A Big Fraction

"A little more it will be perfect." Said Alexador

"What do you mean?!" Shouted Erissa and got up from her bed.

"Look at these little balls, if it works it will be big balls, but it's okay, it's good enough for you." Alexador said lifting the little balls out of the big jar using his hands.

"What are we going to do with it?" Amanda asked.

"The auction, prepare yourselves, we are leaving." Alexador replied.

Erissa lazily went to their horse carriage, Amanda went to wake Stacey. Alexador put the little herbal balls into a cloth sack big enough.

Stacey's soul was still asleep, Jason helped Stacey to the horse carriage, Zedva who had been watching their movements began to get ready to follow the trail of the horse-drawn carriage.

"What do you think Alexador is? The capital is too dangerous right now." Zedva muttered as he ran and jumped in the trees.

Behind the shadows of the capital's bustling buildings, something was moving, a pitch-black aura seen but not felt or seen by the residents of the capital. He was chanting a spell with his troops, then disappeared in the blink of an eye when a little girl appeared outside the small alley that had previously contained something dangerous, the little girl pointed towards the end of the alley then,

'Duaarr'

The little girl's body exploded, the people around her including her parents panicked, were afraid and screamed for help.

"Help! Anyone !!!!"

There is no hope for that poor little girl. Someone chuckled from the top of the tall building, along with their troops, they were wearing robes with a large symbol on the back of their robes, and again went away quickly that could not be seen by the corner of the eye.

Returning to Stacey's journey, they are going through the forest to go to the capital which is famous for quality magic stones, not only that, weapons, staples, clothes to high quality jewelry are here.

Finally, after the horse-drawn carriage traveled quite a distance and took a long time, they finally arrived at the gate of the Capital. Stacey and her friends lined up to get permission to enter the capital, the security was very tight, no one had managed to get in without the thick-armored guards knowing.

Due to the long queue, there were several people fighting for reasons of being ahead,

"Hey! Get in line right!" said a man in light armor and a gloved sword on the right side of his waist. He also carried the catch.

"Hmmm?" A man with a well-trained posture, even though he was covered in a long robe but that didn't reverse the fact that the man had a good body. The man opened his head covering, unexpectedly it was an old man.

The man with armor still opened his mouth and cursed at the old man.

"What happened there?" Amanda asked and turned her body towards the quarrel, some people had prevented and lowered the anger of the man in armor but the man in armor was stubborn.

"Never mind, just let it go! When are we going to get in ???! I'm tired of standing here!" Complained Erissa.

"Be patient, Erissa, soon we will go inside." Stacey joined in the comment, tired of hearing the complaints that came out of Erissa's mouth.

"You're delicious !! You sit on top of that wolf! ---"

"Alexador, can't you do something?" Stacey said and ignored Erissa's complaints.

Unfortunately Alexador shook his head,

"If the rules didn't change, we could have entered earlier."

Alexador remained standing tall, leading Stacey and his friends.

"Is this all the effect of that historic incident?" Inner Stacey.

'Byaarrrr!'

The sound of water exploding sounded far behind, the man in armor was thrown backwards.

"Th-that! Old man Hodward !!!!!!!!!" some people shunned the old man named Hodward, afraid that death would come for him.

Alexador, who had not been bothered by the argument that was going on behind him, now suddenly turned around after hearing the name of the old man.

"Hodward?"

"What is wrong?" Asked Stacey, Amanda and Erissa simultaneously, Jason also turned around.

"Shit. You better not deal with that old man!" Alexador replied, holding his temple.

The old man Hodward went ahead of the other queens, no one dared to scold, afraid of the same fate as the man with thin armor lying on the ground. The man with thin armor simply fainted.

When the old man Hodward was about to overtake Stacey, Stacey blocked him and ignored what Alexador said just now.

The old man Hodward smiled,

"Sorry sir, you better get in line properly. I won't let you overtake me." Stacey boldly said it out loud.

The old man's hand went up,

"Touching him I will beat you up Hodward." Who else if not Alexador as their temporary mentor.

"Even though I hate to admit it, I won't let you pass the damn old man! I'm tired of standing here for so long !!!"

"I also agree, get in line behind us." Erissa and Amanda agree with Stacey's statement.

"Alexador? Alright, I'll obey your words with conditions! Arena Festival! I'll wait for you there !!! Hahaha!" The old man stepped back,

"No one can refuse!" He whispered firmly in Alexador's ear, then queued up as Amanda said.

"What's wrong with you, Jason?" Stacey whispered in Jason's ear, Stacey was confused, why Jason's body was sweating like this.

"W-what are you talking about Stacey, I'm fine." Jason replied who immediately hid his fear.

"Who are you?" Amanda asked the old man Hodward.

"Just an ordinary old man named Hodward." Old man Hodward replied with a warm smile.

"An ordinary old man with great abilities, that's to be precise." Erissa corrected Old Man Hodward's words.

"Something is moving in the dark in great numbers." Old man Hodward whispered softly to Alexador, after they were already inside the capital.

Alexador was unfazed, digesting all the words of old man Hodward.

"Let's look for lodging, the auction will be held tomorrow and the Arena Festival will be in three days." Alexador started their conversation and immediately looked for a nearby inn.

One person, one room, that's Alexador's orders, the reason is privacy. Everyone agreed because Alexador paid for everything.

"You know the old man, don't you, Jason?" Stacey asked when she was in her room with Jason.

"I can't lie to you, that old man is Hodward. A man of great ability, equal in strength to or greater than our guild leader. He is the guardian of the sacred forest." Jason replied with full emphasis on every word he said.

"You don't speak completely, sacred forest? I've read about it in the library, a forest filled with magic and holy creatures, right?"

"Sorry Stacey, I have reasons not to reveal everything. You're right about the sacred grove." Jason said again.

although a little disappointed, Stacey did not show it. Maybe that reason was more important than her, that was what she had in mind.

The cool night breeze was gentle, apparently Stacey forgot to close her bedroom window, she saw the moon was brighter than usual and then closed the window slowly.

Something seemed to glow on the small table located in the middle of the room, whoever put it, there was a neatly written sheet of paper.

"Jason, come here!" Stacey exclaimed, Jason approached Stacey.

A piece of paper and a round stone symbolizing a heart arranged into a flower, what does all this mean? Symbol of peace? War? or a gesture?