Chapter Eight - When it rains it pours...

As I said I didn't believe in the existence of that miraculous fruit but… Don't look at me like I was a fool. Okay, I had a glimmer of hope but I knew it would be too easy to find a cure. It may have been inside a novel but even an author wouldn't give such a quick fix.

She was around the age of my little brother so I wanted to protect her and get answers. She said she heard a maid talking about it. Was the maid repeating some silly rumour or did she have some other motive?

It wouldn't be unheard of for a servant to help kidnap a wealthy kid. Don't look at me like I've lost my mind. Anything and everything can happen in a book and it's not even that uncommon.

Anyway, the city was lively and clean, the houses were well-kept and the people generally seemed content. It was probably the better part of the town, but still, I got the feeling that the lord cared about their people to some extent and tried to make their lives better.

As we went on our way Persiana was chirping but I didn't really pay her much attention. I carefully observed our surroundings in case of another assault. But we reached the edge of the forest without incident.

„Are there monsters or dangerous animals in the forest?" I turned to Persiana.

„There are some wolves and bears, but they don't approach people, and monsters used to live here but nobody has seen them these days." It wasn't reassuring. I wanted to hear that they had never set foot there before. I had a bad feeling.

„Let's go." I took her hand and started leading her, asking for directions. I felt better if we were physically connected.

But she wasn't really sure where the lake was… Yeah, it wasn't easy. I felt like we had been wandering around aimlessly for hours until I heard a noise. I stopped her and waved her towards a tree to hide. She quickly and wordlessly obeyed.

I cautiously approached the source of the noise. I gasped for air when I finally saw what it was. It was three ogre-like creatures cornered a young man. The ogre's skin was ash-coloured as if they had died and they only wore some coarse clothing around their midsection. They were bigger than a human, about 1,5 our size. They had no hair and were very ugly, carrying some blunt weapons.

The man looked a few years older than me, wore simple clothes made out of good material and had a very nice, sharp sword. His ash-grey hair reached the nape of his neck and a few strands also hung in his eyes. His emerald green eyes gleamed with excitement as he stared at his opponents. He was tall, muscular and looked trained and experienced, but I couldn't tell if he could handle three ogres at once. Don't look at me like that. I am just telling my story as you asked.

I wanted to help, but I was afraid to distract him. I wondered what I could do. I crept closer, without a sound. The guy was really agile, dodged quickly and attacked without hesitation. The ogre's movements were sluggish and slow but still… One mistake could have resulted in a terrible injury as their attack seemed powerful. But he seemed used to fighting them. 

After watching for a while, I realized he was actually playing with them. He could have finished them off quickly and easily, but he enjoyed himself so he drew it out. I am not badmouthing, I'm just stating facts, okay? Everyone has hobbies, but some have questionable ones. Just kidding.

I tried to back away, knowing he wasn't in danger but our eyes suddenly met. And maybe that was the reason the ogres turned their attention to me. I took a step back and drew my sword. But I didn't get a chance to use it as he cut them down incredibly fast. I have never seen anything like it. Yes, I was impressed.

He jumped very high and landed on the shoulder of one of them to separate his head from his body. Damn, it wasn't a pretty sight. I didn't want to traumatize the child with it.

Seeing the dead body of their buddy, the ogres went berserk. Their movements became more violent and reckless. Could you kill ogres without making a gruesome scene? Just asking. 

I looked at the tree where Persiana was hiding, relieved I didn't see her peeking. If I were her, I would definitely watch, but she was better than me.

„Hey, could you not kill them?" He glanced at me like I was crazy. What a first meeting, right?

I didn't ask because I cared about them or because I fought for the rights of the ogres. I just wanted to spare Persiana as much as possible.

„Why?" He looked at me suspiciously. What the heck was he thinking? I didn't plan on keeping them as pets or anything, nor did I want to use their bodies for anything inappropriate.

„I have a child with me," I answered honestly.

„Then what do you expect from me? Should I invite them to tea?" He rolled his eyes. Rude. I didn't say he was wrong but… I sighed.

„Maybe if you had asked them out before you seduced them into the woods they wouldn't be so cranky." Yeah, I was unreasonable. Especially since while we had this little conversation he kept them at bay and protected us. „Could you make it less grotesque?" I looked at the body without a head. He was probably fed up with me but he just nodded.

A green aura enveloped his body as he leapt into action. During our conversation, he was only defending himself but now he started a serious attack. First, he cut their weapons in half with one clean move and then pierced their hearts. They fell onto their front sides with a loud thud. It was over.

„Thank you." I bowed and rushed to Persiana. „Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?" I crouched down next to her and hugged her with one arm.

„I am fine, thank you." She said but she was pale and her lips were trembling. She must have been scared. „I just need some time…

„Do you want to go home? I will accompany you." She shook her head vehemently and stood up on shaky legs.

„No! I will…" She faltered when she noticed that we were no longer alone. The guy followed me and silently stood next to me. „Who is this?" She looked at him with distrustful eyes.

„My name is Eiran and I am a mercenary. I have been entrusted with the task of exterminating these ogres so that the merchants could pass through the forest without fear." I didn't really believe him. He was too well-mannered and well-dressed for an ordinary mercenary. And I got the feeling he didn't care whether we believed him or not. That was his story, and he would stick to it without wavering. And I wasn't so different from him. Persiana was the only honest person among us.

„Then thank you for your assistance." She curtsied to him.

„No need, I got paid for it. But what are you doing in this forest?" He looked at us searchingly.

„We are looking for something." That's all she said. She didn't seem to trust just anyone, she was just honest with me because I gained her trust by protecting her. It was still naive but I felt she wasn't a lost cause. But she will need a serious scolding after she gets home.

„I just finished a job so I can escort you if you want. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want. I just want to get some money and I think it would be better for you if you have more protection in such a dangerous place."

„But Liri is quite strong." Thank you for the trust, but I had no experience fighting monsters so I didn't know how it would turn out. But it's up to her to decide. He looked like a decent guy but this matter was in Persiana's hand.

„I believe it, but…." He didn't seem to believe it but I held my tongue. „Isn't it better to have more people who can protect you? Just to be on the safer side."

„Well, all right…. I'll hire you." Persiana grew up in a rich family so she knew the power of money and believed in it. I would have been more cautious in her place if a stranger offered to help even if he asked for compensation. But we were very different and not just because I lived more. I didn't know if she was an only child or not, but even if she wanted to inherit her family title, I doubt they put much expectation and pressure on her until now. She seemed too carefree and innocent for that.

Although I wasn't the successor of my family and they would have never burdened me with anything, I felt a responsibility to protect my family, its name and honour. I would rather suffer and try harder than put them in danger by an unknown and unfamiliar person. Maybe I am a little too careful but I knew more about the workings of this world than anyone else. The unexpected and the impossible could happen at any time. If it was the main story and I knew what was going to happen I might be more relaxed.

But I had no idea what was coming so I had to be wary. Like I said, he looked like a decent guy and was pleasing to the eye. Okay, okay, he was incredibly handsome. Are you satisfied? If I was interested in romance and marriage I would have been attracted to him.

„Then from now on we are partners." He offered her a hand. She looked confused for a moment but then she shook it. I think it was her first handshake. It was rare for a man to reach out like this in this world. I looked at him curiously as I accepted his hand. It was also my first time in this body.

„Yes…" I nodded slowly after our hands parted. I didn't feel anything, okay? It was just whatever.

„What's your objective? Where do you want to go?"

„We want to see the Silver Lake." I guess, she didn't want to tell him about the fruit. She was smart enough to realize the more people knew, the more trouble it would bring one day.

„I passed by a lake when I was searching for the ogres, but I do not know if it was the lake you looking for or not. But I can guide you there if you want." He offered, gesturing in the direction.

„I think it's a good idea to take a look. Or are there several lakes in this forest?" I glanced at her.

„I have never heard of another lake." She shook her head. „I would like to see it.

We started walking at a steady pace. I was more at ease with him by my side, so I could appreciate the scenery. Yes, I trusted his abilities. He had proven his skills and I believed he would react immediately if anything attacked us before I had a chance to blink.

It was a colourful forest with tall trees that shaded us from the sun. It was a relatively hot summer day, so I really appreciated it. I meant it was nothing new, it had a nice, harmonious atmosphere and it calmed me down a bit. I was constantly anxious since my father's illness but back then I could breathe easier. I wondered if this forest had some special ability.

„Have you been here before?" Eiran started a conversation after a while as we progressed.

„No, it's my first time," I answered.

„I was here before with my family when I was little. I don't really remember but I think I was happy and everyone was laughing a lot." A wistful smile appeared on her lips. „I want to come back one day and have a picnic with my family."

„I hope your wish comes true." Eiran put his hand on her head and ruffled it. It was a very telling move. He didn't care about ranks for some reason. Either he was a also high-ranking person or it was meaningless to him. And he probably had younger siblings.

„I will make sure of it." She beamed at him, not protesting that he ruined her hair.

We had some casual conversations along the way. No one said anything important and we didn't try to pry into others business so the atmosphere was nice. Until we actually got to the lake.

„This is the lake I was talking about. Is this the one you were looking for?" Eiran asked her.

„Yes, this is the Silver Lake!" She began to run around excitedly, examining the trees until she stopped and dropped her shoulder in disappointment. „There are no fruits. Is it a bad season for them?" Persiana looked at us helplessly and Eiran looked troubled.

„I don't want to disappoint you, but this tree will never bear fruit because they aren't fruit trees." He told her the shocking truth and she began to tremble. She hugged herself and started mumbling something. I went closer to her and put my hand on her shoulder, but she didn't even notice it.

„It can't be. I was sure… I hoped… No way. How? I heard clearly that these fruits can cure all diseases… I believed that I could be healthy again and our family would be normal. I don't want to trouble them anymore. I just want to live a normal life with my family." I could understand her desperation and dismay. I shook her.

„Persiana!" I called her name.

„No! I can't anymore…." She knocked my hand aside and took a step back.

„Persiana." He called her in a very soothing voice but it didn't help. „Stop, please."

„No…No… No…" We both tried to calm her down and stop her, but we were too late. She fell into the lake.