IX

Stephen could not remember the last time he stepped on the grass. He has grown up differently since they moved to the city with his family. He also did not know when he ran into the forest again while the breeze was still cold.

He also could not remember the last time he felt the cold air on his skin even though he was very tired from running since this morning. Panting he returned to the hut where the white wolf was waiting.

"How are you?" smiling he greeted Stephen. The boy just smiled back at him and was dying to ask for water from him. After he drank the water, he wiped his sweat and sat down next to the balloon.

"Why do I have to run around the mountain? What is it for? We're just going to the island, aren't we?" said the young man. "That's for your training so if something bad happens to you, you can protect yourself," the wolf replied.

Stephen glanced at the balloon before returning to rehearsal. He could not figure out why he still had to train if they were going to the island. Stephen stopped practicing when he saw that the trees seemed to be dancing alone.

The young man was scared so he went back to the wolf. "What's happening?" the young man asked. "Ah, don't be afraid. It's just Alviary; visiting," the wolf replied as he got up, Stephen pulled him down.

"What are you doing? Why are you standing?" Stephen asked. "The strong wind may blow you away," he added. "Just calm down, Stephen. I will just pay tribute to Alviary," said the wolf. "Will you pay tribute? Why?" said the young man.

"Ah, we haven't introduced Alviary to you yet," said the wolf. Stephen just nodded when he saw something that looked like a human being but it was surrounded by smoke. The man looks so ethereal. His skin is as rough and stiff as a tree and his hair is as green as moss and its surrounds with butterflies.

The young man felt the cold air on his skin so he looked up. She was surprised to see the man approach so she just bowed. The man laughed in front of her and uttered words that Stephen could not understand. After that, the man left and left the two starings blankly. "Who is that?" Stephen suddenly asked.

"That's Alviary," the wolf said. "He is the King of Nature," he added. "King of Nature? Is she the wife of Mother Nature?" Stephen asked innocently. Triton laughed at his question and shook his head.

"Alviary and Mother Nature are different creatures," Triton replied. "Alviary is the King of Nature on the Eastside, Mother Nature is on the Westside," Triton said as if he was talking to a child. "Who is in the South and North?" Stephen asked again.

"Oh, that will be the queen that reigns the Phantom Island," Triton simply answers. Stephen just nodded and thought of going inside the hut to rest when he heard the two old men talking in the kitchen.

"Are you losing your mind, Uran?" Laryo shouted softly while Uran was drinking coffee. "Do you think I'm in favor of this plan of mine?" Uran scolded Laryo. "What if Stephen dies before he can trace the island? Why can't the wolf come along?" insisted Laryo.

"Are you stupid, Laryo? Have you forgotten the strong smell of the Sluaghs? At the point they can smell Triton, they will start attacking. Especially now that his magic is weak. He can not save Stephen," Uran replied to Laryo. "So it is not possible," he added.

Laryo just sighed. He knew and understood what Uran was up to but he knew it would be more dangerous if only Stephen was going to the island. "Don't worry. We will ask Alviary for guidance and guidance on this journey of Stephen, Laryo," Uran said when he noticed that someone seemed to be listening to the two of them and Laryo.

He took a deep breath before saying, "I know you are scared and afraid that you will be harmed if you travel alone. So get out of there and we will talk," he said and laid the empty cup on the table.

Stephen got out of his seat and sat in a chair next to the door. The young man bent down and was obviously afraid of what might happen to him once he left the hut. "Am I really the only one leaving?" the young man asked the two adults.

Uran just nodded at him and Stephen was even more depressed in his seat. While Uran and Laryo were thinking about what to do. When Stephen suddenly stood up and faced them. "What do I need to do?" the young man suddenly asked. The two elders turned to him. "Wait, are you really going?" Laryo asked in shock.

Stephen nodded and called to Triton who was lying outside. "Do you need something?" he asked Stephen. "Do you know where to go to Phantom Island?" Stephen suddenly asked. Triton was surprised so he looked at Laryo and Uran.

"W-wait, Stephen. Think about it carefully before you decide," Laryo said nervously. "We will only run out of time if I think about it. You said it yourself, the people of Biringan are already in danger. I want to help," Stephen boldly insisted.

Laryo, Triton, and Uran just sighed because they knew they could do nothing, especially when Stephen's decision to help the people of Biringan was complete. "Oh, all right. After all, you are obviously determined to really go to the island. Remember everything we have to tell you. Especially this trip of yours is not unusual," Laryo threatened Stephen.

Stephen nodded resolutely to the old man. "All right, first of all. You need to know who Alviary is first because we will ask him for guidance for your journey," Uran said. Stephen just nodded and sat back in the chair.

The old man looked at Triton and smiled, the young wolf sighs in defeat and glared at his elders. "Even though Alviary's story did not have a good start, it still teaches a lesson. That is what Our Lady told us when I was still in Gliffan," the wolf began.

"Alviary is known as a valiant soldier who sacrificed himself to save people from a catastrophe in the past. As a tribute to their bereaved hero, they cut a tree who is on the brink of death and buried Alviary's body there," added the wolf.

"Since then, he has been appointed King of Nature," said the wolf and looked at Laryo. "Since then, they have believed that the reason why the tree did not die was because of Alviary's body.

According to witnesses of the miracle that happened after they buried Alviary, the tree suddenly grew and it had left again. And that tree is the path they believe to lead to Biringan," Uran added.

"King of Nature? Is she the wife of Mother Nature?" the young man asked Triton. Triton laughed at his question. "Mother Nature and Alviary are different creatures. Alviary rules the east and Mother Nature has the west," Triton replied. "Ah, is that so. If so, who rules in the north and south?" Stephen asked.

"Ah, that's the Queen that reigns Phantom Island. The one you are going to talk to, the moment you get there," Triton answered. Stephen just nodded when Uran suddenly spoke. "Stand there, child. You still need to practice so that you know how to protect yourself in case something bad happens to you.

You will also need to learn how to speak politely and respectfully because we do not know how the new queen of Phantom Island behaves," Uran said. "Have we forgotten anything yet?" he asked Laryo.

The old man kept thinking when he suddenly remembered that he had no money to give to the young man. "Uran, fare. He will use other transportation to Phantom Island," the old man suddenly shouted.

Uran and Triton's eyes widened at what they heard. Only now do they almost remember that the money used by the people on Phantom Island is not the same. Uran frowned when he suddenly remembered the route the young man would take.

"Laryo, the map too. He will need that too," Uran said. As the two adults get distracted, Triton laughs at what is happening to them. He stared at Stephen and he even laughed at the two adults. Triton just sighed and waited for that day to end while wondering if he could ever get back to Biringan alive.