Chapter 22

Author: Thanks for reading and for supporting me. Please rate the book......

Den: If you like it. Or not. Like it or not, please rate the book and tell us what you think. In case this writer I paid is making mistakes.

Author: I won't bother talking about you being here but I can't stand the fact that you just told a big lie.

Den: A big lie?

Author: A huge one. When did you pay me? My stomach and my throat keep growling! As if I’m turning into something else and my account is as dry as a washed cloth.

Den: You have no other job? Find one.

Author:..................This is useless.

Den: As long as you know.

Author: *Sigh.

**********️️****

MORNING ⛅

In the end, the three stayed awake until the sun rose and then got ready to leave.

OUTSIDE

"Something doesn't add up. I know we haven't heard the story to its fullest. I've thought about it, and something doesn't add up. I haven't figured out what doesn't add up either" Den said.

He and Yuuki stood outside, waiting for Zil to come out so they could leave.

(By the way, they're still wearing the masks)

Since his luggage carrier wasn't here, Den was forced to carry his own luggage.

Good thing he only had one bag, which had everything he needed.

"While the manager was explaining what he saw, everyone looked surprised, unconvinced and in disbelief, except"

"The youngest waiter" Yuuki stole his words.

Surprised, Den looked at him.

He was aware of his surroundings after all.

Well, he had to give it to him, he was worthy of being his fated one!

He (Den) thought, smiling.

"Exactly, he looked uncomfortable and worried. Just that says something else"

"Could be he was uncomfortable and worried about what he heard"

Yu was right. They couldn't leave that one out.

However! Through his experiences as an investigator, he couldn't ignore this possibility.

The manager must have lied about something.

"I expect no less from my soulmate! You really make my life worth living" the playful Den said, smiling.

And just like that, the position Mira had was suddenly taken away from her.

**********️️*******

WOODS

Mira who was traveling alone on foot suddenly sneezed and a deep frown covered her beautiful face.

It wasn't a cold.

Either someone was talking about her or a certain position has been stripped from her.

She was sure of this.

*************️️*******

INN

OUTSIDE.

"Refrain from calling me that, so embarrassing" Yuuki said, shaking his head.

"Then, who are you to me?"

Looking up, Yuuki thought about it, and when he finally got an answer, he said, "Your companion, that will do. Never call me your soulmate again"

Pouting, Den said, "But I like that"

Seriously, this guy was way too much for him to handle!

How come he was his......... companion?

Couldn't it be someone else?

Why was it him (Den)?

"I don't like fate" Yuuki said and he (Den) smiled.

What was he (Yuuki) thinking that he (Yuuki) brought this up? Den couldn't help but ask himself.

"I don't know much about fate either. But I know,.......what happens, is already written. Some people's fate can be changed. Others' fate cannot be changed, no matter what. And I know,.........the change depends on you, or on heavens. If you want to make a change, you only have to make a choice, decide. It might turn out good or bad. But fate will remain the same"

"You're not making sense"

Den burst out laughter, saying, "I know. Even am confused"

At that moment, Zil exited the inn.

"Brother Den, Brother Yu, am here, we can leave now" a lifeless Zil said, gaining their attention as they turned to face him.

"Okay" Den replied.

Guess the kid wasn't going to get better anytime soon.

He looked so depressed.

*********️️******

The kingdom of Peace.

This place was their next destination.

Before anything else, Den had to get his treasure from his former home which was in his inn in Peace Town.

His treasure was something he should have never left behind in the first place. But he did.

So stupid of him.

He had planned on getting it after checking up on the people in Live village but he was met with such a blow. Still, it didn't ruin his plans. Though he didn't have much time, he still had to get his treasure before continuing his journey.

With the so-called demon Island back, it'll take some time before he could finally get back his peaceful life.

*******️

NIGHT

The night taking over and tired from their journey, they decided to rest.

They found a small empty cave and decided to rest there.

Yuuki took on the role of gathering woods and setting up fire to keep them warm from the cold night.

Afterwards, they sat together around it.

"Kiddo, are you okay? Are you hungry? I have bread......."

"I'm fine" Zil cut him (Den) off and afterwards, silence took over again.

*Sigh, that depressed look on his face, Den did not like it.

He wanted the kid to talk. Vent out his frustrations, scream out if he wanted to.

If that could help him just a little, he wanted that.

And one of his wishes was fulfilled.

Zil began to speak, clearing out the silence.

"Am the only one who can use magic in the village" they looked at him, attentive, quiet, giving out the room to him.

"If only I went against my father's orders and trained, maybe I could have saved them that night"

Den pitied him, he empathized, sympathized with him as he knew how he felt.

He also felt the same way when he lost his masters, his fathers.

It happened twice, and there was nothing he could do.

"It's not your fault. What happened, was meant to happen. All you can do now is move on" Den tried to help him accept but Zil was having none of that.

"The people..........the people in town were all killed by that lady and the springs of red smoke. Same time, the man, I don't know who he is, or what he is,.........he was huge, fat, had scars all over his body,......he.......he ate the bodies. He kept screaming he was hungry as he ate the bodies" a horrified Zil said, surprising the two.

He.....ate the bodies? No wonder they couldn't find any bodies.

Hold on, why didn't the manager say anything about this?

Den was getting even more suspicious about the story he told.

"Witnessing that, my father ordered Ger to take me to the safe place"

However, before he was dragged away by Ger, his father told him not to trust anyone. Den alone, and he should find him in peace town.

"I was taken to that underground......but......the screams of the people,......I could hear them. It was so loud,.....pleads for help, pleads for mercy,........I could hear them all. Even in my sleep" the terrified boy said, shaking.

That.......Den could relate and he wasn't the only one.

Yu could as well.

"I......I totally forgot about this" the kid said, gaining their attention as they came out of their thoughts and looked at him.

Sniffing and wiping his teary eyes and a hand, Zil revealed, "I saw petals of rose reds. Falling from the sky"

He had seen them while Ger dragged him away from the scene to the underground.

"Ger said it signified demon Island. They were back............."

Red rose petals? Den didn't see them. Well, he wasn't exactly thinking straight when he went there.

(And he was not the only one. Yuuki didn't notice them either)

Come to think of it, the manager didn't mention this earlier. Or,....... maybe he did, after he (Den) left.

Still,.......

"A man,...... consuming...... humans......" It couldn't be what he (Den) was thinking, right?

However, there was only one explanation.

"A changer, 'The eater' " Den said, surprising the two.

Zil, though surprised, didn't know exactly what this eater was but Yuuki did. He learnt all kinds of changers from his master.

The eater was no ordinary human. It wasn't a human and one couldn't say it was a demon either.

It was hard to explain.

They're rare, unknown creatures.

They look like humans but aren't exactly humans.

They could eat anything and everything to satisfy their hunger, yet it still, never enough.

Why was demon Island keeping such a creature and how were they satisfying him?

Yuuki was confused and curious.

"This is getting dangerous. A eater introduced, this means disaster" Den said, panicking.

He had to do something. His people were in danger.

However, traveling with these two, there was no way he could leave without raising suspicions.

Or,..... should he just tell them?

Maybe,...... Maybe he should just tell them.

"Yu" he called out to him, looking at him and realized he already had Yu's attention.

"Zil" he called out to the kid as well, eyes going in his direction and to his surprise, the kid had already fallen asleep.

How was that even possible?! He was awake just a few seconds ago!

Great! There went his great confession!

"He must be really tired. Let's get some rest. We'll talk tomorrow" Yu said and he looked at him, his (Yu) eyes, gentle.

*Sigh, he sighed in defeat.

"Fine, tomorrow" and so, it was decided.

Yu got ready to sleep. Leaning against the wall before closing his eyes to get some rest.

Den, not sleepy, decided to keep watch until the almighty sleep paid him a visit.

He leaned against the wall, opposite Yu. Staring at nothing, he lost himself into thought land.

Why now?

He was not prepared for this. Sure he has been waiting for a day like this, making sure it will never come but it came anyways and he was not prepared.

Why after twenty-five years?

Why was this happening now?

*********️️******

NEXT DAY

Waking up late, it still didn't interfere with their plans and they got ready and made their way to their next destination.

The kingdom of Peace.

Leading was Yu and Zil, talking about something Den couldn't quite hear cause he was lost in his own thoughts.

For the first time since the depressing event, Zil was smiling. Laughing and this made Den happy.

However, he was more focused on what he witnessed last night. Not slightly curious about what they were talking about.

He kept staring at Yu, worried, fear and curiosity getting the better of him.

He slept late, and as such, witnessed what happened.

Zil couldn't sleep in peace either. He must have dreamt of the misfortune of his people.

And Yu.......that guy.....he did not have a good rest either.

They all woke up late because of these reasons.

While the uncomfortable Yu slept, he kept holding onto his chest, groaning and moaning, as if he was in some kind of pain.

Or did he (Den) imagine it? Did Yu have some kind of bad dream?

Something wasn't right.

Den wanted to ask but he also didn't think it was a good idea.

He knew Yu. Knew who he was to him. Still, they only just met and were literally strangers.

He didn't think Yu trusted him enough to share what was going on with him.

What happened last night.

He was beyond worried, and felt so helpless.

"Den, what's wrong? You're far behind" Yu spoke, drawing him out of his thoughts.

He noticed now. Zil and Yu stood some distance between him and them. Staring at him with concern written all over their faces.

(But with Yu, one could say, only his eyes showed it)

True enough, he really was far behind.

"Is nothing. Just thinking about something" he said with an awkward smile.

"Okay, then hurry beside us. We don't want you getting lost" Yuuki replied.

"How old do you think I am?" Den said, rolling his eyes.

He made his way beside Zil and the three continued their journey.

He'll wait,...... he'll wait for Yu to tell him, himself.

Whatever was going on with him.