On our Side 3

As they advanced, the two merchants couldn't stop staring at Alucard's hair, their gazes obvious, not fleeting or subtle, but filled with curiosity and suspicion. They wondered silently, without uttering a word, as if the words were stuck in their throats. They had never seen him before, and his hair seemed strange... strange in a way that couldn't be ignored by them.

Everyone now fears strangeness; there's no longer room to accept differences as in the past. Everything that was once fantastical now has the potential to manifest here. Anything impossible now has a place, has become possible, capable of appearing suddenly. This new world is merciless, leaving no room for innocent wonder. Everything unfamiliar has become a potential threat.

"Oh, guys, are we close? The night has begun..."

Raiv said it firmly, his voice betraying his desire to hurry, his desire not to linger too long in this place, making his words carry more weight than he intended.

"Of course, of course, don't worry, lion..."

But the words did nothing to ease the tension. They continued their long advance, their steps quiet, their walk contemplative, each of them lost in their thoughts, watching the world around them with wary glances... Meanwhile, Janemba was deep in his sleep...

The sun was now setting. They could feel it as they looked at the hazy red sky. The light was fading slowly, as if being pulled away from them, leaving them with long shadows stretching around them, with a void that began to swallow the colors bit by bit.

But they were almost there.

Alucard knew these places. He worked here. He knew the roads, knew this wreckage well, knew the dark corners that no one noticed. His eyes scanned his surroundings, searching for something familiar, as if making sure everything was as he left it. He pondered over some familiar areas, every corner, every dilapidated building that held something from his memory. The scenes weren't just passing views; they were memories moving before him, returning to him without being summoned.

"I'm stepping now, and you're around me, I've surpassed you."

He whispered it to himself, in a voice no one but him could hear.

And now, they saw it.

The gate emerged from the fog, massive, silent, as if waiting for them. The fog around it twisted slowly, as if deliberately receding to reveal it. They could see everything now. They had arrived.

But it darkened.

And suddenly, without warning, a terrible sound echoed, a crushing sound, as if something heavy had slammed into the ground...

The carriage was suddenly crushed.

Crushed with immense force, dismantled, there was no time for warning. The wooden planks exploded, iron pieces flew in all directions, and the passengers fell to the ground with force, hitting the rough ground, the impact was violent, they didn't understand what had happened.

"Damn! What is this?!" the merchant.

"Oh my God..." his companion.

The voice was trembling, disbelieving what was happening.

The donkeys stumbled and were dragged by their legs, their confusion evident, their eyes wide with instinctive fear, they fell, braying loudly...

Everyone was staring in horror, Raiv, Klaus, and Janemba trying to comprehend, unable to process what had just happened...

And yet, amidst all this, amidst the wreckage, there was something else.

Something shining.

Something shining in the eyes...

The glowing spear.

Amidst the chaos, amidst the ruin, as if it had been waiting for the night...

Alucard stared at it. His eyes didn't blink, he didn't move a step.

"Impossible... It's him again."

He said it in a voice barely escaping his lips, while the spear remained there, its glint reflecting everything.

"So this is how it looks... Oh God..." Raiv "It's his presence again..."

Then the merchant's voice trembled, his eyes wide with astonishment "What is this, lion?" Before the other could scream "What's happening?!"

Their bodies were shaking, their ragged breaths betraying the terror that had gripped them.

"Damn... I'm completely shattered!!.." "Alucard, carry it."

Klaus said it firmly, so Alucard stepped forward slowly, swallowing his saliva as if facing a challenge he wasn't prepared for.

"He can..." Raiv whispered as he watched the scene, then added: "Let me glimpse it..."

But the merchant interrupted, trembling "Hey, guys, we want an explanation!"

"Lion, what is this??!!"

No one answered him, Raiv's eyes were fixed on the boy and the spear...

"This group... they're insane... they destroyed the carriage... the donkeys are broken..."

"Damn!!"

And finally, Alucard lifted it. For a moment, he felt the boy's body flowing despite its lightness on him...

"Wow... this is magical.. good.. I feel this again."

Raiv muttered in amazement "Janemba, I won't blame you, I want to touch it too!"

But his voice was lost amidst an angry scream...

"Damn you... I've had enough of what happened! Now he's ruined my peaceful sleep!"

"So, lion... what's happening here? Any explanation?" the merchant asked again, raising his voice trying to enter the situation, but he got no response.

"Hey... I'm talking to you! Lion..."

Before he could finish, Janemba replied sharply and sarcastically:

"Shut up, or I'll crush your face, snail face."

The second man tried to step forward a little, hesitating:

"What... how can you say that to him? We're the ones who helped you..."

But another voice interrupted him firmly:

"No need for all this questioning, young men... compensation will be at my workshop tomorrow... double compensation."

It was Raiv who spoke, ignoring the tension around him...

Before adding seriously:

"As for these questions... you live in the departure of the moon, what did you expect?"

He said it firmly, but his expression changed suddenly when he saw Alucard waving his hand clumsily.

"Oh, your wave is bad..." he said smiling, before adding laughing:

"Still, beautiful! The look of that spear on you is stunning.. I'll train you to do this, hehehe!"

The merchants whispered among themselves:

"Noah... these guys are scary..."

"Damn them... the important thing is that things will be compensated multiple times."

"Yes, yes, no need to worry!"

Then they looked at them, at the four... interacting with the white-haired boy in a light but exhausting way. It wasn't just casual behavior, but like an ancient ritual restoring their balance. As if, after all they'd been through, they were rewarding themselves by not worrying again.

Everything had gone as it should.

The spear was buried, away from eyes, away from hands. It wasn't just a weapon; it was part of something bigger, something that wouldn't be exposed.

Alucard alone went there.

Raiv wanted to go, but his legs betrayed him. He couldn't walk... more but the matter didn't need much discussion.

The spear was buried well. Deep. Far away.

And when they returned, everything returned...

Alucard met Lerin and entered his hut as usual, but he wasn't as stubborn this time. He wasn't as exhausted as she expected... He's been strange these days, and such thoughts Lerin expected... He sat with Lerin at the table, with his usual simplicity, eating his lunch, burdened with what he didn't want to reveal.

After the rich new food these days. He went up to his room, threw his body on the bed...

As for Raiv and the lions, they entered the workshop, their breaths rapid after a long day. That scene itself gave a sweet sense of reassurance. They're here... they're fine, they've returned to where they belong.

The smell of the place hit them as soon as they entered. The smell of hot iron, burnt wood, oil, books, and more.

At that moment, everything was fine.

They allowed themselves to relax, without exception, rewarding themselves with peace of mind... and bodily comfort.