When we emerged from the forest, we found Mr. Thompson, cradling a tearful Cindy. Despite his attempts at comfort, her cries persisted until she spotted Mindy. With a desperate plea, she called her sister's name and rushed into her embrace. As the sisters held each other tightly, Mr. Thompson sighed with relief and gratitude. Turning to Erlinda, he expressed his appreciation, "By the goddess, thank you for bringing her back." Erlinda, her smile radiant, responded, "Don't worry about it. We not only found her but also the berries for Rocky. It's a happy ending for everyone." A smile of gratitude appeared on Mr. Thompson's face as I handed over the pouch of berries. “Was anyone hurt from the earthquake?” I inquired. Frowning, Mr. Thompson responded, "No, well, minor injuries, nothing serious."
"Though I do wonder why we experienced an earthquake. " I thought before shrugging and deciding it would be best to check on my mother's well-being. After bidding farewell to the Thompson family, Erlinda and I set off toward my house, intending to assess the damage caused by the quake. Collapsed houses dotted the village, and the nearby river appeared obstructed by a barrier of fallen trees and rocks, necessitating immediate clearing.
As we made our way, Erlinda noticed a small group of soldiers stationed near the village entrance. Swiftly hiding behind me, she whispered, "Why are there soldiers here?" Not wanting to draw attention, I replied, "I don’t know, the earthquake wasn’t strong enough to warrant their presence." Erlinda nodded in agreement, voicing her concern, "Yeah, and they appeared too quickly after the quake. I hope they're not here for any trouble." Taking cover behind some debris, “I’m going to go home, you see what they want.” Her face turns mischievous as she said ”And don’t tell them I’m here.”
I looked at Erlinda with surprise, recalling a similar scenario from earlier.
"Fair enough," I agreed, smiling. "Your secret's safe with me, Lindy." Erlinda nodded, then stealthily disappeared, hopping away towards her home. Once I was satisfied that she was safely out of sight, I continued walking towards the soldiers, aware that the day was far from over and might have more surprises for me.
As I approached, the air crackled with tension, and the anxious whispers of the villagers filled the streets. My lips curved into a smile, though it didn't reach my eyes. "Alright, gentlemen, what's the commotion about? Last time I checked, earthquakes don't usually require a battalion of soldiers," I said, my voice cheery despite the tension. The soldier standing at the forefront, clad in black steel armor and a helm that concealed his face, turned to face me. His deep voice reverberated through the air as he spoke.
“Tracking down a fugitive named Darwin. Any idea where he might be hiding?" The soldier's voice held a firm authority. Surprised but not showing it, I shook my head, responding with a casual tone, "Darwin, huh? Can't say I've run into him .The soldier's gaze lingered on me, his helmeted head tilting slightly to the side. There was a palpable tension in the air as the soldier spoke again.
"We suspect Darwin's involved in serious crimes. We need to find him for questioning," the soldier continued, his eyes fixed on me. Undeterred, I shifted my gaze, "I've already answered your question, and in case you missed it, there was an earthquake here. The town needs my help," I retorted. The soldier's posture stiffened, his imposing figure seeming to grow taller as he looked down at me.
"We'll see about that. Be aware, Lucas, that harboring a fugitive is a serious offense," the soldier warned, his voice dripping with a threat. Undeterred, I shifted my gaze to the empty space within the soldier's helmet, searching for any trace of the man's eyes.
"Oh, I'm shaking in my boots. Listen, I can't help you. If you're so eager to find Darwin, maybe you should expand your search beyond our little town," I retorted, my voice filled with a mix of sarcasm and defiance. A faint glimmer of white teeth appeared in the darkness of the helm as the soldier smiled.
"We'll be keeping a close watch on you, Lucas, and pass on the message to Erlinda. She's wanted too,” the soldier declared. With a swift gesture, he directed the soldiers to continue their search. As they departed, my thoughts churned with a somber realization. "Wait, how did he know my name?" I wondered aloud, furrowing my brow.
Sighing, I made my way toward Erlinda's modest home, taking care to ensure that I wasn't being followed. As I made my way towards Erlinda's home, taking a path through the winding alleys and familiar corners of the village. The chaos caused by the earthquake was evident, and the sight of collapsed houses and broken shops was everywhere. People were moving boulders and wood in an attempt to salvage their stuff. “It’s truly a miracle no one was killed or seriously hurt”, I thought as I moved.
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Knocking on Erlinda's door, she unlocked it cautiously, her eyes nervously scanning the surroundings. "Why were those guys here? Did they ask about me?" Erlinda inquired anxiously. Folding my arms, I leaned against the wall, explaining, "They were looking for you and Darwin, but Darwin is their primary target."
As if on cue, Erlinda's eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "What!? They are close to his hideout. He could get caught!" I let out a weary sigh, nodding in agreement. "We're going to inform him about this," Erlinda declared. "Hold on a second. 'We'? No way, I'm not getting involved!" I protested, my frustration evident. !" Frowning, she met my gaze, "Lucas, we're in this together. If we don't warn him and something happens, we'll all be in trouble. Plus, I'm sure the gang won't take it lightly if they find out you kept quiet."
I couldn't help but palm my face, feeling the weight of the day bearing down upon me. " Fine Lindy you win, show me where his hideout is, and let's get this over with," I relented, my voice tinged with resignation. Erlinda beamed, relieved that I had chosen to stand by her side.
"I knew I could count on you. Let's go, time is of the essence," Erlinda exclaimed, her voice filled with gratitude. I nodded in agreement, my mind already racing through the plans we may need to set in motion. "Wait, before we leave, let's visit my mom and make sure she's alright," I suggested, my weariness seeping into my words. Erlinda nodded in agreement. "Okay," Erlinda replied simply.
As we neared the front door, my heart sank at the sight of the debris scattered around the house. The once meticulously tended garden, where my mother spent countless hours of care, was now in ruins, overrun with rocks and crushed plants. Despite the devastation, there was my mom, bent over and diligently moving the small rocks. I called out to her, concern evident in my voice. "Mom, are you alright?" I asked, although deep down I knew she was physically unharmed. She turned towards me, a tired smile on her face. "Yes, dear," she replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "My garden, on the other hand, didn't fare so well. Help me move some of these rocks. "
“Sure, ma” I said smiling warmly at her before moving one of the larger rocks. Erlinda, though looking uncomfortable, joined in. As Erlinda lent a hand in the effort, she couldn't resist expressing her thoughts. "Mrs. Strongthorn, do you think there's more to this than meets the eye? Perhaps a mischievous creature or an ancient curse?" she mused. Your ideas are always fascinating," Mrs. Strongthorn replied. "But I believe this is the result of the earthquake. The goddess has her way of testing our resilience."
The three of us worked together, laboriously moving most of the rocks, slowly revealing the extent of the destruction that had befallen the once vibrant garden. When I looked at my mother and saw a tinge of sadness on her weathered face. "Sorry, Mrs. Strongthorn," Erlinda said, guilt in her voice. She shook her head gently. "Don't worry, child," she said, her smile genuine and comforting. "This garden will be back to its former glory in time." I knew my mother's determination would drive her to put in even more effort to restore her beloved flowers to their previous splendor.
"Mom, we're going to visit a friend outside the village," I began cautiously, knowing my mother's dislike for Darwin. She looked between Erlinda and me, a frown forming on her face as she asked, "What about Mindy? Surely, she was found before the earthquake, right?" I gave a beaming smile "Yeah, we found her in the forest and brought her back home." Erlinda interjected, realizing something important. "Speaking of her, we need to talk to her father." I paused for a moment, realizing that there was a reward offered for Mindy's safe return, and Erlinda intended to claim it.
As we hugged my mother tightly, she reminded us to be cautious outside the village. With a nod of assurance, we set off towards Mindy's house. The joyful sound of barking welcomed us as we gently knocked on the door, a testament to the transformative effects the berries had on Rocky. Once Cindy recognized our voices, she eagerly let us inside, revealing a scene of chaos. The house was in a state of disarray with clothing, books, plates, and toys scattered about.
As my eyes wandered around the chaotic scene, I was suddenly tackled by Rocky, who showered me with enthusiastic licks. Laughing, I tried to push the energetic dog away, but Rocky remained steadfast in his affectionate assault. Erlinda's laughter echoed through the house as she left to locate Mr. Thompson and collect the well-deserved reward for returning Mindy safely. Cindy's laughter joined the chorus, her small hands clapping with delight as she watched the playful interaction. Within a few minutes, Erlinda reappeared, a wide smile adorning her face as she carefully placed a small bag into her pocket. "Ready to go," she declared, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
Dusting myself off, I nodded. Hugging the little girl, we left the house, moving down the street towards the town’s entrance. "So, how much was the reward?" I inquired. Erlinda paused, her gaze shifting away, before reluctantly admitting, "It wasn't much, only 50 bronzes." "Fifty bronze? Really?" I questioned. Searching her eyes, I sighed, "I hope you left something for him."
"Of course, I did. I'm not a monster, you know," she assured me, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness. "It's just that he made up that reward on the spot, and I simply made him follow through on his promise," she added, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Shaking my head, "Great," I muttered under my breath as we left the ruined village gates.