- - - - - At Shadow Swamp - - - - -
( Near the intersection boundaries of Lunar Temple and Stormeye Wasteland )
Narrator's POV:
In a forest where its prosperity and beauty corroded by Abyss, there's a young boy named Tigreal, who wandered throughout the area.
*heavy panting*
He wandered there, seeking for an exit to get out.
*dragging sounds of Zemislav's sword*
*scrape* *scrape*
. . .
His armor is a total wreck due to the battle he went through...
*crumbling armor*
*panting*
His wounds has been healed, but the scar in his heart, will never heal.
*depressed expression of Tigreal*
Tigreal wanders for many hours without an awareness that he's been walking there in circles.
*chuckle*
Unaware of his situation, he's been toyed by the Forest Spirit by putting him up in a barrier wherein; whatever he do, he can't leave the place where he was caged in.
*walking*
Which he didn't noticed all this time.
*crickets*
*sinister laughter of the Forest Spirits*
. . .
After all hours he spent walking, three days have passed already in the original time of the Land of Dawn.
*footsteps*
But it seems that, Tigreal himself didn't raise any suspicion as his thoughts been occupied with lots of emotions and regrets over the loss of his unit.
. . .
Over the distant area, not far from Tigreal's location, there are cute-like imp creatures whose glare shines brightly in the shadows.
*children faint chuckle*
These cute-like imps were observing Tigreal for many hours, without raising an alert.
*sneering towards Tigreal*
. . .
Tigreal's POV:
*heavy panting*
. . .
After being pushed back by my mentor...
*hesitating*
I.... I....
*grits in frustrations*
I safely transported back in this unknown place.
*footsteps of Tigreal*
And I've been searching a way to leave here and report back to Lumina City.
*observing*
*breathing*
. . .
But this place....
*crickets*
.... kinda familiar...
*continue observing*
I presume this is the Shadow Swamp; A place where Abyssal corruption lingers in this magnificent forest.
. . .
*saddened*
Out of all place here in the Land of Dawn, why it has to be this place where.....
. . .
where....
*sudden memory flashback of his unit*
*grips*
It strongly reminded me... of them....
*flashback where Tigreal saw the happy expressions of the second regiment*
. . .
*guilt*
Why?.... Why?....
*after remembering the happy moments he spent with the second regiment, he stopped on his tracks and started to be emotional*
. . .
*another flashback where he remembered his past mistake.*
*shouts of distress of Tigreal's Unit*
. . .
*a mistake where; he let his selfishness and curiosity overwhelms his cognitive mind and pull the dagger back at the ruins*
. . .
*firm grip*
What....
*also, Tigreal remembered his cowardice infront of Alice*
. . .
*grits*
what have I-
. . .
*before Tigreal resent himself, he's distracted by a sound of a moving bush made by the cute creatures who are been tailing him for hours*
*rustle* *rustle*
. . .
*gasps*
"Wha...? What was that?"
- I ask in uncertainty.
*Tigreal's senses are tingling in fear*
. . .
I am busy resenting myself that I didn't notice what was happening in my surroundings....
*child's chuckling*
*flinch*
"WHO'S THERE???! Show... Show yourselves!!"
- I ask bravely despite the fear.
*even if Tigreal's voice seemed to be filled with bravery, his body language tells all*
*trembling*
*that he is scared*
. . .
Wha... what did I just heard by now? Couldn't be I-
. . .
Narrator's POV:
Upon hearing a childish chuckle throughout the area, it seems Tigreal's fear shrouded the reality.
*trembling*
And all of a sudden, he started to remember a flashback of the previous battle where; he remembered Alice's chuckling laughter.
*Alice chuckle in his mind*
*gasps*
Without confirming the actual voice in reality, Tigreal starts to assume that the child's chuckle belongs to Alice.
"No... That can't be possible...! No!... No!!!"
- Tigreal cowardly said.
Tigreal gotten extremely terrified and started to fall back.
*firm embrace of Tigreal towards his mentor's sword*
. . .
He stepped back, one at a time but because of his fear.....
*Alice's sinister laughter gone louder in Tigreal's head*
"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!"
- Tigreal cowardly shouts.
He jerked out and started to ran away as fast as he could.
*heavy panting*
*terrified*
He starts to run as fast as he can but suddenly, he tripped on a rock that lies on his path and fell to the ground.
*scraaaaappeee*
*heavy panting*
And give him great body scraping to the ground....
. . .
Tigreal groans due to the fall he received.
*groaning*
He tried to get up quickly but the fall he received is giving him excruciating pain.
*Tigreal groans*
He slowly get up and fixing his pace.
"Aw...."
- Tigreal lets out a wimpy pain.
. . .
Tigreal soothes his leg that scraped to the ground.
*soothing*
As he soothes the pain, he looked back to the place where he was earlier.
*nature sounds*
He closely looked on it and....
*confused*
"There's... nothing in there..."
- Tigreal asks in wonder.
*Tigreal starts to wonder*
"But I.. certainly heard that demon's... chuckle..."
- Tigreal asks in his thoughts while he is trembling.
*crickets*
. . .
*a moment of silence*
*gnawing*
. . .
*Tigreal sighs*
"Probably I've think too much that I've started imagining things... I'd better find a place to rest."
- Tigreal said as he tries to stand.
Tigreal stands up and start searching for a place to rest.
*footsteps*
. . .
In far away distance, there are an unknown creatures who keep observing the young Tigreal as he walk.
*bouncing*
*boing* *boing*
Most of them are sneaking and observing Tigreal's movements for hours.
As Tigreal moves, the cute-like creatures moves too.
"Hey? Hey? You see what I see?"
- cute imp-like creature (1) said.
"Yes! Yes! Wanna play! Wanna play!"
- cute imp-like creature (2) said in excitement.
"Me, give hugs! Huggies!!"
- cute imp-like creature (3) said as it embraces itself, funnily.
When Tigreal stops and lays below the tree, these cute imp-like creatures started to draw closer to the resting Tigreal.
*children voices*
. . .
- - - - - At Lumina City - - - - -
( The Light's Order )
Three days and two nights after the arrival of Tigreal in the Shadow Swamp, young Alucard kept on staring at the entrance without taking a rest.
*drowsy look of Alucard*
As the boy kept on staring at the entrance door, some knights were nagging him.
"Come on, lad! We got you some food and your favorite drink! Come on, you have to eat!"
- the Knight (1) said.
*Alucard didn't listen*
"Look here potato head, we know already that you're waiting for your parents but please, have mercy on your self, ya'know?"
- the Knight (2) said in worry.
"Do you want your parents hug you when your this twisted?"
- the Knight (2) ask.
*other knights glared at him*
*awkwardness*
. . .
"I... I mean, Come on man! You gotta eat and rest for a while, geddit?"
- the Knight (2) changes his statement.
*Alucard kept on staring at the the entrance door*
Others started to get worried towards him as he started to look pale throughout the recent days, just for the sake of waiting patiently for his parents return.
*weak Alucard*
*faint breathing*
. . .
There are black rings on his eyes... His body started to get pale and weak for not eating anything in these days.
*growling stomach*
. . .
The knights kept on nagging him most of the time. They even offer him the best menu of the day, but Alucard....?
*look away*
*frustrated knights noises*
. . .
Did not listen to them, but it doesn't mean the knights give up, instead, they persistently tried to convince him.
*raising a cut beef steak and offer it to Alucard through the spork*
*Alucard refused to open his mouth*
- - - - - Meanwhile - - - - -
*spork down on the beef steak plate*
. . .
*the knights sigh in pointlessness*
Suddenly, a knight saw the Young Alucard infront and decided to get closer.
"Look kiddo, you got the most valuable dish of today's menu. And also, you got the most fresh cow's milk coming from the farm, who's known to be first class in terms of dairy. Come on... Eat them up."
- Jay said as he approaches to Alucard.
*Alucard just blankly stare at the entrance*
*Jay sits near Alucard*
"Kiddo, I understand that yearning of yours as I also felt that in my past years but you don't have to torture your body as you wait."
- Jay said in a concern tone.
*Alucard didn't paid attention yet*
"It has been three days since you haven't eaten or rest. All you ever did is drink water and kept on staring at the entrance."
- Jay worriedly said.
*Alucard's eyes started to get teary as he stares at the entrance*
"You see, drinking water is okay since we can't live that much long without water but the thing is...."
- Jay said towards a quiet Alucard.
"You're still a kid, and still growing up. Your body needs more food so your body can absorb lots of nutrients and such to grow up fast, ya'know?"
- Jay advices to Alucard.
"Also, if your father found out that you're not taking any rest or eat, he'll be greatly mad towards you."
- Jay said confidently.
*Alucard's attention slowly focused to him*
"You see, back when I was assigned with his squad, he always had spare time for us to take some rest."
- Jay said as he put his hand on his chin and looking upwards.
"We basically rest below a tree shed, sometimes near streams, and your father's the one who volunteered in hunting."
- Jay joyfully remember his days with Alucard's father.
*Alucard's attention now focused to him*
"He hunts wild boars, fish, and any edible food which are composed of meat...."
- Jay said as he comically drools.
*all knights around Alucard started to get creep out*
*happy Jay noises*
...
"But instead us being grateful towards him, we ask him why he'd do such things. We even complain about why we have to rest since the mission is just a piece of cake to deal with."
- Jay remembered his moments, comically.
A knight with black hair and ponytail approaches Jay.
"Oh, by the way Jay, are you just making this up to get the young boy's attention or-"
- Erickson said with a funny doubt expression.
"How rude of you Erickson...! Of course I'm not making up...!"
- Jay replies with a funny, pouting face.
*Jay crosses his arms on his chest*
"Hey? Hey? Do you want us to consult the Assistant of the High Ranked Official here in Light's Order for the confirmation? *smirk* You see, every leader of their assigned units are requested to file reports for their mission right?"
- Jay impishly said towards Erickson, funnily.
*Erickson is shivering, comically*
"Heh! You sure are confident about your statement there... Sorry for joking around."
- Erickson apologizes to Jay.
*funny glare of Jay*
. . .
"Anyway, since you admit that the mission with Sir Zemislav is quick and easy, what is that mission all about?"
- Erickson curiously ask.
"Since you ask, the mission is all about 'Search and Found the missing family crest at Black Forest'."
- Jay confidently said with a smug.
*Black Forest is located at the northern part of the Moniyan Empire*
. . .
*quack!*
"WHAT THE F*CK bruh??! Seriously?? Black Forest?!"
- Erickson said with a surprised tone, funnily.
"Yes... and I am dead serious."
- Jay replies arrogantly, comically.
"DUDE!!! Didn't you know that place is packed with danger??"
- Erickson shockedly admit, funnily.
"Wha??"
- Jay's confused but tend to let out a smile.
"*sigh* As expected... Whenever Sir Zemislav's on the line, it is guaranteed that the mission would be dangerous."
- Erickson frowns in a funny way.
*Jay's making a funny face, indicating he doesn't understand what Erickson said*
. . .
*Alucard started to act grumpy inside his thoughts*
"*Ugh* F*ck*ng noisy *ss*d stodgy adults...."
- Alucard swears in his thoughts, comically.
- - - - Minutes have passed - - - -
( after monkey business )
"Well, like I said earlier, we complain why we have to rest and eat, especially knowing that the task is just C-Ranked mission."
- Jay said as he gets closer to Alucard.
*funny noises of Erickson*
"BRRUH!"
- Erickson comically wondered.
*Jay gotten serious*
"But... Do you know what he said to us at that time?"
- Jay said with a genuine expression.
*Alucard's all ears*
*Jay smiles*
. . .
- - - - - Flashback - - - - -
( At Black Forest )
*Zemislav's grilling the meat and he enjoys smelling it*
*drooling Zemislav*
While Zemislav blissfully grilled the wild boar he hunted at the forest, his companions are giving him a stare of incompetence.
*staring*
While the squad gets seriously quiet as they observe their leader, Jay loses his patience and decided to spring up on his position.
"GAAAH!!! I can't take this anymore!"
- Jay exclaims due to irritation.
*all attention now directs towards Jay*
"Sir Zemislav, aren't we going now and accomplish the mission immediately??"
- Jay irritatedly said.
*Zemislav's still grilling*
"You see, wouldn't be quick to finish this mission if we just move our f*ck*ng feet than slacking around and grilling?? It would be less time consuming and we can finish this mission in a less amount of time."
- Jay said due to irritation.
*Zemislav's drooling as he stares towards the grilled meat*
"SIR ZEMISLAV!!! DON'T YOU DARE F*CK*NG IGNORE MY-!!?"
- Jay exclaims as he burst in anger.
As Jay shouts, Zemislav gotten serious and decided to talk which made Jay unfinished his sentence.
"Jay...."
- Zemislav called as he still watching the grilled meat.
*Jay gasps*
"I understand your point, so as everyone, I know what you all been thinking without saying anything."
- Zemislav said as he keeps on staring at the grilled meat.
*all were surprised*
"I'm already aware of individuals' undeniable desire to end this mission quick but, let me tell you something, based on a quote which proven by experience."
- Zemislav said as he keeps on watching the grilled meat.
*all were exchanging looks, including Jay*
. . .
"During my travels here in this Land of Dawn, I heard lots from others about a famous quote saying 'You can't fight with an Empty Stomach'."
- Zemislav said as he put another piece of wood to keep the fire burning.
*all were silenced*
"Upon hearing that sort of quote, I thought it's only for the sake of humour but..."
- Zemislav seriously said as he tries to spread the burning coal, to distribute heat equally.
*all of them are wondering*
...
*burning coal*
"Later on, after taking countless missions, I finally understood its meaning."
- Zemislav said as he keeps on poking the grilled meat.
*all were listening*
"Also, there was a moment that I was so excited because my son's awaited day of birth is nearing which I, skipped resting from a long journey."
- Zemislav said as he smelled the aroma released by the grilled meat.
"So, when the actual confrontation of battle royale occured right through my eyes, I just realized something new.... And do you know what is it that I realized?"
- Zemislav said as he puts down his arm on his lap.
*all were listening*
*smiles*
Zemislav smiles and confronted them with a feeling of slight happiness and worry.
. . .