Chapter 26

Author: Thanks for reading and for supporting me.

Den: Life is full of surprises.

Author: Tell me about it. Maybe I should just drop your story.

Den: Why?!

Author: Don't yell at me! *Sigh, You know why. Should I say what's in my account?

Den: No.

Author: 000000000000000000

Den: I said no!

Author: 000000000000

Den: Am leaving!

Author: Next time come with my payment.

************️️*********

MORNING ⛅

WOODS

Continuing their journey, Den and Mira led while Zil and Yuuki walked behind, some distance between them. The four lost in their thoughts as they walked.

Though tired, they didn't complain and made no attempt to stop. Mira had warned Den, if they didn't reach their destination, where she can take a proper bath, he'll end up journeying alone.

Cleaning herself in the river wasn't enough. She was a lady and had to take care of her body. If not, who the hell will marry her?

And since both Zil and Yuuki had no intentions of seeing Den in such a situation, they complied. They must reach their destination before the next day.

Staring at Den, Mira had some questions. They woke up to see their horses dead and they had no choice but to journey on foot.

Den thought it had something to do with the spell the little girl cast on them. Last night, he thought the horses were motionless cause they were also having some kind of nightmares, if that was even possible.

But no, that wasn't the case. They were dead. Den still hasn't told the two (Zil and Mira) about the attack on them last night, as such, Mira had no idea of the possible reason for their demise.

"You're staring Mi, what's wrong?" Den spoke, drawing her out of her thoughts.

"Master, do you know what happened to the horses? I mean,......."

"Yes I do"

Oh, he did? Then why hasn't he shared?

"What happened?"

"We were attacked last night and I believe the spell cast on us killed them while we experienced nightmares"

"We were attacked last night?!" Mira exclaimed in shock.

Why didn't he say so earlier?! Spell? Nightmare?..........No wonder she dreamt of that horrifying day, when that hasn't happened in the longest time.

"Yea" Den confirmed.

"Who attacked us?" Mira asked, feeling guilty. It was her duty to protect her master yet..........*Sigh, she hoped her master didn't use that forbidden technique.

Studying Den, she thought, he looked okay,........ guess he didn't.

"Got attacked by that little girl from Fall. She's so persistent. I wonder how she found us" Den said, shaking his head.

Now this was something worth finding out. How did she find them?

That girl was no ordinary magician and the book she had.......she was trouble.

She (Mira) can never forget her. Next time, she'll surely defeat her.

On her own.

At that moment, Zil rushed to Den's side. Holding tightly onto his arm. He heard what Den said, and so, decided to make a move, again.

"Brother Den, please teach me magic" the kid started again.

"Seriously? That again?!" A frustrated Den voiced out, making a stop and the two followed his lead.

And Yuuki got close to them.

Dropping down his hand which held Den's arm, the kid said, "I have decided. I don't want revenge anymore" Den was surprised and unconvinced.

"Are you sure?" He (Den) asked. What changed his mind?

"I'll be lying if I say I am not angry or don't hate those demon Island. If I say the thoughts for revenge is all cleared"

Den could relate to this.

"However, I don't want to disappoint my father. I want to survive for him. For all the lives that were taken. Also,..........I feel useless, knowing we were attacked last night and I couldn't do anything. If I was stronger, the spell wouldn't have affected me" and now it was Mira's turn to feel useless. She felt the kid was right, and she couldn't help but feel, think, she wasn't strong enough.

"I want to make sure it doesn't happen again" the determined serious kid said and Den stared at him, thinking it wasn't enough, and he wasn't convinced.

But,........ he'll take the risk. He'll trust his words.

They had a lot in common after all.

Also, Zil had said he wanted to stay with him. if he (Zil) was to journey with him in this life, he'll encounter so much danger. It would be bad if he couldn't protect him during such encounters.

And surely, it'll be useful if he had one more helping hand during such encounters.

"Okay. You'll train with Mira" Den said with a smile, exciting the kid.

"Talking as if you have been teaching," an irritated Mira said, rolling her eyes.

Annoyed, Den said, "You look beautiful when you're quiet dear Mi" rolling his eyes.

"Tch" Mira replied and they stared at each other, glaring, entertaining the two (Yuuki and Zil)

They couldn't help but smile.

*********️*****️*****

EVENING

INN.

Getting to their destination, they entered and were welcomed by the youngest waiter.

They checked in, and each decided what to do.

Den requested to speak to the young waiter and he agreed. Mira and Yuuki then decided to join in the conversation while Zil, on the other hand, decided to rest in his room. Tired from the journey.

But, the three knew that was far from the truth. Zil knew why they were here. Certainly, he didn't want to hear about it.

Their discussion concerning what happened to his village.

This was it. The reason why he chose to exclude himself.

In any case,........... The kid (Zil) getting their luggage to their rooms, really was nice and thoughtful of him.

The three noticed. There was no one in the diner, besides them. Could it be that they were in their rooms?

Glancing at the rooms upstairs, they noticed all the lights were off and it was too early to be asleep.

Definitely, this place was empty.

Also,.......it seems no other worker was here besides the young waiter.

What happened?

"Are there any guests?" Mira asked, gaining their attention.

Great job Mi, it was better to ask than to jump into conclusions.

Shaking his head with a sad look, the young waiter answered, "There are no guests"

And they wonder why. Could it be related to what happened to Live village?

News must have traveled around, and now people were too scared to stay around this area. Not even travelers.

"Is not about what happened to Live village" the young waiter denied. Almost like he heard his (Den) thoughts.

Uh? Then what was it?

"Manager,........he decided to close down for a while. I was about to lock up when you came. With business down,......I have to go back to my village" the devastated young boy said.

This.......why? Den was confused.

"Where's the manager and the others?" Mira asked.

"They all left. Just a while ago. I'm suppose to lock up and leave the keys somewhere"

Goodness! Now what?! The manager who had the answer wasn't around!

But still...........

"We have a few questions to ask about what happened in Live village" Den said and they watched as the boy tensed. Nervously looking everywhere but their faces.

Ah, can he be any more obvious?

"We were here when the manager shared what he saw" Den intentionally added fuel to the fire.

"So why are you asking me?! I wasn't there. Only the manager knows what happened" the nervous boy said, confirming their suspicions even more.

He looked so nervous, so scared. What was he nervous for? What was he scared of? What was he hiding?

"We understand, kid. But,....... hiding the truth will lead to nothing good. That kid we came with,..... he's from Live village. Just imagine what he's going through. Put yourself in his shoes,......will you be fine?"

Hearing this (From Yuuki), the kid's expression softened, and it seems he was thinking about it. Being in Zil's situation.

Losing the ones he loved.

Losing his family.

Losing his home.

Den hopes the boy makes the right decision.

"I can't betray my manager. He took me in when I had nowhere to go and gave me shelter. Provided everything I need. I can't betray him" the distressed boy said and they understood.

"I promise. Your name, and the manager's name will not be mentioned. I know you're scared. You know nothing about us........"

"Just this once, believe us" Yuuki cut off his (Den) speech, annoying Den, who then glared at him but he (Yuuki) ignored him.

Silence took over as the young boy thought about what they said, and a few seconds later, he came clean.

"That night, Live village was attacked, a lady came to us...............she gave the manager a huge sum of money and threatened to kill him and all the workers if he did not agree"

Surprised, they stared at the boy, quiet and attentive.

"She described what happened, and ordered the manager to tell the tale, exactly as she told"

So then,.......it was after the fall of Live village.

"The manager,......he was never in Live village" Den said and he nodded, "That's right. I was with him that night. It was just us and the others already left. No guest was around either"

*Sigh, Den did not see this coming. He thought something wasn't right, but who knew there was more to it.

"The lady,.......is there anything we should know about her? Anything that'll help with knowing her identity" Yuuki asked, and he nodded.

"I don't know if this will help, but........she had a book. And she also said she's a member of demon Island"

"What?!" Den exclaimed in shock on hearing the words 'She's a member of demon Island'

Looks like these are the only words that stick in mind.

Both Mira and Yuuki were in shock as well. However, Mira recovered quickly. Recalling something.

"The lady,.....the book she had. Was the cover dark, covered in vines?"

"Yes! That's right!" The boy confirmed, shocking them even more.

"I thought it looked creepy and weird. Emitting danger while floating around her" the boy said.

That lady,........she was the same one they met in Fall. The same one who attacked them on their way here.

She.......She really was a part of demon Island.

************️********

YUUKI'S ROOM

At the table in Yuuki's room sat him and Den. Opposite each other.

With Mira around, none of them dared to drink even though they were craving for it with all that they just learnt. And so, they decided to drink healthy water while chatting.

Wasn't their taste but what can they do? Only a brave hen can face a hawk to save its chicks.

None of them were brave enough to face the young Mira.

"This means,.......Spider was from demon Island"

And Den believed he was right about another thing, the four deaths before the massacre had nothing to do with the announcement of their return.

From what the young waiter said,........even the guests in town were not spared.

"Now I regret killing him. If only I didn't, we'll know about his group now" a regretful Den said, angry with himself.

That's right. If he didn' kill Spider, he would have learnt something about them.

"That's part of life. You never know what's coming until it comes. Don't blame yourself" Yuuki tried to comfort him.

Well, he (Den) did still blame himself. *Sigh, he never saw this coming

"Also,.......we can't be sure they're the same person. That book alone proves nothing. Is a big world, and it can't be there's only one such book"

Yu was right. However,......."I know nothing about the book. Maybe we'll find something about her if we look into it"

Thinking about it, Yuuki nodded, replying, "Can be right"

*Sigh, "I feel so sorry for Zil. I hope he's okay"

Talking about Zil..........."Chief Sable,.......he was guilty, concerning the mysterious deaths. Why did you let him go unpunished?"

Yuuki was surprised when he heard this from Mira (On their way here)

He never thought the old man could do this. He used to be his master's friend, and considering the kind of person his master was,......he never thought he'd turn out that way.

"I guess you heard it from Mira"

"Hmmm," Yuuki replied.

*Sigh, "I won't say he's not guilty. But.......I let him go,....... cause of Zil"

Attentive, he made no move to interrupt and allowed Den to continue, "He reminds me of when I was a kid. Cheerful, innocent, carefree. Though I knew the world was no sunshine and flowers,........I still let myself feel that way. Intentionally or unintentionally, I......I brought happiness in the lives of those around me. I was a kid, and I acted like one, forgetting all about the dangers, the enemies..........until one day,.......the cruel world caught up to me and I lost everything"

Den never thought that day would come so soon and he was taken back. Unprepared. Which led him to lose everything.

"Seeing Zil, I was reminded of myself back then. And I didn't want him to lose his innocence. I didn't want him to lose his family, everything, just like I did. But in the end,.......he still lost it all. Even his innocence. Now lonely, just like I was, after I lost everything"

And he (Den) still blames himself for that. Helping chief Sable cover up the truth behind the mysterious deaths, he thought he was saving Zil. His innocence and his childhood.

But he still lost everything. If only,...... if only he came back to Live village on time, he would have been able to save Zil, and all the people.

He still blamed himself.

"Did he tell you"

"Huh?" A confused Den asked, coming out of his thoughts.

"That, he's lonely. Don't jump to conclusions. Hear it from him. You'll only know exactly what he's feeling if he shares"

Hmm, Yuuki was right. He (Den) was only hurting himself by having such thoughts.

"I guess Zil doesn't know about this" Yuuki asked, gaining his attention and he knew what he (Yuuki) meant.

"He doesn't" he (Den) replied.

"And if I’m right. Chief Sable told him to find you because of what you did for him. He knows, even if you hated him, you still care about Zil"

"I guess" Den replied, staring at Yuuki who seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.

To part ways, forget, really was the worst experience even if you don't realize, but to meet again, really was a real blessing.

He (Den) thought, smiling.

********️️*******

MORNING ⛅

Getting up early, Den got ready to leave. His bag was packed. And when he noticed his treasure, memories floated in mind and he couldn't help but take it out.

This was the same treasure he left back in Peace Town and had to go back and get.

Taking a seat on the bed beside his packed bag, he held his treasure in hand, smiling at it.

It was a flute.

Colour, dark, and it had a design of a golden lion on it.

Den knew nothing about it, but it was something he could never throw away. It was his treasure.

One he valued most. Along with the other one.

The sword he used to kill Spider (Pike).

"Master!!" A worried Mira called out, bursting the door open with Yuuki following behind.

Both looked worried, and he was starting to feel the same.

"What happened?" He asked, placing the flute into his bag before facing them.

"Zil is missing!!!" A worried Mira yelled out.

Den felt his heart skip a beat. Not in a good way though.

Fear, concern, taking over his body and mind.