CHAPTER 30: ALICE’S ABYSS VI

(A/N Big thanks to

JustYus

Vizium

Lucid_

Primordial_Being01

For the Power stones and Golden tickets, they mean a lot. As usual, please don’t hesitate to comment or drop a review. ENJOY)

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Orion finished his meal and relaxed for a while before they all set off again.

"What direction do we go now?" Alice asked.

Orion tried ’The Seer’ again in the direction they came from, but still nothing. He couldn’t risk using his mana up in the middle of nowhere, so he stopped.

Alice noticed him looking in that direction. "We’ve been walking from there, trust me, if there was anything there, we would have noticed," She said with a sigh.

"Same for me. Shall we try heading east?" Orion asked.

"There’s no point thinking over it, east it is," Michael said, already walking.

’Huh, isn’t east that way?’ Orion thought, hesitating.

Alice noticed, "What’s wrong?"

"Um, where does the sun rise and set?" Orion asked, scratching his cheek.

"Hehe, you can’t tell the directions," Alice teased.

"It’s from west to east," She replied.

’Of course it is,’ Orion thought, sighing.

"What are you both waiting for? Let’s go!" Michael shouted from afar.

They continued their journey, albeit slower than Orion expected, though he couldn’t fault them. Small talk flowed between them.

"Have you guys ever tasted bird meat?" Orion asked suddenly.

"What nonsense are you saying, Orion? Don’t tell me you haven’t eaten chicken before," Alice asked with a raised brow.

"No, not that, Lady of the Abyss, I mean a bird that literally flies in the sky," Orion said.

"Wait, what did you just call me?" Alice asked Orion with a glare.

"I don’t think so, most things that fly in the sky like that are monsters, and they are notoriously hard to catch, making them scarce besides most people consider monster meat tainted and generally avoid it," Michael explained.

"Why’d you ask?" Michael asked him.

"’Cause I was thinking of catching one," Orion replied.

"Wait, where?" Michael asked, turning to him.

"Don’t ignore me. What did you just call me?" Alice asked again.

"Over there," Orion pointed at the distance where a black shaped object was approaching from the sky.

"Oh, I see it. Still, how exactly do you catch it? Besides, we don’t even have the tools to cook it." Michael explained skeptically.

"Oh, I see how it is," Alice clapped.

"Wait a minute, I don’t think ... that’s a bird," Michael said, squinting.

He activated his skill. His eyes glowing.

"Oh, that is definitely not a bird," Orion said, amazed by what he saw.

’Looks like some kind of fighter jet,’ He thought, studying it.

"It’s fast," Orion said, bracing himself; he hoped they hadn’t met a foe in the middle of nowhere.

It soon came into view.

"It’s a Nexcraft!!" Michael said, excited.

’Great, how much does this boy know more than me. Definitely filing a complaint when I get home’ He thought, exasperated.

"A Nexcraft?" Alice said, jerking her head towards it.

"It’s a small one, but somebody still has to be riding it. We can ask where we are, and how we can get home." Michael said, excited.

"Do you think he would have seen us by now?" Orion asked.

"Most likely, why?" Michael replied.

"Would have been wise to change out of clothes that don’t scream, I’m a noble’s child, we don’t know if we can trust them," Orion said.

"You are right, I think I have some less flashy clothes, let’s quickly--" Michael said with a frown.

"No, that would be counter-productive now that they’ve seen us. Let’s just go with the flow." Orion said

By now, the Nexcraft had gotten very close and, as expected, was slowing down to land.

It was shaped like a fighter jet but bigger, with enough space to fit about fifteen people. Though aesthetically nice, it looked like something crafted in a scrapyard, a mix of red and black parts and a painting of a shark’s maw.

"This doesn’t call for concern at all," Orion chuckled.

Michael grimaced at the sight of the machine while Alice just looked on unperturbed, still sulking.

Three small hatches under the Nexcraft opened where the tires extended out before landing.

A door at the side opened with a metallic creak, evidence of the rust that must have accumulated, where a middle-aged man stepped out.

He was wrapped from neck to leg in a brown garment that looked more like rags than actual clothes, with only his face visible. He wore large brown boots, and a mask was pulled over his head, exposing a grinning face. He had dirt brown hair framing his aged face and a small stubble on his chin.

"Well, I’ll be damned, I wasn’t informed the ground’s been spitting kids out here," He said with a grin.

He looked at all three of them as if analyzing them, his eyes lingering on Alice a bit more; Orion didn’t fail to notice that.

Orion smiled and replied, "Whoever your informant is, they’ve certainly let you out of the loop. Trust me, only the luckiest encounter children like us. Ever heard of genies?"

"Hahaha.. funny kid, what are genies?" He asked with a smirk.

"Any wish you want, answered. All you have to do is help us," Orion smirked back.

"That sounds like a dream come true, but trust me, not even the gods themselves can grant my wishes. You’ll have to try harder than that, boyyy," He said, still laughing.

The way he was referred to as a boy ticked Orion off, but losers can’t be choosers; he couldn’t afford to offend their only chance of leaving this place.

"But you know what, I’m in a good mood today, I got a great haul, might as well share the joy. Come in, I’d love a good story," He said, smiling.

"Oh, then you’d love ours," Orion said, smiling back.

The three soon found themselves entering the Nexcraft. Michael held an apprehensive look on his face, worried about the fact that they were trusting a stranger, while Alice still held her aloof look.

The inside was what you’d expect a teenage boy’s room to look like, only he wasn’t a teenage boy. Orion looked around, memorizing the layout. The entrance was on the right side of the Craft. On entering, he could see the cockpit on the right and a lounge on the left.

A door stood at the far end of the left, most likely his personal quarters. The lounge looked like somewhere hurriedly arranged or cleaned up. He could see numerous food packets and bottles around, and the musky smell of sweat mixed with something familiar, but he tried to remember, yet it eluded him.

Michael was visibly disturbed by the sight, yet he did his best to control his facial reactions, while Alice was still grudging.

"Not the cleanest of places, but it’s home," The man grinned.

"Cleanliness is overrated," Orion waved him off with a smile.

"I know, right, hahaha." The man laughed.

"Alright, I’ll get this baby started, and then you three can tell me how you found yourselves in the pound," He said.

"You don’t need to be there to control it?" Orion asked.

"Nah, she might look scrappy, but this baby’s new gen," He replied before heading to the cockpit.

’The pound, ’ Orion thought, intrigued.

"Ring any bells?" Orion asked Michael.

"What?" Michael said, tilting his head.

’Right, sometimes I forget some phrases don’t exist in this world,’ He thought.

"I meant, does the Pound name sound familiar?" Orion explained.

"Oh, what a strange phrase, what does that have to do with bells. No, it doesn’t, I’ve never heard of it before," Michael replied.

"Alright, if he asks us any questions in general, don’t answer, I’ll take care of the talking, and if he asks you personally and you deem the answer confidential, act shy. Just go with the flow." Orion said.

"Alright," Michael replied, a bit nervous.

They soon felt the Nexcraft being lifted off the ground, and after a while, the man came back, his eyes wandered over all three of them, lingering on Alice again, before a gentle smile broke out on his face. Of course, this didn’t escape Orion’s notice.

"Why are you smiling?" Orion asked, intrigued.

"Nothing, it’s just that this young lady reminds me of my daughter, I couldn’t help but remember that bundle of energy," He answered, his face taking on a reminiscing look.

"Oh, is she?" Orion probed.

"I’d rather not talk about it," He said with a sad smile.

"Oh, I’m sorry," Orion apologized.

Michael and Alice had a look of pity on their face, understanding dawning on them.

"Don’t be. Alright, let’s talk. Little genies." He said, his grin returning.

"Do you know where you are right now?" He probed. Orion noticed how his eyebrow tensed.

"You mentioned the pound," Orion replied.

"Right, the pound. It’s not exactly a place for children." The man said, a hint of relief on his face.

"It’s a rather long story, Mr ?" Orion said with a sad smile. Discreetly activating ETF ( A/N Eye of truth and façade ).

"Harry, you can just call me Harry. Mr is definitely not for me. And I’ve got all day," He said with a smile.

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STATUS

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NAME: Barnes Randyll

AGE: 25

GENDER: MALE

RACE: HUMAN

ATTRIBUTES:???

ABILITIES:???

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"Of course, Harry," He said, with a smile. The memory of the smell returning.