Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 2: Leui

“ – you’re a god?” the old man asked, surprised. “Oh, dear… then let me apologize for my rudeness earlier…” he said and bowed his head so low to the point he heard a ‘thump’ sound when the old man’s forehead hit the wooden floor.

“Father…” Mhir called as she looked at the old man, then she also bowed down to me.

“Err…” I told them. “I’m not – “ I said.

“Then I take back what I just said - !” the old dwarf said, glaring at me. He immediately stood and sat back on his chair. “Now what kind of low life form could you be…” he said and thought.

I sighed. “No need to think.” I told him. “I’m a human –mph!” I said when Mhir suddenly covered my mouth to stop me from speaking. “Mmph - !” I said, couldn’t breathe. What is she… is she trying to kill me – I thought, when I saw the other customers in the inn are looking at us three.

“Shh!” Mhir said. “Don’t ever speak that word in this country!” she told me. “Are you trying to get yourself killed - ?!” she asked. I immediately shook my head. She looked around, then sighed. “Geez. Why didn’t I realize it sooner?” she muttered.

“To think we found one…” the old dwarf said. “Orders, please!” he called and raised his hand.

“Why? What’s wrong?” I asked.

Mhir sighed. “Nothing. It’s just the king is a human…” she said.

“Huh?” I said, confused. “You said earlier, that Lohe or something, he unified the races…” I said.

She nodded. “Yes.” She answered. “Lord Loheiruchel… the greatest of all…” she said. “Long ago, there were several wars that occurred in the continent… obviously it’s because of the difference between the races. Different from each other, they also had different beliefs, practices, etc. That ignited the wars. Then – “ she said. “ – one of the races… a human. He ended it all.” She said.

“’he’?” I asked. “Could it be – “

She nodded. “Yeah.” she said. “It’s Lord Loheiruchel. A mere human.” She said.

“Then, if he was just a mere human, then how did he – “

She sighed. “That’s still a mystery to us.” She said. “But… we just suddenly saw a big explosion. An explosion that almost turned the whole continent to ash…” she said.

“That’s the Great War.” The old dwarf said. “Usually, the wars just last for years and months… but – “ he said and gulped down the beer. “ – the Great War… it only ended in just a second. The next thing we knew, it was the humans who won the war…” he said. “Kid, you see the floating lands up in the sky?” he asked. I nodded. He grinned. “Those were some parts of this continent.” He said.

“HUH?” I said, shocked. Those planet-like things?! I thought and looked outside the window.

“Yes. This continent was much wider before…” the old dwarf said. He burped.

“That’s why the other races still have anger left in their hearts towards the humans because the humans used sorcery to win the war.” She explained.

I grimaced. ‘sorcery’? I thought.  How can a human use sorcery? He is just a human. “So that Loheiruchel…” I said. “So he’s the one who’s defending you all?” I asked. He might know of a way for me to go back to my world… I thought.

I was surprised when Mhir shook her head. “No…” she said. “It was King Khander… his most trusted knight.” She said.

“HUH?” I said, shocked. What…

She nodded. “Yeah. Lord Loheiruchel left the duty of reigning a kingdom to his knight after he unified all of the races.” She said.

“H-huh?” I said. That i***t….! I thought, pissed. What in the world is he thinking? The country’s all to himself…! I thought. I balled my fist. And I could have asked him of a way for me to go back to my world…! I want to cry in frustration. I took deep breaths. “So? Where is that bast – Loheiruchel now?” I asked, forced a smile.

Mhir's face went sad. “We don’t know…” she answered.

“’we’?” I asked.

She nodded. “Yes. Even his knight didn’t know where he had gone – “ she said and looked at me in the eye. “ – after he just suddenly vanished.” She said.

“Eh?” I said. I felt like a meteorite hit me. What the hell…? I thought. That bastard!!! That fleeing bastard…! He could’ve reigned until I came into this world, right? Right?! So that I could ask him, right?! I thought, frustrated. “A-ah… that’s… that’s – “ I said. “ – that’s unfortunate – “ I said. “Such a sad story.” I added. Damn frustrating story!!!

“Hey, Mhir…” the old dwarf called his daughter. The tips of his bushy hair now raised up. He’s drunk. “We’re going home…” he said and rose from his seat. “Hik!” he hiccupped, his walk zigzagged

“Geez, dad…” Mhir said. I also stood up after I ate the last bite. “Huh?” she said when she looked at me.

“What?” I asked.

“Why are you leaving?” she asked.

“Huh?” I said, confused. “Because you’re also leaving – “ I said and pointed his father.

She shook her head. She fainted at what looked like a counter. “You should pay first.” She said.

“Huh?” I didn't understand what she said.

She frowned. “Haven’t you been taught that you should pay what you took?” she asked, her arms crossed.

“H-huh? I-I have…” I said. “Wait. I don’t have any money – “ I told her. I showed her my empty pockets.

Her eyes went wide. “You don’t have any money?!” she and her father said, shocked.

I shook my head. “I don’t.” I told her. “I don’t even know where I am. I’m not from this wor– “ I said, frozen. “Huh?” I said and held my head. “Wait… what was I about to say…?” I muttered, my head is spinning.

“Uhm…” Mhir called. I looked at her. “I forgot… to ask your name – “ she said and grimaced.

I felt a vein pop in my forehead. What kind of woman is she? I thought. Ah. I forgot. She’s not a human. She’s an dwarf. I thought, sarcastic. “It’s ‘Rui’ – “ I told her. I bit my lip when I felt my head hurt. s**t… I cursed. My memories are fading… why…? I thought. I can’t remember my home, nor my family…

“I’m sorry, Leui – san.” Mhir said.

It’s Rui’, not ‘Leui’! I thought. Never mind… I’ll correct her later – I thought as I felt my head was splitting. I gritted my teeth.

“We also don’t have any money since we haven’t found any herbs back in the mountains earlier because we saved you – “ he heard Mhir said.

“That’s right! That’s right!” the old dwarf said, obviously drunk. “We saved you, so you pay us back…!” he said. “’Nothing ventured, nothing gained.’” He said and hiccupped.

Shit… I thought, my head almost breaking because of the pain. “’pay’, you said…” I groaned. “But I just told you, I don’t have money – “ I told them.

“Then how about ‘work’?” I heard a woman speaking behind me.

I turned. She must be the manager. I looked around and saw everybody staring at us. The manager smiled kindly, but her smile spells ‘murder’ if we can’t pay.

I felt something snap in my head. “’work’, you say…” I muttered, then lost my consciousness.

Work…I thought. What a noble thing to do… or not.

…

I slowly opened my eyes. “Leui…” I heard Mhir’s voice called. “Leui! Leui! Get yourself together!” she said.  I felt my body was being shaken.

‘Leui’? I thought. Who’s that? Does she mean to call me? I thought and saw her beautiful face. “Mhir…” I called.

“Leui!” she said, relieved. “Thank goodness – “

“So he’s awake now, then?” I heard another woman’s voice said.

We turned. It was the manager.

“But he just woke up – “ Mhir said.

“’Those who do not work, do not eat.’.” the manager said and adjusted her eyeglasses. Like Mhir, she’s also a dwarf.

“’work’…” I muttered and looked outside the window. For some unknown reason, I felt an anger in my heart. I took a deep breath and sat up.

“Leui…” Mhir called, worried.

I smiled at her to assure her. “I’m fine.” I told her. Then, I looked at the manager. “Can I work here, not just today, but – “ I said and looked at her. “ – everyday?” I asked.

‘Work’… I still don’t know why I feel resentment towards it, but… I have to work, or else I’ll die hungry and homeless.