Voyage Of The Villainess

Rain was still pouring heavily, drumming a ratatata sound outside. The cold and strong winds caused the trees to dance. It seemed it didn't show any stopping, any time soon. Though for the four individuals who were caught inside an underground basement, an awkward silence filled the room. Only the drop of a leakage from the corner could be heard.

"Ah. right, that's a good question." Malaya answered Iris' inquiry.

She sat on the edge of the bed and was nearly startled when it creaked. For a brief moment, Malaya worried that it might rouse Dorris from her sleep.

"So, what's the game plan now?" " Iris inquired once again. She put her hands in her pockets and glanced at Maya, who couldn't take her gaze away from the sleeping Dorris, 

"Um…" 

"Um. What?"  Iris became agitated as she lifted her right brow in response to Malaya's evasive responses. "Are you the sort that enjoys plotting?"

"When we were stuck here, you should have already made plans. Or do you not have one? Hah. And here I thought you were so smart, to have plans already." Iris couldn't hide the mockery in her tone, and the irritation is unmistakable all over her face.

"Hey," Somewhat, Malaya started to have this urge to bury Iris on the ground already so she could shut up. 'Who knows that she could be this infuriating - I mean very talkative.'

"Not all the time, I could come up with plans, noh," Malaya said calmly as she sighed. 'Ah. Now that I think about it,' a sly smile formed on her lips when a sudden thought emerged from her mind. "I do have a plan."

"Then what is it?" Iris raised her brow and crossed her arms as she waited for Malaya's answers.

"But it would be difficult to work since there is something I don't know."

"And what's that?" Iris was really getting impatient, already.

"Dorris has teleportation magic and could materialize her scythe, which you have already seen. Rein is a generis and could create illusions which you have probably known as well, while I…" Malaya froze when she suddenly couldn't speak or move. It was like the same back in the garden.

"Generis and..." Iris began to go in her way, leaning closer to her ears. Malaya suddenly couldn't move. "I can paralyze the motions of any character I wrote,"

Malaya could move again after a good 10 seconds.

"But it appears to people like you that it just has a time limit." Iris straightened her back again. "I could also sense my characteristics and the people I touch via this," Iris said as she waved her palms in a spiral fashion, and a reddish moth appeared from it. When she closed her hands, it instantly vanished.

"There's also the spear which you already know. Now that you know my magic, what is your plan?" Iris raised her left brow when Malaya looked at her, a bit confused.

"What's with that weird look?"

"Iris. You are wearing that chain right?"

"Yes." Iris glanced at the anti-magic chain on her left ankle. But then a sudden realization hit her. "I could use magic?" she asked, a bit surprised.

"That's how I see it," Malaya answered casually.

Iris then glanced at Rein, but Rein just shook his head. "I can't use mine."

At the same time, they all turned around when they heard an unlocking of metal outside the door of their room. The three of them waited with wariness until the door opened, revealing the familiar guy with bandages.

As soon as he entered, with quick movements, Iris ran towards him and pressed him on the ground. 

"Ah!" Callan winced when stumbled on the ground. Iris locked both of her arms and pressed his head firmly so he couldn't move. 

"Did you do this?" Iris asked.

"Yes." Callan answered. "Please escape here with Nesha while father is not here." 

"Hah." Iris let go of him as she grabbed the key as well from the hands of Callan.

"Why did you let him go? He is the one who kidnaps Dorris in the first place." Malaya said, a bit emotionless.

"And I regret it," Callan remarked as he rose up to clear some dust from his garments with both hands. "I shouldn't have brought her here," he sighed as he looked down, avoiding Malaya's menacing glare.

"Enough with the chit-chat," Iris said as she threw the keys to Malaya. Her chains were already unlocked. Malaya took the key with only one hand."Let's get out of here before that shadow guy returns." Malaya immediately unlocked her binds as well as to Dorris. Then she reached the keys to Rein right away.

"Thanks," Rein said as he got the key and he's not burning through any more time to unlock the binds.

"Let's go!"

With Dorris in Rein's arms, all of them nodded at Callan. 

"I'll lead you to where your items that were hidden here, so please follow me, quietly," Callan said as he trailed ahead of them.

"Are you sure, we could trust this guy?" Malaya asked  Iris warily.  She is as yet far-fetched about Callan's motives and intentions to Dorris and to them.

"My instincts as an author were telling me that this guy could be trusted." 

Malaya gave her a deadpan stare. "Is it because you're the one he chose not to seal their magic, right?" 

"Ye…What kind of reason is that?" Iris said with a flat expression.

'She's definitely going to say yes.' Malaya frowned inside her mind. 

"Here are your items," Callan said as he unlocked the door. Then he went inside and grabbed everything that they confiscated.

"U-u-uwa!" A certain white monkey jumped on Iris' shoulders as soon as the doors were opened.

"Monkey!?" Iris exclaimed as she poked the monkey's head. "So this is where you have been."

"What's the matter, Rein?"

"The talismans for teleportation is not here." Rein replied to Malaya.

"Father burned it to dust before he left," Callan said.

"Let's go," Iris interrupted them. "We could still escape even without that if we go now."

Without wasting any time, they all stealthily followed behind Callan after they got their items.

"Just this corner, and we will be able to get out of here," Callan said.

But as soon as they turned…

*Boom!* A sudden explosion resounded, making the whole place tremble and causing some of them to be out of balance because of the intensity of the impact.

Then that one explosion was followed by more explosions. 

"He's up there," Iris said.

"Who?" Malaya said as she leaned on the wall so that she wouldn't tumble due to the heavy trembling on the ground.

"You'll see when we get out," Iris said as she patted Callan. "Let's go!" 

With that stated, they kept trying to move while maintaining their balance since the earth was shaking violently, but this time they were rushing even more because some debris was falling down due to the tremendous shaking.

When they came out, lightning flashed and thunder boomed, and the rain was still falling fiercely. But no one appeared to mind that they were soaked. The four of them had their eyes fixed on someone. Particularly to one person they didn't want to meet.

"Callan, what does this mean? " Pain and disappointment flashed on Charrio's face as he looked in the eyes of Callan.

"I don't know why Nesha is so afraid of you." Callan clenched his fist. "This is what I need to do, father. for Nesha's well-being."

Malaya and Iris drew their weapons, ready to fight if a fight broke down. But then, out of nowhere, blood spurted from Charrio's lips. He collapsed on the ground. Everyone was stunned when they witnessed the spectacle in front of them. Because of the unexpected stranger who abruptly appears, no one moves or says anything.

"That wouldn't kill you," said a familiar and chilling voice from behind him. "Where has your creator gone?" "

'Ah. The 'he' that Iris was referring to, is no other than him...Kayden.'

He shook his dagger to whisk away the blood that was stained on it. 

Seeing this unexpected scene, fear engulfed Callan. Fear for his father's dear life.

"Father!"