Money. That was the problem. Money is the object that runs this world, and without money there wasn’t much you can do within society. Right now, money was something that Ekubar was completely lacking, but of course food wasn’t the problem. After all, he could just go to the nearby forest and hunt for something.
“Look ‘er, you can’t buy me horse for nothin’, pretty boy.” Spat a rather feisty woman who was wearing one of the tightest corsets that Ekubar has ever seen.
“How much would it usually be?” Ekubar asked tiredly. He had been walking for almost two days, and with a girl as added weight too. He wasn’t complaining about it, but he just wished for things to be just a little bit more easier.
“Hmph, you’re lookin’ at fifty gold coins.” The woman gave him a small glare and crossed her arms, “And by the looks of it, boy, you haven’t got anythin’ on ya’.”
Ekubar sighed in defeat and nodded, “As you wish.” With that, he turned back to where Rehenna was seated on a barrel.
The two of them managed to find a village but there wasn’t much that could be done here. He had no money on him. He could go for selling some of his things again, but if he lost any more of his weapons he wouldn’t have anything to defend the two of them with, and it’s not like he could sell his clothes either.
In order to hide the fact that they were Liyas, Ekubar had ‘borrowed’ some cloaks that he had come across in a small camp of people who were sleeping during the night. With their midnight hair hidden and the added bonus of having some warmth, they were safe from the greedy eyes of those seeking a Liya’s blessings.
There was only one thing left to do.
From behind him, Ekubar heard faint giggling. His eyes came upon two women who were gazing at him with hooded eyes, they were whispering among each other. This was an opportunity.
He approached them, his eyes sharp and daring, and a smirk on his lips that would be able to take any woman’s breath away. “Good afternoon, ladies…” he greeted them with a husky voice and stood like a proper gentleman.
The two women froze upon his approach and stuttered. “G-good afternoon.”
“I wouldn’t suppose that any of you would hold the information that I seek?” he inched a little closer and brushed his fingers over the nearest girl’s hand, “I’m a little short on money, you see, and I was looking for a place where I would be able to get some very quickly.”
He watched as the girl’s face flamed red, and gave the two of them a killer smile. “Well, if you’re the type, you can go into the bar right over there, good sir. The only way you would be able to get some quick money around here is through the men there.” It seemed that the other one had managed to regain her composure.
“Splendid!” Ekubar clapped his hands together, “Thank you very much! You’ve helped me a lot.” Suddenly, he slid his hand across the girl’s cheek and leaned in close to whisper into her ear, “I’ll be seeing you around, my dear.” With those words, he turned and left leaving one girl flushed red and the other dazed.
Chuckling, Ekubar felt entertained. It seems that he still hadn’t lost his charm. It was strange, he had almost forgotten about it. Well, the only woman he had come in contact with besides that horrible witch was Rehenna, and it seemed as if she was immune to everything he did. Nothing ever worked… but for some reason, that fact made him happy.
“Rhea?” Ekubar cautioned. He had to call out to her to make sure that she wouldn’t be surprised since she wasn’t able to see him come closer. “I’m going to pick you up now, okay?”
“Mm…” Rehenna felt his one arm reach under her legs and the other wrap around her upper body. “Where are we going? Have you asked for directions to Phir?”
“Not yet. We’re heading towards a bar.”
“A bar?” Rehenna quizzed. She hadn’t heard of that before. “What’s a bar?”
“Well,” coughed Ekubar, “It’s a place where people go to in order to enjoy alcohol. Nothing much, really. It’s quite often that there are shady people there, and so it’s not a habit for me to enter one.”
“Oh… okay.”
“That’s right, gentlemen, full house.” Gloated Ekubar as he placed all of his cards on the table, a haughty grin on his face.
“What the- how are you doing that?!” yelled a man from across the table, others asking the same question.
“It’s because I have my beloved right here with me!” he lovingly explained. Right on his lap was Rehenna growing tired by the second. There was no other choice, all the seats were taken and it wasn’t like she could just be left outside, Ekubar wasn’t going to take any chances. “With every word she speaks I feel the luck rushing into my veins!” Ekubar stated dramatically.
The men sweat-dropped, one groaning and pushing his money forward. “Just take your winnings, your crippled lover and leave us.” He grumbled.
“Of course!” Ekubar stuffed their money into his pocket and grunted as he picked up Rehenna once again, “Let us return home with our spoils, my love!” he grinned and headed out through the door.
All Rehenna could do was stare blankly into the nothingness that she constantly sees.
Whistling happily, Ekubar couldn’t help but snicker. “Now we have enough money for proper transportation and some good food.” His snickers suddenly turned into full blown cackles.
“I understand your happiness, but why are you still laughing?” Rehenna asked more worried for his sanity than confused.
“Well, it is because those men had not realized once that I was cheating.”
“You took their money in such a horrid way?” Rehenna gasped in a whisper.
“Gambling is already something that I don’t fancy, but such dishonesty?” she made a sound that expressed her disbelief.
“Well, my princess,” piped Ekubar, “I didn’t become one of the renowned Liya around the countries for being honest.”
Rehenna paused at that new piece of information. Ekubar never really talked about his past or background, so even the smallest piece of it was interesting. This particular one made her wonder what he had to go through in order to get to where he was right now
What made this strong Liya the brave charismatic warrior he is? How is it he was able to lie and deceive so easily? How was he to manipulate others so well? What things has he seen?
So many questions… but Rehenna didn’t want to ask them. If she did she wouldn’t know his reaction… would he be offended? Would he be mad? Would he be uncomfortable that she had touched such a personal subject? It was better to keep her mouth and her curiosity in check.
Ekubar arrived back to that somehow disturbing woman who spoke in an accent and tossed her exactly fifty golden coins. “Now, may I have your horse, please?” Ekubar asked.
The woman’s grumpy demeanor suddenly disappeared and replacing it was a satisfied toothy grin and a nod. “Of course, hon! Take ‘er!”
Gently, Ekubar placed Rehenna on top of the horse and afterward climbed on it himself. “If you would be so kind as to give me the directions of Phir’s center, I would be quite delighted.”
“Sure, just go right over to them thickest forests you can find through that road there,” she pointed at the dirt road that leads to a small field filled with crops and farmlands. “It ain’t that far on a horse, maybe a week or two. Now, both a ya’ll have a safe trip!” the woman waved them goodbye.
“Thank you!” Ekubar returned the wave and urged the horse to start trotting. “Wasn’t that lady nice?”
“I-I-I-I!”
“Rehenna?”
“Sto-o-o-op letting th-the horse b-bounce so much!” she croaked, her damaged voice clearer in her discomfort. Rehenna didn’t want to mention it, but it was starting to hurt her bottom. She had always thought that riding horses would be quite a majestic and free adventure, but she didn’t expect it to be this uncomfortable!
Ekubar couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll slow her down for a bit… but I’m sure that you would get used to it soon.”
Honestly, Rehenna preferred it better when she was being carried around by Ekubar, but she knew very well that it was easier this way. For now, she would just have to bear with it.
After witnessing his village burned down at the hand of greedy soldiers, Ekubar and Erash were alone. Ekubar, a young boy only six years old, eyes red from the tears that he had shed, and a look that seemed far too broken for someone his age would have.
Right next to the small boy was a three-year-old girl with bright lavender eyes. She was holding his hand tightly with her little fingers.
“Mama, papa?” her soft voice quivered. “Brother…?”
Ekubar shook his head and wiped his sleeve on his eyes once again, “No, Erash. Mama and Papa aren’t here.” His voice sounded cracked. He had been sobbing for quite a while and now he was quite hoarse.
At the time, Ekubar didn’t know where they were supposed to be headed. He had never left the village before, and now he was supposed to find them a home. In the woods, Ekubar had learned how he was supposed to survive in the woods by hunting and what sort of area was a good shelter.
It was a stroke of luck that the two of them came upon a kingdom named Resama… However, at the time it was a civil war. Everything was in a state of chaos.
Hiding the fact that they were Liya, the only way Ekubar was supposed to help his little survive was to join the civilians. He helped them. He was used as a messenger boy to deliver secret writings to other sides of the kingdom, sometimes even outside. He was used by the people to infiltrate inside homes and steal. He was used in order to pickpocket and even gain information.
By the time he was ten years old he had already learned a lot, and the people around him had all their trust inside of the boy. To make sure that they wouldn’t fall into any traps or add any more casualties, Ekubar had even used his power to warn them of future attacks. He had credited it to his remarkable strategy skills even though in reality it was because he was a Liya.
It was Ekubar who had led a revolution within the kingdom of Resama and saved it from self-destruction. When the civilians had gotten what they wanted, and the right royal back in control, Ekubar and Erash were both given the luxury of living in the palace.
It was then that he revealed that he was a Liya. Imagine the people’s surprise, their mysterious hero who had always hidden his hair with cloth, revealed it as the midnight locks that represented the power being’s stature.
Their savior a Liya.
However, over the years until Ekubar was finally seventeen and he was basically running the entire kingdom, people had started forgetting all of his deeds, replacing his image as one would normally think of a Liya. Sheltered. Protected. Luxurious. Holy. Magical. None dared to approach him without fear.
Soon, they began to think of him as a powerful Liya instead of the brave savior that they once viewed him.
“My Lady?” the maid knocked on the wooden doors, “My lady… I bring news.” She waited for a response until she heard something shuffling from within the room.
“Come in.” was the weak reply.
“Excuse me…” the maid mumbled politely and entered with a bow. In her hands were items covered in a neat white cloth. “I bring you this, my Lady.” She bowed her head and held the cloth out for Erash to hold.
Erash pulled away from the cloth, her eyes widening at what came in sight. “This is…!” she grabbed the two objects and stared at them intensely. “W-where did you find these?”
“My lady, they were found in a village at the corners of Phir’s kingdom, I was told that a merchant had them hanging in front of his stall.” The maid never once moved to raise her head.
In her pale hands were two beautiful blades, blades made out of the most expensive materials and covered in various jewels. These were the daggers that her big brother loved to use the most.
“What did the soldiers do to the village?” whispered Erash.
“The village was ransacked, my Lady, as they were in search of the slightest clue of Master.” And a clue there was, right in Erash’s hand.
However, this didn’t answer the question of whether he was alive or not. They could’ve taken it from him and sold it for a few gold coins.
Erash swallowed deeply, “Rise.” The maid was grateful and stood straight, “Tell the men to continue as they were…” her voice was somewhat strange as if she hadn’t spoken in a long time. Right now, Erash had a lump in her throat.
“Yes, my Lady.” With those words, the maid left the room.
The blades that Erash had in her hands were special, they were embedded with two fine Gems that belonged to a pair of sirens born with their Queen’s gem, a sign that they were to be fine servants loyal only to her. You wouldn’t be able to find another pair just like this.
Erash knew that almost nothing would force her brother to sell these knives… but what else could be the reason why they were just loitering around a cheap merchant’s stall. Erash refused to acknowledge the possibility of her brother leaving this world.
He was still out there somewhere.
It was already dusk and Rehenna had already long fallen asleep on the horse ride. It made Ekubar laugh slightly since it was only just a while ago when she was constantly asking him to stop the horse, but now she was able to sleep through it. She was leaning back in order to rest upon his chest, breathing softly as the night crept closer. For Ekubar, it was calming.
For her to be here… for her to be in his arms right now… for her to be so close to him after so long… his broken heart was slowly being pieced together. Eku wasn’t able to explain the joy and the happiness that would swirl around in his chest every single time that he remembered that Rehenna wasn’t dead, wasn’t gone, and that she was right here.
It was like a miracle. He couldn’t believe that he had forgotten her, but perhaps it was a given. With the scenes that he has witnessed, the murders that he had come across, a childhood friend from when he was 6 years old didn’t seem like something he should remember… especially since he thought that he was never going to see her again.
Back then, he had enjoyed being her friend.
Ekubar grit his teeth and shut his eyes, the one hand providing support for Rehenna tightening around her. He had to hold the tears from pricking his eyes. The relief. The guilt flying out of his chest was amazing.
He will never let her go again, he will never abandon her ever again, he will never sit back and watch her suffer. Everything she wants he will give it to her, after all, it only felt right to do so.
It seemed a little much for just childhood friends… but it’s what he wanted to do. 664Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyluHt6cxkX
He wanted to make her happy. It didn’t matter that he had never gotten the chance to hear the beautiful voice that he knew she had, it didn’t matter that he would never see those pair of eyes again, it didn’t matter that she wouldn’t be able to run around with him again, and it didn’t matter that she was covered in scars.
She was the Rhea that he remembered and that was enough for him to… to what?664Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6fjCbXjlw
Ekubar paused, his grip around her loosening. To what? What was Rehenna to him? Was she just a childhood friend? Was she just a person that he decided to rescue from death? For these past few months, what was it that was driving him to save her no matter what even during the times when he had yet to regain his memories?
Why was it that just the very thought of her smiling made fluffy cloud of emotions swell up from inside of him?
No. No… this was nothing. This wasn’t something that he should think about it. Rehenna was here and that was enough.
It was then Ekubar heard the sound of muffled voices ahead. He redirected his sight and saw that through the woods to the right you would be able to see the faint glow of a fire. Judging by the tone of the voices, it was a group of men.
Slowly, he nudged Rehenna awake, “Rhea? Rhea?” he whispered softly.
At the sudden difference of gravity as the horse had stopped along with Ekubar’s voice, Rehenna gave out a sigh. “Yes…?” was her tired reply.
“I’m going to have to leave you here for a while, alright?” Ekubar hopped off the horse and helped her down, “I won’t be gone for long so just lay low here.” He placed her softly on a patch of dry grass where she would be able to lean against a tree.
Rehenna’s heart jumped a bit at the thought of being left alone, but with a bit of self-force, she uttered, “Yes…” being left alone was alright, after all, it wouldn’t take long.
After those words, she felt peck on her forehead and soon a flooding warmth. That was considerate of him. His footsteps that crunched on the cold snow slowly faded away, leaving Rehenna to herself.
Ekubar was very good at taking care of people… perhaps it was because he had a sister of his own.
As the fire got closer, Ekubar prepared to put a jolly mask upon his face. He knew very well that not all men had ill intentions, but it didn’t hurt to prepare for the worst. Just in case, he had his spare daggers carefully tucked in his clothes. He was only here in search for some supplies and reassuring directions, so there was nothing to worry about.
He made sure to make his footsteps loud enough for them to be warned of his presence if he was sneaking around that would make him look quite suspicious. He needed to make a good impression.
Arriving, he noticed that all of them already had their eyes on him. “Good evening, men! I’m a traveler in search of some help and maybe even a map of some sort!” he gave them a short bow and waved.
Ekubar’s smile cracked when he got a proper look at them. They were soldiers, and they weren’t healthy ones at that. It was obvious that they had gone through a battle of some sort.
He pressed his lips into a thin line. They were coming closer to the areas that emitted danger.
“Help? What kind of help?” one gruff man huffed eyeing his clothing. His eyes narrowing and focusing on the silk cloth that he had wrapped around his arm.
“Well, I was hoping that any of you would be able to spare an extra cloak or blanket, the winter is quite merciless as all of you know.” Ekubar shivered and gave himself a hug for warmth.
“How should we trust a man that wears a cloak and shows not his face?” asked another man.
The soldiers who were able to stand looking as if they were readying themselves for a battle. They must have gone through some things in order to have this level of distrust for someone who appeared to be a friendly person.
Soldiers… it would be bad if they found out he was a Liya.
Putting on another smile, Ekubar gave out a fake nervous laugh and inched slowly away as if in fear, “I’m sorry, gentlemen, perhaps I should be on my way!” it would be best if he got going.
“I’m afraid not.”
Abruptly, a flash of lavender misted across Ekubar’s eyes, allowing him to dodge the arms that had tried to restrain him. He jumped away just in time to be safe, however, that only made them more cautious. This was a bad idea.
Right in front of him stood a man not far from his age, perhaps a year younger. A man that should have been a boy, a man with fluffy brown hair worn down and matted, a man who wore light clothing and vials around his body. A man with murky green eyes.
That gaze, a gaze narrowed only onto his form in full concentration, his movements still but fluid. That was clearly something that he had gained through years of training.
“I really mean no harm! I just wish to travel in peace!”
“Why is it that you have silk wrapped around your arm?” the man questioned. “What connections do you have with Resama?”
It was quite common back in his kingdom to wear silk around their arm, it was a symbol of their kingdom’s Pride. For Ekubar, it had become a habit to do so. What did they have against his kingdom?
“Oh come on, a man can’t wear silk for fashion?” he joked. Still, there was something very familiar about this green-eyed man.
It was then it came to him.
The memory of a poem being recited in a person’s chambers, the grief and deathly silence that flooded the room and the moment that someone had changed forever.664Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNZyDvubhI
This man was not just any ordinary man, this was the green-eyed Knight that Rehenna had sought after. The one that she wished to return to.
Jui.
“Remove your cloak so that we may see your face.” Jui unsheathed the sword that he had around his hip and pointed it towards the older Liya. “Otherwise… we will lay you to die in this forest.” If it was possible, his look only becomes more menacing.
Cold sweat started to drip down Ekubar’s forehead, his mind swirling with different thoughts. Making sure that his eyes were covered, lavender covered them in mist.
Ekubar is surrounded by the men and forced into surrender by overwhelming numbers, they take off his hood revealing that he was a Liya. With the Resama symbol patched onto the side of his shoulder, they kill him right there.
Well, that wasn’t good. 664Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SN0JyjrtO
However, there was still another option. He can run away. That would be the safest route in these fates.
What about Rehenna?
He could tell him that she was so close just a walk away. Would he believe her? He should, after all, he doubted that anyone else knew her name other than those who knew her.
However, revealing her would mean that she would be taken from him sooner than what was planned, and judging by their cruelty against those who belonged in Resama it wasn’t very likely that they would allow him to see her again. 664Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EpanRsF8T
Rehenna would be gone just like that… Should Ekubar really return her back into
Phir? Would that really be the right choice?
A drop of sweat fell onto the cold snow beneath his feet, Ekubar’s mouth was parted in order to have in heavy breaths. The mist of heat fading away in the wind. The only sound that they were able to hear was the cackling of the fire that was slowly starting to die out.
“Do not make me repeat myself,” Jui said as he presumed the fighting stance that his men had followed. “What real business do you have with us?” his gaze was sharp and calculating.
“Rehenna…” whispered Ekubar, his mind in a frenzy of confusion.
Jui’s eyes widened by a fraction at that name, however, it was said in such a low voice that he wasn’t sure if he had heard it right. “What did you say?” he inched closer. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t be the same Rehenna, it must have been a mistake.
The stranger grinned and gave him a two-fingered salute, “I’m sorry, but I really must be going!” Instantaneously, Ekubar barged through their defenses before they were able to make a full circle around him.
Then he made a break for it.
“After him!” yelled one soldier, however, he was stopped by Jui’s arm. “Sir?”
“Let him leave…” was his reply, “He might not have been a threat.” He turned making sure to keep it together.
Rehenna sighed from her position, the warmth that Ekubar had left her was starting to fade away. She shivered and wrapped her cloak tighter around her, but that didn’t seem to be doing the trick.
It was then she heard strong and fast footsteps coming towards her, footsteps that she realized were Ekubar’s. “Eku—“
“We need to go now!” he exclaimed as he picked her up in such a rush.
“W-why?” she landed harshly on top of the horse and felt Ekubar climb after her.
“We just have to!” he picked up the horse rains and forced the horse to start running away.
“What’s going on!?” Rehenna wasn’t liking this, and his silence in place of a proper reply wasn’t any good either. “Ekubar?” a tinge of fear was making its way through her, the horse’s speed wasn’t something she enjoyed as well. They were going too fast! “Ekubar!”
That seemed to snap him out of his trance. “Y-yes?” he was breathing heavily as if he had just run a marathon.
“Are… are you alright?” she asked.
The horse slowed down at his command as soon as he thought that they were already far enough, and resumed their journey through a trot.
“Yes… yes, I’m fine.”
Rehenna frowned. It didn’t seem like he was fine, and that was obvious. Perhaps it wouldn’t do for her to ask.
“Alright…”
When things were going wrong the only thing Ekubar was able to handle it was by putting on a smile… but for some reason he couldn’t.
He had thrown away a chance for Rehenna to see her beloved… he had thrown away that chance because…
Because he was afraid that Jui would take Rehenna away from him. 664Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQll3oHgM3
Eku grit his teeth as his grip on the reins grew tighter. How selfish of him. 664Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYZWvXSxNo
He could make up a whole other list of reasons as to why he had to run away, it could be because he was saving his own life, or perhaps he could pretend that he didn’t recognize the green-eyed Knight at all.
That would all be lies.
A/N:664Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocMvVI2vnj
Another 4k word chapter in just one day!? A MIRACLE. This is actually just me saying sorry for all those months where I haven't updated anything, plus I slept 2:30AM for this. Totally worth it though.
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