บท 30: The massive gathering (II)
He passed through a thin alleyway that could barely fit two people side by side and finally arrived at the town square. What he saw surprised him. Solid grey humanoid apparitions were bustling around the town square, doing their mindless routines. It reminded him of the town people that were actually alive. But there were none of the noises usually heard in a busy area. All he heard were moans and groans.
In between each grey solid looking humanoid apparition were the ashen, colorless, transparent people that reminded him of TV static. But the grey apparitions didn't see the static-looking figures. They walked right through them as if they didn't exist.
As Zero was walking towards the fountain in the middle of the square, he spotted a lone child playing with a sailboat. Out of everyone else, Zero noticed this young boy was vibrant in colors. His sailor hat was neatly placed over his hazelnut curls that covered his light blue eyes. He was wearing a small blue-and-white sailor suit.
"Hey, kid." Zero approached him cautiously as he was a bit worried that like everyone else the child would react by screaming at, swearing at, or ignoring him.
Turning around, the boy smiled and disappeared in a blink of an eye. The echoing laughter of the young boy could be heard ringing around Zero. All that was left was the sailboat floating up and down from the currents of the falling water. Zero walked around the fountain, looking for the boy.
Once again jubilant laughter echoed throughout the town square. Out of nowhere Zero was pushed hard into the fountain. With a loud splash he fell face first into the water. He gagged and coughed to clear his throat and nose.
"Tag, you're it." The young boy joyfully laughed at the sopping-wet Zero. Grumpily Zero peered up at the boy.
"Why, you… Get back here!" Zero swung his arm in a sharp motion as he tried to grab him.
"Catch me if you can," the boy laughed as he phased in and out of different locations. Zero watched, appalled. He knew he could not just catch a ghost. He did not know how. Scratching his head for an answer, he looked down upon the floating boat. Its white flag flapped magically as if it were sailing through the sea. Picking it up, he casually examined it. Painted in black and white, chipped from old wear and tear, a name was written: Lady Gabrielle.
"Hey kid. I'm going to sink your boat if you don't—" Zero threatened and stopped. In a blink of an eye, before Zero could finish his sentence, the kid appeared in front of him. He menacingly glared as his pupils changed from blue to red. The look sent shivers up and down his spine. When he dropped the boat in surprise, the boy's hand shot out and grabbed it before it hit the water. The boy caressed it with love as his face scrunched up with displeasure.
"Don't touch my boat," said the boy, emphasizing each word to drive the point of how precious it was to him.
Zero shook himself out of it. He did not like how the kid made him freeze in fright. He was also surprised that one could still get wet while dead.
"Sorry kid, I didn't know it was special to you."
With a scowling look the boy stuck out his tongue at Zero.
"I'm sorry. I was lonely. Nobody plays with me here." The boy fidgeted with his fingers wrapped around the boat flag. "Really." Zero rolled his eyes. "I can see why." He squeezed out his wet clothes. Shaking, large droplets of water splattered onto the young boy.
"Hey. Stop that." Giggling, the young boy covered himself from getting completely wet.
"Well. You're wet now, and…" said Zero with a bit mischief in his voice. Zero grabbed the young boy's arm before he finished the sentence. He pulled him hard into the fountain. With a loud splash, the boy was wet as well.
"I caught you." Zero deviously smiled as he tickled him. This is payback.
"Noooooooooooooooooo. Not fair. Hehehe." The young boy joyfully laughed as he held tightly onto his boat, soaking wet. Their laughter rang throughout the town square, and the ashen-faced people turned to watch them. For a moment their train of thought was broken as color was slightly brought back into their faces. They smiled.
With the tickling finally over, the young boy stepped out of the fountain, dripping with water. The ashen people turned away, falling into their trapped routines.
"What's your name, kid?" Zero stood up and tapped his head sideways, trying to get water out of his ears.
"Sol." He rocked back and forth on his toes and beamed up at Zero. His hands were behind his back with the sailboat. Zero smiled back. Zero for once was taller than the kid and he looked down upon him.
"Well, I'm Zero. Why are you here all alone?" Zero asked. Sol's eyes reminded him of the vast ocean, fluctuating between green and blue.
"I'm waiting for my father. He said he will be back," said Sol innocently. Sol skipped around Zero as he held his boat over his head. He pretended that the ship was sailing in the sea through the air.
"My father is a sailor. He owns a shipyard. This is the boat he made for me." Sol beamed as he showed off his boat. "Did you know that he traveled through the whole world of Noriene! He's amazing. One day I'm going to be just like him."
"Oh really? That's nice, but where is your father?"
"I don't know. I have been waiting here for a long time." Sol's face grew solemn. "He said he would be back with my new sailboat. The last thing I remember was Mom screaming and the hooves of a black horse. Then I was here. But he promised to come. He'll come soon."
Ding!
Find Sol's fatherDirect Sol towards the bright light. Protect him from any encroaching danger.
Difficulty Level: E
Requirements: Death.
Reward: Unknown.
Failure: The complete obliteration of Sol's soul. This will result in different spirits attacking you out of malice.
Would you like to accept the quest?
Zero didn't expect there to be a quest in this world. It seems like an easy quest, he thought as he pondered for a moment if he should accept. He didn't expect much reward from walking the kid towards the light, but he decided to take the quest anyway. He just did it out of pure goodwill.
"Well then, Sol. Have you thought of going towards the light over there?" Zero pointed in the direction of the light. Sol stood on tiptoe to see what he was talking about.
"I never went that way before. You think Dad will be waiting for me there?" asked Sol curiously as he looked at Zero with bright blue eyes.
"Yeah. Let's go to meet your father," said Zero confidently. Sol tucked his boat under his arm and took Zero's outstretched hand. Together they walked towards the light as the white orb floated behind them leisurely.
"Are you going to be looking for your dad too?" Sol glanced up at Zero with curiosity. Zero didn't know how to tell this kid that he was going towards the light to get resurrected.
"Something like that."
Zero continued to chat with Sol as they walked through the dead City of Diadem.
"Sol, have you explored the City?" Zero asked.
"Nope. I stayed by the fountain all the time." Sol skipped around with the boat in the air. "Check this out." He let go of the ship, and it floated in midair like a sailing ship in water. Its flag magically flapped as Sol willed it to move through the air.
"How?" Zero was stunned. Sol proudly smiled.
"Just believe." Sol tapped his own heart. "A lot of things are possible." Sol chuckled as he gleefully danced around after his boat. Just as quickly as the boat floated magically in the air, it settled back in his hands. His breath became as heavy as if he'd run a marathon.
"I can't do this for too long; it drains my energy. I'm tired now." Sol eyes became droopy.
Zero was amazed at the ability that Sol showed him. He didn't fully understand how he did it but silently watched. He didn't notice that while they were walking, a couple more groups of children appeared behind him. They came out from the buildings, shops, and playgrounds and were following them closely.
Several of them chased the white orb that was floating around Zero; this was when he noticed that there were more children behind him. He had to swat it away from his face. There were many times that the kids were close to poking him in his eyes with their flailing hands that were trying to grab onto the white orb. More and more gathered around him laughing, dancing, and skipping as they sang about the joy of life.
"Where did you guys come from?" Scanning from face to face, he noticed at least a dozen children from different ages, races, and genders surrounding him.
"Over there by the blue house," said a young girl who looked about thirteen as she pointed off towards a distance.
"I was playing at the playground," a young boy chimed in.
"I was looking out the window and saw you guys," a young teen girl said happily.
Quest has been updated.
Find Sol's father and direct the children towards the lightDirect Sol and the group of children towards the bright light. Protect them from any encroaching danger.
Difficulty Level: D
Requirements: Death.
Reward: Unknown.
Failure: The complete obliteration of their souls. This will result in different spirits attacking you out of malice.
Zero did not expect the difficulty to jump up to another level. What was worse was that those ashen-faced spirits might actually attack him if he failed this quest. To him it would be a complete zombie apocalypse if that happened. That thought horrified him.
"This is not going to be easy." Zero carefully examined his surroundings. They were already halfway towards the column of light. He also noticed that the color of his surroundings was becoming more vibrant and lively.
As Zero's small band of children continued to walk towards their destination, his small party continued to grow larger and larger into a small army ranging from toddlers to teenagers. Already the children under the age of ten outnumbered the teenagers ten to one. He guessed it was possibly over a hundred of them surrounding him. How these kids were still here in this plane, he didn't know. At least it was an easy task to deliver them to the light.
He sighed as he continued forward. This was going to be a bit more difficult than he thought. Hopefully he wouldn't meet anything difficult that will block their way, but even that might be a bit too much to ask.
Zero continued to pass through the tall buildings that covered the passageway and led the group up the outcropping of stone. He took a detour away from the obvious path that led towards the castle. It was blocked off by a shimmering force field that would not allow him through, the same kind of force field that blocked the passage in the world of the living. He did think about entering it a couple of times, but even in death it didn't allow him through.
Some houses felt peaceful and shimmered with a white aura-like force field, vibrant with color and life. He couldn't enter them. There were also darker malicious-looking ones that he kept away from. Something about them kept him on edge. Whatever was inhabiting the house beckoned him.
He instead took a local path that winded up towards the north side of the castle. That was where the Church of Infinity had placed the resurrection spot. The winding path circled around the warriors-guild headquarters and led right to the resurrection point. A musty scent could be smelled in the air just like when a room has not been aired out for a long period of time.
Already the group had swelled exponentially to the point that he felt like he was guiding a flock of endless sheep. All he needed was a shepherd's staff and a couple of dogs to complete the deal. Zero led the massive group in the front, scanning for any possible danger by pointing, sniffing, and listening. If he had been in his Origin form it would remove all doubt from those watching that he was a guard dog.
Quest has been updated.
Deliver the children and teenagers to the light
Direct Sol and the group of children and teenagers towards the bright light. Protect them from any encroaching danger.
Difficulty level: C
Requirement: Death.
Reward: Unknown.
Failure: The complete obliteration of their souls. The more souls lost results in higher chance that different spirits will attack you out of malice.
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง