Ren looked at the feather that Mauren was holding. It was just something he accidentally found when he first met Alen. How could it be in Mauren's hands now?
Mauren saw the surprised look on Ren's face. "You must be confused why I can find this thing?" Mauren guessed seeing the girl who was kneeling in front of him.
"That's mine," Ren said quietly.
"How did this become yours? This belongs to the black wings!"
"I kept it. I got it and hid it. That is mine. So you can just punish me. Don't punish my uncle, please!"
"You want that? Unfortunately, you can't," said Mauren with a crooked smile.
"W-- What?" Ozi looked at Mauren in disbelief. He immediately grabbed one of his father's feet. "Father, please let them go. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? It's just a wing feather!"
"Just a piece you say? They broke the rules by hiding the black wingman and helping him escape! That's a big offense! I'm also sure that you learned it at the academy," Mauren snapped at his son.
"I'm also involved. Then you should punish me too. You wouldn't break the rules just because I'm your son, would you?" Ozi said as if challenging his father. The residents were astonished to hear the sentence out of his mouth.
"It's not that easy, Ozi. You are my heir. Besides, I can't punish underage people," Mauren said with dignity. "So, as an adult, Nobi will bear your guilt."
Buzz!
The torch is lit. Nobi was tied to a pole that was bigger than before. Ren shouted hysterically calling out his uncle's name. Two bodyguards pulled him back away from Nobi's whereabouts. With teary eyes, Nobi looked at Ren with a smile.
"Pamaaaaaaan!" Ren shouted hysterically like that continuously. she cried loudly as the fire burned her uncle's body which was still alive. she wanted to run and stop it all, but the two bodyguards on her side were too strong. Finally, the fire began to grow until his uncle was no longer visible in his eyes. The two bodyguards finally let go of her.
Ren fell to the ground staring at the flames in front of her. her legs are weak and feel helpless. Her tears were still flowing even though she just stared ahead blankly. That's when she felt helpless about what happened to her uncle.
***
"Happy Birthday!" Nobi and Ozi cheered while carrying a cake without a candle that was inscribed with congratulations for 17-year-old Ren.
Ren just opened the room and immediately saw a lot of decoration in her room. Balloons, birthday ribbons, and birthday hats made of paper. she was almost speechless with her mouth half-open looking at her bedroom like there was going to be a big party.
"Woah, you guys remember my birthday? Oh, I'm getting moved," said Ren with teary eyes. She also went into the bedroom and received the tarts offered by Nobi, her uncle.
Ozi puts a birthday hat on Ren and Nobi's head. "How could I forget that? You always stick the paper with your birthday on your door," Ozi said with a happy smile.
"Happy birthday, Ren. I wish you a long and healthy life," said Nobi, kissing Ren's forehead. Then, he hugged the girl warmly.
"Thank you, Uncle Nobi. You are the best uncle ever," Ren said, then kissed his uncle's cheek.
"You didn't hug me? I made all this," hoped Ozi with a smug face. Ren smiled, then placed the tart on the table next to his.
Ren hugged Ozi with a big smile. "You are my most loyal friend."
That's the story of the past that Ren remembered when he opened her desk drawer and found candles in the shape of the numbers 1 and 7. She stared intently at the object. she looked up and blinked repeatedly to keep from crying. However, his efforts failed because he saw a photo of his uncle and little her on the wall smiling broadly at the camera.
"Uncle!" shouted little Ren who ran crying towards her uncle who was watering the plants in the yard. The hair that was originally tied in two, is now unraveling one for some reason.
Nobi crouched with a worried expression in front of Ren. "Ren? Why are you crying? Alright, don't cry anymore. Now, tell your uncle what happened."
Little Ren also wiped her tears with lips that were still pouting. "They mocked me for not being able to fly and said they wouldn't be my friends."
Nobi sighed tiredly. he rubbed Ren's cheek which was wet with tears. Then, hugged the little girl while rubbing her head. "It does not matter. You still have an uncle who will accompany you to play whenever you want," Nobi said soothingly.
"Ren!" a boy ran towards Ren. Nobi unraveled his hug and looked at the boy he didn't know. Ren could only blink because she didn't know the boy next to her either. "This is yours, it fell while you were running," said the cute boy as he held out a hairband towards Ren.
"Thank you," Ren said hesitantly taking his hair bow.
"He said, no one wants to be friends with you," said Nobi, surprised because the boy looked very good.
"I don't like them. They always took the toys my father bought when he was playing. May I be a good friend to Ren?" asked the boy innocently.
Nobi smiled friendly while rubbing the top of that boy's head with annoyance. "Certain. What's your name?" Nobi asked with a cheerful tone that was made up to talk to the kids.
"Ozi."
Ren was again immersed in the memories of the past. she unfolded the photo attached to the photo frame. There, a boy smiled at the camera with one of his front teeth missing.
***
"Uncleeee!" shouted little Ren in her cute voice. she ran to her uncle's room when she woke up from her nightmare. she hated fire and was afraid that she would be devoured by it.
To be continued....