Survival is More Important

[Vale's Point of View]

The Barren Lands

Middle Part of Land of Dawn

"The Turtle has fallen! The Turtle has fallen! The Dark Lord Helcurt had taken the Turtle's buff!" shouted Akai, the messenger, as he passed by the brick road.

His concerned voice woke me up, and the minion crowd nearby chattered, with all their opinions about the news.

"How did he find it?" one minion said.

"I don't know. Maybe that traitor Harith had helped him," another one said.

"We're all doomed now! Hope is lost! This land will have its curse forever!" another exclaimed.

Harith. I thought. What are your plans now, Harith? What are you thinking?

It's been a week since I last saw him. He made his choice. But that was way too much unexpected.

"Harith, we can still escape, come with me!" I said to him, as I enclosed the battlefield with gusting whirlwinds, forcing Selena and Vexana to step aside.

"No! I won't! I am not coming with you. I have made up my mind. We can't defeat them, Vale. All our skills are on cooldown. We have no mana, we got no health-points either. We're one skill away from death," refused Harith.

"Yes! I know! We can't fight now! But we can fight them later! Come with me!" I urged.

"Do you have a poor hearing, Wind Mage? You heard the Leonin. He's not coming with you," Selena emphasized.

"I am coming with them. I'm pleading my allegiance to Helcurt now," revealed Harith.

"What are you saying? What's wrong with you?!" I complained.

"Shall we start the torture now?" Vexana, ready to cast her skills.

"Take this advice, Vale. Better run now. Survival is more important. Go and save yourself. I am saving mine," instructed Harith.

It seemed like he had made his choice. Then I flew as fast and as far as I could. The next day, I found myself near a village populated by minions and super minions.

I opened the windows to let the air pass through. This Barren Land was all but filled with trees, dust, busy roads and noisy minions.

Hunger prompted me to go outside. I made sure to wear my cloak and mask, enough to conceal my face. I couldn't let off my guard. Helcurt's spies were everywhere. And so the minions and super minions who pledged their loyalty to him.

As I closed the door of this tiny, wooden inn, a minion suddenly approached me.

"Hey mister, you're new here," it said, noticeable was her female young voice. Then it cleared its throat. "Hmmm. I know you're hungry? Maybe you need someone who can assist you," the minion offered.

"Wow, that was fast," I said. "Right. How old are you? Aren't you too young for the job?" I asked.

"Don't treat me like a baby. I'm already eighteen! I just... uhm.. don't grow like you yet. But maybe if I evolved into a hero, I'll be much beautiful too like Odette or as awesome as Lesley!"

Sadly, minions have lower percentage of becoming heroes. In fact, I had never known any minion who later evolved into a hero before. The Magic Academy though had always taught that there's a possibility a minion becomes a hero, only if its aquamarine fragment becomes whole. But in most cases, a minion's aquamarine content is usually lower than five per cent. And minions don't develop any special ability either. Becoming a hero was more far from reality.

"What's the status of your aquamarine now?" I asked the minion.

"Uhhmm. It's still a fragment though. A little bit more than one per cent now. But my friend says maybe after a year it would become two!" she merrily said. "So, are you hiring me now? My rate is lower than others. Five twilight coins per day is enough, of course, inclusive of food and a safe place to stay. And note, I can offer my first three days for free."

Truly, slavery was still on their minds. For survival, minions had to be with heroes to protect themselves and avoid being abused or killed by other heroes.

"Right. I see. So how do I know I can trust you?" I asked. This time, I would know if she's a spy or not.

"Because I know you are that picture there," pointing to the picture posted in the wall of the adjacent inn, with the tag line "Wanted Dead or Alive 10,000 Twilight Coins reward."

I was astonished. I never knew this minion would identify me.

"Okay. You're hired."

"I know it! I really know it's you! Darn those golden eyes!" the little minion happily exclaimed.

"So, are you going to buy food for me or not?"

"Of course I will. But hey, let me remind you that only three days are paid for free. And in this village, we have a law that a minion only works eight hours a day. And you are banned to call me your servant. I am your worker, not your servant. Are we clear with that?"

"Yes, of course." So these minions are well-aware of their labor rights huh? I'm impressed.

"How do I call you? What's your name?" I asked.

"Benedetta. Call me Benedetta," the minion said.

"Nice name. Who gave you such a beautiful name, Benedetta?"

"My mother. She was a super minion. She worked at Alucard's Imperial Army. But I heard the army was destroyed by Helcurt. Now I don't know where she is."

"Sorry to hear that."

"It's okay. I still know that my father is alive though. He's a super minion as well. He's now working under the mighty Queen Kadita! And I heard Helcurt hasn't invaded Kadita's Ocean Kingdom, so I'm pretty sure he is still alive!"

Kadita. That name again.

"Good for you. Well, I think we have a good deal."

"Of course we have! I know you'll pay me on time. Those eyes were surely not gold for nothing."

"Hahaha," I laughed at her wise response.

"Are we good? So how do I call you Mister?" she asked.

"Call me anything you want."

"Okay. I call you Super Minion from now on. Is that fine?"

"Fine with me. So, what food are you going to buy for me?"

"In this place, we had toasted worms and baked blue apples as delicacies. I'm sure you will love them, Super Minion," the minion grinned as she said it.

"Hmm. Sounds delicious. Okay. How much would that be?"

"I'll give it to you for free. My friend worked in one of the most famous taverns in town. Consider it as one of my perks being your worker."

"Right. Great. It seems I'm more lucky here than you."

"I know. And please stay inside. It's not safe for you outside, Super Minion. Next time, try making those eyes less gold, silver perhaps or bronze, else we're dead sooner," she joked, with her little voice seemingly laughing.

"I get your point. Thanks."

Then she ran hurriedly outside, heading towards the tavern stores.

An hour had passed by but Benedetta still didn't return. What if she sold me out? I still couldn't trust anyone yet. Not even her, or her stories. I thought.

Another hour had passed, but she still didn't return. This time, I had to go outside. To buy food or look for her, whichever comes first.

I walked towards the community of tavern stores. Minions and super minions were all busy crowding the streets. With my veil and brown hooded cloak on, I was extremely careful not to be noticed by everyone.

Posters about me were still clipped on walls. And so was the news that Helcurt had now the Turtle's Buff.

I stopped by at a tavern store with the name "Worms and Apples". Maybe this was it. I thought.

I went inside. There I saw Benedetta, and a little human girl with blue hair. They were surrounded by five big super minions.

"Step aside, Benedetta," one super minion said.

"She's not like us. She's a human. We can sell her to Helcurt at an expensive price and get instantly rich!" the other super minion said.

Then they started laughing.

"No, she is my friend. No one's going to touch her!" Benedetta defended. The little girl was now crying beside her.

"Humans enslave us, Benedetta. And they don't pay us right. Sooner or later, she will enslave you too," another super minion said.

"She's just working here selling cakes and apples! Leave her alone! How can a little girl enslave us?" Benedetta, with fierce eyes fixed at them.

"You might be forgetting that your soldier parents aren't here. Let's have this the hard way then, Benedetta," warned their leader.

Then I stepped closer to them. "Benedetta, what is this all about?"

"Super Minion! My master!" Benedetta ran and hugged towards me. The little human girl was looking at us, but later ran towards me and hugged me as well.

"Help us!" the girl said, now crying again.

"He's not a super minion. Why do you call him Super Minion, Benedetta?" their leader said. The rest of them were laughing again.

"I am the guardian of this human girl. Any problem?" I said to them.

"There's no problem, except that she's coming with us," their leader said.

"No, she's staying here," I responded.

Then the five super minions released their swords and spears.

"She's coming with us," emphasized their leader, trying to intimidate me with their weapons.

"You heard me. She's staying here," I said.

Irritated, one of them charged at me. I just stood my ground. With Benedetta and the human girl now more afraid.

Then I raised my right hand, with palm facing to the charging super minion. Then I let a strong energy of air burst, knocking him on the wall.

The remaining super minions followed to attack me. Piece of cake, I thought. Before they could use their weapons against me, I lifted them all and stuck their bodies to the ceiling.

"Alright! Alright! The girl is yours! Just let us go!" their leader said.

"Do this again, and it will be your last," I warned them.

"We're sorry! Yes, we will never do it again! Just let us go!" they begged.

"Tell anyone of this and my Super Minion will kill all of you!" Benedetta added.

"We won't tell anyone Benedetta! Please, just let us go! I'm about to puke!" their leader begging to be freed.

I released them at once. And they all fell on the floor. Groaning in pain, they still managed to stand up and run away.

"Are you alright?" I asked them.

"Thank you, I owe you a lot," the little girl said. "Thank you too, Benedetta."

"Hey Super Minion, her name is Ellie and she is a great cook! Ellie, I think we have to let our guest try our best seller here!" Benedetta said.

"Aye-aye! Captain!" approved Ellie.

Minutes later, Ellie served the food that she cooked.

"These are our best appetizers here," Ellie, referring to the hot, toasted worms.

"And this is our best dessert!" Benedetta, referring to the baked blue apples.

"So, aren't you guys too young to be working?" I inquired with curiosity.

"You tend to forget where you are, Super Minion!" reminded Benedetta. "Welcome to The Barren Lands, the place where there's poor vegetation... where all minions and race are struggling to survive."

"We need to raise our own selves here. No one else will do that for us," Ellie said.

"I see. It's great to know this part of the world even existed," I said, as I munched the crunchy, healthy worms in my mouth.

We were done eating at last and were about to go.

"Super Minion," called Ellie.

"Yes?"

"Can I stay with you as well? I'm afraid they'll come back and get after me," the worried Ellie said to me.

"That's a good idea!" added Benedetta.

"I think no. It's dangerous being with me," I said.

"But I know how to cook. I can cook meals for you daily. If only, if only mommy and daddy is here!" Ellie cried again.

"Okay. Okay. You can stay with me. But we need to find a bigger inn. My place is too small for the three of us."

"Hooray!" Ellie exclaimed, happy to know she's staying with us. "Wait for me outside, please? My stuffs are there upstairs. I need to carry them with me."

"I'll help you bring them down," offered Benedetta. The two were now heading upstairs.

This is good though. I thought. If I had a minion and a human with me, it would seem then that I am a normal resident of this village. Somehow, it would give me less suspicion.

Minutes later, the two came down, with things and stuff with them. But I noticed something unusual behind them.

"Hey, what's that big metallic thing over there?" I asked them.

"He is Ellie's toy, and he is coming with us too!" said Benedetta, referring to the old, metallic robot that was walking behind them.

"Oh really? I was right when I said we have to find a bigger inn. But now, I thought it would be much, much bigger," I jokingly said.

"I'm sorry if he's coming with us. But he is my friend. And we always look for fun and adventures!" Ellie said.

"I think that's a good, strong friend of yours. You know how to control it?" I asked her.

Then Ellie excitedly hopped and climbed onto the robot's head.

"Yes. And oh! Is Jawhead too strong for you?"