Chico opened his eye, only to find himself in a dark cave.
“You finally awake”
Chico turned to the voice, it was Chiki, his big brother. One of his hand is holding a spear, the other hand covered in bandages and there is blood trace in his face. He look quite tired with dark circle under his eyes, but at least, he is alive. That ease Chico’s mind a bit.
“Where is Chika”
“He’s okay. He just overused his magic.” Chiki look at his left side, a young boy with red hair is sleeping peacefully under a sheet.
“This journey … really put a strain on him”
“Yeah, he never have to stay outside this long before”
Their parents died when Chika was just 3 years old, due to a strange disease. It put the three brothers into a dire situation, there were some old acquaintances of their parents that’s willingly take care of them, but they can’t house all three children. If we were going to live with them, our brothers will be separated. It was a hard decision for us, but me and Chiki decided to live together, independently. We just can’t bear to live, knowing that our dear brother will grow up without even knowing our faces. Chiki, at that time was only 12 years old, had to take on odd jobs in the adventurer guild to accommodate our living expense. Chico, at that time was only 8, have to take care of both the house and Chika.
The two keep looking at their brother’s sleeping face, the only family they are left, while reminiscence about the past. It was a tough time, but it was fun. Until, the pain from his right hand bring Chico back to the hard reality.
The battle, was one-sided. None of our attack seem to affect them, be it sword or magic. And only with just a swing of hand, they completely destroy our tower. The only thing that seem to be their weakness, is their speed. They are slow, much slower than us and take a long time to turn around. Noticed that, I have given order for the adventurers to move around them and keep their distance. That tactics worked, for a short time. Those tree-like-monsters seem feed up with playing around with us and start throwing boulder. And their first target was, unfortunately, me, as I look like the leader of the group. Their sudden change of pace leave me perplexed and unable to act. If not for Saka, the lone adventurer with the dog, pushed me away, I’d be dead right now. I don’t remember much after that, I must have passed out back there.
“What happened after I lost consciousness?”
“Well, we were really panic after they throw that huge boulder on you. Chika went berserk and throw a big fire ball to one of the trees, completely engulf it in flame. That should have killed it, but I didn’t have the chance to find out, Chika was soon collapsed after throwing that big spell. Seeing that you, the leader and Chika, the only one that can damage them out of combat, the others lost morale quickly and ran away. The best I can do is get you two out of that mess.”
Chico sighed deeply.
That’s … as expected. Adventurers were not suitable for big battle like that. We don’t have the discipline that an army’d have and will crumble any seconds the battle seem lost. Hell, I was wrong myself too. At that situation, the best thing I can do is retreat and wait for the wolf to come out of the forest. We were not prepared to fight those monsters.
Thinking back about it, The forest of sleeping trees.
How laughable.
They are not trees at all.
They are monsters in tree form.
But still, my brother can still get us out of that messy situation and he sweat it like it’s no big deal. That’s really amazing.
“Big brother”
“What’s it”
“Thank you”
“Oi oi, don’t start talking like that.You are making me blush, you know”
“But really, thank you, big brother. I don’t know where we’d end up if it was not for you”
“You know, Chico. You can always count on me. We are brothers after all”
Big brother Chiki give me a thumb up, while smiling brightly. Really, if I was a girl, I’d fall for him right now. Don’t know why he’s not popular with girls. Come to think of it, he’s at the age to make a family on his own now.
“U…u”
A small noise interrupted our conversation, Chika’s body slightly tremble and his eyelid slowly open.
“Chika, you awake?”
“Big brother, you’re alive” His voice is filled with happiness, then suddenly change “Someone is coming”
Our face become stern, anyone come at this time can’t be good news, be it humans or elves. We follow Chika’s instruction to confirm it, only to find a familiar figure. It’s Saka, the lone adventurer with a dog. He hid himself well among the stones outside, if it was not for Chika’s heightened sense, we couldn’t detect him easily. I give a signal for Chiki to hide himself, while stepping out to talk.
“Yo, Saka.”
“Hiiii”
It seem he is taken by a surprise. Strange, he‘s facing toward our cave. Is me stepping out of the cave surprise him that much?
“Man, don’t surprise me like that. I thought a bear ’d come out and attack me”
“Sorry if I look like a bear to you. And Saka, thank for last night”
“Don’t sweat it, man. Just remember to pay me back next time”
“Certainly. However, where’d you go after this? We are officially The Empire’s criminals now”
“I don’t know, me and my dog don’t have a place we call it home. Maybe I will come to Orzama, anywhere outside of his Majesty’s grab is good enough for me”
“Speaking of which, where is your dog. Never see you guys separated with each other”
“He … didn’t make it. A stray boulder from that cursed tree hit him”
“My condolence. Why don’t you come inside and rest for a while? We still have a lot to catch up”
“Don’t want to bother you, man. See you later”
“Don’t be a stranger, come inside. We maybe criminals now, but criminals still know how to treat their guests”
Chico has to force him to come inside the cave, as Saka seem very reluctant.
“By the way, Chico, where is your brothers”
“They are out to find food. Don’t expect them to comeback soon”
“I see… that’s good” Saka muttered quietly to himself.
When they already stepped inside the cave, Chico made sure Saka can’s see his brothers before starting conversation.
“Saka, what’s the breed of your dog? He look like a pure-breed Mabari”
“Pure-breed Mabari? Are you kidding? There is no way I can get my hand on that. It just a stray dog I find myself on the street”
“Figured. Do you know that I lost one of my handkerchief yesterday, before the operation begins?”
“Hah ha. No way I’d know about that. That’s unlucky man”
“Really? Someone had reported that he saw your dog left the camp yesterday, holding something similar to my handkerchief. Must be a mistake”
“….”
“Oh, by the way, do you know that we adventurers don’t call The Emperor his Majesty. You really should fix that habit of yours”
Saka’s face slowly change from relaxed to a grim expression. He dashed to me, trying to get me in his range but too late, Chiki has already come from behind and restrain him.
“Ouch. Damn, I give up. So this’s the reason I waited outside for so long but no back up arrive. Did you kill the dog?”
Saka, with his hand restrained and his face on the floor, hardly speaking to me.
“There is no way I’d do that. It’s a Mabari pure blood, you know. The noble will pay gold to get the hand on it. I just knock him up, tie him nicely inside a cave after making sure he doesn’t carry any of my belongings anymore”
“Your ability scare me, Chico. When did you start doubting me? Is it because of the dog?”
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
I slowly shake my head.
“The dog is one thing, but the main reason I suspecting you is your attitude”
“What? I thought I camouflaged myself pretty nicely”
Saka seem pretty composed, despite being a prisoner. He must have guessed that I don’t dare to kill him, and he’s right. If my suspect is true, then his boss is someone I don’t dare to make enemy with.
“You leave a plot hole in your identity, Saka. We adventurers don’t trust others much. You are alone with just a dog and being friendly with everyone, it just doesn’t seem right to me. A friendly adventurer that can’t even find himself a company? The lone adventurer that I know of always seeing everyone at enemies or so incompetence that none care to talk to him. If you are neither, then you just a fake.”
“Damn. Never think about that until now. So, what do you want to do with me. You must have guessed who’s behind me right?”
I carefully choose my words, not reveal too much about information I know
“There is only 2 kind of man that can possess a Mabari pure-blood and dare to bring him outside. One is a noble. As you can sleep in our ragged tent, you are clearly not a noble. That leave me with only one conclusion, you belong to The Hound”
The Hound. Just the name of it is enough to silence a crying baby. The old Emperor’s right hand, a legend that go down in history with countless assassins and ploys in the Great War 200 years before. The name slowly fade in the time of peace, some say the Emperor has disband them as he doesn’t need them anymore. But Chico know, only a fool ‘d cut out his own hand. The Hound is only hiding, doing secret mission for the Emperor.
“Excellent judgement. The Emperor was right about you”
Saka’s eyes shine brightly, looking at me like a kid just answer the right solution. Honestly, his expression just piss me off, like he is holding advantage here.
“My turn to ask question. What do the Emperor want to do with me?”
“I don’t know. My only mission is observe you and give back reports. And if you failed the mission, bring you back, alive. Hey, Chico, let’s join The Hound. I can put in good words for you”
“What about burning the forest?”
“Nah, his Majesty will do something about it, find some scapegoat, give them something for compensation. Your value is much more higher than that, I can guarantee it. And believe me, his Majesty know what’s talent when he see one”
Saka seem pretty excited when he talk about The Emperor. He seem to be a good Boss, if only, I was alone.
“Sorry, but I have to decline your offer”
“What? But, Why?”
Saka seem disappointed as his shoulder drop slowly.
“The Emperor is too ambitious. Sooner or later, he will wage war. I don’t want to get myself involve in that”
“Is that, because of your brothers”
Saka seem to guess my real intention. What a sharp man.
I throw a dagger near him, sticking it to the ground. If he crawl, he can get it and free himself in about 1 hour.
“Consider this as pay back for last night. Farewell, Saka, or whatever your name is”
“Chico. You know that his Majesty can find you if he want to ,right?”
“I know”
And the Crimson Brothers ‘s figures slowly fading away, to the vast land under the sky.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
In the Empire’s Northern area, the land of Death where great battle occurred many years ago, Cerberos and his Anna had walked aimlessly for many days. After the fight that night, the Treant, what they call themselves, had offered to return Anna to the Elves, but she refused. I don’t know why but she keep sticking to me, like a family. Honestly, it wasn’t a bad feeling, having someone to care for.
I was too naïve.
Walking around this land made me realize that.
Anna is weak. She need delicate care. She doesn’t show it on her face, but the time she sleeping on my back keep increasing.
And I don’t have anything to offer her. My dad is gone, the only place I can call home was burned down and I keep walking aimlessly without a purpose. Without me, she can live peacefully with the elves, receiving their care and education.
I’m just a curse to her.
It pain me to realize that. She is the only one left that I care. But it was selfish of me to bring her with me.
Maybe, I should return her to the elves, then find myself some quiet place to die.
However, this damn land, where is the exit?
I had walked around this lane in three days, and the scene never change, the whole field full of grass keep repeating. Lucky for me, Anna can survive with just grass and water, and I can hold myself off for a week. But our stamina slowly fade away, without a proper meal.
Damn it, at this rate, we will die without a purpose.
As I was in my self-depreciation, I picked up a scent. Faintly but surely, the living scent. I headed to the scent’s direction and find an old hut. There is only one presence inside.
Honestly, I don’t trust other much, with what I have been through. But I have to think for Anna.
I change back to my humanoid form, carefully don’t wake up Anna who is sleeping on my back. With one hand carrying her, I used the other to knock on the door.
“Excuse me”
“Who’s there”
The door slowly open, reveal an old goblin holding a stick. He look… harmless and doesn’t seem to notice my strange appearance.
“Sorry to bother you. Can you take this child back to the elves”
Quite reluctant, I give Anna to him. Farewell, my last family.
“A young elf. You find yourself quite a strange companion, boy.”
“She must have lost her family in Valencia Wood. Now, if you will excuse me”
“Hold it,boy.”
The goblin left Anna on a table and quickly disappear inside his house. He comeback later, bringing a bowl of water.
“I don’t know where do you want to go, but you look quite tired. Here, drink this. It can help cheer you up”
“I … thank you”
Honestly, I don’t need this. The place I’m going to is my grave. However, just to look at Anna for a few more seconds is enough of an excuse for me.
The moment my lip touch the water, I know something was wrong.
But it was too late.
My whole body is numb, it fall to the ground.
“Y..ou… W..hy”
Even talking take a great deal from me.
“Still can talk? Your endurance is impressive, boy.”
The expression of the goblin slowly change. The same face as before, with a nasty smile that can give shiver to your bone.
“Doesn’t matter, you won’t last long with that paralyze poison” He quickly turn turn to Anna “Still, bringing me new fresh test subject. It must be a gift from my Goddess Hera, hahahha”
(Say what, test subject?)
(You scum. Take your hand of Anna)
The rage change me back to my normal form without me realize it. The only thing in my head now is to kill that bastard.
“Oh, you can transform. Quite peculiar, but not something unheard of. Now, STAY PUT”
Lighting come from the normal-looking stick and struck me down.
Damn it.
Everything in my vision become blurred.
A smell of blood come to my nose, is that my blood?
I suddenly hear an unfamiliar, feminist voice
“Big wolf, white fur, just as description. Don’t worry, Cerberos. I was sent here by your grandma’s order, the Goddess Echidna. My name is Tia”
(Echidna? Grandma?)
That’s the last thing in my mind before everything become blank.