24 The Mission (1/2)

The smell of medicinal plants permeated Allen's nostrils, which caused him to slowly open his eyelids.

He saw that he was inside of a room, where there were many plants, and liquids with different colors on top of a table. Allen also saw an old man on a chair beside the table, mixing another liquid.

The old man noticed Allen's gaze and he looked over the kid, ”You're already awake.”

”What happened?”, Allen asked, suddenly he held his abdominal area and head in pain.

”I healed your injuries, they're just bruises, nothing serious. You should lay down and rest so you'll recover faster.”, the old man said.

Allen did what the old man said, afterwards, he remembered everything why he got these injuries.

He shivered as he inwardly said, 'Lolitas are terrifying.'

The kid lied down on the bed for a long time and almost slept, until somebody knocked on the door.

”Hold on.”, the old man stood up and opened the door, Allen sat up and saw that it was Kate and Drake.

”Have you finally recovered? If not, then I'm going to support you while you walk again?”, Drake jokingly asked.

”It's just some bruises, I could probably walk again by tomorrow.”, Allen answered.

”Hey... Allen, so... are you alright now?”, Kate asked.

However, it was as if Allen didn't hear anything, he asked to Drake, ”Where are we now?”

”Inside a village built by the remnants of barbarians, who didn't get to escape when the mountain was cursed.”, Drake answered.

”Really? Is there something we can eat here? I'm getting hungry.”, Allen asked. Continuing to ignore Kate.

”I think so, we'll just carry you some food here later.”, Drake said.

”Oh... then... what kind of things did you see in this place?”, Allen kept asking questions.

Suddenly, Kate pulled the pillow on the bed over; then forced Allen to lay down on the bed while covering his face with the pillow.

”You annoying bookworm, don't blame me for beating you up earlier, you were the one who made the girl cry, and if you dare ignore me any longer, I'm going to make you suffocate over and over again!”, Kate angrily said as he pushed down the pillow on Allen's face with more force. If the latter wasn't injured, he still might probably have resisted the former's strength... only probably.

Meanwhile, Drake silently watched what was happening and didn't interfere, he inwardly said, 'Good thing she didn't beat me up like this when I did that 'thing' to her.'

On the other hand, the old man just sighed and thought, 'Kids.'

...

Few minutes later, Allen was lying down on the bed, unconscious again. Kate looked at him with a satisfied expression.

”We'll come back for him tomorrow. Thank you for healing him.”, Kate said to the old man.

”Hey, aren't we going to give Allen some...”, before Drake finished his sentence, Kate glared at him which stopped him from talking.

”Alright.”, the old man escorted the two outside the house. After which, he continued mixing the liquids.

...

Next morning...

The light from the white stones on the ceiling of the chamber gave the area had a 24-hour day and night cycle.

Drake fetched Allen from the healer's house early in the morning and went to the house where they were staying.

On the way, the attracted some curious gazes of the children, but were immediately called back by their parents. These actions alone could already show that most people here in the village doesn't always see, or perhaps had never seen any outsiders for their whole lives.

When they finally reached the house, the both of them saw Kate outside the door, looking at them. Drake ignored the girl's gaze while Allen bowed his head down.

As soon as they entered the house, they closed the door, Allen then muttered, ”I didn't even do anything wrong.”

”The world's unjust, so expect this.”, Drake consulted Allen, as if the former experienced these kind of things for a lot of times already.

Allen ate his breakfast in the small dining room while Drake was explaning what would happen later on.

”Me and Kate already visited the elders yesterday, but those old fogeys wanted the three of us to present ourselves.”, Drake said.

After a pause, Drake added, ”I feel like that those old fogeys want something to be done.”

”Probably, probably not.”, Allen said.

”But we came for the...”, before Drake finished his sentence, Allen suddenly covered his mouth.

”Shh, there might be others listening.”, Allen whispered.

”Oh.”

”Don't worry, if those elders want us to do something for them, I'm sure it won't take that too long.”, Allen said.

Drake just agreed and didn't anything else.