Chapter 29 - Memory (1)

"Alin!"

Her loud voice attracted a few gazes from those who strolled down the road, though they immediately averted their gaze and continued with their own business, some did shake their heads in disapproval.

Her soft voice is now familiar, her step faltering for a second, before a quick realisation hits her face and quickens her step. It is still considered too slow as the girl who shouted her name easily clasped her left arm and greeted her with excitement.

"Alin!"

Raiene still couldn't believe her eyes, at first she wasn't quite sure the figure she caught would upon her sight truly be Alin. Ruby mentioned before, Alin would sometimes hunt and sell the animals to a local butcher she knows, sometimes she would try to do some miscellaneous task and get paid several cos or a bag wad of turvi.

However, the chance of meeting Alin inside the town is really low, as her schedule of activities are not following a set of strict routines at all or so Ruby had informed her. 

Feeling excited from all the fortunate things she experienced today, Raiene showed off the bag on her other hand that is filled with souvenirs and gifts she had bought and start to ramble off about the chance encounter with Qye's guard named Artha. 

Although, Raiene makes sure to leave out certain parts like taking a bath at the lake and getting caught by said guard.

She did mention that she will meet him again tomorrow at Grea's Bakery, 2 hours before Nymph sings. Raiene step faltered, her gaze turned dumbfounded as she turned around and tried to find the familiar figure she had left behind, her face scrunched up as she began to realise that she couldn't find him anywhere. 

Facing Alin with weird smiles, she could only blink at her, "When does Nymph sing?"

Alin, who heard all the words she rambles about, starts to stare at her with wrinkled eyebrows.

"You met a guard?"

Though the small kingdom is known to be lenient on their civilians and a peaceful place where every creature roams free, it is also known that most guards stationed inside Qye was one who blended well within its crowd. The kingdom recruited various creatures, the most stand out among every personnels and trained them to face any task with the least amount of violence, which is why most guards are stationed to blend in and guard in silence.

Most of them aren't given out any uniforms and the only thing that could tell them apart is a particular ink mark around their wrist, though that mark could turn invisible whenever they want. The only guard personnels that are given out uniforms are the one whose job is to protect the Qye's Royal Family or Qye's Palace.

Staring at Raiene, Alin let out a deep sigh.

Feeling confused, Raiene stared back at Alin, "What?"

Alin didn't believe her words, perhaps the one who claimed to be a guard in front of Raiene was fooling around with her. Alin also doesn't want to crack the wide smile Raiene wears at the moment, besides she will forget everything within a few days.

"Nothing," she answered, before quickening her steps ahead, leaving Raiene flustered and quickly following along.

• • ⊱∘────·☽༓☾·────∘⊰ • •

Once Crion set foot on Soryen Port, he couldn't hold it back anymore, facing the surging motion of blue waves in front of him, he shouted at the top of his lungs for the longest amount of time he could afford. Ignoring the way his throat had started to ache from pain.

Thankfully, the port at the time is overly crowded and his scream had been buried within the flock of seagulls squealing nearby and the hectic activities creatures around him had preoccupied with. If not, Crion could imagine a few whispers here and there started because of him.

The Royal had instructed him with a mission, finding one creature who coincidentally happened to be famous as a healer within Wasteland. Because Crion doesn't have much of an option, he decided to accept the Royal command and had patiently guided him over the course of half a day.

Despite the way his eyes twitching in agitation and his head aching from the creeping up desire to at least land one satisfying punch on the royal face, Crion had managed to endure it all nonetheless.

"This is Knox. Famous here. Have abundant information that you may find useful, Your Highness."

The creature he was looking for is famous for being a lone wanderer, his stay unpredictable over the last five years. Crion then decided to introduce him to Knox. Knox is perhaps the only one who keeps track of visitors' whereabouts, especially if that creature happened to regularly use his service as Dragon Rider. 

He still remembered clearly the way the royal assessed Knox before facing him with doubtful stares. His sleek dark hair reflected the sun as he scrutinised Crion with his dark blue eyes prior to throwing something to Crion.

The royal before him had thrown some sort of badge with the renown crescent moon and wolf carved in detail into it. Apparently, he had brought along two ships, one for his way of transportation while the other was meant for his necessities.

Clothes, food, and even a group of troupe for the sake of his entertainment. You name it.  Crion still remembered the time when his jaw hit the floor from how shocked he had been from all that revelation.

Turns out, the ship that was meant for his necessities is supposed to return to Soryen Port that day, so then a new batch of supplies can go onboard. There's even a change of troupe and new ensemble of groups inside that freaking ship.

If travelling was such a hassle for him to do, why would he even do it in the first place?

Feeling his head beginning to ache, Crion screamed once again.

"Thorn on your feet!"

Crion shouted the only cursed sentence he had once learnt from his father. Huffing and puffing, he turned around and searched for an empty carriage.

There's still a day of journey from here. 

• • ⊱∘────·☽༓☾·────∘⊰ • •

The bubbly thick yellow liquid is placed between the two of them, it was obviously scorching hot from the burner but the elder's hand swiftly took a full swig out of its content. He growled with satisfaction once the entire liquid was down his throat, placing the wooden cup harshly, he licked his cracked lips before his silver eyes narrowed upon her.

"State your demand. A Queen wouldn't spare her important time for this useless old man," there's a trace of ridicule within his sentence, but she didn't flinch or blink, she is already used to his harsh treatment. 

"I would like you to help me," her eyes held sincerity, the only emotion she showed to selected people, bearing the title of queen of the entire land had reduced her emotion, her smile is restricted to only her family now.

The elder barks, finding this girl he used to help a bit unexpected, ah… she's not a girl anymore, she's the queen and one who holds the highest power at this moment. There's a trace of nostalgia playing within his facial expression before it turned cold.

"And what makes you think I would help? My debt with Qye has been paid off the minute I leave that place. You do know me, right?" There is obvious scorn lacing through his question, "a single plea won't make me obey obediently," he examined her, eyes slightly up with something even the Queen can't decipher. The only creature she respects apart from her family.

"Yes. I know you."

"Then this conversation is a waste of my time."

"But, I also know your reputation."

"Oh? There's more? Let's hear it then."

• • ⊱∘────·☽༓☾·────∘⊰ • •

It is believed the first daughter of Qye in each generation holds the entire abilities of Fairies. They could lift an unbreakable curse, wreak havoc upon a nation or summon death if she put her own mind to it.

A very creature human should stay away from. 

-Excerpt from 'The Essential Book of Human Survival'.

Jonathan Lorth.