Reveal the truth

The impact of both of Arthur's legs stifled the surface of the 'roof' of the cave. Just as Arthur had stepped foot, Gilda had already stepped straight down from the monster's shoulders as if she couldn't wait to release her grip on Arthur's body.

"You're so noisy. Can't you be calm for a day?!' said Arthur irritably. Not only because Arthur's screams disturb his concentration when climbing up, but Gilda's fairly complex hand grip caused claw scars and minor bruises on his body.

Gilda was silent, not responding to Arthur's complaint. Either because she didn't care or was ashamed of her fear of heights appearing at an inopportune moment.

"Princess, are you ok?" asked Pipi worriedly.

"I'm ok. Ah, look! The scenery above here is so beautiful, isn't it?" said Gilda turning the corner in embarrassment.

It's undeniable that the view of the cave, which is unnamed, was so unique that it made Gilda and Pipi amazed when they first saw it. The clouds enveloped the surroundings of the forest so that only pine tree shoots could be seen as if the tree was not tall. In addition, river water splashing can be heard from there as if to indicate that the location is not too far from the cave. Unconsciously, a smile expands on Gilda's lips as she is fascinated by the beauty she sees.

"Never have I ever seen something so beautiful like this..." Gilda said subconsciously.

"Really?" asked Arthur curiously.

"Yes, during this time... I'm just busy taking care of my citizens without knowing there's anything else that needs to be enjoyed. That is, this kind of beautiful scenery."

What Gilda says is true. But, unfortunately, she's too busy with all the affairs in the village of Morgue that she doesn't think of herself.

"As it turns out, you can also speak well to me. But, I guess, the arrogant nature is always inherent in you," Arthur replied. But, of course, it made Gilda aware of her 'negligence.' Her blood boiled again when she heard Arthur's words, and she also showed an annoyed face at the giant monster.

"You! Can you not disturb my peace?!" asked Gilda. Both eyes rounded with flushed faces. Anything that concerns the Jotun always makes her go up in the blood.

"Peace you said? Who showed you this kind of beautiful scenery? Who? Oh, yes. there's one more thing you need to know. I have a name, which is Arthur. You heard? A R T H U R! So, don't call me anymore with strange mentions, understand?"

"I don't care what your name is," Gilda replied.

"Well then, from now on I will call you by the name you also mentioned to me. Fair, isn't it?"

Gilda turned her face, not answering Arthur's question. Instead, she focused both eyes on figuring out how to get out of the confines of Arthur the Jotun.

"This place is very unfamiliar to me. I can't find where my village is. Even the Dark forest is not visible from here," Gilda said, still spreading her gaze.

"Indeed, you know how the Dark forest looks from up here? Just getting into it just once. It was caught off guard by me, hahaha," Arthur said.

"Isn't it that in your woods there is a waterfall at the foot of Howa mountain? That's what I'm looking for. At least, the waterfall will definitely be seen from here. However, there are so many mountains around here that it is difficult to tell the difference," explained Gilda.

"Ah, you're right."

Not only Gilda but Pipi also paid attention to the surroundings. Unlike Arthur and Gilda, Pipi feels that this place is familiar to her. It's just that she doesn't know for sure when she has come here.

"Mr. Arthur, where did you get the fish you hunted just now? Doesn't it mean there is a river around here?" asked Pipi, sitting pensively.

"yes, there is. From here, we need to go down this road to the end of the cave. Afterward, we have to jump from here and walk a little more. It's about a hundred meters from here," Arthur explained as he directed his fingers to the area, he was referring to.

"Then, where did you come from? I mean, how did you find this cave?" asked Gilda, adding.

"I came from under the cliff, aka that abyss. I climbed up and found the mouth of this cave. And I did that while lifting your heavy body." No one sentence seems perfect without Arthur's scorn for Tanee's village leader.

For a long time, Gilda had become accustomed to Arthur's babbling. She then ignored him again because she wanted to focus on her escape.

"So, you came from down there? In that case, although the distance is uncertain, but obviously, the Dark forest is from the direction you came."

"Yes, you're right."

****

"How is it? Have you found it?"

"If I had found it, there would be no way I would have avoided my duty guarding the Dark forest, Gus!"

Arthur's two best friends, Volka and Pierre, still have not given up on finding Arthur's whereabouts. As the day wore on, guilt haunted Gus even more as Rudolf looked deeply saddened by his son's passing. Currently, the two are looking for Arthur's whereabouts on various sides of the Dark forest. They rested for a while under the shady tree to talk. Due to Arthur's departure, some of the activities of the dark forest dwellers were stopped because they were busy searching. One of them is, for the first time, the Jotuns did not launch their actions to kidnap the villagers of Tanee. Likewise, with Volka, he could not continue his duties to guard the Dark forest because of the departure of his best friend, who made him uneasy.

"Volka, do you think I should talk to Rudolf?" asked Gus with a gloomy face.

"What's more? Didn't you say it all when Arthur disappeared?" asked Volka, puzzled.

"About my departure with Arthur to the southern forest the night before."

"Gus, are you crazy? Rudolf will definitely be furious if he hears about it! We're going to be targeted, too. Do you know how horrible it would be if Rudolf was already angry? We will be killed by him because we interfere in this matter! Haven't we also agreed that this won't reach Rudolf's ears?! You're absolutely crazy, Gus!" concluded Volka.

"Please think carefully, Volka. It is possible that my serendipity at that time had something to do with the current disappearance of Arthur. Maybe we don't know, but it could be that Rudolf knows something! Rudolf will definitely scold us all the way, but I'm sure he won't be forever like that!" said Gus.

"Then, what if it's all out of nothing? What we have is no longer trusted by Rudolf!" said Volka. He insisted he didn't want to be blamed even though he was involved in this.

"You know, I'd rather be scolded by Rdolf than losing my best friend."

Gus's remarks left the Volka. After that, he fell silent and tried to think clearly about everything.

The reason is that Gus's remarks have some truth too. Rudolf's anger may be overwhelming, but it won't drag on. After all, the Jotuns already regarded Volka and Gus as a family.

"Alright... if you really want to tell you everything, just do it," Volka said with a deep breath.

"Yes, I'll do it. You don't have to be afraid, I'm sure Rudolf will understand," Gus replied.

"So, now we're going to see Rudolf?" asked Volka again, a little tense.

"Of course. Relax, let me talk, you just accompany me."

Volka nodded in agreement. Although his heart was afraid, he was forced to do this for the sake of a clue to Arthur's disappearance. Moments later, the two turned their way to Howa's cave to meet Rudolf. They would stop the search for a while to set things straight on Arthur's father.

When they got there, Volka and Gus paused for a moment at the mouth of the cave. They stared at each other for a moment while sighing simultaneously.

"You're ready, Gus?" asked Volka uneasily.

"O-Of course."

Gus swallowed as he stared back at Howa's cave. Then, he rounded his resolve for what he had planned.

'Come on, Pierre! You certainly can! It's all for Ivar's sake!' he said in a self-encouraging heart.

They also continued their steps into the cave. There were not many Jotuns who were in Howa cave at that time. Because they are both looking for Arthur. Only Rudolf was seen there sitting pensively with his hands supporting his forehead.

"Mr. Odolf...," Gus called quietly. Seeing the arrival of Gus and Volka, Rudolf's face, which was initially gloomy, now turned into a summing. Spontaneously he immediately stood up to the two.

"Gus! Volka! Ah, you guys finally came too. How? You've found my son, right?" greeted Rudolf.

"W-we... haven't found Arthur yet, sir," Gus, who occasionally glanced at Volka. Meanwhile, Volka did not dare to look at Arthur's father in the slightest for fear.

"Then, what do you guys mean to come here?" asked Rudolf with a half-lost smile.

"Can we sit for a while, sir? I have important things to tell you."

"Oh, ok. Please, sit down."

Rudolf invited Volka and Gus to sit in a pile of stones at the end of the cave, and he was no exception. This time Rudolf's face looked different from when he first greeted them. The reaction caused deep unease for Gus, especially Volka.

"What's the matter?" asked Rudolf. His tone sounded severe and flat.

"Look, I have something to tell you. Before, Arthur forbid me to say it, but I guess you need to know about this before I beg you not to be angry and keep listening to my story until it's over. Because, who knows from this story, there is something that is a clue to Arthur's disappearance at this time," Gus explained. The temple rabbit is ready to accept the consequences of what he will do now.

Rudolf nodded in agreement with Gus's request. Gus took a deep breath while turning to Volka for a moment. But unfortunately, this time, Volka did not reply to Gus's glance. Instead, he kept his head down with a look full of fear underground. Seeing Volka's uncharacteristic movement, of course, Rudolf felt that something was wrong. He was eager to ask but curious about what Gus was telling him.

Then Gus tells everything about what happens between him and Arthur. He feels relieved and nervous at the same time.

Rudolf's face changed even more from the beginning to the end of Gus's story. His eyebrows were bent with a smile that disappeared more and more on his lips. His gaze was flat as if he had hinted that he had heard all of Gus's stories well. Even so, until now, Rudolf still has no comment. This made Gus, especially Konsta, even more doubtful that they would survive the anger of the Jotun elder.

"M-Mr Odolf ...," called Gus the plan with skepticism.

Speechless, Rudolf stood firmly with Arthur's two friends still in touch. Before long, he stepped away without saying anything.

"Volka! Do something!" ordered Gus Volka, who had just regained consciousness from his silence.

"I don't... ah, all right. Let's hurry up before he goes any further!" said Volka.

The two also dashed following Rudolf's departure. Unfortunately, Rudolf was no longer seen when they came out of the cave. Several other Jotuns stood in front of the cave with confused faces.

"Aunt Kara, have you seen Mr. Odolf?" asked Gus at one of Arthur's aunts.

"yes, I saw him running fast towards the north. He even almost hit us because he was so hasty. What's wrong with him? Do you know anything about it?"