Overknight Hero

Chapter 8 : The Fault (3)

(My stomach, I feel so hungry) Thought Xaviel

Xaviel opened his eyes.

"What the?"

"Where am I?"

Light blue wallpapers colored the room as electric lamps lighted the place. Books regarding yoga and self-relaxation are scattered on the cream carpet. A computer with black and blue casing still running, making noise hearable from the bed.

"How am I here? How?" Xaviel said repeatedly. He is sure that all the things that happened to him weren't mere dreams.

"Shhhh!!!" He silenced himself.

Xaviel searched and opened his phone swiftly

Click

++

25 May 20XX

11:50

++

"I knew it…."

(Think, Think, Think)

Xaviel put bot his index finger on his head, thinking heavily about what had happened.

(I woke up in forest yada yada yada, woke up next day goes to a basement and..)

Xaviel then remembered moments before he woke up,

-~

"…Then experimented on the sap to create medicines. I only managed to brew a 'mend potion' by combining the tree sap with blue herbs I bought at the market."

(When Hoff was explaining the things, I…)

-~

"I TOUCHED THE ROOT!!!"

Xaviel shouted in enlightenment.

"But how does that make sense…."

Things don't seem to make a lot of sense. Xaviel contemplates his own situation, hoping to find an explanation. However, feelings of hunger took him over, making him think irrationally.

"I should eat…."

Xaviel said as he went to the kitchen.

***

"Hey Xaviel? Do you hear me? Xaviel!!". Hoff said repeatedly. "What the heck just happened here?" he continued.

Hoff then dragged Xaviel's body towards the sleeping rug and immediately checked on his pulse. Xaviel's heart rate seemed to be well and normal. Hoff then picked up the oil lamp near him and tried to illuminate Xaviel's eyes. Somehow, Xaviel's body didn't respond to the physical stimuli.

"What the hell is going on?"

DING-DING

"HOFF CRESTIA!"

A voice rings in Hoff's mind.

"W-Wh-Who's there?" Hoff shouted.

"Hoff Praya Crestia, you have been requested at the court of Lady Victoria. Detail on the meeting topic will be informed once you arrive at the mansion. Proceed to the mansion with all due haste! End Communication," said a toneless female voice.

(Shit. The timing couldn't be worse… I suppose Xaviel should be fine here.), Hoff thought.

Hoff then write on a piece of paper with his quill saying,

"Xaviel... I had some things to do. If you by any means read this note. Don't proceed with the mission yet. Dangerous creatures are lurking in the labyrinth. I was supposed to accompany you till you get to the other side, but it may not happen right away. Take the spare clothes and weapon from the chest near the north door. And stay there, don't go forth!"

Hoff then put the note on the table of the next room next to an oil lamp. He climbed up the ladder going out of the cellar. As he exited the shack directly above the basement, he walked through the road and got greeted by Maru.

"Hey, Dad! What are you doing here?"

"Oh Maru, How are you? Guard duties in the north gate?"

"Yeah, apparently the Chief suspects the recently caught criminal to originate from the other province. Me and Rook here were about to investigate any clue regarding the matter. Rook, this is my father."

Maru's gestures Rook as he nudged Hoff with a pleasant smile. The man was wearing village guard attire similar to Maru, missing the rank badge symbolizing his rookie position. His eyes were covered by something similar to that of Ski Glasses.

"Good day Mister Hoff. I heard many great things about you," Said the rookie as he shaked hands with Hoff.

"Good day to you too! What's your name?"

"Oh.. everybody calls me Rook, but my real name is Zed-.."

"I bet it was my son who made everyone call you that, huh?" Hoff looks slightly menacing towards Maru.

"I swear, Dad, it wasn't me!"

"It better be. Anyways good luck to the both of you,"

"Yeah, thanks, dad,"

Hoff, Maru, and Zed then depart to each other's destination.

"Ouch.." Hoff blurted.

He lifted his palm and looked around it, though he hadn't found anything suspicious.

"Well, that's weird.."

***

NOM! NOM! NOM!

"My God, I didn't know food tastes this good!"

Xaviel is eating a SUPER DELUXE labeled cup ramen on his living room floor.

Ding-Dong!

As the doorbell rang, he swiftly rose and opened the door to receive more morsel. He ordered Pepperoni Pizza with cheese-filled crust, A meatball sub with a side nacho and dip, and a Large Coke bottle. He viciously ate all the food in front of him like a beast.

As his stomach was filled with chunks of food and liquid, it reacted differently. His stomach was suddenly in pain because of the residual air that filled inside. As it was forced to exit, it caused him to experience stomachache.

"Ouch… Oh, God… That really hurts... AH!"

Time went on, and it only grew worse. Until he discovers the urge to take a dump. After finishing the bathroom, 'business' air had completely exited his stomach. His recovery made him think about the situation at hand. How he was sleeping and ended up in a fantasy world. It begs the question of how he got there in the first place and whether it was a reality or just a dream.

"The scar!" he said.

As he fought Hoff the day before, he got a new scar on his hand. Lifting both his hands, he found no signs of injury nor bandage. Prompting him to the conclusion that what he had experienced won't do any damage to him. But still reluctant to believe that it was all a dream.

He began lying on the bed.

Xaviel was confused, tired, and full.

Making him somewhat drowsy.

Tutt---Tutt

"That sounds like a trumpet…Wait.."

Xaviel opened his eyes to find that he was no longer inside a light blue-colored room but a dimly lighted room made by stone bricks.

"What?" he blurted.

"I am… back here?"

"Could that mean…" He freaked out as turning his Gaze to a nearby tree root. He lifts his hand to find a scar left by Hoff.

He reaches towards the root, screaming, "TAKE ME HOME!". The touched surface begins to glow, flashing the entire room with a strange light.

"WAAAA" He screamed as he woke up.

He looks around to find that he's back in the light blue room.

“I am back..”

“Haha.. Hahahaha…”

He laughs.

"This is going to be fun!"

Xaviel smirks.