Spoiler: RR version
The Search and No Finding
Intro: While the party continues in the night, Criselia and Jesifer arrive nearby the wide arena — outside the north of Jelfyr. Seeing everyone enjoying in their respective group, to Criselia, Jesifer inquires, “Hey, I know you're strong. Why didn't you help us against the monster?”
“Haaah—?” has responded by Criselia. “And what should I do against the monster? Jes, haven't Jaino educate you? I did saved both you and jaino. Wasn't that enough?”
“That's— ...just answer me instead. How did you managed to protect the mansion and the scholars working inside? Why are you guys unharmed?”
“Jes, why are you asking some strange things? Think why the explosion didn't reach outside Jelfyr instead.”
“That's... because of the walls... You protected the mansion by a shield?” Oh my grace, what's happening to me? Across the crowd, she sees a familiar tomboyish person — Judith. “Hey, that's the third's—”
“Crush and girlfriend,” has continued by Criselia. She chuckles. “I have something to talk to her. See yah.”
In Jesifer's mind, I just hope it's not something bad. She feels a small hand grabs and repeatedly draws her clothes for attention. She looks and sees; carrying a sheathed dagger in the waistline, the little girl Yaume (accompanied by an adult servant) smiles back at her.
The child smiles happily. She speaks, “My high—” Jesifer's palm covers her mouth.
Showing afraid, she whispers in replies, “Don't call me highness outside okay. You can call me big sis, instead.” She smiles while her words warm the child's feeling. The child hugs her tightly. Jesifer does back. She thinks, I'll be strong mother... for my love ones...
Despite different groups are around, Criselia approaches the lone tomboyish person, who notices and thinks, She was in the military headquarter before.
“Halo, Jaino's princess,” Criselia's words startle this lonely woman. “I'm Criselia. May I know your name?”
“Ju... Judith. You're Jaino's... coworker or official, right?”
“Coworker? It's near. But not an official. To be precised, we are currently in agreement and may be a life time,” her words have made Judith remembers Jaino's words—
“Judith, I be alive, for you and for everybody else. But I'm not the man that can stay for you longer as someone. My life is already caged by an agreement. Yet my feeling for you is true, my duty for a certain someone takes priority first.”
—her heart turns cold. Her wetly eyes she resists to produce tears. The pain embraces her emotions. She continues listening,
“I notice that you have potential. Yet, there is a bigger problem of why I can't choose you, to involve you in my aim. Follow me into the woods, I wanna speak alone with you.”
—End of Intro.
A man and member of the Craze Guild, Mike approaches the two people talking — the nobleman his client and Renze. He reports at the nobleman willing to listen, “Sammuel assured to me, that the third's operation was a success. Still, there are some matters need settling, so he will takeover and take responsibility about the task.
“As for my leader, we still don't know his whereabouts. But, this is a matter that we shouldn't tackle right now. Our priority is your cousin.”
“That's good to hear, Mike,” has replied by the nobleman. “I'm glad and wish the third is safe. As for my cousin, this young soldier has something interesting to show on us. Soldier, I'm interested about those people that you want to show me.”
“Let me know first about the name of your cousin.”
“Ann Jie Brigan. Do ring a bell?”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Not in the list, has thought by Renze, shaking his head sideways his answer, saddening the nobleman's feelings.
“I'm still interested about the state of the people.”
“Well then, follow me.”
Faraway in the Wide Arena; surrounded by soldiers, a group of joyous-and-chatty ladies vary in age and playful children in all white, comes in to view. Renze asks to the nobleman, “Any person you can recognize?”
Dismay gusts on his mouth, the nobleman replies, “Not a single person...
“...but, I'm happy to see people escaped from the hands of the underworld. You've done a good job, young man.”
“Thanks for the praise, but the credit is for my men and those unknown people who freed these people.”
The nobleman gazes down. He then gazes up. While idling and watching the stars, he feels a hand on his shoulder. He looks at and listen to Mike,
“We still have unfinished business yet. Don't give up.”
The nobleman smiles a bit. “Thank you, Mike.”
Sitting in a chair on a wide table and alone inside the room, the first prince diverts his view to the door. An armed man bows and enters. He speaks, “My prince, I got report from the main exceptional general.”
“Come in and close the door.”
After closing the door, the armed man reports, “My highness, her operation is a success. The opposing reinforcement has been utterly obstructed and we have those people in captivity. But Eladin is nowhere. The info we got is that he departed on the place before we arrived.”
“That's good to hear. Tell her that Eladin had been defeated. The evidence is confidential — since it was a message from the third exceptional general, my sister Vilyarin, and Sai Mea. Tell her to calm and attain a meeting to me alone, I'll explain everything about what happen to Jelfyr. And despite of the cost, we still have matters to take care of. Inform her that the people need her assistance. We need to rebuild the kingdom, once again. That's all.”
“Alright, my highness. I'll go now.” After bowing, he then departs the place. Following his departure, Sammuel Larigan arrives the place followed by Zahamara, Salvan Untalban, a fat man — the fifth exceptional general, and lastly, Marshal Dogel Hanoon.
The non-indulgent veteran man, Zahamara, speaks, “I receive a message from the previous Marshal. He means to provide us relief goods and help us for the redevelopment of the kingdom. As for the search for survivors and dead inside the kingdom, we've finally able to begin the operation. Aside from that, some people are voluntarily constructing houses, searching for food, gathering some materials, and some are aiding those people who suffer mental fatigue. The Second Exceptional General is having a meeting with all the clans' representatives. This is our huge asset in rebuilding the kingdom.”
“Thanks for the hard work,” has replied by the prince.
To the prince, Salvan Untalban states, “The problem about the captive lusus is beyond our help. The thing has no knowledge about their plan. We tried to scan its memory via our saiyk's psychic, but it seems we progressed nothing. I propose to give up in the approach. I know we can use another method to gain information and investigate them further.”
“You have a point.”
To Salvan Untalban, Dogel speaks, “Now that you tackle about it...”He diverts his view to Sammuel. “Let me tell you first Sammuel, my man can't attained this meeting. I'm sorry for the inconvenience but I have him lead our spy. But I told him to report to you...” He stares intently at the person's eyes.
“I understand. You may continue,” has replied by Sammuel.
“First prince, the progress of our chasing scouts reaches them to the wide and dense forest Arillia,” has affirmed by Marshal Dogel. “They are waiting for the command before they begin the investigation to the said dangerous place.”
“Good that your men are being careful. That area might be prone to ambush. Considering we are not familiar with the layout due to the peculiar ecosystem in the place. It's lurked by dangerous creatures.” He sighs. “I want to eliminate the remnants of the underworld, including its associates. I don't want another souls suffered the cruelty of the past.
“You are all around here now. Have a meeting and fulfill the task. I want you to cooperate to this one, understood?”
“I have no objection,” has replied by Zahamara. The rest of them nods.
In the wide arena, a wide room — temporarily used for medical treatment, plenty of soldiers are being tended by physicians. Olyn, a group leader of the craze guild, sees Merna in bed, surrounded by her worried members. Afar from her location, he arrives at the area. Alone in her bed, shaking, she, Silvi, looks at Olyn. She speaks, “Olyn, what had I done? I'd done something terrifying... Please, Olyn, help me. I don't wanna do it again.”
“Silvi... Thank you... You save us. You save me.”
“But, it's wrong... It's wrong. I don't want anyone to suffer like that again. Please, Olyn. I'm scared. I don't want to do evil things.”
“I agree... And for that to happen... I'll be there, for you. I promise...” I'm sorry... “Trust me.”
The woman jumps and hugs him. She cries... “Olyn...” She whines.
In the south outside of Jelfyr: after hearing Taila's messenger carrying a message from Jaino; the fat man, Vilyarin's servant, arrives inside the woods where Jaino is alone. He speaks, “I come here to ask, where is the princess?”
“We are about to go there now. She has plenty of work for you. I hope you're not offended and being abused.”
“I'm living to serve her. And I'm willing to do it. Her highness is still growing and has a lot to learn.”
“Then hold your breath. I'm still a beginner of this newly acquired ability of mine. We're going there now.”
“Where?”
“In the shrine of the lightning clan.” And they both vanish in the place.
After departing with Mike, a member of the Craze Guild and a noble, a client of Mike, Renze approaches the family who ran the tavern before. To a sad maid named Tissa, Renze speaks, “Hey, I can invest some money to your business if you start over again. At least I can offer a bit help as your avid customer.”
“No,” has replied by Tissa. “You have a hidden intention with your kind offer, right? I know about that. Don't me.” She smirks. “Would you mind telling me?” She smiles.
“Look, it's just, I miss the resting-place where my men and me were relaxing. Beside, I already miss your kinilaw and other delicacy. Those well-made wines also, I miss them.”
“Really?”
“Right...” He gazes away.
“Well, I might considered it.” Inside her thoughts, Sigh, he should put some hidden intention. Well it's my fault expecting about that. Oh grace, when would I be married...
After the meeting, the first prince is alone again in the room. A formation of light particles appears on his side. It turns to a person and speaks, “My highness, we've already located queen Jesifer. She's here in the north area. Still, prince Raume and Sai Mea their whereabouts is unknown. Taila reports to us no confirmation about the third also. She seems lying.”
“This gives me worries,” has replied by the prince. “I hope they are okay. We need their help also. We will about to confront the remnants of the underworld. I guess, I have no choice but to believe with the authorities that I encharge. I pray for our success.”
“Believing” we all do the word
“Doing” it is for fulfilling
“Trying” many have not give up.
.
[https://i.postimg.cc/NBPCBn68/sp05-02-12-The-Search-and-No-Findings-1008.jpg]