Ch. 25 "TRAVELING"

"Now then, LET'S GO TO THE RAINBOW FALLS!!!"

Rei's eyes were somehow filled with joy and excitement.

"I don't want to ruin your mood by I don't know how to get there..." Mikaela spoke with a soft tone while raising her hand.

"Don't worry, I've already settled everything so no need to worry!" Rei answered with a smile.

"Eh?? how??"

"Ah well, you see I woke up early and walked around town while you were still asleep. I asked the townsfolk about the rainbow falls and how to get there but only several people knew how to get there, and all they said was that only one person can get you to a forest near the falls, then from there you will trek unguided till you reach the falls"

"So, only a minimal amount of people had reached the falls?"

"Well that might not be the case, but they said that there was a rumor about the guy murdering his passengers because none of those people had ever come back after traveling with him. But when I talked to him seemed like a good person, his tone is very deep and quite scary but I can tell he cared for those who traveled with him. Oh, and he only charges us 3 gold and 5 silver coins for the ride, he also told me that if we were to got there we should bring a minimum amount of luggage"

"So the townsfolk think of him as a murder?"

Mikaela asked while Rei was throwing in a few pair of clothes in a bag.

"It seems so, but there was no actual evidence that he had killed someone. Despite how the village treated him his price is still cheap, most transportation here would cost around 5 gold, because of their taxes"

Mikaela simply stared at Rei as he was fixing their luggage, she smiled thinking how different Rei was inside of the dome. It was as if he had forgotten all the events that happened outside Mikaela frowned a bit realizing how much fun they were having and slowly forgetting the deaths of their comrades.

"Are you ready to go Mikaela?" Rei asked.

Mikaela smiled seeing Rei's happy face, it was obvious, Rei has not forgotten what had happened. Behind his smile was the pain of not being able to save his comrades.

"Yes, Let's go!!" Mikaela answered.

The two then walked outside and went to the plaza where they will be meeting that person. But as they arrived there was a crowd near the fountain screams could be heard from the distance, Rei immediately realized something when he saw the cart.

"Excuse me! Let me through! Hey! Excuse me!" Reid shouted as he squished himself through the crowd.

"Rei where see you going??" Mikaela asked.

"That guy is... Our rid-"

Reid suddenly disappeared from her eyes as he slowly got swallowed by the townsfolk.

"Tsk... These people are in my way! I need to help Rei! What do I do, what do I do"

Mikaela was trying to figure out a way she could get to the middle of the circle without passing the crowd, her reflexes suddenly kicked in, and when she saw a pole near her she immediately used it to catapult herself to the middle of the crowd.

"YOU BASTARD, WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!"

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY HUSBAND?!"

"YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!!"

"MURDERER!"

"DIE! BASTARD!"

"WHERE IS MY FAMILY!"

The more Rei plunged himself into the crowd the more he heard harsh words being thrown at that man.

"YOU'RE A MONSTER!!"

"DIE YOU TRASH!"

And after a few minutes, Rei finally made his way to the inside. He then saw a man wielding a knife and was about to stan the man they were gonna travel with, he rushed towards the man but he was to slow the person who held the knife was much closer.

He ran but he couldn't reach it in time, suddenly a flash of light appeared before his eyes. The knife flew into the air and the man who wielded it was down won't he ground.

"Mikaela!!" Rei spoke with joy.

"Mister, it is bad to stab people from behind" she spoke with a sadistic face.

Reid rushed towards the man he met earlier.

"Mr. David, are you alright?" Reid asked.

David nodded, Rei felt relieved when suddenly an empty bottle was thrown at David's head causing him to faint.

A loud voice suddenly spoke, the voice sounded strong, and to Rei's surprise, a man wearing armor walked from behind the crowd.

"Who threw the bottle!"

The crowd immediately went silent.

"If no one admits, I one of the Seven Kings Guards will unhesitantly capture everyone in this vicinity. For the act of treason against the King's orders!" The man spoke.

As the man finished his sentence the crowd immediately fled the area, the only ones left were Rei, David, and Mikaela.

"Mikaela! There should be a medicine kit inside his cart! His head is bleeding!" Rei shouted.

"Don't worry kid, David is not the type of person to die from a bottle" The guard spoke.

"Huh? But... But his head is bleeding!!"

"I can see that if you are worried about him, under the chair inside his cart there should be a medicine kit there" the guard spoke.

"Mikaela!! Did you hear that??" Rei shouted again.

"Found it!" She answered.

Reid immediately took care of Mr. David and bandaged his wounds. While the guards surrounded him and watched as took care of the man.

"You're a kind child, may I ask your name?" The guard asked.

"Huh... Ah... Uhm... My name is Rei, the woman next to me is Mikaela" Rei answered.

"You are a splendid person Rei, as one of the Seven Kings Guard Thank you for helping our former captain!"

the man along with his comrades who all wore armor kneeled in front of Rei and bowed their heads.

"Huh? Eh? Uh? Eh? Huh??" Reid was a for words and was confused over what was happening.

"The thanks is our for clearing out the crowd" Mikaela spoke.

"But may I ask your name?" Mikaela continued.

"Ah, I am very sorry for the late introduction. My name is Christopher Alkenstein one of the Seven King Guard, Captain of the white knights"

Rei was speechless after hearing who saved them.

"Ugh... You're as noisy as ever aren't ya, Christopher" David suddenly spoke.

"Are you alright Mr. David??" Rei asked.

"Thanks for bandaging up my wounds kid, but as that noisy brat said that bottle ain't gonna kill me"

"Captain David!!"

The guards cheered with joy as their former captain was not placed in harm.

"Ah, I see all of you have been doing well, but why are ya'll here?" David asked.

"His Majesty has ordered us to accompany you on your travel"

"Why would the King do something like that?"

"Well, apparently the fiancee of the princess has suddenly disappeared and a few people said that they saw him enter the forest. This the King wanted us to seek your assistance in finding the princesses fiancee and in exchange, we will accompany and protect your guests until we reach the forest" Christopher explained.

"I see, but with all due respect to the King I would first like to ask my guest if they would agree"

David then turned around and walked towards Rei and Mikaela.

"Rei and Mikaela I am very thankful for your help with my would, obviously you would agree to their request as it was from the King. But all I can say to the two of you is that please be wary and never let your guard down once you enter the forest, it's a place swarmed with treacherous creatures" David spoke with a soft voice.

"I see, thank you for the reminder" Mikaela spoke.

David smiled and then walked towards the guards to talk to them. And with the agreement of Rei, Mikaela, and Mr. David we're accompanied by the King's guards.

A few hours into their way Mr. David suddenly talked to Rei.

"Kid..."

"Is there a problem Mr. David?" Reid asked.

"Protect your woman at all cost. I know you're wondering why I was beaten up earlier so I'll explain it to you"

Rei looked at Mikaela, she smiled at him assuring him that everything is fine. Rei then sat beside David as the man began to explain somethings to him.

"Rei, beyond the forest, lies the Magnificent Rainbow Falls, but the way towards the falls is rather dangerous. The reason why most of the people I traveled with suddenly disappeared is the moment they enter the forest their presence along with their voice suddenly disappears, this might seem like an excuse coming from me but please trust me inside the forest is a different world. It is a world controlled by beings who dwell on top of the falls, when I was the captain of the white knights I was given a mission by his Majesty to kill a traitor from the castle by making him map out the forest as rumor has it that the water from the falls is mystical and has superpowers. That miss on was only meant for me as the King trusted me, I followed the Kings order and threw the traitor in the forest of course I already accounted for the chances that the man would escape so I pushed him till we were both inside the forest or rather I pushed him until my arm was inside the forest. When my arm entered I felt like an ominous presence suddenly grabbed my arm, I retracted my arm and watched as the traitor walked further into the forest.

A few days have passed but the man had never come out, after waiting for a week the other guards were sent to rescue me but I was safe and doing well. Then as we were about to leave I heard a voice calling me from the forest, it sounded very much like my mother. I felt my body being dragged in and slowly in the depths of the forest a shadow appeared it was pitch black with red eyes and mouth, I saw it clearly with my two eyes it was terrifying"

The moment David had finished his explanation he realized that Rei who was sitting next to him had fallen asleep.

"How could this kid sleep when I'm telling him the horrifying thing I experienced before... Tsk..." David thought to himself.

"Don't worry Mr. David I was listening, I believe you. But if you want to be safe don't enter the same area we will enter" Mikaela spoke.

"Why is that?" David asked.

"There are things in this world of our that we humans will never understand"

"Ah, I see... I see... Must have been rough for you nah?" David spoke.

"It is. Please keep the ride steady I'll be pulling Rei inside"

Mikaela then pulled Rei inside the cart.

A few more hours had passed and they have finally reached the outside of the forest.

*yawn*" Have we arrived?" Rei asked.

"We did, please check if you have forgotten anything before you enter the forest" David reminded.

David then walked towards Christopher and talked with the white knights, while Rei took out their stuff and walked towards Mikaela who was standing in front of the forest.

"Shall we enter now Mikaela?" Rei asked.

"Yes!" she answered.

She then turned around and looked at David straight into his eyes.

"We will be entering now, please be safe and I hope you find the princess's fiancee" Mikaela said.

The two entered the forest while waving their hands goodbye.

As they both entered a cold breeze suddenly blew against them.

"Should we turn back now?" Rei nervously asked.

"Wasn't it you who made the effort so we could get here? And now you're being a scared cat?" Mikaela teased him.

"I am not!!" Rei spoke.

"Well, if your really that afraid here..."

Mikaela held out her hand.

"You can grab my hand as we walk through this forest" she said with a smile.

"If you insist then I won't hesitate!"

The two then walked deeper and deeper into the forest until it was already pitch black.

*meanwhile outside the forest*

"Christopher... What are you doing? Why are you pointing your sword at me?" David asked?

"Stop lying you monster! Where? Where is the real Captain David what have you done to him!" Christopher screamed?

"I'm here? What are you talking about?"

"You monster! Do you think we will be fooled by your words?"

Christopher along with the other knights then began to attack David slicing him into pieces his body was split into multiple pieces his face, body, and organs were no longer distinguishable.

"May the real captain rest in piece" Christopher spoke.

They were about to leave when suddenly one of the knights saw something shining from the corpse.

"Captain there's something in the corpse!" The knight spoke, he then slowly walked towards it.

"Don't go near that!!"

Christopher's warning was too late. The corpse flew towards the knight and slowly began eating him, he screamed in agony as he was being torn into pieces and was turning into something else.

"Foolish humans, yet despite your idiocy, your flesh is certainly delicious" it spoke with a distorted voice.

"What the hell are you?!" Christopher spoke.

"I am a monster as you said. Enough talking, it's time for a feast"

Despite the distance, Rei could hear a faint noise of screams coming from outside of the forest.

"Can you hear that Mikaela?"

"Huh? Hear what?"

"Nothing, I thought I was hearing screams of people dying"

"Maybe your hallucinating, we've been walking for a few minutes now and I can't see any light"

"As long as we walk a straight path, we'll eventually get there"

Rei spoke with assurance as he held Mikaela's hand.

"Say's the man who's squishing my hand from fear" she said with a laugh.

"Please stop toying with me!!" Rei spoke.

Slowly from a distance, a light began to appear.

"Mikaela we're almost there!!" Rei shouted with joy.

"Pipe down Rei, I can hear something"

As Rei turned silent a humming voice could be heard, it sounded feminine-like, it was enchanting that Rei began to walk fast towards the light.

"Rei stop!! Stop!!"

Rei seemed unable to control himself he walked faster and faster towards and light and suddenly tripped. He suddenly back went his conscience as they hear the sound of the water falling.

"We're here!" Rei spoke.

As they looked around they noticed a naked woman humming near the falls, Rei was about to walk towards the woman when she began humming again. Rei's eyes widened as the water where the woman was standing slowly turn to a dark red color and as the woman turned around to them they saw it. A table filled with chopped up human body parts, and the head of the real Captain David.

"Welcome, to the Rainbow Falls, or rather as we call it The Falls of the dead"

[Chapter End]