Author's note:
Due to the fact that I am busy for the next weeks or months until the end of October, I can or will only release 1-2 chapter per week. I usually release it during Friday,Saturday or Sunday. Thanks!
Happy Reading!
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--------------A day has passed
--------------Gran’s POV
“So where’s the kid?,” Gran asked while drinking some water.
“He still in bed...then he sat down... I don’t want to wake him. He seems at peace when he is asleep,” Ragan responded.
“What do you think of him? I mean he seemed to be more refine in compare to most of the nobles I knew,” Gran said.
“You mean matured? I will try to ask about his past but I have a hunched that it is not pleasant,” Ragan responded.
“No, don’t do it. I mean if he is really ready, he might or will open up,” Gran said....”by the way help me with these.... he pointed out the papers on the ground.... we need to make the monthly financial report... then he smiled.
“By the way...this afternoon the bishop will visit us...” Ragan said.
“Those crocodiles! They just come here because they are obligated to do it because the Emperor told them so,” Gran asked.
“Where can we find a good room in this place? The last time they were in here they demanded a good place! They even file a report to the emperor that we are not hospitable! Ragan said.
Gran sigh,” Go to my house and clean my room after we finish this report.
--------------Back to Eloah
--------Ragan’s House
It is been while since I sleep in a carefree way. It seems it still early in the morning but the sun is still not up. The first thing that I must do is to scout the entire area place.
This place is the home of Ragan. The house is made up of stones; it is a small version of the merchant hall. The house is a bungalow type and the size is about 10 square meters. I stand up and went out from the room. I went to the kitchen and ate the piece bread that was inside the basket covered by a light brown rough cloth.
According to Greta, I will be starting my first guild job this afternoon. How will I know it is noon? According to her all I need to know is the sun’s position. If the sun is already in the middle then it is already noon. Anyway, I have more time so I need to check the entire area. I went out from the house.
I’ve been walking for about 10 minutes. The ground is wet, it seems like it was raining.
I asked some questions from the soldiers that is circling the watch tower about the life in this city and he said that it was fine but they are really discriminated by the people who live in other cities because the city is ruled by none aristocrat. One older man also said that they were lucky that the father of Gran and Gran himself took care of them. Even the church does not like them because they are against the decision of the Emperor. They concluded that the father of Gran is one of the few people that the Emperor trusts.
According to them the churched filed a complaint against the father of Gran. Most of the complaints are lies. They ceased their movement several years ago because of what happened to this city.
I asked them what happened, then they said that few years back this city was abundant in vegetation plus the fact that entire kingdom of south of Refu is 3/8 of the entire continent of Refu which pure wilderness. The city of Middle kingdom Refu is 1/8 of the entire continent which is the Emerald City. The remaining to 4/8 is the north of Refu is the grand kingdom of Refu. The Northern Kingdom of Refu is subdivided by 4 cities. The grand city of Ruby; City of Garnet, Sila and Garba. The City of Garnet, Sila and Garba form a triangle and within the triangle is the city of Ruby wherein the emperor resides.
Long time ago, the richness of the entire emerald city sparks the greed and envious eyes of both the church and most of the aristocrats.
Then I asked the old man what happened several years ago. He said that the entire property of Refu was cursed and there are only few places wherein they can find green vegetation or a land use for agriculture. Even within this place, only few spots within the city where the people can plant and grow some vegetables.
After talking to them I looked at the sky but it’s gloomy, I don’t know what time it is. I asked the old man how to tell the time he said that there are few birds around called timer when they tweet in high pitch it is still morning and afternoon, the frequency or number of pitch is equivalent to the number of hours. In the evening , its pitch is low and dull. After a few minutes, several birds in high pitch can be heard and the numbers of hours they are tweeting 14 times. The older man said it is already noon.
I bid my goodbye. So, basically this world has a 28 day and night cycle.
Along the way, I saw two mid twenties people and one older man carrying their child in swing like using bed sheet. They ran towards the merchant hall. Anyway, I went straight to the Guild because I don’t want to be late.
-------Guild Hall
The guild hall is as big as the merchant hall but this building has second floor. The interior of the hall has a similar design to the merchant hall but with chairs and tables. The chairs and tables are made up of woods. The types of wood resemble to a coconut wood, it almost like a restaurant.
I roamed around but there are no people then Greta just came out from the wooden door, maybe connected to her office.
“You are a bit early,” Greta smiled
“By the way is it always empty like this,” I asked
“Not really...it just that..never mind. You are here for your first job,” Greta twitched her lips.
This woman is hiding something from me but I need the job so I will not pry for now. “So care to tell me what is my first job,” I asked curiously.
“Here,” she handed me a well drawn sketch.
When I look closely, it is similar to the plant drawn by the late Baron’s herbal journal. The shape of the leaf is like a star and the colour is bluish green. “This is leaf is from a hogela plant,” I murmured.
Greta widened her eyes and said,” I know your smart but there are only few people who knows that plant. Kid who are you,”
I smile and said, “Just a simple kid looking for a job. So, where can I find this plant?”
Greta asked me to follow here upstairs and in front of me is wall with a drawn map of the entire property of Emerald city. She pointed the place wherein there is a blue bunny like creature with horn and several trees surrounded the flower fields.
We went down and Greta asked me to wait because she will give me a weapon. She went to her office and when she came back she handed me a sword or knife. When I examined it, it looks like a kodaichi the length is around 50 cm made of copper.
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“This is just a test for you, if you succeed then I will give you your identification,” Greta smile then gave me a small back pack made up of rough cloth material.
“Ah, okay,” I smile and left the guild hall.
"By the way get 60 pieces," Greta said then I nodded.
I was about to walk towards the gate of the town when I saw Ragan running towards the Merchant hall then Ragan saw me and approached me.
“ So are doing your first job?,” Ragan smile and wagging his tail.
“You mean test?,” I responded.
“ha ha ha! Hope you succeed!, Ragan said it while glancing towards the merchant hall.
“Is there something wrong,” I asked politely.
“Ah, no! We have some crocodiles coming,” Ragan laugh.
“Huh? .....Anyway, I have to go now,” I said.
“ Farewell!, Ragan said in a hurry and ran towards the merchant hall entrance.
I know Lupine are fast based on my knowledge on some legends in my previous life. I can’t believe what I saw. The distance between me and the entrance of merchant hall is about 100 meters and he arrived there approximately 15 seconds.
The entrance of the merchant hall seems to be crowded. Maybe there is an announcement but I need to finish this job first.
When I reached the gate, I asked the soldier where the meadows of hope. Well, it is the name written in the map. The soldier pointed the west area. I said thanks and went out.
I have been walking for approximately 1 hour and from what I observed from my surrounding. It is indeed barren. Everywhere I look, it looks like a barren land. The ground is cracking. I remember seeing this type of phenomena during the El Niňo.
After another few minutes I saw the entrance. There are several trees seems to be circling the meadows. I enter the forest and there are several blue horned rabbits hopping all around. The sizes of the rabbits are about a foot long. I walked towards the centre of the forest and saw the plants.
I started to check which one to pick. Some plants are small and some are too big. According to the herbal journal of the late Baron, the potency of the plants is based on the correct maturity of the plant. The colour should be deep green in colour. It should have 5 points similar to the generic star shape. The back of the leaf, you should see the vein of the leaf. If you can’t see the vein ,meaning it is still young but if the colour of the back is yellow then it is already old.
I carefully select the one that I think that is mature enough. I got at least 60 leaves. I was about to leave when all of the sudden the entire small blue horned rabbits was in chaos. They are running and hopping everywhere. Then I felt like someone at the entrance. There is a man sitting on the ground. My gut is saying it’s a dangerous but still I approached the man.
“Hello!,” I greeted the man loudly. I approached the man till the distance between him and me is about one meter but all of the sudden the man lunged towards me.
The man’s seems to be dead. Only one right eyeball is present. I rushed towards him and stab him on his chest using my weapon but he still looking at me. He closes his mouth and seems to gather something inside his mouth. I jumped several metres then the man spitted black sputum. The plant that was hit was burnt.
“Hey! Dude!,” I shouted but I did not get any response.
The corpse like creature slowly approaching me, I ran towards the centre of the meadow and place my hand on the grass. ‘GRASS CLENCH,’ after a few seconds several leaves grows and engulf the undead but the leaves was burnt.
“How the hell,” I shouted then I saw several black discharges from the orbital area, ears and nose.
The entire leaves were burnt, so what now I asked myself. If I will ran from here either the undead will follow me or not but I will not take the risk. The man was saying save me from the dark.
“Huh? I was surprised.
“Save...m..e...Let..me rest...take...me out...of my...misery,” the man’s keeps repeating.
He kept repeating those words, the dark fluid coming from his orbital area become gray in colour. I don’t know my heart become so heavy. I don’t why. Seeing the man crying in a gray colour fluid did not disgust me but I felt pity. I want to help him. Then some random memories flashed in my head.
-----------Eloah’s Memories
“Hey, Eliah what is the use of this light affinity? I asked.
“Light affinity is almost balance in terms of defence and offence but the most prominent use of that affinity is usually healing the hearts of the weary and guiding the soul to those who were lost,” Eliah said calmly.
“So, basically healing them? I asked.
“Similar to that,” Eliah responded then smile and continue, “but remember even light can blind one’s soul and eyes. Use it wisely.”
----------Back to reality.
“Let me help you.....’ANGEL’S HALO’,” I shouted. This ability has a minimal regenerative ability and thin barrier. In order for this skill to work, a Dewin must concentrate his or her nature energy at the centre of his forehead. By concentrating its energy at the centre of his or her forhead, it will change its colour in response to one’s intention. The colour also represents additional effects within the perimeter of the ring. Then after a few seconds the mana will be transferred to both feet and extend its circumference or diameter outward. The duration and size of the ring is proportional to one’s rank, basically the higher the rank the longer the duration and the higher the circumference or diameter of the circle.
A golden yellow with a 5 meters diameter halo spread from my feet. The undead man was within the circle. I casted the spell 3 times until the undead’s body turned into dust.
When the man turn into dust and its ashes was spread by the wind, I can feel or heard the man saying thank you or maybe it is just my imagination. I stared for a few seconds at sky while the dust was continuously carried by the wind.
I approached the tattered clothes which was the remained of the undead. I saw a letter. The letter was addressed to a woman name Carla De Garda. Anyway, I hide the letter to my backpack and move out from the forest.
------------Merchant Hall
--------Gran’s POV
“ Sir! Please help my daughter,” man was pleading and crying.
I checked the child inside the swing made up rough cloth. The child has a sunken eye and she seems to be wet on the bottom and have dry skin. “Oh...my god! Not this cursed again!,” I murmured.