The Time Stone Crystal

Chapter 15 - When Kristoff Met Kairo

SHE HEARD three knocks from the door of her room, wondering who her visitor is. She doesn’t have plans to get up and open it, but she isn’t a rude person. In the end, she slowly got up and slowly sauntering with laziness. Who is this? It is late at night. She turned the doorknob, then opens the door, and saw Kristoff smiling at her.

"Hi!"

"Kristoff ..."

"Uhm ... Let’s go downstairs, your dinner is ready. You haven't eaten since earlier, and for sure, you are hungry," said the young man.

"Huh? Ah...I'm full. I mean—" She heard her stomach growl again.

Kristoff smiled. "You're still making excuses. Come on. We've cooked some delicious dishes you'll like."

"What did you cook?"

"Come down first," he let out a smile again.

"Alright. I'll just change my clothes."

"Okay. I'll wait for you here outside."

She just smiled at him, and then she closed the door. She did not refuse anymore and felt herself starving. After getting changed her clothes, she left her room with Kristoff. While ambling downstairs, Kristoff talked to her with his naughty non-sense things about what they had cooked. Every time she had a conversation with him, she feels comfortable and at ease. Unlike Kairo, she feels comfortable when he kissed her.

The fragrant smell of marinated chicken was permeated to her nose and looking on the table’s menu. She was barely sure that it was freshly cooked and still on reek. Right there, Mrs. Landrake and Hander were waiting for them at the dining area.

"It's good that you went down. You better eat, and I know you are hungry." Mrs. Landrake invited her to sit down and eat.

"Who cooked the dishes? And how do you know this kind of recipe?" she wondered, then rolled his eyes at the three. On the other side, she was amazed and never thoughts they could cook well. She was referring to the chicken adobo and chicken tinola. She, even more, wanted to taste it. 

The three looked at each other as if who will explain to her.

"I'll explain," Kristoff said. "We knew you hadn't eaten earlier, and we thought you might not like venison meat. So here we are and prepared these dishes that are suited to your taste. Mrs. Landrake helped us to find these recipes from your place and, of course, with the help of Master Kairo."

Her forehead wrinkled. "Kairo?"

"Yes." Hander nodded. "He taught and gave the right recipe. Eat well."

She thought something. Despite what happened to them, Kairo still thought about her even though they had misunderstandings. That man! She was slightly shaken her head, then pulled the chair and sat down.

"Just eat before the tinola soup gets cold." Mrs. Landrake serves her.

"I am eating this alone? Will, you sit down and eat with me⸻" She had not finished talking to them, but the two young men were about to sit down and get the cutlery. She looked at Mrs. Landrake were already smiling at the two.

"Like you, they are also hungry. Kristoff and Hander had a hard time catching the chickens from the coop," Mrs. Landrake said.

She glanced at the two men in front of her. "Did you do that for me? In this cold weather outside?"

"Y-yes. There is a big chicken coop in the backyard of Mrs. Landrake's house, so we caught it." Kristoff’s mouth was full while answering her.  

On the other hand, she faced the delicious food at the dinner table, and the three of them enjoyed it. Mrs. Landrake also joined them.

AFTER they finished eating and helped clean the dining area, they went to the veranda. Kristoff prepared a cup of tea for them while watching the deep night.

She burped. "Oh, thank god. I'm full. I indeed enjoyed the food," she said.

"Hander was the one who thought of hunting a chicken instead of getting some wild animals outside. I thought of that too, so I followed Hander to coop."

"Thank you." She noticed the two men that Kristoff was the one who spoke most often while the young man Hander was the quiet one but also intervened, sometimes.

"And thank Master Kairo too; if it weren't for him, we wouldn't be able to cook it properly." Kristoff continued.

"Is that so?" She stared at the cup of tea that Kristoff had handed her recently. How can she deal with the young man when they misunderstand, and she also feels ashamed? "Kairo... Does he often go into different eras?"

"We didn't know much about Master Kairo's activities when he was in Dimensional Time and Space. But what we knew is that he often travels to maintain balance in our world," Kristoff replied to her.

"Have you known him for a long time?" she asked.

"If you ask me, it's been a long time. About ten years ago. Hander, Jigger, Vixen, and I have different backgrounds of knowing him. Besides, we have a little information about his personal life."

"Who is Vixen, Kristoff? I haven't seen him yet."

"Ah..."

"Kairo's right hand." Hander replied quickly. "He is in the palace and the one who temporarily in charge there. He does not spend much time with Master Kairo, usually in travels because he has a lot to do and take care of in the palace while he is away."

"Hander is right. Vixen is a brave warrior and also naughty one when it comes to women." Kristoff smiled.

"It looks like he's just you," Hander whispered.

"And at least I'm a very gentleman with women. I respect them." Kristoff defended himself.

"Respect?" Hander's voice had a tone of disbelief in his comrade. "It's just that you have the same feathers then flocked together."

"Well, we are better than you that the rice grain is approaching the chicken, but you don't want to beak." Kristoff teased Hander.

"Don't start me, and I might peel you alive," Hander replied seriously, but it sounds not furious.

Kristoff laughed to Hander.

On the other hand, Weng feels that the two have been together and exchange naughty words.

Kristoff turned to her. "Let me give you a story about us and how we met Master Kairo."

And there, Kristoff recounts his first encounter with Kairo Middlestone.

Ten years ago...

Kristoff was not born into a wealthy family living in a European country, but they had large tracts of land cultivated by his family. They are five siblings, and he is the only eldest son. He was only twenty years old when he began to help his father on the farm.

"This is the last rattan basket of grapes. Put this on the truck now so we can go home," Kristoff's father told him.

"Yes," the young man replied.

Some men helped harvest those grapes, and it was at dusk. The others acted to finish their work on the farm and went home as soon as possible.

IN THE EVENING, after their dinner, everyone sat in a circle in front of the bonfire. Kristoff was there as his father gathered them. The night was cold, so the heat that brought the fire to their bodies was just right.

"I have called you to inform you of a great blow that has come upon us," said his father.

"What kind of problem is that, Mr. Engelbert?" asked one of their men.

"Listen. The king of Britain wants to buy all the lands in our area, but a few landowners and I disagree with what they want. If I do not sign their seal, they will wage war so that they can get the land forced," his father said thoughtfully.

"I also disagree. How about us if there’s no land to tillage," the other man in second the motion.

"That's why I gathered you to talk about it. Honestly, I do not want my family to be involved in this problem because my children are still tots. The large amount they will pay I can share with you to get started, but I do not want to sell it because this is my ancestors' legacy."

“We understand you, Mr. Engelbert. Whatever your decision, we will support you, ”said the previous man.

He was slightly saddened by what he heard. If he could only do something, this thing would not have happened. Silence also prevailed around them, and his elders seemed to be thinking as well.

"I will buy this land!"

She looked up the same as the others when they heard the man's voice from a distance. They slowly got up from seated while avoiding the light coming from the man’s form. Kristoff also slightly backed away his sight and shielded his hand from the light. Eventually, the light gradually faded, and they could see the face of the man.

"Who are you? What can we do for you, Sir?” his father asked.

His fifteen-year-old sister Elaine approached him. “Brother Kristoff, who is he? Is he a god?”

"Ssssh." He put his finger in his mouth as a sign not to make any noise.

"I repeat, what do you mean by buying my land?" his father asked the man again.

“I also repeat my answer. I will buy your land so that the Royal King of Britain will not be interested anymore. I will give you the right to the land again in exchange for a request,” said the man.

"What request are you making up to, Sir?"

His father negotiated with him while he just stared at the man. His face was so gentle that he was wearing almost as white as snow. His hair is long, but it is ponytailed while both hands are just behind his back.

"I want him to be my follower." At the same time, it pointed him.

He was nervous. This is the first time someone has been interested in him being a slave to others.

"Don't worry, young man." It refers to him. “We will train you as my warriors. I will provide your family and the whole village with all the needs in exchange for your service. I am not an adverse man, so you should not be afraid of me. ”

Kristoff felt every word it said was magic, so he immediately obeyed him. His parents did not object to the welfare of his family, especially his younger sisters. He immediately put away his belongings to go with him. As he was arranging things, his sister Elaine approached him and looked up at her glimpse.

"Brother Kristoff. Be careful where your place to go. He looks kind, and he will not leave you alone. I feel that.” Her sister sounded gentle.

“Thank you. You take care of our siblings while I'm away. Don't worry, and I will come back sooner and ask permission from him at least to glance at you and the family,” he said.

“Don't worry about us, Brother. The man said that your life would be fine with him, so we were complacent. I also talked to him that you will travel to any part of the world. Can you get me things that other places have? I think it's called a souvenir.” She smiled.

"Yes, and I will do what you wish, my dear sister."

"Maybe when you come back here, you will be married." His sister sounded teasing him.

"our family is my priority,” he replied.

“I know that. Do not forget your wills and promises, Brother Kristoff. ”

“Yes, I promise. Thank you.”

He said goodbye to his family one by one, and then he went with the stranger. That wasn't easy in his situation because he was used to being with his whole family every day, but he had to do it. Although she had no idea where the man would take him as long as he knew, he promised that he would be fine. The man rode on his horse while another horse is waiting for him. He will again later ask who the man is that suddenly appeared in their deep conversation.