REVAN'S LIE

Silence a moment, before Bayrak grabbed the large glass on the table and took a sip of his drink. The big goblin, in between drinking, still glanced sharply at Revan. For him this was bad enough, but still tolerable. As soon as the glass was put back, he began to speak.

"The point is, Rio is the King… and not the King at the same time." The sentence sounded ambiguous, making Kron growl in discontent. "I've read ancient scriptures, it's been a long time. The book says, when the King touches the holy armor, then a bright light will appear. The light is useful for fusing the eight armors into one. The problem is Rio's touch was only able to make the armor glow for a few seconds. Meanwhile, with the touch of the king, at least the light lasts up to three minutes. Got it, didn't you?"

"You mean Rio is between the position of the real king and the fake king?" Revan tried to make sure.

"Right. However, I don't understand why it happened," he said while twisting his bat ears. "Listen to me! Your struggle is not in vain, I'm serious. That touch of yours, Rio, though not perfect, is still useful for uniting all armor. Continue on this journey even without the king."

This time Kron couldn't hold back his emotions. He who had stood up immediately squeezed the back of his chair so hard—it made a "crack!" which is quite hard. The giant's face was extremely red and warm breaths flowed from its nostrils. A moment later he spoke angrily. "Without a king, you say?! No king! I don't agree! Then what was the difference between this child and Tarnath? They both do not have the blood of kings, do not deserve to sit on the throne. This—"

"What do you really want, Kron?!" Revan boomed as he stood up. "At least Rio's nature is different from Tarnath's. He is tough, honest, sincere. Those are all Lord Aaron's traits, as well as the reason why I said Rio has the heart of the King."

Again silence. This time it was longer, until Leander glanced over the room divider, checking why the commotion he had been hearing had stopped. Kron was still struggling with his anger, while Revan and Bayrak looked down with gloomy faces. And Rio, his eyes filled with tears holding back tears.

"Tell me, Julius," Kron said quietly, also panting. "Of the many humans in the non-magical world, how did you choose him to come here?"

"I don't know for sure. Obviously, when using the teleportation spell through the Snowflake tree, I immediately arrived across from the orphanage, where Rio lived. I saw there was a skinny boy who was stoned by naughty children. That's when I started to take an interest in him, watching where he went and all his activities. And it's how tough Rio's heart is that makes me absolutely sure that Lord Aaron's soul is in him."

"Only that?" Kron asked in a high voice, doubting his friend's testimony.

"If you're asking for another reason, then I can say it's because I'm concerned about his fate." Revan rolled his gaze from Kron, towards Rio. "Rio, it doesn't matter if you're not the perfect reincarnation of the King. The magic is still with you. And I'm sure you can still grow. Even magic is nothing compared to your stubbornness."

"Nonsense." Rio wiped the tears that were rolling down his cheeks drop by drop. "In the beginning, I was very happy because I was free from the orphanage. However… it seems just a mistake. Tell me, Rev—Julius! Why didn't you bring me here long ago, so I could come to my senses sooner and come back as a loser?"

"Seventeen years. We agreed to take you to Nefertyland when you were seventeen. You want to know why? Because every descendant of the king who will ascend the throne must be at least seventeen years old. It's a decision," said Kron before Revan's mouth. "But now the throne will still be occupied by the wrong person. Argh! I'm really disappointed." He quickly glared at Revan.

Technically Rio was seventeen. However, as Kron said, what is the significance of that sacred age now? He was not the king the people of Nefertyland wanted. He was just a victim of Revan's recklessness, according to him. The boy kept his head down without moving from his chair, and fate was as bitter as Rio's mood.

Bayrak stuck out his tongue, moistening his slightly dry dark green lips, then tried to lighten the mood. As an Alpha, he should be wise in dealing with all problems, both internal and external. The moment the goblin stood up, Kron immediately reacted. He wanted to leave quickly, but Revan held him back.

"We're already in the journey. There's no going back," he hissed at Kron, who was forced to give up his intention to leave.

"Let's face it, since you guys have gone too far, I don't think it's good to cancel it. Rio is proven to be able to make Kholoros glow, although we don't know if other armor will as well. So, there are only two choices; continue the journey without a perfect king, or end it and let Tarnath run rampant." Bayrak tries to end the heated feud.

In the silence consumed by the crackling of the fire in the torches, and the reddish light that cast long shadows on the walls of the hut, the three humans fell silent, not ready to speak. A swarm of flies began to land on Kron's leftover food which seemed uneasy to be devoured, and when the sound of the night wind drove them away, Revan, Rio, and Kron were ready to make a decision.

"I don't care if this country stands without a king! Just go on the journey and we'll see how much Rio plays for Nefertyland." Revan called for the first option out loud—there was no hint of hesitation in his words.

Bayrak grinned happily, but not for Rio.

"I-I… can't do it." The words of resignation came out of his mouth. "It's okay, Revan. Even if we succeed, at least a day or two after that Nefertyland will be in chaos because of fighting for position."

Too pessimistic to hear. Revan was suddenly stunned, followed by a look of doubt on Bayrak's face. Their decision is still not unanimous, because Kron has not yet voted. The giant's lips squirmed as if holding back the words that should have been said immediately. However, he suddenly snorted in resignation—forgetting about taking the first or second choice—but picked up a forest coconut and spoke in between chews.

"I want to go to bed. Is there room for us?" Kron licked his fingers which tasted sweet from coconut juice. "I'd better answer tomorrow."

Bayrak nodded with a heavy heart, so did Rio. However, Revan smiled a little. He knew exactly what was in the giant's mind.

"Let me take you to your room." Bayrak's words ended the debate that night, leaving only one voice to be answered tomorrow.

They crossed several bulkheads until they came to a halt in the living room, where yellowed bones lay strewn about under the dim flames. Bayrak walked ahead of the others. In the next few steps, he opened a large chest—bigger than the chest that held Kholoros—and pulled out a dull sheet of paper. It's a legendary map.

"Sorry for being reckless," he said as he handed the object into Revan's hand.

"I understand. At least someday give us Kholoros." Accepting happily, Revan smiled at him expectantly.

"Kholoros will change hands to the lucky ones," said Bayrak as his hook teeth slipped out.

~~o0o~~

The wooden door of the hut opened and four people staggered down the steps to the dark brown ground. That night was filled with thick fog that completely limited the view, so that all that could be seen was the gleam of torches in the people's houses.

The night wind stopped on Rio's skin, making him shiver with cold. However, Bayrak looked valiant through the fog with his burly body. He wasn't bothered in the slightest. On the other hand, Revan scolded himself for not having time to change his wet suit. As a result, he was much colder than the others.

Darkness adorned the sky with the noise of the nocturnal beasts, mixed with the snoring of the goblins who seemed to have fallen asleep. Bayrak guided Rio, Revan and Kron through the path, where small huts could be seen lined up beside him. As soon as they arrived at a new hut—as seen from the green thatched roof and the corner of the room covered in sawdust—the three of them were invited in.

"Thank you, O Alpha." Raven smiled kindly.

"I don't think formal designations are appropriate anymore. Just call me Bayrak." Bayrak corrected. "This is all I can give you. There's no mattress, but there's a swing that you can sleep on, except for you." The goblin grinned when looking at Kron.

"Then where should I sleep?" The giant spoke lazily.

"Floor, perhaps," said Bayrak to which he gave a resigned snort. "The sawdust can be used as a mattress. You know, the problem is that this hut was only built yesterday for the expansion of the hamlet, and we haven't had time to put straw. Oh! The cottage is quite far from the village hall. If you want to eat, walk to my hut," he continued, scratching the back of his neck.

"Okay. Once again, thank you." Raven nodded slowly.

After confirming that his new cottage was suitable for living, Bayrak immediately returned to the Alpha. Meanwhile, Revan began to climb a wide swing from a woven rope that was tied up at both ends. He let out a small sigh—releasing all tiredness. While Rio seemed to sleep on his back on his swing, and within seconds fell asleep.

"Suck village, miserly goblins," Kron grumbled.

With Revan's bag as a headboard (the legendary map was also used as a blanket), he slowly lay down on the creaking floor of the cottage, before his body even moved twice.

~~o0o~~

Early in the morning, when the sun was just peeking out on the eastern horizon and the leaves were still dewy, the goblin village was shaken by the arrival of its two soldiers. One of them had a pale face. His eyes popped out of shock. While the other is very sad. He was dying with his right arm severed. Her torn pink flesh was insatiably dripping with dark maroon blood.

"I told you, didn't I?! That monster will eventually devour our people," grumbled Leander, Bayrak's younger brother whose back is full of tattoos. He grumbled as he carried the dying goblin to the local shaman's residence.

Instead of serving his brother's blaming tirade, Bayrak preferred to directly ask the goblin with sticking eyes about what happened last night.

"W-we were guarding the village border when Rouv said he heard rustling behind the bushes. I followed behind him who walked towards the voice. When we're five feet away—" The eyes popped out suddenly grimacing, he gripped his pointed ears with all his might. "He's scary! He's so scary!" he screamed really scared.

"How did Rouv's hand cut? Tell me!"

"Greedy Fenrir gripped Rouv's small arm with his pointed teeth. I-I tried to pull, but he wouldn't let go. I kept and kept pulling it, until suddenly I stumbled backwards, then Rouv survived. But… b-but his right arm was still left in Fenrir's mouth! I ran around the forest while supporting Rouv. We circled all night until we finally heard Fenrir's howl, followed by the screeching of a vrave. That vicious creature has been preying on our forest animals at the wrong season." The eyes sticking out are still depressed, as seen from the tears that flowed profusely—imagining the events of last night.

Bayrak nodded as he gently patted the back of the eye sticking out. Something as strong as thunder grabbed his heart, creating an unbearable uneasiness. How much longer would the beasts have to nest in the Nyx forest? Nobody knows for sure. A number of the villagers were busy keeping an eye on Rouv's condition, while Leander (who was eager to start the raid) tried his best to persuade his brother to give command.

"No, you can't! Fenrir was definitely no ordinary animal. He's a beast of darkness!" Bayrak boomed as he climbed the steps of his hut.

"B-but—"

"I'll see for myself the scene. After that, we will decide what to do next," he said.

Getting an unfavorable response, Leander tries to twist his mind to save his people when the Alpha is too scared to act. He smirked for a moment looking at the young thatched roof far away. There are great guests in the goblin village, and it looks like they could be taken advantage of, he thought.

(To Be Continued)