Chapter Thirty Five. *

The scenery was lovely near Tori village.

Tall trees reaching the skies growing some strange yellow fruit on the top the two local started salivating just seeing them.

I asked Zephyr to pick some, once the Emil boy told us how rare and expensive they are.

Only the overriped ones fall to the ground and if they survive the fall, then they can be sold for high price two bronze.

Perfect ones can for ten bronze coins. It was insane price for a piece of fruit.

They said it's a fruit made almost entirely out of juice and it's flesh sweet and filling.

My love, quickly gathered a fortunes worth.

I only cared about the taste and it was incredible, like a ripe peach but, a size of small boulders. It was so much juicy in there to fit in twenty large peaches.

" It delicious.." - I wasted most of the juice but, some did land on my eyes, face, hair, and chest.

I feed some to the one hand deliver them to us.

" Incredible..it would make wonderful jam. "

He seemed to like it.

The Emils never had perfect ones an seemed hesitate to eat them. Alexander called them the fruit of Ehlite. Anna had her fun eating some then smashing some, it horrified the two man who treasured them as gold.

" It's called Momba fruit. "

Manata the younger of the two told him, it's name.

Zephyr picked some more and everyone just enjoyed some momba fruits worth as much as cattle.

I decided on our way back I ask him to gather some more. It would would be lovely to juice them or making jam like he said. Hell even I can make jam.

And seeing him enjoy it like that..

Zephyr licked my fingers satisfied and I felt a little fuzzy feeling as his tongue touched my skin.

" I could eat this all day.."

He smiled his eyes full of expectations for tonight.. Hmm hmm.

---

We travelled for another three hour until we arrived.

The village had a bunch of small houses and a similar building in the middle of it like back home.

Some farm land afar but not much livestock. The two middle aged man standing guard let us in after a few words from their own.

The people started to swarm those in the front mainly my Zephyr and our daughter who rode in like a princess she is.

They looked intimidated by so many on horseback.

The children looked the opposite from Emets who were always running around laughing and enjoying life without a care lately.

Those eyes had no laugh on them. They looked scared and unkempt. Hard to remember back when my own girl looked like them.

Metill sons got off the their horses and went to address the crowd. From the looks about thirty of them maybe more.

" Residents of Tori village! Please let me introduce you Zephyr Astoria the man whose aid we seeked and received. " - he pointed at the blue haired guy and a little girl. "One of the blessed walking amongst us. And the killer of Emet the Lion King!! "

The peoples eyes were as large as a gold coins which I never really seen.

It was quite a scene.

The people looked despondent before, but now hope visible in their eyes. Their presence become more alive.

Zephyr handed Ilianna to Lucian before getting off his black horse, he looked at me and waited patiently until my brain worked.

Right.. we are a family. What I'm doing here?

I flown to their side and clutched his hand. He give a satisfying nod and we faced the people of Tori.

Looking at our family with awe and me with envy in their eyes.

" People of Tori village. Your leader came to me seeking help with the monster terrorizing your village for generations. I offered him a different path, he accepted. We come to ask you. " - he looked at them all carefully. "...All of you, to let go off your pride, traditions and the place you called home!! "

Look at him so serious. Those eyes around us were glued to his presence.

" In return we offer you a new one. A house we help you build, land to farm and call your own.. a community willing accept you. For you! " - he checked on both me and Anna. " For your families!

He let his words reach them all before he finished.

" The time to decide is now. The monster demands its sacrifice and soon. I hope...you take my words to heart and understand there is no deception hiding behind them !! I'll give you time to talk it over."

He squeezed my hand and turned to Metill's sons.

" Take some time.. talk to your people. We be waiting. "

We walked away when they called after him.

" Master Zephyr, what will you do in the meantime?"

" I'll spend time with my family..."

He put his arm around my shoulder and we went to our group now all on foot and looking around with interest.

" Nice speech little brother. " - he gave him a proud smile. " I'm certain it reached their heart. Not a single one will stay."

" Thank you Alex. We gave them some time. " - he looked behind, most of the people were heading towards their shabby looking main hall. " Hopefully the absence of their leader and his daughters, not mention his sons persuasion will be enough. "

I turned his head and cupped his perfect face.

" It will be my love. We just gained about forty new residents. "

I was sure Alexander was right.

These people looked a lot worse than Emets, even if we look back generations or before we found Zephyr.

There barely any man of fighting age. What other choice they have? Their leader already agreed and picking his future home already.

Eleanor looked at the people remained with some of the children. " This place is a bit...moody no? What kind of divine beast is Tori anyway? "

" Don't look at me, I have no idea."

I never asked so couldn't answer my sister.

Alexander was ready to jump in.

" I talked to the two boys..Morriz and Manata the younger, they talked about her. The village name Tori means great snake in their own culture. " - he used a stick, for whatever reason. To draw a snake on the ground. " They said she is over 100 ft long and its scales reflect the sun turning her invisible. Sounds like s tough fight..even compared to Emet."

An invisible enemy 100 feet long.

Like most snakes can probably swallowing its pray whole. I felt a sudden urge to leave. I couldn't help scanning my surroundings like all other did after hearing Alexander story.

Zephyr laughed at our nervous looks. Aside from him only his daughter seems amused.

" Keep your wits to you. She could appear but we are well prepared if she does. " - he took a scan to but, seeing his confidence I felt a lot better about the whole..snake thing.

" For now, stick together until they decide. Eat something then rest."

We soon started a small fire for us and cooked some sausage and potatoes.

Zephyr wanted to check around. He could always just hop right back a in a few steps. His ability was enviable for all sorts of reasons.

The power to travel incredible long distances in seconds. He fast combined it with his fighting style creating something very potent.

I saw him evolve in realtime. I felt better with each improvement his made. The more powerful the safer he is..and us.

We were seeing a few children peeking at Ilianna. She practiced her kicks and punches in with her uncle and Lucian.

Seeing their little faces all in awe of seeing someone the same age or even younger, landing clean picture perfect kicks high above her own head amazed them. I went closer to talk to them and brought some almond brittle Anna loved so much.

They were took a few steps back so I just knelt down a few feet away. " Hi there..my name is Lylly and that little girl is my daughter Ilianna. " - I pointed behind me and extended my hands showing the candy. " Please come and join her. She won't bite. Here I brought some sweets, take some .."

I handed each some candy and watched them walking slowly over to Anna and our group.

I walked close behind with some mothers who stayed with them. " Sweetheart why don't you teach them how to kick right. "

" Did father put you up to this? "

She was suspicious for no reason what so ever.

" No love but, I'm sure he would be very happy seeing you teaching them, once he returned." - her father's approval meant more to her than the rest of the village combined.

"..Hmm. " - she looked at the kids and smiled a little.

She lead them away and heard her introduction.

" My name is master Ilianna..."

She enjoyed it, even though she done it for praises. The others seemed..like kids. They listened but also wholly distracted and some just ate the candy in silence.

We watched them flailing around making my five year old annoyed quickly. She was different from the start. She wanted to become stronger. With other kids around it was so easy to see.

Before my Zephyr returned the Emil brothers did.

Finally, we can maybe start helping these people and go home already. With our slower pace it might take two more nights.

They looked distressed. " Well..the meeting ended with..mostly a success. "

Mostly huh?