STAY OVER LERION

Sprinkles color the dawn in the skies of Fort-End. The cold air still enveloped the place, with dew beading on the flower petals. The house—the only house—there would never be the same again. The owner is missing one, who is usually always visible from the outside, watching out for trespassers who approach his plantation. The dark blue and gray atmosphere was felt when the armor hunters were improving themselves. As Dolores' will, they will leave Nekros.

Peach had prepared a breakfast menu, varied, to cheer them up, especially her heart too. Every gnome that died would turn to ashes, Peach was common to see, but last night's events were the saddest commonplace for her. The woman's chest was still tight, furious with grief and sorrow. Losing a mate who accompanies her for hundreds of years is not as easy as one might think.

Revan sat pensively on the veranda of the house, just like last night. There was an interesting conversation with Dolores, and it was their last conversation. Despite saying he didn't care about the quest for The Eighth, the man knew very well that Dolores was the most passionate of them all. Sometimes, he wondered, why did this brief encounter become so deep and lasting? Before Revan could find the answer, Kron's head was already sticking out from behind the door.

"Oh, there you are, Julius. Come on in. Mrs. Peach is waiting us for breakfast."

"Yes, of course. Of course." Revan was a bit dazed. "I'll be there in a moment."

Maybe the answer was there from the start, without even thinking about it. Dolores is an extraordinary person with all his orthodoxy, stubbornness, carelessness, and all of that in the end made Revan realize that ... Dolores was indeed the most extraordinary gnome he had ever met.

His care was wrapped so nicely, he didn't want anyone to know, hiding in a warm and cozy shadow. The man finally smiled. It was an honor to be called Mr. Ordich by Dolores the Great, he thought. And even more proud to be able to realize his dream, restore the city of Nepheel.

"Soon," said Revan.

"Soon what?" suddenly said Kron.

"You're still here!?" Revan is shocked. "I-I thought...."

"I've been here all along. Waiting for you to get up from that wooden chair for a split minute, but all I got was a strange smile from a former royal aide. And the word "soon" which I don't even know the meaning of," Kron said.

"Kron, Kron." Revan laughed, being joined by his giant partner.

"I'm happier like this, than last night," said Kron. "Laughter is healthier than pensive, Julius. Dolores would have told you that too. Now, let's eat. The trip to Limni takes a whole day."

"Okay." Quickly tidying up his red coat, Revan finally left the veranda and met everyone for his last breakfast in Fort-End.

Peach, Grover, and Rio were already waiting at the dining table. Even though it wasn't their best morning, at least there were still some warm smiles to remember. Revan sat next to Rio, taking a glass of tea to accompany his oatmeal. Breakfast was quiet, nobody was talking about Dolores or anything worth talking about. After that, they began to collect things in the living room, ready to leave early in the morning.

Peach prepared a lot of provisions for the travelers who would soon leave her house. Bread, vegetables, a few pieces of turkey, and bottles of water. Revan is very grateful for all the help he has received.

"I'm sorry," he said then, looking down at Peach glumly. "Dolores should be—"

"Enough, let's not talk about it anymore," Peach cut in. "My husband just did what he had to do. It's not good to regret a decision someone has made, right?"

Peach's words seemed to frustrate all of Revan's worries. The doubts that weighed on his mind, as well as the feelings of guilt that seemed to slice. Dolores chose his own death. The soul of a Nepheel warrior still blazed in his blood.

Instead of dying in hiding behind a comfortable Fort-End, the gnome would rather die fighting for the truth. Now, the hope of freedom from the shackles of darkness has been passed to Revan and his companion. A relay ball full of meaning, full of tears. Can he make this wish come true?

"Thank you." Revan hugged the woman. "For the advice, the food, the cozy Fort-End, . . . everything."

"I'll keep all this in mind, Auntie. Until we succeed in usurping Tarnath's throne, I can assure you that you will be warmly welcomed," Grover said, hugging his foster aunt. "Thank you."

"Thank you." Kron nodded respectfully. "See you again."

They slowly took a step away from the purple house. A house that becomes new memories in the recesses of an empty heart. This journey will feel more meaningful now. There are expectations that they must fulfill, no matter what.

Just as they were about to cross over to Nekros, Rio trailed behind. He was fixated on the beautiful buds of Gerbera Civerdell which were still wet with dew. He had wanted it from the start. A flower that became Lord Aaron's favorite too.

"Mrs. Peach, may I pick one up? I'll take it with me along the way, so that this house . . . and Mr. Dolores live on in my heart."

Mrs. Peach burst into tears. Of all the flowers she had planted, Dolores liked it the most. The red Gerbera Civerdell bloomed in the middle of the night. The buds are beautiful like the crowns of kings. Humming bees praise its beauty. A fitting decoration for an honorable person. A piece of poetry by Dolores for anyone he trusts and respects.

"Sure," Peach said, wiping her eyelids. "Take it. May Gerbera Civerdell bring good luck on your journey."

Rio then plucked one, inhaled the fragrance, then kept the flower well. "Thank you," he smiled. "See you later, Mrs. Peach."

"Goodbye. Until we meet again."

After being delayed for a day, the journey to hunt for holy armor finally resumed. Kron immediately summoned three Brie island mules, and of course Frig (who jumped with joy at Rio) as a mount to Limni.

The Nekros they were wading through had now lost their dignity as the safest forest in all of Neferty. The past protective spell went away, leaving behind dead trees and barren land.

Revan doesn't know what attacked Dolores that night. However, he was sure that it was not the creature that made Nekros die. Evil magic can only watch the forest from outside, can't enter. Even if it was able to enter, the creature that carried it must be too strong to be able to deceive the spell that protects the forest. Or, just a wild assumption, there is a poison carrier who kills Nekros from the inside, so that dark creatures are free to enter the forest.

"What name did Dolores mention to you, Julius? The last time we saw him." Kron idly asked.

Revan's daydream was broken. His eyes darted to the side, the direction Kron spurred on the mule. "Vir Grehka. Lucifer. He said we should be careful . . . because this journey might be hampered."

"Lucifer, I've heard of. He's a demon in the past. Lord Voliborn banished him to the island of skull, and never appeared again until now. But Vir Grehka, I don't know." Kron responded.

"They're the same person, he said. The demon from the past is coming back." Revan repeated Dolores' words. "I don't know what all that means. I guess we just need to move according to the plan. Whatever happens ahead, we'll leave it to fate and luck."

"Don't forget, my uncle also mentioned the Elven Devourer." Grover joined in.

"About that one, Grover, let's just say it's good news. It means this journey will be safe for a while," said Revan.

The sun rose slightly, covering Nekros with a majestic and warm glow, as if giving new life to a dead forest. A flock of crows crossed the sky, not even willing to stop at the tree branches. Deer and deer migrate, out of nowhere, which clearly leaves the forest.

Frogs, swamp shoots, pangolins and porcupines followed. They milled past the legs of the riding mules. Kron grumbled a little as a pair of finches perched on his head, finding a new nest. The giant's growl was enough to tell them the nest wasn't quite right.

It's different with Grover. He was entertained by a flock of hummingbirds. The elves are nature's best friends. It is said that their souls are shaped by nature's compassion. The animals will immediately feel comfortable, the plants are sure to flatter the fun.

The five hummingbirds circled around his head, took each one of the petals they had and decorated it on the top of Grover's beautiful hair. Rio was mesmerized by this, but then he himself was occupied by one or two Nekros bees swarming the Gerbera Civerdell in his shirt pocket.

"You like this?" Rio said as he took out the flower. The bees soared with joy, taking turns kissing the fiery yellow flower seeds, before flying off with the other animals.

They reached the outskirts of Nekros as the sun rose above the sky. Unlike the Nyx forest which took three days to traverse, this one was smaller. Revan's group decided to rest under an apple tree—the only one—standing upright in the middle of the weeds.

The journey has been through Lerion, the vast savanna that borders Nekros with Civerdell. There were still tens of kilometers to go before they could breathe in the fresh Civerdell air.

Revan began to open his magic backpack, took out some provisions to eat. Kron leaned against the tree trunk, enjoying a delicious piece of turkey. Rio and Grover sat on opposite sides. They ate the lettuce that Grover had predicted as his favorite dish. According to Rio, the taste is not bad. Very tasty, in fact. For an Elf, he thought. To humans it seems like turkey meat is much more appealing.

Rio wanted to stop biting into more bread, but wasn't feeling well with Grover. He almost buried the bread in the ground, or placed it under the roots of a tall tree. However, the young man first found a swarm of ants who were about to penetrate the weeds.

As the group passed him, Rio immediately pinched the bread, quite large, then dropped it right on top of them. He thought it was a commendable act (giving another creature food instead of throwing it away).

Suddenly a small shrill dissolved in the breeze of the savanna, stopping into the ears of Rio and the others. At first no one realized that the voice came from near them. Until Rio was bitten by an ant. He groaned, immediately checking what kind of ungrateful ant it was.

It's not as small as a black ant in a sugar jar, or a red ant crawling on a tree bark. These ants are larger, thumb-sized, dark brown with yellow streaks. For a moment Rio thought he was delusional. There was a human figure on the ant's back, riding it. However, Grover immediately approached.

"War ant," he said. "Belongs to the people of Lerion."

"That little human?" Rio was surprised.

"They're Abatwa, natives of this prairie. It's a rare opportunity to meet them," Grover said.

Realizing that the ant rider had something to say, Grover tried to bring his ear closer. Elves' hearing was much sharper than any human's.

"They're angry," he said. "You threw something at them, Rio?"

Rio was suddenly taken aback. "I-I was just trying to share some bread with those ants."

Grover explained this to the abatwa. They have another dialogue. "These people said thank you. But please, don't give too much, because some soldiers fell under your bread. That's what he said." The elf told.

"Really? Grover, please convey my apologies to them. I really didn't mean to," Rio pleaded.

Grover spoke again to the ant rider, whose clothes were green to the color of leaves and his skin was a little darker. The elf turned to Rio, smiling. "I already told them. They forgive you."

"Great." Rio snorted in relief.

"They asked your name and I told them." Grover watched the rider return to his pack. "Lerion is currently experiencing a drought. It is difficult to find fresh grain, or plant nectar. Your slices of bread are very helpful to the abatwa. The leader of the group said that they would remember your name and face so that they could return the favor one day."

Rio was taken aback by Grover's words. Without thinking, he put all the bread in his hands onto the ground for the Abatwa tribe. "Take it all. I'm full," he said firmly.

"Are you serious? But lettuce is delicious." Grover hesitated.

"No problem. I can get something else," said Rio, trying to cover up the fact that he really didn't like lettuce.

The group of abatwa finally left with food rations for the week. Both of them felt victorious, both them and Rio. Grover seemed to be taking it easy, not suspicious at all.

In fact, what looks weird are Revan and Kron. They were eavesdropping on Rio and Grover's conversation with sparkling eyes.

"Kron, do you believe what I see?" said Revan shocked. "Abatwa, Kron. Abatwa! A good sign in Nepheel's books and poetry."

"I know too, Julius!" said Kron just as surprised. "This is the first time in my life seeing these creatures. A very rare encounter."

"It's rarer than seeing you wrong in sculpting a statue," added Revan.

Rio and Grover burst out laughing. Kron smiled wryly, but laughed too in the end. The official lunch event ended when the hot air gradually cooled down. Revan hurriedly grabbed his backpack, following Kron and the others in front.

Next destination is the city of hoova, Limni. There were still about six more hours before sunset. By evening they might have reached Civerdell, across Civerstein, then on to Limni. Thus the plan was made. The reality? Nobody knows. Let's hope all is well.

(To be continued)