Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 10: A Mark

“Tinum.” Leui called as he beckoned Tinum. “This is my friend, Mhir. Mhir – “ he called and turned to Mhir who had recovered from her shock. “ – his name is Tinum.” He told her.

Mhir regained her calm and she forced a smile on Tinum. “Hello. I’m Mhir.” She said and nodded at the male elf.

Tinum nodded back at her. “I’m Tinum.” He said.

Leui whistled, making the two turn to him and elicit different expressions from them when they saw his mischievous smile.

Tinum frowned after seeing Leui looking like a fool again. Meanwhile, Mhir’s expression isn’t good as she secretly scrutinized Leui’s face. Leui must definitely have been bewitched by this she-male elf! She thought as she looked at Tinum’s not-entirely androgynous appearance. She perceived him as androgynous because of she acknowledged Tinum as her rival in love (in Leui).

She ignored Tinum and spoke. “How do we leave this forest?” she asked.

Leui took out a map from his bag and opened it. It was the map of the Heiruche Kingdom. In the north are snow-capped mountains and wide snowfields. In the south is the warm sea which goes beyond the horizon. In the west is where the Elves’ Tree Forest, the Dwarves’ Grassy Prairie, the Trolls’ Underground Mines and the Fairies’ Meadow Lake are located, and the Central Plaza at its heart. The nymphs are natural-born beings, they live all around the continent. They might also live in the east where the volcanoes and dark caves are located – the place where the monsters live, like dragons. There can be a fire nymph being born from the volcano, or the dark nymph born in the darkest place of the cave.

In the center of the map, which is the heart of the continent, is where the humans live – the Heiruche Kingdom. The kingdom followed the continent – which is under Loheiruchel’s power after dominating all the races, its name. The kingdom’s castle is high up in the mountain, its tallest tower touching the clouds. There were outer and inner walls surrounding the kingdom to defend the people inside the kingdom from an enemy attack.

Loheiruchel must have foreseen the humans will be attacked after his disappearance, thus designed the kingdom. The single being who forced the six races – elves, dwarves, trolls, fairies, nymphs and monsters, to submit to him – someone from the weakest and last race – the human race.

“Currently, we must be… here.” Leui pointed the vast forest of the elves, the tip of his finger on a small spot which indicates a body of water. He remembered that the large pond where he had seen Tinum was bathing is near where they are currently now. “To go to the Heiruche Kingdom… is a long way to go.” He gulped as he looked at the wide space on the vast, which indicates for the forest.

“Eh…” Mhir exclaimed. “How many days will we travel?” she asked Leui.

Leui looked at her. “Now, you’re complaining?” he said. Mhir shut up. Leui can only sigh. He turned to Tinum. “How many days do you estimate we will travel?” he asked the elf.

To his surprise, Tinum shook his head. “I don’t know.” He answered. “I won’t be travelling with you.” He said.

“Huh?” Leui frowned. He thought they were already friends, and since Tinum is alone, he planned to bring him along with him.

“What?!” Mhir reacted, shocked. Eh…? Why did he say that? She thought. Is he provoking Leui? She thought.

Leui turned when he heard Mhir’s reaction. “Why do you look shocked?” he asked. Though, he’s already used to Mhir’s weird reactions.

However, this time, Mhir has an explanation why she reacted like that. Her clear, green eyes met Tinum’s dull, dark eyes. Mhir remembered when she was young, a tale was told to them by the old female dwarf as part of their education.

It was a story about the elves. Elves were born mysteriously. No one knows where they came from, nor how they were created. However, one thing is widely known about them. They don’t have a name. So, when an elf was named, there are two things that are bound to happen.

The first one, the elf will be forced to submit to the one who named them if they do not acknowledge the name given to them by the other. This is an evil pact that was formed between the two beings. Thus, elves hid themselves in their habitat to avoid this thing from happening.

The second one, if the elf acknowledges the name given to them, they regard the other as their marriage partner. Then, a special mark will appear on the part of their body which the other person likes in them the most. That mark will reveal the real name – the birth name of the person who named them, so that the elf would know the true identity of the person that named them. This is set as a protection for them to not be fooled by the other.

So, which is Tinum? The first one, or the second one? Mhir thought as she stared at Tinum. Then, she remembered Leui telling her that Tinum likes his name, though he doesn’t look like he’s happy about it.

Mhir was confused. “Ow!” she cried when Leui hit her.

“What are you spacing out for?” Leui asked as he looked at Mhir who was acting strange. Then, he looked at Tinum whom Mhir kept staring at. Does she like Tinum? He thought and also stared at Tinum.

Hm. He really is the best-looking… being he has seen in his whole life – this world, or the former world he lived in. No one doesn’t like a beauty, unless they have a vendetta against it. He thought and looked at Mhir who finally withdrew her gaze from Tinum.

Mhir must definitely like Tinum. Leui thought and looked at Tinum. He smiled at him, and his gaze on him approving.

Tinum, who was stared at by a human and a dwarf, was confused. What do they mean by their gaze? He thought, puzzled. He pushed the matter to the back of his mind as he lifted his cloak. “Then, I’ll be taking my leave.” He said. “I bid you good luck in your journey.” He told them, then turned away.

However, before he could take a step, he felt his cloak being tugged. “Not so fast!” Leui said, grabbing Tinum’s cloak tight.

Tinum turned back to him, resulting in the hood of his cloak falling off his head, exposing his long and silvery-white hair that fluttered when the wind blew. Mhir’s eyes widened when she saw Tinum’s braided hair that was tied on the end was lifted, exposing his fair and smooth nape. When a firefly with a silvery-white glow fluttered near Leui and Tinum, it casted a cold light on Tinum’s nape.

There was really a mark on Tinum’s nape. And it was a name.