“Dan… what is going on?” Dan rushed towards Dinchal who just got out of the mechanical lifter in
the hotel corridor. There was a murmur of commotion that could be heard coming from down the
shaft of the mechanical lift. Dinchal spoke again, “What is this that I am hearing?” Dan joined his
hands raised above his head and bowed down.
“I will explain but first let’s get in my room!” Dan grabbed Dinchal to his room. The commotion
faded into both their running shoes tapping on the lustrous, Deepwood floor.
Dinchal entered the room and headed to the bed. He adjusted himself on the edge with his hands on
the back while Dan closed the door and turned around quickly. Dinchal’s face turned grim.
“I am not liking what I heard.” Dinchal looked down on his hand and the fingers that were twiddling
with his wand. He did this often when he confronted his friend as Dinchal was not a good confronter.
“I hope what you are about to tell me explains this
“I swear Dinchal. I will tell you everything but promise me that you will help me get out of this.” Dan
was on his knees.
“I promise I will help guide you towards doing the right thing but if you are wrong…” Dan cut him off.
“Please Dinchal! I am your friend.” Dan begged him vehemently.
“So, you did something wrong.” Dinchal said.
“You would’ve already started defending yourself with an explanation before making me promise
and stuff.” Dinchal mocked Dan’s slang. “I know you very well Dan. Come on! We have been friends
for 300 years. I know everything about you and you do know me very well. You already have the
answer to this and now that I have confirmed that the rumours are actually true—” Dan got back up
on his feet and turned away. “I want to let you know that I am disappointed in you. How could you?”
“Dinchal you won’t understand!” Dan dismissed him.
“I would if you would tell me why you did it?!” Dinchal grabbed his arm. “I am your friend.” He
looked him in his eyes and Dan quickly averted them. Dinchal had the ability to read souls.
“Don’t try that on me. I can tell when you are looking.” Dan freed his arm from him. “I just wanted
you to support me as much as you can because you are my friend but I understand you have your
own principles…. You know Dinchal… this is the loneliest I have ever felt in my life…” Dan turned
around. Dinchal was shocked to see tears trickle down his cheeks. Dan rarely cried. This was
something serious. But why wasn’t Dan revealing something to him. Dinchal could tell he had been
involved in a “Tongue-tied Oath”. It felt as if he was forced into it. This was the biggest scandal of the
century and of all the people it was his own friend. Dinchal had been away for almost a hundred
years and a lot can change in hundred years. Maybe Dan wasn’t really the Dan he knew anymore…
Maybe his friend really had become evil. Dinchal was in a dilemma.
“Dan— I—”, Dinchal stumbled on his words and then looked away. “I need to process this… I will talk
to you later. I will send you a wave if I need to talk to you.” Dan’s eyes were wistful. He was longing
for company but Dinchal did not have much time. Dinchal had some sleuthing to do and he wanted
to save his friend. There was something Dan was hiding or he was forced into something even more
sinister and he ought to find out what it was. He scooted towards the door while Dan slowly moved
towards the entrance. Dinchal swooped into the lift and looked at the door from where Dan was
staring at Dinchal and as the elevator descended, Dinchal saw it for a brief moment… The shadow
right behind Dan. Dan’s shadow was evil. The same shadow Dinchal had seen in Janvery Town…. This
was not Dan. Dinchal’s stomach was sick from all the anxiety that had immediately rushed into his
abdomen. He was afraid that Dan was not alive anymore and this was something else. This might be
a Spektoor. Dinchal