Chapter 10 – The Rescue II
"huh? Who're ya guys?"
The shadow's true form finally revealed and it was a young male with long brown hair that was tied in ponytail. Judging from his look, he might in the same age as Zen and he was a farmer or carpenter.
Obi glanced at Zen who sheathed back his weapon as Kiki and Mitsuhide did the same, The young male stared at them for a while before speaking again.
"Are ya guys travelers?" asked the male, "Man, ya can't pick worse time to stop by eh? This Kingdom is in a mess ya know.. somethin' 'high alert' is happening and they close all borders and harbors.."
"Yes, That is the reason why we land here instead" Zen smile, "My name is Z- Uh I mean Haruka.."
Kiki and Mitsuhide coughed while Obi almost burst in laughter, Only Melody didn't give any reaction to the name Zen mentioned. The young male smiled warmly
"The name's Erthias, nice ta meet cha all~" Erthias grinned but glanced at Kiki, Mitsuhide and Obi. "What's wrong with yer friends?"
"Uh.. Never mind them" Zen answered, clearly knowing the reason behind their reaction. Giving the three of them a glance of warning, Kiki, Mitsuhide and Obi cleared their throat and introduced themselves.
"My name is Kiki, Pleasure"
"The name is Lowen" Mitsuhide said, using his other name. "Pleasure to meet you"
"Obi, nice to see you"
"My name is Melody, Nice to see ya too ~"
"So, Erthias.. is there any town nearby?" Asked Zen. They needed to go to the palace quickly and gathering information in town was the best idea of all.
"Well the town nearby is only 'Wyz' Town.. ya need horse since the trip will take ya couple of days.. one day if ya rent Alvery but man, it's damn expensive.. only aristocrats use Alvery"
All of them blinked and looked confused, Erthias somehow knew what made them so confuse.
"Oh! Ya'll don't know about Alvery huh? No wonder ya'll gave that stupid look"
Melody's nerve twitched a little upon hearing the word 'stupid'. A dark smile came to her beautiful face.
"Stupid look?" she mumbled as she took few steps closer to Erthias who stood nervously like a deer caught by tiger's eyes
"can someone be called stupid if the person has never set a foot in this island and doesn't know anything about everything that's happening in this island? Huuuuuhh?" Melody grabbed Erthias collar.
"Me-Melody, I think that is not the best way to—" though Zen's words were cut before it finished.
"I hate to be called stupid, especially from a brat who thinks outsiders know everything about this island!" Melody said in anger, "Shall I cut that damn tongue of yours huuh?! You damn brat?!"
"Waah! I-I am sorry! Spare my life!" said Erthias frantically.
Melody released him and made a hmph sound "Good if you got it, Now explain to us what the hell is Alvery"
Erthias sighed in relief, of Zen and his three aides also did the same. Zen made a mental note to not anger Melody and of course his three aides felt the same, Especially Obi who likes teasing people.
"W-Well ya know.. Alvery is a carriage that uses sun stone to move instead of horses"
"Sun Stone?"
Clearly the word had picked Zen's interest, this was shown on his face. Mitsuhide knew that face all too well, regrettably he had to interfere before Zen asked another question. They had wasted enough time already.
"Wait.. we have to move fast, standing around in this spot will only get us in trouble" Mitsuhide suggested.
"Agreed"
Kiki added as she turned to the younger male, probably the youngest of them all but at least not too young.
"Sir Erthias, is there a place where we can rest before we continue our journey?"
Erthias didn't reply immediately and this caused the others to glanced at each other. They –Aside from Kiki— probably thought that Erthias was mesmerized by Kiki's beauty which happened all the time.
"Why did ya call me Sir?" Erthias asked, clearly dumbfounded. This was the first time someone addressed him so politely and formally, just like an aristocrat.
"Do you feel offended?" Kiki tilted her head to the right slightly, a soft smile appeared on her beautiful face.
"Uh.. no.. just feeling weird" Erthias said, somehow he felt awkward when he saw the smile on the lady's beautiful face.
"My house is not that far from here, ya folks can rest there. Come!" He said and turned around.
As they walked into the forest, The group aside from Erthias stay vigilant. There was only silence until they reach Erthias house that was located in the middle of a forest.
"So your house is located so deep in the forest" Zen said, glancing around.
In the deep of the forest, a medium sized house existed along with fields that filled with various plants. Clearly Erthias was the one taking care of it, probably he sold it for a living.
"Yah, I live here with my grandma" Erthias grinned, "Not bad for a farmer house eh?"
"So there are only two persons? Don't you feel afraid?" Mitsuhide asked,
"Of what?" Erthias asked clearly confused but soon he understood what Mistuhide meant.
"Ahh, ya mean the demons' outbreak or somethin' like that?" Erthias said, "Well If My grandma is still alive then I would feel worried and afraid.. but since she died, I only have to take care of myself.. So nah.. I don't feel afraid"
"Besides, I never get sick all my life. My grandma said it's my one and only good point~"
The group stared at how Erthias smiled shyly, clearly Erthias thought that the words his grandma said was a compliment. However, they had a feeling that it had opposite meaning.
"Ignorance is a bliss, huh?" Melody muttered softly.
"Indeed. I have never seen someone so dense in all my life" Kiki followed before glancing to Mitsuhide who stood next to her with awkward smile.
"Cross that.. I have met one in the past" She added.
"Huh?" Mitsuhide turned his gaze from Erthias to Kiki "What do you mean, Kiki?"
"It's nothing" Kiki answered cooly
"Ohhh~ I smell something fishy, Lady Kiki" Obi grinned as he quietly moved closer to Kiki. "Do you mind telling me about the person you just mentioned ?"
"No" Kiki flatly rejected him.
"Aww, don't be so cold~ I am sure I know who it is but I still want to hear the details~" Obi pleaded
"You can hear it after I cut both your ears" Kiki suggested, however Obi didn't misread the chill tone and the threat it brought.
Obi frozed and turned around, scratching the back of his head "Guess I've lost the mood to hear it, Lady Kiki" he said awkwardly.
"Good choice" Kiki smiled evilly
"Hey! How long are ya folks gonna stand around like a fo—" Erthias caught the glimpse of Melody's sharp glare and recited the word.
"I mean like a tree.. yah.. tree.. uhh, just come in and make yourself at home" Erthias nervously entered his own house.
"Melody.." Zen muttered,
"What, Ha-ru-ka?" Melody answered, calling his fake name while at the same time adding firm tone to each syllables.
"Can't you drop the killing aura? You scare the poor guy"
There was a silence before Melody sighed, "Fine.. I'll try to.."
"Thanks" Zen said, smiling in gratitude.
"Well, shall we rest?" Zen said and entered the house with the rest of the group. However, before he entered, he caught a glimpse of something slightly far from the house. Something he had never seen before..
"So Erthias" Zen opened the conversation as they sat on the small living room. "Mind telling me something?"
"About what?"
Erthias who was chewing glowing grass answered. His eyes stared at Zen who was staring at the remaining glowing grass in his hand.
"That glowing grass.. is it healthy to eat something like that?"
"This is not a grass, it's a vegetable" Erthias answered, still chewing like a pig. For Kiki and Mitsuhide who were raised within good manners environment, seeing Erthias's behavior was quite a torture. However for Melody who always talked like pirates and Obi who always dealt with shady type of people, this scene was just like any other normal scene.
"Vegetable?" Zen asked, "But it's glowing"
"Well, it's a glowing vegetable isn't it?" Erthias replied, having another bite of the glowing vegetable in his hand and chewing it.
"It has the same name as me" Erthias added casually.
"This vegetable is called Erthias, My great great grandparents grew this a long time ago. They tried to sell it but no one wanted to buy it so they used it for themselves. I was told by my grandma that this vegetable can be used to repel evil spirit"
"Evil spirit..." Zen frowned slightly, "you mean.. like demons..?"
Mitsuhide, Kiki, Melody and Obi shared knowing glance with Zen while Erthias kept talking like an idiot. He didn't realize the weight of information he just said.
"Yah, Yah! Like Demons!" Erthias obliviously agreed, "Oh! Oh! Ya folks don't know the meaning of my name eh? Erthias is from ancient language My grandma said.. It means 'Angel's Tear'.. Pretty cool eh~?"
"That's it!" Zen stood up, "This plant is what we might need!"
Erthias sat on the wooden floor, blankly staring at the group who gathered around Zen.
"Uh.. It's a vegetable.." Erthias said to the group who completely ignored his presence at the moment.
"Erthias.. Angel's Tear.. Maybe this plant will be the cure for the disease.." Mitsuhide said
( "uh.. I said it's a vegetable.." )
"Then if we bring this plant to the palace.. Maybe we can help Ryu and Shirayuki.." Kiki added her own opinion.
( "..Hello..? It's a vegetable.." )
"Then we can bring Ryu and the Mistress back faster! This is great! To think we come across a plant that can cure rare disease!" Obi said, excited.
( "..umm.. I told ya.. it's a vegetable.." )
"Somehow it's kinda anti climatic" Melody grumbled a bit "It's better if we find the plant after we fight some demons"
( "...I am being ignored, aren't I?" )
"Erthias!"
Zen turned his head to Erthias but soon tilted his head slightly in confusion. Erthias was sitting at the corner of the room with dark cloud of gloominess hanging above his head. Obi moved slightly closer to Mitsuhide.
"Uwahh.. He looks so depressed, Sir" Obi Whispered.
"Looks like he is sulking because we ignored him just now" Mitsuhide let out soft yet awkward laughter.
"hmm.. What to do Haruka?" Kiki glanced at Zen who still staring at Erthias in confusion. However the one who gave the answer was Melody.
"Oi Brat!" Melody said in a tone that thugs always used, "Stop sulking and get your sorry ass right here!"
Erthias stood instantly "Yes, Maam!" He said in fear.
"There.." Melody said as she lightly slapped Zen's back "You can talk now"
Sighing and shaking his head, Zen stared at Erthias who was snapped to his senses –Or more like being forced to— and spoke his mind.
"Erthias, do you want to come with us? We need to bring this glowing plant to the palace"
"Eh? The palace?" Erthias asked, "You mean.. THAT palace?"
"Yes, We need your help!" Zen's eyes never left Erthias. "Will you lend us your strength?"
"But I can't fight man.. I am a farmer"
Erthias looked so doubtful and it was quite normal. He could fight wild animals and that was it. There was nothing more he could do.
"All you need is your knowledge about this Erthias plant. We need to bring it to the palace so the Gehendra disease can be erased from this kingdom" Zen explained, leaving another fact that he needed it to disappear so he could bring Shirayuki and Ryu back to Clarines.
After a moment of silence, Erthias grinned. "Oh well, if you need help that badly.. guess I can help"
"Thank you!" Zen extended his hand to Erthias.
"No problem man" Erthias shook Zen's hand.
"We are going to Ruthergent Palace tomorrow, we will leave at dawn. So let's rest!" Zen ordered.
"Yes!" Kiki, Mitsuhide and Obi answered at the same time while Melody just raised her thumbs and smirked.
Tomorrow would be another adventure for the rescue team of Clarines. Hope bloomed in their hearts, knowing that they could end the terror that was torturing the people of Ruthergent. As for Zen.. He just wanted to meet the woman he loved so much.
Author's Note :
Finally Chapter 11 appear! (T_T)/
Well, Guess it's my own fault being busy with K-drama (yup, this year drama are ALL good! XDD ), Anime and Work. n_n)a;;
Anyway, There are three parts (Hope I won't extend it :P ) of The Rescue chapters. I hope at the next chapter, Shirayuki and Zen can meet.
...
I hope XD
Anyway, See you next time at the next chapter and please give opinions about the current chapter guys! :D
I appreciate it soooooooo much! :D
Peace and Love! (n_n)/~~