Kyle’s hand became sweaty as he took a step back, fully intending to run away in the direction he came from.
As if the figure in the image noticed Kyle’s movement, it blinked, and in the next second, the image vanished into thin air, replaced by a large crystal-scaled chameleon.
The chameleon’s large and slender body slithered around Kyle who staggered on his feet and dropped to his butt.
Kyle’s eyes met the chameleon’s large, blue, beady eyes mid-air, and he let out a startled hiccup. He quickly closed his mouth, preparing to use the blue flames, his only weapon at the moment. Another option was to gather all his strength and leap over the lizard-like creature and empty his mind space onto its head. However, before he could make a move, the chameleon’s curled tail gently wrapped around his body.
The blue eyes flashed with confusion as they peered at Kyle from head to toe again and again.
“Wait, what am I supposed to do? It’s been so long.. my memory is too blurry. Who are you, kid?”
Kyle let out another hiccup and removed his hand to suck in a harsh breath. His eyes traveled at the scaly tail wrapped around his body.
“First.. let me go!”
He just blurted out whatever came to mind, but to his surprise, the lizard-like creature actually let him go.
Kyle’s feet touched the carpeted floor, and a wave of relief washed over his body. It took him a moment to comprehend the situation, but when he did, the previous panic vanished from his eyes, replaced by a delighted glint.
The lizard-like creature continued to gaze at him, seemingly perplexed, when Kyle let out a pained sigh. He looked away and spoke in a voice that the lizard could hear clearly.
“I’m lost. I mean, my parents would be so worried about me and I am stuck in this never-ending corridor…”
The chameleon’s crystal clear body flashed with sparks as he lowered his head to listen to Kyle more clearly, his ears perking up with interest.
He blinked and a distant memory appeared in his head that he was not supposed to do this. But how long had been since he last heard another person’s voice? One thousand years? Or two? He couldn’t remember.
Kyle wiped his dry eyes with his big sleeves. He couldn’t help but wonder why was he so good at acting.
After staring down the corridor for a few seconds, he turned his gaze towards the lizard and asked a hesitant question.
“So, uh… what about you?”
The chameleon’s blue eyes flashed with a little confusion, but he was more than willing to talk with someone after so long.
“I am a bonded beast but I don’t remember who my master is. You can call me Ris.”
Kyle raised his eyebrow with an ‘Oh’. He really wanted to ask if his master was Odiak or James, but some things were best left unsaid.
‘I should find the cure first. Once I am out, Haylee can take care of this lizard.’
“Ris? Do you know the exit of this place? Or maybe the location of a strange white room filled with…”
The chameleon eyed the corridor and let out a sigh.
“I don’t. I was sleeping, and you woke me up. How about we find it together?”
Kyle jumped on his feet and gave him a quick nod. Ris body flashed inside the corridor but only after a few seconds, he stopped and look back at Kyle.
The kid was standing at the same spot.
“Hey, follow me.”
Kyle blinked with an innocent expression.
“After walking for two hours, I am tired.”
Ris went back toward him and circled his body with a pondering expression.
“Do you want to climb on my shoulder?”
Kyle’s lips trickle upward into a smile. Ris lowered his body and he grabbed his scales to climb up.
Ris started moving in the corridor, and Kyle let out an evil laugh in his head. All his previous frustration evaporated into thin air.
‘This journey is gonna be the smoothest one ever.’
Bia, who heard his laugh, shuddered.
-‘What the heck are you doing inside? Don’t tell me you finally went crazy after the shock?’
Kyle hummed sweetly in reply, not even caring about the fact that due to his words, the duo outside panicked. Fortunately, Bia could sense his emotions faintly, or else she would have tried to blast the castle gate with everything she had.
Ris sensed his smile and frowned. He had this nagging feeling at the back of his head that he was supposed to punish or test the kid for some reason, but no matter how much he searched his mind, he couldn’t piece together what he was supposed to do.
In the end, he tossed the matter at the back of his head as they traveled in the endless corridor.
As they wandered around the corridor, Ris suddenly stopped. Kyle’s eyes traveled down to the lizard beneath him.
“What’s wrong?”
Ris blinked and slowly started climbing the nearby wall.
“I think I know how we can leave the corridor.”
“Oh.”
Kyle didn’t dare to say more, afraid that the lizard might remember everything and discard him like a piece of clothing. He shook his head not even daring to think about the worst.
After circling the wall for ten long minutes, Ris let out a victorious chuckle. he leaped down from the wall and touched a dark spot with his paw.
Kyle’s eyes narrowed when he noticed a faint movement in the air.
‘An Array?’
In the next second, a slight tremor shook the corridor, and then the air in front of them twisted, forming a bright portal.
Ris looked at the portal, his eyes flashing with some memories. He hummed, trying to piece everything together.
While he was thinking, Kyle quickly jumped off his shoulder and entered the portal without even sparing him a glance.
Ris blinked and gazed at Kyle’s fading back. Suddenly, his eyes widened because he finally remembered what he was supposed to do!
“Wait!”
With a sharp and loud cry, he jumped into the portal behind Kyle, but unfortunately, it was too late.
The chameleon’s eyes narrowed into slits as he appeared in a white room. The room was empty, except for an old table in the center.
The same silver-haired kid was standing beside the table, looking back with a smirk. In his hand, he held a little glass bottle that he tossed in the air.
Kyle placed his other hand on his chest with crescent eyes.
“Thank you.”
Ris’ eyes turned red with anger.
“You bastard! How dare you take advantage of my weak memory!”
He let out a laugh and narrowed his eyes dangerously at Kyle.
“You think you can leave this place?”
Kyle blinked and unclasped the bottle with his fingers. Instantly he gulped down the contents without even thinking twice.
Ris leaped at him with stunned eyes, but he froze when a bright light flashed around Kyle’s body.
After the light vanished, Kyle felt refreshed. The illusion on him dissipated in an instant, and his body returned to its original shape and size.
Kyle gazed at the stunned lizard and flashed a smile. After all, he could see the exit portal from the corner of his eyes.
“I should go now.”
Ris let out a laugh. Countless sparks flew out from his body to surround Kyle from all directions.
“Have a try boy-!”
His sentence was cut short because Kyle vanished into thin air. Ris mouth hung open and he snapped his head toward the portal when a laugh echoed in the air.
Kyle waved his hand and blinked at him one last time before jumping into the portal without looking back.