The Abysmal Territory

[2] The Parent’s Sacrifice

The village chief reached for his pocket. He said, “See this?” A beautiful key can be seen from the village chief’s hands. The two children look very astonished by its appearance.

“So pretty,” Taiya mumbled.

“If this key glows up, then we can enter a sanctuary near the Mountain Ruham,” the village chief replied.

“A sanctuary? Then everyone can live peacefully?” Teiko asked.

“More or less, evil monsters would not dare to enter that area. If they do, they will perish,” the village chief answered.

Taiya’s eyes lightened up. She said, “That’s wonderful! Then we can all go there, together with Dad and Mom. They don’t have to endanger themselves.”

“I know, but what is the reason why we didn’t go there earlier? I have a bad feeling about this,” Teiko wondered.

“Yes, you’re right Teiko. For us to be able to go there, the creator must die,” the village chief replied as he cried.

“Creator? You mean Dad and Mom?” Teiko asked sadly.

“No way, I can’t believe this. This cannot be true,” Taiya exclaimed.

The village chief stopped from walking and hugged both of them. He said, “It’s true. During the time the both of you were born, they already decided to die.”

Teiko and Taiya cried out.

“I cannot accept this,” Teiko uttered as he struggled as it seemed as if he wanted to go back to where his father was.

The village chief hugged both of them tightly. He said, “You have to! At first, we also didn't want to. Why do you think they are still living up until now? We don’t want both of you to live without your parents.”

Teiko continues to struggle and exclaimed, “Then let go of me, I will be the one to fight those goblins.”

“No! Toya and Aica only wish for your safety and happiness, please at least make their wish come true,” the village chief shouted.

The struggle that came from Teiko became weaker and weaker until it came to a stop. Tears run down from Teiko and Taiya’s eyes.

“That’s okay, both of you can cry,” the village chief said.

After a brief moment, the three of them continued walking to meet up with other villagers. A little while later, they encountered a bunch of people.

A tall, brawny man greeted them. He said, “Village chief, we’re ready to go.”

“Dalton, that’s good to hear,” the village chief replied.

The village chief gets the attention of everyone. He shouted, “All right, since everyone is here, we will depart from our village. This will be the last time we will see the home that we stay in. But do not worry, we will rebuild our home in a more secure and more peaceful place.”

All the villagers became downhearted even with the encouragement of the village chief.

The village chief takes a long sigh. We all really love Toya and Aica. The village chief didn’t contemplate for a long time. He said, “Everyone, let’s go!”

With that signal, everyone started walking while pushing the cart filled with their belongings. The twins, Teiko and Taiya, didn't move from their feet. The village chief let them sit on the cart as he pushed it for them to rest.

Their journey continued. They set a camping site for the evening for them to rest.

Two days have passed since they left their village.

“Did Teiko and Taiya already accept what will happen?” Dalton asked the village chief.

“No, it will surely take a lot of time for them,” the village chief replied.

Dalton nodded and replied, “I also think so. They both admire Toya, he is both their father and also their inspiration. And they are always cheerful whenever they are around Aica.”

“I think this is also hard for you. You will lose your best friend,” the village chief responded.

Dalton was shocked by what the village chief said, but after a while he made a sad smile. He said, “Yeah, I wish I’m also with them right now, although it would not change anything. If only that bastard didn’t say that I should help Teiko and Taiya grow into a full-fledged swordsman.”

“Well, without Toya, you’re the best swordsman here and no one matches you,” the village chief replied.

Dalton laughed at what the village chief said. He replied, “Yes, that may be true. But I cannot even be compared to one-tenth of his power.”

The sound of the conversation wakes Teiko up.

“It’s already morning, it’s been two days already,” one of the villagers said.

The village chief looks at Teiko. He asked, “How was your sleep Teiko, we’re already ready to start walking again. We are almost at our destination.”

Teiko wakes up Taiya and the villagers continue travelling.

“Does the key already glow?” Dalton asked the village chief while they were walking.

The village chief takes out the key from his pocket. He said, “Not yet, I think they are still fighting.”

As Taiya heard what the village chief had said, she suddenly stopped and shouted. She shouted, “I knew it! Dad and Mom will not die! They will beat all of those evil monsters!”

“That’s true! My dad is the strongest swordsman in the world, there is just no way will he be defeated,” Teiko added.

The village chief suddenly stopped walking. He said, “We’re already here! Let’s make a ca-” Before the village chief finished what he was saying, the key that he was holding glowed.

“No way!” Taiya exclaimed.

“The key,” Teiko cried out as he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

The village chief covered his eyes with his other hand. He said sadly, “Those two, they even know when we will arrive here.”

Tears run down from the village chief’s hidden eyes.

“They hold onto their lives at the very last seconds to make sure that no enemies can chase after us,” Dalton said.

“That’s why they said that we must hurry even though they can still hold out for a long time in the battle. They are really one of the Geniuses.” The village chief said as he grasps the key in his hand.

As they were exchanging conversation, Taiya cried like a baby. Tears flow like a river.

“No!” Teiko yelled.

“No!” Teiko continued yelling then punched the village chief.

“This is not happening, right? They are still alive. Let’s go back there,” Teiko uttered as he looked at Dalton with pitiful eyes.

“Hey, this is not right. My dad promised me that he will train me personally! I don’t care how hard it is, but he promised that,” Teiko continued to shout.

The other villager cannot do or say anything to him. They just looked down on their feet, holding back their tears.

“Teiko, we cannot do anything. We have to enter the place they prepared as fast as we could. We cannot waste any of the time they gave us,” Dalton replied to the plea of Teiko.