The Zetta Sonic
Cursed

Alex once saw women walking gracefully at parties. The woman was just like them, only she was not wearing a long dress. The more the woman stepped forward, Alex could clearly see her figure.

Tesiana wore a knee-length dress with a colorful pattern. A long white robe hung over his shoulders, back, and fell to the ground. His tail swept the floor slowly every step of Tesiana. Her jet black hair was braided and then rolled back. On top of her head, the woman was wearing a kind of large bandana of white and red fowl feathers. Again, the woman was not like the woman of an inland tribe like Alex's shadow. So is the condition around him. The place looks much more modern.

The woman stood there for a while until all the dancing was done and the drum stopped playing. The tribesmen cheered while the dancers shifted to the side. Later, Alex finds that they live around the campfire. Himself, Gavin, and Tesiana. The residents have left the area. They stand in another circular pattern away from them. And, everybody down.

“Two ICPA agents. I can't say if you're welcome here,” said Tesiana from her place. His voice was loud and his accent was a little different. There's his tribe's accent mixed in there, giving him a sweet accent every time he talks. “After all, you guys are still guests here. Welcome to Kloster.”

Alex whispers to Gavin, “I thought you said welcome us.”

“It looks like welcome and accept it two different things,” reply Gavin shrivelled. His eyes were watching the chief. He saw how the chieftain was waving at them. “I think he invited us in. Don't make trouble, Alex.”

“I should have said so.”

With Gavin, Alex steps around the still-flaming bonfire. Each pair of eyes watched them soundlessly from a distance. After they finished climbing the stairs and entered the building, then the commotion again occurred. Alex looked back. The dancers return to their place and the music begins to play. The residents came back and danced.

“They know how to enjoy themselves,” said Tesiana.

The woman stood in the threshold of a large wooden door. Ungoverned, the two guards opened the door for them. Behind it was a large and tall room. The roof is conical and each side of the ceiling is decorated with various color ornaments. The walls are adorned with fat windows with taper edges. Each window also has a curtain that is open. From there, there was a light from a huge bonfire. Even so, they could not hear the crowd anymore. As soon as the guards closed the door, the sound from outside vanished.

Tesiana took a position at the end of the room, where a large and tall chair was located. The chair itself was in a large stage bag. Multicolored fabric is placed as a base. Behind the chair, stood a pair of gallant pennants bearing Kloster's original script. That position reminded Alex of the royal throne room.

“Welcome once again at Kloster, gentlemen.” The voice came not from Tesiana, but from a tattooed black man, the adviser. He clapped his hand twice.

Gavin exchanged glances with Alex. From behind the secret door behind the wall, came a row of servants. Everyone brought a wooden table with a variety of dishes. They placed it in front of Tesiana as well in front of Alex and Gavin who were still unmoved. Just then, the ceiling above them buzzed. Alex looked up at how a magnificent chandelier came down from the ceiling. While Gavin did not blink to see how the floor in front of them was gaping, revealing a large campfire. One of the servants lit the bonfire using a long stick. Afterwards, all the servants left the room in the manner of how they entered.

“You can sit, gentlemen.” The advisor gestured with his hand.

Alex and Gavin once again exchanged glances before finally sitting on the floor. More precisely on the carpet that was also brought by the waiter. Tesiana smiled. The woman also got out of her chair and sat down. The advisor took a position beside the stage, facing off against their two guests.

At least the first five minutes were spent observing Alex around him. Again. He saw the thick glazed windows, the fire with a controlled fire, the spacious and the height of the room, two people from Kloster who enjoyed their food, Gavin who began to enjoy his food, then he saw his own food. There were more than a dozen foods in front of him, served in different dishes according to the type of food. The place not only gave a modern impression but showed the brain behind everything. Instead of a remote tribe, it was precisely the impression that Alex captured was a forward-thinking nation that hid itself.

“No. I'm just—”

“Talk will be done after we eat. So, please finish your meal, Mr. Alex.”

Alex frowning. He looked at Gavin who did not care. The man ate his food quietly. Alex did the same. The variety of spice-rich dishes was teasing his tongue. He forgot that there was an important problem behind the reason they were there until the food ran out.

“You enjoyed it. I'm happy.” Tesiana throws a smile.

Alex only realized that three pairs of eyes were staring at him. He hurriedly wiped his mouth and stared ahead as the conversation was about to begin.

“I Tesiana. The chieftain is here. And, this is my personal bodyguard and advisor, Bounura.” Tesiana waved and the tattooed man cupped both hands in front of his face while looking down, greeting their two guests. “A long time ago we did not have an ICPA agent since you guys tried to steal what became ours.”

Alex gnashing.

“I believe it was a fatal misunderstanding. Therefore, I hope the Kloster tribe can be heartened and put the matter aside for a moment. This world needs your help,” Gavin said.

“The destruction of the world is none of my business. We have a reason why not show ourselves to the outside world.” Tesiana grunts amusedly. “What is this kid you meant earlier?” ask Tesiana again to Gavin.

“True. He's Alex.”

Alex hastily chimed in, “If this is talking about a misunderstanding, I realize it has made it worse. Trust me, I didn't mean to kill anyone. It was just an accident.” The sentence was bitter on his lips but he knew he had spoken honestly. Alex never intended to kill Naray.

Tesiana smiled again which made Alex feel strange. “You can't wear your necklace, can you? The stone only existed in Kloster, a blessing from the gods to banish monsters. If you can't touch it, it means only one. You're monsters. You're damned. You are not welcome here.”

Alex opened his mouth but found no words.

“So,” continued Tesiana, “you have to prove yourself whether we are worthy of helping you. You will undergo the test of the gods.”