Chapter 6: The Journey

Just as how Zidane and Blank fell into the Evil Forest, the finally came out. It was around lunchtime and it took about 3 hours of walking to finally escape the eerie woods. Zidane was exhausted, as he had to carry Amarant the whole way, and Blank lost his voice, from making fun of him the whole way.

"Blank.you're an idiot you know.it's your fault you lost your voice!" Zidane laughed.

" sh...u...up..." Blank desperately tried to answer back, but couldn't.

"Haha, it is quite funny.and look at Amarant!" Freya laughed. Amarant was lying there; still green, and his cheeks were beginning to puff up to the size of melons.

"Haha! But we must hurry.we'll rest here; once night falls we'll continue through the fields and look for a town. I remember one near by." Zidane butted in.

"You're right.I'll put up the tents.Blank, go back in the woods and get some wood." Freya said as she stood up. Blank shook his head, but in the end (after Freya put her Lance to his neck), he stood up and went back into the forest. Zidane helped Freya with the tents, and when they were up, he laid Amarant inside one of them.

"Good thing it's not contagious.I wouldn't wanna be looking like that!" Zidane told Freya as he closed the tent behind him.

"I know.we're all very lucky. But I wouldn't want to look like Amarant with or without the disease!" Freya answered back.

"Haha! I agree! Where's Blank.he should be back by now" Zidane said worriedly. But as he said that Blank returned with branches in his arms. He laid them on the ground and sat down on a nearby rock. Freya set up the fire and started to cook some leftover chicken. They offered Amarant, but he cursed them out of his tent. Blank started to regain his voice back, but very slowly. He could now whisper faintly and only say small words like Yes and No. The next few hours were spent on gathering foods and training. Zidane, was still focused on getting Taira back and wanted to be sure he was ready. He and Blank practice with each other as Freya tried to figure out where to go next. She had an old map with her, but a new town was built and it was the closest. The town was called Cleyra Valley, a town for the survivors from the old Cleyra. They decided to build it near Alexandria to have protection. Freya finally figured out where to go and started to pack up their things. Night was coming soon, and it was about a 3-mile journey. Blank was forced to carry Amarant this time, and Zidane carried the bags. Freya was upfront with a torch and lead the way. They traveled through grassy plains filled with creatures. The fire form the torch however seem to scare them away, and didn't hence to attack. After about a 4-hour journey, they finally reached the gates of Cleyra Hills. Freya knocked on the center gate and a guard came to talk to her.

"Who is there?" the guard asked.

"It is I, Freya, the king is here and needs of your assistance."

"The king? Why would he be here?I don't believe you.you're a LIAR!" the guard shouted back.

"Please.open your gates! It is I.King Zidane of Alexandria!" Zidane shouted through the cracks. The guard stepped closer in view and stared at Zidane. His eyes got big and he stood up straight.

"Please forgive me your Majesty! I did not know it was you.we are very cautious about visitors during the night!" the guard apologized.

"It is alright. We need a room for tonight. Please don't tell anyone about our presence here, we don't want to bother anyone at this hour. We'll talk to Prince Puck in the morning." Zidane ordered the guard.

"Of course.my lips are sealed. Is that a goat you are carrying with you?" the guard asked as they started entering the gates.

"Um.yeah!" Blank whispered and laughed to himself. As Blank passed the guard, Amarant used the last of his strength and smacked the guard in the back of the head. The guard fell forward outside of the town walls. Amarant reached out and closed the door.