Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 5: Leui is a human and the others are...

Rogues’ Inn, 7 P.M.

“You heard?” a goat-headed beast spoke to his drinking companion.

“What?” the eight-legged cow asked.

“The king’s going to step down on his throne in a few months.” Another drinking companion of the two beasts answered.

“Really?” a half a meter-tall bull frog said, his tone excited.

“Well, he has only one son.” The goat head beast shrugged.

“Why don’t we kill him?” the other drinking companion asked. He has a snake head and his tail is of a monkey's.

“I heard he’s still young. I wonder if he could shoulder the responsibility.” The eight-legged cow said.

“Just why does that Loheiruchel casted a spell on this country that only a human should rule?!” the bull frog complained, its wide mouth and thick lips frowning.

Leui’s hand froze while washing the dishes. He has been listening to their conversation. He can’t help it since the group’s table is close to the kitchen where he is assigned for tonight. Actually, he felt like their manager has a great foresight for assigning him out of the others’ sight tonight now that there’s this conversation.

He can’t help but feel a chill running down his spine as he continued to listen to them talking.

“Yes, yes… I understand that he just wants to protect his fellow humans because he’s the only one who’s strong enough among them… the rest are weaklings.” The bull frog complained again. “But, it’s not like we’re gonna start another war again…”

No, no, no… Leui thought as he continued his work. I just heard you’re planning to kill the prince… he thought in his heart. “Ah.” He muttered when the plate slipped from his hand. The plate made a loud cracking sound when it fell to the ground. “Sorry.” He apologized when he turned and saw them all looking at him.

“You alright, Leui?” one of his coworkers asked, her voice filled with concern. She is a squirrel, and her furry tail curled up behind her.

“You looked pale…” another coworker of his said. He is an ant, and his antennae twitching up and down his head.

“Have you eaten something bad…?” the female squirrel worriedly asked and she reached her hand out to touch his face and feel his body’s temperature.

Leui subconsciously stepped back. When he noticed his reaction, he forced a smile and shook his head. “I-I’m fine…” he answered and picked up the broken pieces of the plates. “Ow – “ he hissed in pain when his finger was pricked by the sharp edge. When he finally picked up all the pieces of the plate, he raised his head and saw them all still looking at him. He felt all the hairs on his body raised and he secretly shivered. He gave them a smile and he continued his work. This is bad… he thought as he felt their gazes still on him. Why did they all suddenly look like evil beings? He thought when an image of all the customers of the inn stared at him with their glowing red eyes. A cold sweat broke on his face. Why? He thought. He had been living in this place for almost five years.

“Leui?” a voice called and he felt a cold hand touched his shoulder.

Leui gasped in surprise and he broke another plate. “S-sorry…” he apologized as he turned with a pale and sweating face. He saw Mhir, who was standing behind him, looking at him. Her face is full of worry.

“Leui…” Mhir called, her voice shook. Her clear eyes became misty. Leui knew she’s on the verge of tears.

“Leui.” he heard the manager called. “Mhir, take him outside.” She told Mhir who was holding herself back not to cry.

“Yes.” Mhir nodded and pulled Leui’s hand. She led him to the back of the inn, away from the sight of the other races inside the inn, and they went outside through the backdoor.

Leui finally felt the heavy pressure on his shoulder was lifted and he breathed deeply, feeling the cold night air that’s calming his tense nerves. “Sorry.” he immediately apologized as they sat on the bench by the wall.

“What were you thinking?” Mhir asked softly. She stood on the side and leaned her back on the wall.

Leui turned to her. He saw Mhir was looking at her feet. He sighed. “Sorry.” He apologized again. He knew that Mhir already knew. His existence was finally jeopardized.

“Say, Leui…” Mhir called after a while of silence passed. “Do I look like I could harm you?” she asked and looked at him.

He stared at her face. “No.” he answered. “You’re beautiful,” he told her.

Mhir’s face immediately went red. “i***t!!!” she said and hit him. “i***t! i***t! Leui, you’re an i***t!” she said and kept hitting him. “That’s not what I mean…” she muttered.

Leui’s face was black and blue after being hit by Mhir’s heavy hand. “That’s my answer, though.” He told her as he held his sore jaw. “You see, this thought didn’t even occur to me before…” he started. “Wanna know why it did? Just now?” he asked.

Mhir didn’t answer.

I know she already has an idea. Leui sighed. “I know they wouldn’t hurt me, since they know I won’t hurt them. But – “ he said and looked at the tall mountain afar that’s touching the clouds. Beyond that is the place where the humans – like him, live. “ – that thought… the thought that they’d hurt a human… I thought that if they could hurt another human, knowing I’m a human that’s living with them…” he took a deep breath to calm the agitation in his heart. “I don’t know… I know that they’re all kind, but…” he said. At first, he truly feared them. However, later on, as he lived with them and they accepted him, he slowly adapted and also accepted their existence. He also became comfortable with them, even befriending them – for once, Mhir and her father, and the manager of the Rogues’ Inn – who was the second one who lent her hand to him.

However, the fear was actually just hidden in his heart. And now, that fear came out after hearing some words inside the inn earlier.

“So – “ Mhir said as she looked up at the dark sky. “ – you’ll leave, then?” she asked.

Leui’s eyes went wide. She just voiced out what’s deeply hidden inside his head. Leui doesn’t know when he started to think this way. Maybe, he had always been.