The Crown of Humatora

The First Dungeon (Part 2)

“I am so hungry, let’s get something to eat.”

I plead at Riftan, while my hand begins to rub my stomach.

He takes out a sigh and smiles. “Fine, let us go to one of the inns, we could have something to eat and rest.”

Nodding my head at him, my smile is blooming from ears to ears. Finally, I could rest in a proper bed, after sleeping on a bed of moss and mushroom, not a very comfortable place to sleep. We walked for a while, even stopping in a small stall to buy some finger foods, I never had, before. Enthusiastically, I begin to devour the meat on the skewer.

“What’s the name of this food?”

“Do you like it?” Asked Riftan.

“Yes, I do!”

The vendor chuckles at my enthusiastic answer to Riftan.

“Miss, we call it Satay, the food originally came from the Human Realm, My grandfather was born in the Human Realm, he brought so many cuisines, one of them is Satay.”

“Satay? What an odd name, but I love the texture and the taste.”

“I think you’re going to like some of the Human food as well, miss, you should come in the first month of the red moon and sun, we have a celebration here, lots of food from the human realm will be in the menu.”

“Oh, I would love that.” My eyes widen with excitement, looking at Riftan, trying to pursue him, “I hope we can attend the celebration.”

He rustled my hair, and smile. “I hope so. Come on, we need to book our room.”

Walking along the winding alleyway, we are arriving at a small but comfy inn. Riftan opens the door, and there’s an elven, who’s maybe a thousand years older, greeting us by the reception area.

“Welcome… Wait, Riftan? Is that you, my friend?”

“Josiah, long time no see, my friend!”

The elder elven then goes out from his table and goes to hug Riftan. He was so happy to see Riftan’s face, I could see it in his eyes.

“I can’t believe it! I thought for sure you’re…”

Riftan immediately cut Josiah, and pull me into his arm. “Wait, Josiah, let me introduce my mate, this is Sabine, from the Werewolf clan.”

Josiah, the elder elven glanced at me, I feel so nervous, I have never thought that I have to meet with one of Riftan’s friends.

“So, a Werewolf, huh? It was unusual for you to have a mate from the other clan, I thought for sure, you will be choosing that childhood friend of yours.”

I gasp and glare at Riftan, he never told me about any childhood friend, before, this is new to me.

“Oh, really?! Well, Riftan never told me anything about her!”

But then, both of them are doing something unimaginable. They are laughing, the elder elven, Josiah, even drops himself into his wooden floor.

“What? why both of you were laughing?”

“Oh heaven! I was joking. Riftan doesn’t have any female childhood friends, and he doesn’t like males, either.” Answered Josu, while wiping tears from his eyes.

“Yes, I wasn’t swinging both ways, only female.” Said Riftan, he even winked naughtily.

“Oh hell! Seriously! Both of you!”

Josiah smiled at me and then his face turn to Riftan. “But, it means that she cares so much about you, she’s a keeper!”

Although Josiah had a crude way of jesting, but he also care so much about Riftan, I can see it in his eyes. After the small talk, he gave us a very nice room, with a view of the valley, a small but beautiful room.

“How long do you plan to stay?” Asked Josiah to Riftan.

“Not very long, I’m afraid…” Riftan share a glance at me, and then whispered at Josiah, “We need to see Parang, my mate is in danger.”

“Parang? Our Warlord? I’m afraid you’re already too late, he was visiting the small camps around his area, he will be back in one week of the yellow sun and moon.”

“Sh*t, we were late.”

“We need to wait, otherwise I need someone to guide me.”

“Guide you, to go where?”

I had totally forgotten to explain my other circumstances to Riftan, my journey to locate the tomb of my father. I bite my lips and took a glance at Josiah, I trust Riftan but I don’t trust Josiah, yet. Thankfully, he understands my plea and excuses himself from our room.

Now, it’s just me and Riftan, he looks at me, waiting for me to explain everything.

“You know about my struggling with my step-father, and it resulted in my mother’s demise.”

“Yes, I was there, a bit late, I’m afraid, but I saw you running away.”

Nervously, I saw a chair beside the window, I sat on the chair. Riftan eyes never look away from my face.

“Well, I’m listening.” Said Riftan.

“Before she took her last breath, my mother told me about my true father, he… he is alive, Riftan.”

“Your father? He was alive? But why your mother and your father were not together? Why did he never try to find you and your mother?”

“Because he’s in a long slumber, right now, I need to find his tomb.”

Riftan is shocked, he walks slowly while his hand is brushing his chin, he is thinking something. “Your father is a high Vampyr, then.”

“High Vampyr? What is that?”

“A Vampyr with a powerful attribute, they are stronger than a regular Vampyr, only a high Vampyr, who has the ability to regenerate by a long slumber.”

“Oh wow, I have never imagined my father is a high Vampyr, I knew about my origin. Of course, having a bloodlust is the indication of my half parentage.”

“Yes, and do not be afraid…” He took my hand and patted gently, “I’ll be here, in every step that you make.”

I’m smiling, and grateful to my loving and caring mate. The yellow sun finally goes down, to make way for the yellow moon to appear. We go down to the dining room of the inn, enjoying the very delicious dinner, made by Josiah’s wife. After dinner, he goes to our table.

“Hey, Uhm… what should I call you?” Asked Josiah, awkwardly to me.

Chuckling, I told him to call me by my name, just like how he called Riftan.

“Alright, Sabine, I don’t know what kind of guidance you need, but I know someone, who may be able to help you.”

My eyes grew larger, I could finally decipher clues to search for my father’s tomb.