There was a long silence between the both of us. I really don’t know what to say next. My mind is blank.
— “You know, I completely understand that you are trying to help my daughter. I don’t blame you for being mad at me for being so vague.”
— “...”
I don’t know what to say next. Do I continue asking? Do I apologize again? Should I excuse myself? Is my mind actually blank with how many ideas I have? Is it really blank if my ideas are clashing?
I can’t believe myself right now. I’ve been so headstrong that I forgot to stay grounded and see the situation right in front of me. What’s becoming of me? Am I losing my sense of rationality? Is it because of that damn cloth?!
— “What’s with the angry glare, Owens? Am I being irritating to you? If so then… I suppose I should tell you the truth right now so you can ease up. I clearly understand your intentions of being a good friend to Minnie.”
— “You will?”
My eyes widened at Martin—I meant Piker. Is this it? Am I finally going to get to the bottom of this? I could feel my heart racing! I can finally be useful to my friends!
— “I’m running away from the King of Azale, Julius…”
A king?! That’s what we’re up against?! How do we go up against that?! I mean, sure, yeah, Minnie is royalty but still! How?! Negotiations?! Threats?! I-I don’t think we’re strong enough to… Face a person with a status like that…!
Wait! Why does this have to do anything with the King of Azale? Why is he running away?
— “How is this important? More importantly, why are you running away from him?”
— “...He’s someone that is severely hollow in nature. I saw him sacrifice everything he had just to make his enemies suffer. There were many kingdoms who collapsed from his risky leaps of fate. Aevum would have been one to follow those kingdoms, too.”
— “You’re being vague again.”
— “...”
Piker went quiet again… This is horrible. The person preventing him from going back to Aevum is someone powerful with nothing to lose. But what did he mean by sacrificing everything? To whom? And at this point, to what?
— “You know, he’s connected to someone that looks close to you, except that he’s way charismatic in looks and speech.”
— “Ouch–wait, what?”
Huh? HUH?! IT HAS TO BE HIM! THERE IS NO WAY THAT I COULD BE WRONG!
— “DOES HE! *wheeze!* DOES HE…!– *cough!* *cough!*”
I can’t breathe… I-I’m too stressed… Why does he always keep appearing? What the hell did I ever do to him?! Why the f*ck am I placed in these situations, Lida?! Why?! What the f*ck have I done to deserve all of this?!
— “Calm down, Owens. You won’t be able to think properly if you don’t–”
— “Tell me more about him! Right now!”
— “...”
— “He’s been causing me problems ever since that day! Why can’t he leave me alone?! What have I done to ever deserve this?! We’re all in a tight spot! What do we even do at this point?!”
—”...”
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— “What… Do I even do…?”
F*ck… I’m stumped.
What do I even do at this point? Do I just give up right now? Do I throw the towel? If I do that then… Minnie’s mother will die.
Why does everything have to be carried by me? Did all of this start because of that key I stole before running away from home? Is that it? Ever since I’ve encountered that man, everything has been going for the worse…
…This is the worst.
— “He was scared of how much I found out about him. He was a man who stood in every shadow of every royal’s room. Nothing gets past him. No one would betray him. He used so many fake names…”
— “What are you saying?”
— “...I found out his name. And that alone made him stay guarded about me. I had to run away with the knowledge of his name. He didn’t want anyone knowing anything about him—not even his height, age, weight, or any profiling. It’s like he didn’t want to exist.”
What is he talking about now? I’m stumped that I’m feeling numb inside. I don’t know what to say, do, or react.
— “You’re being vague–”
— “I know, Owens.You have said it twice now.”
— “I’m sorry, It’s just that I’m stumped at the moment. I can’t think right… You know what I mean, right?”
— “I understand where you’re coming from. Just take a deep breath and calm down for the moment or better yet, eat out your frustration like the little guy–wait, hold on, speaking of which, where is he?”
— “Who?’
— “The Demi-Human boy with the ankle and wrist shackles.”
Is he referring to Leo? I mean, yeah, since when did he get up from the table? Did he finish eating his food and went out to do something?
— “Do you mean Leo?”
— “Is that his name? That’s a fitting name for a kid like himself; innocent by nature. Maybe you could find him to calm yourself down.”
No he’s not.
And I feel like trying to find him will make me pop a nerve instead of calm me down—and also, the people of this village are very much aware of my… *Reputation*, so to say.
— “Sure, I will go do that. I’ll probably bring tea too just in case.”
— “Take care.”
And with that, I stood up and got out of the house to see that… We’re surrounded by a lot of trees. Luckily, the fairy repelling crystals are attached to the trees that created a path to the village.
I looked around to see Minnie having a spar with Cassandra. The two are on par in terms of skill, not that I would know how to measure skill just by using my eye or anything.
So, instead of interrupting them, I just sat on the log on the sidelines, watching the two of them clash. A staff versus a musket with a bayonet.
***
After, oh, I don’t know, about forty minutes?! The two have yet to stop! Is this an endurance test? I still need to find Leo, too!
*Bang…!* *Thud!*
Ow, what the-?! Someone just shot my forehead with a rubber bullet!
— “What are you doing there, Owens? I was just having a spar with Cassandra.”
— “Real funny shooting me, Minnie.”
— ‘It’s a stray bullet from my spar with Cassandra. Don’t be so dramatic, Owens.”.
Finally, these two have stopped sparring. I can finally try and find Leo and bring some tea back.
— “I can see that, you know. Anyway, have you seen where Leo went?”
— “What do you think? If I didn’t notice you whilst I was sparring with someone, do you think I would know where Leo went? And plus, there’s only one pathway out and that is to the village.”
I didn’t notice that. And now, I feel like an absolute moron for asking that question.
— “Good point, I guess. But you know what I can’t leave, right?”
— “Why can’t you anyway?”
Did Minnie already forget what the people of this village call me?
— “Did you forget why we were all dangling up in metal cages in the first place when we first came here?”
Of course Cassandra is going to interject with a sarcastic comment. Of course. It just had to happen, of course.
— “Look, I’m sorry that it happened because I was in a wrong state of mind back then.”
I don’t want to deal with this. I’d rather deal with the villagers of this. I’d rather face embarrassment from people I don’t know than face embarrassment from the people that I do know.
And after that, none of us three spoke so I just left and walked to the path to the village. And as I walked, I observed what’s on the sidelines of the path…
…It’s a bunch of blood-hungry Fairies! Well, it’s a good thing there’s these crystals protecting me or else I would've been swarmed to death.
Still! It’s so scary watching them just float there, watching me like I’m fresh meat!
Urgh, it makes me shudder just walking down here–and the path is not even ending yet! I can’t even see the village from this path!
***
— “Dad, I–”
— “It would have been better if you were dead, boy! I made no mistake selling you off! Now get lost! You’re no longer welcome in this home!”
Why…? Why is he doing this to me? I just want to reunite my family, damnit! What the hell did I even do to deserve this?!
— “Why?! Why are you like this to me?! What did I do wrong to you?! If anything, this is all your fault!”
— “What did you just f*ckin’ say, you brat?!”
*Pow!* *Thud…!*
My own father punched me to the ground… It didn’t hurt but it really made me sad… Why?!
— “Ow! Why are you being like this?! What did I ever do to you–”
But before I could react, a pair of wooden clogs had hit my dad’s face, a powerful kick… From who?
— “Who do you think you are?! Hurting him like this?! Get lost, you deadbeat bastard!”
And when I look up at the person who did it, I can feel a sort of warmth and reassurance in my heart…
…mom. I would know if it was, even from a mile away!
I couldn’t help but hug her…
— “Mom…”
…Although she didn’t say anything, I could feel the top of my head being trickled with water . She’s crying. And I couldn’t help but to cry as well.
— “Welcome back, my young.”