"Long no see, Raqnid!" ~the person in the black robe, removing his face cover and hood.
"Huh?... Razor!" ~Raqnid was astonished.
Razor is a classmate of Raqnid and also a human incarnated into this world. He was the only loner in the class. Since their incarnation here, Razor is the only one who dared to speak out about the agreement to save this world from the threat of the Demon King. He didn't want to risk his life to save the lives of people in this unknown world. At first, his opinions began to be agreed by others, but Ray has eliminated all his opinions and involve everyone in the problems of the population in this world.
"Uhm... ah... oh... it's been a while!" Raqnid stuttered.
*RAZOR!!! How did I end up running into him? It's all that old man's fault. Why did I let his words get to me! If it weren't for his stupid game, I wouldn't be in this mess. I hope Razor didn't see me kill those Minotaurs!* Raqnid thought to himself as he pondered the situation.
"You did great, Raqnid, killing those Minotaurs!" Razor praised.
*Arghhhh... He saw me! What do I do now?* Raqnid thought.
"Haha!" Raqnid replied.
"Are you blind, kid? I killed most of those Minotaurs earlier!" Wells chimed in.
*I forgot this old man was here. Good now i make an excuse!* Raqnid thought.
"Ah, Uncle Wells, I forgot about you! You're injured... right! I'll take you to the Elf city for treatment," Raqnid said.
"Huh? What's wrong with you, kid! Playing tricks on me? When did I get injured... umm," Wells said.
Raqnid covered Wells' mouth with his hand to keep him from talking.
"Hahaha, Uncle, hold on a bit, i know it's painful! Alright, we're leaving, Razor. Thank you!" Raqnid dragged Wells along with him while keeping Wells mouth shut.
"Wait!... We have Healer with us. Please! We need your help, Raqnid!" Razor called out.
"ARGHHH!" Raqnid screamed as Wells bit his hand and escaped from his grasp.
"How dare you, kid, forcing me to follow your orders!... I'm not even injured!" Wells said.
"Ugh! Razor, you need help right! Take this old man, he can help you," Raqnid said.
"Not enough! This is not an small matter; it involves the Demon King. We need your strength, both of you!" Razor insisted.
"Demon King!" Wells exclaimed.
"The Demon King isn't our concern; that's the Hero's job. Let them handle it," Raqnid said.
"They might not be able to defeat the Demon King with their current strength now!" Razor argued.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Raqnid asked.
"With their current strength, they might not be able to kill the Demon King!" Razor repeat.
"Right now, maybe not! In two years, they probably will," Raqnid replied.
"I agree with you, in two years. But they might not have that much time!" Razor said.
"What do you mean, kid?" Wells asked.
"War may break out soon... what can I say, it could happen within a year or less," Razor said.
"HUH? How do you know? Are you sure?" Raqnid and Wells were both shocked.
"We've seen it ourselves, how the Demon King is ready preparing his armies for war," Razor explained.
"Are you kidding!" Raqnid said.
"Do you think why did Demon Lord attack your group earlier?" Razor asked.
"Huh! How did it come to this?" Raqnid wondered.
"All of this wouldn't have happened if Demon Lord Vishnal were still alive. Because the Hero killed Demon Lord Vishnal a month after they were brought here. What do you think the Demon King's reaction was? I don't know how they managed to kill Demon Lord Vishnal with their strength back then. But I'm sure with their current strength now, they might not even be able to hurt Demon Lord Vishnal. They just lucky," Razor explained.
"Haha... yeah they must be lucky," Raqnid's expression changed after hearing the name Demon Lord Vishnal.
*Gulp... ARGGHH... What have I done? Im the one who cause all this problem* Raqnid thought to himself.
"We need your help. Otherwise, the world won't end happily!" Razor pleaded.
"I'll help, but I don't know about this kid's decision," Wells said.
"Alright, I'll help," Raqnid reluctantly agreed.
"Thank you, Raqnid," Razor said.
*Besides, this is all my fault!* Raqnid yelled in his mind.
"Welcome to our group. I'm Izar!" The Lizardman introduced himself.
"I'm Paul," the Dwarf raised his hand.
"Oh... so you're the one that Razor always talks about!" The Beastman stared at Raqnid closely.
"Uh... talk?" Raqnid took a step back from the Beastman.
"Anne!" Razor call the beastmen girl who approach Raqnid.
"Hehe, sorry... sorry... I'm Anne!"
Then, the Elf woman standing behind her friend stepped forward and introduced herself.
"I'm Amani!"
"Welcome Raqnid. Wells," Razor extended his hand to welcome the new members.
°°°°
"Cant sleep?" Razor approach Raqnid from behind who sit while staring at the moon.
"No..."
Razor noticed the frustrated expression on Raqnid's face.
"If you want to change your mind, we don't mind."
"Huh?... Oh, no, I don't."
*If it wasn't me causing all these problems, I will not join this group at the first place!* Raqnid thought to himself.
"You've changed a lot, Razor! I didn't expect, you want to save the world."
"Heh, I didn't expect it either, Raqnid," Razor gazed at the sky.
"Uuuu... What's this? Are you in love with someone in this world?" Raqnid teased.
"Yes, that's right! I want to protect someone I love in this world," Razor answered seriously.
"Ehh...", Raqnid was surprised to hear Razor's reply, instantly knowing who Razor meant as he looked at the woman as he said it.
"Do you have anyone you love, Raqnid?" Razor asked.
* Shara!* , came to his mind Shara face, and then he lowered his head and looked at the ground.
"Fat, Kiel, Doug, Nancy, and other classmates!"
"Hahaha... I meant a woman. A woman you love!"
"Hahaha... Are you kidding me, Razor? There's no woman interested in me! Enough of all this, I'm going to bed now."
"Alright."
*I'm sure there's a woman out there who will realize how great you are, Raqnid!* Razor thought to himself.
A week later...
King Nolan walked towards the garden where his daughter was. Princess Shara was sitting on the tallest tree in the city.
Lyn was seen at the entrance connecting to the garden.
"My lord!" Lyn greeted the king, bowing her head.
"How is Shara doing?" King Nolan asked.
"She's recovering, my lord!"
Then, King Nolan entered the garden. He approached Shara, who was caressing the flowers there.
"Huh?... Papa, what are you doing here?"
"Why... can't your father visit his daughter?"
"Um, no, you're always busy!"
King Nolan hugged his daughter.
"Forgive me, my daughter, for not having time for you."
"Uhm, mmm, it's okay, I understand!"
"Thank you, my daughter is the best!"
Shara smiled in her father's embrace, feeling the warmth she had missed for so long.
"Have you eat?" Shara asked, looking up at her father.
"Yes!"
"Papa wants some tea?"
"Sure!"
Shara gently took her father's hand to the gazebo, where the drinks and sweets were prepared. King Nolan sat in one of the chairs there. Shara poured tea into a cup to serve her father.
King Nolan sipped the tea. "Mmmm... delicious! Did you make this yourself?"
"Yes, Lyn taught me!"
"You're so talented!"
Shara smiled. She then prepared a plate of sweets for her father.
"Is Shara feeling better now?"
"I'm okay, papa!"
"You don't have to be sad about that boy!"
"Huh?... Hmmm," Shara tried to ignore her father's words about Raqnid.
"He doesn't deserve you. He just useless man!"
"Raqnid is not useless!" Shara retorted with a raised voice.
Her father, who had just sipped his tea for the second time, stopped when he saw his daughter defending Raqnid. He put down the cup, placed it on the plate.
"If he were a good man, why did he leave you!"
"Huh?... Umm," Shara was taken aback by her father's words and hesitated to respond.
"How dares him to play with my daughter's heart!"
"Papa..."
"WHAT! Is not what I said true?"
"Raqnid is not like that!" Shara clenched her fist holding her anger.
*From the beginning, Raqnid and I never had any relationship. We were just... no! Our relationship can't be called friends. Since the beginning, Raqnid has been forced to train with me. If not for that, Raqnid wouldn't even want to know me... Haah, now I'm realize that I'm nobody in Raqnid's life. I'm just a stranger,* Shara started shedding tears.
"You still can't forget that man!" King Nolan's tone grew serious.
"Uhh... Shara can't forget him, Papa," Shara couldn't bring herself to meet her father's eyes.
"ENOUGH! What's so great about that man? You're the princess of the Elf kingdom. A commoner like him isn't worthy of you. I will find a better and more suitable man for you."
Shara remained silent, keeping her head down to hide her tears.
"You better forget about that man and focus on your archery training with the Hero. Don't waste your time on someone who wasn't meant for you! Besides, when someone is gone, let them go because they won't come back," King Nolan stood up and walked out of the garden with an angry expression.
As soon as her father left the garden, Shara fell to her knees on the ground. Her face was wet with flowing tears.
"Not meant for me! Why I never think about that?" Her father's final words hit deep. Realizing the harsh reality, Shara had forgotten that she was a princess and that she couldn't be with someone like Raqnid.
"Arrrggghhh!" Shara screamed, releasing all the pent-up emotions within her.
"My lady!" - Lyn
"Let's go, Leonel!" - King Nolan
"Very well, my majesty!" - Leonel
Leonel followed King Nolan after briefly glancing at the garden.
*I never thought princess Shara heart would already be taken. Heh (smirking), it might be difficult for her to accept someone else now... Raqnid, huh? That's name ring a bell! If I'm not mistaken, he was one of the participants in the 'Duo Moon' ceremony. I'd like to meet the person who has captured princess heart. But unfortunately, that might be impossible now!" Leonel thought to himself.
Lyn stepped into the garden, seeing Princess Shara kneeling. She ran over to her.
"What happen to you princess Shara?" Lyn asked.
"Lyn!"
"Yes, princess."
"Shara won't cry anymore. Shara won't long for it anymore. Shara won't hope anymore." Shara lifted her head and wiped away her tears.
"Princess Shara!" Lyn was saddened by the sight of Princess Shara.
Shara stood up from her fall, resolved to forget everything about Raqnid and only heed her father's instructions.
*Princess Shara's eyes... have changed! Ugh!* Lyn was pained to see Shara's eyes, which no longer held the cheerfulness they once did. Her eyes, once bright, now seemed empty.
Shara's heart had died, and all her hopes had been shattered. Everything was now determined by her father. Shara now seemed like a puppet who move according to her master's will.
"Let's go, Lyn!" Shara's tone, once gentle and cheerful, now sounded robotic.
"Ugh... Very well, Princess Shara!"
#FreePalestine