The Supremacy of Peculiar Dolls

Chapter 9: The First and Second Defender

The moon light above the sky shone really brightly, unfortunately the twins missed the chance to do some star gazing. From the broad window where he stood, he should have seen at least a Zodiac glittering over the darkened sky. Probably due to uneven weather, the stars were just scattered aimlessly. No constellation could be seen, even the simplest Orion.

            Out of the blue, Yeomso had the urge to get out of the window and go to the rooftop. It was midnight, and he assumed most of the guards have already settled down in their respective rooms. Yeomso carefully swung the window without producing any noise that could wake the twins up, and climbed along a pipe towards to rooftop. His overthinking made him to wear his robe anywhere he went, so he had a bit difficultness while climbing since the cloth would stick in the gaps between the pipe and its external holder.

            After the hustle and bustle, Yeomso finally reached the top part of Stawarski’s resident – The rooftop. Even though the design was not flat like his own in The Capricorn Valley, he could still walk steadily on the pieces of tiles. Confidence empowered him as he saw someone familiar sitting all alone on the same rooftop.

            “I never knew an Earthling would have such habit of sitting under the moonlight,” Yeomso commented while landing beside Hideo.

            Hideo peeped Yeomso at his eye tips. “I never knew a non-Earthling would also have such habit of sitting under the moonlight,” he stated while shifting his view back to the murky sky. “I miss my parents, and I miss my sister more.”

            The gentle breeze swayed their fringe, incidentally exposing their own foreheads as the effect. Yeomso naturally wrapped his arm around Hideo’s shoulder, patting the latter so that he would feel warmth in Yeomso’s grasp. Yeomso broke the cuddle and focused on the scattered stars on the sky.

            “Why did your parents die, Hideo?”

            Hideo seemed startled by Yeomso’s sudden question, but he brushed the shock off with a laugh. “They died due to an illness. It happened when I was around 10 years old, while my sister has just been born.”

            Yeomso nodded understanding the situation.

            “… is what stated in their death certificates.”

            “Huh?”

            Hideo eventually lowered his gaze. He pulled both his knees close to his chest, and wrapped his arms around them. He rested his chin on his knees and sighed. Yeomso tilted his head on one side, anticipating more revelation by Hideo himself instead of continuously interrogating him.

            “You do remember what has gotten into me last time, right?” Hideo initiated.

            Yeomso frowned a little while recalling the incident Hideo meant. “Oh, do you mean the carnivorous creature you’ve become into?”

            Triple nods from Hideo stunned Yeomso.

            “So you do aware of your surrounding when it happened.”

            “Depends on how much I’ve surrendered myself to the killing lust engulfing me at the moment,” Yeomso noticed Hideo was tightening his grips on his pants, “I trust you, Yeomso. That’s why I’m telling you this,” he paused to properly inhale, “Actually, my whole family is a pack of wolves.”

            Hideo was so demurred to unveil his identity to Yeomso, plus it was the secret of his family which he should not divulge just to anyone. In fact, no one should know about them.

            “My family was originally a pack of wolves travelling in a big group. However my parents were captured when my mother was at her weakest. My father wouldn’t leave her alone during the childbirth. She was delivering me during the capture, therefore the three of us were caged in separated jails. Since I was still small, they placed me in the same cell as my mother.”

            Yeomso grabbed Hideo’s one hand, squeezing it gently. It was to remind Hideo that he should drop it if it would just torment his heart more. Hideo curved a small smile, reassuring Yeomso that it would be fine.

            “I can’t really remember my own age when one day, there were two adult men came to our cell. One of them was full-uniformed, while the other one was wearing only a translucent shirt and three-quarter pants, walking unsteadily with humpy back and slender limbs. After minutes of description, we were told that the man in suit was the one who saved my father, and the humpy man was my father.”

            “Eh?” Yeomso frowned in shock. “Didn’t you say that your family was a pack of wolves?”

            “I didn’t believe my own eyes and ears too,” Hideo let out a half-hearted chuckle, “But it was the truth. The out-of-nowhere man had some kind of superpower who could transform any living things into another living things. Our family is the best example.”

            The revelation nauseated Yeomso a little. It sounded impossible. Moreover, a Human was not supposed to possess ability. The superpower Hideo disclosed to him almost like The Gemini’s ability, but a Gemini could only duplicate, not altering. And a Gemini’s ability could only affect a Dimensional. From Hideo’s story, there was no way that his family came from The Dimension.

            “Do Earthlings… really practice black magic?” Yeomso hesitatively asked.

            Hideo glimpsed at the anxious Yeomso. “Well, I could say some of us do.”

            Yeomso scratched his chin. “Who created black magic anyway?”

            There was only one Dimensional appeared in his mind. However, he doubted Hideo knew even his name only.

            “I don’t know myself,” came as an answer. “Then, that man released us from our cells. He brought us to a house in the town, where the market takes place and where you and the twins were caught too. There was a house, fully furnished and even had clothes in various sizes and designs. We lived there for a long time until my little sister was born.”

            The blowing breeze budged the window pane, creating a screeching voice from the hinges. Yeomso was purely stupefied, but Hideo brushed it off with a cackle.

            “Everyone loved her though,” Hideo’s eyes went teary. “Oh, I almost forgot! Other than the man who rescued us, there were also another three men in the house. The four of them called themselves The Defender.”

            This village was once intruded by a group of young men who claimed themselves as The Defender. They came here to abduct children and infants for their own purpose.

            “The Defender?” Yeomso could hear his ringing ears. Was he mishearing? But Hideo sat obviously next to him, so he should not mishear, right? “The Defender saved your family and you?”

            Hideo undoubtedly nodded. “They called themselves The Defender because they travelled around the world to heal people infected by black magic. They were actually a bunch of intelligentsias, and they applied everything they have learnt in order to recover those who were victim of black magic users.”

            “Wait, wait,” Yeomso cut off. His throbbing heart deafened his hearing, but he could still listen to Hideo’s voice, “Why didn’t you say anything when Stawarski mentioned about The Defender that day?”

            “It’s because of a pact we have dealt with him before his parents died of old ages.”

            Someone whispered right behind Yeomso’s ears. It was much closer than Hideo’s distance to him, thus it was much clearer that even the breeze did not heckle its frequency reaching Yeomso’s eardrums. Yeomso flinched in stagger, immediately widening the gap between him and Hideo. Hideo turned to him with deadpan in his sight and impassiveness in his complexion. Hideo did not seem to even falter when Yeomso distanced himself, as if he has already reckoned on the reaction to be that severe. Yeomso was about to enquire whose voice has just butted in to their conversation when a figure of tall Human showed up floating behind Hideo.

            “Long time no see, Hideo,” said the figure with a wide smile pasted on his face.

            The Capricorn gaped in disbelief over the occurrence before his eyes. Another Human mysteriously came out floating effortlessly by Hideo? “Wh- Who are you?”

            The surreal Human gazed at the terrified Yeomso for a few seconds before his face beamed in delight. “It’s my very first time to see a Dimensional on The Earth! It’s a blessing to me!”

            A Dimensional? So this Human could also distinguish him as a non-Human? “How do you know about my identity?”

            “It’s obvious. You have horns. Like a Capricorn!” the man half shrieked in pure ecstasy. “How can you be here? I thought Hideo was chatting with a Human pretending as you!”

            “So you listened to us all the time?” Yeomso straight away stood firmly on the roof tiles. “How much have you eavesdropped?”

            “Ever since Hideo came to your cell and had a decent conversation with you,” the figure giggled seeing Yeomso’s expression. “Please don’t be too cautious around me. No need to be wary of my presence. I’m just a hologram.”

            “What gram?”

            The figure ceased from laughing too much. “You’re a King but you’re so funny!”

            “I don’t get it!” Yeomso grunted in displeasure. He disliked that the figure was belittling him. “Who are you? How can you know who I am? Why don’t you look astonished or scared upon my identity?”

            Instead of directly responded to Yeomso’s questions, the hovering figure landed safely on the roof tiles. The colliding sound of terracotta tiles justified that the figure was real, not as a translucent being like several seconds ago. It actually formed a proper Human with mass and vivid colours. He was a tall man with broad chest and sinewy arms. His steps pressed hard against the roof tiles and the vaporized breaths denoted his realism.

            The Human marched forward, enclosing Yeomso in his range. Yeomso’s unshaken eyes glared at the latter.

            “Let me introduce my name first,” He gave his hand as a sign for a handshake, “You can just call me Valentin.”

            We studied about this with Uncle Valentin. He is a villager, working as a farmer. He likes to brag about his knowledge in natural energy.

            “Va- Valentin Bauer?!”

            It was Valentin’s time to ogle in astonishment. He covered his mouth with his palms and secretly glanced at the speechless Hideo. Yeomso rushed to Valentin and grabbed both of his hands.

            “I knew it! I could find some Defenders here although I was curious at Stawarski’s storytelling!” Yeomso’s mood interchanged into livelier contentment, “Finally, I’ve come across one of The Defender!”

            “Have you ever heard about The Defender before finding this village?” Hideo rose from his seat and circumspectly fixated on Yeomso. “Are you The Witch’s subordinates?”

            “Please listen to me first! I never acknowledged about a group of Humans named The Defender, but Stawarski’s story relates to the photo of young men I’ve found in the hut where I found the twins!”

            Hideo stretched out his one arm. It transformed into a wolf’s fore leg equipped with a paw and claws. He prepared his fighting stance to attack Yeomso whenever needed. Nevertheless, Valentin in a blink hindered Hideo from getting nearer to Yeomso.

            “Mister Valentin!” Hideo’s pleading eyes demanded an explanation. “What are you doing? As I’ve mentioned earlier, he came out of nowhere with a pair of twins!”

            “That’s what attracted me the most!” Valentin earnestly claimed while blocking Hideo from reaching Yeomso. “He’s the actual Dimension, The King of Capricorn Valley! He’s the most precious guest of the entire world – The Earth! We must treat him nicely!”

            Hideo froze at his spot. His fore leg shrank back into a Human’s arm.

            “Then,” Hideo’s hoarse voice depicted his shattering strength, “Will he help us in finding The Witch?”

            “He won’t only help us, Hideo,” even Valentin softened his gaze and tone. He touched Hideo’s reddish cheek. The latter was about to burst into tears. “He will directly bring us to The Witch.”

            Yeomso as a stranger watched Valentin coaxing the sobbing Hideo. There was a tingling sensation lingering deep inside him, and the first image came to his mind was his beloved wife and son. He must say that he loved them dearly, and he missed them too, but there was nothing he could do until he has discovered about Hebi.

            “The King of Capricorn Valley,” Valentin broke the hug and shifted at Yeomso. “How should we address you, Your Majesty?”

            “You don’t have to call me Majesty, though,” Yeomso raised an eyebrow. He never expected Earthlings would respect him as a King. He would prefer if none of the Humans could recognise him. “Just call me Yeomso.”

            Valentin beamed briefly, “You’re really a humble Capricorn. Not like how I’ve heard all these while.”

            The recently arrived Human crossed his arms against his chest while an awkward silence passed them.

            “I believe you have plentiful of unanswered questions towards me,” Valentin broke the quietness. “But you can’t figure out which is more important than the others.”

            It was correct. Yeomso’s inquiries elevated the longer he stayed in the village. The further his journey was, the more complicated the issue he encountered to. What worsened his mission was that none of the matter led him to Hebi. Or was he failing in discovering the whereabouts of Hebi The Ophiuchus? Rather than reacting to Valentin’s precise prediction, Yeomso just ducked his head to avert from Hideo and Valentin’s keen stare.

            “I’ll be the one asking you then,” Valentin cleared his throat.

            The irritating part about this Valentin Bauer was his unceasing smile. It was heart soothing but wickedly curved simultaneously. It calmed Hideo but it agitated Yeomso at the same time. How did a smile could differ in Human’s perspective?

            “Are the twins named Kouki and Hiroki?”

            A malevolent fear resonated in Yeomso’s faltering confidence. He never sensed faults in every of his action since the first second he stepped onto The Earth, however the existence of Valentin Bauer shook his firm stand.

            “Y- Yes, they are Kouki and Hiroki.”

            “Then, were you the one who killed Kai Stewart?”

            “No, I didn’t,” Yeomso really wanted to run away, but the dreadful overwhelming fear successfully halted him. “I found him when he was dying.”

            Hideo grabbed Valentin’s shoulder, interfering into the interrogation procedure. His sparkling eyes did not portray excitement. He was about to cry.

            “Kai Stewart… has died?”

            Yeomso bit his lower lip. Didn’t he state the name of the twins’ Father before this? Why these Humans seemed so shocked and astounded by the news? “Kai Stewart was your colleague, right? He was one of The Defender too, right?”

            Valentin’s countenance verified their sorrow. Yeomso gulped in hesitation. He wondered if he has spoken something he should not. Predicting from Hideo and Valentin’s reaction, he believed that Kai Stewart man must be one of their important colleague. Losing him meant their strength eventually demolished, like a troop of soldiers.

            “He is the kindest among us all,” Valentin turned around to back face both Hideo and Yeomso, “None of us could take care of Kouki and Hiroki. Despite the poverty, he willingly took in the twins and assured us they would be fine. I’ve always trusted him – Most of us did. From time to time, we would visit them in the forest, and Kai never failed to amuse us with his teaching,” he looked up to the dark sky. “I knew he would be found there, sooner or later. But I never knew you, a Dimensional, of all beings, came across him at the worst time.”

            The calmness did not last long. Valentin was still divulging when they were interrupted by an explosive noise coming from one of the rooms underneath. Yeomso and Hideo exchanged looks before jumping off the roof, leaving Valentin there.

            Hideo jumped from a veranda to another veranda, and Yeomso flew by using his robe as his parachute, to the room with torn down walls. They recognised the room straight away. Since Hideo was much faster than Yeomso, he barged into the crumbling wall first to rescue the people inside. Yeomso scrabbled something in his robe when Hideo reappeared with two kids in each of his arms.

            “Thank you very much, Hideo!” Yeomso put on another robe over Hideo. It gratefully cloaked Hideo, Kouki and Hiroki altogether. “Get away first! Bring them as far as you can! I will take care of things here!”

            “But Yeomso-“

            “Go! Now!”

            Hideo had no choice but to obey to Yeomso’s instruction. With heavy heart, he jumped off the veranda, holding on Kouki and Hiroki tightly as the twins were precious to Valentin and Yeomso. For the sake of those two, he would unconditionally save the twins from the villains’ range.

            The shrouding dust hazed the view, but Yeomso could perceive the presence of a creature with long white hair at the door entrance.