"There is another way to enter the Exam site. You must answer the Devil's Riddle to find your destination."
Those were the Captain's words before I set of on my own. I try to mumble the words in the riddle, taking every letters in account in solving. It wasn't really hard to put the puzzles together, I have a liking in literature and had read different kinds of books, so I guess I've develop a skill in comes with riddles and the such.
"It kills and protects you at the same time.
The smallest may not be the strongest
But it can be the deadliest"
After countless mumbles and walking I've arrived in my answer. I stop in front of a shop with a wooden sign saying 'Weaponry'. I opened the shop's door while a chime rings, signaling the shop owner to look above from his desk to his newly arrived visitor. I observe the surrounding, thinking how could the owner swindle the town's head to give him permission to build a weaponry shop here.
"Hello, young lady. What brings you to my humble shop?" the owner said. He looks a bit old, with loose shirt, wrinkled forehead and a face saying 'nothing will kill you here, sweetheart'.
"I want a knife that can give me a license" I said boldly to the shop owner, which brought him to his surprise.
"I'm sorry dear, we don't have something like that here.... But I think there are some stocks in our store room" the owner said leaving his desk and opening the door that awaits at the back.
'It kills and protects you at the same time'. It was a weapon. A weapon kills your innocence about the cruel things the world can give you, but it is also the instrument that can protect you. While you defend yourself, you kill what's in front of and what's inside you until all what is left is emptiness and darkness.
'The smallest may not be the strongest, but it's the deadliest'. It's a knife. A knife is a small blade you can hide anywhere in your body. You might see a person talking to you with a sweet smile, emitting no sign of danger. But one thing you don't know is that its sharp fangs are hiding somewhere, taking its time to stab you. In fact, my weapon is a knife. It's not hard to carry but it's hard to use. Nevertheless, I learned how to make it my friend.
I didn't hesitate to put my feet forward and walked toward the door the owner had open. The room leads to a stairway that goes down to complete darkness. I had a little chill on my nape, without my precious scarf I always feels cold, but this chill is different from the usual.
I never told anyone (except, well you readers), but ever since a piece of memory where darkness envelops and something sharp stabs me, I had been avoiding dark places. But in this case, I have to be strong... I need to be strong. One of the reason why I took this exam, to be honest, was to test my courage. I'm really a coward, but when you've been living alone, you need to swallow all your fears and keep on moving.
"Careful now, little lady." The shop owner warned me as I was about to place my right foot on the first step.
I looked up to the old man and saw true sincerity in his eyes. You don't see that every day in a world full of mischief and mystery. So I smiled a fake bravery, something I mastered for years of my travel.
"Thank you" I said and plunged to total darkness.
------------------------------------------------
A station. It was the first thing I saw after pushing my feet down the stairs. I'm just glad I didn't trip and fall down here. The place is lightly dimmed but the light is enough for me to make out what's in my surrounding area.
Not a moment too soon, I heard the train rushing to my direction. I started to wonder If keeping myself separated with Gon and his friends was a right decision. I was afraid, really, of what is ahead with them. I've been wandering alone after my master left me in the forest. He taught me how to fight and how to develop my abilities. He was the last person I spent such a long time with. Although he was very annoying, he was the only companion I got. After 'her', that is.
My thought was shattered when the train's door made a 'ding' sound, signaling me to enter, and so I did. When I got inside, the doors immediately closed. I sat in one of the empty sits. It wasn't hard because most of the seats are empty, except for one in my far left. It was a man in a crazy outfit. He was playing cards and smiling with mischief.
These are the kind of people I'm trying to avoid.
I sat there quietly and opened my bag. I saw my scarf there calling to me. I touched it with great care. A treasure without origin. That's what I call it. I don't know who gave it to me, or what this patterns means. But I feel my heart can never throw it.
I pushed the scarf aside and took out the small book sleeping deep inside my shoulder bag. Whenever I'm bored or have nothing to do, I read a book and plunge into its world. And when I finish it, I trade it in a shop with another one.
This book is about a young boy who left its country to find his purpose in life. I went to the page where I stop the last time. Before I could read the first words I felt an aura of danger.
"How interesting" the creepy clown guy spoke. I ignored his words but I keep myself aware and ready.
"Your aura is so tense, I won't do any harm" he continued. So he knows "it" hu. Well, I'm not that surprise.
I finally decided to put my gaze on the pink hair clown. "What do you want, creep" I said in a seemingly disgusted tone.
"oooh~ why such a sour face. I'm just bored. Aren't you too?"
"I want to read in peace"
"ah.. you remind me of someone. Reading is so boring, it's much better to experience it in real life" he shuffle his card again, still eyes carefully studying me.
"Why do you have silver hair? It makes you look old" he continued
"Why yours is pink? You look crazy"
"Because I am" he smiled and threw his cards on the train's walls. While I returned to reading.
-----------------------------------------------
The train finally stopped. I went out quickly and up to the surface. I can't take it anymore! That guy kept on pestering me, I was about to go hysterical when we finally arrived. I got a feeling this isn't the last time I'll be seeing that guy. He said "good –bye" too with matching flying kiss, which I desperately dodge.
When I got out of the underground train station, a town welcomed me with the sun about to sleep. I wonder how many hours was our travel. I don't have a watch because of these reasons:
1. I gave it to an old lady in exchange of the merchandises I accidentally destroyed. (I was broke then)
2. I didn't bother buying a new one because It gets broken every time
"Grrrr~" sorry that was my stomach. I haven't eaten anything since breakfast in the ship.
I examined the shops in the town and saw a restaurant. I hate my appetite, I get hungry so easily. I immediately run to the shop while happily thinking what to order. When I entered the shop I almost ran out because I saw the person I wish I would never see again.
Clown boy.
"Oh~ we meet again." He happily greeted me.
"I'm afraid so" I replied.
"I've already made the back room available ~<3" he said.
What back room? What does he plan on doing. Just thinking this guy and me staying in a single room gives me the chill.
He started walking towards a door on the far end of the restaurant. Should I go? Should I not? Is it a trap? Or he's really just crazy. Wait.. If he's crazy then why should I go with him? This is annoying!!
"What are you waiting for?" the guy cooking, probably the owner, told me.
Should I? I look at the creep now standing silently in front of the door. Although he appears to be just observing the poor door, I can feel he's menace from my position. I can feel my legs are shaking but I kept myself on ground. I came here to make myself stronger, so that I can face what lies beyond.
I ordered my feet to move forward, but it won't. Darn follow! Why won't you follow my order? I think I'm also getting the crazy sickness. My body was about to collapse when my foot suddenly rushed forward as if it was pulled. I don't know what's happening but because of that sudden movement I was able to make the rest of my body follow.
"Took your time" the pink haired guy playfully said. "Don't make me wait too long" he suddenly changed tone, like any moment he will kill me.
He opened the door and went inside, I on the other hand mindlessly followed.
p