The Search for the Miss Savior (1)

The wind rustled in the solemn afternoon, tugging at the hanging branches. A number of leaves fell to the ground and the head of one of the three people walking through the golden light.

She looked up, revealing her sparkling golden eyes. Its glass-smooth surface reflected flocks of birds passing by tree after tree. Then, those golden beads no longer looked at the sky as her ears caught a sound as clear as the River of Flower.

"I'm surprised Gabriel didn't forbid me from visiting Bouville," Harris said, "after he previously held me back because he thought I wasn't an adult."

Brissia turned to look at him, eyebrows raised. "Did he really think you're an immature child?"

"Now it has a different meaning because you said that."

Harris could only snort at Benjamin's comment. Even so, his annoyance immediately disappeared when he saw Brissia chuckle in amusement.

"Anyway, can you read this? He said it will lead us to someone helpful when we get there," asked Harris as he handed the letter to the back.

Brissia stared at the worn colored letter for a moment before shaking her head and looking behind her. As she handed the letter to Benjamin, she wondered why Gabriel hadn't just written it on a typewriter.

The answer to that question appeared as soon as Benjamin finished reading it in just a few seconds. He said in a reassuring voice, "It must be some kind of secret code."

Harris frowned when he received the letter back.

"If it was a formal letter, he would have made it on a typewriter."

"But why...," Harris muttered, "...I mean how would he know there's someone who will be willing to help us by reading his letter? His handwriting is barely readable."

"I don't know. You're the intelligent one, aren't you?"

"Did I just hear something sarcastic, Brissie?"

"So what?"

"It makes me like your honesty even more. I might stuff your mouth with a..."

"Ssh! Brissia, Harris, didn't you hear that?"

The two of them stopped walking as they turned to Benjamin with frowns. Their gazes then turned toward the moving bushes despite the absence of wind. Maybe it wouldn't be a problem for them if it was the invisible creatures. But what appeared next was what Brissia was worried about.

"Get down everyone!"

Harris kicked a dagger that cut through the air, heading quickly for Brissia. Not long after, a group of people surrounded them from all directions.

He turned his head when he heard Brissia's groan. "Are you sure you can defeat them in one try?"

"Don't mind me!" Brissia shouted. "Just focus on those in front of you and to your right! They seemed to after us for some reason."

"Watch out, Brissia!"

A fist almost landed on Brissia's forehead. She stepped back and looked at the four people who were standing in a semicircle formation, posing in a stance while brandishing their sharp weapons at her.

Meanwhile, Harris was looking warily at the four people approaching him from different directions.

Seeing all of them formed a clock formation, his' gaze turned cynical.

"Someone has to aim the flashlight at the people in front of me first so we could escape."

"Roger that," said Brissia while throwing her cellphone lowly at Benjamin.

Benjamin caught it and walked to Harris's side.

"Give us your belongings if you want to stay alive!" exclaimed one of them with a ferocious face.

Benjamin smiled briefly. It certainly raised questions in the robbers's head. But it all ended when a bright white light hit their eyes in an instant.

As they growled in pain, Harris knocked the four of them down quickly. He beckoned Benjamin and Brissia to run faster.

"Get rid of them!"

Benjamin ran ahead of Harris, who deliberately slowed down so he could lead them in the right direction. They ran fast, at least until they heard the screams out of agony behind them.

"Aaaargh! Help! Mons… ter!"

The clank of metal objects falling to the ground made Harris look back. His eyes widened to see a man in black holding a long sword, his back facing the robbers. The tip of his sword was dripping red liquid.

Brissia, who had also glanced back, was about to say that to Benjamin. However, she fell silent when she saw two other people in black robe blocking their way.

As Harris and Benjamin looked at them warily, Brissia looked at somewhere not too far. She found a view of the waters that stretch along the horizon. With boards floating on the shore, ships anchored next to them.

"Brissia, go with Harris."

Benjamin's words made Brissia turn to him in shock.

"You've seen the harbor, right?"

"No," answered Brissia with a shake of her head. "It must be just my hallucina—"

"It wasn't, Brissia," Benjamin interrupted. "I saw it and I'm sure so did Harris."

"But if we leave you alone… will you be alright?"

The man with turquoise eyes looked down. "There's no other way and we've come this far. Besides, isn't that what a friend do?"

As Benjamin stepped toward the people before them, Harris's gaze followed his steps. From his words alone, Harris couldn't help but feel uneasy. However, Brissia's presence reminded him of what he had to do.

"Are they your acquaintances, Young Master?" asked one of them coldly.

"They're not. Ignore them," Benjamin spoke firmly.

Just like Harris, Brissia looked worriedly at Benjamin who had his back to her. However, her attention shifted to a tap on her shoulder.

The black-robed man glanced at Brissia and Harris who were quietly walking toward a path leading to the seashore.

"Hmm, but why would they protect you from the robbers?"

Brissia was surprised when the black-robed figure that had been behind them was suddenly in front of her, about to swing a sword at her.

"They're clearly after something from you," continued the man. The cold look in his eyes froze Brissia.

"No!" Harris and Benjamin shouted at her with wide eyes.

Brissia reflexively dodged the man's sword swing. Harris knocked the figure back from their path with his martial skills, ending it by dropping the sword in his grip, then pulled Brissia running with him toward the harbor.

Benjamin was surprised when two other black robed figures appeared and chased after them.

"Stop chasing them! I'll come with you back to Algor District!" exclaimed Benjamin.

"No need to bother worrying about us, Young Master. We are only carrying out our duty to protect you," one of them said, pulled out a stun gun from his robe pocket.

"Argh!"

His knees hit the rough ground. As his body and head were on the ground, his eyes narrowed at the two people running along the path further away from him.

"Don't… hurt… them," he said right before his eyes were completely closed.

While passing through the crowds at the harbor, Harris and Brissia didn't hesitate to look back during their escape. That was because they knew that the people who claimed to be protecting Benjamin did not stop chasing them, even though they occasionally encountered human traffic.

"What can stop them?!"

"Our heads in their hands! Therefore, hurry to the ship!"

The ship's horn turned their heads toward a gate. With a flock of birds flying above, people lined up to enter the ship. The strong wind didn't slow down the two's run in the slightest.

"I have a plan, but you have to go in first," said Harris.

"You'll come along, right?"

"Of course. I was the one who initiated our journey."

Hearing one of the words Harris mentioned tickled Brissia's stomach. But she didn't have time to laugh because the ticket inspector was close before her eyes.

As Brissia showed the ticket to the man at the ship's door, Harris stopped and turned to face the two men in black robes. He pulled his gun out of his trouser pocket, pointing it at one of them.

Bang!

One shot and everyone scattered from the line. Brissia rushed into the ship because people no longer cared who they pushed, even if they fell into the water. And like her, there were also those who skip the ticket inspection in order to get on board immediately.

"Sir! Madam! Please show me your ticket first before you—"

Bam!

The ticket inspector shuddered at the sight before his eyes. After being thrown, a man in a black robe hit the wooden floor until it cracked.

"No one cares about that now, Mr. Inspector. Why don't you just go in and ask the captain to immediately drive the ship?" said Harris.

The inspector walked onto the ship in a panic, leaving Harris and the two black robed figures alone. Unfortunately, their presence had no effect on a number of passengers who felt that boarding the ship was more important than their lives.

"Hey, fight somewhere else!"

"Let us through! We already paid to get on this ship!"

Bang!

A bullet grazed Harris's shoulder and silenced the grumbling crowd. When the people ran away, he stood in front of them with a smirk.

"I thought you guys were walking weapons."

A man in a black robe looked at his companion, who staggered into the water after being shot in the leg.

"Turns out we're both underdogs," continued Harris.

The ship honked again. Brissia looked outside when she saw the ship starting to move. Quickly, he approached the door and shouted, "Harris!"

Harris looked back for a moment before dodging the swing of the iron stick. He then grabbed the man's shoulder and pushed him towards the edge of the bridge.

"You will regret getting in our way!"

"Bet," he said.

Once the two black-robed people were no longer there, Harris ran to the end of the bridge. He jumped into the door of the ship which was still moving one meter from the harbor.

As soon as he caught Brissia's outstretched hand, Brissia rushed to pull him in until they fell together on the floor.

The two of them sat facing the door, watching two black robed figures rising from the surface of the water onto the bridge. Their eyes filled with rage and feud, as frustrated as the passengers who failed to board the ship.

"Sorry that you didn't get to enjoy the sunset view on the ship deck!" Harris exclaimed.

A joyful laugh from next to him diverted his gaze from the people at the harbor. With a playful grin, he asked, "Do I look like a real troublemaker now?"

Brissia suddenly no longer laughed. Her smile vanished as well. It confused Harris until suddenly, the girl's arms were around his neck and her chin was on his shoulder.

"You're not a troublemaker, Harris. You're a savior for some people."

Harris was silent for a moment. The red light on the horizon grew denser as the seconds passed by. However, when the girl moved away from him, he could see a brighter glare on her two golden beads.

"I think... we're both in big trouble."

"Well, maybe. But let's rest for a moment."

Harris smiled slightly as Brissia stood up and held out her hand to him. He knew Brissia didn't catch the meaning and he had no intention of telling her any time soon.

Together, they pushed the door until it closed tightly. After that, they walked deeper into the ship that would take them to the next puzzle across the ocean.