Angry

The two also walked towards the side of the cave. Rudolf also helped Maurie walk by holding her already hunched body. Even though Maurie is not an elder in the Howard family, all Jotuns highly respect her presence for her services.

"How about it, Maurie? What do you want to talk to me about?" asked Rudolf as the two had already reached their destination.

"My instinct tells us, it won't be long before our residence will be attacked by humans. Seeing what happened to Kara's son... I'm sure, this will happen to us again," Maurie said.

"You're right. After so many years, there are now Jotuns who have been injured by humans," Rudolf replied.

"What's better, we're not reconciled, Rudolf? This is all we do for the safety of the Jotuns including us," Maurie retorted.

"But you know why we're doing this? we must maintain our traditions, even that is for the good of the Jotuns too!" retorted Rudolf in a raised tone.

"Listen, you think... Will being human change our situation as a family? We're going to keep each other, love and protect each other, right? We're just changing things. What matters is our hearts, Rudolf," Maurie suggested.

Rudolf sighed deeply. He was shocked and looked at Maurie with teary eyes.

"Maurie, can I be honest with you?" hissed Rudolf.

However, his gaze was very reassuring; although Maurie couldn't look at Rudolf with both eyes, the old lady could feel the sadness Rudolf conveyed through her hand's grasp.

"Actually, I just want to obey Arthur's wishes alone. I have resigned myself and enjoyed this form of mine, and I think the others are too. However, lately I've always seen Arthur brooding thinking about his fate, he's very ambitious to turn us all into the human beings we used to be. I've given him an understanding, but he's still adamant he wants to do his will," Rudolf said.

"You know... it was indeed not easy for him to accept all this. But... believe it or not, something big will happen someday. And that, inseparable from the influence of Arthur's ambitions. We have to get ready quickly, at least... Arthur had to get back quickly before it was too late," Maurie said.

Again, Rudolf was confused by the statement he had just heard. Because, as we know, it's not just Maurie who seems to predict the events that will happen to Jotuns later. Maleen, the old witch, is the same. Although confused, Rudolf is increasingly convinced that Arthur's return will have a good impact and is also related to the prophecy revealed by Maurie and Maleen.

"Thank you, Maurie. I am even more convinced that Arthur is doing his best. Although leaving without saying goodbye is not justified, his departure will probably bode well for us, especially the Jotuns. Soon, we will achieve victory over humans. Then, we no longer need to restrict territory because this entire territory will belong to the Jotuns," said Rudolf, full of ambition.

."What make you so sure? In fact, I'm just a little opinionated about the future of the Jotuns," Maurie said in surprise.

"Need you know that Arthur is currently with Gilda."

"Gilda? Gilda, the leader of the village of Tanee?!" asked Maurie again. She was so surprised. She hopes that, hopefully, her conjectures so far have been wrong. That is, disaster is coming.

"yes, you're right. No Tanee villagers have dared to come to this forest other than she often tries to enter. My heart says, Arthur met Gilda while on the way. And of course, Arthur must have finished her off and brought the girl here as a pride as ever. Friday night last week, we didn't kidnap anyone because of Arthur's departure, therefore Arthur will replace it by bringing Gilda here," Rudolf explained with great confidence.

"If you're very confident, then rest assured. But we have to stay on our guard, because the people in the village of Tanee will not stay silent with what we've been doing to them."

Rudolf immediately drove Maurie back to her room. Then, while Kara still cared for the child, Rudolf went out of Howa's cave to meet someone.

Although he looked ok before, for some reason, he walked with his face bent, both hands clenched hard, and walked briskly like he was in a hurry.

"Volka! Where are you?!" shouted Rudolf, whose voice echoed throughout the forest.

The wind blew violently past Rudolf's body. Volka finally came and stood right before Rudolf.

"I'm here, sir."

"What were you doing during my departure?" Rudolf asked with both eyes rounded.

"Of course I am guarding this forest. Ah, but on the first day I didn't stand guard for looking for Arthur as you ordered at that time, didn't I?" said Volka.

"I didn't speak when Arthur left. What I asked was when I left. If you are indeed guarding this forest, how can my nephew be injured because of a human attack?!" said Rudolf in a firm tone. Rudolf's face didn't say that he wasn't joking. This worried Volka because Rudolf had never been like this before.

"The incident of the son of Aunt Kara is an incident that is completely beyond my power, sir. I don't understand why it's like this myself. as usual, I did my duty by going around the woods however, I suddenly heard a scream from Kara's aunt while holding her already bloodied child. They came from the direction of Tanee village," Volka said.

"You still want to forget if all this happens because of your negligence? How could you possibly do your duty but my nephew could be injured, even if he almost died?! I've understood enough of your and Gus's lies about Arthur's departure. However, not this time because it concerns my niece's safety, you understand?!" Rudolf said as he pointed his forefinger at Volka's forehead.

"I'm sorry, sir. Bu-but I don't...."

"Ah, never mind! Now, Where is Gus? I haven't seen it since," Rudolf said.

"Gus is looking for Arthur, sir."

This highly unexpected situation made Volka startled. During the talk with Rudolf, he just lowered his eyes without daring to look at these two angry eyes of Rudolf.

"What do you guys bother to find my son for? Isn't it you guys who have helped him get away from here?!"

"Arthur is our best friend, sir, after all. There wasn't the slightest bit of bad intentions when we helped him. We just want Arthur to be happy, sir," Volka said in a low tone.

"Your intentions are already good, but sorry... my trust in you guys, especially in you has diminished. From this second on, you're free to do anything. Whether you want to keep this forest or not is up to you. Let me take care of it myself. Or, I can command the other Jotuns just in case. It should be, I didn't believe you from the beginning!"

Rudolf then passed away, leaving Volka silently sculpting in the middle of the forest. Volka's heart was guilt-filled for the umpteenth time in Arthur's father. At this time, he desperately needs Gus so that at least he is not alone through these difficult times.

Volka sat pensively brooding over his mistakes. He tried to recall what had just happened. For a moment, he was sure that he had done nothing wrong. However, he also realized that his performance guarding the Dark forest had recently been significantly reduced, especially since Arthur's departure.

"Arthur, when will you be back? And you too, Gus. If only you knew what Rudolf had just told me about us, you would feel the same as me, sad and hopeless," Volka said in his devotional.

In her trance, Konsta suddenly realized something. When he saw the villagers of Tanee gathered in front of the Dark Forest, he did not see Gilda, the village leader who is also the daughter of Emmett Vary.

The reason is that the villagers of Tanee can't do so without Gilda. For many years the inhabitants of the Dark Forest and the village of Tanee lived on the same hill. Volka understood very well how his daily conditions were in the village of Tanee. So, if there's just as little change there, he'll notice it.

"Is Gilda waiting in the village while the one I saw yesterday is just some of the citizens? Ah, no way. It was the girl who was the only one who put up a warning sign about the Jotuns in the border area of the Dark forest. It seems impossible if she doesn't come to accompany her citizens. Is it possible I saw it wrong?" said Volka, who again spoke to himself.