"I'm scared..." Han Dae uttered like a cry for help as he closes his eyes. Han Zeno blinked and after a second, he smiled once again. However this time, it was with a sigh.
Slowly letting go of Han Dae's cheek, he held his hand tightly.
"Don't be, follow me." He ordered. Han Dae tightened his grip with his worried face before nodding. Han Zeno took one last glance at his servant's face that is filled with fright.
But instead of worrying, Han Zeno felt ecstatic deep down. His ears even turned pinkish in response to the other's seemingly satisfying face. He shook his head slightly and took a deep breath before facing the twins.
"No need to be hostile." Han Zeno answered. The two recognized his voice right away and managed to lower their guards a little. Their bloodlusts are no more after seeing their friend, Han Zeno, being slowly basked in sunlight. Han Dae seemed to calm his bursting heart a little.
Han Zeno stepped into the light holding his servant's hand. "Greetings Lord Sen Fajra, Young Miss Sen Saiorse."
"Young Lord Han, what brought you here?" Sen Fajra asked while standing with only his lips smiling.
Han Zeno lowered his head first and answered, "I am here to look for peculiar creatures, like evolved stag beetles. Someone told me that those cost a pretty penny." he innocently smiled.
Sen Saiorse blinked in surprise and laughed, "Pfft! I never would've imagine that Young Lord Han would be interested in catching bugs such as stag beetles!"
Sen Fajra can't help but laugh as well, "I'm very sorry Young Lord Han, but hunting and selling those creatures are not allowed."
"Oh my, that I did not know." Han Zeno blinked and faced Han Dae who is looking down, only seeing his feet, "They said it is forbidden." He said.
Han Dae answered in haste, "I don't care anymore Hashi-ni! Let's just go back!" he whispered while tugging his young lord's sleeve. Han Zeno blinked with an imagination in mind.
Yes, Han Dae resembles a cat wanting to go home while purring.
"Young Lord Han." Sen Fajra called. Han Zeno faced him once again as he continued, "May I ask for your cooperation?"
"Huh?" Han Zeno wondered.
Sen Saiorse faced her brother, "Sen-ni!" she said, "I don't think we should be exclu--"
"It will be fine." He smiled, "We have known Young Lord Han since we are little kids, I think he will agree."
"Anything, Lord Sen." Han Zeno answered while Sen Saiorse and Han Dae are having a glaring contest out of the blue.
A disciple dying. Certainly it was not a light case at all. Especially including the lord in asking a favor out of the blue. Indeed, there is something that is bothering Young Lord Han Zeno right from the moment he first laid eyes on the three.
"I request Young Lord Han to forget what he's seen and act as if nothing had happened. I also wish for this thing to not be exposed in public. I will deal with this matter tomorrow morning." He asked humbly with his head slightly lowered.
Han Zeno can only nod with a confused look painted on his face. He thought that Lord Sen Fajra would be asking for help. I mean, it is the obvious thing to do when one is struggling, after all.
Guess he concluded wrong.
Carrying the corpse of his brethren, he continued, "I have to go." as he smiles to his twin sister. Han Dae eyed the poor disciple who lost his life at an early age. if only he is alive, he and Han Dae can be pals. As the body is being carried past him, his eyes caught a glimpse of Sen Fajra's face. It was filled with uneasiness.
It was his first time seeing him up close too.
That moment, Han Dae felt a sense of similarity and alienation mixed in.
'He...' he thought, 'He feels like Hashi-ni... but...' he looked down as he finds it difficult to continue thinking at all, 'He doesn't feel like Hashi-ni as well...'
Han Zeno faced Han Dae with a smile, "Then, shall we leave too?" he asked when Sen Saiorse grabbed his wrist.
"Young Lord Han!" she called. Both of them looked at her with face in a wonder. "Please... we need your help! Lord Sen-ni might not say anything about it to not cause a commotion but the Saphirus Sen Tribe is in danger right now!"
"What do you mean, Young Miss Sen?" Han Zeno asked. Han Dae seems curious as well.
"Can we not... include that servant of yours?" she requested.
'Wha-?!' Han Dae flinched.
Han Zeno took a glance at Han Dae's irritated expression as he 'grrr-s' while biting the nail on his right thumb.
He face the young Miss and said, "Don't worry Young Miss Sen. My servant won't spill anything, I assure you that."
But she glared at Han Dae who's also glaring at her as they both curse each other in their minds.
She tightened her grip and said, "Come with me."
... hesitantly.
She looks like she doesn't want to expose their trouble to some other tribes because she doesn't want to have a debt of gratitude but she knows that it's a must. She trusts Young Lord Han Zeno but she cannot trust a servant who she doesn't even know what on Earth his background is. Nope, with a trashy background to begin with - is what she is thinking.
She led them deeper into the forest and there they saw a large sturdy rock. Written on the same rock are Baybayin characters with blood used as a medium. It was hexagonal in shape. Looking at it, it is already stroked days ago because the red surface is dry.
"That's--?" Han Dae wondered.
"An array used to teleport..." Han Zeno answered. "That drains a person's spiritual energy, but it is really handy when he finds himself in big trouble."
"The use of Teleportation Array here in Saphirus Sen Tribe isn't very common. At most, we don't want our disciples to ever use it because it brings uneasiness to people whenever they see one." Sen Saiorse answered.
Han Dae examined the array, character per character, stroke per stroke. He walked there to touch the surface while the two are busy talking, "How fascinating..." he thought.
"That disciple earlier," she continued, "He is the one who drew the array when he... he saw... a blue butterfly..."
"Blue butterfly?" Han Dae asked curiously.
"I have heard of it." Han Zeno answered him, "When a Sen Jinji died, a blue butterfly will appear near their corpse and find rest to someone dear or close to them."
Sen Saiorse nodded, "What Young Lord Han said is a fact. Last two weeks, we received a news that the outer part of our tribe was attacked by monsters and a high ranking demon. We sent a group of Jinjis to investigate but none of them have returned."
"That disciple, the one lying on the ground earlier, his close friend was a part of the Jinjis we sent out. He broke the rule upon seeing his close friend's butterfly. He wanted to avenge his dear friend's death. Unfortunately, he also..."
Everyone didn't utter a word until she composed herself once again and continued, "Before dying, he was able to give us a message." She faced the array.
"A demon army is after the whole tribe. If we don't want war, we need to participate in their mock battle to see who will win. The loser will have to agree to a single command of the winning race."
Sen Saiorse faced them again, "And they want not just the land we own but also the people living in this place. We cannot allow such thing to happen."
"Young Miss Sen..." Han Zeno uttered and asked in all seriousness, "If you've known this two weeks ago, you should have told us not to come today to study and cultivate, moving it to a later date."
"We've tried, Young Lord Han." Sen Saiorse answered, "However, we are not the ones who decide when to open our gates for Majin candidates. It is the Majin himself who decides."
"My brother, Lord Sen, he did not waste time and sent a letter to Majin Ashera upon knowing the problem we have. However, Majin Ashera insisted on opening the class on the same date. Of course we cannot argue."
Han Zeno held his chin, thinking deeply. Han Dae, on the other hand, wondered, 'Why would Majin Ashera reject the idea? Also, he didn't even lend a helping hand upon knowing the problem! Is he truly a Majin worthy of respect? Although I have never seen him...'
Asher then wondered, "Right, there are a lot of Majin candidates in what I can see and they all have the potential to be one. Why did Majin Ashera not announce his chosen successor yet? Not even once have I read a book about him having his favorite, let alone the detail of him meeting them. Is he teaching them as well?"
But then he sighed, "All these questions keep bugging me like crazy."
Sen Saiorse continued, "Sen-ni wants to go and negotiate with them without taking me or anybody else. If push comes to shove, he told me he would defend himself but if he failed to come back I... I have to be the next head... that's what he said but..."
She exclaimed helplessly, "I don't want that! I don't want that at all! I tried to convince him to take me or other skilled Jinjis but... he didn't agree. He told me he doesn't want more Sen people getting mixed up any longer..." she became emotional with a memory surfacing her mind.
"Enough." Sen Fajra's deep voice echoed in her head, "I told you, you can't. That's final."
"But Sen-ni! I'm just worried about you! As your shi can't I accompany you?!" Sen Saiorse burst into tears, "You always reject me like this! If mother and father are still here they'd --"
"Sen Saiorse!" Sen Fajra exclaimed as his face darkens in anger. Sen Saiorse quivered in fear. Whenever her brother address her that way, she knows that he is truly mad at her as if it is equivalent to the word 'enough'.
"How many times must I tell you not to address me that way when we're talking about business?" his pupils have shrunk as his eyes widens, "I am leaving on my own. You are staying with the others. That's final."
Sen Saiorse wiped her tears before they even fall, "I don't want to lose you... Lord Sen... -ni." she whispered with her trembling hands. Sen Fajra sighed as he placed his hand on his temple to calm himself down. After successfully doing what he has to do, he made his way to her, giving her a warm hug.
"I don't want to lose you and this tribe as well." he whispered near her ear. She embraced him back tightly.
Sen Saiorse, "Promise me... you'd come back safely..."
"Mnn." Sen Fajra answered while caressing his twin sister's long black hair.
She held Han Zeno's arms again after she remembered that event in her life. Pleading, she put them near her bosom, "Young Lord Han isn't a part of our tribe! I beg you to help me convince him!"
"But Young Miss Sen..." Han Zeno asked, "The way you said it... feels like Lord Sen's mind would no longer change..."
"I beg you! Sen-ni will surely be killed!" she lowered her head and cried. "I don't want to lose anymore of my family! Sen-ni is all I have left!"
Han Dae stepped forward, "Young Miss Sen..." he uttered. "Do you want us to join Lord Sen in negotiating with the demon army?"
She wiped her tears immediately and sniffed before facing Han Dae with a nod. Han Dae replied sadly, "But if there are many high ranking demon, I believe I cannot let my young lord go. It will still be futile, the ending will still be tragic."
Sen Saiorse flinched.
She knew. She knew that already. But what else can she do? She can only ask for help to someone who is trustworthy enough for her. Someone she knows that will take care of her brother. Someone that will protect him at any cost.
"Ah! I get it now!" Han Zeno smiled. Both Han Dae and Sen Saiorse faced him as he happily continued, "I understood why Majin Ashera insisted to continue the class in spite of what is happening!"
"Huh?" Han Dae asked, "What do you mean Hashi-ni?"
Han Zeno faced him with a smile, "Majin Ashera is keeping an eye on us Majin candidates. For sure he knows what is bothering Lord Sen and he intends to make us, the Majin candidates, help him not to negotiate, but to win the mock battle!"
"Eh?" Asher and Han Dae faced him in disbelief as Sen Saiorse blinked in confusion.
Han Dae and Asher, "How did you know?"
"Intuition." Han Zeno smiled kindly.
'This guy!' Asher and Han Dae looks pissed but they cannot argue about it.
Yup, is that reason supposed to be accepted?
He turned to face Sen Saiorse who is still in shock of what she had heard.
"Young Miss Sen, cheer up! I will discuss it with everybody else. I'm sure they will be willing to help when they have heard of this matter." Han Zeno smiled while giving her a handkerchief. She took it and wiped her face properly.
"T-Thank you Young Lord Han..." she uttered. "May I request something else?" she asked once again.
"Please, Young Miss Sen is a childhood friend of mine." Han Zeno replied.
"Can Young Lord Han not tell anything about this to the young lords from the Lao Tribe?" she asked. Han Zeno knew the reason immediately so he nodded that made her breathe in relief.
Han Dae whispered, "Hmph! Who would want to talk to them anyway?" he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
"Hashi-ni..." Han Dae's face suddenly switched from irritated to happy and comforting as he calls his young lord.
"Mnn?" Han Zeno asked with a smile.
"How can we persuade Lord Sen that we want to accompany him?" Han Dae asked.
Han Zeno smiled, "We won't. We will go to the said place before he arrives, if we did that, then he'd have no reason to drive us out, will he?"
Sen Saiorse watched the two with eyes filled with astonishment. 'I never thought...' she concluded, 'that such warm people beside Sen-ni exist...' her pinkish lips curved upwards.
"Ah!" Han Dae pointed at her, "Young Miss Sen is smiling already!"
She blushed in embarrassment upon hearing him.
"Pretty, right?" Han Zeno asked that made her blush even harder.
---
"Is that so?" Yu Gaia who is sitting on her bed asked in a wonder. Han Zeno nodded as she continued, "Hmm... that'd be... really terrible too, considering our condition right now." She sneak a peek at Han Zeno who's looking through the window, outside is where Han Dae waits while looking around the place with a smile, talking to Yu Rui.
"Young Lord Han..." she smirked and he faced her once again with a smile when she continued, "Are you taking that servant of yours? I have heard that he's your 'favored one'."
Han Zeno faced her without a smile, his eyes look cold for a moment.
He smiled once again and opened his mouth, briefly answering as he mutters a single word.
Meanwhile outside, Han Dae pouted, "Yu-ni, you told me that it's fine hunting them."
Yu Rui laughed awkwardly, "Forgive me, Han-chou. I think Young Miss Yu fooled me again." as he scratch his head.
Han Dae sighed stating, "It's disappointing that we can't even hunt for exotic creatures! I was planning on bringing one back home and give it to a pretty noble maiden!" he grinned as he rubs his chin, "Then I'll be rolling in good fortune for life..." he chuckled devilishly.
"H-Han-chou..." Yu Rui awkwardly laughed. He took a peek inside and saw a serious discussion between his young miss and Han Dae's young lord. He turned to face him once again and asked, "By the way Han-chou, do you know what Young Lord Han is saying to Young Miss Yu?"
"Ah..." Han Dae replied hesitantly, "I'm sorry Yu-ni, but I cannot tell you that unless Young Miss Yu is willing to."
"I see..." Yu Rui faced the two once again with eyes filled with curiosity.
After a while, Han Zeno stood and stepped outside the room. Han Dae approached him hastily and asked, "Hashi-ni! What did Young Miss Yu say?"
Han Zeno smiled at him, "She agreed!"
Han Dae's eyes widened as a smile crept onto his face, "Great! That's great!" he exclaimed.
"Now then," Han Zeno stretched his arms, "Shall we go and ask Young Miss Sei and Young Lord Sei?" he faced Han Dae who's answer is a nod.
---
"That is really terrible..." Sei Cressida answered upon knowing what Han Zeno has to say. This time, Sei Hana, Han Dae and Sei Chryseis is with the two.
She faced Han Zeno seriously and continued, "This young miss here will do what she can to help."
Han Zeno and Han Dae sighed in relief and clapped their hands together with a smile.
"Sei-ji..." Sei Chryseis uttered, "May I join too?"
They all faced him in surprise. Sei Hana answered too, "Me too Young Miss Sei! This disciple can be of use!"
She sighed and glared at them, "Rejected. Especially you, Sei-di. You are staying here. Sei Hana will help you with your needs while I'm gone."
Sei Hana looks devastated, thinking she had lost her chance to be worthy. Han Dae laughed at her hilarious expression.
"B-Bu--" Sei Chryseis insisted.
"No buts!" she strongly opposed the idea while crossing her arms with a piercing glare.
"That's right, Young Lord Sei." Han Zeno agreed. "You just collapsed. I think you need more rest."
"Please Young Lord Han! Let me join the fight too!" Sei Chryseis still wants to persuade the both of them.
Asher then thought, 'It'd be very difficult to convince Young Lord Sei at this point. They said he has a weak body that is why he collapsed in his test. What more if it's an actual battle? Won't the young lord be a hindrance?'
Han Dae tried to force him to stay by saying, "Young Lord Sei has to take some rest or else he won't be of use anymore." He smiled that made Sei Chryseis feel like he's stabbed his heart with a sword.
What a cruel way to demoralize a person, indeed.
Sei Hana whispered at Han Dae, "Han-di, stop putting salt on the wound."
"I-I'm still tagging along!" Sei Chryseis shouted, "If I'm not allowed to do so, I won't let Sei-ji leave too!"
"Sei-di..." Sei Cressida uttered irritatingly, "Can you just shut up and suck it?! You have to rest for heaven's sake!" she snapped.
However, that didn't work. Sei Chryseis snapped at her as well, "Fine! If you don't want to agree, then don't! I'm still the one who's making decisions for myself! I'll stay if I want to! I'll go if I want to!"
"You-!" Sei Cressida shouted when Han Zeno's hand sliced the space between them using his right hand making them halt. They both faced him curiously with a hint of irritation in their faces.
Han Zeno gave them a friendly smile, "If Young Lord Sei wants to tag along, then I request Young Miss Sei to let him do so."
"Huh?!" Sei Cressida freaked, "Young Lord Han! Aren't you on my side earlier?!"
Han Zeno nodded, "I still am. However, we cannot force Young Lord Sei if he really wants to. I promise that I will take good care of him." He lowered his head.
Sei Chryseis blushed and quietly gasped. He didn't expect that Han Zeno would agree and let him join them. He looked down shyly as he tightened his grip trying to hide his pinkish cheeks due to embarrassment at the moment.
Now that Han Zeno requested for him to join and pledged that he will take care of him, Sei Cressida just can't ignore it even if she wants to. It will tarnish the pride of the other if she still chose to object.
In the end, she just sighed and hesitantly agreed, "Fine..." she uttered. Sei Chryseis faced her in surprise, smiling, he gave her a big hug that almost choke her and make her lose her balance in surprise.
"Thank you Sei-ji!" he exclaimed happily.
"Then! Can I come too?" Sei Hana asked excitedly.
Sei Cressida faced her and said, "I'm sorry but... can you... stay here and make excuses for Young Lord Lao when he visits me?"
Sei Hana received another shock and cried saying, "I can... Young Miss Sei..."
Han Dae once again giggled quietly with his hand covering his mouth.
Sei Cressida faced Han Zeno while still being squished by her brother, "How many are we in total Young Lord Han?' she wondered and asked.
He smiled, "We're a total of eight people. Lord Sen, Young Miss Sen, Young Miss Yu, her servant, Young Lord Sei, Young Miss Sei, me, and my servant."
"Shouldn't we really ask more Sen people to help?" she uttered in a wonder.
Han Zeno smiled, "No worries Young Miss Sei, I've got everything ready."
Asher, "Ugh, genius people are really on another level. It somehow creep me out!"
Sei Chryseis faced Han Zeno while still clinging to his sister, "When are we leaving again, Young Lord Han?"
Han Zeno smiled and faced Han Dae who smiled afterwards. Han Dae turned his head to Sei Chryseis and said, "Tomorrow morning before the sun rises."