Said an hooded figure. Startled by the strange being's sudden appearance, they froze and kept on staring at the figure. He was in an overall black cloak with half of its face hidden behind a black veil.
" Who... who….. who're you?" asked Ofelia as she stammered.
"Well, I am the guardian of the forest. I could call myself that much at least." answered the hooded figure. Boyun and the rest looked puzzled they seemed to be speechless.
The hooded figure moved nearer to them slowly, revealing his face by drawing his hood to the back. He had a black hair with his face white. He smiled as he dipped his hand in his pocket.
"I am Ren and I have what you want"
he drew out his hand from his pocket folded and then unfolded it, showing four golden coins in his palm.
Zil was surprised that she widened her eyes, opening her mouth even though nothing was coming out.
" was that what I saw the other time?" Klora asked curiously. Ren Grinned from behind the veil and walked towards the tree they were formally sitting under.
" Like I said earlier, I am the guardian of the forest and I have the four golden coins you're after." He drew back his hood forward and then looked straight at Klora.
" But why would you want to help us?" asked Ofelia. Ren then looked at her as he moved away from the tree again.
" Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to help you. You have what interest me and that's why I'm trying to trade"
"and if we are not interested in your deal?" Boyun asked, he seemed suspicious of something.
Roar!!!
The sound of the beast was heard again.
" Then you all die here. No human is welcome here anyways" replied Ren.
Looking scared, Zil stared at him for some moments.
" And what's the deal ?" Zil asked. Ren beamed, he seemed to like Zil all of a sudden.
"To know the deal, I need to tell you my story" he replied.
"your story? We don't have time for all this stupid attitude of yours!" Ofelia interjected, making hand gestures as she spoke.
" hey young lady, you don't talk to a guardian in such manner. If you know what's good for you, you should let me speak" Ren replied frankly, he looked serious as he stared at her for some moments.
Ofelia kept quiet immediately as if she were under a spell.
" Now listen" he paused as he moved back towards the tree again , then sat under it.
" You should sit as well, I bet you'll enjoy the story as well"
Zil and Klora looked at Boyun then moved closer to Ren and sat not too closer to him. It took Ofelia and Boyun some moments before they later moved towards their side.
" 20 years ago, I got admitted into the Green Dept. out of my wish. My father who was in the authority forced me. He believed he had to make me join the Green Knights in order for him to be promoted." He signed and then continued.
" I was young then and I had no talent at all. Though I had no talent, I still had a dream of living a peaceful life as a blacksmith. But what can I do when my father decided to use me in such a cruel way?"
Klora and the others were carried away that they did not notice it was already dark. The seemed to believe Ren as they kept quiet, listening to his story.
"But what's wrong with being a Green Knight?" Ofelia asked.
" Well, I'm not surprised by your question. It was exactly the same thing I thought when I was asked to join. Those haggard fellow won't explain what each Dept. would be doing. You'll only want to join a Dept. because of the stupid colored robe."
Klora looked curious as well as the others. The had forgotten about where there were or the reason why they were there completely. They were totally carried away.
" What's bad in it then?" Zil asked.
" well, consider this a secret and listen to it for your own good. I'm doing because I don't want you to make the same mistake I made." He drew back his hood again, revealing his hair and half of his face.
" The Green Dept. is for a talentless person like me. There's a bracelet given to them, it drains their life energy and that's why they don't live long."
" They don't live long!" exclaimed both Zil and Klora.
"Yes, once they start using the bracelet, they have five years left for them until they give up the ghost."
" so, they are being used just because they are talentless? That's a bad way of making use of someone." Said Klora. He looked at Boyun for some moments as if he were waiting for him to give him a go ahead.
" Is it compulsory to use the bracelet? I mean, you can just train hard or something like." Klora asked.
Ren looked at him and nodded his head gently.
" You have no control over yourself once you're admitted." Replied Ren.
" Then how come you're still alive if that was 20years ago?" Boyun finally spoke.
" well, that's the reason why I'm now the guardian of it forest." He sneered.
"After getting admitted, I found out about the way they were being used and that is really an hindrance to my dream. I refused to put on the bracelet and even tried to run." He sneered again.
"Unfortunately, I was caught and sent into the forest"
" I could have been killed you know, but I'm the son of an authoritarian. They couldn't risk killing me. They told my dad about what I did and he asked them to keep me away from the outside world. They probably couldn't risk me telling other aspirants what the Green Dept. is all about."
Boyun seemed to had noticed it was dark already. He clears his throat as he dipped his hand in his pouch.
"ok, it's really a scary and touching one but if you notice it as well, you'll see that it's dark already. Can you tell what the deal is all about now so that we can get our of here?" Boyun retorted. Ren ignored him as he kept on staring at Klora. He sneered again.
Klora who seemed to be thinking about something the whole time also noticed Ren's stare.
" That's something really bad and should be eradicated. Someone needs to tell the truth to the world." Klora finally spoke.
Ren sneered again as he stood up. He walked away from the tree and moved towards pit of the beast.
" all these bodies are of the innocents." Said Ren as he pointed at the bodies in the pit.
"If you tell what I told you today to others, you won't have the grace of being a guardian like me, you'll be killed. You know the truth now, try to stay away from the Green Dept." he sneered again and moved by to the tree.
The atmosphere was heavy as the forest went tranquil. No roaring of the beast or hooting of the birds, every where was just quiet.
"And also tell no one you met me here, of course they'll know that I had told you something, hence, leading to your death. Its time to go now" he stretched out his hand unfolded, showing the four golden coins on his palm.
" The Black boy should be the one to take it, have the coins." Said Ren. Klora and the others widened their eyes.
" what do you mean? What about the deal?" asked Ofelia.
"Well, that was a lie, you have nothing to offer me. The truth must be known at least. I hope you won't make the mistake I made by joining the Green Dept." Ren replied.
"But why should I be the one? Can't you just throw it or let anyone have it?" Klora asked. Ren hooted for some moments and then looked from Boyun to Zil and from Zil to Ofelia and finally back to Klora.
" Who shot the arrow from earlier? Wasn't it you?" Ren asked as he sneered again.
"how did you know that? We definitely hid ourselves well, how could you possibly know that?" Ofelia asked.
"I told you I'm the guardian of this forest. And you," he pointed at Klora " consider I giving you the coins as a medal for your clear shot. So, have it already."
Klora looked at Boyun and the others as they nodded in affirmation.
" You should go for it already, you earned it." Zil hooted. Klora stood up and glanced around as he walked slowly towards Ren. He took the coins from his palm and took some steps backwards.