Search for the lost

Damien woke with a start as he looked around his surroundings, there were no ruins of an old palace and he was back in the small groove where he had gone to sleep. 

Xavier was shaking him awake and next to him was—

"Samuel, you are alright?" Damien asked as he pushed himself up from the ground. 

"What's with that note of surprise?" Xavier glanced at him and asked. "Did you have some doubts about your credibility?" 

"Of course not," Damien replied with a stinky expression. He then glanced at the man who was nervously sitting on the small rock at the left of the crater. "How are you feeling, Samuel?" 

"I am alright," replied Samuel with an awkward smile on his face. "Thank you for saving me. I really thought that I was going to die." A week ago, he had picked up the mission because he wanted to buy a bigger house for his seven children and three wives. 

But the second he saw the Impert Snake Beast he knew that he was never going to return but as a warrior beastman, it was simply impossible for him to turn his back on his opponent. 

Damien nodded as he took hold of Samuels's wrist. He could hear Dan muttering inside of his head, "He is alright but the amount of blood he had lost is more than three containers —I would suggest adequate rest as well as the essence of belladonna three times a day." 

"He should also pay attention to his right shoulder, it was hurt quite severely. If he doesn't give then there are very good chances for the bone to break and tear open the ligaments and tendons. It would become troublesome." 

"Pay attention to taking good rest these days," said Damien while relaying the information depicted to him by Dan. "You need to drink the essence of belladonna three times a day and.." he pointed to Samuel's shoulder before continuing, "Your shoulder was dislocated which I fixed earlier along with the deep gash. However, the tearing of flesh had led the joint sockets to receive enough impact." 

"Unless you give your body enough rest, your shoulder might dislocate again and this time the bone will tear your tendons and muscles." 

Damien could see from the expression on the face of Samuel that the man hadn't understood anything. He rolled his eyes and clamped his hand on Samuel's good shoulder, "Rest a lot, if you don't your right arm will become useless." 

And this time around comprehension dawned on Samuel's face. 

"I understand, Lord Damien." 

He then turned to look at Maui who had cut a large chunk from the leg piece of the Rock Mountain Bird that had been roasting over the fire for a while until it had turned a nice shade of well-done meat. Fatty liquid dripped down and inside the crater. 

"You beastmen really don't understand technicality, do you?" Damien asked with a helpless and unamused expression on his face.

Xavier glanced at him before saying in a cold voice, "You mean to say that we are fools?" 

"Don't go putting words in my mouth," snorted Damien as he turned to look at Maui who walked over to him while carrying a chunk of meat on a clean leaf. "Ah lunch, thank you Maui." 

**** **** ****

On the other side, inside the Royal Palace. 

A man with hair the shade of caramel, tied in a small ponytail was looking down at an ancient map spread in front of him. His expression was livid as his eyes trailed past the many lines that were drawn on the paper that had turned a murky yellow in the middle and brown on the edges. 

"This is stupid…why is it it's proving difficult? I swear it should have been around somewhere ?" Emiliano muttered, the crown on his head tipped over his forehead and clattered on the surface of the table. "Not again!" He swore. 

His face was twisted in a malicious sneer while eyeing the crown with disgust. "Even now you refuse to accept me?" He asked the spirit trapped within the gem that was inlaid at the centre of the crown. 

His eyes were filled with annoyance as he snatched it from the surface of the table. While staring at the small pixie whose body was buried inside, he muttered, "No matter how much you try to refuse—I am the king of these lands and you shall obey my commands—ARGGGHHH!"

A mournful scream filled with pain echoed in the study as Emiliano crumpled to the floor. He was holding his right hand with which he had been holding the crown— the veins within his skin glowed faint blue before turning a horrifying shade of black.

Emiliano moved his fingers while gritting his teeth as he glared at the sleeping spirit inside the gem. "You will pay for this, one day you will be on your knees obeying my every command." 

"Your majesty, your majesty!" A squeaky voice came from the entrance of the study before the golden doors were pushed open and a little dwarf came running inside. "Whats the matter, Your Majesty? Why are you on your knees?" 

"Where were you?" Emiliano asked as he climbed to his feet and kicked the dwarf. "I asked you to bring me a goblet of fresh unicorn blood, where is it?" 

The dwarf looked up at Emiliano with wide eyes that became even wider as he nervously squeaked, "I-I have asked for the chef to prepare the freshest of the fresh goblet with a hint of elf dew. It will take some time to prepare—"

"And you fell asleep," finished Emiliano as he was aware of the habits of this stupid slave that his late father had given him. He could have given him a beast with wings and fangs but just because he was given birth to by a maid and not even a concubine— he was shown no respect that a prince should have deserved. 

A useless dwarf of all things!