Sarey looked at him in bewilderment. She saw Allan just standing by a tree and trying to lift himself up, probably both physically and mentally. She was not against either, so after Allan was done with a few, she led him into the living room. There still stood the unmoving figurine of 36. He patiently waited, this time for Allan to make up his mind. If he truly wasn’t willing to do this, he would have no way out.
There was no other path left for him.
His chance for timed survival depended not on him, so it was no surprise it caused a lot of anxiety for him. To have one fate in the hand of another person was something he was not familiar with. Apart from being a prisoner for a long time.
Before this, he was a free man, with mind and body being the same free self.
“Have you made up your mind, boy?!”
“Let us talk first. Start at the very beginning once more. There are some things you may not be familiar with. Have you ever taught someone?”
“No. But there shouldn’t be a problem. Even a dumb person can make a good disciple out of luck and hard work. That was a saying in my home that would fit this case the most.” 36 argued while revealing a little bit of the manipulating words.
“Then what can heal my eyes?”
“Nothing for now. As far as I know, there are multiple ways, or pathways, to say it correctly what can have strong regenerative power. Once you took a step into it, there is hardly a way to move to another one, or stop. Unless you don’t have determination, it’s better to try than to be a cripple. Isn’t it?”
“I guess it makes sense. If I embark on this pathway, what can you promise me?” Allan asked with seriousness.
“What do you seek? As far as I am aware, the ones who became the disciples of this Diary, are fundamentally on a completely different level than you. No mortal should get a hand on this book. That is what I thought.”
“It seems it’s a fortune within a misfortune. I will go with it and work for myself. Mister 36. I hope to become your disciple.”
“Oh... That... is good. Good.” 36 said with a hint of uneasiness.
“As for my goal. Sarey’s father gave me some hope. There is no way out. No time to be sad that the ones who did this to me are out there, probably safe and alive. I want to work it out. To never be helpless again. Mister 36, tell me more information about these pathways which could save my eyes. That is a first step and my goal for the time being.”
“I like how you sound. I would love to see the determination in your eyes.” 36 said happily.
“Father helped him? Unbelievable.” Sarey wondered in her heart. She did not see him since morning.
“For these pathways. That will be a topic for another day. I can be summoned every day for an untold amount of time. There seem to be some restrictions, but for some reason, I cannot say it with certainty.”
“That is unfortunate.” Said, Allan.
“You better prepare yourself, boy. You don’t have ignited Spark, so there are complications in a few pathways you can choose. It will be hard, so prepare yourself.”
“I understand.”
“As for you, Sarey. I made some promises to you, but it is time for me to get it done. I will need your primary help with Allan. Until he gets his eyes back, he should have you by his side.”
“Me? He is my responsibility, so I will do it without a doubt. As for the help, it depends on what is in your mind.”
“We shall see. Prepare yourself. The world you know will forever cease to exist.”
“You truly sound like a charlatan, mister 36. ”
“What? Is it not the right time to use the motivational words?” 36 asked in awkwardness, while the wood remained indifferent within the sights of Sarey and the speechless presence of Allan.
Outside of the wooden cottage. The wind was flickering as usual, with calm gusts and shimmering sounds of the forest. There was a figure with his back on the wall. This was the owner of this home, Zigmund. He was leisurely standing with crossed arms. On his side was a window to the living room, which was slightly open.
He was growing tired of it for some time already. It was his bad habit from the military where he did not like to lose control of the situation, as letting it go would be the same as ignoring it and forcibly going against it.
“Hmmm.” He was humming beneath his rough-looking short beard.
“What should I make of this? The world as we know it? Should I stop her? Him and that being? No... or should I?” He was under dire stress in this situation. He regrets his habit now. If he let go and moved on, there would be problems afterward, but he cared about Sarey a lot. He wasn’t willing to sacrifice her time, but at the same time, he knew she needs to grow up. He would never be always with her.
“Perhaps this is something that I should have expected. I will allow them. Hmm. Hmm. Good.” Zigmund nodded repeatedly while he was mumbling in a self-affirmative manner.
He also knew that if he was against any of it, his life would be less than pleasant.
“That being is beyond our world. It came here with Allan, but what should I take it for? Is that figurine a treasure in disguise or a simple trap to ensure his fall? What that massive treasure is supposed to mean then?” Zigmund struggled to think about the very beginning of Allan’s discovery. He was against the bigger risks, the same way, as with even the smaller ones. That treasure was a risk. It was an ordeal where they could easily lose their lives.
But there could be some people who would purchase it without any ulterior motives, and that ate Zigmund's mind constantly.
After all, it all looked like pieces of materials for all kinds of stuff. Be it weapons, armor, or some building material for something beyond his knowledge? He wasn’t sure about it, but Zigmund was too afraid to consider something worse to come from all of this. Concern for that figurine shows trouble, and if he will do something to his daughter, that figurine should better prepare for the consequences.
Inside, there was a momentary silence. 36 get what he wanted and even some more. He found it weirdly comforting to finally have confirmation.
“By the way, there are some things I wanted to mention, Sarey. I think promises are unimportant. For your help, I will give you 5 questions about anything. You are curious about the world beyond? I am someone beyond your world.” 36 said with great importance.
“Questions? Alright, I have no actual need for these, but I will take your word for it.” Sarey smiled with satisfaction. She couldn’t conceal her excitement.
“Any last questions you want to ask, Allan?”
“I doubt the questions I want to know answers to are something you can tell me. These mysteries will have to wait.”
“Some things are better to be kept hidden, boy. Put your hand into the fire pit and you will burn.”
“Heh. That is funny.” Allan said with a mocking smile.
“If you don’t have anything else, I will take my leave. Next time will be most important. So rest well.”
“Alright. Both of them answered at the same time.”
“Ehhh... Sarey...”
“What? Are you still unaware of how to leave by yourself? Did you come here with a help of his blood? Why you don’t know anything yourself?” Sarey said with a naughty expression.
“No... I just…”
“Just leave!” Sarey shouted.
Light shot up from the book and enveloped the figurine at a fast pace. It soon submerged him within the twisting vortex.
“This? I knew it... Who in the bloody sun are you, girl?” Slightly distorted sound of 36s voices shot from the vortex.
“Eh? I guess I can order him too. It is funny too.”
“What happened, Sarey?” Allan asked, in confusion.
“Nothing much. 36 is gone for now.”
“Did he disappear into the thin air or what?”
“You could say so. I think it all involves you and, in some sense, your blood itself.”
“So, my blood is summoning him without a choice of other options?”
“I didn’t ask about other ways. This seems like a most direct one. Worry about it on another day. You should rest for now. Do some stretching if you feel like it, but don’t force yourself too much.” Sarey added at last, before turning her attention to the pieces of paper. It depicted the basics of basics, which she found absolutely terrible. If he wants to teach Allan something, this was probably a poor start.
“I wish to know something more. That bag I talked about earlier. Can I have two things from it? Just for some emotional support...” Allan asked.
“I can help you with that, Allan.”
Sarey moved from the living room in a search of Allan’s bag. She soon found it close to Zigmund’s office and took it to Allan.
“What do you want from it?”
“Nothing much is important there, apart from my diary. It’s a normal-looking notebook without a particular cover.”
She shoved her hand in and tried to look at it. She glanced into many before she finally found something that looked like he described.
“There you go.” Sarey said after some consideration. She did not want to know much, but she also couldn’t help but glance into it for few moments. It was a rather boring and rash-looking diary. If that is even something what could be called that.
“Thank you. It feels like the one I have written.”
“Oh, it is yours?”
“Yes. Do you think it is weird?”
“Not really. I am not the one to judge people.”
“Not like it is much of a use to me. Still, I am glad I have it.”
“Anything else?” She asked.
“Were there also some flying knives? Handful and catchy to the eye.”
“I think I saw it.” Sarey spoke and took a look once more. She found it quite easily and a shining-looking flying knife was in her hand. Etched with two wavy colors. It looked quite fancy and nothing like she has ever seen.
“How pretty? Where did you find it?” She asked with glittering eyes.
“I made it actually.” Allan told with a seemingly fleeting smirk. It was his last memory of forging. A thing that he loved.
“Really? Are you a blacksmith?” Sarey asked with a little surprise. She has seen his body and it would make sense. Any boy under her age should be somewhat of a worker, with such a body.
“Yes. Me and my father. I inherited his skills, if any... somewhat.. what is left of it.” Allan muttered in realistic thought, what unwillingly escaped from his mouth.
“Don’t worry. I am sure your father is fine. I heard blacksmiths are very keen on weapons. If he was found in a war, I am sure he would be safe.”
“Yea. Thanks for being positive.”
“You will see tomorrow. I am sure 36 will find you a pathway that will help you.”
“Uh Sarey, it is fine. Was there also a bandana with a small metal piece of the hammer in a corner?”
“Bandana? I don’t remember. There was a whole mess when you landed. It could have been easily lost.”
“No worries. If you find it, I would be incredibly grateful as well..”
“I will see. Go to rest now.”
