Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 34: Dream Weaver

“I also wanted to see the human kingdom.” Nem answered. “I wanted to conquer my fear. When I met you, I knew there were also kind humans. However…” she lowered her head. Leui fell silent. He knew there were greedy humans. Nem must have met them. “I can only find a place for me.” She continued.

“But, Nem – “ Leui called. “ – you will harm the humans.” He told her.

“They harmed me countless times. Why can’t I harm them, too?” Nem sharply asked. “I always stay away from them, but they keep coming! It’s their own fault!” she said, her tears fell again. “They deserve it! I only wanted to protect myself!” she added as she cried.

Leui heavily sighed. “These humans weren’t like those ones who tried to harm you before.” He said. “They are just ordinary people living peacefully in this village. You also noticed the village is quiet and beautiful, right?” he asked. When Nem didn’t answer, he smiled. “Can you release them? Their family is worried about them.” he told her.

She finally seemed to calm down. She might be naïve, but she trusts Leui. She knew he wouldn’t harm her. “Okay.” She said and waved her hand.

Suddenly, on the outside, Mhir saw some people appeared out of thin air! “They came back!” the people exclaimed and rushed to their family members who were trapped inside the Dream Weaver’s domain.

Mhir searched for Leui, but she didn’t find him. “Where’s Leui? Leui!” she called as she walked around. “Leui! Where are you?!” she called out. However, she can only hear the other people’s voices, but not Leui’s. Oh, no. Was he trapped? But, Nem would never hurt him. She knows him. She thought and bit her lower lip in anxiety. What happened, Leui?

Leui, on the other side, was counselling Nem. “Unlike the other races, humans have what you call a ‘law’. It’s a set of rules that have to be followed by everyone to have peace and order on the land.” He explained. “You have to move your domain elsewhere. Or they will catch you because you broke the peace in this place.” He told her.

“Where can I go, then?” Nem asked.

“Let’s see – “ Leui muttered and took out a map. Then, he saw a wide piece of uninhabited land. “Maybe you can go here.” He said and pointed to the vacant land. “The Meadow Town… but, there were some mountains and caves there.” He said when he saw the symbols of mountains and ridges. “It’s a perfect place to hide and there are also some animals you can hunt to eat there.” He told Nem.

Nem nodded. “I’ll follow your words, then.” She said.

Leui nodded. He folded the map and kept it inside his bag. He took a step, only to step on something. He lowered his head and saw he stepped on a spider thread! “Nem…” he called.

“Huh? Leui!” Nem called when she saw Leui suddenly fainted. Leui fell to the ground, his eyes closed and he seemed to be in a deep sleep. “Leui…” she guiltily bit her lip and she sat beside Leui, waiting for him to wake up.

Outside, Mhir was worried to death when she saw there was still no sign of Leui. “Leui…” she muttered under her breath. Her bushy brows knit as she took a deep breath and bellowed. “Nem!” she yelled. “Where is Leui?! What did you do to him?!” she asked in rage. She was about to take a step near where the merchants appeared from an empty space when the people stopped her.

“Please calm down!” they told her. “The Dream Weaver returned our family to us. She’ll also return your friend to you!” They consoled her. However, they are not Mhir’s opponents. They can’t beat a dwarf’s strength, thus, Mhir immediately shook them off. However, she was about to enter the area of Nem’s domain when she was grabbed by her arm from behind. They won’t back down? She frowned, irritated. She turned to pull her arm again when she saw a royal guard.

“Miss.” The royal guard holding her respectfully called and immediately released her. “The monster is dangerous. Please be careful.” He told her.

Mhir was shocked to see the royal guard. Before, it was only Leui, the human she saw. When they reached the human land, she saw all kinds of humans. However, she can’t believe there’s someone as handsome as Leui. The royal guard is a young man with a kind expression and has a soft look in his dark eyes. He has shiny black hair and sun-kissed skin.

“Miss?” Fedrich called. Fedrey, his cousin, asked him and his subordinates to go to the Rainbow Village to check the place and what monster was causing the disturbance. Thinking this, he shifted his sight from the female dwarf and he turned to the residents of the Rainbow Village. “May I ask what monster that took your family and friends?” he asked.

“It is a giant spider called the Dream Weaver.” One of them answered. “And, the Dream Weaver already returned them to us. It seemed to be her friend – “ they pointed Mhir. “ – and another man who went inside to talk to the Dream Weaver. It immediately released our family after.” He explained.

Fedrich turned back to Mhir, only to see her still in a daze. What’s wrong with this female dwarf? He thought, but it’d be rude if he’d ask her that. “Miss, may I ask where you came from?” he asked. He doesn’t remember any female dwarf that could be a resident of the Rainbow Village. It meant, this female dwarf came from outside the kingdom.

Mhir’s cheeks are flushed. “I – “ she stammered. “I came from the Central Plaza.” She answered. Central Plaza is the place where all races – aside from humans, have gathered. It is protected by the Elven Forest, thus it is a perfect place for all other races to live.

Fedrich was surprised. All lands of the other races are very chaotic, aside from the Central Plaza which gives them peace and security. Thus, the Central Plaza is very popular with the six other races. “How about the man they said? He also came from the Central Plaza?” he asked.

Hearing Leui was mentioned, Mhir finally gathered her thoughts. “Yes!” her answer was very enthusiastic. “I actually came with him. Also – “ he said. `` – he is a human!” she added.

Fedrich was even more shocked. “What?!” preposterous! How can it be?! Even the other people around them are shocked, aside from the wagon’s driver who already has heard Mhir and Leui’s story. A human living with the other races! And he came out alive?! How come he is not dead yet? How did he survive living in that place?! Even though the Central Plaza is peaceful and safe, it is only for the other races! Humans can’t go there – more especially, he can’t live there! So how did this human manage to live? And, he came to live with them for a long time? Fedrich recovered his expression. “Where is this person now?” he asked.

“Leui…” Mhir muttered. Then, she pointed the empty road ahead of them. “He’s inside the Dream Weaver’s place.” She answered.

What?! Fedrich turned to look at the empty road. … is it finally this human’s time to die in the hands of a monster? He grimaced thinking of such a morbid thought. "We, the royal guards, will save him." He told Mhir. "It is our duty to save people." He added.