Chapter 12 - Somebody I Used To Know (II)
In the summer, he loves go to the North, relax by the lake, swimming, fishing, trekking along the forest in the area. He also loves riding to Teran's farmer market, cooking, It sounds simple, but it's a luxury you don't have when you live a royal castle in Carl, or a nice mansion in Romos.
Walking along the tram station of Teran's suburb, Avan understands why his beloved students, Hyunkel and Maam would be interested in spending a short holiday in this hidden charm.
Spending no extra time in the market, the sensei quickly grabs what he needs from the grocery store and heads to a main road, to gather with some old acquaintances.
Crocodile, Hym and Chiu, the three who have a closer relationship to Hyunkel and Maam than they do to any other in the group, arrive Teran immediately as they are requested to.
"Where is Larhalt?" Hym questions.
"He has a meeting with Teran King together with Leona."
"It's not only Hyunkel but close to thirty Papunika citizens disappeared after the disaster. Both of them have to resolve this."
"Not normal citizens, those are soldiers. They shouldn't have sent the soldiers here." Pop's adds. "Papunika has made a bad precedent for upcoming interfere of foreign army to this poor land."
"I don't wish to discuss politics now. I don't know where you are coming from." Said Hym.
"I know! Pop is from Lankart village." Chiu is quick at mind.
That gives an immediate laugh to everyone, a short laugh, and the atmosphere turns to be heavy again.
Soon after, all settle themselves inside the carriage that is taking them to the place when Hyunkel was missing.
"We have traced along the lake's surface and lake side carefully, we don't find even a clue!" Avan updates. "So we are going to dive inside the lake. The area is huge and deep, unfortunately that's all we know."
"My intuition tells me it's Ok." Pop says. "That's Hyunkel. How many times we see him returns from death? He won't die because of drowning or of a disaster."
"Regardless of this, we have to speed up." Crocodiles says.
"Then let's go by teleportation! I can't stand wasting time in this carriage anymore." It doesn't seem like Hym can wait any longer. Hym finds it difficult to express, but his own experience says Hyunkel will also throw his life away if he needs to.
"How about Maam san? Is she going with us?" Chiu asks.
The moment he finishes the question, only Avan and him are left in the carriage.
"Maam needs to have a rest. Chiu, let's go." He adds, and takes Chiu away with teleportation.
...
Maam is aware of where she is: an old art gallery. Everything existing in this place is simple: a run-down corridor that hangs old and nice paintings, an old artist and his daughter. Maam doesn't even question how did this happen, but this place has a relation to Hyunkel.
And as everyday slowly passes by, there is a belief that Hyunkel is coming to this place. Strangely, everyday ends before he has ever showed up. The wait seems to last forever just like that.
Opposite the art gallery is one of the typical towers of Papunika kingdom. Next to it is a beach and Maam finds herself walking toward that direction. Along the walk Maam meets a backpacker, but the backpacker and her pass by each other just like what strangers usually do. Then Maam doesn't remember what happens after that.
And chance comes. the old artist decides to go home and Maam is excited to follow him, because she will definitely see Hyunkel at his home.
That is the part when Maam wakes up.
Her heart is shredded to pieces to see the familiar ceiling of Pop and Menru's house instead of the old gallery where she was having a chance to meet Hyunkel.
Marm quietly leaves the comfortable bed. Ignoring how exhausted her body and mind are, the tears come out again as her mind can't stop thinking of him, inconcious or not. It feels terrible to live without Hyunkel. Maam would like to give up again.
"Maam!" That's their liltle cute voices.
Showing up at the door step, Melsa and Bobbu adorably sneak in the room and run toward Maam.
The children are the most stunning in Maam's eyes. Just like a miracle they warm up Maam's heart immediately. Certainly doesn't want to scare Melsa and Bob, Maam wipes her tears away and bursts into a smile at them.
"Look here!" Cleverly climbs on the chair so he can almost be as tall as Maam, Bob points at Melsa's hand while Melsa excitedly shows what is wore there, a watch.
"Maam's..." Melsa adds while handing the sparkling jewelry to her favorite Maam.
Melsa is correct, that's Maam's beloved gems watch, the one that shows how much she was spoiled by Hyunkel.
"How do you have this?" Maam clinches on her chest. It was just two days ago when it was taken away from her. It was just two days ago when Hyunkel agreed to compensate this lost. It was just two days when Hyunkel was still in this room preparing for their trip to the lake. It was just...
"Melsa and Boobu scared." Melsa says, points at the gray sky. Maam's glad the cute voice drags her away from the depression, even for a little while.
"Bobbu bed..." The boy chuckles and runs to Maam's bed quickly.
"I want to play fighting." Melsa is excited to follow his brother.
"All right." That's an easy decision.
And Maam plays with them. They sees tears in Maam's eyes but they don't understand anything because Maam is also smiling at them. Eventually, they are put to sleep after the pillow fight.
Maam places more cushions around them, and carefully close the curtains so the so-called scary sky is no longer visible for them. Maam leaves a note for Menru and walks out of the house.
...
If Papunika can't forecast such phenomenon, how possible is it for Teran to do that? - The King of Teran is trying to lower the temper, keeping the thought for himself.
In his eyes, Leona and Larhalt make a perfect couple, both are aggressive, demanding and bullying. The only different is Larhalt has a more appealing physical appearance and he secretly wants to have that flawless skin of Leona.
"I'm feeling of deep remorse over the disaster. I hope Teran side can take heed of compromising for the loss. We are doing the best in searching Hyunkel."
"How about other twenty four Papunika citizens are missing in your Kingdom." Larhalt's wine glass is placed on desk with an unusual strength, showing his dismay.
He stands up, his body tall and athletic, his eyes sharp, as he walks toward the King of Teran, the King knows he is right, Larhalt is aggressive.
"All Papunika soldiers must not be confirmed dead when their bodies are not found. We request an immediate search for them."
The soldiers' bodies are not found because all were burned! But...
Don't dismay Papunika, no royal makes a trusted ally better than Queen Leona.
"Certainly, you have my assurance about the search." The King gives in.
"Thank you." Leona nods as an agreement.
Rains still have not stopped, how sad it is for the Queen of Papunika to, once again, go through these rainy days in Teran.
Larhalt is not able to stand seeing such a miserable Leona. They have never showed affection when being at work, but not this time.
Walking next to her, he easily grabs her hand and holds it tightly.
"You break the rule, finally!" She smiles.
"You are sad, you are worried about Hyunkel, and every corner of this castle reminds you of Dai..." He pauses and looks at her. "In addition, the weather is driving you mad while the hate-able monthly cramp is making your more sentimental than usual, for once you don't want to attend to any more meeting or conference about the disaster, you want me to pamper you, or at least hold your hand, break the rule."
Listening to him, Leona chuckle and leans in him, opens her mouth for him to feed her a delicate piece of chocolate, her natural pain killer.
"Unfortunately you will never choose to miss the press conference." Larhalt shakes his head.
"They will see a sentimental side of me this time."
That gets a smile on Larhalt because he knows something like that will hardly happen. Unintentionally he eats a piece chocolate while Leona is looking at him, stunned.
Both of them have reached the end of the corridor. Once the gate is opened they will be entering the conference room for press interview.
Leona stops here and looks up at Larhalt.
"Of course we are in the chaos of everything at the moment. But... for your information, you have just swallowed your most hate-able dark chocolate."
"What?" He wants to puke. "How did it happen?"
"Is it related to Hyunkel's disappearance?"
...
Sunlight seems to tangle through the busy summer leaves, striving its way to fall across the adonis face of him.
Grass scents become more vivid and gently evoke his senses.
And finally, it's a great murmur of raindrops falling down that wakes him up.
Hyunkel opens his eyes to realize he is laying on a soft and comfortable surface. The scenery in front of him, contrary to what he thought it will look like, is just a mere darkness and a deadly silence.
It is certainly not a pleasant combination. The left side, deep and wide, is leading to an infinite darkness. The right side is worse, wending its way between a quietness that are colored in an ultimate shade of black. The grass scent, nevertheless, is still around.
He quietly, lonely, looks around and be familiar with the surrounding.
There arises a tremendous pain on his chest. Something like blood starts dripping on his skin. The wound he caused on himself, the wound that killed himself earlier, is bleeding.
Being a dead person for now, he supposes he doesn't have to bother it.
However, the pain becomes more obvious and increasingly troublesome. Every breaths he takes is causing pains, the blood drops start fall down, he fees weakening.
Is it possible for a dead person to die again?
"Mother! His wound is open!" The boy screams and runs to his mom who is busy with the best herbs she has.
The Elf quickly returns to Hyunkel's bed. She comes with a healing powder and skillfully applies on his wound.
"Who's... this?" Hyunkel grabs her wrist the moment she lays a finger on him.
"Hyunkel-sama, you... don't remember me?" She asks him, full of disappointment.
His eyes are on hers for a short while before looking at other sides and letting out of her wrist. He never replies that question.
"Whoever you are, stop bothering my wound. I'm dead anyway." He says and stands up straightforwardly. His movements make the wound re-broken and bleed again.
"Hyunkel sama, please don't move..."
Hyunkel pushes whoverver, or whatever thing that is trying to stop him away. He doesn't bother his condition. He doesn't know that on his chest, blood has soaked up the wound's dressing. Hyunkel is certainly in pain, the wound is completely open, blood is dripping badly after every step he makes, he can't even breathe normally.
Among the darkness that disables his sense of direction, Hyunkel determinedly follows the path in front of him. He stubbornly believes this is not what an afterlife supposed to feel like.
Pop and Larhalt whom have experienced deaths before told him that once died, they saw themselves in a bright huge space that was full of fog. Larhalt who stayed there for a longer time was able to see what's happening in the real life. It was the same to Hyunkel until he woke up in this darkness, with a more and more devastated dead body.
He remembered seeing Maam tempting to end her life. He realised his decision has caused Maam much damages beyond her level of tolerance. He is frightened. He must find a way to talk to Maam.
If his father could leave the last words in a shell for him, he would be able to do the same for his beloved.
"Mr Hyunkel, watch out!" The boy yells.
But Hyunkel has no reaction, he keeps walking toward the wall of the Elf's house.
End Chapter 12.