Bumiya Rainforest

North of Aerion.

End of the Alderon Realm

“Has etiquette not taught you how to sleep with your mouth fucking closed?” Kyra’s voice echoed across the forest. Gabriel’s loud snores halted, and he jolted awake.

“Are we under attack?” He yelled back, immediately getting up and going into a defensive stance.

“Only by your snores! Are you trying to fry my synapses?!” She continued yelling. Gabriel scratched the back of his head sheepishly and laid back down, snuggling into the leaves for a more comfortable position.

Kyra, on the other hand, couldn’t go back to sleep. So she decided to get up and walk around the forest until she was tired again. The two had walked for three whole days until they were north of the kingdom, and the climate had turned cold. According to the map Gabriel had taken, they were also at the end of the Alderon realm. There was one more town left to explore.

She got up from her makeshift bed of leaves and twigs and made her way around the moonlit forest. Her eyes slowly got used to the darkness, and she could now see.

Kyra then stretched her arms upward and bent down, stretching herself. The young girl let out a satisfied moan and continued walking down the muddied road.

The rainforest was average at best, and Kyra had seen fancier and more colourful ones when her father decided to take her out.

The girl let out a yawn, feeling more tired than she had previously observed.

“The next town better has some accommodation or food, or I might burn it down.” The girl joked to herself, grabbing her stomach as she laughed harder.

“Woah!” The girl then exclaimed as she tripped over a hard figure and landed on her stomach on the other side. She then flipped onto her bum and sat up, her hands holding onto the dampened earth for some support.

“What the?” She remarked, staring down at the unconscious figure that lay before her. Kyra scooted closer to the person with wide, expectant eyes. She then poked what appeared to be a young girl’s cheek.

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The young girl never made a move. Kyra, thinking the girl must be dead, decided to check her pulse just to be sure.

It was faint, but it was there. Without much thought, Kyra lifted the girl up and headed back to where they had set up camp. Once she reached the place, she ‘gently’ kicked Gabriel in the rear, jolting him awake.

“What’s going on?” He asked groggily and was unaware.

“I found a severely dehydrated and unconscious girl in the woods. My good conscience wouldn’t allow me to leave her there.” She explained.

“I thought you didn’t have one of those,” Gabriel joked, slowly closing his eyes as he tried to drift back to sleep.

Kyra smacked then smacked the man, waking him up fully this time.

“Okay, okay, I’m up.” He said this, taking a deep breath.

“We need to get her out of these damp clothes and into some new ones.” Kyra stated, looking the feverish girl up and down. The blonde girl’s cheeks were sullen, and the bags around her eyes were horrendous.

Gabriel noticed the chain marks around the girl’s wrist and ankles and concluded there were two options.

“She’s either a prisoner or a slave.” He announced. Kyra paused in her tracks and looked up at him. Although the moonlight shone on them, he couldn’t make out the expression Kyra was making.

“Slaves. That’s actually a thing.” She said. Gabriel cocked his eyebrows up and frowned.

“I’m the sheltered prince from the grand kingdom. You’re the warrior from a noble village.” He reminded her.

“Who wasn’t allowed to explore just like you?” She retaliated.

“Anyways, slaves are a thing throughout Alderon. My father has stated that it’s non-existent in the other two realms. Not everyone in Alderon is a moral human being. According to my father, slavery is a lucrative business that many people take part in.” Gabriel explained.

“However, there are only a few towns dedicated to selling and using these people, and Kuuyan is one of them,” he continued.

“The last town within the Alderon realm.” Kyra finished. Gabriel nodded.

“Kuuya is the closest town to this forest, so it has to be there. If we do end up going, we’ll have to act like merchants.” He stated.

“And why would we go there?” Kyra asked, cocking up an eyebrow.

“To help the people.” Gabriel stated that it was the most obvious thing. To Kyra, it was far too troublesome. However, the longer she looked into his puppy-like eyes, the more her will to stay defiant withered.

“Alright, alright.”

The two then looked back down on the girl and began their healing process. Gabriel looked through his inventory and brought out plants that would help.

Kyra collected twigs and bashed two rocks together, creating a fire. The flames slowly grew and brought warmth to the entire section. The two then moved the young girl’s body closer to the fire, and Kyra went into her inventory. She pulled out the nightgown and hoped that it wasn’t tattered.

The outfit materialised in her hand. She then spread apart and took a giant breath of relief when it was restored to its original form. Kyra then looked back and gestured for the prince to turn around. After a while, the young blonde girl was wearing the nightgown.

“Pass me your cloak.” She instructed. Gabriel took off his black fur cloak, and the green-eyed girl placed it on the young girl. “That should create an extra layer of warmth.” Kyra remarked.

“Here are the plants that should restore her inner health to somewhat normal levels. And here’s the plant we’re going to grind into a paste and rub all over the visible marks.” He said this, shoving his hands forward for Kyra to see.

“Nima and Ion plants for the inner, and Casona and Geesha plants for the outer. Nice work.” Kyra complimented. Gabriel’s cheeks become rosy as he averts his gaze.

The duo got to work, and not before long, they were done. Kyra wiped her green and blue-stained hands on the grey tunic while Gabriel lay on his back, the sleep deprivation slowly getting to him.

There was now colour present on the young girl’s skin, and Kyra hoped she would wake up sound-minded, just enough for them to badger her with questions.