Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 32: Rainbow Village

Rainbow Village.

“’disappeared’?” Leui said as they ate lunch with the wagon’s driver and his family.

The wagon’s driver nodded. “Yes.” he put down his spoon and fork and looked at Leui. “It’s been two days now, and the road had to be closed,” he said. “The knights from the Capital are on their way here.” He added.

“So, we have to detour to get to the Capital?” she said.

“Yes.” the wagon’s driver sighed. He turned to his worried wife and their kids who were busy eating the food.

Leui gave the piece of chicken wing to the elder brother. “Don’t go out too much, and don’t play too far.” He told him. “You have to protect your little sister, okay?” he told him.

“Okay!” the elder brother said, then gave the piece of chicken leg to his little sister.

Mhir smiled watching them. “Did they say what’s the cause of the disappearance?” she asked.

“Before the families of the victims went to the Capital to ask for help, someone heard their children were talking about a giant spider.” The wagon’s driver said.

“A giant spider?” Mhir said. As if she remembered something, she turned to Leui.

Leui also looked surprised. “A Dream Weaver?” he said.

“Dream Weaver’?” the wagon’s driver said.

Leui turned to the wagon’s driver. “A Dream Weaver is a beast that has the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a spider.” He said. “She weaves a transparent web and when one unknowingly touches it, they will fall asleep and would dream.” He explained.

“So, the transparent web made them disappear?” the wife said, surprised.

Mhir nodded. “Yes. Wherever the web is, it will be her domain. Anyone who steps on it will disappear and enter the Dream Weaver’s domain.” She explained.

“But, the victims’ children said they only saw the spider, not the woman.” the wagon’s driver said.

Leui remembered a Dream Weaver he met back at the Central Plaza and he couldn't help but smile. “Actually, they have a timid nature.” He said. “They make their domain because they are afraid of their predators.” He explained. “They are actually harmless. Those who disappeared, they must still be where they went missing. Just that, their families can’t see them since the invisibility effect of the web is at work.” He told them and sipped the fruit juice the wagon’s driver’s wife made. It’s sweet.

The wagon’s driver sighed in relief. “So, we can take that road?” he asked.

“Yes.” Leui nodded.

“Good.” The wagon’s driver said. “Or else we have to take the forest,” he told them.

“What’s wrong with the forest?” Mhir asked.

“The forest is a forbidden place.” The wife of the wagon’s driver answered. “There are many monsters inside the forest. Many people who went there have died. The king then ordered for the roads leading to the Forbidden Forest to be closed.” she explained.

“Eh? Then…” she said and looked at the wagon’s driver.

The wagon’s driver apologetically smiled. “Actually, there are people who secretly opened some roads to the Forbidden Forest.” he said. “I know someone.” He added.

“But, it’s too dangerous for you.” Mhir said.

“I have to go to the Capital.” The wagon’s driver said. “Because…” he said and turned to one of the rooms behind.

Leui and Mhir also turned. In fact, when Leui took a rest earlier, he heard someone coughing. However, he didn’t see anyone. “Your child?” he said.

“Yes.” the wife of the wagon’s driver sighed. “She’s been sick for a long time. Our village’s doctor doesn’t know about her illness, so my husband has to find a doctor in the Capital.” She explained.

Mhir sighed and gave them a sympathetic look. “May I see her?” she asked.

The wagon’s driver’s wife nodded. “I’m about to send her food. Come with me.” She told him.

The two of them left. Leui looked at the two younger siblings who washed their hands and went out to play. “I told them not to bother their elder sister.” The wagon’s driver said. “We are afraid her illness might affect her siblings.” He added.

Leui looked at him. “What if even the doctor in the Capital can’t cure her?” he asked.

The wagon’s driver wryly smiled. “We’re just an ordinary family. The best we can do is to make her happy while she’s still here.” He told him.

Silence fell between them. “Right. You’re a human yet you know many things about the other races?” the wagon’s driver asked.

“I came from across the wide river.” Leui said. “I lived in the Central Plaza for five years.” He added.

The wagon’s driver was shocked. “You did?!” he said. “The other races didn’t kill you?!” he asked.

“They might have wanted to.” Leui said. “However, I am lucky. Mhir and her father found me. And the Rogues’ Inn manager protected me during my stay there.” He explained. “Time passed, and they gradually warmed up to me. They also hired me for work because of my patience and intelligence.” He added.

The wagon’s driver stared at him in awe. “You're really lucky!” he said. “I’m grateful to you. If not for your gold, my family would have starved.” He sighed. They are one of the poor families. The people of the Rainbow Village sell flowers for a living – his wife is one of them. The men become merchants who sell other goods – the wagon’s driver is one of them. But, the quality of their life is still far behind the life in the Capital. The only good side is that the place they live in is the most beautiful place in the human kingdom.

Leui is kind to those who are kind to him. “I’ll cover your daughter’s medical expenses.” He told him.

The wagon’s driver’s eyes became red. He wiped his tears. “Thank you.” He said.

Leui nodded. After a while the wagon driver’s wife and Mhir came out. Mhir’s eyes are red. She cried.