Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 7

Chapter 42: Reiko, the Car, and Others

(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)

It was a peaceful night on the dirt roads near Pitchpeak as everyone was treading safely to their homes. To one vendor who was on her way home from Raithwall, she was ready to return to her family as she had work to do tomorrow. What she didn't expect was that a dented up car was tailing her as it was bumping her pull-cart from behind. She had to get away, but to no avail as the car drove on the side and rammed into the pull-cart several times until it fell over the guardrail and into a clearing by a lake. The townsfolk who were patrolling Pitchpeak and the dirt roads found her lifeless body as it was crushed to death after what has happened for the past few years. The chief of the village spotted the dented car as he knew of it to be a black one that was familiar, for there would be a case of mistaken identity on the horizon…

Dean was driving on the road as he had Reuben in tow. Both of them were mainly going to Pitchpeak as they were on hand into overseeing the care of the troops who were ailing from this ongoing war. On a warm August day, both members of the Order were on the dirt road in the Impala as they were basically there to aid everyone here on Westeros, for it was going to be a long day in this grueling mess off affairs so far.

"I can't believe that you have the workload the size of the castle piling up," said Dean as he was driving the Impala. "You could've sent Dunya to sub for you after all that hard work."

"A doctor's work is never over, Dean," said Reuben as he was looking at some files in his lap. "According to Shion, some of the soldiers were experiencing flashbacks after encountering those soulless dolls and Ketch machines all over the planet. One of my subordinates even averted a suicide in which the latter is on watch in the psychiatric ward."

"They're not making it easy for you, are they?"

"Nothing is ever easy, Dean. I had to learn the hard way after all that I've experienced when you had Sam with you. Therefore...-"

Without warning, a group of people in pull-carts blocked the dirt road as Dean pulled over. He never saw anyone become so antsy before as he noticed the village chief running towards the Impala and was ready to do his worst, for this day was about to get troubling in the long run.

"Both of you in the Chevy, get out and spread 'em!" he yelled over a bullhorn.

"So much for a milk run…" said Reuben as he got out of the car.

"We didn't do a damn thing!" yelled Dean as he got out of the car.

"We know that the car that you're driving is responsible for six deaths in the past ten years," said the village chief. "We're not gonna take this crap anymore, so I suggest that you come with us!"

"You got the wrong guy!"

"Well, last night, Celia Cadrix was killed and do you what rammed her to her death? It was black car just like the one you're driving! If I were you, I suggest that you come with us!"

Dean and Reuben reluctantly agreed as they had no choice but to obey the village chief. They were at the mercy of the townsfolk patrolling the outskirts of Pitchpeak as they were in the doghouse, for this debacle of affairs wasn't about to end quietly…

I was up in the guest room of the royal palace in Raithwall as I was still reeling from the exhaustion of the raw power that I had. Still, I was no match for the Medical Corps as I saw Mason arriving with a medical bag in his hands. Getting out a blood pressure cuff, a stethoscope, and a thermometer, he was ready to examine me as I wasn't looking forward to it. I had to get back to work, but I was stopped as I was no match for the youngest of James Farragut's family.

"You still look exhausted," said Mason as he placed the thermometer into my mouth. "My old man wasn't lying when you overexerted your raw power just to save everyone's bacon. They even said that you took out an entire horde of Ketch machines in Pitchpeak." He takes the thermometer out of my mouth as he was aware of the worst. "It's official, you have a temperature of 101.2."

"I can't catch a break, can I?" I said.

"John Winchester and my old man go way back when they were fighting in the First Galvanic Uprising. They even talked about how they found a mural that signaled your birth and ended the war."

"Your father stuck to his guns just as much as mine, but my existence has been a hot button issue since my birth caused a chain reaction to stop the war in the first place." I felt the blood pressure cuff wrap around my arm as I remained patient while I felt the diaphragm part of the stethoscope touch my forearm. "I feel sluggish after being on the sidelines..."

"Still, you keep saving our rumps, but we can't let you do all the heavy lifting."

"Two days ago, Deejatra and I averted a coup d'etat that General Tetrax was about to enact, but Phyllis Schacter did the rest when she helped to arrest her for the deed."

"Blood pressure is normal, but you're gonna need more rest, Sam." Mason removes the blood pressure cuff from my arm as he was ready to listen to my heart and lungs with the stethoscope in his hand. "It's work, but I'm thankful that the Empress and her mom stepped up and put the higher-ups in the Westerian Army in their place."

I felt the diaphragm part of the stethoscope touch at my chest as I was at the mercy of Mason who was listening to my heart and lungs. Even for a member of the Farragut Clan, he wasn't messing around as he noticed me coughing after I wasn't doing too well after overexerting my raw power two days ago. Mason continued to examine me as he heard a bubbling sound in my lungs. He had a gut feeling that I would be in for the worst as he put away his medical tools and was most likely to tell me the news that I didn't want to hear right now.

"You've got a case of pneumonia, Sam," he said to me.

"Pneumonia?" I said.

"I know that you think that pneumonia occurs in cold weather, but it can occur anywhere. It's not to be taken lightly in which I'm gonna have to call for Reuben, but he's on his way to Pitchpeak."

"Where is my husband? I have to see him!"

I saw Reiko rush in as she was worried about me. When she saw me in bed, I was still suffering from the long lingering effects of exhaustion as I laid back down. Mason, on the other hand, got out small self-cooling compartment from his medical bag as he brought out a small syringe filled with an antibiotic-vaccine hybrid the moment he lifted up my sleeve and injected me with it. He wasn't messing around as he wanted to make sure that I would be fine for now, for he read all about diseases and how to treat them.

"It's a godsend that Kazuo's notes into making this ABV just to treat the onset of pneumonia," he said. "Thankfully, it's put to good use and that was the last one in that self-cooling compartment I have."

"Thank you, Mason," said Reiko. "I'm glad that Sammy got the injection or else he would've been in a much worse shape."

It wasn't long until I saw Deejatra rushing to my room as she was exhausted from sprinting here. I had a feeling that something was wrong as I sensed that a problem was brewing without my knowledge, for there was no end to this bizarre turn of affairs.

"Dean and Reuben have been arrested," she said as she caught her breath.

"Are you serious?" I said as I sat up.

"The village chief in Pitchpeak caught him and Reuben and he's holding them in his house until they confess to the recent attacks in the dirt roads."

"It's Jasper Hydrenex," said Mason. "He goes out of his way to arrest anyone suspected of the dirt road attacks in which the perp is a black Impala that looks like the one that the captain drives. From what the bystanders say, the Impala that is seen on the dirt roads looks all dented up while the one that the captain drives is in good condition and not a scratch on it."

"Then I'll go," I said. "If Dean and Reuben are accused of something that they didn't commit, then I have to bail them out and find the real culprit."

"You will not!" yelled Reiko as she was determined to put me in my place. "You're not in fine fettle right now, for you need rest."

"I don't have time to waste. They're in trouble and if the real culprit is setting them up, then-"

"You're not going anywhere, Sammy! You're unwell and you can't just wander all over too much in your condition. I'll go with Deejatra and clear Brother's name along with Reuben's. And if the dented clone of the car is causing trouble, then I'll make sure that it's salted and burned. As for you, I'm telling you again to get some rest, for you need it the most."

I could never say no to Reiko as I obeyed and stayed in bed. As for Reiko, however, she had her reasons to fill in my stead as she feared the worst when it came to dealing with what was going on in Pitchpeak. Even though I was the one who took on missions, I had no other choice but to continue my long bedrest as I watched Reiko leave my room with Deejatra following her. Both of them had to find out what was going on in Pitchpeak as the lives of Dean and Reuben were at stake, for the Impala's doppleganger had to be flushed out soon enough…

Dean and Reuben were in their room in the village chief's home as they were under strict surveillance. Still, they were at the mercy of their captor as they saw him returning from his hourly rounds the moment he was ready to give them hell. The sight of the Impala earlier reminded him of the dented car he saw last night as he wasn't about to let Dean or Reuben off the hook yet, for he had them under a much stricter microscope right now.

"I'm telling you again, we didn't do anything wrong," said Dean as he was standing his ground.

"Don't lie to me!" yelled the village chief. "I know that you drove that Impala on the road and killed people on the dirt road!"

"You're out of line, Jasper," said Reuben. "As I recall, you've been accusing people of attacking innocent people on the dirt roads all because the townsfolk have seen the Impala all dented up."

"I know what I saw! I know what the damn car looked like!" Jasper coughs as he gets out a small pill bottle. "The car itself was a reminder of what Lucy Geldrax crafted before she died in it."

"Who the hell is she?" asked Dean.

"She was a crafter who lost her life in the dirt roads. Whatever happened to her must've caused her spirit to summon the car you drove."

"Aha! You've confessed to having a ghost problem, but accusing both me and the new Medic General of the Medical corps of driving a dented piece of crap version of Baby?"

Jasper continues to cough further as Reuben got out his medical kit to examine him. Getting out a stethoscope Reuben began to listen to the village chief's heart and lungs as he was suffering from something other than pneumonia due to the gurgling in his chest. Putting away his stethoscope, Reuben feared for the worst as he had to get the self-cooling container that was left in the trunk of the Impala before it was parked near Jasper's house, for it had the medicine that was needed to save his life.

"This isn't good," he said.

"What isn't good other than you two morons still under arrest in my house?" asked Jasper.

"There's a viral infection in your lungs that is similar to pneumonia, but deadlier."

"There's something wrong with me, isn't there?"

"You're suffering from Geso sickness. It has the same symptoms as pneumonia, but it can cause pustules to grow bigger in the lungs."

"Isn't there the self-cooling compartment of ABV's in the trunk?" asked Dean. "Those things that

are Kazuo's leftovers have plenty of uses after all."

"There is and I'm about to make a little jailbreak from Jasper's house and get the medicine needed to save his life."

Reuben left the room as he went downstairs to the kitchen where the back door was. When he got outside, he saw a spirit roaming over the Impala as he saw it disappear the moment he fished out a set of spare keys from his pocket. By the time he went to the Impala, he opened up the trunk and got out the self-cooling compartment filled with ABV's and closed it up before going back inside. By the time he went in, he saw the spirit from earlier appear in front of him as it was a woman with black hair and green eyes while wearing a white dress in which she was making the lights flicker in the house. Noticing a canister of salt, he opened it up as he poured some in his hand and blew it at the spirit in which it disappeared for now. When he went back upstairs, he opened up the self-cooling compartment as he got out a syringe filled with the same ABV as he injected into Jasper's arm. Thankfully, he was relieved that he saved the village chief, but he was in for a rude awakening as he was not out from under the microscope yet…

Reiko was in the outside area of the palace as she was looking wanting to go to Pitchpeak to find and clear the names of Dean and Reuben respectively. When she was about to make a break to go to the village, she saw Nibori waiting as she was reading one of the Supernatural books in her hands. With Deejatra arriving to find them, she was ready to go to Pitchpeak as she wanted to clear Dean and Reuben from any wrongdoing, for she needed to find them immediately. Spotting a shuttle, it was rife for the taking as going to the village was the top priority, for there was something wrong over there.

"About time that you got here," said Nibori as she put away her book.

"I'm so sorry that I made you wait," said Reiko.

"Don't be… While you were worried about Sam, I won a booby prize at a raffle, but it can be efficient and it's in the shuttle."

Deejatra opened up the shuttle doors as she saw an entire crate of salt canisters in it. Reiko never saw so much salt before as she entered into the shuttle with Nibori in tow. When Deejatra went towards the pilot seat, she closed the shuttle doors as she turned on the engine and began to take the reins in piloting it out of Raithwall and onward to Pitchpeak. It was smooth sailing as Reiko looked out the window to see Pitchpeak below in which she spotted it clearly, for she was adamant into clearing Dean and Reuben from any further wrongdoing.

"There's Pitchpeak down there," she said.

"According to what I heard, there's an urban legend that the spirit of a driver who crafted a replica of the Impala haunts this place to this day," said Nibori as she was looking a tablet of information. "From what I noticed, the ghost who haunts the dirt roads near Pitchpeak was a driver named Lucy Geldrax, who died in a car accident ten years ago."

"We're dealing with a ghost?"

"Seven people died, including the vendor of hot dogs who recently met her death last night on the dirt road."

"And the ghost who haunts the dirt roads drives an exact copy of the captain's car," said Deejatra.

"According to the papers, her body was cremated, but the locals decided to hide the dented copy of the Impala in a withered tree near the lake that killed the hot dog vendor."

"We'll go there," said Reiko as she was staring at the salt in the crate. "We must put the spirit to rest before it's too late."

Without warning, the shuttle engine began to short out as Deejatra was struggling to fly it in which it sharply dropped towards the outskirts of the dirt roads. It wasn't long until Reiko spotted the spirit of Lucy Geldrax as she grabbed a canister of salt and opened it up to sprinkle some at it. With the spirit gone for now, the engine of the shuttle came back on as Deejatra landed it near the lake as it was a close call that nearly ended the crew of it. Getting out of the shuttle, Reiko was thankful that she and the others were safe as she saw the withered tree near the lake in which she had a gut feeling that the spirit was still not done causing havoc yet. When Nibori and Deejatra got out of the shuttle, they noticed the withered tree as they had to protect Reiko from what was hiding there, for they had to deal with the spirit of Lucy Geldrax soon enough again.

"Take a look at what's in the withered tree," said Nibori as she walked towards it. "There's the replica of the Impala, but something's a little off in the undercarriage."

It wasn't long until Nibori used her plasma rifle to blast the gnarled roots of the withered tree as she revealed the dented up replica of the Impala that was long buried. Everything was similar to the one in the Elder Days as it even had the original Kansas license plate put onto it. What Nibori didn't expect was that there was damage on purpose somewhere as she had a gut feeling that the spirit's demise was planned from the start ten years ago.

"This isn't good," she said.

"Is there something wrong?" asked Deejatra.

"Someone cut the brake line. It's what caused the spirit's demise ten years ago."

"This is not just terrible, but simply evil," said Reiko as she looked at the damage of the Impala replica. "The driver of the car didn't deserve to die in which she now wreaks her vengeance on the dirt roads."

"And here's the skid marks that rolled down here," said Deejatra as she spotted them near the withered tree. "Someone had Lucy Gedrax killed ten years ago in which we see the guardrail being fixed over and over every year until recently." She spots where it was broken as the wear and tear was proof of the crash. "Whoever planned Lucy's demise had some jealousy over her way of going on the roads."

"Let's hope that Dean and Reuben don't get shafted by the spirit who drove the Impala replica," said Nibori. "As soon as we get the salt, we can burn it."

Reiko rushed to the shuttle as she got out the crate of salt and returned to the resting place of the Impala replica. Still, she had to put Lucy's spirit to rest as the presence of her was getting stronger, for she wasn't about to go quietly…

Dean and Reuben were in their room as they noticed Jasper sleeping after taking the ABV injection earlier. They were aware of being set up, but they also wanted to clear their names as the presence of the spirit earlier was getting stronger by the minute and it would be too late to stop it until next year. Creeping out of the room, they went downstairs towards the kitchen as they saw the salt mess on the floor in which Reuben grabbed a broom and dustpan to sweep it up and toss it into the trash bin. Both of them were ready to make a break for it as they noticed an old newspaper clipping that was near the spice rack. Picking it up, Dean saw a headline in which he saw a picture of Lucy Gedrax in which she was a loose woman who wanted more for her village, for her demise was just the tipping point of the further catastrophes that occurred after her death.

"Looks like Lucy Gedrax had a less than stellar reputation when it came to driving on the dirt road," said Dean. "'Loose woman found dead near Caldera Lake. Cause of death: car crash.' This isn't all when it says this: 'Lucy Gedrax was an innovator for all the wrong reasons when she crafted the replica of the famous Baby from the Elder Days. Village chief Jasper Hyderex issued a statement of the cause of death in which he offered condolences and prayers than disdain for her.'"

"Looks like Jasper has a dirty little secret," said Reuben.

"Sounds to me like whoever wanted Lucy out of the picture must've been targeted in the past ten years." Dean sees an image of some of the people who were killed in the past ten years. "There's the latest victim and the others who spoke against Lucy. No wonder she wreaked vengeance against them."

"And the spirit targeted Jasper or perhaps wanted to check on him."

"Don't move!" they heard him yell as he rushed downstairs. "What the hell are you doing with that clipping?! You can't be peering into other people's clippings and go out while dressing up in cheap suit and rockstar aliases!"

"You should explain why the spirit visited your house earlier."

Jasper snatched the clipping out of Dean's hand as he had tears in his eyes. He remembered Lucy clearly as he felt sadness for her the moment she passed away ten years ago. Clinging to the clipping he had, he felt the heartbreak as it stung him for ten years, for he loved her very much.

"Lucy was a good woman," he said. "She was also a crafter in which she even built a replica of the car that's impounded near my house. She loved crafting things to make life easier on the dirt roads instead of pull-carts, but the townsfolk didn't want it. When she finished her car, she was ready to test it on the road, but she never saw it coming when she lost control of the brakes. I was the passenger in the car while I was buckled and so was she. When that car fell down the hill near the lake, it crashed into the withered tree near the lake in which I lived, but Lucy didn't. I still have the scars from that day in which I felt sadness when the townsfolk celebrated her demise. When I became village chief, I tried to forget her death, but the ones who cheered it ended up dead, but those who left town never returned except for the rest who wanted Lucy out of the picture."

"So, Lucy's death was caused by the victims that lost their lives, didn't they?" said Dean. "It makes sense, but over the years, she's been causing problems."

Without warning, Lucy's spirit emerged as she closed the kitchen door and windows. She wasn't having it as she was sending a chill in the air. With the salt in his hand, Reuben poured it on the floor as he made a circle around everyone, for he had a gut feeling that Lucy wasn't going away quietly…

Reiko took the opened canister of salt as she poured in the interior of the Impala replica. Even though there was no gasoline to pour over the car, she had to issue a prayer to the vengeful spirit that was causing havoc as she saw Nibori and Deejatra bringing in some rhineweed that grew near the guardrail. With everything set, they were ready to put the spirit to rest as there would be a fire lit soon enough, for Lucy's spirit needed to move on before time ran out.

"Well, it's time to salt and burn," said Nibori. "Flamma altius ardere!"

A roaring flame spread all over the Impala's replica as it burned it along with the withered tree. As for Reiko, however, she prayed for the spirit to cross over as she saw the fire burning brightly. Even Nibori and Deejatra saw fire burning the Impala replica as they saw their job done for now.

"Let's hope that it's the end of it," said Nibori.

"Andezhka nir zhrigielur dahur, togrizhev amue zdol," said Deejatra as she recited the Draaza prayer.

"Let's hope that Lucy's spirit crosses over," said Reiko as she clasped her hands in prayer.

All three watched the withered tree and the Impala replica burning as they were hopeful that the worst was over. As for what they would report, they had to tell me everything once the storm cleared, for I would soon hear what would be said after all this toil…

Dean and Reuben saw Lucy's spirit as they noticed her chilling the air in the kitchen. Jasper was horrified to see her causing havoc as he wanted her to move on after what was going on. Just as the vengeful spirit was about to strike, everyone watched her burn up in flames as she finally crossed over at last, for the worst was finally at peace. Even though Jasper was heartbroken, he wanted his beloved to be at peace as he didn't want any more chaos that occurred in the past ten years, for this was at an end after all.

"Goodbye, Lucy," he said as he continued to shed tears.

"At least we're cleared of any wrongdoing," said Dean.

"Lucy and I made plans before we married in which we donated our livelihoods to frozen storage when the time came for us to have children. Still, I would never be able to see that in fruition because I will forever wait for my beloved once my time is up."

"You can't just dwell on the past," said Reuben. "Lucy would've wanted you to move on and not be lonely. She wouldn't have wanted you to suffer after some of the townsfolk wanted her gone. Losing a loved one hurts like hell. It's a lingering scar that will never go away if the bereaved won't move forward."

"I'll try and move forward, for Lucy never wanted me to be sad anyway." Jasper looks at the clipping in his hand. "We'll meet again, Lucy, for you'll be driving in that car you crafted."

Dean and Reuben decided to clean up the mess again as they were cleared after all that has happened. Still, they didn't know what to think as they cleaned up the salt mess before leaving the kitchen. By the time they were done, they saw Jasper bowing in front of them as he was guilty for wrongfully arresting them in the first place, for he was also ready to move on after all that has happened.

"I won't press charges nor send you to jail after what I saw," he said.

"And you're letting us go?" said Dean.

"I don't have to keep you here in which Lucy's spirit is now laid to rest. I just hope that she deserves peace after what the townsfolk did to her…"

"Let's hope that it all goes well," said Reuben.

It wasn't long until Dean and Reuben saw the townsfolk rushing to the door of Jasper's house as they were wanting him to do something about the latest problem. When he went outside, he noticed them to have their pitchforks in which they were demanding his ouster, for they wanted to skewer him very badly. Dean and Reuben were caught in the middle of this messy sort of affairs as they had no other choice but to aid the one who wrongly arrested them in the first place.

"You should've never had any sympathy for Lucy!" said one of the townsfolk.

"Lucy was a loose woman and a whore!" yelled another.

"Hey, I hate to break it to you, but Lucy's spirit has been put to bed!" yelled Dean.

"And what about the fire near the lake?!"

"What?" said Jasper as he gasped in shock.

"You know what happened! The withered tree where we buried that piece of crap car is on fire right now!"

"Don't even try to interfere with a salting and burning, especially at my wife's expense!"

Everyone heard my voice as Dean heard it clearly in which he knew of the fact that I reached them at the last minute. The townsfolk dropped their pitchforks as they stopped the moment they heard my voice so clearly. Even Reuben heard it as he noticed the townsfolk fainting onto the ground the moment they stopped what they were doing, for my voice stunned them for trying to do away with Jasper for defending his lost love.

"Who was that and why was he in my head?" asked Jasper.

"Sam…," said Dean as he was aware of my presence.

"Captain!"

Deejatra rushed to the house as she found the townsfolk unconscious without further incident. With the threat averted, she found Dean and Reuben safe as they were ready to go home without further delay after all. Just as the day would be wrapped up, the sound of a cloudburst thundered in the sky as drops of rain poured all over Pitchpeak, for the drops of it came down quickly.

"Sorry for being held up," said Dean.

"Reiko and Nibori stayed near the tree by the lake," said Deejatra. "They even helped to find the car that looked like the Impala and eventually salted and burned it, but that wasn't all."

"What are you talking about?"

"The brake line from the replica was cut in which the driver died, for whoever did the deed was more than likely to be one of the townsfolk who would do this."

One of the townsfolk came to as she was on her feet. Staring at Jasper, she had nothing but contempt for him as she was eager to give him a piece of her mind the moment she saw him still clutching at the newspaper clipping in his hands. Anger flooded her as she was itching to go at him until. There was the infamous saying of "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," for the one of the townsfolk was stopped by Deejatra as she had her sniper rifle in her hands.

"Get out of my way!" she yelled.

"You will not go any further, ma'am," said Deejatra.

"Look at that ratbag!" The woman points at Jasper as he was still clutching at that newspaper clipping. "He still pines for that loose wahmen who refuses to give up his love for her! 'Oh, Lucy, you look great.' 'Oh, Lucy, that's such a nice car that you crafted.' 'Oh, Lucy, would you marry me?' Those words from Jasper make me puke! I was in love with Jasper, but he wasn't in love with me! He was smitten for Lucy the moment she built that Impala. When she finished with it, she was driving on the dirt roads with it with Jasper marveling on how it would change the mode of transportation here in Pitchpeak. Therefore, I put an end to his infatuation by cutting the brake line to the Impala in which she met her demise so I can have Jasper all to myself. After that, I was grateful that I got rid of Lucy and so were the rest of the townsfolk."

"Really?" said Reuben. "You may have killed Lucy Gedrax out of jealousy, but nearly killing the man who was in love with her? No, you people got rid of an innocent woman all because she was in love with your village chief. He loved her unconditionally until all of you took that away from him. If any of you lost loved ones, shouldn't any of you have sympathy instead of celebrating the demise of a woman who wanted to make everything better for your lives?"

The jealous woman who caused Lucy's death was ready to do her worst until she saw some of the townsfolk get up and began to turn against her. In a form of karma, she stormed out of the house until she had a set of handcuffs placed on her wrists. Even Jasper noticed them escorting the jealous woman from his house as there was redemption for them in this strange turn of events. By the time they left, Dean and Reuben were ready to finally go out of Pitchpeak as they had enough excitement for one day, for it was finally over for now…

I woke up from a long healing sleep as I was still in my room at the royal palace. After all that has happened, I longed for Reiko as she was in Pitchpeak on business. Sitting up in my bed, I heard the door open as I saw Zaralia with a cart of food with her. She never expected me to be bogged down with both exhaustion and pneumonia, but I lived as I saw her bring the cart of food closer to me. The smell of pho filled the room as I was up and alert. What I never expected to be on the cart was a bowl of wangmandu as they were filled to the brim of kimchi, meat and glass noodles due to the smell of them along with some spring rolls that had some peanut sauce, for I was starting to get very hungry after resting too much.

"I take it that you didn't go anywhere, Sam," said Zaralia.

"The smell of pho is much more different than James Farragut's budae-jjigae," I said.

"Mason made the wangmandu, but he also made the pho and spring rolls with peanut sauce."

"Mason cooked that?"

"You see, my mom and Jeriba Farragut are sisters and they have a thing for cooking both Korean and Vietnamese food. Mom was actually born on Alecrast in which she fell in love with Dad until he passed away."

"You miss your father, don't you?"

"I miss him, but being an Empress isn't easy. I remember Dad telling me how he was the only one in my grandmother's line to succeed her in which he took it in stride to help those in need, even when he was on the battlefield in which he met my mom."

"There you are, Zaralia."

Ithilia entered into the room as she saw Zaralia there with me. Still, she cared about the Empress as she saw her wheel the cart of food towards me. When I sat on the side of the bed, I grabbed one of the wangmandu as I tasted how it was made properly due to the cooking prowess from the Farragut Clan. When I spotted the bowl of pho, I took it towards a table near the window as I didn't want to make a mess out of myself. The taste of star anise in the broth was different for me as I didn't mind it due to what I ate on the train on Trost. It was a good meal for me as I also wanted to share with my host, for I showed gratitude for them as well.

"Aren't you going to get some?" I asked.

"Mason told me that the food was made for you, Sam," said Zaralia.

"This is all too much."

"According to what I sensed throughout the cosmos, your raw power needs all the metabolism to restore the body," said Ithilia. "Your godlike abilities needed to be nourish or else you'll be sluggish if you're not careful. Besides, we ate before you did, so I suggest that you have as much as you need."

I didn't say another word as I finished up the bowl of pho in which I also started on the rest of the wangmandu that was in front of me. My appetite got the better of me as I finished up as I went for the spring rolls the moment I dipped them into the peanut sauce that was there. I loved the taste of them as they were made with care the moment I finished them off, for I was very full from what I ate earlier.

"The food tastes good," I said.

"You were weakened further when you contacted your brother and the townsfolk in Pitchpeak telepathically," said Ithilia. "You even felt the effects of pneumonia in which your body was vaccinated the moment you continued to rest up. You're a god now, Sam, for your metabolism must be sated to recharge your raw power."

"It's like back on the train ride to the war summit on Trost."

"I've never seen you eat like that, but the food is really filling," said Zaralia.

"Yeah, but on the other hand, I'm starting to worry about Reiko. I just hope to the gods that she's okay."

"She's alright and made sure that the spirit that haunted that Impala replica was put to rest."

"It's good to hear…"

I was happy that Reiko was safe as I cared about her more than anything. Still, she was trying to be brave as me, but unfortunately, I was the one who underestimated her bravery in which I was thankful that she was alive for another day, for I loved her dearly after all…

Reiko continued to watch the withered tree burn with the Impala replica as Nibori emptied the crate of salt in which she put them near the hill. When she put the plastic crate near the lake, she filled it up with water as she walked back to the withered tree in which she was ready to put out the fire after it burned, for she didn't want to start any disaster in the making, especially in the rain.

"Extinguere flamma," she said in Latin as a wave of water from the crate put out the fire in the withered tree. "Even though we salted and burnt the Impala replica, we can't afford to cause a brush fire here, but the rain is not enough to put out that bad boy."

"And the rhineweed is very flammable according to Grandfather," said Reiko.

"Rhineweed can be used as a lighting wick for fire, but it can end up burning easily if we don't put it out right away. I read about rhineweed in which it originated from Stohess, for it's both an invasive species of plant and a lighting wick for fire."

"It proved its use, for we put the spirit to rest after all."

Reiko and Nibori walked up the hill as they were ready to call it a night in which they were most likely to be returning to the shuttle they piloted. Just as they were about to do so, they spotted the Impala driving towards them as they noticed it stopping near the guardrail. It wasn't long until they saw Dean get out of the car as he had Reuben and Deejatra in tow. He saw the withered tree extinguished as he was more than glad that this ordeal was over, for he had enough for one night.

"You missed the salting and burning," said Nibori.

"Well, you missed the vengeful spirit haunting the village chief," said Dean.

"The car in the withered tree had a tragic end, but it has been put to rest," said Reiko.

Dean ran down the hill where the withered tree was as he saw the remains of the Impala's replica in which they were now charred except for the license plate that remained intact. He never expected the spirit who drove it cause so much toil until it was put to rest for all eternity. Still, he saw it to be something that was driven to jealousy in which it lead to murder as he was grateful that the real culprit behind the departed's demise was taken into custody, for this was finally over after all. By the time Reiko ran down the hill again, she was ready to fetch Dean and go home as she heard my voice in her head, for I was worried for her safety after all that has happened.

"You did good, Reiko," I said to her.

"Sammy…," she said. "I hope that you're feeling better…"

I was up in the middle of the night as I felt more better than normal. After that dinner of food earlier, I was out of bed as I walked to the window of my room. Staring at the night sky that still had the rain, I prayed for Reiko's safety as I felt her gentle hands touch mine. It wasn't long until I saw her next to me as she was grateful that I was feeling better after a long healing sleep. Still, I was ready to go home as I had to return to the rest of my family soon enough, for I was ready to take my leave and return back to Tenzo Village after this.

"I see that you're feeling better," said Reiko.

"After enduring a meal of pho and other things, I'm good to go," I said.

"I heard your voice in my head. You told me that I did good."

"After all this, we'll be on our way home to our family. It's the best we can do."

I was glad that I was feeling better as I hugged Reiko warmly. I was happy that she was safe as we were more than ready to bid goodbye to the Empress and her family and return to the castle back in Tenzo Village. Just as we were about to do so, we saw the door open to my room as we noticed Zaralia walking towards us. She was happy to have us as she was also starting to miss us already, for she was someone who was practically family to us after all.

"So, you're going," she said to me.

"We're only going back to Tenzo Village," I said.

"I hope you come and visit us again."

"We'll do that," said Reiko. "Besides, you're a kind and caring ruler and I know that you will do your best."

"You're also kind and caring, too, Lady Reiko. You even made Sam stay in bed while he wasn't feeling well."

"And she was right to keep me in bed," I said.

It wasn't long until we hugged Zaralia as she had a feeling of connectiveness with us. She viewed us more than just caring people, but the ones who can comfort those who needed our guidance the most…

To be continued...