LUCEM
Chapter XLII

Marbella comes to talk about something serious with Jiso. Things not to negotiate. Jiso understands that.

After Marbella left him, Jiso stepped into the room where his troops were. The boisterous atmosphere instantly became silent as he stepped into the room with a grim face. He sat himself on a chair in the corner of the room. No one dared to speak. The rat troop could recognize the gloom as something unpleasant that may have or will happen.

Until Superman finally broke the silence.

Gently, he cleared his throat, gargling with drinking water. Some people raised their heads. Jiso glared at the floor.

“Superman,” he said gently, “can I talk to you for a moment? Out there?"

Superman's body stiffened.

He looked around, unsure, as Jiso confused him with others. Castle and Jimmy turned sharply towards Superman, widening their eyes. Sam, on the other hand, looked at Superman, trying to hide his frustration.

"Um"— Superman scratched his head—"maybe we should talk here," he said. “As a group?”

"Outside, Superman." Jiso stood up, the gentleness missing from his voice, his face. "Please now."

Reluctantly, Superman stood up.

Superman locks eyes with Jimmy, wondering if he has an opinion on the situation, but his expression is illegible.

Jiso calls Superman again.

Superman shook his head but followed the commander of the rat troop out the door. Brings to a corner, to a narrow passageway between the shed and the basement door.

Actually this is a familiar path for the rat troop, a space that is always passed every day if they are reluctant to pass through the main door. Which surprised Superman a little when he first walked into the hallway, because this space was very different from the one he remembered before. This hallway has a bleach-like aroma, medicines everywhere. Their medical work has been much more traditional, practiced by Marbella or Moonflower at certain times only with the help of a few trained rats. This corner of the hall now contained a mixture of medicine supplies that smelled full of fear.

Superman raised his hand with an awkward wave as he again realized Jiso's whereabouts there. Trying smile. Jiso gave a bright smile in return, holding it steady until the young rat was pushed into another room. Jiso. Jiso's eyes flickered, his dark brown fur shining in a dim light like a warning. Superman's spine is straight.

Jiso was surprisingly terrifying. "What's going on out there?" she said. "What are you doing?"

“OK, first of all”— Superman raised both hands—“I didn't do anything. And I've already told you what exactly happened—”

"You never told me that a dimensional space spirit was trying to access your mind."

It stopped Superman.. "What's? Yes I did. I really told you that, sir. I used those exact words.”

"But you didn't give the necessary details" he said. “How was it started? What's it feel like? Why did he let go?”

"I don't know," said Superman, frowning. "I don't understand what happened—all I know is a guess."

"Then guess," he said, narrowing his eyes. "Except— He's no longer in your head, is he?"

"What's? No." Superman panicked.

Jiso sighed, more of a disturbed feeling than relief. He touched his fingers to his temple to show submission. "It doesn't make sense" he said, almost to himself. “Why is he trying so hard to infiltrate our minds? Why yours? I think he fought Marbella, against us through our minds, through our rats. It feels like our rats are working for them.”

Superman shook his head. " I don't think so, sir. When the spirit was in my head, it felt more like a desperate last attempt—like he was worried that the girl would not have the heart to kill him, and he wished I had finished it sooner. He called me brave, but weak. Like, I don't know, maybe this sounds crazy, I might have been strong enough to hold it. But then he jumped on my head and realized he was wrong. I'm not strong enough to hold his mind, and definitely not strong enough to kill him.” Superman shrugged his shoulders.

"So Jimmy saved you by waking you up forcibly." Jiso. Superman was surprised.

“You think he's really desperate to die? You think he wouldn't fight if someone tried to kill him? Stop being a tool of carelessness, Nak.” Jiso clenched his teeth.

being in a very bad place.”

" A carelessness can make it worse, okay!?" Jiso pressed the brow of Superman's rat.

"Understand, Sir!" Superman straightened his body.

*******

"How long are we gonna be here, Moonflower?" I asked after finding out where we are at the moment.

"I estimated it was about three to four days," Moonflower replied.

"I don't see Maria around here. I mean, is she okay?"

Moonflower nodded, she assured me of the state of Mary who was in one of the rooms. "Some troop of rats just brought him a snack."

"You want to see him?" Ask Marbella.

"No" I answered quickly.

"I am relieved to know that she is okay, however, the safety of the girl has become our responsibility at this time" I explained.

"Aah yeah... My responsibility is exactly" said Marbella.

"I'll sit here."

"All right," Moonflower. He moved next to Marbella.

"You want me to bring you something?" Ask Moonflower.

"Yes, something warm if it's not a hassle" I replied.

"Alright, I'll be right back," Moonflower walked towards the kitchen.

"What is another magic book?" I asked Marbella.

"This?" He asked back.

I'm nodding.

"Cooking recipe book. I'm learning how to cook cheesecake." Marbella showed a sheet containing a picture of a cheesecake that looks tantalizing.

"Wah —I gulped. When are you gonna make that, Marbi?" Ask enthusiastically.

"Keju is quite expensive, I'm counting," Marbi picked up another book.

"Are we short of money?" Asking me worried.

Marbella threw the book in my hand. "Money is always less, Mars."

I opened the little book. And my eyes were almost out of my face when I saw what was on the little book in my hand.