1314: A Thousand Peonies Bloom
Pandora Box

Shuwan who was exhausted from crying slowly fell asleep. In his dream he met a man wearing all-white clothes, his face was not clearly visible.

“Who are you?” shuwan.

“Who am I is not important now. If you want to return your friends, then you must be able to finish the opening key to be able to open the box seal and also get out of this place,” said the man.

“Key? How could I? Here there is nothing but that chest,” Shuwan said with doubts that struck his heart.

“There will be someone guiding you to learn that when you realize later,” the man's message which then disappears in such a dazzling light.

Shuwan covered his eyes from that light.

He also woke up from his sleep. Slowly but surely, he began to open his eyes and look around. “I'm still here. That means, that was just a dream. What did that mysterious man mean in my dream?” Shuwan is confused, and hears the sound of a cat nearby.

Shuwan was shocked. He looked back and found that there was a cat there.

“A cat? How could it be here? Whereas since we entered there are no signs of life here,” said Shuwan who was confused by the situation he faced at this time.

Shuwan distracts her, and approaches the cat. The cat Shuwan found looked fine and healthy. The fur is clean white, with large pupils because the room where they are located has limited lighting.

“Little cat, are you lost too? Why is it here too?” shuwan said as he stroked the cat.

But who would have guessed, something happened that shocked his rationality at that moment.

“Do not carelessly touch me. I don't like being touched by people like you.”

Can this cat talk? Shuwan's eyes were wide. He became frightened and distanced himself from the cat.

“K-you.. How can a cat talk?” shuwan asked in a voice trembling with fear.

“Hei... No need to get to that ‘kan? I'm a classy cat and also handsome, you know. Are you still afraid of me?” ask the cat with confidence.

This cat is narcissistic. “How can you be here? Whereas as long as me and my friends are here, there are no other living things that roam,” Shuwan said.

“I am a spirit animal who will be your guide as well as your teacher,” said the cat with a tone that is so arrogant.

Shuwan. “Directive? My teacher? What nonsense are you talking about right now? My friends are locked in that crate, and you, all of a sudden, come and say something silly like this?” Shuwan's emotions stirred in his chest. He was reminded of his friends who had mysteriously disappeared.

“Didn't you meet her? The man in all white clothes,” said the cat gave a hint.

The man in white? What does it mean to be the person I met in a dream? Inner Shuwan.

“I am Liko, the spirit sent by that person to teach you to finish the coffin unlock. Don't you want to get them out?” keep the cat.

Shuwan assented with a nod while looking at the cat with confidence.

“Then follow me,” they approach the coffin where Shuwan's friends disappeared in the blink of an eye.

The cat started by telling the story behind the crate.

“Peti which looks more like Pandora's Box is an heirloom belonging to a psychic who once lived here. This heirloom is named ‘Soul Binding Heritage.’ This box contains the emotions, hatred, pain, and also grudges that humans have. The psychic used it as a container to subdue his opponent and punish anyone who tried to forcefully open the chest without his permission. Your friends are there serving that sentence. They will suffer because of the pain, and also the hatred that they have been craving. Their emotions stirred up to make them give up and choose to die alone,” Liko explained a little to Shuwan.

“That psychic has no descendants, or follows any sect. So that no one could control his strength other than him. However, his life was not happy. He came to this kingdom, and the king used him to achieve his own ambitions. After the king's ambition was achieved, he was unjustly killed by the king. Because of this too, the psychic threw a curse at this kingdom. So, this kingdom looks like what you see today,” continued Liko.

Shuwan's heart was still filled with curiosity, “Is this the story referred to in the carving on the outer wall of this palace?”

Liko went back to explaining, “True. The psychic cursed the kingdom with an outbreak of infectious diseases as well as an economic crisis. Many died as a result of this infectious outbreak. They also kill each other in order to survive in the midst of crisis. This kingdom is also chaotic. Not one other kingdom that the king conquered helped him face this crisis, for fear of contracting a plague. Until finally, make this kingdom collapse just like that.”

“If this kingdom collapses due to disease and crisis, then why can this palace be fine?” ask Shuwan back.

“Heh... You're a girl who likes to ask a lot of questions huh?” liko said to Shuwan who asked like a journalist.

“Of course. I need to know the details. My friends are not here, and all that is because of the crate,” Shuwan said.

“Alright, since already asked, I will give you the information you need. Because the protective wall that has been made is what keeps it intact. A monk with his student once visited here. He had heard the story of the collapse of the kingdom in this desert. He and his students took the initiative to create walls in order to protect this palace, and make carvings of the tragedy that befell this kingdom so that it can be a lesson for anyone who visits it.”

“Then, how now this place can be buried under the sand?” Shuwan.

“Of course because of the sandstorm that comes continuously,” Liko brief.

Shuwan was still curious, “But I was surprised, how did we get in here? If there is a hole, why does the sand not enter here?”

“You enter through the dimensional hole formed in the suction sand. So it's no ordinary hole. This place is of course protected with magical powers,” Liko told Shuwan.

Shuwan was silent, he then again asked, “Lantas heirloom have the psychic, why no one took it?”

“It's free, the heirloom will still be here because the owner died in this place. Never mind being moved, in the lift will not be able to,” said Liko.

Shuwan still can't believe, “Is it really like that?” said it.

“If you don't believe please try lifting it,” Liko challenge it.

Sure enough, Shuwan did not manage to lift it, as hard as he tried.

“You said you came to be my guide and teacher. Then what do I do to finish that unlock?” shuwan asked at the core of the conversation.

“That key is not like the opening key of the door. It was shaped like a soul summoning magical power. To form it, you need to complete the Dragon Sword Dance. Because the chest can only be opened by the psychic, then you need to do the dance to call his soul back and free him,” said Liko.

“Ta-dance Dragon Sword? Calling souls?” shuwan was confused.

“True. You are the one who is destined to destroy the heirloom, after thousands of years of waiting. The psychic is bound to his inheritance, if his inheritance is destroyed he will be free and can do reincarnation,” replied Liko.

Shuwan looks confused, he then says, “The destined person? How can?”

Liko calmly answered Shuwan's question, “Let's see the sword you always carry. Isn't there a carving of a pair of dragons?”

Shuwan nodded as well. “It was part of your destiny. Your arrival here is also because of a call to finish it,” explained Liko.

Shuwan fell silent, he then asked back to Liko, “Then, how should I start?” shuwan said with a stern face.

Liko smiled, “Follow my movements,” Liko brief.