At the Inhumane village, Peirce's grandma was putting some glowing but alluring flowers near Vanilla's body for the preparation of her final burial inside a small hut meant for what she was doing. Lola came in gently carrying a large glowing red-lotus flower in her hand as she walked to Peirce's grandma.
"I found it at the swamp, I think she would have love it as it is." Lola said in a low tone.
Peirce's grandma turned and smiled.
"She will. Thank you for your generosity, Lola, this flower you took from the swamp was planted by my grand son, is it?" She asked as she gently collected it, placing it on Vanilla's hand.
Lola scratched the back of her hands hesitating to speak out what was on her mind.
"Eldress Folasade. If I may ask… " Folasade stopped what she was doing.
"Remember four days ago, we brought Vanilla to you, you thought it was Peirce's. I don't truly understand. Ma. Why did you ask if it was your grand son?"
Folasade turned and sat down on a log near Vanilla was laid.
"If it was my grandson, coming from where we started our lives I will be the only one to carry the burden for the sake of the hatred our kind have for him."
Lola gasped, "Mama. I'm sorry. We treated your grand son like that. Now I fully understand."
"Fully understand? No my daughter. We can't fully understand the pains people have being through if we haven't experienced it ourselves. Now go home and dress up for Vanilla's final burial."
"Okay I will." She sniffled as she went out.
Immediately, she turned to Peirce's grandma.
"Do you think they might still be alive out there?"
Folasade smiled.
"That's not a question I can answer. Lola."
Lola nodded and went her way wondering the calmness she saw in Peirce's grandma was exceptional.
-
Few moments later. After Vanilla's final burial. The Chief elder and Folasade stood on the tallest building in the village staring down at the villagers under the waxing moon as it appears larger each night at the village.
"Eldress Folasade, what actually happened to her?" he asked.
"When I checked, I couldn't find any cause."
"So she died a mysterious death. Hmmm? well a enough is enough the Emperor must surely hear of this."
"But Chief elder, this wasn't the first our village tried to see the Emperor or Empress the cruel lords won't allow us to see any of them."
"I will find a way, knowing how dangerous it can be for our village. I will surely produce a way out of this. Even if it cost my life."
Folasade widened his eyes.
"Chief elder! That's too much."
"No, Elder Folasade, it's for the sake of the new generation coming in and the generation to come. Look around you… "
Folasade looked around staring at the bereaved adults and children in the village.
"We have suffer enough, it's time to see the Emperor. the troubles your family did to the empire is now in the past. it over fifteen years ago. I think. Let's pass the truth to the new generation... teach them early what we learn late."
Folasade sighed.
"Then when will you be going, Chief elder."
"Tomorrow at first light."
"First light?!"
"Don't worry, Some Elders volunteered to accompany me in seeing the Emperor." He looked at her. "Folasade, take good care of the village while we are gone."
The words of the chief elder hit Peirce's grandma like someone saying his or her last good bye indirectly, she could tell the sadness in the chief elder's voice as he spoke. Is he actually going to die going to the Empire or what can the old man do to speak to the Emperor?
"Why did you sound as if you are never coming back, Chief elder?"
He laughed.
"Folasade, you are an Eldress and a herbalist please stick to that, with you, the village will be in complete free from sickness and injuries," He said, "you are highly important than this old me."
"Okay I will."
"Remember when we were at the Imperial as Lords. That was old times."
The chief elder and Peirce's grandma were once Lords at the Imperial but due to the incidents that follows in her family she was tripped off of her roles along with some other Lords then banished, never to step their foot on the Empire again.
She slightly smiled.
"Yes, Chief elder."
"And for your grandson, if he returns back to the village alive, please tell him he should leave immediately as he entered, this place was never meant for him to begin with. I had a vision." Chief elder said as he looked at the twinkling stars in the sky. "Seeing my vision clearly, he will be the one to unite all Kingdoms as one through the pains and love he will experience in near future." he looked at Folasade, "Don't you think?"
Folasade sighed.
"I knew that a long time ago."
The Chief elder turned to her.
"You knew that?! Then there is no need for more explanation. Am going to rest my old skin for tomorrow. See you if the greater force permit." He said as he walked down the steps.
Folasade took a sharp breath, looked at the villagers then to the sky.
-
"Peirce... Peirce... Peirce... When you are lost in the universe never lose faith."
"Yes grandma." Peirce slowly opened his eyes, rolled it around, noticed he was half naked from his waist up with slight chain bruises on his neck, arms and legs inside a tube filled with water and a respiratory system on his mouth.
Grandma's voice. He said to himself. While Frankenstein was in front writing on a book.
"Where am I? How long have I been asleep?" he spotted Frankenstein now pressing on a strange screen.
Frankenstein looked at him.
"Great You are awake." He said, dropped the screen on a table, approached Peirce in the tube. "You are one of a kind, Peirce. The wounds you got from Sheik's chains are really healing faster than an ordinary Inhumane. Are you sure you are an inhumane?" He exhorted, trekked back to the strange screen on the table, staring at it then walked back to Peirce.
"Alternatively my analysis tells me, you're inhumane, brown skin, fourteen years of age I presume… and... "
Someone opened the door, Frankenstein stared at the person at the door.
"Ah! Welcome to my laboratory." He smiled, Peirce slowly rolled his eyes to the person at the door,
Node?! He wondered.
Node wobbled in carrying a covered plate.
"Oh? My food is ready. Put it right there, I will attend to it later." Frankenstein pointed at the table near the screen, Node swallowed then shaking progressed to the table, placed it near the strange screen.
Node stopped contemplating on the strange screen on the table.
"What are you waiting for?" Frankenstein asked, Node immediately jerked his head about leaving, "Wait!" Node froze. "Kid, what do you cook?"
Node shakily answered without turning back.
"I made mashed potatoes with grilled meat."
Frankenstein placed his hand on his chin as he lowered his head.
"Hmmm, mashed potatoes, grilled meat. I never think of that… is that all you could make? oh! sorry for that, it was what we have in store knowing the Bounty collector ate every last meal you cook for him without sharing." he looked at Node. "You can go."
Node exhaled then walked to the door.
"Wait!" Frankenstein yelled, Node stopped again as he swallowed, "take a spoon from my food, I don't trust you. I feel my food is poisoned."
Node eyes widened.
Suddenly, Frankenstein laughed.
"Sorry to scare you. Am just kidding. You may go." Frankenstein waved his hand turning to the screen on the table.
Node blinked then walked out.
Don't worry, it as been two days already in this city but I have a plan to save us from this hell. Node thought as he side looked at Peirce inside the tube