Soul Lovers

The City of Bounty Hunters.

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.

Randall moved closer to Abbey as Beth with Luna while holding the marked woman's huge sword leapt to where they were.

Randall stood still, stared at Beth.

“Are you alright?” Randall asked, Beth nodded and looked at Luna, the king blinked then glanced at Luna also, noticing her injured hand, “oh! Are you alright?”

“I will be, my King,” she bowed.

“Hey! What are you doing with that weapon in your hand, don’t you know we Humanes are strictly forbidden from using weapons of such?! Where is your pride as an Aurorea, huh?!” The hefty woman yelled at Luna.

“Pride? How petty. She help in capturing this Hunter I came with. And her hand was poisoned by her,” Abbey said, the hefty woman hissed at Abbey then walked closer to Luna.

“Your hand?!” The hefty woman questioned, standing in front of Luna as she was more taller and way more bigger than the royal guard in blue cape.

Luna lowered her head feeling disappointed that she an Aurorae was injured in a fight.

An Eldress once told her 'Being an Aurorae and the youngest female in the clan as a huge responsibilities in accordance with the eldest. Despise fear and it shall leave you; Become a warrior with and without hesitation; Strong Aurorae protects herself, A Stronger Aurorae protects everyone else.

“I'm sorry, big sister. I was careless once again.”

“No problem, you need a healer.” She sighed softly.

“And before you scold her after all this mess. She didn’t at all used the blade.” Abbey said, calmly.

“Oh?”

“I can heal her.” Wren declared. The Divine Humanes slightly widened their eyes as Wren walked up to Luna as the hefty woman gave way, “your hand?” she said staring at her personal Royal Guard.

Luna couldn’t draw her injured hand to Wren because, she knew the day everyone discovered the Princess had two kind of potencies which is impossible for any Humanes to obtain; it will cause some disruption between the Royal Families as well as outside this walls.

“Your hand Luna.” Luna slowly stretched her hand, Wren smiled then raised her hand on Luna’s hand, a huge bubble came out from Wren’s palm like a droplet into Luna’s wound, slowly healed her wound.

After healing, Luna bowed thankfully, as she dropped the huge sword on the grasses.

To everyone including Luna's big sister were totally speechless.

“My princess. Once again I’m in your debt.” Luna commented, Wren smiled.

“The Princess heals?!” Oshoshi asked in confusion. He knew she is an half water Nymphs. He knew every being from the water Nymphs has the ability to heal but in her case he couldn't give the expression to believe it, maybe, maybe it all lies in her being a half Humane and a half water Nymph however the way she heals is quite different from what I know.

“We are totally confused as you are.” Dante answered.

Then Oshoshi remembered a strange phenomenon he'd saw from a great healer.

“That kind of healing ability… I-I have seen it before, back then before the division of the Nymphs." His eyes went round, he also remembered he once saw the late Queen that's Wren's mother using the same type of healing ability to heal the injured Hunters after fighting against Randall; He was among the injured ones. He remembered his own body was being covered in bubble. "Now I know. Truly you are Queen Memphis’s Daughter.” Oshoshi said after.

Randall turned to Abbey.

“If what you said about Jared is true about being abducted thus we need to save him before the abductors reach their Kingdom.”

“What’s going on, what happened to Lord Jared?!” Beth asked,

“He was captured by the Beast Kingdom.” Wren answered.

Beth put her hand on her mouth in shock.

“Why are things suddenly happening now? Are they working together?!” Beth asked,

“I can’t say but don’t be mistaken, much more scary things are happening outside this walls with and without reasons even I myself had to go to few and investigate, nevertheless, the alliance between the Beast Kingdom and other Kingdoms can never be possible let's not talk about the Nymphs. Except.” Randall said, stroking his rough beards, “except to revenge what Jared had done in the past.”

“Jared Airbrock the Divine Humane was the one?!” Oshoshi yelped.

Dryad looked at him.

“Who is he? and what did he do?” Dryad asked anxiously. Randall sighed and walked back to where the Divine Humanes stood.

“That story is for another day, right now we need to know why the Hunters attacked and who sent them. Oshoshi?!”

“Yes my humble King Randall!”

"Humble?" Dante questioned silently.

“Take me to see your King. We need to discuss.” He said.

Dryad suddenly went to Randall's front.

“This is a misunderstanding, the attempt to kill the Princess was not ordered by my Father, they even tried to kill me also and I know my Father didn't support it, I assure you, King Randall.” Dryad wailed,

"Hmm?" Randall glanced at him,

“My King, he is right. They came here of their own accord.” June added, Wren looked at them.

“You knew?” Wren asked.

“Actually Princess--”

“Actually princess. We just believed he was speaking the truth… ” Dante interrupted June then elbowed Gage side. “Isn’t that right, Gage?”

Gage nodded.

Randall nodded back.

“Okay. But Prince Dryad, I still need to talk to your Father about this matter.” Randall stated.

The hefty woman went to the King, bowed.

“My king, I shall follow you to the Forest Nymphs kingdom.” She said.

Randall laughed.

“I wanted to go alone but seeing you really want to protect your King too. I have no choice but to allow you. Hunter Oshoshi. Let’s go.”

Oshoshi nodded, the hefty woman carried unconscious Kontar and Orchid on her shoulder, Oshoshi stared at Isabella.

“Is she… ”

“Yes. She is.” Abbey immediately replied, Oshoshi took a sharp breath waved his hand as flowers and grasses gathered up beneath her scorched body and her huge sword, slowly and gently lifted her up to where he stood.

“She will be missed.” Oshoshi said as he walked to the midst of Randall, Dryad and the hefty woman.

“Am sorry. It comes to this.” Randall said to Oshoshi, he looked at his daughter. “I will be back, take good care of Beth-I mean the Kingdom.” he cleared his throat then stared at Abbey.

“Since you declined my offer to become one of the Divine Humanes so many times, let my Daughter train under you. You can't deny your duty being born to the House of Ida's as handlers to the Royal Family. And don’t worry I told Beth all about it.” Abbey bowed in accordance of the King. “Very well. Good bye for now.”

Luna nodded, looking at her elder sister while Dryad waved at Wren as he whispered.

“Thank you.”

Suddenly, a gush of wind surrounded the four of them containing flowers and leaves with a little bit of water twirling together as they slowly dematerialized until they finally faded away.

Wren sighed as everyone were about leaving. All of a sudden Randall's head appeared in thin air.

“Not to forget… ” Everyone was frightened, he laughed. “Sorry for that. Dante, Gage I give you the absolute permit take with you some of the Royal Guards in red cape in bringing back Jared safe and sound from— you know where before reaching their destination.” He ordered.

“Yes, my king.” They both said with a bow.

Then Randall's face dematerialized back while laughing.

I really scared them for good. Ha. Ha. Ha… Gosh not one person noticed my beards yet… sniff. Randall thought.

Everyone remaining in the garden stood for a while then Dante put his hand on his jaw,

“Does any one noticed the King’s newly growing beards?” Dante asked, while walking. Everyone looked at him except Abbey as he left the garden alone as they followed. “Did you, Princess Wren?” Dante stared at Wren.

“Yuck! it doesn’t fit him one bit,” Wren said, irritated, Beth lowered her head, slightly smiling.

“But it look cute on him.” She said unknowingly. Everyone stopped including Abbey as they focused their eyes on her, she stopped also, blinked as her face turned red wishing the ground should swallow her up instantly.

“Well, well, well what do you have there. So the rumors are true I-“ Dante froze up immediately.

“You can go on Lady Beth. I will keep him at bay.” June said stretching her hand towards Dante then dropped it.

“Never thought you could use your power on the fastest man alive?” Gage said, “but he suit him well. See you later, Dante.”

Everyone left the garden excluding Dante as he was still frozen by the unseen force powered by June from moving.

-

Meanwhile several miles away. Sniffia opened her eyes with the sight of small black feather laid on the side of her face hearing the cries of crows cawing and soaring the orange skies above, she stared at the securely locked, gray angular small queer, metal cage around her, she'd knew her being captured along with her friends was never a dream she could possibly wake up from—Yes she admitted she was their friend. That was her choice actually.

Still in her cage as the Expats walked into a small city. She looked around, hearing the chattering and shouting of beings in various places while most blood thirsty eyes were directly staring at them, she could smell an awful smell coming from one part of the street and spotted few children like her, caged and chained on the muddy floor right in front of a dime store with their faces lost in drains of hope waiting to be sold as whatever the buyers want to do to them, seems this was not the first time she saw something this truculent, while staying with Jared; going out for missions outside the walls of the Humane kingdom. She did quite alot also killing few who resisted, definitely saw much more things than this but who took part in changing her actions this past month was someone regrettably captured alongside with her.

She slowly raised her head up.

“Rise and shine girl. Welcome to The City of Bounty Hunters.” Aghul said as he smirked.

Sniffia rolled her eyes to Peirce still sadly cuddled together in his own cage.

“Peirce?!”

“Hey girl. Keep quiet!!” Aghul yelled.

“Hey Aghul! You are the one shouting.” Aghogho said after, scratching his ear.

“Is it me or am I just hearing things. All your names sounds awkwardly with the letter A coming first.” Node sneered with a yawn in his cage.

Node was actually the only guy among them that thought this as an adventure not even knowing Vanilla's state and also his own life as a cook was a threat to the Beast kingdom.

“You brat! Aren’t you afraid!” Aghul yelled, clenching his teeth. “You will surely die, I don't care if you're the one who cooks for everyone here!”

Node blinked.

Aguda was only the Expat who treated him well and who gave him all the ingredients he needs while he cook he talks about his stories as the only cook in his family as well as the Inhumane village who only Aguda find it interesting indirectly taught the big guy how to cook. No Expats could touch him for he was specifically under Aguda's divine protection.

“Calm down, Aghul. We are selling them off anyway.” Aghogho bragged with a smile.

Node widened his eyes then stared at Aguda. The big guy had a sad look on his face as he walk.

“Selling who off?” Node asked anxiously.