Chapter 9 - Stick With Me (I)
Passengers in the mini van can't take eyes off Hyunkel and Marm who are chasing after the vehicle.
Black hair, blue eyes, to all passengers Hyunkel is a handsome mixed-blood Teranese who is rare to be seen in the kingdom. Every feature on his face is of perfect ratio and in harmony of each other. His tall, muscular body makes people at first assume him a warrior, but the sun in his eyes is telling that he is more laid back than a warrior should be.
"Thank you." Hyunkel tells the driver in his deep, warm voice and newly-learned Teran accent.
"No problem. You are incredibly fast!"
This mini van carries passengers between the suburb of Teran and a village that locates Dragon chamber, where Marm would like to visit. The van departs every two hours with very few passengers on board. Although it takes longer time, it is the most suitable way for them who don't welcome unnecessary attention.
"The King knows you, so as many Authorities here in Teran. If you don't want to entertain any meetings, or… who knows, being kidnapped like Marm was, just use public transports, be among the local, speak in Teran accent." That's what Pop said.
"Do you want to dye your hair black?" Menru asked.
Getting on the van, Marm knows Hyunkel'd like to sit by the window side. He always finds something interesting to study about infrastructures, civil constructions. He will observe whatever useful points for his projects, for his business.
"One day you look at me and all become roads in your eyes." Marm complains.
That gets a smile out of him. Marm is funny in her own way, making their lives full of endless charms and wonders. "Not roads. Hills and mountains are more precise."
Marm chuckles and pinches him, and is passionately pulled closely to him. "Sit still and don't move." He says.
That's it, Marm is locked in his embrace. However, it's not bad leaning on his chest and enjoying the beautiful scenery outside the van's window.
The way to Dragon chamber is filled with energy of a harvesting season. Agricultural farms are lining up at both sides of the small road. Farmers are working on rice fields and children are seen either helping or running around. Everybody is covering themselves with layers of outfits, revealing how low the outdoor temperature is at the time being. In Teran, fall and winter are seasons when nothing can be grown.
"What will they do then?"
"Most farms are cattle operations in addition to grain fields. For those who aren't, they just take a break."
"How do you know?" Marm asks Hyunkel, circling him in her arms. "You have been here for many times, haven't you?"
"There was a proposal to upgrade the route we are travelling. I studied community here through that proposal."
Marm looks at Hyunkel with admiration. He never has any difficulty in reading comprehension, Marm is delighted that Karl and Danny inherit his intelligence.
"In the end, the proposal wasn't approved." Hyunkel continues. "Teran government decides to keep Dragon Chamber not very accessible. Once we passed these rice fields, all you can see is only a forest." He pauses for a short while, stroking her hair, "Very similar to your hometown."
Marm's hometown, Neiru's village, is full of herbal farms and is next to a huge, mysterious forest.
In Marm's childhood, there was no school inside the village. Every morning, the village master gathered all children under a huge tree and conducted a class. After class, the village became a paradise for all kids to play with endless imaginations. But Marm was always busy enough to skip those leisure time. Marm either attended training sessions with Avan sensei, or helped mom on the herbal field, or took care of younger kids in the neighborhood. Marm did lots of errands to prepare herself a capable "White Mage"
"Elf-san, does it pain?"
Marm was reluctant to continue healing when the elf was biting her lips to stop herself from screaming.
And there was another person. He was tall and his hair was shining. He was the bravest patient she has ever met.
But after that mom was angry, scolding Marm in the backyard.
"That place is full of monsters! You are prohibited to roam around any longer."
Marm was too stubborn to listen to mom. There was nothing wrong for a White-Mage-to-be to heal human and even inhuman beings.
In addition, the onii-san may come back.
No...He is never back.
Marm wakes up with a sorrow still filling up so deeply in heart. Only when catching the look in Hyunkel's stunning blue eyes, the heart is back to reality.
"You slept so thoroughly, are you tired?" His voice is gently spilling into her ears.
"I've just had an emotional dream."
"What is the dream about?" He looks worried. Hyunkel who never remembers his own dream is definitely cares of Marm's smallest concern.
"I can't recall everything in details. It's about an actual meeting I had in the past, but no worry, the meeting was a pleasant one."
"I'm glad it was."
Marm looks up at him and reveals, "Those two I met were so different, so beautiful that I was attracted."
"They couldn't be as beautiful as Marm." He strokes the soft, silky hair, which now is in black color.
Marm chuckles, "One of them was a man."
"A man? He can't be as handsome as me."
It is unusual that he becomes competitive with another man for outlook.
But Marm genuinely agrees. In her eyes, who can be more lovable than Hyunkel?
"However, I'm not a man whom you married because of a mere outlook. My look is not only what I'm better at." He adds.
Back to one fine day of twenty years ago, that was what Avan sensei taught him. On that day he didn't understand what does it mean, but the idea planted in his mind.
"Ya... I'm well-noted. You have a full package to offer." Marm happily leans in him and whispers, "How about me? How am I compared to your childhood crush?"
"I don't have any childhood crush." This is a safe answer, and also a truth. He replies with a smile.
"Hyunkel! Who made you smile like that?"
"What? No." Gonna be in troubles soon. Hyunkel realises.
"You are definitely thinking of someone."
"... A friend."
"No friends can make you smile like that, Hyunkel." Marm's voice is full of jealousy, "Somebody from work?"
"No. There was a funny story about her."
"Great! I want to hear that funny story." Marm wraps him more tightly, but it causes a bit physical pain, seems like Marm is pinching him, too.
"It hurts babe. I will tell you everything I remember. In exchange, you will share the story of your beautiful crush."
"Not fair...You still owe me the story of your first sexual partner."
"You have already know it's a she."
"I'd be shocked if she is not. If she is not... wait, it's a she? It?"
He nods.
"Not a human being?" Marm's eyes open widely.
"A demon." Hyunkel says.
"How... how was...?"
"Not a demon like Crocodile or Dabora.. Those are totally not my type." He clarifies.
"I guess so. Of course you would have beautiful lovers. I'm not surprised to know that she is more beautiful than me..."
The driver turns off vehicle engine and informs all passengers about the arrival. Like a magic, it helps Hyunkel to turn off Marm's jealousy as well.
...
In Teran capital city, Pop is having another hectic schedule.
"These two are so good at adding jobs for me." He murmurs. In addition to checking profile of the boy who both friends wish to adopt, he also sent the Lieutenant back home this morning.
"Why am I inside your house?" The Lieutenant asked.
"This is between you and I, Mr Lieutenant." Pop lowered his voice, "You captured a foreign woman yesterday, didn't you? The one from Romos."
"It must be done by my guys. I have nothing to do with any capture." The Lieutenant is very cautious.
"Right, it must be. The woman has a close relationship with Romos government. She is pretty mad at your unit. Fortunately, she is not intending to lodge any complains. You know, it's gonna be quite troublesome if she does that. It will damage the images of Teran government, which I believe will dismay His Majesty and the General."
The Lieutenant keeps quiet, being not sure if what Pop says is believable.
"I smell troubles, still." Pop continues.
"What troubles?"
"What if she changes her mind and decides to complain? I'd strongly advise you to release all that are being captured by your guys. And affirm them to stop doing this for at least awhile."
"Are you making a fuss over this, Pop?"
"The watch of that woman is kept in Central Police Station, you can identify who she is from her belongings." Pop smiles.
The Lieutenant looks more convinced now. He nods to Pop and heads toward his house. After a few steps, he turned back and tells Pop,
"No matter whom the woman is, her husband will take responsibility for beating me up like this."
Pop sighs. He doesn't want Marm and Hyunkel's holiday to turn to a trouble in Teran. None of them can foresee such a stupid problem until it happened to them out of sudden.
But very likely the Lieutenant at least will stop kidnapping innocent victims after this. And Hyunkel will deal with whatever problem happens to him. Hyunkel has already predicted this anyway.
...
Marm is stunned. The lake, dyed emerald color, is surrounded by the everlasting green forest. In the central of the lake located a classic temple that was built a long time ago. There are a few locals kneeing at the lake side, offering worship to the Dragon God. The atmosphere is holy, the air is pure, the silence is so ultimate that even birds are not singing here. People can actually hear the sound of leaves falling.
Hyunkel and Marm follow the local to have same practices of worshiping to the Dragon God.
"Dai will be back to us, his sword is still shining." She whispers.
"That is the brightest sign we have, and a very confirmed sign."
Papunika soldiers are here to keep track of Dai's return. That's the agreement Leona obtained years ago. That shows how insisting the Queen of Papunika is to believe that Dai is alive.
"You said seeking for Dai is the story of another person, is that person Larhalt?"
"The more he loves Leona, the more determined he is."
"First love is hard to forget, and first love may be assumed as true love." Marm tells Hyunkel. "But when a woman lives happily with a man for a long time, the bonding she has with him will be stronger than any affection, any emotions, and that bonding is the only true love."
"You sound experienced." He smiles, "Marm, you have found your true love."
"My true loves are Karl and Danny, and mom, and friends. I don't have true love with people who had lovers more beautiful than me."
He knows he will never win over Marm's jealousy. He takes off his shirt and pulls Marm into him, "I'm diving in to check the Underwater Temple. Are you joining?"
"How can I say No?"
"Whether you have found the true love or not, you stick with me forever, Marm."
High above the sky, a star is sparkling, and the star is falling down at a steady speed. It has been falling down for years and it is reaching the destination. Everybody will see it soon.
...
In Romos, Leona and Larhalt are informed by Rella that Hyunma(i) are not at home.
"No worry, Mrs Rella. We know they are in Teran." Leona says. "Since Larhalt and I are attending a summit in Dylan, we think it's great for Sisen to play with Karl and Danny."
"Certainly, Your Majesty." Rella smiles, hopefully Karl will be cheered up by a friend visit.
End of Chapter 9.
(i) Hyunma: Hyunkel Marm