Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 28: Scythe

Kingdom of Heiruche, outskirts.

Leui was leaning on the tree as he looked at the castle afar, on top of the mountain. On its peak, which is touching the clouds, is a tower that is buried within the clouds. When he was at the Central Plaza on the other side of the river, he could only see the tip of the silhouette of the castle. Now that he’s here, in the human land…

“AH! It’s so hot! I’m sweating!” Mhir whined, breaking his thoughts, while carelessly wiping the water off her chin. She took off her jacket, exposing her sleeveless top and baggy shorts. “Leui. I’m hungry!” she told him. Her short hair was tied, exposing her neck. The pointed tip of her ears are exposed on her bushy brown hair.

Leui removed his gaze from the castle that’s beyond the mountains and kissed the clouds. Although the humans’ existence in the other races’ territory is forbidden (Leui is the exception), the other races’ existence on the human land is permitted. Leui and Mhir have met some humans accompanied with the beings of other races along the way. Thus, the sight of a human and a dwarf – Leui and Mhir, isn’t strange.

Humans, although the weakest, are the race with the highest intelligence. This is the reason why they are still alive up till now. They are very open-minded towards the other races, even if the other races want to kill them. Because no matter how intelligent the humans are, there are things limited for them to do, however, can be done by the other races.

Leui turned to Mhir. The foods they saved for the past days already had been consumed. Only a little water is left. Since they chose to go to the plains instead of forest, the food they found is more limited than the ones they could find in the forest. However, even if they are now in human land, they can’t carelessly venture into the forest again. There are more dangers that can be found in the forest than in the plains. Snakes, wild boars… it’d be fine if Mhir can handle them. But what about the stronger animals? And what if there will be monsters? And who can distinguish the poisonous plants from the normal ones? Even if Leui worked in a flower shop, his knowledge is limited. They can only enter the forest if there’s one more person – no. Elf. A male elf, and a beautiful one at that. Tinum. They would be fine to enter the forest if Tinum is with them.

But… Tinum didn’t come with them. He chose to remain on the other side of the river than go with them to the human land. Is he afraid of humans? He can’t be. He isn’t afraid of Leui. Then, why didn’t he go with them? They can only get the answer if Tinum was here. Unfortunately, he left them. No, precisely – they were the ones who left him, even though it was Tinum’s choice to be left behind.

Nothing can be done even if he’d continue to think about it. Leui erased his thoughts of Tinum, but the irritability he felt is still there. “Let’s go. I found a house not far from here.” He told Mhir as he straightened up and patted the dirt off his clothes. It’s already sunset, and they still haven’t had their lunch yet. The people they met gave them food, so they can relieve their hunger for a short period of time.

“Okay!” Mhir said and followed behind him as they passed by the wheat field and walked towards the shack.

Leui looked through the gaps on the wooden boards nailed on the windows. Seeing there’s no one, he walked towards the door to knock. Mhir waited for him by the fence, looking around the area. “Excuse me! Is anyone here?” Leui asked in the loud voice as he knocked on the old door. “Hello!” he called, but no one answered. So there’s no one inside? He thought, his brows raised in surprise.

“How is it, Leui?” Mhir asked as she hopped down the wooden fence. He walked towards him and knocked on the door.

Leui’s eyes widened. Before he could stop her, her heavy hand already hit the old door. BAM! Dust-filled smoke rose in the air as the old door fell on the ground. They both immediately covered their mouth and nose as they closed their eyes, fanning the smoke away from them. “Mhir!” he cried and turned to Mhir.

“What?” Mhir asked and blinked her eyes filled with innocence.

Leui bit his tongue to prevent himself from speaking. He doesn’t know if Mhir deliberately knocked the door off its rusty hinges, or deliberately acted innocent. He guessed both. He turned his gaze away from her. He just realized how poisonous Mhir is.

They both walked inside and looked around, but found no traces of anyone living in the shack. The shack is filled with farming materials, but all are already rusting. “There’s no one…” he muttered as the dust-filled smoke finally settled and saw with a clear vision of the empty shack.

“You thought someone’s here?” Mhir said as she picked up a scythe. “This shack is on the verge of collapsing.” She said as she looked at the roof full of holes.

Leui took the scythe from her and inspected it. “Mhir.” He called.

“What?” Mhir answered and turned.

“Look.” Leui said and showed her the scythe. “It looked new.” He said, his face serious.

Mhir’s brows knit. “Ha?” she said. “But I just held it. I didn’t see how can it look new?” she looked at the scythe. Then, her eyes widened as she immediately looked around, her eyes narrowing and glowing green.

“Mhir…?” Leui called when Mhir suddenly pushed him behind her.

“Stand back, Leui.” Mhir said, her voice sharp as her gaze scanned the place.

“What happened?” Leui asked.

“Leui. Answer me honestly.” Mhir said. “Why did you choose this place?” she asked.

“Huh? I saw… huh?” Leui said and blinks multiple times, feeling his mind his hazy. “Mhir… what just happened?” he asked as he held his head, suddenly felt light-headed.

“There’s a magic surrounding the whole place.” Mhir answered as she raised her arm, covering Leui in a protective stance.

“What?!” Leui exclaimed in shock as he looked around. Suddenly, he saw the shack disappearing and they were in a grassy field. “WHA - !” he almost cursed when he saw the never-ending tall grasses surrounding them. “Mhir…” he called, his eyes are as wide as saucers. “Were the foods we ate earlier also…” he said.

“No.” Mhir decisively answered as she glared at the tall grass that suddenly moved. She doesn’t know if it’s because of the wind or… “Wind… there’s no wind!” she said as she looked behind her and saw Leui’s face slowly turning purple. “Leui!” she cried when Leui suddenly fell on his knees, clutching his neck. “Leui! Get a grip of yourself! Stop thinking things! This is just an illusion! Leui!” she told him as she immediately looked around her. “Show yourself! Stop hiding like a coward!” she called out.

“What an arrogant dwarf. You’re just a dwarf!” a female voice said. The space on their right side rippled and a fairy wearing a green dress appeared. She’s glaring at them. “How dare you invade the humans’ territory, invaders!” she said and waved her hand. The grass moved and tied Mhir’s arm, raising her in the air.

“Leui!” Mhir called as she worriedly looked at Leui.

“A human?” the fairy turned to Leui who’s losing air. “Why is he with you, dwarf?” she asked.

“My father and I found him in the Central Plaza five years ago!” Mhir explained. “We took him in despite the other races’ protests! But, for five years he integrated with us!” she told her.

“Impossible! The Central Plaza won’t allow a human’s existence!” the fairy said. “Answer me! Why did you keep him alive? To threaten the king?” she sharply asked.

“NO!” Mhir answered. “Leui wanted to come to the human land!” she said.

“Shut up!” Leui suddenly said, regaining a moment of consciousness. “I ask you, fairy. You’re also of other race, but why do you protect the humans?” he asked.

“Because I serve the king!” the fairy answered.

“Lie!” Leui said as he stood up with the help of the scythe. “You are afraid.” He said. “Because you were threatened!” he said.

The fairy’s eyes widened and a trace of fear flashed in her eyes when she saw the scythe. “W-why… why do you have that scythe?!” she shrieked as she flew away from them. “That scythe should have been destroyed! Destroyed!” she said in alarm as she flew farther from them.

“What is she talking about?” Mhir muttered as she pulled her arm free from the grasses. She walked towards Leui, a puzzled expression on her face.

“I don’t know.” Leui answered. “But… it seems that this scythe… is important.” He said and looked at the scythe. Its blade glistened with the moonlight.

The night finally arrived in the human land.