The Supremacy of Peculiar Dolls

Chapter 12: Bauer The Farmer

Never ever once Yeomso and Hideo forgot about the twins. They hurriedly ran into the woods to find Kouki and Hiroki. On Hideo’s back was the thin Human that Yeomso accidentally found in the underground room of Stawarski’s resident. They had to speed up since the one who took care of the twins while Hideo was away was the soul of Valentin Bauer which was emitted from a pendant. They must bring his body back, or Valentin might eventually die of being away from his body for too long. Furthermore, Hideo put the three of them covered beneath a large network of tree roots deep in the forest. The sole purpose was obviously to avoid the villagers especially Stawarski to find them.

            After saving Valentin from the water tank, Hideo checked on his vitals while Yeomso scrabbled for any documents kept in the room. He could not read that fast, hence he just swept everything into his magical robe and took both Hideo and Valentin out of the room. A safer place was his first priority rather than consuming more time just to read what the document was all about. Since he was ambushed by a fake Witch earlier, he guessed there was possibly another Witch in the room, and they should flee while there was a chance.

            The compound of Stawarski’s resident was initially empty, however the fleeing guards during the battle between Yeomso and The Witch earlier have returned for duty. They have not discovered the death of Stawarski in that underground hideout, and Yeomso intentionally exposed the body lying bare on the floor. He did not even cover the fake Witch – Basically he and Hideo did not change anything in the hideout but abducting Valentin Bauer and the documents available.

            Pitch-black darkness shrouded their view along their way, thus Yeomso had to rely on Hideo’s sense of smell as a werewolf. They ran as fast as they could so that the guards would not find their trace. Since they have taken Valentin Bauer’s body out of the mysterious tank, Hideo doubted the soul who looked after Kouki and Hiroki would remain there.

            Somehow, Hideo’s prediction was correct.

            “Brother Hideo!” Hiroki lifted his head up once he detected a wolf has come to their own hideout. A shadow fell onto them. “Brother Hideo, hurry up! Eh?” His expression altered once he collided eyes with the grinning Yeomso.

            Both of the twins got up to hug Yeomso behind Hideo who has transformed himself into a Human. They cried but sadly there was no tear rolling down their cheeks. The tightness of their embrace depicted their relief, probably because they have been in terror while waiting for Hideo to return.

            “Where’s Uncle Valentin, Kouki, Hiroki?” Hideo asked, but his eyes skimmed the entire place. There was no other person available beside Kouki and Hiroki, which might explain why the twins sat near the opening of the root network. His instinct strengthened as no Valentin Bauer came to welcome them.

            “We- We don’t know, Brother Hideo,” Kouki was not looking, but his stutters informed them that he was scared. “He was hugging us when he suddenly disappeared in thin air. Just like that.”

            “Yeah, Kouki’s right!” Hiroki nodded vigorously. His one hand gripped firmly on Yeomso’s. “Father, I’m so glad that you’re safe!”

            “Me too,” Kouki buried himself in Yeomso’s arm, “We miss you, Father.”

            “It has only been a few hours before we last saw each other,” Yeomso half-heartedly laughed, merely to ease the worry in them. “But, I miss you too. I was really worried of you.”

            Hideo was tending Valentin Bauer’s body when he witnessed Yeomso pecking a kiss on Kouki and Hiroki. Even though it was briefly, it showed that Yeomso loved them like his actual sons. Hideo has never known Yeomso, a non-Human being, could treat Humans that kind. How could a Human abuse another Human in order to satisfy his own need? The Earth surely was full of selfishness until even the Humans could kill each other.

            Yeomso, Kouki and Hiroki broke their hug and shifted to Valentin Bauer’s body lying on bare ground. The clothes they stole from the defeated Witch was actually medium sized, however Valentin’s body was way too skinny that it felt like he was worn a large blanket by Yeomso and Hideo. The twins drew themselves closer to the body and gazed at the face for a while.

            The Capricorn patted their heads lovingly. “Do you recognise who this man is, Kouki? Hiroki?” he asked softly.

            Both Kouki and Hiroki frowned simultaneously, obviously imprinting the face of the man they have just seen for the first time in their heads. Yeomso giggled at their keenness to the point Kouki even sniffed the man’s face.

            “Uncle Valentin?”

            The random estimation by Hiroki surprised Yeomso and Hideo. He was just five years old, plus Valentin’s entire appearance has significantly altered, like he was not himself at the moment. Even Hideo took some time to recognise him while he was still floating in the tank.

            “Well done, Hiroki!” Yeomso stroked Hiroki’s head. “Yes, this is Valentin Bauer. We found him underground. I was shocked myself.”

            While Yeomso divulged to the twins about his fight, Hideo noticed the fingers of Valentin were fidgeting. As if they reacted to Yeomso’s voice, the hand eventually moved more vigorously than before, alluring the twins to look at Valentin again. Hideo and Yeomso exchanged glances as they saw with their own eyes how Valentin Bauer opened his eyes. The process was slow, but he has finally awoken from the long sleep.

            Yes, this was Valentin Bauer, the second Defender that Yeomso has come across to. Everyone fell into deep silence when Valentin tried lifting his hand up. Though his hollowed cheeks scared most people, the twins did not seem to even tremble in fear. In fact, they fetched Valentin’s hand and caressed it gently. They probably guessed their warmness could get Valentin to be fully awake.

            Valentin Bauer has returned.

            “Uncle Valentin!” Kouki cried and hugged the meatless Valentin. “Uncle Valentin! We can touch you!”

            “Yes, we can!” Hiroki hugged the elder too.

            No such thing as disgusting to the twins. It was Valentin Bauer, one of the close friends to the deceased Kai Stewart. Valentin Bauer was one of the most reliable friends of Kai that this twins have known for quite some time before everyone scattered to various places. While he was preoccupied with the twins, Valentin’s gazed landed on the Human who could transform into a wolf, and another creature which was not even an Earthling.

            “So I really was saved by a Capricorn,” Valentin whispered, but it was heard by everyone there. “Thank you very much for your help, Your Majesty.”

            “You don’t have to call me that, Valentin,” Yeomso bowed a little, “I’m nobody on The Earth. Just call me Yeomso. I’ll be in pleasure.”

            Valentin inhaled to recover the depleting oxygen level in his body. The twins were still in his arms, and it indirectly made it harder to breathe in composure. Yeomso ruffled through Kouki and Hiroki’s hair, telling them to let Valentin go. Believably because Valentin has come to his sense and obtained his real body, Kouki and Hiroki broke the hug. They were not afraid of losing Valentin once again, which meant they trusted Yeomso and Hideo in taking care of the Defender.

            He gazed for quite a long time at Yeomso, then he shifted at the trembling Hideo beside him. The werewolf ducked his head and hid his face as much as he could. Valentin was about to reach his hand when he suddenly bowed at the elder.

            “I’m sorry for my negligence!” Hideo pleaded. “I was very certain that Stawarski has demolished your body! I didn’t look for it all these while even though I know your health deteriorates the longer you were separated from your body.”

            The twins were startled by Hideo’s abruptness, causing them to get into Yeomso’s embrace. Frankly Yeomso was, too, but then he relaxed himself. It was a matter between Hideo and Valentin which he could not guess what it was about. He, with Kouki and Hiroki in his arms, watched Hideo and Valentin settling down their matter.

            It should be a very heart-warming reconciliation. Kouki, Hiroki and Valentin have been together with Valentin and the other Defenders since they were practically young, therefore the gathering should provide them unbounded contentment. He could figure out such emotion on Kouki and Hiroki, but he wondered how Hideo actually felt as the keeper of the pendant that stored Valentin’s soul in it.

            “I think The King of Capricorn Valley is puzzled over this occurrence, Hideo,” Valentin said in between his shaky breaths, “Do you want to know everything, Yeomso?”

            This was the golden chance! Yeomso’s bright eyes glittered despite the darkness. Kouki and Hiroki chuckled at Yeomso’s exhilaration, while Hideo blinked in shock. Valentin gestured a hand motion, letting Hideo to be the one unveiling the truth.

            Hideo cleared his throat first. “Mister Valentin was captured during the war between The Defender and the villagers led by Stawarski. It was when The Defender found out that Stawarski was the culprit of the missing children in the village. The Defender fought against The Witch, however due to an extra assistance of someone on their side, The Defender was breeched and exposed to Stawarski.”

            The Capricorn saw Valentin closing his eyes, possibly reminiscing those awful memories during the mentioned war. His feeble breathing limited his own sense, thus Hideo was given consent to divulge the back story.

            “In order to let the others escaped, Mister Valentin offered himself to be the sacrifice. After a few arguments among themselves, The Transporter of The Defender has made up his mind and brought everyone out of the village, leaving Mister Valentin. Then, Stawarski really captured Mister Valentin, however he didn’t know Mister Valentin has transferred his soul into a pendant.

            “And that pendant was found by me,” Hideo caressed a pendant hung on his neck in a necklace. The thumb-size pendant was a ruby, a rare stone discovered on The Earth. Only The Reaper used rubies and other stones in his job, therefore seeing one was weird to Yeomso. “It had Mister Valentin in it, so Mister Valentin has been telling me everything, including what I should do to defeat Stawarski and retrieve my little sister back.”

            The information was compact thus fulfilling the curiosity in Yeomso. He could finally relate how Valentin’s body was kept hidden in the underground hideout whereas he has just met that man while hanging out with Hideo on the rooftop. He nodded as he concurred the incident one after another, and everything to him has cleared up. Valentin Bauer was rescued, and he has returned to the twins together with Valentin and Hideo.

            “The day The Defender vanished and left only Valentin… Was it the same day your parents passed away, Hideo?” Yeomso carefully inquired after he has connected every holes in revelation by Hideo, Stawarski and Valentin. “Ever since then, you’ve been wandering to construct a method to get your sister back.”

            Hideo’s nodding confirmed Yeomso’s prediction. “My little sister was forcefully offered as the sacrifice to The Witch. That was the worst day happened in my life. I lost everyone on that day – My dead parents, my missing little sister, and those Defender who have been taking care of us. All because of that damn Stawarski!”

            It was the most painful reality Hideo had to brave. It was horrendous, intolerably heart wrenching. Hideo has almost killed himself due to the depression he endured without the support of those he relied on, until the destined day when he sniffed everywhere and found a ruby on the ground. Somehow, it was kind of odd to find such pretty stone in between bushes, however he almost abandoned it when he heard it talking to him.

            Valentin Bauer has reappeared in his life.

            “Then, Valentin,” Minutes taken to digest the whole story, Yeomso switched his focus from Hideo to Valentin, “What happened through the years you were trapped inside the tank? It was really suffocating, right?”

            Valentin took some time to recall. Perhaps it was not that easy to squeeze his mind out that he gradually panted. Yeomso rubbed his chest to calm his palpitation down. “Please take your time.”

            “I’ve never seen a Dimensional this eager to know about an Earthling, Hideo,” Valentin commented to Hideo, but he was staring into Yeomso’s eyes. “Honestly, I didn’t know myself. All I could remember was that I was handcuffed by Stawarski’s men and prisoned underground. For several times, I lost consciousness. I believed they put something in my food. Too bad that I fell asleep the longest in that tank.”

            Yeomso propped his chin, digesting Valentin’s different universe of back story. “You do aware that you were trapped in a tank?”

            “One day, I woke up in it,” Valentin said. His intonation was much clearer. “I’ve already forgotten the date, the timing, the meal time. Everything was jumbled up, yet that Stawarski never attempted to fix me. I didn’t know why I was in there too.”

            “Probably it was related to the documents.”

            Valentin and Hideo exchanged looks as Yeomso fished out a few papers from within his magical robe. Yeomso has not read the content yet, therefore he shoved it to Hideo and Valentin. Hideo grabbed it and skimmed over each pages, then he handed it to Valentin.

            “I found these papers in the underground hideout. I couldn’t read Earthling writing fast, so I just took everything into my robe, considering that I will decipher it later.”

            Yeomso has not explained his points just yet when Valentin ogled at them. Yeomso and Hideo waited patiently for Valentin’s response after he has done scanning the whole documents. He let out a long sigh before he described what the documents was all about.

            “This is the information about me, Yeomso. Have you taken all papers there?”

            Yeomso hesitantly nodded. “Yes, I did. As I’ve stated earlier, I couldn’t read-“

            “Then it’s a relief,” Valentin’s skinny body melted into the ground, relaxed and soothed. “For your information, these papers discloses everything about me.”

            “About Uncle Valentin?” Kouki and Hiroki somehow perceived only that part of the widely ranged conversation between those three adults. Yeomso doubted they heard the previous part, yet even if they did hear, he doubted if they could understand what it was all about.

            Wait. Kouki and Hiroki?

            “These papers defines everything about my history, my full name and birth place, my previous job before participating in The Defender, and my ability!” Valentin frantically went through each papers. He could not believe what Yeomso has taken with. “Even my favourite food! How did Stawarski obtain this?”

            Valentin groaned in anger, putting the document aside and lifted his head up. He turned speechless and in the brink of outburst. Kouki and Hiroki sat on each of Hideo’s sides and read the content altogether. Yeomso had the urge to surface another question which might not relate to Valentin, Hideo and Stawarski. It was the only ‘hole’ he has not patched up yet, therefore he must know the righteous.

            The dampened air underneath the tree root network felt strangling as Yeomso witnessed with his own eyes the harshness Valentin implied on Kouki and Hiroki. Instead of snatching the document back, he shoved both kids to the mossy wall as if he blocked them from reading it. Hideo blinked in pure perplex, and Yeomso hurriedly went to get the twins into his embrace.

            “Mister Valentin!” Hideo was petrified by the jolting scene. “What have you done to Kouki and Hiroki?”

            The heavy atmosphere entirely halted Yeomso from his intentional question constructed in his mind. He gulped and hushed the frightened twins.

            Valentin huffed and puffed, much worse than how he seemed after his soul came back to his body. He glared at the twins in hugely desperation. Kouki and Hiroki trembled severely with their hands tightly gripped on Yeomso’s sleeves.

            “Don’t let them read that document!” He shouted his lung out.