V01 CH 04 : Our Reunion 1

Diana Story

My name is Diana. I'm the only daughter of Village Chief, Marlow, and my deceased mother, Amishia. Today is the 13th of Spring months. It's a sunny day, the air is starting to warm up and I can hear the birds chirping, so I know it's early in the morning.

Like usual, my father will leave the house, to hunt in  the forest while I manage the house work such cleaning, laundry and cooking.

But today I feel different. When I woke up, I felt that my body seemed heavier than usual, and I also feel kinda dizzy and seem to be running a fever.

Realizing the abnormality of my body, I call for my father, who just happened by outside my room.

“Father, I feel kinda sick today.”

“Is that so? Hmmm, alright, let me see.” 

Father comes close to me and puts his hand on my forehead.  

“ It seem that you are running a fever. It's probably just the flu, but I think you should just rest for today, okay?”

“Yes father, safe hunting.”

After we talk, Father takes his hunting equipment and leaves the house. Just like father said, today I will rest. After father leaves, I sit down on my knees and put my hand together to pray.

“Oh God, the sustainer of humankind! You are the one who cures the sick, so please grant me a cure that leaves me with no illness.”

After I finished praying, I lay back on my bed and close my eyes. It isn't long till I fall asleep.

----- A Moment Later -----

It's getting worse. When I woke up, my body felt heavier than earlier. I tried eating to give my body more energy, but I just keep throwing up the food and even the water tasted horrible.

About 30 minutes later, Father came back, carrying a deer on his shoulder. Soon after, father came up to my room with a bowl of soup, wait that isn't soup, but just some water with green food coloring in it.

“How's your body, Diana?”

“I still feel kinda sick, but I still can endure it, hehe.”

I'm sorry about lying to you father, but how could I tell you that I'm actually feeling very bad right not. I just don't want you to worry too much.

“Here, drink this. It's a herb soup from Joana. They said that this herb soup is good for your health, but the taste is really bitter though, so drink it slowly, alright?” My father handed me the soup with face full of worry.

Well, let's just smell the soup first, mmh yes, it does smell bitter. Okay, let's give it a taste now, yes yes, it's really bitter.

After 2 days, I feel sicker, even my fever has risen. If it was just the flu, it will usually be cured after drinking the medicine and some rest. But my illness just keeps getting worse, it's to the point that, I don't think this is the flu anymore, it must be another illness.

My father knocked on my door. “You may in,” I said in a calm but tired voice.

When my father came into my room, I noticed that he was wearing his travelling gear. Is father going somewhere?

“Diana, I won't be back till afternoon. Someone from the capital has stopped by our village. He told us a rumor that 5% of the population in the capital have contracted an unknown illness. He said it happened just 1 day after the king got sick. I wanted to go there and check the capital city's condition myself.”

“Isn't it better if you didn't go to the capital? What if you get infected as well?”

“Ah yes, they also said that most people who are infected are women. There are men who have gotten infected too, but it's rare. The traveler from the capital said that men are more resistant to the illness, so I think I'm fine to go."

“Alright, father. Be careful and please come home as soon as possible.”

“Don't worry Diana, I'll  be back as soon as possible.” 

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Father stroked my head and with a bright smile he said,“I will going now."

” Yes, take care,” I said while watching his back disappear. He is gone now, leaving me in this house alone. I don't really have anything to do here beside sleeping, so lets just do that now.

Marlow Story

I just arrived at the capital city entrance. For some reason, there are more people leaving the city and only a couple of people are waiting at the gate to enter the city.

I see 2 guards in front of the city gate, one guard talks with people who wish to enter the city while the other guard on duty seem to be writing something down. I follow the line and wait patiently for my turn.

It takes a couple of minutes till the guard calls me.

“Hey you, what business brings you to the Capital,” asks the guard in front of me.

I reach into my small bag on my waist and show him my Adventurer card that I brought from my house. 

“I just want to meet a friend you see, so I wish to enter the city for today. I will leave at afternoon.”

Suddenly, the guard's skin pales when he sees my Adventurer card. 

“Hiii, it- it`s an A ranked Adventurer card. I, umm, please wait here, I will tell Bernard to approve your entry.”

The guard starts running towards the post gate, he then opens a door and closes it with a BANG, making the guard inside it, who seems to be the Bernard fellow, surprised.

Bernard, with his face full of anger, gets up from his chair and tries to lecture the guard, but the guard puts his hand over Bernard's mouth and pointing his hand to me while saying something.

Soon after, Bernard sits quietly and writes a note with all his might. Not long after, the guard come back to me, running.

“Sorry for making you wait Sir Marlow, here is your entry approval.”

“Thank you, so about the fee.....”

I reach into my pocket, but suddenly the guard, nervously smiling, starts waving his hands at me while sweat pours out of his head.

“No no no, we can't take the money from the Capital city Hero after all. Besides, you said you would leave at afternoon right? So, no need to pay the fee.”

“Well, if you insist then. Alright, I'll be going now so give my regards to the other guard for me.”

The guard said,while bowing his head, “Certainly sir, please enjoy your visit.”

I enter through the gate and I see a site that I haven't seen for 10 years. It was very nostalgic. Even though I've heard that almost 10% of the population has already left the city, the streets are still crowded with different people and race like usual.

I walk down the main street into the Inner city, where the district area is located. 

After a brisk walk, I arrive in front of a 3 story building, made out of stone and wood. It's the bar/inn that I always visited with my companion. I received a letter yesterday that one of my companions that he would wait for me here.

This place is, and will always be very, very loud. Just by nearing the front door, I can already hear people laughing and glass breaking.

I take in a big breath of air and kick the double doors with my feet. I use just enough force to open the doors, but not enough to break them. As soon as I enter, all gazes fall upon me. I then shout with a vigorous smile.

“Yo bastards, how ya doing?”

As soon as I said that, all the guys start cheering. There are also some people who said, “way to go Marlow,” and some people who drink their beers and then burst out laughing at me. Honestly, this place will never change.

In the middle, a geezer with white hair an a face full of smiles, looked at me and says...

"Way to go young one. Finally, we can settle everything today, HAHAHAHA!"

He then placed his forearm on the table. I know what he wants, so I followed his actions and put my forearm on the table and accepted his Panco challenge.

"The loser will have to pay for all the drinks," I said with a devious smile.

"Fine by me," He said, smiling back.

Someone came over to us and said that he would set up the match. He then shouted," Ready... Set.... Start!" The Old Geezer and I immediately started to arm wrestle, giving our all to win.

Meanwhile, a man walked into the bar. He had dark hair and mysterious clothes. His eyes were sharp and he seemed to have a small dagger on his waist. He sat in front of the bar alone, silently watching our match.

“Finally found you,” He said with a low voice and glared as if he was a predator who found it's prey.