"Little girl, you managed to withstand my attack. As promised, I will give you information about your friends."
"Lady Warden, thank you. Where can I find them?"
"Some time ago, I held several newly captured humans in this prison. There were quite a lot of them. Hanako delivered them here only briefly before moving them to the Dead Star Tower."
"It seems she has other plans for those humans."
"She only left hybrid and astral creatures imprisoned here."
"Lady Warden, where is this Dead Star Tower?"
"The Dead Star Tower lies at the center of the continent, near the heart of this Oblivion World, just before the Giant Abyss."
"If you wish to go there, you'll need the map located in the Demonic Laboratory."
"A map? A Demonic Laboratory? Where is that?" Fatheema asked, both confused and bewildered.
"The map will help you reach the Dead Star Tower much more easily. With its guidance, you won't lose your way. It also marks many of the dangers and obstacles along the route."
"The map can be found not far from here, inside the Spirit Laboratory located in the chamber adjacent to this prison."
"I understand."
"If my friends aren't here, then I should leave as soon as possible."
"The sooner I find them, the better."
"Thank you, Lady Warden."
Fatheema turned toward the prison entrance, pulling Akane along by the hand.
"Wait, Fatheema."
The Prison Maiden raised her right hand.
"Someone wishes to meet you."
"Me?"
"What for?"
"This is my first time here."
Fatheema looked puzzled.
"Relax. He means you no harm."
"He merely told me that if I ever encountered a human matching a certain description, he wished to meet them."
"And I believe that human might be you."
"Hmm... all right."
"But only for a moment."
"I'm in a hurry."
"I need to find my friends and get out of this place."
"Then return home safely."
"Follow me."
The Prison Maiden walked toward the far end of the prison corridor.
She pressed her palm against the wall.
A circular pattern appeared beneath her hand, covered in strange symbols resembling ancient cuneiform characters.
The symbols shifted rapidly.
Then—
A doorway materialized within the prison wall.
"This prison has seven levels."
"The only way to move between them is through these Dimensional Lock Gates."
"Only those with special authority, such as myself, can open them."
"Xixixixi..."
The woman let out her unsettling laughter.
The three of them stepped through the doorway.
Beyond it lay a spacious circular chamber.
"Come inside."
"This is the lowest level."
"Level Seven."
"There are only ten cells here, reserved exclusively for the ten most important prisoners."
She led them to Cell Number Seven.
Placing her palm against the cell door, she activated another glowing pattern.
The door opened.
The three entered.
The chamber was surprisingly spacious.
Yet it appeared almost empty.
The only object inside was a woven pandan mat resting at the center of the room.
Above it floated a small crystal rod no longer than a handspan, emitting a faint glow.
Apparently, the prison's illumination came from luminous crystals of various colors and shapes embedded throughout the structure.
Someone sat cross-legged upon the mat.
He appeared to be an elderly man.
Yet despite his age, his body was massive, broad, and muscular.
If he were standing, he would likely exceed seven feet in height.
His face looked fierce.
Two sharp fangs protruded from either side of his mouth.
His skin was dark, and long reddish hair flowed down his back.
He wore simple gray robes resembling those of an ancient Brahmin sage.
Slowly, he opened his eyes and regarded the newcomers.
An invisible pressure instantly filled the atmosphere.
Without realizing it, Fatheema took a step backward.
The man's appearance had startled her.
"Do not be afraid."
"I have no intention of harming you."
His deep voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"Old man, I brought the person you described."
"I believe this is the girl you were talking about."
The Prison Maiden spoke softly while pointing toward Fatheema.
"Hmm..."
"Little girl, my name is Duratara."
"In the distant past, I was known as Sage Bagaspati (ResiBagaspati)"
"What is your name?"
"Where do you come from?"
"And how did you arrive in this place?"
The man called Duratara spoke in a voice so powerful that it seemed capable of shaking a person's very spirit.
"Mr. Duratara, my name is Fatheema Quraisin."
"I'm from Nusa Tenggara."
"I was brought here by Hanako."
"Right now, I'm searching for my friends who were also kidnapped."
"I want to return home together with them."
Duratara fell silent.
His gaze lowered toward the floor.
For a moment, he closed his eyes as though contemplating something profound.
"Hmm..."
"It seems your destiny was always meant to intersect with Hanako's."
"I cannot help you, little girl."
"In fact..."
"I was hoping to ask for your help."
"Grandpa, we're the ones in trouble!"
Akane immediately blurted out.
"Fatheema is struggling just to survive."
"I thought you were going to help us."
"Instead you're giving us more problems!"
"Akane, that's enough."
"Let's hear him out first."
"Maybe we really can help him."
Fatheema spoke calmly.
"Hmph. Fine."
Akane crossed her arms and pouted.
"Grandfather Duratara, how can we help you?"
"As I said, I'm lost here myself."
Fatheema asked politely.
She still remembered her parents' teachings: always show respect to elders.
"Little girl, I know I may seem shameless."
"We have only just met, yet I am already asking a favor of you."
"But I have no other choice."
"I am asking for your help because you come from the Earth Realm—especially from Nusantara."
"I want you to deliver this item to its rightful owner."
The old man produced a rectangular wooden box roughly two handspans long and one handspan wide.
"Inside are three items."
"A book."
"A keris."
"And a bottle containing ashes."
"As for the bottle of ashes, I ask that you take it to the southern sea and scatter the ashes into the ocean."
"As for the book and the keris, deliver them to a woman named Nyi Sekarwangi, who lives at the foot of Mount Wilis."
"They are the rightful owners."
"Long ago, I borrowed them from her ancestors."
"Sir, are you sure I'm the right person for such a responsibility?"
"What if I fail?"
Fatheema asked hesitantly.
"Little girl, I am only asking for your help."
"I have no right to demand success from you."
"Whether it succeeds or fails rests entirely in the hands of Gusti Allah."
"I merely ask for your willingness to try."
The old man smiled warmly.
"All right, Sir."
"I will do my best."
"But why are you imprisoned here?"
"Why don't you deliver them yourself?"
Again, Fatheema could not hide her curiosity.
"I remain here by my own choice."
"No one is holding me captive."
"I have my own reasons."
"As for returning to the Earth Realm..."
"I cannot."
"And I should not."
"That is why I waited for you."
"I received a vision from Gusti Allah, the One and Only."
Fatheema accepted the box from Duratara.
"Then I'll take my leave."
"I need to find my friends as quickly as possible."
She turned to leave.
"Oh, one more thing, little girl."
"I also wish to entrust something else to you."
"Hey, Yao Gui."
"Bring the child here."
Duratara addressed the prison warden.
The Prison Maiden muttered something under her breath.
Suddenly, a young girl appeared in her grasp.
The child looked no older than nine years old.
Her skin was flawless and pale.
Her black wavy hair flowed down to her waist.
Her face was extraordinarily beautiful, possessing delicate features reminiscent of a Caucasian child.
Her eyes were a brilliant shade of blue.
Her lips were naturally ruby-red.
She wore a loose light-blue dress that perfectly matched the color of her eyes.
Around her neck hung a necklace made of dark green beads.
***