Chapter 15: Witch

"'punched'? Who?" Oril asked. Rio grinned.

"What – " I said, then covered Vice's mouth. "Idiot! Don't say that aloud!" I said.

She bit my hand. I cried. "Heh. So, gonna help him now finding the witch?" Vice asked, a triumphant smile crossed her face.

I frowned. "Fine!" I said then suddenly paused. "Oh, that's right. We forgot to ask your name." I said.

The four of us are roaming in the forest, looking for the witch.

"Hmm?" the knight said. "It's 'Oril'." He answered.

"'Oril'?" Rio said, then her eyes narrowed as she looked at the knight.

"Rio, what's wrong?" Vice asked.

"Err, no… it's just – " she said and floated. She went to the knight and cupped his face.

The knight's eyes went wide with shock. His ears went red.

Oril's POV

This is the second time her face went close to mine. I thought as I stared at the fairy. Then, I looked away. Damn it. She's just so cute! I thought, my face blushed. That golden hair… pointed ears… everything about her is just cute – I thought and covered my burning face.

Yelena's POV

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Rio asked when Oril suddenly covered his face.

"… nothing." Oril answered.

My brows raised when I noticed the atmosphere suddenly changed. I saw Oril's reddened ears. My lips curled up. He's just examining you, idiot. I thought.

Rio stared at Oril for a long time before she spoke. "You're like a bear." she said.

"'bear'?" we asked.

Oril's face turned puzzled.

Rio nodded. "Then… how if we call him 'Bearil'?" she asked.

"Huh?!" Oril said, shocked.

"'Bearil'…" Vice said, then smiled. "That's a nice name – "

"It's not - !" Oril protested.

I grimaced, then sighed. "This group is so lively – " I muttered. "Where did you see this witch, anyway?" I asked as I looked at Oril.

"I think it was near a swamp." Oril answered.

"A swamp." I said. "Noted. What does she look like?" I asked.

"Her face has colors. Her hair is tied up in a bun. She's a tall woman." Oril said.

I nodded. "Noted." I said and turned to Rio. "Rio. Do you know of swamps here in this forest?" I asked and then turned to Vice. "Vice. Do you know or have seen a woman as what Oril described when you travelled to other kingdoms?" I asked her. This looked like a murder case. And I'm the detective, Oril is the witness, and the two were… well, my assistants. I thought and grimaced. The three of them looked at me, shocked. "What?" I asked, then sighed. Can't blame them, though. I thought. "Don't be surprised. I did this role in a movie I casted – " I told them.

"'role'?" Oril asked.

"'movie'?" Rio asked.

"S – Stop!" Vice said. "Okay. We get it. So please stop using the words that came from your country – " she said, then sighed.

I shrugged. "Well, Rio?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I told you, I don't know what's happening around me aside in my lair." He said.

I sighed. "How about you, Vice?" I asked.

She shook her head and her shoulder slumped. "Dunno. There were many people in each kingdom." She said.

Our shoulder slumped. "Where could we find her - ?" I asked.

We all sighed. "Uhm…" Oril said. "It's that swamp… I think?" he said and pointed something.

"Huh - ?" We said and turned. "Woah!" we exclaimed, then ran toward the swamp. "Beautiful!" we exclaimed.

The water in the swamp sparkled by the light that cut through the trees. "It's lotus!" Rio exclaimed.

"What a beautiful flower." I said and smiled.

"Huh? The two of you haven't seen it?" Vice asked, surprised.

I frowned. "How would I know it if I haven't seen it?" I asked.

She shrugged her shoulders. "One of this flower's meanings is 'loneliness'." She said, then smiled sadly.

"Vice?" I asked. "Hey. Don't tell me in the next scene, you'll cry?" I asked.

She sniffed and frowned. "Idiot - !" she said and was about to hit me when the ground suddenly distorted.

"Huh? 'Distorted'?" I muttered when suddenly, I felt the ground on my feet disappear. "Wait – aaaahhh!!!"

"Waaaaahhh!!!" we screamed when the ground became a hole and we fell.

"Ugh!" we cried when we reached the landing.

"Oww…!" I cried and touched the back of my head. "Where are we - ?" I stopped when I saw the three of them. "Huh? Guys?" I said. They're unconscious. "Guys? Guys - !" I called.

"Oh? So you survived my barrier." I heard a voice say.

I turned. My eyes went wide when I saw a woman. "Who – " I said, and stopped. "Wait. 'Survived'?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yeah." She said.

My heart beat loudly with fear. "What do you mean – " I said, horrified. I looked at the other three, then looked back at the woman. "Who are you?" I asked.

She smiled. "I'm the witch, Lilia." She said. "Welcome back, East Kingdom's princess – " she said and looked straight in my eyes. "Your Highness the Princess Yelena." She said and her smile faded.

My mouth fell open with shock.

The Evil King's POV

I sighed as I slumped on the table and stared at the wine inside the clear glass. I remembered what happened in the past.

Flashback

I flew towards the first castle I saw. "Yeah!" I said and landed with an explosion.

All of them were shocked and went into a panic.

"Ahahahahaha!" I laughed. "Yes. That's it! Fear!" I said, then went to the palace. I searched for their princess. "Hah?!" I said, shocked. "This is – " I said, then looked at the royal family. "This is the North Kingdom?!" I was stunned.

They nodded while shaking with fear.

"Damn it - !" I cursed and burst in anger. "Damn it." I cursed and kicked the rubbles of the castle after I destroyed it. "Why is it I don't have a sense of direction?" I muttered to myself, then looked far away. "I wonder where's the West and East Kingdom? Which direction should I take - ?" I asked myself, then sighed.

I flew and left.