PRIZIANNA: The Lost Princess of Esperanza (The End of Demons)

VII Lost Princess

I thought Argal would spend more of his time sulking because he got disappointed in me, but he comes back almost half an hour later with fruit in his hand.

"Let's eat," I invited him. He looked at me with his still mad face. While he was out, I did't bother to look for him as I knew that he would come back again. I just bothered myself to catch fish for us to eat.

He sat next to me with the fruit on his lap, then he took his bag. His silence made me realize that he was still mad at me. I was just looking at him while he was now peeling the fruit, and after he was done, he placed some in front of me.

I sighed and crossed my arms. "It's not my intention to make you upset," I said.

I haven't told him about the real me. That I came from another world. That's why it's hard for me to explain to him why I can't avoid thinking that I am weak. I also don't know if I should share that information about myself. Argal is still a stranger. I felt that he was a good and reliable person, too, but I couldn't let my guard down.

"I am not upset."

That's a lie. It's written all over his face. I took a grilled fish and handed it to him. Since it's my fault why he's acting like this, I need to at least explain, not just in detail, like I am from another world. That's enough for him to understand why I lack confidence and think low of myself.

"You only know my name, right? Argal?" I asked.

Argal nodded, he swallowed and then put down the grilled fish I gave him.

"I followed you and didn't ask anything, just your name. I believe that I can know more things about you by observing, but I can't deny that I want to know a lot about you. Watching you fighting demons is not enough for me, I want to know where you came from or why..." he stopped, then he looked at me.

"Why did you decide to choose this path? to be an adventurer, to risk your life for humanity and kill demons. I know my reason was nothing compared to yours."

After he said that, instead of asking him what were the questions that he wanted to ask, or things he wanted to know about me, I asked him about his reason for being an adventurer.

"And your reason?"

Argal's face lowered, his lips moved and they parted after. I think he knows already that I am going to ask him about it. A few seconds passed, he took a long time to answer. I sighed and then nodded to start telling you about myself.

"I am Atticus and I live in Hermoza Village. I have no last name, I have no family like a father, mother or grandparents, and the family I was referring to that I want to send letters were the people who took care of me when I came into this..." and when I realized the next word I was about to say, I cleared my throat.

"When I came to Hermoza."

He looked back at me again. Now I can see curiosity filling his face, as if he wanted to know more about me.

"Oh, wait, what do you mean? If you don't have a real family, then you are not really from Hermoza."

"A woman named Aziza helped me, she saved my life from a demon," I answered. I started to eat again. Argal moved closer and his action made my eyebrows form a line. He looked excited?

"Okay, so she saved you and then she brought you to their Village and it's Hermoza?" he asked.

I nodded at him. I can still remember that day. I thought I would die in that water not from demons, but because of a heart attack when I saw my face and realized that the black book that absorbed me sent me into another world. I mean, this only happens in video games, or in fantasy novels.

"Yes."

"Atticus, I know where Hermoza is, it's far but a peaceful and beautiful place."

I smiled a little.

It is.

Not just the place, but also the people living there, as well as the guardian of that place who took care of me... Azi--

"And Aziza!" Argal said. I was annoyed that way he said Aziza's name while he was smiling as if his interest was now in her.

"What does she look like? Is she old? Or just our age? Tell me more about her!"

Isn't he more curious about me? Why is he asking me now about Aziza?

I glared at him, which made him laugh and almost choke.

"Your eyes are telling me to back off! That answers my question already. You don't even want to open your mouth now and tell me about Aziza, and I can also tell because of your face that you regret saying her beautiful name to me."

Fck he got it right.

I held on to my sword and when Argal saw it, he raised both of his hands, still holding the fish and the fruit.

"I am not going to ask more questions about her!" he said happily, like teasing me. I let out a deep breath and then I crossed my arms again. I didn't finish my food and just looked at Argal.

"One wrong word and I'll choke you with your food," I warned.

He grimaced.

"I know a few things about Hermoza, even though most of the people there are old, it's well guarded also. No demons were detected nearby because they were all killed before they could even pass through the forest going to the village."

"And some adventurers say that a deity was protecting the place as it is one of the sacred places here in Tercera world, but then some believed that a strong adventurer resides there and is keeping everyone's safety. It's just a rumor, but I am one of those who believes it is true."

Strong adventurer. Only one person came to my mind after what Argal said. And when our eyes met, he nodded.

"Yes, I am thinking that it's her, Atticus."

"And if it's true that it's Aziza who's the strong adventurer protecting Hermoza, a lot would be in shock because it's a woman. I can't wait to see the arrogant adventurers' reaction."

I licked my lips. I didn't respond because I was thinking about the Hermoza. There are no strong adventurers living there. Only Aziza.

"Could it be Aziza? You told me she saved you, so maybe it's her in the rumor that an adventurer is protecting Hermoza. But do you know that the same adventurer was summoned to the Esperanza Kingdom a year ago?"

I sat up straight. Esperanza? This is the first time I have heard about this. And it's a kingdom. Aziza never talked about this kingdom to me from the day she found me. It's just about the Demons that I am the chosen one that is the hope of this world.

"For what?" I asked.

"The Esperanza Kingdom gathers strong adventurers for one reason."

My lips rose because of the obvious answer, "Yes, it's because of the demons. To kill the Demon Lord--"

"No, Atticus," Argal said. He didn't even let me finish. But he's back on his serious face again.

Is there anything more important to this world and to that kingdom than killing all the demons? Because that's all I could think of.

"If that's not the reason, then, what?" I asked.

Argal looked up at the sky.

"It's to find the lost princess of Esperanza," he said as he looked back at me. And I was a little bit confused there.

Gathering strong adventurers not to kill demons but to look for a lost princess?