The next day passed quickly because everyone was preparing to leave on the trek to the Sacred Cloister. The monarchs and lowers were packing the things they would need on their way. They were checking to which group they were assigned to. The day of coming decided to which group monarchs belonged to. Seiya, Taiki and Yaten came almost as the last ones, so they were assigned to Aso's protection. Marc had come to Middle Planet earlier but he switched with someone because he wanted to travel with his friends.
Everyone was sitting in the dining hall; the mood during evening meal was solemn. There were no laud conversations, everyone was whispering. Lowers who were having fun till late night last night and were packing the whole day seemed really tired. Seiya was looking at Usagi. She was pale, sad and looked tired but she was talking to her friends. She was too far for him to hear the conversation.
"Usi, how do you fell today?" Alicia asked.
"I am well thank you" she answered.
"She was crying the whole night," Erst added. "It's because you Cer are such a stupid feelingless moron to ask her to sing such song."
"Stop it Erst," Usagi said "It's not his fault."
"We were creating song about life without God, and as you could hear the message of our song, the life without God is sad. But it's better to find him through the tears then to forget about Him" answered Cer.
"Cer, don't start it…" Erst said.
"Stop it you two," Usagi said. "Yesterday the song reminded me of how much I had lost. I also had a vision of the people that used to be my friends on Earth. That shattered me. I just want to forget it now so please don't ask me anymore about yesterday. It was one time thing. Aso said that Welcomnes is a communicating point with the other planets and somehow yesterday… Anyway I am fine now. Don't worry."
"Were those scratches on your hand made by the vision? Can vison hurt someone?" Erst asked suspiciously.
"Erst, she said she didn't want to talk about it." Ceiri said. He looked into the serious eyes of the centaur girl and changed the subject.
"I don't want to leave yet. We had so much fun here and we could rest and sleep in the beds and eat good meals, and have crazy parties, play games, have fun. Now another journey is starting and it will last for an uncertain amount of time. Yet again we will encounter crazy demons, we will sleep on the ground, eat only disgusting energetic seeds. Life of a lower is tough."
"I know what you mean," Usagi said. "We've had such a joyful time here. I wish it could last longer. But Cer would say that we have to take what life brings without regrets and we can't think too much about things we leave behind." Cer nodded. "And," she smiled and whispered to her three friends "who knows, maybe on the end of this journey, when we reach the Sacred Cloister our dreams will come true."
"Usi, stop it!" Ceiri blushed.
"Anyway Usi is right, let's be happy with what life brings to us!" exclaimed Erst and everyone nearby looked at him. His friend laughed.
"I am happy as long as we are together," Ceiri said and Usagi nodded.
"And God is always with us, so let's don't worry." Cer added.
Four monarchs were also thinking about the journey.
"Tomorrow we are leaving, I am so excited" said Marc.
"Really? I would like to study books of Welcomnes some more" answered Taiki.
"That's true, but seeing this planet is better then learning about it from the books" said Marc.
"So we are going to leave tomorrow with our group?" asked Seiya.
"I don't like that we are under Aso's team protection, we should have switch" said Yaten and looked at Seiya. He knew that switching was out of the question for Seiya. He was very glad that he was in the same group as Usagi because they would spend a lot of time together.
"Don't worry Yaten," said Marc. "I've heard that Aso's family had some problems in your star system (that is the reason why you worry right?), but Aso is a pro and I am sure that he won't try to take revenge on you during the quest. Moreover, it was your parents' generation that was in conflict with his family. I think Aso is too wise to hold a grudge against you, you are not responsible for what was between your parents' generation and his family years ago."
"I am not sure about it, we should change groups," said Yaten.
"Oh stop it already, we stay in Aso's group," said Seiya.
"When it comes to that girl you loose self-preservation instinct Seiya."
"What girl?" asked Marc.
"You are exaggerating Yaten, being in that group is beneficial for all of us." Taiki said. "I think we should stay in it. Aso is a powerful man and we should get to know him. I have a feeling that one day he may whish to visit our system to see the graves of his dear ones and we should be prepared when the day comes. And maybe we could understand better what that conflict was about. Maybe we can explain to him, that the warriors of the star system must protect their planets. His family was threatening out system and they had to die. He is a grown man and a fighter himself; maybe he is ready to see the truth and let go the hatred."
"Wishful thinking," said Yaten but didn't mention switching again.
"So we are going to leave tomorrow with our group (I am asking again because I haven't got an answer)?" asked Seiya.
"Oh," said Marc and took out some notebook. "The good thing is that the area surrounding Welcomnes is rather safe and well protected. For another week there is no need of lowers to watch over us. All teams together will be walking in one big group . The quest will split later on. One day away there is a famous and beautiful lake called Marachi. We will stay there for two days. The lowers will train us how to behave (hide) when demon appears. Later on we are going to have fun. It's another custom to spend a cheerful day at Marachi beach. Journeys to the Sacred Cloister lasts long so I guess lowers want to rest and relax before it (I don't mind it). Later on we will walk through safe and dangerous territories. Some territories are protected by powerful lower families or tribes, but some are nobody grounds and demons like to appear and attack there."
"Sound interesting," Taiki said. Everyone nodded.
Next day
After morning meal the quest was leaving Welcomnes. About three hundred people were gathering on the fairing. The monarchs and lowers were all standing together. A man on a podium was giving the directions.
"Everyone who still has a luggage please come to the left side and give the luggage to the muleman of your team".
"What is a muleman?" Taiki asked Marc when they were walking to the left side.
"Oh, it's a special magical creature of the Middle Planet. Muleman is a very strong and big creature. It doesn't have any power to attack but it can carry burdens and has a very strong protection field. It will take care of our luggage and food portions and protect them during the attacks. It's a very useful and needed creature. Lowers of Middle Planet love mulemen because if they can't find one to join their mission they have to carry everything on their own backs, which can be exhausting."
Four monarchs approached mulemen and found the one of Aso's team. They gave him their backpacks. When muleman put them on his back they became smaller.
"Amazing," Marc exclaimed. Muleman smiled proudly.
"My name is Mured, I am Aso's muleman and we will cooperate during the whole journey. Your things are safe with me."
"Thank you" Seiya said "it's nice to meet you. My name is Seiya." Muleman smiled and stretched his leg towards Seiya.
"Hey Mured let's practice your reflex" someone yelled "Catch it!" Muleman was shaking hands (and leg) with Seiya when a backpack hit his back and fell to the ground. Mured looked angrily around. Erst approached.
"Hey, you didn't catch it! My things could break" Erst said concerned and lifted his backpack. Muleman was looking at Erst with murder in his eyes.
"Hey! See if you can catch this one," a girl voice exclaimed and another backpack hit muleman, this time it the head. Muleman whined like a young calf.
"Mured you are in a bad shape today. You should be more careful my things could break" Usagi said. Mured looked at her furiously.
"The two of you are idiots, I won't carry your things!" muleman said in offended tone.
"Why?" they both exclaimed.
"I am making an acquaintance with serious and graceful people and you two make me look like an idiot." He said proudly remembering that he had whined. Usagi looked at Seiya and his friends.
"They are monarchs. Who cares about them? Nothing good comes from associating monarchs. It's better if they think worst of you and stay away. We have given you a favor."
"They behave with grace unlike you two and they are well mannered and interesting. There is a big difference in behavior between a well born monarch and an ikarian lower" answered Mured in the interplanetary language. Seiya, Taiki and Marc smiled.
"You see Odango, we are graceful, well-mannered and interesting. You are loosing a lot by avoiding us. You could learn a lot from us. Although it's risky task I can be a volunteer and teach you how to behave properly," Seiya said.
"Oh, shut up monarch!"
"They have no manners mr Seiya. How could she tell you to shut up, when your offer is so genuine. You shouldn't waist your breath on those two, they are unchangeable, belive me I know them well" Muleman said.
"Yeah don't waist your breath on such a meaningless silly lower as myself monarch. It's a good advice, keep it for the rest of the quest to Sacred Cloister," Usagi added while watching Erst who was trying to put his backpack on the muleman's back but Mured just wouldn't take it.
"No, I don't think I can take that advice, I enjoy hard tasks." Seiya answered. She sighed and looked at him impatiently.
"Oh come on, don't be a little girl Mured, we were just joking with you." Erst said while forcing with muleman.
"Did they annoyed you again?" Cer, Ceiri and Alicia came with their backpacks. Mured made an offended face and nodded.
"I've told you to act with respect toward our dear and precious Mured" said Cer and winked to Usagi and Erst. Erst said:
"He is just showing off in front of the monarchs. Come on Mured you used to like to practice your reflex with us. Now his pride was hurt because he didn't catch the luggage and was hit with it. It was funny he whined like a little calf."
Mured sighed and said:
"Oh Cer, there is no use to speak to those two, I was just explaining this to those four gentlemen over here …."
"Yeah make the dark-haired monarch to understand your words, he has problems with it" Usagi added while looking at Seiya with anger and he smiled to her warmly.
"Don't interfere while I'm speaking you bad-manndered ikarian brat!" Mured exclaimed. "I won't carry their stuff." Cer smiled and said:
"Mured, we all know that you are professional. Don't mind them. Just take their backpacks. I am sure they will get in trouble with Aso and he will think of some punishment. Think what other mulemen would think of you when they would see somebody with backpack. They would think you have no strength to carry the luggage of our team. What a shame that would be and we all know it's not true; you are very powerful muleman, a basis philar of Aso team. Don't punish yourself because of them. They'll get in trouble, I can promise you that and then we will leave it to Aso."
Mured nodded and grabbed Usagi's and Erst's backpacks.
"You are right as always Cer. You are such a smart and noble centaur. It's so nice of you to watch over those two idiots, but I know it must be a big sucrafice on your side."
"Hey!" Usagi and Erst exclaimed. Alicia and Ceiri laughed.
"Let's go now," Ceiri said and grabbed them by their arms.
"See you in the evening Mured" Erst said. Usagi and Erst turned towards the muleman. Erst winked to him and Usagi sent him a kiss. Lowers left. Mured was furious. He tried to take a hold of himself.
"I am sorry gentlemen for that. I am so ashamed, Aso is wonderful leader, you will see but there are also outcasts in our team."
"You shouldn't be ashamed. They are funny and sweet." Marc said and Seiya nodded. "I would like to know more about mulemen, would you do us an honor and tell us more about yourself and your specie during the journey?" Mured strengthen proudly and totally forgot that only few moments ago he had been furious.
"Of course, an interest of the monarchs is an honor to me. When you come back to your planets you will say that muleman is the best mannered and strongest specie on Middle Planet." They smiled.
Loading luggage took some time. After everything was loaded a man stood on the podium. He was a powerful middle age man, guardian of Welcomnes.
"Good luck on your journey. Hopefully we can see all of you back here safely. May the sacred spirits be with you on you quest. May all of you find the solutions to your problems and find the might in the Sacred Cloister. Bless you! I will be praying for your safe return!"
Everybody clapped their hands. Then they turned and set on their quest.
