Cursed Odyssey

Despite the situation, Adrian's voice carried an almost playful quality.

Then it shifted, turning serious. "As I said, boy, we don't take kindly to outsiders, but the circumstances of your arrival have forced us to reconsider. I suggest you answer truthfully, for the holy sphere will reveal any deceit... and I assure you, the consequences will be severe."

He leaned back, tapping his walking stick against the ground. The sound echoed through the dim room like a countdown.

Joseph nodded, throat dry. His heart hammered against his ribs. "I understand, my lord. I will speak only the truth."

Adrian's gaze lingered before he leaned forward, elbows on the table. He studied Joseph's face intently—the trembling hands, the fear. As if measuring its depth.

"Good. Now, let's begin." He paused. "Place your hand on the orb."

Joseph obeyed. The orb began to glow, warm under his palm, almost alive—as if reading his very thoughts.

"Have you seen a lie detector before?" Adrian asked immediately. Unlike some interrogators, he skipped standard probing questions.

"No, I haven't, though I am familiar with the concept."

The orb glowed white—soothing, painless. Truth.

"Excellent! So you're at least familiar! Let us begin!" Adrian's grin widened too much. Something unhinged lurked in his demeanor that set Joseph further on edge.

"State your name!"

"My name is Joseph, my lord." He spoke slowly, carefully.

White glow. No lies detected.

"What an odd name... Expected of an outsider... Do you go by any other names?"

"Wolf. Heartwell."

Again, white light.

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Interesting... names like those carry stories. Perhaps we'll explore those another time. For now, let's move on."

"Before you came here, where were you? You looked very beaten and malnourished."

"That was from the forest, my lord. We had several close encounters. As to where I came from... it is a place called Earth." He paused at Adrian's puzzled expression.

"Earth..." Adrian's eyes narrowed. "I've never heard of such a place... But then again, I've not heard about most places. Can you tell me about it?"

Joseph took a steadying breath. "It is a place of rich wonder, exploration, and innovation. A place both secretive and advanced, with towering cities that touch the sky. One day I woke up and found myself here, as though I were kidnapped... I tell you the honest truth."

Adrian tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I... see... You carry secrets of this 'Earth' society? You must be quite the specimen."

"Not at all, sir." Joseph shook his head quickly. He could feel Adrian's scrutiny, the weight of silence pressing down.

"Oh, don't be modest! I'm certain we could learn much from you if you make it out alive... I've yet to ask you the important questions." Adrian's grin returned—sly and calculating.

"I'm fully prepared." Joseph took a shaky breath.

"After you were kidnapped, explain what happened next."

Joseph paused, recalling the terrifying moments. "I was stuck in a dark place, perhaps underground. The girl I came with and I were held captive. Eventually, we found our chance to escape, and we took it. In our fight with our captor, something came..."

He hesitated. The vivid memory made him shiver.

For a moment, he froze—eyes agitated, skin crawling, hairs standing on end. As though he could see it clearly before him.

"A purple beast, tall as the tallest tree, thick as a mountain... A serpentine creature that swallowed everything whole. My partner and I narrowly escaped its grasp. Its mouth was like an endless abyss, teeth lining it all around... I was nearly swallowed whole." His voice trembled.

"L-Lagos..." Adrian gulped, stomach lurching.

Color drained from his face. His eyes widened with genuine terror.

He gripped his walking stick until knuckles turned white, tremors visible in his hands.

"That description matches it... So the legends are true... Has it come to get us?!"

Joseph shook his head. "Last I saw it, it disappeared. I assume it got into a fight with our captor before retreating back to where it came from."

"When was this?!" Adrian's voice cracked with panic.

"To be honest, I'm not sure. My sense of time distorted after escaping, and I spent most of my time in a cave. Eventually, I came across this village, and on my last bit of strength, I gambled that you all would be kind enough to help us."

"This is bad... really bad... If the ancient Lagos has awakened, then it is the end of us all!" Adrian grew more hysterical, fingers clenching his walking stick like a lifeline.

"Calm down, my lord! I said that it has disappeared! There should no longer be danger... right?"

"NO!" Adrian hissed. "It is the monster that slumbers beneath this land! Something must have angered it! It has awakened! Oh, ancestors! When will it come back?!"

His eyes darted around the room in pure panic.

"Is there no way to seal it again? Before it arrives?" Joseph tried to maintain calm.

Adrian's eyes lit up. He stared at Joseph, grasping his shoulders with painful grip.

"THERE IS!" he screamed, as if remembering something obvious in his daze.

"The third week after its release, on the exact hour the sun reaches the center of the sky... We can seal it with a grand sacrifice."

"What kind of sacrifice...?" Joseph swallowed hard.

"Unfortunately, I believe we'd have to sacrifice you two... You might somehow be the reason for Lagos's release. The fact that you escaped its attack means trouble. If it doesn't work, oh ancestors have mercy on our souls." Adrian looked pained yet resolute.

"So... I will be executed... but my execution has simply been postponed...?" Joseph felt his heart sink.

"EXACTLY, MY BOY!" Adrian rubbed his cane, seemingly pleased with his clarity.

Joseph took a shaky breath. "I... I understand... I'll lead you to where it was released."

"Oh, oh, that can wait until it's time, my boy! We need to make preparations for the ritual! So much has to be done!" Adrian's eyes gleamed with fear and agitation.

"And will I be locked up... in the meantime?" Joseph asked cautiously.

"Your story intrigues me, so I'll let you roam free... See what happens. I believe that is what dear Anne wishes as well... I'll let her take responsibility for you two until then. Though, I'll also have you trailed by a guard at all times... just to be sure." Adrian fidgeted.

Joseph sighed with relief, though anxiety remained. "Thank you, my lord. I understand."

"Don't you dare leak any of this! This is classified! Any sign, and I will have you two imprisoned! Don't make me regret my decision!" Adrian's eyes blazed with warning.

"I understand... No words will come from my mouth, sir. But out of curiosity... What if I do try to escape? Then what?" Joseph's voice dropped to almost a whisper.

Adrian chuckled—cold, joyless, though no humor reached his hard eyes. The sound came out almost like a growl.

"You have such an interesting mind, boy! That is my arcane power! I've ingrained an orb spirit within you... I know your exact location at all times. If you leave the village grounds too far, I'll be alerted, and the entire garrison shall be unleashed upon you... I wouldn't try that, especially since your own arcane energy has been sealed."

"I... I see... and these handcuffs must be the ones doing it, I assume." Joseph glanced at the restraints binding his wrists.

"Yes! Yes! Another present from the ancestors! Truly marvelous! I didn't think I'd have to use them, considering not many in this village possess arcane power! Truly, it pains me to have to sacrifice two capable children with high potential, but it must be done for the future of our village." Adrian shook his head with hint of sorrow.

Joseph swallowed hard, the weight of fate crushing down.

"I... I understand..."

He slowly removed his hands from the lie detector, still feeling the orb's warmth.

"I've come to terms with my death long ago. It was either I died in that forest after escaping that monstrous captor of mine... and that decrepit cave she kept us in, trying to extract information about Earth... or I joined this village instead. My death has been graciously extended by you and your people, and I've been given freedom and another chance for happiness... I could not be more grateful."

His voice cracked slightly, betraying the fear and sorrow he tried so hard to suppress.

Adrian nodded approvingly, patting Joseph's shoulder as he stood. "Very well, boy. Remember what I've told you, and maybe—just maybe—this story might end differently."