On their way towards the black wall, the crawling sound that has been following them became louder. Arexis turned his head and pointed his sword towards the suspicious creature following them. Crescent moved away and he accidentally stumbled upon a squealing creature behind his feet. The servant fell with his butt on the ground. He quickly rolled towards his side when he felt that something was moving underneath him. Crescent smiled widely as he recognized and hugged the familiar creature.
"Hey! It's Meatball!" Crescent exclaimed and hugged the wild boar that he captured back in the enchanted river. It has been following Arexis secretly in the forest since the young master set it free. The small boar slapped Crescent's face using its dirty feet.
"Hey! stop doing that!" Crescent yelled and put down the tubby animal. He wiped the dirt off his face and crossed his arms across his chest.
"I just saved your life! Do you want me to roast you right now?" Crescent grinned, cracking his fingers like a villain. The wild boar hid behind Arexis' cloak, asking for protection from the young man. The young master didn't move an inch, ignoring the dirty animal's presence.
"Huh! You're choosing that Ice Master over a unique guy like me!" Crescent scoffed while faking a laugh. He knew for sure that Arexis would not take the animal with him. If it was for Crescent, he would raise the meaty animal and roast it when it gets bigger.
"You just called it 'Meatball', right?" Leo asked while chuckling, Crescent nodded.
"That's because he looks like a walking meatball in my eyes" Crescent chuckled. Anthony and Leo could see the saliva drippping beside Crescent's mouth, staring at the wild animal behind his master's cloak.
"Let's go back to the Central District" Arexis instructed and led the way, leaving the poor animal behind. It kept following the young master's cloak and nibling it slowly.
"Hehe Arie, look, it fell inlove with your silk" Crescent chuckled while pointing at the hungry boar. Arexis frowned when he noticed that his cloak became a plaything for some dirty animal.
"Take it away" Arexis ordered. Crescent picked up the animal and started playing with it.
"Leave it behind" Arexis added. The servant pouted and said, "But it looks so poor and cute!" in his mind, "And meaty too!"
"Young master, you are so cruel. This little guy followed you all the way here because it really loves you. Are you just gonna dump it?" Crescent asked while pouting. He took a glance of his young master, observing his reaction whether he was guilty or nothing at all.
"Can you give him to me instead?" Crescent asked while scratching the dirty boar's neck. He thought, "This is absolutely tasty once roasted. I'll eat it when I arrive at the Central District. This will be the main course of my celebration for being alive"
Crescent smirked secretly with the thought.
"You're just going to eat it when we arrive at the Central district, it's written all over your face." Anthony laughed, Leo agreed with his master.
"I'll take care of it! And of course, eat it when it gets bigger! It would be worth the wait" Crescent laughed evily, his laugh was villanous that he almost choked, Arexis frowned.
"Do whatever you like" Arexis said and scribbled something on the gate as they reached the black wall.
"Baybayin*?" Crescent asked while frowning. Upon hearing the servant said the word, the young master looked at Crescent. He wanted to ask why the servant knows about the alphabet when he had never gone to school before. He thought Crescent was not as ignorant as he looked.
[*Ancient National Writing System.]
"Was that a secret message you just scribbled, Arie?" Crescent asked and hid the wild animal inside his bag. Arexis ignored the question and went inside as the gate opened slowly.
"It was his name that he just wrote" Anthony said.
"The gates were specialized with seals which only open for the nobles. Once you write your name on any part of it, it will open for you. But only few nobles had the capability to posses unlocking abilities, Arexis counts as one of them." The young master explained. Crescent began to wonder what his young master's whole name.
"Young master, will I see you around in the Central District?" Leo asked his young master. Anthony smiled and yanked his servant on the neck.
"Of course! Once we get there, you will have your own shelter, a pair of noble parents who would take care of you, and you will meet a lot of friends. And don't worry, nobody will know that you came from the First district because your personal informations will be protected. You will be treated as one of the nobles." Anthony said while smiling. He patted Leo's head and smirked, "If someone dares to bully you, I'll feed them to my boas"
Leo gasped in awe, "You have snakes?!"
The young master nodded and grabbed Leo by the wrist. Arexis frowned at the sudden change of behavior with the other young master.
"The same privilege will be given to you, don't ask further questions." Arexis said before the servant would ask him. They went inside the gate and a couple of first-rate guards escorted them along the hallway.
"Young masters, will you be staying for the night here? We have the best taverns where you can rest before going to the Central District" one of the guards asked Crescent. The former servant raised his brows in surprised while pointing his chest, "Me? Are you asking me?"
The guard nodded with all due respect.
"Yes, young master." He answered. Crescent chuckled and looked at himself which is covered in mud.
"I think you are mistaken. I am a penniless man. If you ever let me stay in one of your luxurious inn, I can't give you a single penny." Crescent laughed shyly. The guard smiled and said, "Rest assured that you will have a comfortable rest tonight, young master. You need not to worry about the charge, they will be taken care of by your parents."
"Hah??" Crescent chuckled in awe. He couldn't believe that a moment like this would happen to him. Anthony and Leo rented a room with two beds and left them behind.
"Let's take a shower first" Anthony said to Leo while hanging his arm on the former servant's neck. Arexis frowned as he watched Anthony being clingy to his new acquainted friend. Crescent noticed that his young master has been keeping his eyes on the other noble.
"Hey Arie, it couldn't be that you have a crush on Anthony?" Crescent chuckled while poking the side of Arexis, yet the young master didn't flinch.
"Nonsense" the young master hissed and walked away.
"Hey! Where are you going?!" Crescent shouted while waving his hands.
"Young master, should I tell the servants to prepare a bath for you?" The guard asked Crescent. Crescent looked at the guard and crossed his arms across his chest.
"Yeah sure" Crescent answered. The guard stopped walking when he added, "Hey!"
"Do you think that Arie likes Anthony or Leo?" Crescent chuckled while whispering near the guard.
"I cannot tell, young master. And also, they are all noble men." the guard answered and left politely.
"I'm just kidding! Why are the people here taking things seriously? Tsk!" Crescent smirked and walked away clumsily, the guards followed him behind.
Savoring the luxurious treatment, Crescent rested his back against the fancy tub.
"Waaa! The water is so warm" smoke came out from Crescent mouth. He held a jar of scented liquid and applied it to his pale skin.
"Smells like sampaguita*" Crescent smelled his arm. He never smelled so nice and fragrant before. He laughed at how lucky he was to have such luxurious life in exchange for his bravery. He started playing with the bubble he created, making them float in the air and poking them as they landed on the floor.
[*National Flower]
"I wonder what happened to those remaining Sigbins in the forest?" Crescent asked himself.
"Do they still stick together after their leader was killed?" Crescent frowned. He rinsed his body and grabbed a clean robe to dry up.
"It could also be possible that they hide in the mountains separately." he added and dried his long, now soft hair. He picked up a luxurious comb and combed his black silky hair while facing a half-body
sized mirror.
'Why did they remain alive after their leader died?' Crescent sat on the chair and stared at himself in front of the mirror. He remembered the time when the black smoke penetrated under his skin.
"It can't be" Crescent got rid of the idea off his head and threw himself on the bed.
"The possibility of finding another leader while the red gem was powdered right in front of my own eyes? Nah, the sigbins will go extinct before I could see one again." Crescent said and closed his eyes. He opened them again as he couldn't afford to clear his doubts.
"Nah, the mission is finally over. Let the Central District Association take care of them. I won't get involved any longer." Crescent fell asleep before he could notice.
An itchy rubbing thread on Crescent's ear woke him up. The female servant is getting rid of the tag on Crescent's ear while the new young master was sleeping.
"What are you doing?" Crescent asked, holding the wrist of the female servant tightly. He didn't mean to hurt the lady, it was purely instinct. When someone would touch your ear while you are sleeping, you probably would make such defensive reaction, specifically for someone who just came from a mission.
"Oh!" Crescent gasped and let go of the lady's hand.
"I didn't mean to hurt you" he added. The lady was holding the tag from Crescent's ear and bowed her head.
"No, young master, it is I who disturbed you while you were sleeping. Forgive me for my heedlessness." The lady bowed her head. She put the thin wooden tag inside a golden pouch and was about to exit the room, but the young master stopped her from leaving by halting his hand in the air.
"Where are you taking my ear tag?" Crescent asked, frowning, he was curious why would such a piece of wood be kept inside a luxurious pouch.
"Ear tags from the lower districts should be kept and preserved inside the Central District Museum. It will be treated as an artifact of bravery. Yours and young master Leo's were the first two pieces to be acknowledge." the lady explained. Crescent held his chin while thinking deeply.
"Oh? So you came from the Central district? I'm sorry but, do I have the right to keep it?" Crescent asked. The servant was confused, why would he still keep the tag?
"Does this tag have any sentimental value to you by any chance, young master?" the servant asked and handed the pouch to Crescent. The young master smiled, he wasn't so sure what made him end up with the thought. Keeping it would be too hassle, but he just felt like he didn't want to give it away that easily.
"Hmm, this tag has been with me ever since I was little. Let's say, I can't say goodbye to it for now. I'll give it back to you when I've made up my mind. Is it fine?" Crescent asked, his smiles never fade everytime he wanted to demand something from a stranger.
"As long as the young master wishes for it, your interests will be followed. Young master Leo already handed his ear tag to us. Please let us know if you finally made up your mind, young master." the lady said politely.
"Since you already have Leo's, should you just keep his instead. It's better to create interesting history, right?" Crescent smirked. It gave confusion to the lady and she spoke again, "What do you mean, young master?"
"Take a guess, many years from now, Leo's tag will be known for being the first ear tag in history. Then, here comes the second missing tag. People would be curious where did the second artifact go, did the owner gave it to another person important to him? Perhaps to his lover, romantic, right?" Crescent smirked. The lady just smiled and agreed. She excused herself and exited the room. A few minutes later, another group of first class guards knocked on Crescent's door.
"Being a noble is quite annoying" Crescent hissed and let the guards in.
"What is it this time?" the young master yawned.
"Young master, we will be escorting you towards the Central District. Please prepare yourself and don't hesitate to ask for full assistance from the servants. Your parents will be waiting for your arrival in the Central District." the guard spoke. It was as if all the tiredness and fatigue had vanished instantly from Crescent's body upon hearing the news. He would be meeting his new parents few hours from now, what should he do? How would he act accordingly with the other young nobles? What would he wear?
"Assistance, right! I need your assistance!" Crescent gasped. He could never think straight and right. He never had parents before, hence, he didn't know how to act like a wanted child in front of highly nobles. The servants helped him dress up and look presentable. Crescent looked at himself in front of a big mirror and he could no longer see any trace of him being a dirty ear-tagged person before.
"It's really true. Nice outfit makes you look magnificent even if you came from the mud, as long as you have the good looks, tch! Who's that stunning prince looking at me?" Crescent pointed his reflection and smirked. He wished he would have great and wanted parents.
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
"Hello young man" the lady in fancy long dress greeted Crescent. She looked like a royalty despite the simple yet elegant outfit.
"Have you decided a name for yourself yet?" She asked the young man in front of her. With the gentle voice echoing throughout the hall, she too --looked very kind.
"How about I'll give you a name, my son?" the lady asked and carressed the back of Crescent's long braided hair. Crescent decided to voice out what he wanted to say only to be interrupted by an old acquaintance's entrance. Crescent smiled and waved his hands when he recognized the fellow.
"Hey, Arie! It's me, Crescent!" the new young master yelled. Arexis frowned and looked at the face of the young man in noble dress he barely recognized. He looked at the young man from head to toe in a calm manner and asked, "Who are you?"
Crescent frowned, he pouted because he believed that his former young master didn't recognized him. He used to look like a rag with a wooden tag on his ear, eats wild animals like he belongs to its habitat, and would play awful music using his unfashionable woodwind instrument. Of course, Arexis would never recognize his noble appearance.
"How could you forget after being separated from me only for one night? It is I who used to protect you, It's me, Crescent" The young man recited. Arexis recognized the familiar high pitched tone of his voice, the shameless it sounds, and the arrogance he could never fail to notice. Crescent totally looked different from how he used to be. The noble's white clothes really suited him. Crescent walked towards Arexis and handed the golden pouch to his former young master.
"This is my parting gift for you, thank you." Crescent smiled and went back to his new mother's side. Arexis frowned and opened the small bag, he saw the tag and quickly took a glimpse of his former servant --who in the moment was having a good chat with his new mother.
"So immature" the young master commented. He proceeded to the room where his mother was waiting for him.
"That child..." lady Arexa started, sipping a cup of tea while sitting on a well designed chair, she looked at her raven son.
"...you should try hanging out with him. He seems like a funny companion." The lady suggested.
"I'm fine on my own." Arexis replied. He remembered how happy Crescent looked when the clumsy guy handed the tag to him. The young master thought that it would not be too bad to keep such an uncommon item from an uncommon individual.
✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒
©The Bathala's Forbidden Vessel
Creator: Arl Hesse