"Hello, traveller. My na is Ten. What is your na?"
An old but deep and calm voice drifted into Corey's ears, and he turned to his left. An old man with a slightly hunched back and a walking stick stood a ter from him, and Corey furrowed his brows as he stared at the man.
The first thing that he found unsettling about the old man was that he had not sensed his presence and just like the two guards at the gates, the old man lacked a cloud of dreams and nightmares.
'I shouldn't take anything or anybody lightly in this Tribulation of Hell. Who knows how I might lose my life.'
As Corey had this thought, he saw the old man tilt his head to the side with a calm and stoic expression on his face.
Corey's eyes flashed with a thoughtful light, and then he spoke, "My na is Corey. How should I address you?"
The old man looked at Corey from up to down, and then he stroked his beardless chin with a light smile.
"Hmm, hmm. I expected you to be arrogant or to ignore like the others, but it seems you have a good head on your shoulders… which is to be expected I guess."
Corey raised his brows slightly when he heard the old man's last words which were spoken in a whisper.
"You can call , Old Man Ten or just Old Man if you like."
'My master is called Old Man Poison, and I was calling the first ever Paragon I encountered, Old Man. Now, there's an Old Man Ten?... What's with and Old n?' Corey thought without a change in his expression.
"Old Man Ten." Corey replied with a calm but curious expression, and Old Man Ten nodded with a light smile. His gaze then shifted to the skeleton on Corey's back, and the mont Corey noticed this, his eyes flashed.
Corey was about to speak but Old Man Ten cut him off with a smile.
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"I know you're about to ask about that… thing on your back." Old Man Ten gestured at the skeleton, and Corey nodded.
"It was one of the questions I was planning on asking you."
Old Man Ten raised his brows with a curious expression, "What are your other questions?"
Corey turned, and then his gaze landed on his surroundings. His violet-blue eyes reflected the image of uneven streets, houses of wood and brick with their rooftops sloping unevenly.
He could see bustling markets in the far-off distance with rchants calling out their goods and products. The air also carried the scent of baked bread, burning torches, and damp earth.
Beyond the markets, Corey could also hear the hamring of steel by blacksmiths with the clang of tal echoing through the alleys. Corey could also see inns and taverns nearby, and on the rough uneven main roads were horses and carriages kicking up dust as the people moved about.
"What is this place?" Corey asked, and then he looked behind him, at the wooden gates that were behind him, "And what is that desert?"
Old Man Ten glanced at the wooden gates for a second, and then he smiled lightly.
"This town has no na. We just call it the Town or the Forgotten Town." Old Man Ten paused, and then he gestured at the wooden gates.
"As for that desert. It doesn't concern you at the mont, so don't bother about it."
Corey's eyes flashed with a pondering light. He glanced at the wooden gates with a thoughtful light in his eyes, and three seconds later, he nodded.
"Then why are you here? Why did you introduce yourself to ?" Corey asked with a calm but suspicious gaze as he looked at Old Man Ten.
Old Man Ten chuckled softly with a smile, "I'm here to give you so tips and advice on how to handle that… thing on your back."
Old Man Ten gestured at the skeleton on Corey's back with a solemn light flashing in his eyes, and Corey's eyes instantly brightened.
"If you don't want to die by the hands of that… thing, you have to carry it to the Altar of Hell which is at the top of the Mountain of Giza."
'The Altar of Hell and the Mountain of Giza?'
Corey's brows rose in confusion and intrigue when he heard these two places which were his destinations in the second Tribulation of Hell.
'Also, the Old Man's voice changed when he said the nas of these two places… I've seen and experienced sothing familiar before… Would I be able to say the nas of these two places without any consequences?'
'It's better to not give it a try.'
"Where-"
"Don't say the nas of those two places. Never say their nas or you'll face more difficulties on your way to the place."
'I was not going to, but I guess I was right. Saying the nas of those two places is dangerous.'
Corey nodded at Old Man Ten's words, "I won't."
Old Man Ten nodded while stroking his beardless chin, "Good. Also, make sure you avoid all distractions and don't try to pass that… thing, to anybody. Try as much as possible to reach those two places I ntioned as fast as possible. The longer you spend before reaching those two places, the more dangerous that… thing would be."
Old Man Ten stared at the skeleton with a serious expression, and Corey also glanced at its head which was on his right shoulder.
Old Man Ten exhaled deeply, and then he turned. "Anyway, I've done my job and given you hints on what you have to achieve to survive. My job here is done."
Old Man Ten was about to walk away, but then Corey quickly spoke, "Wait."
"Hmm?" Old Man Ten looked at Corey with raised brows, and Corey spoke.
"Can you tell how to get to those two places? Since I can't say their nas, I'm sure getting directions to those places would not be easy at all."
Old Man Ten paused, and then he coughed with an embarassed expression. "You're right. You'll need to know where those two places are or your already low chances of survival would reduce the more."
Corey had a strange expression when he saw Old Man Ten's expression.
'Don't tell you were actually ant to tell but you forgot?'
Although Corey had the urge to ask, he decided not to because from the words of the old man, ti was of the essence in this tribulation.
Corey bowed slightly towards Old Man Ten, "Thank you for your advice."
Old Man Ten's brows rose in slight surprise at Corey's actions and words, and a light smile appeared on his lips.
"You're welco."
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