Searching for Andromeda 83 The Real Plan Part 1

"Yael . . . this child . . ." Says Vashti, who walked towards Yael, who was carrying a boy in his sturdy arms. The boy had a distinct platinum-blond hair. Vashti tilted her head as she stared at the boy. She's usually seen this certain hair color at the Elven Realm.

 Even though she was a Half-Breed, Vashti was able to stay in the Higher Plane for long. Her father belonged to the Aredhel line, which was considered to be one of the nobility. Vashti Aredhel was considered a disgrace to both her kin and the Elves themselves; she had spent almost all of her life locked in a tower—but she was able to wander secretly in the Elven Realm. 

The platinum-blond hair speaks of noble blood. It was a rare color, along with sheer black. 

"Is he from the nobility? He looks so frail," Arletha exclaimed. "Very frail. Wah! His skin's so soft."

Vashti pouted and then pushed her forefinger gently to the boy's skin. It really looked soft and flawless. 

"What's a rich scion doing here?" Pelmon exclaimed as he sheathed the blade of his sword. 

"And he's collapsed in front of Necropolis' entrance. He's . . . already on the middle floor of the dungeon." Hosea said. "He's here before us."

"Don't tell me this young kid is after the vessel?" Pelmon exclaimed. "If it's like that, then—"

"Then what, Pel?"

"Then this is bad news."

**

The moment they arrived inside the Necropolis was the same time that the boy had woken up. Hosea, Pelmon, Vashti, and Arletha waited as they stare at the child. They weren't vigilant nor were they wary of him. He was a CHILD. He looked no more than seventeen. How in the world can he harm them?

But then again, the dungeon can be as mysterious as a treasure chest. You wouldn't know if you'll get gold, rocks, or in the worst scenario—like Pandora's Box—you can unleash monsters and catastrophic events just by opening it. 

This is why the team still remained vigilant—but eventually, they let their guards down. 

Samuel was a sweet boy. A youngling. How can he be an enemy?

"You remind me of our leader, Hosea," Samuel says.

"Oh, do I?" Hosea then smiles, and then as if on cue, his eyes lit up. "That's right! You should tell us more about your group, Samuel."

The others seemed to agree and were eagerly looking at Samuel - waiting for him to talk. Yael was still on the corner with his arms crossed. Somehow, it reminded Samuel of someone in his task force, too.

"Well . . ." Samuel starts. "We just met not too long ago, so I can't really fill in difficult questions,"

"The leader's name is Ephraim. He wears glasses, and he has brown hair. He's what you can call a dork. He's an archaeologist."

"Archaeologist?"

"Someone who goes to excavation sites. Digs. You know. Unveil some artifacts and stuff,"

"Oho," Hosea then caressed his chin as he narrows his eyes. "Artifacts, huh?"

"And there's this girl named Esmeralda," Samuel says. "She's a bit shorter than me, but she's a year older. She's our biologist. Her blond hair is long and wavy. She's also what you can consider . . . awkward. Kind of like Arletha,"

"Wha—I'm not awkward!" Arletha says.

"On the short part," Samuel exclaims. "Anyways there's this guy named Hiroaki. He's what you can call the ninja type. A former sergeant. We discovered he's some sort of a spy. He doesn't talk much, so we don't talk to him much in return."

"Kind of like Yael, huh?" Pelmon says.

"No fair! I was going to say that." Vashti pouted.

This boy did not have anything to do with the vessel. He told them that it was an accident he was here. He wasn't MEANT to be here. Even the most meticulous of them all, Hosea, knew that this Youngling—Samuel, was telling the truth. He knows a liar when he sees one.

But then . . . why?

[Several minutes ago]

"Why do we have to lie about killing him, Yael?!" Arletha exclaimed.

"Tone your voice down. He's just there, Letta!" Pelmon uttered. 

They were a distance away from Samuel, who was with Vashti in the ruins. He was helping her cut the vegetables. While the three of the party—Pelmon, Arletha, and Hosea, were called by Yael to a secluded place.

Hosea uttered nothing about Yael's plan.

"This is simply going extreme. It's unnecessary . . ." Arletha mumbled. "I . . . I have to LIE to the Youngling? To Sam? I have to lie about wanting to kill him?"

Yael's stoic expression was unwavering.

"It is to protect him." Yael exclaimed. "He is a CHILD. I want him to be safe. Children his age will want to help; and I've seen his eyes. The look on his face. He's no coward."

Yael, who is a man of few words, was explaining to them. When Yael talks straight, it just means he thinks of the matter as dire. 

"I agree with Yael."

"Hosea?!"

"But," Hosea articulated, "it will be unfair for Arletha to be the bad guy. I think we ought to do it too. We have to act like we'll kill him. If the first plan fails."

The first plan Yael discussed with them is to shelter Samuel to the clock tower where it's safe. The Book stated that the clock tower is an empty space where the necromorphs would simply ignore; it acts as a refuge for the adventurers who need some time to recharge. Additionally, the monsters wouldn't be able to climb high up. 

It would be the safest place for Samuel.

"This is too harsh. Unreasonable. Unnecessary!" Arletha muttered, clenching her fist. "We could simply tell him to stay put . . ."

"Trust me, Arletha." Yael exclaimed. "We have to carry the plan to mitigate the risk."

And with a pat on Arletha's shoulders, Yael left.

". . . Please understand, Arletha." Says Hosea. "Yael just feels hopeless right now . . . hopeless because every breath he takes equates to a child suffering in his homeland. He just wants to protect them. In any means. You might see it as unreasonable, but Yael wants to mitigate the risk completely."

"But . . ."

"Do you want Samuel to join us on the battlefield? What if something goes wrong?" Hosea narrowed his eyes as he stared at Arletha. "If we tell him that we're keeping him safe—with the Youngling's proud attitude—he will only think we were being too overprotective. He will come back to join us in battle."

"Aren't we underestimating him at this rate?" Arletha countered. "How would we know if he'll actually join us? How would we know that he won't understand?"

"That's right. We do not know." Hosea exclaimed. "That's why we have to eliminate that uncertainty."

"Eliminate the . . . uncertainty?"

Hosea nodded.

"It is better to underestimate him rather than to gamble and take risks,"

Hosea flashed a solemn smile.

"Trust Yael. Put your trust to the one who will claim Wahid's Vessel, Arletha."

Chapter end