Two days of loneliness would have been fine but Pen is laughing and rolling with the Berry sprite that kept following her. Both rolling, and rolling on the wavy hills. Passing by the plains of Maiedreon, Heagregth, and Steol without nap or proper rest. They only rest either because they fainted, has to pee, or has to eat. With Berry sprite being kind enough to grow berries from anywhere there is soil. Berry was not angry back in the forest, rather, it wanted to give thanks. Sometimes saying thank you is just as scary as I’m sorry.
After swimming through vast fields of tall grass, they look up at the very first weathered great wall. Its surface is pitted and uneven, some creases having remnants of barnacle bonemeals. It has giant cracks that looks as if it is about to crumble any moment but patches of moss and hold roots stitch and patches the wall’s open wounds. Even allowing birds and climber squirrels to take nest. “This must be Kinguin…” Pen says, talking to Berry, “But we are still very far from its capital. This is only its five out of…” he counts, “eight walls. Although I think this is the fifth, because I’ve heard that its two most outer walls are destroyed and still remain as a rubble. We might even have rolled by them because they have already been so weathered that they became hills.”
Berry nods in her lessons, following Pen as they make their way inside. The capital looks like a shadow in the distance when a sudden boar rider stops next to them and ask if they are heading for the capital. Which Pen and Berry nods before getting told to hitch his empty wagon. “I’m simply heading home now so you two can get on and save your legs the trouble.”
“T-thank you so much kind sir! Thank you!” Berry and Pen both get on the wagon.
“Is he your family sprite?” The man asks about Berry, and Pen says no, telling his story about how he met Berry in the woods and how they got along when he felt sorry about leaving Berry behind struggling at the Micelea. Then the man chuckles, “Haha, good thing you took them though. If you want to become a true adventurer, the regional sprites are your best friends, otherwise mother nature itself will kill you.”
The word ‘kill’ sends shivers down Pen’s and Berry’s spine.
“And, I think it is also best to hide your sprite when we get in the capital. There are monster hunters that roam around and sprites are usually fetch at a higher price in black markets.”
“What? They want to sell sprites? Why?”
“Because they are extremely rare. Second only to beasts. Even if Berry here is a common basic sprite, they can still grow berries wherever they want to. That power alone will fetch him high in the auctions and agriculture department.”
“No! I won’t let anyone take Berry. Selling them sounds horrible!”
“It is, and it is the reality. So do you know how to hide them?”
“Uhm…” Pen scratches his head, “not exactly…”
“Well, simply extend your hand and call its name”
“Like this?” Pen extends an open palm and calls Berry’s name “Berry…that didn’t work”
“Berberry, Berry!” Berry extends their own leafy hand, with almost a determined expression “Berry!”
Why does it look so eager? Pen does not want to bother other than the first words that Berry said. “Berberry” he repeats and a light gathers around Berberry before its colors gets sucked onto Pen’s palm and now, he has a Berberry drawing on his hand. “Woahh! Is this Berry?” Showing the man the drawing
And he nods, smiling and enjoying his time talking about the daily errands of Kinguin and people like him who are Kingdom traders, people that trade goods to different kingdom. Then, almost in a blink of an eye, the sun has already gone down and Pen is still enjoying listening to this man’s stories. The man is mostly complaining about his wife or people from other kingdoms.
“What about in Kinguin?” Pen asks, “How is the ruler here?”
“Are you kidding me? They’re the best! I daresay, these years is Kinguin’s glory days and no one in the capital has ever argued with them. Although, they like staying mysterious but that does not matter. Their magisters, and speakers are their spokesperson and grand actors. They tell the words of our high king, asking the people to do this and that which are all bearable with a good pay and made living ten times better! I mean, other kingdoms never allow any sprites in the kingdom except for Kinguin!”
“But…you said that sprites should be kept hidden and safe while in Kinguin.”
“That is of course because of the illegal monster hunters! And the Amaranth guards would take care of them once they are caught in the act but these guys. They are so good that the high royals made statement about them.”
“what did they say?”
“Their words were never law but after we see the good from all they ask of us, it became law for the people to heed our High royals. We are to simply hide and protect our sprites. We would be all responsible for them and when facing an illegal monster hunter, don’t hesitate to yell out for the Amaranth guards, everyone will relay the message and help each other so that the guards will get to you quickly! Or, you can become an amaranth guard yourself and help protect the kingdom and ensure that the people going in and out are not professionally working in any illegal industry.”
Inspection is smoothly done with the man simply showing a piece of paper that has his basic personal information, and profession. Then, the amaranth guards’ one-eyed owls would decide to nod if they want the person to pass, or open their eyes when see that the information is false. “Are those birds sprites as well? Asks Pen to a guard who heartfully giggles and tend to his owl,
“You can say that. But they are creatures of Dramescula. Don’t worry though, our owls are tamed and raised in Cyndoryll, unlike the bigger ones in the dark west.”
“They look so cool!”
And the owl nods, appreciating the boy’s compliment.
Eventually, Pen’s ride has to end with him being dropped off in front of ‘Hearty’s Inn’. He waves bye to the man before walking inside and asking the lady behind the desk for a room. Which she gladly shows him and curious about Pen’s homecoming which the boy says that he runs away, and “I don’t regret it! Because I feel so happy right now and feel like the world is not anymore against me!”
“I see…” She smiles warmly, “Well, if you need anything like food, it would be on me.”
“Ah—Then!” Pen asks, “Do you have an entire map of Kinguin? I would like to borrow one if that is okay with you…I’ll just draw it in my pocket notepad!”
“Haha, suresure, I’ll go grab one.” The lady indeed walks away and return with the map of only the capital, “I don’t have an entire map of the kingdom but I’m sure there is one in the public library. You should visit it if you want to know more about Kinguin.”
“Of course, I will tomorrow!”
“Hehe, then are you an aspiring adventurer?”
“That I am ma’am! I will become the next greatest adventurer and say Glorious Atormis at the center of the world!”
“A noble goal and aspiration indeed. I believe we also have a story of the former great adventurer but I can’t remember…He used to name places and Kinguin is one of them. You should of course, check the library for more.”
“I will ma’am! And I will become the next greatest adventurer!”
The lady leaves Pen, but returns half an hour after with sizzling hot meal of vegetables and juicy pork. All for free! Damn, not even his devil mother can be this caring for him. She would ask him to run around the house and sweep every dusty corner everyday before dinner. Truly, being free and meeting the right people is the best!
ns 108.162.216.15da2
and then Add to home screen.