"It is moving huh."

A woman muttered as she looked at base of the barrier, which had passed two rocks.

"*Sigh* We are done for."

"That's why I was against the idea of entering."

"Hu, that's what happens when you follow the advice of our 'genius' leader."

"We should not have come here."

"Will both of shut up already!"

James shouted at the two middle-aged men going on and on about their displeasure.

"Oh! And why should we shut up."

"We are just saying what's true."

Both the men stood in front of the young boy, trying to intimidate him.

Two muscular middle-aged men glaring at him would have silenced James, but fear of the barrier which may be shrinking under their nagging, had boiled the blood of the young adult.

"You should shut up because you two clowns are pissing me off! Are you blind can't you see that you are increasing the tension of the group?"

The boy snapped at them.

"What did you say..."

The younger of the duo Anais, who was being called uncle two gritted his teeth ready to lash at the young boy, who dared to call him a clown!

"Clowns, he said both of you are clowns."

A boy around the same age as James walked from the among the crowd. With another person standing beside him in his support, James felt more confident.

"You little run-"

"Now, now gentlemen why don't we solve this little dispute in a civilized way."

"That's right, no need for violence."

When things about to get violent, some people walked in separating the two groups.

Niamh who was being called uncle one, put his hands on Anais's shoulder stoping him from resisting the separation.

"I apologise for my brother's rude behaviour, he tends to lose his calm sometimes."

Niamh apologized bowing a little to the crowd which had gathered around because of the commission. Before Anais could voice his displeasure Niamh continued...

"But I don't think his anger is causeless. I mean we entered this dangerous barrier which is shrinking, and god may this never happen, but what if it... Never stop shrinking."

Hearing the possibility that they didn't dare to think of, the people couldn't help but shudder.

Niamh however was no way done, and nor was he going to stop because of their little shudder...

"Where is our 'leader' anyways, James?"

Surprised by the sudden question, James hesitated for a moment before answering.

"He went to the tree section with the group."

"Ohh. And Who are the member of this 'group'?"

Asked another question James felt unease for some reason. He had a feeling that he shouldn't answer the question, but under the questioning stares of the people, he couldn't remain quiet.

"Brother Suraj, Tonny and Tanya."

"Hm... I see."

Niamh just nodded his head.

"And I assume you don't know what they are up to?"

"He told me that they had to check something."

Hearing the answer Niamh became silent, as though pondering something.

"So what you mean is that Gautam took his siblings and the new guy and went somewhere? He didn't even bother to discuss anything with us and just left to god knows where, leaving us in dark."

He said looking at the people around him. James wanted to refuse but wasn't able to find the right words to do so.

"We have been with him for about 44 hours, but he doesn't consider us part of his group, but a new guy who's been with us for only 2 hours or so is in his group!"

He raised his voice at the end. Gritting his teeth he looked down.

*Sigh*

With a sigh, he dropped his shoulders looking at the silent group.

"I know you think that I am after Gautam, but believe me he is like my brother. I... I just want to... see my daughter."

Raising his hands in the air he shuttered at the end barely completing his sentence.

Looking at the ground he clenched his fist, saying in a soft voice...

"She was my princess. I raised her on my own, I saw her growing... from a cute baby to a beautiful lady. I loved her more than anything in the world! But... But... *Sob* God took her away from me."

The thug looking muscular man broke down talking with tears flowing from his eyes.

"*Sob* my daughter was a kind and sensible girl, she had never done anyone wrong, she deserved a better life than waiting for her death on a hospital bed!"

The group could feel their hearts clenching, some emotional ones even had tears in their eyes. They couldn't believe that the man who looked like a street thug, was hideing such sorrow in his heart.

Slapping himself on his cheeks the man wailed...

"She gave me so much love... *Sob* and I... I couldn't even gather some money for her cancer surgery."

The man kept slapping himself, punishing himself for not being able to save his daughter.

The crowd couldn't take it anymore, they broke down, some ran to the man stopping him from delivering any more slaps.

Stopping his sobs the man looked at the sky, which couldn't be seen inside the barrier. Looking up all one could see was a translucent cylinder reaching as far as eyes could see, with no end in sight.

"I cursed god all my life, it was his fault... for giving my lovely daughter such a hateful disease. He is so cruel. But..."

The man wiped his tears, a new fire flashed in his extinguished eyes, as he looked at the crowd.

"No! I was wrong. God is benevolent! God is merciful! Here I am, proof of his generosity. My daughter is somewhere out there beyond this cage trapping us, and I would find her... No matter what."

The people listening to him could feel a sign of newfound courage. A father is so desperate to see his daughter that may not even be there... Was inspiring and at the same time emotional.

"I know it sounds silly, but if this is the afterlife then my daughter must be here, waiting for me.

Don't you have someone you lost? Don't you want to meet them again? Something you always wanted to tell them but never could, don't you want them to listen you?"

The man asked as he looked at the emotional crowd.

"I... I want to meet my mother."

"My wife, I want to meet her."

"I want to apologise to my son."

A series of wishes were heard from the crowd. Everyone looked at the man with sympathy and a sense of familiarence. The man had fulled the spark within them, and even fanned it.

The way they looked at him had changed, if before they looked at him in annoyence, now that they knew the reason behind his naggings they looked at him with respect, sympathy or inspiration.

One person among the crowd however had a completely different look on his face. Startled, he was surprised, never in his wildest dream had he ever thought that his big brother was such an amazing speaker, When did he have a daughter? And lier.

"I shouldn't have listened to that kid, It was foolish of me to follow him. Even worse I raised my hands to follow the majority... But I didn't want to be left out of the group."

The man muttered under his breath, but strangely enough, everyone heard him.

"..."

"..."

"That's right I shouldn't have followed him."

"Ya, he is just a kid he hadn't lost anything in his life, he is inexperienced."

"He would never understand our pain."

Like a chain reaction, many people among the crowd walked towards the man standing beside him. Looking at the man who had his head hung low they felt a sense of familiarence with him. At the same time, they realised how wrong they were about this kind man who always put a brave front.

What they didn't know however was that the head bowed to the ground had a troubled face.

How am I so good at acting? These people crying over a fake story. Acting the way I desired why does it...

Niamh felt a strange confidence on himself, like he could do anything he wanted have any person follow him. The troubled expression on his face vanished cracking an...

Feels so good!!!

Intoxicated smile.

The silent system for the second time in his life decided to act. Messages kept popping at the corner of his vision. Though he didn't know the meaning of the messages he realised...

«A startler is watching you.»

«A starler has taken interest in you.»

«You have acquired a title, please access the system to view its effects.»

«A starler is watching you.»

«A starler.......»

He was the king!