing above and went to the discussion of the sudden disappearance of their friend, "What do you think happened to him? I really thought we would meet him here."
"Uhmm, guys?" Christian decided to stop the discussion by telling them something else.
They looked at him, "What?" Christian sighed, "I'm not sure about this. But, when I was captured, I met a girl. A woman, in veil, covering her eyes. Her skin was pale-white, but she has a single eye of top of her head. She said she's the guardian of the void. I can't remember her name well. I think it's Ranthi. I think she's got Noel as well, she said that she took possession of a human who can transform into a cat." Christian added.
Alex was thinking. And he's sure that she's the sister of Rabi who claimed herself as the guardian of the marshland. She must have been really the reason why we were ambushed back when Christian was captured and the reason why the marks were stopped in the middle of the mission – the routes we were taking.
"Hey, does that mean she's Rabi's sister?" Darline asked.
Everyone nodded. "Yes, maybe that's that."
"How did Noel get captured? He can be invisible during the night?" Gloyd argued.
"Then Ranthi can see through him, she's a guardian after all. They possess immense power like Rabi." Alex said. "I think he's still safe. Rabi don't seem to be hostile towards us. If we're lucky, maybe her sister, is, too." He added.
Gloyd sighed, "I hope he's okay. Ranthi is from the void, maybe her character's evil."
Gloyd was right, we have always been taught that creatures from the void were barren of goodness. Although we saw it just from movies and by reading books, we cannot deny the fact that they are those who lurks in the shadows. Alex thought, but he stopped thinking when Angel suddenly talked.
"Then why did she abduct this gay?" Angel joked, although also he's half serious.
Christian's eyebrows met, "Hey!" he shouted.
They laughed again.
Yeah, why would she abduct Christian in the first place? And why is she here in the marshland? Alex's thoughts were brimming.
"I think it's all about that someone who possesses power that can destroy the balance on this planet." Christian said, now the others were looking serious about the sudden addition towards the topic. Christian continued, "The woman said, that one of us possess it. she called it Sarawal or the true shape."
They continued to listen. "Proceed." Alex said. The hunger of answers has long put Alex's mind in such state, always longing for something that can finally bring them the correct knowledge about living in this world. For a moment, he thought this world was primitive in every way, but it all changed when they met the queen who can converse very well, the pots in the cabin, and now this. This sarawal Christian was talking about.
"She said that she needs to find that person in order for the boarders to become strong again." Christian said. His friends, continued to listen.
Alex asked again, "What do you mean about boarders?"
Christian continued, "She said that there are other worlds other than the marshland. We already know there's the forest, where Noel came from. And there's still more. She said tunnels appeared connecting these worlds and this will become more dangerous if this goes on for the reason that creatures from different habitats may go from one place to another. Some will die and some will thrive hence can bring chaos in different places. That must be the reason why Noel has entered this in the first place."
Alex expected things to be dangerous, the moment they met the queen bee. But how can things turn out to be this way? It seemed like they impose a bigger threat than the problems they had in the past. Alex bit his lip, thinking much.
"Thank you for that, Christian." Kent muttered, calmly. "Let's go back to the hive for now, and make plans in the situation.
Going back to the hive was an easy task, with the guard bees, Kent and now Gloyd's ability to fly, they can take a fast route away from distractions and danger. They grabbed their weapons as they were carried by the members who can fly.
Kent's long yellow arms locked Alex's shoulders as she carries him throughout the sky. Alex felt the wind as it passed by his cheeks, face, kissing him as they swiftly flew through it.
The others were carried by the guard bees and only Gloyd carried Ivan. Gloyd's wings were enormous that when it flaps, it pushes everyone downwards if you're below from him. The guard bees flew far from Gloyd because their wing size is incomparable to the human who just got the ability of a bird.
Alex gazed at the vast marshland, no matter how many times he has seen it, it can never be a tired view to his adoring eyes. He closed his eyelids as he listens to the sound of the land – different species of birds and animals, showing abundance to this undying land.
If this land does not have any monster, this would have been a haven not just to him but to everyone who were transported in this world.
With fleeting speed, there's no reason for them to be slow when coming back to the hive. They knew they were close when they saw the pentagon-shaped tunnels as the tall bee hive stood gallantly in the marshland.
Alex smiled, "I can't wait to see them again!" he exclaimed, loudening his voice so that the others can hear him in the middle of the flight.
"Yeah! Me too!" everyone replied, shouting while their faces show uncontrollable smiles. Going back to the building that they treated home, talking again with their classmates who they left to set out for a mission, laughing with them is worth smiling for as their hearts filled with continuous joy.
"They're here!" Lyka shouted as she saw flying beings in the clear turquoise sky. She put the fruits on the land as she ran to hug the classmates who just came back from a mission. Everyone ran to each other and with no hesitation, hugged one another.
"We're really worried about all of you." Lyka cried, while she wiped down her eyes as joyful tears come pouring.
"We know. But what's more important is that we're here once again. Where are the others?" Kent said.
"You won't believe me! They're actually training there." Lyka pointed the part not too far from the hive.
"They are?!" Kent said in disbelief, but she's also happy about the fact that her classmates were fixated on getting stronger. Mental ability is important in survival, as well as physical. With the balance of both, they can increase their survival in these lands.
"Who trained them?" Alex interrupted.
"Matt, Jessie and Jay." Lyka answered. "Are you all hungry? Oh! What am I saying? of course you all were. You just came back from a journey!" Lyka chuckled as she grabbed the fruits who she left on land and called one of the guard bees who left Kent to carry her up. "Let's go." She said. The guard bee immediately bowed when it saw Kent who just came home to pay its respect and carried Lyka back to the hive.
Everyone immediately followed. Flying through the tunnels in the color of pure gold as nectars were put by the honeybees on its walls. The golden lights guided everyone towards the center of the hive. "It feels nostalgic, to be back here." Ivan said, looking around while being carried by the guard bee.
Everyone nodded, "It seemed not too long ago when we were imprisoned here by the queen herself and survive by eating bars made of hardened nectars for days. Maeje replied.
Alex looked at Maeje, he remembered that she has been wounded back from the cabin where the monster has lived.
"How's your foot?" Alex asked, looking at his friend's foot, now covered with leaves. Maeje smiled, "Nothing to worry, it's better now." she replied.
Alex smiled back, "That's great. Can you walk?" he asked again. "Of course, I can. I'm really shocked that self-healing in this place is faster than our past world. It seemed like out bodies were modified. Well, of course it's not possible. However, it just seemed like it. Well oh! Here we are." Maeje stopped talking as they now reached the center of the hive where everyone was busy with their own jobs. Some are preparing food and some are talking, exercising and even slept.
"Everyone they're here!" Lyka shouted as she was being put down by the guard bee who carried her.
Everyone crowded the team who just came back. "Wow! Look at Gloyd! He can also transform now!" everyone almost said in unison.
Gloyd put Ivan down and walked gallantly towards the others who just witnessed his amazing transformation. Alex smiled, watching everybody smile.
"I wonder how long can this happiness last." Kent whispered as she walked slowly towards Alex.
"It won't be long till another threat comes to us. I just hope we would be ready when that time comes." Alex replied.
Kent sighed and transformed back to her human form. The duty of class mayor in the past world was to keep everyone notified on every task that the teacher gives, making her the source of information of her classmates.
Alex knew the burden Kent was carrying, she must have been looking for plans to keep everyone safe. Alex moved towards her, patting her back, "We can make it." he smiled.
Kent sighed but smiled back at him, "Yes, we will."
"Before we talk about the problems Christian has said in the turtle monster's house, let's enjoy this reunion for now. Being happy in times of a calamity is not a sin after all." Alex said, closing his eyelids as he smiled, trying to be cute.
"You don't look cute." Kent said sarcastically. Alex knows she's joking and he still can't stop smiling.
"I hope this happiness doesn't end." He whispered to himself as he run happily towards the others.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone