Chapter 15

"Are you hungry?"

She said to the child gently.

While this child was just looking downward and staying in silence. They are one meter apart from each other while sitting and the table was in between them.

When she had realized that this child has no plan to answer her she felt disappointed and didn't know how to get along with her.

She sighed then looks at this child again. She was wearing a violet fabric at her neck, she had a pointed nose and long straight hair. As she keeps staring at this little girl she appreciates the beauty that she had. A sudden smile appeared on her face.

"You're beautiful."

This child slowly lifted her head to see Fontana's face. She seriously looks at Fontana.

"You know... You'll be prettier if you smile."

Then she just continues smiling at this girl.

"Is your favorite color is violet?"

And looks at the coiled fabric at this child's neck once.

This child slowly opens her mouth then talks.

"Y-yes... Yes, it is."

A great satisfaction suddenly appeared within her chest when she finally heard the voice of this little girl. She showed a sweeter smile than before.

"Glad to know. What is you're name?"

"I will tell my name if you promise that you're not going to eat me."

Fontana's smile on her face disappeared when she heard these words. She bowed for a moment then brought back her sight into this girl and smiled again.

"I will promise. I will promise that I will not going to eat you."

About almost ten seconds bygone when this little girl responded.

"Crylle Joy is my name."

"Wow... What a magnificent name. It's very admirable."

"And you? What is your name?"

She felt really glad right now. This was the very first time that she had a conversation with a child and she could prove to Crylle that even if she has a monster within her she has also a heart of softness.

"My name is Fontana. Nice to meet you Crylle. By the way, how old are you?"

"N-nice to meet you too Fontana."

She bows her head then puts together her hands at the table.

"I'm already eight years old."

"You are? Wow... When I was eight years old I-"

She suddenly stopped talking when she had remembered something.

'Eight years old? When I was eight years old?'

An unintentional whisper of her appeared in her mind.

In her mind, she was being driven into the hapless memory of her.

An eight-year-old Fontana was poorly crying because of the absence of her parents. She was in the woods until she had reached a city while continuous crying was still there.

While Crylle was wondering what was happening with Fontana for her eyes was wide open and never blinks. Indeed, she also felt afraid by this manner of her.

"A-are you okay? F-Fontana? Fontana, are you okay?"

Fontana starts to sweat and when she suddenly took a very deep breath Crylle immediately stood up and stepped backward for it made a horrible sound.

"You had promised that you'll not going to eat me... You promised."

Crylle starts to shiver.

When she attempts to take one more step backward a loud sound appeared because of an immediate collapse of Fontana. Her eyes are closed then Crylle observed Fontana in a few seconds and when she realized that Fontana cannot attack her with that situation she slowly walks towards her.

'Eight years old... Eight years old...'

This whisper of her keeps floating in her mind.

She felt nothing in her body but she felt the unbearable emotion.

At first, she saw the blurred face of her father and as well as her mother while holding tightly her hands. At the left was her father and at the right was her mother. They are running in a rush while great fear in their faces was shown.

'There they are! Go after them!'

Footsteps of armed men were heard. They are all chasing the three.

Finally, she saw the faces of her mother and father when they stopped at a secret place in the woods for they temporarily lost the armed men. Her mother's tears were falling while holding her face as if it was the last touch of her, eventually, it was. And her father hugged her so tight then kissed her forehead.

They said something that made her cry intensely but she couldn't hear what they are saying at this eight years old Fontana.

Then after all of it, everything went blurred.

'Fontana, wake up.'

A voice from Sakar was slowly appearing.

At last, she was being awakened from the memories that she had considered the most penurious.

She slowly opens her eyes then feels that her right cheek was wet. She knows that it was her tears. She wiped it with her left hand and before sitting she saw Crylle at her front, sitting on the floor while hugging her knees and looking at her.

She leans against the wall and looks at Crylle. Fontana didn't know what to say to this child after all she had already witnessed.

"H-how are you?"

These were the words that just came out of her mouth.

Instead of answering her question, Crylle questioned her too.

"Why did you cry?"

Seriously looking at this little girl while thinking that maybe even if she will going to tell everything Crylle would probably cannot understand her.

"Umm... You know Crylle there are times in our life that we could feel sorrow but always remember that it is normal for we have feelings."

Crylle looks at the floor then speaks.

"What made you sad?"

Now, she thinks that Crylle cannot understand everything but still, she would try to tell her. Hoping that it would work.

"Where are your parents?"

This child slowly turns her sight to Fontana then after a few seconds she turns her sight to the right side of where the bakery is located. Fontana already knew what she means to say and she knows that it wasn't a pleasant question but she wants Crylle to understand her, if possible.

Crylle turns her sight again to Fontana with a very sad face.

"I'm sorry... Sorry for their loss."

This little girl just remains silent while keeps looking at her. But after about a half-minute she speaks again.

"Where are your parents?"

It is like her heart jumps too high after hearing what Crylle had said.

She sighed then bows her head. She tries to control herself from emotion.

"I don't know... I just remembered that they left me alone in the woods because of unclear reasons. I had said the unclear reason for I didn't know why those armed men chased us."

She stopped when realized something.

'Armed men...'

As she whispered.

The image of the armed men in her mind was too blurry. In this case, she had no idea from whom those armed men get a command.

She thinks that maybe having her tattoo was connected to the situation of her parents heretofore but if it was, she needs more information to prove that it was. While Crylle nears her and sits beside her. Fontana looks at this child's behavior.

"From now on, I will never fear you."

Then she leans at Fontana's right arm.

She felt at home with this little girl.

A sudden appearance of Shan in her mind appeared. She didn't know why it suddenly popped up but maybe she remembered him for his the only one who had loved her so much. She just smiles and looks forward.

"Are you hungry?"

"No. I just want to be with you."

She slowly looks at this little girl while her eyes are closed, cherishing the moments with her. But Fontana cannot stay too long beside this poor Crylle.

"Do you know how to cook?"

"Yeah, you want me to cook for you?"

"No, I just asked."

She felt relieved when knows that she could cook for her survival.

"Just tell me if you want."

"Okay."

"Fontana, will you stay with me?"

Fontana suddenly bows her head. She doesn't want to disappoint her but she doesn't know what to say.

Crylle sits straight from leaning on Fontana's arm and looks at her with a begging face.

"Will you?"

She slowly looks at this little girl then smiles.

"You know how to draw?"

"Of course."

"Great. Then draw me, would you?"

This little girl cheerfully stood up with a big smile on her face once.

"Of course. Give me a moment, I will get my pencil and a piece of paper."

After getting those materials she sits in front of her. On the right hand, she was holding a violet pencil and on the left hand, she was holding a clean white paper.

"Don't move, okay?"

"Okay..."

Then she begins to draw.

In another place, footsteps can be heard then it stopped exactly beside the billboard of Limnon City, at the very entrance of this city.

"Is this the right way?"

A husky voice of a man said.

"Yes, this is the right way. I could sense it."

As another man responded.

"Then let us continue."

He added.

And they began stepping forward again.

Eventually, after about fifteen minutes Crylle was finally drawn her. She joyfully handed it over to Fontana.

"Wow... Excellent."

"Do you like it?"

"No."

Crylle's smile slowly disappeared.

"Because I love it."

And when she heard it she was shocked and it made her giggled for a second. Fontana lifted her head to see Cyrille's happy face. It was like Crylle made her heart melt and now she feels that she's not just someone else but a special one. She bows her head again and keeps staring at this drawing.

Not that 3D but it was very impressive for an eight-year-old like Crylle especially she draws it with all of her heart just for her.

"Keep this."

While handing over this drawing to Cyrille.

"I'll surely keep this."

Then received the drawing from Fontana.

Fontana stood up and picked up the sword. This child starts to worry about her action. She immediately stood up while still holding the piece of paper then near Fontana.

"What are you doing?"

She turned her sight to this poor child.

"Keep that drawing and with that, I am always beside you."

A tear was slowly dropping from this child's eye.

"Are you leaving?"

"I am sorry Crylle but I need to go."

"But what about me?"

Fontana sighed then kneels.

"You are not alone Crylle. I am always with you, always. Just keep that drawing, okay? For I will try to mend everything."

Her loud cry started.

"Come on, don't cry."

Fontana slowly lifted her arms forward to have a goodbye hug from her. She slowly walks forward to reach her arms and get a warm hug. She cries on Fontana's shoulder for a few seconds then lets go of her.

"You made me feel special, Fontana."

"Me too."

Then she wiped her tears on her cheeks with her left hand and hug carefully the drawing.

"Can you promise me?"

She stares in silence at Crylle for a moment before responding.

"What is it?"

"Promise me that you will come back for me."

"I..."

She bowed her head. The confusion was driving her to hardship. She cannot assure that she can come back alive after going to the King but she cannot break this child's heart.

"Fontana?"

Lifted her head again and stare at her.

"I will promise. I... I will promise that I will come back for you."

After hearing this, Crylle suddenly smiled.

"Thank you."

This was very hard for her. Hard to grant her promise for she doesn't know what was waiting there for her, is it triumph or doom?

She stood up then turns backward. Slowly walking forward and when she had finally reached the door and attempts to hold the knob she immediately stopped when Crylle speaks at the back.

"Be always careful my kindhearted monster and come back, okay?"

A smile appeared on her face.

"Yes, I will."