Chapter 17: Ash appears

Abner noticed the anger and annoyance in Arlo's countenance, however, he also saw something else deep inside his lemon-yellow pupils.

What he saw in them assured him that Arlo wasn't really "serious" with his "anger". Because within his full of agitation eyes was a buried excitement and thrill.

"That. Is. Awesome!!" Arlo erupted. He wasn't angry and vexed because he had suffered all those things, but because there was no result after everything he had gone through.

No matter how much Arlo enjoyed the stimulation he'd experienced for the past many weeks and the thrilling aftertaste of the adventure, the reason why he and Abner had to go through all those was so that they can find out more about the Mono organization yet in the end they were led around by the nose and nearly died.

Arlo pouted in vexation, "But not getting any results after all the hard work put in makes me so furious!!"

He stamped his foot.

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

Stepping on the crunchy snow that was only as high as an average adult's ankle, Abner and Arlo had left the village in Snow Streams far behind them as they once again traversed the ice zone to the forest next land.

They had waited a whole week after the snow storm passed before they set off on their journey. Good thing that there were no more snowstorms during that week, showing that it was safe to temporarily travel, which allowed Abner and Arlo to leave.

Presently, now, they are about to cross the border between Snow Streams and the forest known as the Black Forest shrouded in darkness most of the day and especially at night.

Crossing the border and arriving within the Black Forest took them 5 days.

At night when the moon was high in the sky and the stars shone their light softly and intermittently like a melody of lullaby, a bright and fierce fire lit up the dark surroundings and illuminated Abner and Arlo's faces.

They had stopped for the night somewhat deep into the Black Forest. Eating the roasted, tasteless rabbit they had hunted, Arlo reached into his clothes to try and find the handkerchief he had put in to wipe his mouth.

While pulling the handkerchief out, something fell out alongside it. Arlo took a glance at it and picked it up. Suddenly, Arlo remembered that he had intended to give this to Abner since a long time ago, he just never got the chance to, and eventually he'd forgotten all about his plan.

"Abner, stick out your hand."

"What?" Abner asked, but he stretched out his hand to Arlo anyway.

Arlo placed the item in his hand in Abner's.

"It's a gift from a friend to a friend."

In Abner's hand was a single earring without a pair. The tiny gems and diamonds like stardust on the cross-shaped earring twinkled black and purple.

It was the exact same earring that had attracted Abner's attention back in one of Arlo's treasure caves. The one that Abner had worn in his last life.

Seeing this pairless earring again, surprise was drew out onto Abner's face. Without a word, Abner wore the earring on his left ear—just like in his last life.

Abner hadn't changed. Just because his body is not the same doesn't mean him as a person is not the same. Abner is still Abner. The soul is still the same.

With a warm smile directed at Arlo, Abner thanked sincerely from the bottom of his heart his new friend of at least a month.

"Thank you."

"He, no need for the courteous and polite talk. We're friends. The last time, I saw that you seemed to really like this earring so I wanted to gift it to you. Aren't I the best?" Arlo brushed it off lightly, he didn't dug for some praise from Abner which he was gladly given.

It was then that a rustling of something sounded in the creepy, gloomy, but otherwise quiet forest.

On high alert, with caution, Abner and Arlo gravitated toward each other and stared intently at the source of the sound.

Abner's violet-purple eyes glinted with killing intent, a dangerous aura settled over him.

But they soon found out that they didn't need to be so on guard, because, the next moment, Abner was frozen with astonishment and disbelief.

It was a person, a man who had stumbled out from the shadows of the night wearing tattered clothes that barely covered any skin. Only the important part was really covered. His skin was decorated by bruises, scars, and whip marks. His hair was messy and unkempt. His entire appearance was disheveled, covered in dirt and blood, and like that of an escaping tortured slave.

However, beyond all that, Abner could not believe his eyes when he caught the familiar glimpse of a face he would've never imagined to be seen here otherwise. He could tell who the other person is even when he withers into dust.

Taking a step forward, Abner unconsciously said a name. A name belonging to a person he thought he would never meet again, and even if he does he wouldn't have any relation to the person in question. A name of a close friend.

"Ash?"