[2] Stream

"It's a pity you'll be going back tomorrow." 

Dae-Du patted his friend's back and signed. "We've searched for her everywhere possible, but ..huh.' He signed again. 'Anyways, it's the Emperor who ordered us back. We've been searching for four months now and still no result.

Who knew this old town has lots of foreigners?"

And this made Zdi laugh. "It doesn't before, but it's like immediately you all came they started streaming in and now seeing your type of skin color isn't a thing anymore ..anyways, it sad that you'll be leaving tomorrow. I will miss you, but I really suggest you and your group should attend our new king coronation ceremony.

Every person in this town attends it and if this girl is alive and in this town, attending the ceremony will verify it."

Dae-Du signed, "what if she attends." He mused but he doesn't want to get his hopes up, he saw the ship sank.

'And you also saw those divers looked for her.' His mind argues with him.

He stopped walking and turned to Zdi. "I'm not sure man, the Emperor already gave up and the men ..uh, they're exhausted. I can't convince them ...but perhaps I can write the Emperor a letter." 

This idea put a smile on his face. He asked Zdi the date for the coronation and after Zdi told him, he whistle for his bird and after he sent a message to the Emperor.

When he was done he stood up, patted his friend on the shoulder. "I pray we'll find her, this will make my Emperor happy ..very happy!" 

"Well my friend since your stay here is now limited, why don't I show you around. After all your Emperor has done a lot for this little kingdom and although the late king built a swell house for him, it's not enough." 

Dae-Du laughed, he saw the house and he must confess that it's quite hmm ..artistic and swell indeed.

"You laugh? That house is the most beautiful house in Altha and do you know how hard the Late king pressured the workers even though some part of him knows your Emperor won't come .. Well now that he's dead, the crown Prince is now the one dying to meet him. 

I heard he sent another invite?" 

Dae-Du nod his head, still laughing. "Yesterday's own made it nine."

After finding out that Kleile might be in this town, the Emperor sent some men to find out Altha problems and it turns out that they have a lot, but the most urgent and disturbing one is the Uiztha.

Uiztha is a kingdom not so far from Altha and they're Altha worst nightmare. 

They attack Altha every season and collects all their farm products, the king knows about this but couldn't do anything and so Hanbon Emperor proposed a deal with nothing in exchange.

He chased away the Altha attackers and restored their pride and of course he did this because of Kleila.

He wants his men in the kingdom comfortable.

"I think I have seen all there is to be seen." Dae-Du said smiling and then he asked matter of fact. "You know you don't have to do this right?."

"I know, but tell that to the prince. I'm just a guard following orders and.' He paused. 'Call this surprising but you actually haven't seen all of Altha. Follow me."

Dae-Du laugh but still followed him. They walked for about thirty minutes before he stopped and turned to Zdi. 

"Where are you taking me to?" He asked curiously.

He and Zdi has been walking since morning after he finished parking his stuff.

Zdi stopped. "To the shrine and later to the stream. You said you've seen all their is to been seen in Altha and I'm going to prove you wrong."

"Shrine?" Dae-Du asked bewildered, he heard about their shrine.

He heard scary things and this made him begin to look around his surroundings. 

He notices something strange, unlike the normal bushes, this part is just long trees which has red ribbon being tied all over it. 

"Oh my god!" He jumped in fright when he felt something touch his hand.

Zdi turn to look at him "what's it?" 

"It's just ..that tree leave touched me." And Zdi bust out laughing.

Dae-Du look at Zdi and wished he could be laughing right now like him but the place is really creeping him out and he thinks he's hearing voices, aside from birds chipping.

"You can go anywhere here but never their shrine, they kill humans for sacrifice to their gods so avoid that place or else you wish you body to be buried near the shrine and your blood used for cleanse." 

Dae-Du grab his chest in fear after he finished remembering their group leader advice.

He rush to Zdi, turned him to him. "I think I will prefer the stream ..in fact, I prefer seeing the stream, let's go to your stream." He said not waiting for him to reply, he began to drag the still laughing man who couldn't stop laughing at the fright on his face out.