CHAPTER 12

In my childhood, climbing mountains is a daily thing for my training. I was 9 or 10 years old when I was climbing with my mother.

Though one of her training is me being kicked off the cliff and climb back up again. I broke both of my legs that day, so I had to climb back up with both my hands and even my mouth.

Going up this mountain made me remember one of my many painful memories.

We started to hike the mountain that is located behind the 3rd year building, and when I said we, I meant me, Ana and a new face that I just meet this morning.

“Hah…Hah…I never would have thought…hah…that this mountain would be so big…hah.”

Her name is Abigail Mikkins a student/assistant of the missing person Douf Dorrel.

I was told that he suddenly disappeared at a clearing in the foot of the mountain.

At that time I was with Reshulla and Ana. I was thinking of going back to Mr. Douf’s lab since it was obvious that I wasn’t wanted in the gymnasium.

But once I’m out of the gym, Robin came running towards me and told us the current situation.

We quickly got back to the lab and found Ana’s gramps having a talk with Abby and he eventually saw me.

“Youngster, you’re here. I guess you all ready heard from the young lady here.”

The young lady he was referring to was Robin; I guess they already introduced to each other.

We took a look at the computer monitor that show’s a map and a little red light, blinking in a specific area.

Robin took a sit and explained.

“*Pop* As soon we found the location, Mr. Douf called some security and they headed to the mountain in a panic.”

In a panic? I can’t really see Mr. Douf panicking, kind of hard to imagine.

Abby who’s standing beside Robin is lost in thought for a while, but quickly called something.

“So that’s why he was in a hurry.”

Reshulla asked on what she meant by Mr. Douf rushing to the location. I guess Reshulla also find it weird for him to act like that.

“Prof. Douf did tell me anything yet, but apparently he was working on something or to be clearer, he was finding something.”

Abby opened a door what seems to be the lab’s storage room, took a box out and opened it.

“I’m still not sure on what he is looking for, but he did show me this.”

Abby took out the content and remove its wrapping and what we all see is a rectangular block with an unreadable writing engraved into it.

I asked if she knew what it meant, but she said only Mr. Douf knows.

Or so she thought.

“Hmm…I think I’ve seen this before.”

It was Reshulla, the local campus witch.

Since she’s a witch, she must have some knowledge regarding this. After all the last time I was in her office. It was full magic related artifacts……………No, the memories of me saying those stupid AV lines are all coming back to me!

Stop James, just shake it off. We don’t have time for that right now.

“Reshulla, can you look into it?”

“Sure, it’ll be easy. I forgot what page it’s in, but I know where the book is.”

“Is it in the campus’ library?”

I regret asking her this question.

“No, it’s under the couch, you know, where you took my first time.”

“What are you saying!?”

“What am I saying? I’m talking about the time we had s**.”

“Don’t say that in front of other people!”

How can you say that without even flinching!? You’re even giving me a look as if I asked you something stupid.

“*Pop* So what kind of positions did he do?”

Ms. Robin, please refrain from asking personal questions!

“Phew, Moriarty. You actually got to sleep with your teacher in the first day? What an animal.”

Just so you know Abby, I was drugged that time…sort of.

“Hohohoho! Do tell. This old man is quite curious about the life of youngsters nowadays.”

This old man! Why does he want know? The answer to those questions is meant to be kept not shared.

Well, at least not all of them are asking absurd questions.

“James…slept with…”

Ana stood still with an empty look. Is she alright? She’s been mumbling something for a while now. I couldn’t hear it though.

“James did the same thing to me last night. *pop*”

Damn it, now Robin is the one talking and it looks like she’s gloating.

If this keeps up, one else might overhear them and might cause a bad rumor about me and by popularity is bad enough as it is.

I need to change the subject quick!

“Robin, can you give me the map to where Mr. Douf was last seen?”

“Hmm? Oh right, *pop* hold up a bit. I’ll print it right now.”

Yes! It worked!

“*Pop* I was getting to the good part, but it’s going to have to wait for later.”

No, it didn’t work! Actually, why does these two want to share their sexual life with each other!?

“Here you go. *pop* but what do you need this for?”

“I plan to go there and take a look myself.”

Besides, I don’t think I can stay in a classroom where I’m being hated. Wait a minute……

“What about classes? Won’t we have lessons?”

After all, even if these kinds of things happen, I’m still a college student and in my first year to boot.

As a student I still need to worry about my scores. But what Reshulla and the old man said surprised me.

“That’s ok James; I’ll be busy looking for the meaning of this rock anyway and also…”

“Finding Douf is more important lad, so it’ll be a big help if you go, besides…”

The continuation of their sentence almost made my jaw drop.

“”What’s the point of having the authority if you can’t even abuse it for yourself?””

“…………………”

I can’t believe two staff members of the academy just said that, and one of them is even the chairman!

“Ana, you should talk to your grandfather about this……Ana?”

I tried to talk to Ana about her grandfather’s sense of responsibility but she wasn’t even listening, she just looked down whispering some words I couldn’t hear.

“Ana? Are you OK? You’ve been mumbling something for a while now.”

“Huh? Ah! Y…yes I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”

“…….alright.”

She doesn’t look OK though, but if the person herself said so, then I guess she is.

“*Pop* Here’s the map……”

“Thanks Robin…hmm? Robin? Are you worried about something?”

“Be careful out there, you hear me? Your house is nice an all, but it’s too big for one person to live in.”

“Once you get back I’ll have the info we need about this slab, so don’t worry and do what you have to.”

After all these years of being shunned I finally have people who actually care for me, though they’re not really what you call ordinary. But it’s fine.

“P…please wait, let me come with you.”

“Huh? Ana? You know where I’m headed might be dangerous, right?”

She should understand this much at least.

“Why don’t you take her with you lad?”

“Huh? What are you talking about old man?”

Why would he let his granddaughter go? He should know how dangerous it is.

“Please James, I promise I won’t get in your way. So please…”

Oh no, she has those eyes again.

“You know lad, once she gives that look, nothing is going to change her mind.”

Trust me old man, I know that very well. I even got this feeling that if I said no she would still follow me.

“…………*Sigh* alright Ana, you win. But just like I said last night…”

“Y-yes, I promise I’ll stay by your side forever.”

That’s good, she still remember what I said last night…wait, what?

“If she can come along, then I’m in to.”

Did she just say…never mind, but first its Ana and now its Abigail who wants to come with me.

“Ah, before you try to refuse, I have a legit reason for coming with you.”

She then took a few tools in the storage room and gave a small tech.

“It’s an earpiece; with this we can still maintain our conversation with Robin while she stays here keeping an eye on us.

The other reason is because I want to know what’s out there.”

Seeing as Abigail also had a strong determination for coming along. We finally made our way to the mountain.

But one of us got so tired on the way up I had to carry her, surprisingly it’s not Ana but Abigail is now on my back.

“Ugh…now I see why Prof. Douf is in good shape despite being in his 30s.”

“Hey Abigail, can I ask you a question?”

“I guess you found out, huh?”

“………I had a feeling.”

“I guess I can’t keep hiding it anymore. Alright I’ll come clean.”

“………………”

“I’m actually…………a B cup.”

“………Huh?”

“I might look like a C cup, but I actually us paddings to make them look big.”

What in the world is this woman talking about!?

“You felt it didn’t you? You felt the lies I hid within the cloth on my chest.”

Like I said, what in the world are you talking about…wait…are you crying!?”

“I’m sorry *sniff* I’m sorry for destroying you dreams *sob*.”

“I have no such dream!”

“Eh!? Does that mean…”

The young woman beside me, who is not even slightly tired, gave out a gasp in surprise.

“Does that mean you don’t like big breasts!?”

I was about to cry out, but a click noise came out of the earpiece and Robin’s voice said something she shouldn’t have.

[I don’t think so Ana, after all *pop* James groped my chest pretty intensely last night.]

“Wuaa!!! I knew it! All men love big boobies!”

“Tha-that means…I still have a chance.”

“Can we please stop talking about what my sexual preferences are, we’re here to find a missing person, remember?”

I know what I did last night so please don’t remind me.

We continue our hiking and eventually made it to the location were Mr. Douf disappeared.

The reason on how we found it so fast is of course because of the map, but mostly it’s because of Robin’s accurate directions.

On the site, it was obvious that there was a struggle, but no blood is found. So what I told the girls next is to gather everything they can find, while still remaining on the plain area. But there are things that I told them to leave on the ground and tell me about it.

A few minutes later all the equipment and tools are now in front of us gathered and piled up. But as for the thing I told them to avoid is in another pile.

When Ana and Abigail saw those, the atmosphere around them tensed. Ana kneeled on one leg and looked closer and asked me…

“Are these guns real?”

“They are.”

But not ordinary guns, what we see here are 5 C7 assault rifle and 3 Steyr TMP, there is no way ordinary campus security would get a hold of these military grade weapons.

“Hey guys! I think I found something!”

Abigail called us over and led us to a………dead end?

“I know what you guys are think, but check this out.”

She put up her hands and placed it beside the wall. At first, Ana and I didn’t understand what she was doing until Ana did the same.

“James, there’s air coming out from the wall.”

When Ana said those words I finally understood what Abigail meant.

“Abigail, can you go get me those pickaxes you found earlier?”

She gave me a nod and headed to the pile we gathered and quickly returned with two.

The pickaxe is made purely from steel so handle wont slip like the ones made out of wood.

I used both pickaxe and hit the small gap in the wall. I then asked the girls to hold it while I use one of the hammers to make the pickaxes go deeper in the gap.

And once that was over I grabbed hold of the pickaxes again and I pull with everything I got.

*Kshhh…*

Small sounds can be heard and slowly the wall started to move. With the gap being bigger, Abigail grabbed the opening and pulled along with me.

“Humph!! I wish I’ve…grhaa…worked out more!!!”

She wasn’t any help pulling though.

“Please, let me help to.”

Ana quickly went beside Abigail in attempt to help us. But I don’t think we will be able to do anything on our own, after all this 15 feet wall is made out of pure stone. So I don’t think one more person can help us…

“Teyaah!”

*Swoosh!*

“Whoaa!?”

“Aaaah!?”

Hmm? How in the world did that happen? Could it be that the machinery that’s inside the wall brake?

“James, Abigail. Look, it’s finally open.”

“”Y…Yeah…””

I guess I wasn’t the only one who was startled, since Abigail stuttered on her words just like I did.

[I heard you guys scream just now, what happened over there!?]

“I-it’s nothing, we just found a way down inside a hidden cave.”

[So that’s why, he disappeared because he was underground this whole time. No wonder I couldn’t pick up his signal on his cell phone.]

“Wait, you hacked Mr. Douf’s cell phone?”

[*Pop* Yeah, I did. Is something wrong?]

“No, nothing is wrong.”

Is it just me or hacking into computers and cell phones are the new fad right now?

“Hey Robin, I don’t think the earpiece will work underground ether. So can you tell the old man and Reshulla just in case something happens?”

[………………you know James, what you said just now doesn’t make me feel any better.]

“Oh, right. Sorry about that.”

[*Sigh* It’s fine. just make sure you come back, that goes for all of you.]

“We will, don’t worry.”

As soon as we said our goodbyes, the green light on the earpiece stopped flashing, indicating that we are now disconnected from Robin.

Ana and Abigail walked closer to me and then asked…

“So what now James? Are we really going down there?”

“I might be one year older than all of you, but I don’t have any experience with this. So it’s your call.”

“Alright, first things first…”

I don’t know what might happen down there, but all I know is we need to be ready as much as we can.

“We gear up.”

I just hope nothing bad happens………

Oh shit, I just raised a death flag didn’t I?

Hi! its me ZYLOS101 hope you guys enjoy reading this story as much as i write it...type it? oh well, i had a little hard time thinking about this chapter because i was thinking about a new bread i could sell and yes i am a baker...sort of. anyway hope you guys enjoy reading this! my last word for this chapter is,

Oppai will always be good no matter how big or small. see ya next chapter my friends!!!