Chapter 30: 'Ard Aldhahab

After a long time, Fedyenka fell asleep.

"Fedyenka, Fedyenka. Wake up!" said Melissa.

"What..." said Fedyenka.

"You are already there! Look out from the window!"

Fedyenka looked out. She was amazed. She could see lights and sands glowing.

"It really is like the land of golds..." said Fedyenka being amazed. Her eyes were glowing as well.

Sometimes passed and the plane finally landed. After she got off from the plane she was even more amazed. She could see some people walking on transparent roads wearing headsets. There were many tall buildings. The place was glowing even though it was nighttime.

"I cannot help you any further Fedyenka. Please download the Murshid app. I wish you a happy journey in 'Ard Aldhahab." said Melissa and stopped responding.

"Melissa! Oh...how am I going to download it..."

Melissa browsed on her mobile phone for a while. She finally found an app named 'appy' in which she found some recommended apps. She could see the Murshid app amongst those. She downloaded it in a short time. A male voice spoke up in all of a sudden.

"Ahlan, I am Murshid. I am an assistant of yours to aid you in 'Ard Aldhahab as far as I can. At first, I have to confirm if you are from a licensed organization."

"I am Fedyenka. I'm from OUTE and this is my personal assistant Melissa." said Fedyenka and got her bracelet close to the phone. Some light came out of the phone and scanned the bracelet on Fedyenka's hands.

"Welcome to 'Ard Aldhahab Fedyenka. Please ask me anything from now on. Apart from that, I shall lead you to the hotel you will be staying. Please follow my instructions." said Murshid.

Fedyenka and Bea kept following Murshid's instructions. After a long walk, they reached a hotel. Outside the hotel, there were guapas and marionettes.

"Please go inside the Hotel de Toru. I cannot help you once you are inside of it. I wish you a happy journey in 'Ard Aldhahab. Wadaean." said Murshid. The app was closed by itself.

She entered the hotel and found the same atmosphere as the place she used to stay in. But, there was one thing different. The guapas in it were more friendly and there were various kind of dishes. The bathtub was golden and big. Her room was exquisite. She entered the room and put Bea to charge herself. After taking a bath and relaxing for a little, she could suddenly hear some music. She went outside to find where it was coming from. She saw a guapa passing by and asked it about the music. The guapa replied that it is coming from the tenth floor.

She went up to the tenth floor and found a lot of people dancing and singing. She was amazed. The melody was amazing. They were dancing with swords. Seeing their dance Fedyenka clapped. In the middle of the music, everyone started singing with them. Fedyenka got startled. Seeing her like that, a friendly old man rose her hands and gave her a sign to dance with them, raising their glasses. The old man had a beautiful white moustache and a beard. A woman handed her a glass. She hesitated to drink it so the old man took a sip from it and gave it to her. She drank from it and felt delighted. She started dancing with them as well. After the song finished, everyone came towards Fedyenka. They clapped and smiled. The old man screamed out "Welcome to 'Ard Aldhahab our zayir!"

She felt the warmth really overwhelming. She lost words to say. But she still found some words to say and said,

"Thank you for the warmth you all have given me."

They laughed and said, "You think this is all?"

"What..."

Some women took her to an empty table and some people brought her various dishes. She only saw the dishes in the ground floor but now she is getting the chance to eat them. Her stomach growled.

"Ha ha ha. Eat my zayir." said the old man.

"All these...Thanks!"

Fedyenka started feasting on the foods. There were shawarmas, Kebabs, Hummus, Manakish and Saffron Milk. She ate it all. She was delighted by their hospitality.

"Do you need anything else?" said another man with beard. The man was short and a little fat. But he seemed fit as a fiddle. Fedyenka smiled towards him and said, "No. Thank you." calmly.

"By the way, What is your name grandpa?" said Fedyenka to the old man holding a glass who Fedyenka met first.

"I am...Call me Grandpa Abdul."

"Wait a minute Abdul. You mean Abdul Sheikh?!?"

Fedyenka read in the internet that the one who is the king of 'Ard Aldhahab is named Abdul Sheikh. He is also the sixth sage of the Twenty Leaders of Humanos Sabios.

"Yes my zayir. Don't get formal to me. I don't like that." said Abdul Sheikh.

"Okay Grandpa Abdul!" said Fedyenka with a smiling face.

"Enjoy this place. Take this card. Treat yourself here as you wish to."

"Oh and grandpa, can I know your name?" said Fedyenka to the short old man.

"Call me Grandpa Sadiki. I am the chef of this hotel's kitchen."

Fedyenka smiled at him. Her stern face was filled with smile that day. They danced and sang for a while more.

"Now everyone, good night. Sleep well." said Grandpa Abdul.

Everyone greeted each other and Fedyenka. Fedyenka greeted them as well. All of them left the place. Fedyenka left the place as well and waving at Grandpa Abdul with a smiling face.

After Fedyenka got back to her room, she saw Bea all charged up.

"Bee!!! (^-^)!"

Bee came towards Fedyenka and caressed her. Fedyenka gave her a hug. She kept the card in her own chest pocket and laid down on the bed.

"I don't wanna see fall this time. I wanna relive what I lived tonight." thought Fedyenka and fell asleep.

She did not have any dream that night. She woke up and saw Bea in front of her. Bea was laying beside her with her eyes called.

"Hey Bea, it's morning!" said Fedyenka.

"Bee! (0-0) (^-^)"

Bee smiled at her. She tried calling out Melissa but she still did not respond. Fedyenka got herself ready. She asked Bea if she was going to go with her. Bea told her that she will be there with her for the whole time. And that she should eat the foods that are stored in Bea now. Bea gave her the foods. She ate them with delight. After that, she took on Melissa, checked if she has the card and went outside. She started exploring the place. She saw some horses passing by. The horses seemed to be mechanical. She called out for one. It asked for credit card. She could read the things on the card that was given to her by Abdul Sheikh. She wondered, "Why can I read in so many languages?"

She put the card in it and then a screen appeared which wanted to know her destination. She typed, nearby mall. A lot of them appeared. She chose the nearest amongst them. It gave her a ride to the mall called Central Alyashm. She went in it. The mall was exquisite. They were selling many things like foods, dresses, mechanical parts, mobile phones, toys and many other things. In the mall she noticed an unusual occurrence. She saw Kaiko with two men. They were shouting at him but with a smiling face. She went close to hear their conversation.

"Ai! Kaiko! My child let me pay the bill." said one of the men.

"No Uncle-" said Kaiko.

"I am telling you. It was my treat."

"No brother, let me pay the bill. You have been paying those this whole time." said the other man.

"Uh...I haven't paid even once." said Kaiko backing away a little from them.

"Um...Hello." said Fedyenka.

Seeing Fedyenka, their conversation was interrupted.

"Are you a friend of Kaiko, Miss?" said the man wearing sunglass. Both of them almost looked the same because of their dresses. Both of them were wearing white dresses with turbans. One of them were wearing sunglass.

"Not exactly a friend but I know him." said Fedyenka.

"Oh I see. Mind telling us your name? I am Anas and this is Arif." said the man wearing sunglasses who was telling Kaiko to let him pay the bill.

"I am Fedyenka. Nice to be acquainted with you." said Fedyenka.

"Hey there Fedyenka. Um...long time no see!" said Kaiko out of the blue.

"How have you been?-"

"Oh my my! You are the famous Fedyenka! Let me buy you something."

"No thank you. If I could I would buy you all something. Each one of you in this country has been really friendly to me. I deeply appreciate it. But I have someone else's credit card so I must use it humbly." said Fedyenka.

"No no no. You are our guest! Our zayir! Let us treat you some meal at least."

"No. I am full. It would be better if we could go somewhere and have a chat instead of a meal."

"You are too friendly. Let us go then." said Arif.

"Um...I have been alright." said Kaiko. He seemed to be perished by all the hospitality.

"Take the money. We will be leaving then!" said Arif and gave the money to the cashier.

They went to a nearby park. Even though the country is a desert, the park was filled with trees of many kinds. The roads were made of white marbles.

"This place is indeed wonderful." said Fedyenka.

"Yes it is! I hope you enjoy every second in our country." said Arif.

"So, Kaiko. What brings you here?"

"Expedition. This is the time for it after all."

"I see. What is your rank by the way?"

"I am still a bij. I somehow got in the wrong plane and here I am...I don't know how to go back."

"Well then, stick with me for a while. I am here for an expedition and it is here."

"Wait wait wait, what is your rank?"

"Toru."

"WHAT?!?"

"Nothing that special. I am still a rookie like you. Maybe more of a rookie than you."

One of the men's phone rang up. Arif picked it.

"Our zayirs, we must go now. I hope you have a wonderful journey. Wadaean."

They both left the park. Fedyenka asked,

"Hey, Kaiko. Who were those gentlemen?"

"They were some businessmen of this country. I just met them along the way and there they were. Treating me to meals, hanging around with me. I knew that the people here are friendly but I never knew that they are this friendly." said Kaiko.

"I see. By the way, are you going to stick up with me until I am done with this expedition or do you want me to find a way? Together."

"Well...Sorry I can't. You are an overpowered being and I am not. So please. Uh...I'm gonna go now."

"Okay...Goodbye."

Kaiko seemed to act strange as if Fedyenka has done something wrong to him.

"Guess I will go back- wait...where is Bea?" said Fedyenka.

Fedyenka's eyes got widened. She looked here and there but Bea was nowhere to be found. She kept searching here and there. Outside and inside the park. She found two cops on the way. They were wearing black thawb with black sunglasses and holding guns. She asked them if they have seen any robot along the way. Their answer made Fedyenka frustrated.