“Rein..”

Rein opened his eyes, looking around his room. There’s knocking on the door and they called his name again.

“Coming..” he wiped his eyes and went to opened the door.

It was Eleanor, informing him they will be arriving at their destination soon and to have meal first. Rein thanked her. Eleanor left and he closed the door behind him. He washed his face before leaving his room. Entering the gathering area, everyone was already there. He sat beside Fabian who was reading the book he picked from the green palace, it was written in unknown ancient language they couldn't translated.

“Pita and meatballs or Hainan chicken rice?” asked Kincade from the kitchen.

“I’ll have pita..”

Kincade brought a tray and gave it to him.

“Thank you,” said Rein. While munching his bread, he looked at Fabian “Are you able to you read it now?”

“I am still translating it,” he replied “so far.. zero progress.”

“Have you got any clue what is it about?” Garland chimed in.

Fabian said “Judging from the drawings, it must be related to ancient medicine and herbs.”

“Why bother then?” Garland gulping his drink.

“What if the content is some unknown medicine, even surpassing our own..” said Fabian.

Rose chortled “If it’s true, you'll set back their medicinal progress by taking it.”

Fabian chuckled before closing the book and went to the kitchen.

There’s a fragrant smell coming from the kitchen, Fabian was brewing a coffee. Rose waved at him to made some for her too.

“Oh! We get a message from the rescue team..” Eleanor mentioned.

“Is it about Gaby and her team?” Rein wondered.

“Yes, they are fine,” she said.

“Thanks goodness..” said Rose.

“Gaby also sent a message asking us if it possible to meet them at the yearly festival in Eisengrand.”

“Hmm.. Cade, when we need to return home for resupply?” Rein asked.

Kincade rubbing his chin “Another three years maybe..”

“I see.. then.. Asha, sent a message to the Shannon Rose..”

She confirmed the order while also informing them were arriving at their destination. They all head to the bridge. Kincade steered their ship, passing several large planet, they finally stumbled upon a terrestrial planet. They were hyped, hoping to find another civilization.

Descending into the planet, they could see the grassland below them, variety of large animals grazing there. Garland and Dianna were excited, they asked Kincade to land to checked on the animals.

“Shall i?” he asked Rein.

Rein nodded. But before they could landed, Asha informing them she detected a faint signal further ahead. Prioritizing finding a civilization, Rein told Kincade to flew their ship to the signal location, which made Garland groaned and left Sierra disappointed.

 

On the way to the signal location.

“Gar, look! Another one!” Dianna beamed.

“Where?” he pressed his face on the window “It’s huge!” waving at Kincade “Slow down! let me take a picture first!”

“Just sent the drone to get the picture..” Sierra sighed.

“No civilization on sight..” Kincade murmured “so far only animals..”

“Maybe there are only few of them..” said Eleanor.

Asha mentioned “We have arrived.”

“Here?” Kincade confused.

“Where’s the town?” Garland asked while looking around.

“What is that huge hole below us?” Eleanor wondered.

Asha told them the signal was coming from that hole. It was too narrow for their ship to descended into. Rein told Kincade to land nearby to assessed the situation.

They went out from their ship and stood at the cliff ledge, looking at the hole below them.

“Is there really a signal coming from here?” Fabian asked

“Maybe it’s an underground city like those belonged to Talpcrith?” Garland excited.

“I can’t see the bottom..” Dianna leaned forward.

“Careful!” Rose shouted, seeing her losing her balance.

Laylah grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back.

“Anna! Are you crazy!?” Sierra yelled.

“Te hee.. my bad..” she said.

Sierra sighed, while Rose and Eleanor scolded her.

Rein told Asha to send drones into the hole. As they see the drones descended deeper, they learned the hole was getting narrower.

“There’s no way our craft could fit there..” said Kincade.

Asha detected a strong wind before they lost their connection with the drones.

“Send another drones,” said Rein

“And lose more?” Sierra protested “We are just wasting it if you does that.”

“What at are you suggesting?” Fabian asked.

“Hmm.. maybe reinforced them..” she murmured “Asha did you get the data before we lost contact with the drones?”

Rein felt the wind started blowing around them, it was getting intense.

“We should go back to the ship,” Kincade suggested.

“Yeah, you’re right..” Rein waving at his friends.

Before they could stepped back from the ledge, a sudden gale blew from behind them. Rein shouted at everyone to crouched. He heard screaming, Eleanor was getting pushed back into the hole. Telling the other to stay down, Rein and Kincade hurriedly went to saved her.

“Rein!” Eleanor extending her hand.

“Got you!” grabbing her hand, he pulled her back from the ledge and threw her towards Kincade. However another gale blew him into the hole.

“REINNNnnnnnnn..”

He heard his name echoed as he fell deeper into the abyss. The light above slowly getting fainter, and the wind was deafening. Rein saw his life flashing before his eyes, Mom.. Dad.. Everyone. He felt a chilling air and water droplet around him before hitting something.