CHAPTER FIFTEEN: "The Thoughts"

Every hour's run. The scorching sun is slowly setting again. Elion couldn't help but think about her hometown. So she decided to stay away and be alone in the middle of the fist and taking place in the small town where they stopped. In the middle of the party, Marcus noticed that the princess was not there.

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And because he's worried about her, he immediately looked for her. Until he saw it in the flower garden at the back of Vera's house.

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"Elion ...?"

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"Ow, you are ... The brave prince." The princess's answer was mixed with incomprehensible emotions.

"Why did you leave there? Vera is probably looking for you."

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"Huh.? Eh Because .... "

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" Isn't this what you want, those who have people who admire you and are proud of you.? "

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" Yes but ... I want to tell you that .."

The prince's said didn't end suddenly when Vera arrives.

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"Marcus! You're just here. "

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"See?? I told you she'll look for you ..." Elion teased and at the same time turned around and walked away from the two.

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"Elion ...?"

Marcus chased but he was unable to step on his feet to follow the princess.

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Then Vera approached him, "Marcus, why did you leave suddenly? Don't you want to be there.?"

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"Huh? Not like that ... I was just looking for Elion."

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"Ah .. is that so... I thought you don't want that kind of pleasure."

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"No .. and you, why you left there?" Marcus asked.

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"I just want to talk to you when we're just the two of us ... Because I would have asked for something."

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"What's that?"

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Vera was silent for a moment and bowed as if pleading.

"I just wanted to ask, if you could...If you could... Stay..? Just stay here please! Our town needs a prince like you who is a hero !!"

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And for a moment Marcus was speechless at what he heard that he did not expect...

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"Ha ??"

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"Help us, dear prince !!" Vera knelt in front of Marcus at the same time as her tears flowed.

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"Stand up, please." Marcus said while helping Vera to stand up.

"I'm sorry ... but because there's already a town that I promised to help earlier." He added while he could not look directly at the woman he was talking to.

"I have to keep that ... But I won't keep it just because I promised, if not because I want to help them ..."

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Vera smiled slightly, "Hmm... Is that so ..."

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"Yes but, when I'm done with what I have to do and I've helped them, promise, I'll come back here and I'll make sure I can help your village as well."

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"Then I will expect that dear prince." Then Vera turned around and walked away from Marcus with a goofy smile.

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Meanwhile, in the midst of the festivities, Soliman has been restless since they went to Vera's village. Like the princess, some things bother him.

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"Haven't we been in this place for too long, Haj.?" Soleman asked the companion.

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"Huh.? It's ok if we stay here longer... We already have everything we need, water, food, and more wine so what else can we look for.?"

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"But there seems to be something wrong with it." Soleman whispered that Haj didn't understand and he just looked at the waterfall where Alir was standing.

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The festivities continued as the glow of the scorching sun hit the entire town. They no longer cared about each passing hour because of the warm welcome they received from the people throughout the village.

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Meanwhile, Alice also notices that Marcus is gone. That's why she thought of wandering around and maybe seeing the prince. Until she saw it in the garden.

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"Marcus.? You're just here." Alice felt a little glad because she would be with Marcus at the same time when they were alone.

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"What are you doing here my dear Prince ?? " She asked kindly while holding Marcus's hand. But Marcus didn't say a word at that time and it remained silent and it seemed that something strange about him was immediately noticed by Alice.

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" Marcus ?? Are you all right ?? "

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Then the Prince removed Alice's hand from his and spoke in a cold voice,

" Well, from now on forget how you feel for me. "

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Alice was surprised by what she heard,

"What do you mean ....? I know you know how I feel for you, but you often ignore it ... But now, why are you telling me that ?? "

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" As for me ... It's simple because I like the princess of the west .. that's why I can understand if you stay away from me so that you won't be in trouble... And by the way, you also know that maybe I don't like you, don't you.?"

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Because of what the prince said, she was speechless and Alice was so hurt that she seemed confused by what was happening. Even though she knew what Marcus meant.

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Alice quickly left and ran back to the feast that you could see the sadness brought by what Marcus had said to her. She just stopped to one side and his brother immediately noticed her crying.

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Sister? What happened to you ?? "

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" It's just nothing. "

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" Are you sure? Because the last time I saw you cry was when you found out that you couldn't take the same class with older brother Marcus at the Magic School. "

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Alice didn't say a word again and thought about what Marcus had told her.

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Later on, the little girl Lin appeared at them.

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"Alir? Can you come with me? "

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" Where's Lin? "

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" Just here... I'll just show you something. "

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" All right ... How's that sister? I'll just go with Lin. Just be there first. " Alir said goodbye and the two of them left at the same time...

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But Alice remained silent and dumb on the ground.

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"hey cute guy, it looks like you've had a lot of drinking. It is good if you will come with us to our house.?"

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And because Rico drank a lot of alcohol, the women immediately persuaded him.

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"Well, go ahead ... I've been waiting for that for a while ..." Rico replied that the intoxication was obvious in his voice so he had no doubt come along.

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On the other hand, even Karin is uneasy, especially since Marcus is still not coming back.

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"Hey, Soleman? Did you see Marcus?" The paladin asked when she saw Soleman who seemed to be deep in thought.

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"Ha. ?? the prince ?? Even the dear princess hasn't returned yet. Maybe they're together."

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"Maybe we should also leave here, our destination is far away."

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"I think so too. We've been here too long. I'd better find them."

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"It's better yet." Then Karin turned to the side of the house where Alice was standing and noticed that it looked like there was a problem. So she approached it immediately.

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But before she met her closely, unexpectedly, someone threw something from not far away and it created a thick smoke. Karin quickly fled and the villagers were shocked and confused by what had happened.

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"What ?? Where did it come from ??" Karin said while covering her nose to avoid suffocation.

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And not a distance, Soleman also noticed the number of people running. That's why he quickly returned.

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"What happened??!"

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"I don't know either ..."

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And later the thick smoke gradually disappeared. A group of men similar to the one they had encountered in the dry valley appeared before them. A group of bandits was all armed and they were even more surprised to see that they had Alice holding her hand and covering her mouth.

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