Jareth leaned against the car's window, his expression composed and his gaze fixed on the fleeting street. But his thoughts were in turmoil, and he didn't have the time to admire the city. His current predicament was still disturbing him. He only knew that as they went deeper into the city, the more bustling and modern structures he saw.
Nadia sat beside him, her eyes watching him like a hawk stalking its prey, and Liana sat beside her but had her focus on the window.
Jareth felt his identity wasn't clean, so he was tempted to escape. But he remembered that he saw Liana shooting fire spears from her palm and Nadia throwing knives. So he ditched the idea, or he might get toasted and pierced like a barbeque.
He just gave in to his fate, and maybe a miracle could happen. But the more he thought of it, the higher his budding hatred for Nadia spiked.
After twenty-five minutes of the awkward journey, the car parked in front of an imposing single-story building.
Jareth saw a big signboard beside the gate that read, 'The Parliament Court, Terminis Dominion Branch.'
"Here we are. Get down," Nadia said to him in a whisper.
Taking a deep breath, he alighted from the car, followed by the girls. He caught a glimpse of Liana paying the bill with a watch on her wrist, but didn't have the time to think about it.
With that, Nadia led him through the gate with Liana following behind him, which made him feel she was blocking his exit. They walked into the building. There were other people walking in, including a few kids, dressed in attire ranging from formal to regular.
Although there were few dressed in strange kits, like Liana and Nadia.
But he didn't have the heart to observe them.
His heart was beating wildly along the way. His eyes subtly darted around, but he didn't see any way out.
On the way, Jareth spotted a reflective wall surface to his side that made him slow down. His eyes widened at the face he saw in his reflection.
He saw a young teenage boy with short, messy burgundy hair and a pair of hazel eyes set in a sharp oval face. His athletic frame was accentuated by his form-fitting, dull black attire.
'I-Is that me? Th-This is not my face.'
"Are you coming?" Nadia's voice snapped him from his thoughts, and he quickly caught up.
Soon, they stopped at a wide door that had the word, 'ID registration/retrieval' at the top.
His breath seized.
Nadia gestured for them to wait before she walked in.
She returned two minutes later after keeping Jareth waiting on his toes, with Liana glaring at him like she had a hidden grudge against him.
"Follow me," Nadia said and walked inside.
Jareth walked in as she led him into the brightly lit spacious room with few people inside. They walked up to a lady standing in front of a glass door that led to another room.
The lady smiled at him and opened the door before saying, "You can go in, and I'll remake your comm band in a few minutes."
Jareth could only enter the room with a silent prayer.
As the door shut behind him, the white light above turned green. His heart thumped.
He prayed silently as he stood in the corner. His brain was already combing through his head to manufacture a foolproof lie.
The silence in the room made the stay unbearable for his hanging heart, but he could only suppress his anxiety and feign calmness. It lasted for ten excruciating minutes before the door opened, and the green light turned white.
Jareth turned to see the lady holding the door, with Nadia and Liana beside her.
With a trembling heart, Jareth walked up to them like he was going to an execution.
"I've found your identity," the lady said sternly.
Jareth's breath stopped, but she broke into a smile at this moment.
"I heard about your situation. Well, here is your comm band," she said and passed him a watch-like thing in her hand.
She instructed, "Wear that. It has your ID. And your name is Jareth Idren. You were seventeen years old last month."
Jareth collected it and wore it on his wrist.
Liana then walked up to him. She smiled brightly. "Looks like my judgement was right. Forget about what previously happened. Nadia is just very sensitive and guarded due to some personal issues. As an apology, how about I explain how the world is to you? And also, a nice meal."
Jareth, who planned to leave immediately, changed his mind and decided to follow them, now that he had nothing to fear.
He nodded. Liana led him out as she spoke about how to use the comm band. Nadia followed behind, with a short distance between them.
It was then Jareth knew that the comm band can be expanded to the size of a mobile phone and function as one, and also has a holographic function.
Liana spoke about the Terminis Dominion.
On the way, Jareth finally came to terms that he wasn't on Earth, but on an unknown planet known as Arkados. And there was magic, which Jareth had already deduced.
A car abruptly screeched and halted in front of them as they got to the road. The window in the front lowered, revealing a young, beautiful lady with snow-white hair, dressed in casual wear, who stared at them with an impassive expression.
"Sister!" exclaimed Liana, as she jogged to the car with a bright smile.
Nadia also walked up to her with a smile. "Sister Esta."
The lady nodded at them before turning to Jareth.
"Who's he?" she asked calmly.
Liana said, "He's Ja—"
"Jareth Idren. He told us he lost his memories, which is quite pitiful. I don't know if you can help him," Nadia interrupted her with a straight face.
Esta arched an eyebrow at Nadia.
"He's pitiful too," Nadia added, her voice barely audible.
Jareth felt weird hearing her speaking for him.
Esta nodded. "Get in."
Liana entered the front seat and Nadia entered the back.
"You too," Esta said to Jareth.
Jareth was stunned before answering, "No need. I think I can walk on my own."
"If you have no memory in your head, as an arcanist you are, you will need my information to survive. Ignorance is the fastest gateway for an arcanist to die. Of course, you can still leave," Esta stated.
"Me? An arcanist?" Jareth asked with a stunned expression.
"Haven't you seen your sorcerer's chart? That interface that resembles a blue screen?" Esta questioned calmly.
The place descended into silence as Jareth tried to remember. His eyes widened as he remembered the fuzzy interface he saw before he fainted. He thought it was an illusion from the pain and muddled vision.
'My identity is no longer suspicious, and this world is a magical world, so I might need a knowledgeable guide. Since I don't remember anything, I won't need to answer questions. Besides, apart from my memory from Earth, I'm clean!'
After a brief deliberation, he decided and nodded. Jareth opened the back door and entered, sitting beside Nadia.
"Good evening, ma'am. My name is Jareth Idren," he greeted politely.
She threw him a casual glance before focusing on the windscreen while replying, "Evening."
With that, she started the car and drove off.
Liana turned and mouthed to him, "She's always like that."
Esta threw a sideways glance at Liana, who feigned like she was focusing ahead.
On the way, Liana made small talk about different things with Esta, with many things he had never heard before. Esta's replies were succinct, with the only time she spoke for long being when she sternly warned Liana not to go deeper into the Dreadwood with her puny rank as an arcanist.
A few minutes later, the car halted in front of a fenced two-story building.
"You two go in." Esta gestured with her head before saying sternly, "And remember, you're to prepare for your hunt with the money you earn from your hunt. No lazy leeches in my house!"
"Yes ma'am!" Liana saluted before getting down while giggling.
Nadia followed her.
Esta turned to Jareth, who was feeling a bit awkward.
"Jareth Idren?" she questioned in a weird tone.
"Yes?" Jareth answered carefully.
Esta chuckled, then turned ahead and sped off.
With her left hand on the steering wheel, she used her right hand to detach the comm band, which then expanded into a black, portable, hand-held phone. Then she keyed in something before she placed it back on her left wrist as it reverted to a watch.
The journey continued in silence.
Jareth shivered.
'Why do I feel like I am getting kidnapped? Kidnapping can't be legal in this world, right?'