Usually, it only takes a few hours or so but now, as he saw the darkness outside the window and the stillness of any living soul inhabiting the village, he's in, he's convinced it took him at least ten hours. It is curious to note that it is midafternoon when he drank the poisonous vial. Calculating that time, he could a.s.sume that it is now about an hour past midnight, give or take. He's covered with a lot of bandages around his head leaving him to barely turn it to his sides.

"Kayzar," he called shouting but a little weak with his voice almost crackling.

A loud thumping sound on the floor with a rhythmic tune of a running man disturbed the peaceful dark night giving him a jolt. He couldn't see a door in front of him making him a.s.sume that it is either on his left or on his right. He can't move his aching head to both sides, so he forced his body gambling to turn choosing left on instinct. He felt disappointed to see nothing but a wall on that corner and a vase of flowers on top of the table together with three sets of mourning candles. He was confused to see something akin to a burial ritual beside him. He wonders if it is one of those pranks by Kayzar, a very nasty very horrible prank that is somewhat insulting.

Before he could ever try to summon all his energy to turn around, the door came into a bang, as if being forcefully pushed by an angry ogre, then, two arms of a young man held his body in a tight bind. He swore he would most likely yell some curses to this man for pulling him and hugging his tired, aching body like a bear, but he heard some sobbing.

The young man, that's behind him, suddenly let go and then gave him a painful slap on the head.

"OW! What the Yit's wrong with you!" Karus said angrily.

"You should've known better than to drink my potion you imbecile! I specifically told you that a drop can put a grown man to sleep! A vial is as deadly as a dagger in the neck!"

Karus laid back on his bed and rolled around back to see Kayzar who is infuriated and crying at the same time.

"Hey it's no biggie! At least I made it before sunrise?"

"You stupid, dim-witted, foolish moron!"

"Hey, cut with the insults..."

"It's been five days since we found you! They said that you're dead!" he angrily shouted with his palms squis.h.i.+ng his eyes suppressing the river of tears.

"What? Five days!?" he shouted sitting upright immediately ignoring the searing pain that comes from his hurried movements. "What happened to Juni!?"

Kayzar punched his right arms annoyed, "You should be thanking Bathala for this miracle you ungrateful fool! You shouldn't worry about anything at the moment!"

"He's right," joined Narra popping from the door, "You are considered dead three days ago. Water Casters has been feeding you, directing liquid food to your mouth but suddenly your body shut down. They said it's irreversible."

Karus looked down finding his hands and feet in the long white sheets and tested them looking for flaws or impairment, pinching it for a couple of times finding if it can still feel sensations. "I don't feel any different except from feeling a little weak with painful joints."

"You are scheduled to be transported to the north and have a prince's burial, but your brother kept insisting on making his potions and I was this close to calling Artemus and Anagea. Good thing I kept this incident top secret."

"Then I suppose I owe you my thanks, Kayzar?"

"Next time just don't be so stupid!" he smiled with his eyes a little swollen and red.

"Why do I feel a little hungry?" he asked as he forced his body to go the edge of the bed to stand up.

"Of course, you are," Kayzar replied helping him to stand, "you haven't eaten in two days. That's rather depressing especially for you,"

"Right, at least we can get to go back to the north in the morning, right gramps?"

"No," he smiled answering, "I'm afraid not. You two are to remain here for a month or so until you recover your energy for another perilous journey up north."

"What? You're leaving us here?"

"You're nowhere near the Palace so you're safe."

"Where are we exactly?"

"The Weaver's Village," Kayzar prompted beating Narra to answer first.

"But that's..."

"Roughly three miles away from the city gates, yes I know," Narra smiled turning around leaving them at the room, "I'll be turning the food warm downstairs. You best be there after a minute or two."

"We're near the Palace Kayzar," he whispered.

"Don't complain! It's your fault we're here."

"What are we gonna do?"

"The same thing we always do, try and study as much as we can, or in your case train? You haven't shown me the Thousand Blade Dash, but I wouldn't rush you yet. As much as I want to see that in action, I must endure to wait because you have to recuperate your body."

Karus gave a long sigh as he walked slowly trying to make his feet do his bidding, "Where will you go?"

"Oh, I'll be leaving you here to train on your own. I'll be studying the entrance to the Kulog Pa.s.s this month."

"Yit, that's depressing. I wouldn't be able to let you see a demonstration of the power of the Thousand Blade Dash if you're that far away."

Kayzar laughed as he guides him walking near the door. "I truly believe you're joking at the camp when you said that you've mastered that. No one can really master that technique, so I have my doubts. It's really impossible. Besides, you are not a Daomagar and in your weak state, I doubt that you can still dash. You know that you have to double your efforts to convince me, right? I wouldn't believe it until I see it."

"Hey! That sounded like you don't trust me at all..."

"It's not like that..." he smiled almost laughing, "Well, it is like that. But it's your fault! You always exaggerate things when you tell stories, so I don't want to get all riled up and get my hopes that high."

Karus smirked putting his weight on the wall while nearing the stairs. He let go of Kayzar trying to stand-up and walk on his own.

"At least there's a training field north from here, right? I wouldn't feel any bored consuming my months."

"I thought that you don't want to be anywhere near the Palace? That's kind of close to the Palace."

"What do you want me to do? You decided to put me here, trapped in this village," he joked trying to discourage Kayzar's squinting angry eyes, "Besides, there's a watering hole near there so it's accessible to food and clean water."

"Just don't dare do something else while I'm away! I know you know about the easterners. Just maintain your cover this month. I'm serious this time!"

"Well, that's..."

"Promise me!" he slapped Karus's bandaged right hand.

"Okay! Okay! Jeez, that's uncalled for! Cut the slapping or I swear I'm going to return the favor!"

"Karus," shouted Narra downstairs, "Hurry up or I'll give you my blended tea!"

"Coming!" he shouted almost terrified forcing his body to make haste limply running down the stairs.

-------ooO0Ooo-------

"HEY! YOU!"

"WHAT!?"

"Oooooh! Stop ignoring me!" shouted Yosh throwing a pillow to Iyom near the window.

"Oh, please, mortal, like I'm really going to do what my father told me to."

"What!? But you told me that you're going to!? That she just needs her sleep!? You mean to tell me that that's all a lie!"

"Let me set things straight!" he shouted angry moving closer to him in his bed, "I will not, ever, let you near her again! Never ever! Never will! Not even if I'm dead! I will haunt you till your miserable life ends. And after that I'll haunt your spirit even more!"

"Wow! As if you can really stop me!" Yosh angrily shouted too. "You think you're so great hiding me here, making me a prisoner? That's pretty low even for an Elf! You can't stop me!"

"Try saying that again squirt!"

"Ohoho! Did I twitch some nerve there? Huh? Elfy boy!?"

Iyom stared at Yosh with his infuriated eyes revealing a black outline appearing prominently strong looking like a racc.o.o.n's - like what he did on the arena.

Yosh remembered this instance so he closed his eyes and jumped on the other side of bed.

"Luna!" he shouted, "Give me eyes!"

Luna, sitting on the far corner of the bed, jumped on his side to serve her master giving her angry shrieks of taunting meows.

Iyom smiled thinking on his futile attempt to escape him. He disappeared with a poof as if being eaten by a void, leaving an eerie silence in the room. Luna meowed signaling that he is nowhere which Yosh noted as he made his defensive stance with his foot spread apart.

Yosh tilted his head feeling the room. He immediately felt the air changing pressures, so he moved his head towards the left dodging a frightful fist now appearing out of nowhere.

Iyom was surprised on his reflexes especially with his eyes closed. Putting your trust on your other senses when fighting a Dwendell is a known impossibility - especially if you are in his territory and more importantly if you are a Nagozulian. In that quarter of a second's dodge from his punch, he swore he saw Yosh smiling as he caught him grabbing his arms in a pull, throwing him to the ground.

Iyom landed quite hard on the floor. The loud sound of the slam could have disturbed any other people walking around the hall outside. The fast reactions of Yosh disabled him from disappearing again and avoiding the fall. He's shocked in his expertise in close quarter combat.

"Well, well," Yosh said angry with his insulting tone, "I think I just learned how to counter your disappearing act!"

The door creaked slowly, surprising the two leaving for Yosh to suddenly open his eyes.

It is the Dwendell girl Yosh hurt in the edge of the woods. She looks rather okay considering the ordeal Yosh put her through. With her perfectly combed long white hair and her white dress, you wouldn't notice that she is a Dwendell. She doesn't even have the tattoo on her forehead that the other Dwendells have. She looks like an ordinary teenage girl, a very confused teenage girl at that as she looked at them in strangeness with Yosh holding Iyom's hand while he's on the ground both staring at her like a statue.

"I'm sorry, am I bothering you two? They said that it's alright to come in."

Iyom jumped seizing the opportunity. He faced Yosh, with his racc.o.o.n eyes, and cursed him to stand there, frozen like stone.

"AHA! Foolish imbecile! Thought you can outlast me? You twerp!"

"Stop it," she smiled slapping Iyom on the back of his head moving closer to Yosh, "It's impolite to curse your guest Iyom."

She stood in front of Yosh with the edge of her eyes turning black, spreading as if the ink got a life on its own creeping to form a thick outline. Her deep green eyes started to turn all yellow and cat-like, like Luna's.

"Are you alright?" she said as her eyes returned gradually to normal.

Yosh stammered as he back away being so close to her, returning in his normal self, "Uh-yeah. I'm cool."

"I'm sorry we haven't been properly introduced, I'm Ninefe," she pulled her hand and showed her palm to him.

Yosh looked at her palm awaiting something to happen.

A few seconds pa.s.sed then Iyom got mad and started to join, "You should put your hand on top of her and introduce yourself you stupid baboon!"

Yosh ignored his insults and suddenly did what he ordered, "Right! Sorry, my name is Yosh."

Ninefe smiled as Yosh pulled his hands right away.

"I'm really sorry I've hurt you," Yosh continued, "I have been meaning to go to you to ask for a formal apology, but that crazy mentally challenged biscuit is trapping me here."

"Oh, that's okay, Iyom's been that way, always being difficult and protective," she smiled lightly slapping Iyom in the arms.

"Hey! Who's your friend here!? Why are you suddenly taking his side?"

Ninefe laughed making nervous Yosh to smile a little, "I'm not taking any sides. I'm the one who's been hurt. I should be the side. Anyway, your father already asked Yosh's forgiveness. Who am I to defy our king?"

"WHAT!? HE DID THAT!?" shouted Iyom being both surprised and angry.

"Uh-huh. He told me many things," she looked at Yosh grinning, "including you gaining the Great Worm's respect. Congratulations for that by the way."

"Uh- that's uh- I didn't..." stuttered Yosh.

"Don't try to deny the credit, everyone's been talking about it," she stopped and turned at Iyom, "Oh, our King, I mean your father, went to his quarters again yesterday and he told me to relieve you being our guest's guide."

"Who's going to look after that numnut?!"

"Well, I will," she said with wide eyes. "I was ordered to take him out of this room and show him around outside."

"Well I'm not leaving you here with him!"

"Don't be stubborn Iyom," she simpered pus.h.i.+ng him out of the door, "our king wants you in his quarters as soon as possible. He knows what you did to Yosh, so I suggest you think of your way out of that instead of being impossible here."

"What? He knows?" he whispered almost afraid.

"Yes," she nodded still smiling.

"Did you tell on me?"

"Why would I do that, I just got here?"

Iyom grumpily whispered some words sounding like curses in their Dwendell tongue and magically disappeared at the front door. Ninefe then looked at Yosh who's still forcing a smile and a bit anxious about her.

"What?" she said almost laughing, "D'ya wanna stay there all cooped up again?"

"Uh-N-No miss," he stuttered pacing his walk almost jumping out of the room with Luna running behind him.

-------ooO0Ooo-------

They walked along the long corridor outside. It is made with a hard wall of corrugated mud. The light brown color tone of the walls of mud makes it look like wood. Though there are no windows to be seen, crispy fresh air is experienced with a little hint of a refres.h.i.+ng minty smell of herbal leaves.

Yosh just looked down on the floor while walking silently next to Ninefe. He's so guilty about what he did that he didn't want to impose on starting a topic to talk about. Once in a while Ninefe would look at Yosh and would giggle silently. Yosh notices this but have chosen to ignore it. He doesn't know how to interact with the Earth Creatures that he read about in fantasy books, so he thought that the best thing to do is to just be on the pa.s.sive side.

"Well here we are," she finally said stopping in front of a dead-end wall, "You seem very quiet, though I think I sense that you have quite a spirited soul in you." Yosh just smiled at her, still looking down at the floor avoiding her set of small deep green eyes. "Well, I hope I can free your mind and spirit at the end of our tour. Get to know you better."

She waved her hands and the walls began to open up revealing a vast brightly lit underground city filled with busy walking Dwendells all around. This brought Yosh his truthful smile, almost with awe, walking outside slowly, turning around looking almost everywhere.

"By the way, you can call me Nine. Ninefe is sooooo polite and formal."

"Like the number?"

"Yes, like the number. Nine. One syllable. Very easy to remember and to utter."

"But your name is Ni-ne-fe."

"Yes, but Ni-ne spells like nine in another language. Thus Nine. Why're we fighting about it, I want that to be my nickname!"

"Okay, okay," Yosh said nodding in agreement. "I'm just askin'."

"So, what shall we talk about?" Nine jumped in front of him immediately changing her mood to a happier tone.

"Uh, let's start with where we really are."

"Yes!" she held Yosh's hands and pulled him to move, "We are in the great Dwendell City underground the Great Tree of Kyrin."

"You mean the stories are true?"

"What stories?"

"That the there is a humongous tree at the center of this forest and there is a city underneath it?"

"No," she said with a sarcastic smile scoffing to the obvious, "There is no such thing as a big tree and we're just a figment of your fantasy."

They came across a s.h.i.+ny giant golden statue of a big water buffalo standing magnificently peaceful but strong and majestic. It has calm eyes that look straight at the east.

"Who's that?" Yosh asked getting a little bit more curious as they get near.

"You don't know!?" she gasped almost bothered.

"N-no?" he replied nervously, "I-I really don't know... is it bad that I didn't know?"

"YES! Why, he's the most powerful beast that Bathala created! He is the Great Cal'bao, Master of all living Beasts, Sp.a.w.ners, Swimmers and Dragons!"

"Oh! I didn't know that. Is he in hiding too?"

"I wish he was. Your ancestors murdered him along with the other t.i.tans and Beast Guardians."

"A thousand years ago?"

"Yes. So, you did know."

"Some parts, yes. But I only got that from my brothers. They are the ones that are into history and such."

They resumed walking but now silent. Yosh could see her with a hint of sadness almost eating her smiling face away.

"I'm sorry," he said breaking their silent curse.

"No. It's alright. It's a long time, and besides I too wasn't even born then."

"How old are you?" Yosh mumbled almost frightened figuring what he just said without thinking. He knows it's bad to ask women about their age, but he doesn't know if this applies to them as well. He's been thinking about what Karus told him about Dwendells having their long lives.

"Come again?"

"I said, H-how many years pa.s.sed since your birth?" he rephrased taking away the word that women hate.

"Oh! How old am I? I'm a hundred and fifty this year."

Yosh was shocked to what he just heard. To be very straightforward in answering the most difficult topic women often dodge is shocking but revealing that she's a hundred and fifty made him yelp in surprise. So, he thought of it as some sort of joke.

"A hundred and fifty!?" he laughed, "Quit joking, in an excessive estimate you could pa.s.s up to be a fifteen or a sixteen even, but you most certainly can't pa.s.s to a hundred and fifty!"

"Oh, but I am," she said with her deep green eyes almost bewildered to Yosh's laughter making him to slowly return being shocked.

"Wait, you're not joking?"

"Yes, we Dwendells have a long life. Our main purpose is to wake up green life all over the world and in order to do that we have been given the grace of long lives."

"But-but that's, how old is Iyom then?"

"Oh, I think he's about to reach his three hundredth. That's when a Dwendell reaches maturity and starts to ask for hands of maidens of a hundred and fifty's, such as myself, in marriage."

"That kid there has matured!?"

"Why are you so surprised?"

"No, I mean he's three hundred?! I thought he's just twelve or thirteen!? He really does act like a child."

"Well he looks rather odd in his age, but he is a fully grown Dwendell. He's just protective and sweet and playful unlike the usual rigid Dwendells. I think he just don't want to conform to the standards. A free spirited Dwendell if you will. It's not like you don't have one of those in your world."

Yosh forced a smile nodding in agreement thinking about his brother Reus who hasn't been really acting like a real Nagozulian Prince even though his birthday celebrating his proper crowning as a prince is nearing.

"So, what's it like? to be a hundred and fifty?"

"Nothing much out of the ordinary. I feel matured too, but the lingering thoughts of childhood really never escape me."

"What about you marrying someone? You ready for that?"

"I'm a bit scared. I may opt not to choose like my aunt did, she chose hers at her five hundredth, but one way or another I will choose one and I'm a bit scared of the change it will bring forth."

"Yes, change is really troublesome," Yosh sighed remembering what it brought him and his brothers two years ago.

"Well, I am glad we had this talk. It's hard talking about this with other Dwendells who are eager to judge you and are so traditional and conservative. You're really the first time I've the pleasure to talk about this. Maybe it's because of your face... I don't know. You look trustworthy enough."

"Thanks. I'm glad you shared that to me too."

"See!" she exclaimed grinning with her perfectly arched lips, "I knew I'm going to really see your true smile. You're so scared of me earlier at your room I thought you're going to faint."

"No, I wasn't!"

"Yes, you are! I saw you perspiring half an hour ago."

"Hey," he said now changing topics but a little discouraged to ask, "I kept on noticing this; don't be offended, I just want to ask, what's on everyone's forehead? They have the same weird runic tattoo etched on them, but I don't really see any stones or Amplifyers. All of them have this except you and Iyom. What's that?"

"Oh, it's called the Curse of Death. Dwendells don't usually have that but they have. It's a rather depressing topic and I don't want to talk about it."

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know."

"Yeah, some other time though. I think I don't want to spoil your early morning."

"It's morning!? I didn't even notice?"

"Yes. Oh, right I almost forgot. You've been cooped up in your room."

"Uhm, it's really hard to keep track of time considering you don't have any windows to spy at the skies. And the food just keeps coming... there's no concept of breakfast, lunch or dinner in here huh?"

"And it's always so bright here too. We always have the light illuminating the whole city as bright as day."

"OH!"Yosh shouted excited, "I got another question that I think you can answer!"

"Bring it on!" she smiled getting all riled up.

"What's with your eyes turning like a cat's eye and having those thick black outlines on the edge like a creeping tattoo?"

"Oh! You mean the Eagle Eyes!?"

"Ah, so that's what you call that. What does it do?"

"We concentrate all of Nature's energies into our eyes to bend light in order for us to see things very far. That's why we call them Eagle Eyes. Like the eagles."

"Oh, I see. But what's it got to do with Iyom cursing me."

"Well, it's not really a curse. It's more of he's tricking you than a curse."

Yosh's face became bewildered by her words, having his eyebrows furrowing much, so she continued explaining.

"Well, it's more complicated than that. Hear this out. When we bend the light with our Eagle Eyes, we can also direct a sliver of light to a near location. When we direct this sliver of light to the eye of a victim, we can force the light to go to the brain rendering it to panic thus disabling the victim to effectively use his faculties. This doesn't work on the Dwendells or the Immortals since they are powerful enough to block any light that may come pus.h.i.+ng their way to their eyes. Though some notable Dwendells in the past are known to be powerful enough to bend the light to as much as create a blinding beam. Symptoms of anxiety, stress, headache, nausea and fatigue can also be exhibited after the effect lasts so we usually don't do this kind of thing to any living mortal - except Of course, when they enter our woods but that's a different story."

"Wow, that technical huh? Using light to trick and mess up my brains? That's really useful especially when pacifying a conflict."

"Did I clear things up? Or did I just make things a bit harder?"

Yosh laughed hard seeing her worried face. "Yeah, yeah I get the idea. Well, if it wasn't for your very eccentric hand gestures while explaining the topic, I wouldn't even really grasp what you're saying. Although I think my brothers would enjoy engaging a topic or two with you."

"Hey, are you making fun of me?" she asked with creased eyebrows.

"No, no!" he answered chuckling, "I'm not. I think I just gave you a compliment." He paused for a little while looking up as if thinking for a few seconds, "Yep, I think it's a compliment."

Nine slapped his arms smiling and then laughed. "Thought you're making fun of me. If you did then I might have to do my Eagle eyes on you and leave you here." Then she walked away leaving him standing there.

"Wait, you're not serious. Are you?"

Nine laughed again at his gullibility, "No, don't be silly I'm just joking. My goodness, you're easy to tease. It's like you're asking for it!"

"Hey, if it's not too much, I wanted to ask you another question," he posed after catching up to her.

"No! It's too much," she said grinning seeing Yosh's face turning confused. "No, go on. I'm just joking again."

"You need to stop doing that. You're really confusing me."

Nine chortled for a few seconds awaiting his question, "Well, do go on. What's your question?"

"Right, so what do you call what Iyom and your King did disappear and appearing almost instantly?"

"Ah, one of the three things only a Dwendell can do. It's called the Transmission. We Dwendells can transmit our bodies to an area connected by our Life Tree," she stopped walking and pointed on the ground, "As you can see, our floors here in the city are roots. All of the roots here in the city are all of the roots of the entire forest connected to the Great Life Tree of our King. All of which can be considered our territory and we can go about disappearing and appearing at different locations whenever we choose - unless Of course, the area is forbidden in which case we cannot enter or else we'll be punished."

"So, you mean to tell me that you can just instantly transmit to anywhere here? Literally anywhere you wanna' go?"

"Yeah, that's what I said," she chuckled for a bit making fun of him being so surprised on the idea and then she continued, "We can transmit other things too. How on earth do you think you reached our lair if we haven't delivered your body in here? It's a long dig up. I'm pretty sure you'll die first before reaching the ground."

"That's so cool! Hey, can you transmit me to anywhere?"

"Right now?" she asked almost complaining.

"Yes, right now!" he replied full of excitement, "Come on! Transmit me somewhere else."

"Where d'ya wanna go?"

"Uhm, transmit me to the border outside up north, then west, then east, then middle then south!" he said excited grabbing Luna who's been following them into his chest pocket. "Not necessarily in that order but we'll do it your way..."

"Well that's comforting," she smiled holding his shoulders firmly standing in front of him. "I really don't feel like transmitting now but hey, you're a guest."

"Yes! I am!" He laughed.

"Hey, ready up your gag reflexes, I don't want you to puke in front of me."

Before Yosh could ever say another word, the world turned really bright around him. The city changed into an orange wave of dawn outside filled with white trees and golden leaves as if the surrounding was covered previously in sand being blown away by a calm but raging wind, slowly revealing the northern field he was in three days ago where he punched a hole in Nine's life tree.

"Oh, this brings some horrible memories," he said spotting the camping gear he left there in the middle of the gra.s.s-filled fields.

"Well, it should," she grinned with her warm smile, "So, how do you feel?"

"Well, I feel really terrible right now..."

"No, I mean, how do you feel? With the experience and all?"

"Oh, it's so cool. I don't know why you thought that I was gonna hurl into your face. Feels like I'm piggy-backed to a man das.h.i.+ng."

"Wanna see the western side?"

"Sure, let's continue."

The background surged itself again to the west where they saw the slowly pus.h.i.+ng seas; and again to the east where Yosh stood frightened at the tall steep mountain wall remembering their journey up north and again to the center of the forest where they stood on the giant roots of the humongous white tree.

"W-wait..." Yosh mumbled as he immediately pulled Luna out and ran weakly to a corner. He bends overturning around away from them.

Ninefe smiled as she walked slowly to follow him. "Don't tell me you're going to do what I'm thinking you're going to do?"

Yosh turned his head weakly smiling and then returning his face in front and evacuated his morning meal in front of a Dwendell who just transmitted himself in front of him.

"Oh, no!" Nine shouted shocked on what he did transmitting herself immediately behind Yosh. "I'm so sorry sir, it's his first time to transmit."

The angry eyes of the pale middle-aged looking scholar squinted as he forces a weak angry smile trying very hard not to shout in madness for his ruined tunic that now smells a strong scent of gastric acids and a hint of churned meat.

"What... are you two... doing ... outside... the King's life tree?!"

"Well, uh- It's not her fault sir, I'm sorry sir," said Yosh with her trembling knees weakly trying to lift his head cleaning his chin with his hands. "I-uh asked her to do it, it's my fault."

"Well obviously!" the Dwendell scholar replied scoffing.

"Well," Nine added jumping in front of them trying to reason with the scholar with apologetic eyes, "The King gave us full clearance to transmit to anywhere sir," she showed the back of her right hand revealing a tattoo marking to appear suddenly with the insignia of their King.

The scholar stood there almost turned into stone slowly losing his angry eyes looking sluggish.

"Sir, are you alright?" asked Yosh now grabbing his back-up napkin taking off the stain from his white tunic. "He seems rather cool with it right? If I clean this?"

"Stop, something's wrong..."

Blood trickled down the mouth of the scholar and is in an accelerating rate as each second pa.s.ses. He lifted his hands and pressed it in his chest and as soon as he lifted it up again, he saw his hands drenched in his own blood. Warm blood was slowly eating away his perfectly white tunic as he drops down shaking.

"What do we do! What's happening to him!?" Yosh shouted hysterical. "I swear I didn't know throwing up in front of you will hurt you too! Oh geez, I don't want to fight Ra'Ark again..."

"No, this is something different," she ran to the scholar and held his head, "Someone is harvesting another life tree. And it is his tree they are cutting." She paused for a few seconds closing her eyes and whispered. "Iyom, where are you..." she gently placed the head of the elderly Dwendell on the ground and stood up immediately with her Eagle Eyes glaring from left to right looking everywhere all around while speaking in her Dwendell tongue sounding as though she's cursing.

"What's wrong?" What's the matter?"

"The Curse of Death that you wanted to know earlier? It is a mark given to us by the mother of the evil King Dogal a thousand years ago. It is some form of contract to subdue us, a method of control," she frantically narrated, "It is in the contract that we cannot hurt any mortal physically and we cannot go beyond our territory. They also said that you mortals have a right to harvest one tree a year as tribute to the Nagozulian Throne, b-but..." she stopped shaking moving her eyes left to right biting her thumb as if she's talking to someone else.

"What!? They're killing you every year!?"

"Yes," she replied now shocked with tears rus.h.i.+ng in her eyes, "But this year, it's a ma.s.sacre! They're killing hundreds."

"What can we do?" Yosh whispered now serious and determined.

"Only Iyom and I can fight them off... I-uh mean, we are the ones without the curse. But Iyom is in the Solitary Chambers, we cannot reach him through our prayers." She knelt down and placed her hands on the ground, cursing. "Come on! Come on! WORK YOU DARN HAND!"

She started sobbing punching her hand on the ground till it bleeds out.

"What are you doing?" Yosh whispered holding her hands tightly to stop her.

"I can't summon my life tree, I'm too weak." She cried hugging him tight. "I can't protect my people!"

"What do you want me do?" he stood up and grabbed his dagger.

-------ooO0Ooo-------

"Alright! Break it up people!" shouted a Nagozulian Foreman to the whispering crowd of woodworkers on the edge of the southern outskirts of the forest. "Breaks are cancelled! Grab your saws and let's get this work done early!"

"But sir?" asked one of the woodworkers having pushed by the others, "I don't mean to be insubordinate but what about the curse?"

"What curse!?"

"Will the Elves be angry at us? They say we can only take one a year. Why are we cutting down two hundred and fifty?"

"An apocryphal rumor! A hoax that has convinced many a mind! The only thing that hinders us in taking down an Elven Tree is its tenacity to endure our cutting devices - and Of course, the bandits that is living inside. Now that we are many, they wouldn't dare disrupt us in cutting down the trees."

"But sir, we only have one Earth-Enchanted Saw available," he questioned almost flinching to the angry foreman, "It's not as if we're Daomagarians that can hack away these trees with our ordinary tools..."

"That is why I said we should start working early!" he shouted getting everyone's attention, "The faster you all move the faster we can get those trees that Prodea requisitioned! Or do you want me to report you to her highness for insubordination!"

The man looked away in fear and hustled to join his crew to get their tools. He dares not say another word after hearing what the foreman ordered, especially after threatening to tell on him to Prodea. n.o.body's more frightening than seeing Prodea deal with insubordinates. They all know it's far worse than death itself.

"Hey Kid!" yelled a woodsman at the far front to a boy's silhouette inside the forest, standing alone holding a long bow "Stay away from there, the bandits might get you!"

"No..." whispered an old woodsman squinting in an effort to visualize the unusual shadow that's still standing there, "that's not a kid! It's an Elf!"

Everyone at the front heard what that old man said and that created an alarming uproar of fright in their hearts and minds, stopping immediately everything that they're doing, only focusing on the kid who's still at their eyesight.

"An Elf!" finally screamed the younger ones running downhill for their lives followed by the old ones, huddling with the group at the back in fright.

The woodsmen whispered their sentiments to each other discussing how wrong the idea of Prodea is of cutting down ma.s.sive volumes of trees until the foreman saw the disarrayed workers. He shouted walking near to calm them.

"What's this!? I told you all to get back to work!"

"But sir, there's an elf in the forest. We told you they would come if we went too far!"

The foreman, feeling brave and confident, walked fifteen paces away from them to the front to have a better picture of the kid's outline still standing like a statue.

"That is not an Elf! That's an imposter you sissy!" he claimed furious to the workers, "It's just one of those bandits scaring us away to steal our supplies! Elves are not real!"

"How can you say that? Hmm?" an old man cried in hysterics. "You're not down there cutting the tree year after year!"

"He's right!" said another man at the back which created a series of murmurs of uncertainty to the foreman's a.s.surance, "My neighbors tried to cut down an extra tree just last year and they never returned!"

"Silence!" howled the foreman signaling their Nagozulian escorts forming a line, aiming their bows up in the skies, "We'll show you the real truth behind this nonsense!"

He walked past the line and stood from a direct vantage point to the apparent Elven kid. "Hey you! If you don't come out there and surrender, we're going to storm you with arrows! We're no Daomagars but the Nagozulian Sentry is known for their near Daomagar precision! We just don't want you to get hurt! But we will if we must!"

The silhouette drew his bow as a response and immediately shot a fast arrow grazing the foreman's cheeks leaving a dab of blood to form dribbling at the side of his face. The Foreman didn't antic.i.p.ate that kind of speed from an arrow. It's as if it's flying at a pace of a blink.

A few seconds of silence engulfed the outskirts of the southern forest with the foreman and the apparent bandit staring at each other. The foreman was mesmerized standing in fear watching him now walking slowly forward and stopping to a small clearing inside the forest where the sunlight touches revealing his angry black thickly outlined eyes. 'The Demon's Eyes' he whispered as he ran, tripping down crawling on the ground pointing at the elf and shouting 'Release Arrows! Kill the unrestricted Elf!"

Three volleys of arrows filled the skies before landing on the ground where the Elf stood. Not a single arrow landed on the Elf or in the area around him. The foreman was shocked as the Elf moved closer bending the field of arrows as he pa.s.s by, almost like on command, and then he disappeared.

A few moments of silence gave the foreman some relief. He just sat there still shaking, still guessing what happened. 'Did he disappeared retreating or he disappeared dying as a result of his curse' the foreman thought looking frantically almost everywhere. After some few minutes of calm, he stood up, still shaking but cracking a laugh giving the others at the back some comfort. "He's dead!" he shouted turning around, "There's nothing to worry about! Get back on cutting me some..."

Before he ever finished his sentences, the crowd that gathered in front of him fell into a gasp seeing an arrow going through his thighs. The Foreman shouted in agony as he dropped down and turned his head back at the forest. He saw a volley of arrows heading their way almost looking like half a hundred archers throwing shots at a second's interval for five seconds. The Nagozulians on that border just flinched as they duck in futility.

After the barrage, they saw the fields they were in filled with Elven arrows planted on the ground. No one is harmed or injured in anyway except for the noisy foreman who is still crying in pain. The Elf now appeared standing on a tall Elven tree, watching them, giving them a sign which they understood right away as they abandoned all of their tools and scattered away as fast as they could.

-------ooO0Ooo-------

Lunchtime in the Palace of Nagozulian can be regarded as sacred as their prayers in Bathala's Temples. No one is allowed inside to disrupt the meal of the Queen and his guests at the Dining Hall - except for that really important news but important news is usually overrated. Prodea will banish anyone disrupting their meals proclaiming some news they thought to be important but really isn't. Suffice to say it's usually Prodea who measures the importance of the disruption and gives punishments thereto that's why one will be forced to wait an hour or so before announcing something. It's sometimes better to be safe than sorry. But today was unlike any other day. It is the day the seal of the Elves was broken, the messenger thought as he jumped inside the Dining Hall blowing his horn.

"Greetings Your Holiness the Queen; Your Mightiness the Grand Prince; Your Highness the Grand Princess; and Esteemed Guests. I am afraid some urgent news has arrived," he proudly announced even though he felt a little bit of fright after interrupting their merry discussions at the table.

Prodea picked up her napkin and pressed it gently on her lips, "Your news better be worth something..."

"We've received word that the Elves have retaliated to our woodworkers at every point of our extraction teams all around the forest."

"I'm sorry?" asked the Queen confused to his statements, "I must've heard wrong, I thought we only have one extraction team commissioned by the Palace Minister?"

"Yes, your Holiness but..."

Prodea cleared her throat stopping the messenger in continuing further, "Yes, mother, but I've placed several safe houses around the forest. It's for the woodworkers, to give them some shelter when harvesting a tree every year."

"Hmm, is that so," the Queen stopped for a few seconds thinking before continuing, "What do you think happened? They've been silent for a thousand years or so and now they have resurfaced again only this time more violent."

"Silly Elves," added Sarram snickering, "All we want is a tree from them every year. It's not like we're killing them. It's not their tree, it's ours too. There's no need to be greedy about some ridiculously looking forest."

"There's something amiss. They wouldn't react like that if all's right," the Queen pondered for a few seconds and was distracted by the messenger standing with an awkward smile, "I'll ask my advisors about this topic. You may go now."

"May I interject?" the Duke Tabarius entered after the satisfied messenger left the room, "Are you all talking about Elves Elves? The little men in green suits prancing the forest in their merry way?"

"I- uh, I'm not following..." replied the Queen.

"Oh, mother," joined Prodea after sipping from her cup, "It's just some myth they have on their lands. Apparently, they thought Elves are little men wearing green suits."

"Oh, heavens no!" the Queen laughed, "They are not little men, if not they are about the same stature as you are only looking paler than us mortals." Duke Tabarius leaned forward taking interest on the Queen's words. "They live in just about every tree they could find and from there they set up their territory. They are the growers of green life and they do it underground near the Springs of Life."

"The Springs of Life?" asked Tabarius looking curious. "There are many?"

"Oh, you haven't heard from it? It is an orifice from the Rivers of Life located deep underground. It is scattered almost everywhere in the world, but no man can go near it. It is said that the Elves are the protector of this underground reservoir."

"I thought your Kingdom protects the Spring of Life?"

"Ah, that's where the problem lies. The Spring of Life is not to be confused with the Fountain of Life, they are different. The Fountain of Life is a well from the river to the surface of this Earth while the Spring of Life is near the river itself therefore it is hidden deep beneath our feet. They protect the smaller openings of the river underground; we protect the biggest opening - and the only opening - here on the surface."

"So, you do know where it is?"

"Why are you so curious about the fountain?" engaged Sarram chomping brutally on his red meat.

"Well, I'm just curious about your very rich and very interesting history."

"Well, no harm discussing about it," entered Prodea finis.h.i.+ng her meal, "It's not like we really know the location of the fountain. Only the Yagisivians know where it is hidden. And they are really uncommunicative for up to a thousand years now and counting. Mother, Tabarius," he nodded standing up, "May I please be excused from dinner. I have something... vague... I need to do somewhere."

"Prodea," smiled the Queen pressing her napkin on her lips after sipping her red liquor, "I know you're retreating again on your quarters to study something. It's not a bad thing but I really need you to ease up a bit, be relaxed."

Prodea just smiled to her mother hiding her frustrated look, "Thank you mother, I'll take that into consideration." And then she walked outside the room without looking at their beaming faces bidding her goodbye.