98 COMING TO TERRA 3

Yes, she desired to know more about her past, but she wasn't thinking of settling down. 

Rather than thinking more about it, she concluded to push her disturbing thoughts to a corner in her mind and focused on her current goal. 

They went inside the undeveloped forest, which is just at the foot of the mountain and followed Azra to a dank cave.

It was night time and the desolate place was really dark. Azra only had a burning lamp in his hand. Raigon held Zoe's hand to keep her behind him. 

"If nobody knew this area, then how did the people from fifteen years ago come here?"

Zoe continued to grill on the unusual story of Terra as they traversed the secret tunnel. 

'If this was where we had vacation fifteen years ago, how did my family know about it?' These were her exact thoughts.

"Someone allowed them in," Raigon responded to her burning curiosity.

He thoughtfully stretched his palm over Zoe's so she wouldn't bump at the low ceiling of the cavern. 

"Why would they do that? I thought this should be a secluded place."

Zoe thought out loud, as she held on Raigon for support. 

"There were differing opinions about it," Raigon replied.

"It was because of a woman," Azra butted in, which made both Raigon and Zoe glanced at him.

Zoe almost fell back at Azra's direct remark. Raigon just pressed his reassuring palms on hers firmly.

"It wasn't confirmed," Raigon growled back at Azra.

"It could also be their desire to extend their territories. Or even change the ruling authority. There could be a hell lot of more reasons."

The truth is, that incident was a closed case. The royal authorities made it a point that all citizens should never talk about that incident.

Raigon tried to find out somehow but he failed. Even the royal family are keeping mum about it.

"And it could also be his desire to allow his woman who lived outside of Terra to enter the land."

Azra added in a courteous manner but still expressed his thoughts to make Zoe realize what she was into. 

He has never talked back to his master. Not until now when he could clearly see his master making a big mistake.

"I don't understand. How could a woman outside of Terra be a cause of a terrorist attack?" Zoe crossed-examined the scenario then. 

"The tree…" Azra was about to answer Zoe when Raigon answered so they could stop the issue.

"I told you it wasn't proven. What I am certain is that the instigators of that incident should have obeyed the law and not left the island nor allowed anyone to come inside. Whether it was a woman or greediness that motivated them, it won't affect anyone in any way if they just remained where they are."

Raigon thought Zoe would stop at that but she didn't.

"How about you then? Why did you leave your island? Isn't it against your law too?"

Raigon couldn't help but be amused at Zoe's critical mind.

She has a voice of her own, like a queen that she is. He decided to be truthful with her.

"To be honest with you, I don't have any plans of going to Lord Howe Island in my entire existence. Not until I heard of some negotiations happening there which I believed may be another cause of a possible war in the future. I made it my mission to investigate it. But then…" Raigon paused abruptly. 

Azra continued for him. "You came along and the mission was stopped." 

Raigon couldn't believe his ears.

"Azra!" He commanded. 

"I apologize, your Highness," Azra bowed, but they still continue on walking.

He didn't comment afterward. He respected his beloved master.

But he would not let him be caught up in another scandal as he saw his master getting deeper with Zoe to the point of bringing her to this island. And he made it sure that Zoe also knows that.

'Was I really risking the security of their city here? But I just wanted to know about my tragic past.' Zoe zipped her talkative mouth as well.

Deep inside, condemnation was creeping in her heart. 

'I will go out of this controversial island as soon as I confirmed if this was the place where my parents died.' Zoe resolved to herself.

The winding cave has a lot of smaller caverns. If they weren't with Azra, they would probably get lost.

As they were nearing the opening where they were about to go out, they heard a sound that they weren't expecting. It was a howl from a wild animal. 

"Ssh!" Azra halted them.

Raigon and Zoe stopped on their tracks. Zoe held on Raigon's brawny arms as if she's grabbing on to the source of her life. 

"God, don't let them be those wolves again, please" Zoe pleaded in a whisper as she shut her eyes.

Beads of sweat fell from her forehead as the cavern became a huge oven, toasting them in suspense.

"I thought there weren't any wolves in the area anymore?" Raigon asked Azra in the most silent sound possible.

"They must have sensed a stranger in the land. These animals were the designated guardians of this realm when the humans settled here. Like ordinary dogs, they know the blood of their owners and they won't harm them. Unless it is someone unfamiliar to them."

Azra explained away. Even though Zoe was bathing in her own sweat, she covered herself all the more with Raigon's coat to trap her scent inside. 

"Maybe this wasn't really a good time for me to go here," Zoe concluded.

Her prayers were uttered out to deaf ears as they were just a few feet away from the thing that she was most scared of. 

They waited for a few breathless minutes until the growling sound left the opening of the cave.

When it appeared like it was already gone, Azra decided to step out.

However, in a flash of lightning, he stretched his hand to them and shouted out. "Stay back!"

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