Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 44: Saved

“What do you mean…” Leui muttered, feeling bewildered. His mind is also becoming hazy. “You… know who is the owner… of the scythe?” he asked.

The two Black-Scaled Lions looked at each other. But, just as they were about to answer, they heard a thud. They turned and saw the human had collapsed.

“The scythe… is Loheiruchel’s.” the other Black-Scaled Lion answered and walked towards the unconscious Leui who is now lying on the ground. Then, it opened its mouth wide before it bit Leui, and then placed him on its back. “Humans are really troublesome… no matter if it’s Loheiruchel or these men.” It said and shook its head with a sigh.

The other Black-Scaled Lion placed down behind him. “I heard noises over there. The thieves must have been caught already.” It said.

“Then, let’s send them back. It’d be more troublesome for them to stay here.”

“Yes.”

…

Only the sound of the rain falling from the sky and hitting the ground can be heard as the knights looked at the wretched state of the leader of the thieves, who was formerly a knight, after Fedrich thrashed him. The knights don’t dare to breathe loudly for fear that it will be them next who will beat Fedrich because their captain is in a very bad mood.

Even Melton isn’t budging on his spot and just silently watched Fedrich beat the leader of the thieves. He usually would be the one to pull the brake every time Fedrich gets carried away in beating up people. But, right now, he wasn’t even speaking. Not even a single word to stop Fedrich.

He looked at the unconscious leader of the thieves. His blood mixed with the mud and the rainwater. Not to mention he was a former knight, but lives shouldn’t be taken lightly. Yet, he did it so easily. How low he has fallen.

Melton closed his eyes and looked away, but then suddenly heard the leaves rustling. He thought that he had heard wrong, but when he opened his eyes, through the hazy rain, he saw two black beasts coming out of the forest.

Everyone immediately became alert and drew their weapons while Fedrich coldly looked at the beasts. But, suddenly, they saw two people at the back of the beasts.

“Mr. Leui!” the knights exclaimed when they saw Leui. “And… that wagon driver?! He really found him!” they exclaimed.

“Wait, no… more like, the beasts found them?” someone said.

Melton didn’t waste any time. While the knights were discussing, he cautiously walked towards the beasts. “Did you save them?” he asked.

The knights were stunned when they heard what their vice-captain said. All their life, they only know that the beasts ate the humans, and not save them! But, what did they hear? These beasts saved Leui and the wagon driver?

Suddenly, when they think about it, it seems right. The wagon driver is as good as dead, and they wouldn’t be surprised if he has nothing left of his corpse. Leui, although might know how to fight, but he’s weaker than the knights. So, his survival in the Forbidden Forest is left to be discussed.

Yet, Leui and the wagon driver are intact. Then, they saw one of the Black-Scaled Lions nodded. Then, it carefully placed Leui down the ground, just beside the tree with wide leaves that act as an umbrella. The knights woke up from their daze and immediately went to take the wagon driver from the other Black-Scaled Lion’s back.

“What… he’s still alive!” one of the knights exclaimed when he felt Dan’s pulse.

“Really?!” the others said, shocked.

“Treat his wounds immediately!” Melton ordered.

“Vice-captain! He’s missing a leg!” someone said.

The air seemed to freeze and they cautiously looked at the Black-Scaled Lions. Did they suddenly become hungry and eat Dan’s leg?

“It fell… on a swamp.” someone spoke.

They turned and saw that Leui was awake.

“The swamp is filled with Fork-Tailed Snakes. We can’t take Dan’s leg back anymore…” Leui said a she breathed.

“It was fortunate that he is still alive.” Fedrich spoke and looked at Dan. “Did he act dead for the thieves to immediately leave him after they cut off his leg?” he asked.

It is highly possible.

“Thank you.” Leui spoke as he turned to the Black-Scaled Lions. If not for them, who knows if he’d end up like Dan.

“Why did they not eat you?” one of the knights asked as they looked at Leui, puzzled.

Leui didn’t answer and turned to the Black-Scaled Lions.

“You smell like the other beasts.” One of the Black-Scaled Lions answered.

The knights saw one of the beasts open its mouth. They were alarmed, thinking that the beast would suddenly swallow Leui’s head. But, they were wrong.

Leui turned to the knights. “They said I smell like the other beasts. I think it’s because I have lived with the beasts for five years in the Other Shore.” He answered.

The knights immediately sighed in relief. Then, they felt that Leui is really amazing. “You can communicate with them!” they said.

Leui nodded. “I have to in order to survive and co-exist with them in the Other Shore.” He explained.

The knights really admire Leui. Meanwhile, Melton and Fedrich looked at each other, feeling that Leui is filled with mystery.

“Immediately pack. We’re going back to the Rainbow Village.” Fedrich spoke.

“Yes, captain!” the knights answered and immediately tidied up the mess in the den of the thieves.

“How about them?” Fedrich turned to Leui and glanced at the Black-Scaled Lions.

Leui then turned to the beasts. '`Do you want anything as a compensation?” he asked. “I’ll compensate you. I have many things from the Other Shore, since I’ve lived there for five years. You haven’t been there for a long time?” he looked at them.

The Black-Scaled Lions nodded. “It’s impossible for us to cross the Great River.” One of them said.

“We don’t need any compensation. We just don’t want to be disturbed.” The other one answered. “The thieves are very noisy and we want them to leave. Fortunately, you cleaned them up.” It explained.

Leui nodded in understanding and relayed the words to Fedrich. Then, he took out a bottle of adhesive paste from his belt bag. “It’s raining today, and might last for a few days. Your scales would shed off because of the cold, and it will take a month or more for it to grow back.” He said and placed the bottle of adhesive paste on the Black-Scaled Lion’s mouth. “Take this as my thanks for saving our lives.” He said and petted the Black-Scaled Lion’s head before he pulled himself up using the scythe as his crutch.

The Black-Scaled Lion looked at the scythe.

“Oh, right. Before I fainted, you were saying something about the scythe?” Leui asked when he remembered.

“This scythe…” the Black-Scaled Lion muttered as it stared at Leui’s face. Suddenly, its eyes widened in shock as if it realized something. It suddenly roared, and then jumped back inside the forest.

The other Black-Scaled Lion was puzzled, but then followed after its friend, leaving Leui, as well as Fedrich, Melton and the other knights, puzzled.

“What just happened?” they asked. The others shrugged. “Captain, we’re finished! We’re ready to go back!” they called to Fedrich while carrying the unconscious thieves that they caught over their shoulders.

“Yes. Let’s go.” Fedrich spoke.

Melton helped Leui carry Dan whose injuries had been dressed, and then followed behind Fedrich.

“So, you know how to communicate with the other races?” Melton asked as they walked.

Leui nodded. His face is still pale because of the cold. He obviously has fallen ill. But, since they are now going back, he’s enduring it. “Yes. I have to learn their language so that I can understand what they are talking about or they are writing.” He said. “That way, not only would I avoid offending them, I would also avoid looking stupid and would know if I am being make fun of.” He smiled.

Melton was speechless. “… you really have it hard…” he can only say.

Leui laughed. “That time when I managed to learn a bit of what they are saying, I heard them talking about me, on how to kidnap me after I work and then fry me. They also talked about dividing my limbs, my head…” he said.

Melton’s face paled. He can imagine the horror that Leui felt. “You… really… are amazing…” he sighed.

“Of course, I was frightened I almost pissed my pants right then and there.” Leui said. “The manager of the inn heard them and scolded them. That time, I thought that it was better if I don’t understand them.” He smiled. “But, the manager encouraged me. She said that if I won’t understand their language, I might suddenly die right then and there if I won’t hear them talking about their plan to eat me there on the spot.” He explained.

Melton felt his whole body shivered in fear. “… fortunately, you heed your manager’s advice.” He said.