Chapter 217: Getting Trapped (2)
Kestrel started to scrutinize the little room holding her captive. It appeared she was still within the castle, venturing further into its depths. To flee this room, she noticed two clear exits: one being the window, and the other a shut door.
The window wasn’t too high up, with a garden visible outside. Maybe by opening the window and leaping out, she could find freedom. The door was locked tight, and no noise could be detected from beyond it. Yanking it open might unveil horrifying beings, but equally, it might lead back to the hall where she got separated from Ren.
"To unlatch the door or to leap from the window?" Kestrel’s eyes darted back and forth between the door and the window a couple of times, the corridor outside the door was eerily silent, the mist outside the window dense, and a welcoming empty bed sat within the room.
In the end, she decided to lie down on the bed and shut her eyes.
When she opened her eyes again, Kestrel found herself back in the gloomy hall. She had made it out, awakening from the surreal world. The pools of blood, the bodies on the couch, the spiderwebs, the wooden spikes, and the fish tank were no more.
A chilling voice echoed in the dark hall, "Oh, you got out so soon."
It was then that Kestrel noticed a woman standing on the staircase adorned with a red carpet, positioned before a stained-glass window adorned with vibrant rose-patterns.
She was a tall figure with human-like features, her hair neatly arranged, dressed in a long gown adorned with old-fashioned designs, her face obscured by a thin sheet of black mesh. She was silhouetted against the light, silently observing Kestrel from where she stood, as if she had been present there forever.
Kestrel suddenly understood that she had been there from the start, right from when she first stepped in; from when she and Ren came in, she was clearly positioned near that colorful window. It was just that Kestrel was swayed by her potent psychic abilities, and even though she looked over several times, she had silly overlooked such an obvious figure.
"You’re really good. I haven’t met a beta like you in a while," the person by the window commented. "Getting out of my grip so fast isn’t simple."
Her voice was crisp, holding a note of praise.
Kestrel faced her and asked, "I’m still in your psychic world now, right?"
The woman at the window showed a small sign of amazement this time, and then started to smile gently. Her shock and the smile on her face felt really natural, not stiff at all, just like a normal person.
She bent down to lift her dress and began to walk down the steps slowly.
"So, you caught on?" she moved elegantly, her smile still on as she came closer to Kestrel. "I’m honestly amazed that you could see the real situation."
"Yeah, you just came out of a deeper part of my psychic landscape, not really totally waking up."
"It’s pretty cute. You always find interesting people like you among humans. That’s why I was first against the idea to corral humans."
"Corral humans? Like keeping them like animals?" Kestrel couldn’t help asking. This was the second time she heard about this in this Zone.
The gradually coming nearer mutant in her view, the Backbone of Mantidale, made Kestrel feel something a bit different — she didn’t look like any of the Backbones Kestrel met in other Polluted Zones, seeming old, with sharp awareness and balanced feelings.
Kestrel could even notice the relaxed nature in her actions. She had the power to move freely and a sharp sense of self, not stuck to a fixed body, and not overwhelmed by any desire driven by basic cravings.
Her actions and attitude were so human, giving off a vibe that felt very known to Kestrel.
After thinking a bit, Kestrel realized that she reminded her of the vibe the Empire’s Queen gave her.
This "queen" of Mantidale, dragging her big dress, descended the stairs at a steady pace. On her fancy dress, she had a necklace with a green jewel—a jewel Kestrel recognized very well.
She had seen a similar one before on the Empire Queen’s neck. Kestrel had almost touched that stone once. But, the stone on that queen’s neck was red.
The Mantidale Queen, donning that necklace, walked downstairs under Kestrel’s watchful eyes. She walked past Kestrel, through the poorly lit hall, aiming for the gateway to the castle’s rear garden.
The door there was open, and bright starlight flowed in. Outside, under the open sky, there was a never-ending field of flowers. Amid the flower sea, a long pathway made of vibrant transparent gems extended out, leading to a clear pavilion at the end.
The Queen of Mantidale stood at the threshold, turning back to glance at Kestrel, her delicate fingers softly touching the gem on her chest. "I understand why you came here. I’ll be in the garden pavilion, waiting for you. If you manage to get there, I’ll grant your wish."
Kestrel asked, "Just by getting there, you’ll give it to me?"
The night wind wafted by, slightly lifting the veil covering the Queen’s face, unveiling smiling red lips underneath. "Not just that, I can reveal all the secrets you want to uncover. But first, you need to show that you are capable of understanding and altering everything."
She spun around in the moonlight and sped down the gemstone pathway quickly, her form moving rapidly, leaving a sound resembling flowing water in her wake. "If you fall during your journey, don’t be too sad, I will lovingly transform you and your friends into nourishment for the flowers of this world. You’ll have a new kind of life, becoming residents of Mantidale, leading an entirely fresh existence. You might find it’s a superior option."
Kestrel thought for a bit, then took a step, heading towards the vibrant path. Above her, the starry sky shimmered, and ahead, the flower sea seemed limitless. The pathway, crafted from gems, was flanked by numerous flowers, reflecting a dreamy glow.
Kestrel realized she was in the psychic landscape of an ancient mutant who had existed for many, many years. The vibrant corridor represented a journey deep into the psychic landscape of that mighty mutated being.
The journey seemed short yet also never-ending, filled with bright colors and shifting lights and shadows. Entering might mean getting trapped forever. She could lose herself entirely in another’s boundless psychic landscape, becoming a richer source of energy for it.
In reality, Ren and her friends were putting up a fierce fight against the formidable mutant.
Ren was unsure how much longer he could withstand. Nicole and the others were in a precarious position, teetering between life and death.
It was going to be an intense battle.
From beneath her skirt, Kestrel’s tendrils surfaced, swirling around herself. They detected the adversary’s force, picking up on the perilous atmosphere.
"Go outside, assist the alphas," Kestrel instructed them.
"But..."
"Your strength will diminish if we do."
"It’s really risky."
"It’s extremely risky here too."
"Powerful, unlike anything we’ve faced before."
"I can’t do it alone. Only if all the alphas wake up, and I join them, is there a chance to win," said Kestrel.
"Alright then."
"Well, okay."
"You need to be cautious."
"We can’t exist without you."
"Remember, there are people who care about you now, you’re not solitary."
"Never abandon Ren, don’t let him be alone ever again."
