One's Eden: Sword of Ren!

Chapter 12: Lost children (Part 2)

Hanayuki was a drag to an unknown part of the forest. In this part of the forest. The fog is more extreme you will think it's night time. There Hanayuki was hanging like food of a spider.

Looking around.

Hanayuki noticed some of the children sleeping with her on the giant web. And some sleeping in the giant flower with comfy expression.

Hanayuki continues to be observant and noticed that the children s are never hurt.

"They seem not hurt..."

Said Hanayuki.

"Mama... Mama..."

One cry of the children sleeping in the flower. The way the child calls her mother while sleep looks familiar to Hanayuki.

It's like in the time she was having a bad dream and her mother wake her up. Saying " Don't worry Hanayuki, Mama is here."

Those precious times Hanayuki dear so much flash through her sight.

The child in the flower started to stop calling her mother. The child started to reach something unknown. After few seconds, the hand just collapse and the child's color started to get pale.

Just by looking at that, Hanayuki realize it.

"That child is dead... How horrible? What is this I'm started to get sleepy... I need to stay awake... Need to save the children... Their... Mother... Is waiting..."

Hanayuki fell asleep.

At that moment a shadow of a giant butterfly appeared.

"My children... My children... No need to worry... Mother is here..."

Said fairy.

The fairy smiled and fly toward one of the children. Casting unknown magic. The child started to have a pleasant expression.

The fairy didn't even look at the corpse of some little children.

After the children died in the flower. The flower petals started to close and eating the body of the child. Using its acid to dissolve the child's body and get its nutrients.

"I'm full again... My power is full again... It's a shame kid died easily... They died easily... Why I'm doing things? Huh? I need to take care of my child... Child... This child? Right, this child is my child. They are my child..."

The crimson red eyes of the fairy started to glow even brighter.

The fairy that lost her own soul also lost her sanity.

The delusion she has, and the reality she can't accept. The fairy wanted things to fade. Except for her love for her child.

"My child? This is not my child!"

The fairy killed a little boy by squashing its head.

"My child? Where are you? Who are you?"

She muttered while staring at the blood in her hands.

The fairy is insane.

The fairy turns her glance upward. Toward Hanayuki.

She started to blush a little and fly toward Hanayuki.

With a smile, she gently touched Hanayuki's head and face.

"She's cute just like me when I was younger. Her hair is the same color as mine before. Are you my child? Are you my beloved daughter? You are my child... Let's start a new life and live together."

The fairy said as she untangled Hanayuki from the web. She carries Hanayuki and put her to the comfortable bed of flower.

There The fairy also slept beside Hanayuki smiling. Her heart is beaming with happiness.

"Scent of milk and soap. It's the scent of a nice girl... Let's go to another side of life. Where pain doesn't exist. A place we can become happy together... Lenny."

The fairy's insane delusion continues as she cast a spell that makes her go through and control Hanayuki's dream world.

...

Going back to the town of Lilia.

A carriage with slaves arrived.

The master of the slaves. Started to complain about the sight he saw.

"What is this? Is this an abandoned town? At this rate, no one gonna buys my slave... I'm doing my best to raise my slave, why this thing has to happen. Gasp! It's already past noon. Need to feed the slaves. I lost the direction of time because of the silence."

The master goes down to his horse and open the door of the carriage.

Inside, ten slaves are confined. Four adult men, three women, two little boys,s and one girl.

"Hurry up, it's lunchtime. You all need to eat properly. That will raise your value... Hurry up!"

The slaves go down from the carriage and sit down to the log nearby with their ration of food from their master.

"Hey, you! Ron needs to work out more. Many customers like a handsome well build man... Hey! Cecily and Miyu! Eat with manners! Etiquette is important. Good boy! Marco and Simon eat with your fill..."

Then he turns his glace to one girl that has lifeless eyes. His eyes became sharp and angry piss off expression is drawn to his face.

"Oi... Oi! Lenny! Eat your food already! Lenny can you hear me?!"

The girl named Lenny just stares at the angered expression of her master.

"You're so thin! What should I do with you? You're a cute girl many old men like a girl like you as a favorite, but if this continues your quality is going ugly."

"Master it's no use. She's not eating since she comes with us. Maybe she's planning to kill herself."

Said one of the master's partners.

"Your right, food, and the product we used to groom her are going to waste. Lenny if don't eat your food we're going to leave you here in the forest... My word doesn't reach her. The previous owner did a number on her I guess.

"Can she understand our words?"

"I don't know, her last master just gives her to me at a cheap price. This must be the reason. She's a defect... That's it! I don't want someone in my product to die. I guess it's done. Lenny, we're leaving you behind... Do whatever you want!"

After the slave finishes their food. They left Lenny in the town near the entrance of the forest.

Still in silence.

She wonders and walked aimlessly.

Started to hum a lullaby. After humming she speaks.

"God if you are real. Then, why our humans need to suffer in their trials? Why need to put us on the trail? Are you just sitting on your throne, looking down on us while we suffer in your trial? If I died Am I able to meet you? Tell me?"

Lenny said.

Lenny continues walking and walking. Then she entered the forest. She didn't even notice the illusions surrounding the forest the scared a lot of people.

She didn't notice. She just walks and walk. She didn't even know she's inside the forest.

Vines from the predator plant is about to attack her.

"Are you okay?"

At that time, Ren is also in the same location and save Lenny's life.

"Huh? Why you saved me? I'm prepared to die? Why you saved me?"

Lenny started to cry and look into Ren's eyes.

Meeting a crying girl in the forest, who wanted to die. What in the world is happening? How can a girl say such thing as dying?

After that, I flashback occurs to my head.

Everyone is afraid of death, that's why we struggle.

That's what the old man said in the bar.

That explains why she's crying.

"Little miss, I don't know what kind of tough fate you are facing. Now let me get you out of here."

I said.

"Don't... I wanted to die... It's true... It's true..."

She said as she cries.

This girl is obviously lying.

"Of course, you want to live."

I carry the girl to my shoulder and run toward the exit as far as I can.

This fog again.

"What?"

The moment we crossed the fog. We found ourselves in another part of the forest.

I'm supposed to be in the nearest part toward the entrance. Is those fog making illusions again? That's not impossible. This forest is indeed a new habitat for a high-level monster.

It's so dark here. It's supposed to be high noon.

If something is weird then it's the monster around me that is to blame.

This place is the habitat of a dangerous monster. I need to be extra cautious.

I need to focus.

The give in my shoulder started to beat me up by struggling.

"Let me down! Let me down! Let me down!"

She said.

"Stop, I can't focus."

"I wanted to die! I wanted to die! Finish my life already! I don't want to suffer anymore! Mama! Mama! Mama!"

As she continues to wail. I put her down and slap her face. My slap is not that good but it still, makes her left cheek red.

She stopped for a second and turn her glance to my eyes.

"You calling your mother aren't you? That means you wanted to be with her. You don't want to die... Stop saying such things and continue to live."

I said sincerely.

I draw my sword again ad make it burst with flames. using the flame of the sword. We can see in this dark part of the forest.

My magic sensing ability is not working yet. This part also gives me a lot of chills. This is not good.

The girl beside me still looks toward my face silently.

"What is staring at? You're making me feel uneasy. Just stay beside me. I'm going to protect you from the monsters in this forest."

"Protect me? Why Protect me? We are strangers to each other. Why protect me?"

She asks.

This girl likes to ask so much.

"I don't know, I just feel like saving you. Your still a child. You still have a better future to face... The monster here they come."

Rumbles are heard.

I said and turned my body toward the direction I sense the presence.

"Giant boar?!"

One giant boar charge at us with high speed.

These kinds of monsters are no different from some animals. This will be an easy target.

Assassination s***h!

As I swing my sword. I cut his neck part and make the boar go down to the ground.

"Amazing, I never saw someone killed a monster this big with just one sword..."

She said.

I walked toward the girl and asked.

"Tell me your name. I don't what to call you 'hey' or 'you'."

"My name is Lenny."

"Lenny... I see... Then, with this boar, we can eat a little. I'm out of energy and this might help me gain my strength."

I said and check the parts of the boar.

And notice something on this back.

"An arrow? Don't tell me?"

I turned my back toward the same direction where the boar came from and deflected an arrow that is about to make a hole in my head.

"That's not cool, that's my prey you know."

I looked toward the arrow and make me feel that it's something familiar.

I've seen this arrow before. That's right this white arrow is designed for the royal knights.

I deflected another shot of an arrow.

"That's good agility you have there. Well, I suppose you make a great opponent."

"You're a knight, right? If you have pride. Then, stop hiding already and show yourself."

I said to torment him.

"What did you say?! I'm a bowman why would I show myself to my opponent?"

My torment failed.

"Well.. you better watch your back mister assassin."

With his words, I realized that h not the only royal knight in this location.

"Behind you!"

Shouted Lenny.

It's so dark I didn't sense him. It's a huge man in armor with a huge sword.

A berserk class!

The impact of his sword is so powerful cutting some trees with his single strike.

Plant monster, fairy, lost children, bowman, berserker, etc. Just how many annoying things are here?

The fog started to get thinner. the surrounding started to light up.

A lady with gold short hair that reached her shoulder show up. With lots of other royal knights in her back.

Have such pretty eyes and a pretty face.

Who is this fine lady?

"Ho, we have a visitor? No one told me about this. Benedict, you swing your sword again without thinking. You're going to injured a young girl."

"Sorry, my lady."

"And you Raffael, you failed to kill a boar with a single arrow. It's your fault it runs away."

"Your right, my lady."

"And you two... Assassin class and young girl. What are you two doing in such a dangerous place?"

She asked.

"Why would I tell you? Who do you think you are?"

I replied.

Judging her all-mighty attitude. I guess she is the leader of this royal knight.

Why would I tell my goal to someone that nearly kill me earlier?

"What's with that attitude?!"

The man named Raffael show himself and pointed his bow to me.

"Stop Raffael! I guess, is not aware of my status. That's why he acted that way."

"You are a lucky man today."

The golden-haired girl walked to me and introduce herself.

"Sorry for the late introduction mister assassin. My name is Yusael Archangel. The daughter of the current king of Arsland."

"Daugther of the king?"

Does that mean this is the princess?!

Lenny is speechless after hearing those words.

I can't blame her for being like that.

"That's right, I'm the princess of the continent your standing at. As the princess, I wanted you to kiss my shoe."

The princess said as she looks down on me.