Tales of Revenants

Chapter 3 – Scar

The night went by and Laken got a much more breather in the morning dawn. No danger befalls on them and mother nature embraced them on a new day.

While the sun rays still warm the cheeks of Luciella who still hasn't woken up yet, Laken prepared all of his equipment and other stuff before they go to their next move.

“Wake up Luciella. We need to prepare first before departing,” Laken suggested and the lazy Luciella is quite troublesome to wake up even after a few shakes.

“Hmm...? What is it? Five more minutes...” Luciella yawned.

“You still don't understand your position huh? Oh, I've got no choice,” Laken mumbled in a facepalm.

“W-What are you doing?” Laken went and carried her just like how one carries a cat or dog in an unfashionable manner. He got no choice but to leave the area before any hunters find them.

Luciella resisted and wanted to just walk on her own, but Laken takes a position and then swiftly takes a leap by jumping branch to branch on the trees. He stopped when they reach a river.

Her head's too groggy to even comprehend the sweet chirping of the little birds let alone walk on her own.

“I almost puked because of your sudden cross-jumping like a monkey,” Luciella complains and she lazed on the grasses.

“We must not leave a trail or else they'll follow our footprints. And get undress already, don't you want to get a bath in the river?” Laken suggested. Even if he is a great fighter, he still lacks delicacy.

“Wh-What are you doing getting n***d in front of me?!” Luciella's way too flustered as she turns back. Laken carefully undid his protective armor.

Right after removing the fabric that serves as undergarments, placing them on the huge stones where he can see them. He finally soaked himself on the rushing cold water of the river just like how he wanted first thing in the morning.

“Does half-elf doesn't get a bath?” Laken hinted.

“It's not like that! Wait, how did you know I was a half-elf?” Luciella was surprised.

“I guess your pointy ear was not as long as a real elf.” Laken simply answer. The half-elf is the result of a human and elf conceiving a child.

Although half-elf doesn't have that much magical affinity than a pure elf, and sometimes they don't retain the physical appearance just like how Luciella's ear was only pointy and the width is not long as of an elf's.

“Argh! forget it. Still, you lack sensitivity...” she simply sat on the stones near the riverside in the opposite direction of where Laken takes a bath not even showing any signs of shame or anything.

“I'm finished. Your turn now.”

“So fast! W-Well... I guess I'll get a breather,” Luciella was so shy she kept her eyes closed while waiting for Laken to finish getting his clothes on.

Inadvertently, Luciella didn't mean to peek but she saw a glimpse of something on him. A cross-like scar on Laken's chest big enough to be visible. It looked like a stigma for her and she was bothered by it. She never had the courage to ask and Laken now dons his armor.

“Before anything, could you wash that cape?” Laken asked. She's still holding the cape until now.

“You mean this white cape? I'd do it.” Luciella was pretty submissive.

“I have a lot of questions for you later. I'll gather something to eat and firewood, so wait here.”

“O-Okay.” Just like that, Laken vanished on thin air to gather some necessities, leaving Luciella in the riverbank.

That is the time she reluctantly undresses to take a bath in the river offered by nature. The forest where they are currently is called Mist Forest, the southern part of the Skyhaven forest.

No one tries to venture here solely as it is abundant of Nightbeast lurking around, waiting to find prey. But all the Nightbeast around the world are nocturnal so it is safe during the daytime.

But even the townsfolk refused to go, they considered it as the cursed forest and Luciella felt the tension as she washed the white cape near the rocks where the running water is mild.

“This cape tainted in blood reminds me of the scene yesterday... Laken took life just to survive, yet the disdain hatred was plenty to render himself emotionless. The hatred of oneself...” Luciella muttered to herself under contemplation.

She washed and cleaned the white cape as Laken ordered. While cleaning it thoroughly, Luciella can't believe her eyes how fast it is to remove the dirt and blood with a simple scrub.

“Is this... A special cloth?” It turns out the fabric used to design the cape is special and could easily remove any impurities.

Luciella is more mesmerized when it dried up pretty quickly when she placed it on a thornless branch faster than drying up her body.

“Hey there.”

“Wha-!” Luciella flinched.

Laken arrived out of nowhere carrying a handful of firewood and two mountain bunny he hunted down for their food.

“You startled?” Laken tried to be friendly.

“Yes, I am!” Luciella growled. “I thought my heart would come out. Yeesh.” Luciella angrily hits Laken's shoulders as if they were that close.

“You know how to set a fire?” Laken asked.

He takes a concealed serrated knife on the leather garments enveloping his left leg to prepare and skin the bunnies.

“Of course! I'm a mage and simple fire magic would suffice.” Luciella found herself boasting. She immediately returns modest and prepared the firewood.

“Saves time, wait here,” they took their leisure time to have a regular morning. Laken butchered the mountain bunny and tucked them in sticks that came from sharp but long tree branches.

While Luciella simply cast elemental fire magic to start the firewood. They seemingly cooked the bunny together as if that was what they always do.

They never said a thing or two. They are tight sitting on a big cracked ancient stone. The distance of them was far more silent than the scenery of the tranquil forest.

Until Luciella couldn't hold the brakes of the enigma. She took the initiative because she wanted to understand him more.

“Laken! It's rude of me to suddenly ask questions, but could you answer them honestly?” Luciella's trembling but felt determined as the streaming river sways forth and letting loose of the tides known as fate.

His eyes were closed, he listens to the very breath of nature around him, with every falling leaf, every movement of water, and even the voice of the wind, as if he became one with nature.

“Answer mine first, and I'll at least reciprocate two of your questions.” Laken opened his eyes facing Luciella's determination.

“Th-Then... What is it you wanted to ask?” Luciella asked slightly concern.

“I just wanted to learn all of your combat capabilities. We're going to fight the kingdom you once defended. What magic you can use and what can they do?” his concentration is only focused on her response considerably.

“It's not like I'm good at magic from the beginning... Aside from elemental manipulation, I have at least four magic spells.” Luciella answered with all her honesty. She may be a bit unconfident as she was just an apprentice mage.

“Oh?” Laken's interest was piqued. “Continue,” he simply said.

“My first magic is just Fireball, the basic spell of any mages, second is Thunder Enchant; a type of enchanting magic that allows me to embody the spirit of thunder in any kind of weapons and armaments,” Luciella explained and even demonstrated them in front of Laken as a chanted spell.

“Hmm... What about the other two?” Laken questions.

“The third spell I can use is simply Aqua Geyser, it is a lower type of magic that summons a whirling torrent of water.” Luciella demonstrated it near the river.

In the middle of the spell where it was cast, it stopped the stream and summoned a mini geyser that is strong enough to rip even the rocks and dead branches.

“Interesting, and the last one?” He asked. “My last magic is Light Blessing, a kind of support type magic where the healing level can only restore a scrape or wound. They are not that special...” as Luciella finished answering, Laken is under critical contemplating on how he could use her spell in combat.

“It's my turn now.” Luciella reminded him of the compromise they both demanded.

“Ask twice. I'll answer them too with my everything.” The burning conviction imprinted on Laken's eyes was enough to separate the meek demeanor of Luciella temporarily, allowing her to ask about the thing on his chest.

“Th-Then... What is the scar on your chest?” Luciella's eyes rounded in resolution. She had the courage and would no longer slip that single chance she had.

“It's a scar inflicted by a unique blade when I fought someone in the past,” Laken replied.

Luciella quite felt distressed to learn that the large cross on his chest is a scar inflicted by an enemy. Even so, she continued to ask the second question.

“Why are you venturing in the Mist Forest? What is it you want to accomplish in the Skyhaven Kingdom?” Firmly asked by Luciella.

“I knew you would ask that. Care to listen to a tale? Or perhaps it is a prophecy.” Laken reciprocated but not with the answer.

“I'll listen,” said Luciella. Laken stood in front of her, carrying his concealed sword, he faced back, as if hiding his facade.

“When the decade turns bloom, wishes wilt, the blue moon turns red, tears also shed. Near the kingdom beside the sky, take the third princess' hand, only then your true journey shall be granted.” Laken's sorrow of the past was not visible, but through his voice, Luciella was able to feel what is in his heart.

“The kingdom beside the sky... Is it the Skyhaven Kingdom?” Luciella asked once again.

Even though she is only allowed to ask a question twice, Laken willingly answered the third one.

“Yes, and that is the last call of the voice in my head...” he was mourning but did not let him show his weak side to her.

“I...” Luciella couldn't continue to speak. She was confused and still trying to follow the situation she caught in.

“That's why I need to find the third princess of the Skyhaven Kingdom. If you're done asking, let's go now.” Laken prepares to depart.

Luciella was still speechless, they now left the Mist Forest towards the Skyhaven where Laken's journey is to meet the third princess.

The phrase he told Luciella was what truly held him for so long, and with his ardent conviction, no ordeal could stop him from his mission.

Surely Luciella has a reason she didn't tell Laken her true identity. Their fated encounter will surely bloom into something only they could hold and control. The red string of fate continues to weave the possibility of the future.