Unsealing the manhole in the middle of the road, Cassie, Nat, and Gatsby jumped inside the hole with their hazmat suit. I soon joined them as I saluted to Sergeant A'tynn, wishing us luck. Landing on both feet, I led the team inside the sewers, flashing our flashlights around us. "Stick together and watch your steps," I advised them.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQmIeFTOm5
"So, what are we here for again?" Nat asked, in a puzzled voice. I rolled my eyes and sighed. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUiD2RPKih
"In case you weren't paying attention, the Sarge told us to check any signs of contamination from the water tanks."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T9xh05ymh
"Right, of course," he let a chuckle, scratching the back of his hazmat suit. "I forgot about that."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN8Zj1SmUR
"Oh Nat, always thinking with your dick," Gatsby joked, pointing his flashlights towards the rusty pipes. Cassie burst out in laughter, causing Nat to punch her shoulders. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEZ8Y0Hflo
"Ouch!" she rubbed her left shoulder, punching him back.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDE1qYP7t0A
"Hey guys," I tried to grab their attention. "Maybe less talk, more work, yeah?"740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSUBremOOL
"You heard her," Cassie gestured to them with her head. Nat scoffed at me, mockingly. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3pcHJWf60
"Since when are you in charge, meatbag?"740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QhxcSkNea
"Do you have a better plan, dickhead?" my lips curved into a sarcastic smile, making him stutter. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBZAuE61lY
"Well, we could check the water tanks just to check whether the water's contaminated."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg7qMMVR1Y
"That's what I thought."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D1n0JoDCs
We continued to explore the rest of the dark sewers, with the water flowing beside us and the soft squeak of the rats could be heard echoing inside, making me tighten my lips. I never thought the sewer would be this disgusting. I thought it wouldn't be so bad judging from what I've read in the library. I guess I was wrong after all. But then again, it's quite an adventure so far.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zFVsXJSeE
Cassie examined the pipes and felt the rust on her fingertips. "The pipe is rusty," she pointed out. "Maybe that could've been responsible for the hallucinations."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlATvoLIqfa
I shook my head. "Impossible. Form what I read in the library, there is no way rusty water could cause you to see things that aren't there."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wKUgO37Na
"We'll have to see about that."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsht6PtNkVE
Arrived at the tanks half an hour later, we climbed up from the hole and showed our identification to the workers and started our business. Their boss, Rafe, led us inside the marble-tiled room and gave his approval to us to inspect the water levels and the cleanliness of the water. Through the scanners, there were no signs of contamination in the water tanks.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmua4ZOJN0X
That's weird. How can there not be a single speck of dirt inside the tanks? I checked the barometer on the tanks just to make sure and saw the red needle pointing at the green sign. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztHU93hl4d
"The water's all clean," I told the others as I walked out of the room. "The barometer says that its water is in good condition and there are no traces of contamination right now."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIQCco3b7A
"I don't understand," Gatsby's brows furrowed. "If the water's so clean, then why are the people experiencing fits and hallucinations right now?"740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFg8hkU6dK
I could only exhale as I found myself tongue-tied. To be honest, I don't even know the answer to that question right now. Why are the people of Ionis screaming? What caused the hysteria? And most importantly, how do we stop it?740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GXej4pAId
As we head back to the surface of Ionis an hour later, we stripped off the hazmat suit, which reeked of sewage water and rat urine. We headed back to our room and washed ourselves up, putting on a new tunic.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoyrpo2gzr
We then rushed to the briefing room just below our quarters and got into our position, saluting to the Sarge. "Team 1 have just inspected the water tanks, sir."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9ySHMXLDA
Sergeant A'tynn saluted back as he wanted a report from the team leader, which is me, of course. "The results are the same as what Dr Moira stated," I told him. "No contamination."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ870sTiQPeL
He groaned in frustration as he rubbed his temples with his fingers. "People have been screaming and hurting themselves in this village for days. There has to be an answer for all of this "740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdcIZh7Q2K
Nat bobbed his head as we stood there, trying to come up with a solution. "Maybe it's black magic," he shrugged. "I mean if the water table and the food and their blood samples aren't contaminated, maybe someone is playing tricks on them."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNl8jYd80Vb
"You could be right," I spoke, stunned by his answer. "There must be some evil magic user who's causing the hysteria in Ionis."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiOm92FCGT
The Sarge stroked his chin and tilted his head upwards for a moment, before giving him a nod. "You could be right, Nat. Someone is playing tricks on those innocent people."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fNm4P5nPs
"Permission to visit the shaman to get our answers?" I raised my hands.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡII664joraZ
"Permission granted, Bugsy. Now ready your horses."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY9B1fnGof
The four of us saluted him as we marched out of the briefing room and gathered the rest of the Knights of Moon, all saddled up.
Knocking on the front door of Zilo Xemar's house, he opened it and gave us a toothless grin, letting us inside. "I see you're here to find the source of this black magic?" he spoke, in a nasal tone. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNDNm7ToDT
I gave a nod. The shaman let out a bellow as he sprinkled a purple, single strand of a patient's hair inside his cauldron, giving it a neon green glow. Chanting a spell from his tongue, the lights were cut off by itself as the windows were shut tightly and the doors all locked, trapping us inside the living room.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpyPibaGDL
Finishing his chant, he grabbed a ladle beside him and scooped out a mixture, revealing it to be a bronze compass. "This will lead you to the source," he informed us, placing it on my palms. "But you won't get the answer you desire."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGiU9Purh2
Sergeant A'tynn paid a couple of coins to Zilo and thanked him profusely, heading out of his house. As he climbed on his horse, he noticed I was glancing at the compass. "Do you how to use it?" he asked me.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONBfiwEKOE
"Yes, sir," I replied. "I've used it as a Scout numerous times."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56zUTeMrCp
"Excellent," he gave a slight smile towards me. "You'll be leading us the way."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEx3jjW7ev
My eyes widened as I heard his statement. "Are you sure about that, sir?"740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdCOnDnKzQ
"Did I stutter?"740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtmVmxen50
"No, sir."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlkZp8Dj5F
"That's what I thought."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvO4ze4DHS8
I hopped onto my brown horse and looked at the red needle on the compass, pointing towards the west, which was on my left side. "This way," I ordered, as I galloped on the cobbled road, heading deep into the forest.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bicoxcmYr
The needle then changed direction to the east as I drove on the forest floor, making me turn right. Nat caught up with me and rode beside me, turning his head towards me. "Do you even know where we're going?" Nat raised his doubts. One of these days, I feel like murdering that boy. He reminds me of Archie, only worse.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDH6yk0fPDz
"I know how to read the compass," I replied, trying to stop myself from insulting him in front of the Sarge. "As per my last words to the Sarge, I learned it as a Scout."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmzY5HEgXh
"You were in Scouts?" Cassie beamed. "That is so cool. How many badges did you receive?"740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkwvzM22z4
"Around 72 badges so far," I tried to recall with my fingers. "72?" Gatsby exclaimed, his eyes widened. "I only have 30 badges. That is impressive, Bugsy."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B2G6vK8Ky
"Kinda," I lifted my shoulders. "I'm planning to earn all of them before graduating from high school."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsFGgUiusd
"Wait, you haven't gotten out of school yet?" Lani raised her eyebrows, blinking twice. I shook my head. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauvEag2puw
"I will only graduate in two years time."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CZ9jAqg74
Damn, faeries grow up really quickly. They could do everything when they turned 16. Being a faerie sounds really cool. I wish I was one.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4tXHCjhNe
Shifted my focus to my compass and continued straight on the road, feeling a little cold breeze from afar. Sergeant A'tynn opened his map and studied the directions for a while, before folding it back into his breast pocket. "We'll be heading enemy territory," he announced, holding the straps of his horse. "Steer clear of your surroundings. We won't be given a warm welcome by the natives."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7n593kRCmI
"Yes, sir," I answered as we crossed the bridge to the other side of the Faerie Kingdom, which is Nick's territory. I hate this place so much and yet, I have to return just to complete our mission. Let's just get this over with before Nick found out I'm here.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYTYrdWcfg
We trotted through the icy fog that blanketed the silver forest as the skies above us turned gray, with the thick clouds blocking the ray of sun. I shivered through my armour as my teeth shattered. Why is it so cold in Arendis? The weather in Angelis isn't so bad.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXL2SOQVmk
As we passed by a small, tiki hut beside us, the compass in my hands disappeared into thin air, making me halt my horse abruptly. She neighed angrily at me as I stroked its mane, trying to calm it down. "Sorry, Mara," I apologized to her as I got down.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswa5uP26Zw
The Knights of Moon stopped their tracks as they glanced at the seemingly abandoned hut. "Looks like this is the place," the Sarge stretched his arms and neck, twirling his pistol with his hands. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc07roUkyc
Lani, Gatsby, and Ten stood guard outside the but as Cassie, Nat and I followed the Sarge inside, flashing our light in one hand and holding a pistol in the other. As I took a step forward, I noticed the drawing of the reversed pentagram on the floor, making my heart palpitate and my chest tightened.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J4fEhpp9o
I have a bad feeling that we're walking into a trap. Unfortunately, I was right. The front door behind us was sealed by itself as the windows were locked lightly, apprehending us inside. Sweat began to pour from my forehead as the candles were lit.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7g00QtsoZ
I placed my flashlight aside and loaded my pistol as we were surrounded by maniacal laughter all around us. "Stay calm, cadets, especially you, Bugsy," the Sarge ordered. I gave a nod as I locked elbows with Cassie's. Taking out a bottle of clear potion from his back pocket, he poured the whole thing on the pentagram, only to burst into reddish flames.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGfx73C7kg
"Everybody, run for your life!"740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfRUDVOPyO
Nat kicked the door open and dragged us out of the house as the hut was consumed by the huge fire. The Knights of Moon watched in horror as it was slowly crumbling down.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbf65GmMCIB
I squinted my eyes and clenched my fist as I dashed towards the burning hut, only to find Sergeant A'tynn strutting out, unfazed. Not a single scratch was seen on his skin as he casually blew a cloud of smoke off his pistol, dusting off the ashes from his armour.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJx37ukcvk
"Are you alright, Sarge?" Nat asked, his brows drooped. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZO7McNRm5
He let out a small chuckle and shook his head. "This is nothing to what I've experienced before."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrPuJxqyT4
"Looks like we've put an end to the hysteria in Ionis," Cassie smiled.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OtHQ5rgmM
"But we didn't even win," I pointed out. "We don't even know the culprit behind all this."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdLlSUYwCH
Sergeant A'tynn moaned as he heard horses galloping towards their direction. "Let's get outta here," he climbed on his horse. "Before Prince Nicholas's men arrived."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC1yS2Pe1s
"I agree," I growled underneath my breath, as we rode back to the village of Ionis.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxBaEjmno4
然後按「加至主畫面」