It was almost evening now. The sun had already hidden beyond the horizon. The western sky was painted completely in red. Cool gentle breeze was teasing the tree leaves of the large forest from time to time by swaying them slightly. This forest spread alongside with the sea beach for a long length. It's width was of a considerable length too. Beyond the forest a huge lake was formed by the surrounding springs and small rivers from the mountains far ahead. This lake was connected with the sea beyond the forest through some channels.
It was this lake, surrounding which a small town had gradually taken into shape. The town was not protected by any walls. Instead the residents cleverly dug a long channel around the whole town and let the lake water flow through it. Only in the west side there was a small bridge which was guarded by two robust guards.
Ethan approached the bridge nervously. Moon was sleeping peacefully in his embrace. While going through the forest she was very excited and jumped here and there almost all the day, draining all of her energy. But now Moon was so exhausted that even the sounds of hundreds of drums couldn't wake her. The two guards standing near the entrance, were wearing heavy leather armour. The shine on them had dimmed from using them for a unknown amount of time. As Ethan faced the two guards, they also looked at him strangely.
Ethan's half face was covered with long bangs. So the guards couldn't see his face clearly. Ethan's clothes also didn't differ from them that much, only his T-shirt is kinda short. But what made them frown was the sleeping child in Ethan's embrace. Ethan was just about to speak when one of the guards with brown hair asked," Why are you roaming in the forest with a child? Do you know how dangerous it is?"
Ethan couldn't even open his mouth when the other guard with black hair spoke," Although, there is no ferocious wild animals in the forest, you can't just go on a adventure with your child. There may be poisonous insects or plants in there you know."
Ethan was speechless. These two guys were nothing like those solemn or cold dudes he had imagined. They were more like the next door nagging aunties. But Ethan perceived that they had no ill will.
Actually Ethan created a dog blooded story to explain his situation from beforehand. He was sure that it would draw the utmost pity from the guards ( that is if they are willing to listen) if they had any soft spot left in their heart. And now seeing from their foolishly nagging behaviour he was sure they could easily be duped. 'Well maybe' he thought.
Ethan held his head high and removed his bangs with his free hand then, stared at them with his deep blue eyes. Every features on his face was beyond any human's level. This unexpected mesmerizing beauty caught the two guards completely off guard. They blushed hard.
The brown hair stammered," You...you are a woman??"
Ethan's mouth twitched. He gnashed his teeth and said,"No, male...a one hundred percent male.."
Brown and black hair in unison," Huh?!! Impossible!"
See, this was why he didn't want to show his face to anyone. But he thought, like any other transmigration novel, this world would be full of beautiful people. So they might not be that much surprised by his overly feminine face. But he was wrong.
To draw pity the first thing he had to do was to show his extremely sad eyes. After all eyes could speak more than the mouth. And Ethan was a very good actor. He only uncovered his face to draw pity from them and thus let him enter into the town as he had no money to give them for the entry fee.
Ethan started his award winning acting to dupe the guards. It might be shameless but he had to find a safe place for his child before it was completely dark.
Ethan with his sad eyes, downward mouth and depressed face sniffed and said," Brothers it's like this, I am from a very far remote village. I married very young, with my love and had this beautiful angel. But from early childhood my stepmother couldn't bear me being happy. We were already separated from our father's family and just started a small business. And from god's blessings it was thriving pretty well. But my stepmother even started to covet our small business. She poisoned my wife...my dear wife, then threw me and my child in the mid ocean on a small boat...But God really was magnificent. From his immense blessings we survived and floated to this ocean bank.
Brothers, we want to start our life anew. I want to bring up my daughter in a warm environment and see her start her new family and grow old with my grandchildren and then reunite with my beloved wife in heaven with a proud face. Can you help us, father and daughter? I have no money now to provide the entry fee but later I promise I will..."
The two guards hurriedly stopped him. Ethan had lowered his head to act all pitiful so when he raised his head to look at the two guards he was startled. The brown and black head were already a mess. Tears and snots covered their whole face. Ethan raised his eyebrows and thought, ' Hmm.....I might have won Oscar if I went to the film industry back then.'
The brown head, " Little sister..."
Ethan," Hmm... what..I didn't hear you clearly..."
Brown head," Well, I mean little brother, you just enter the town. We won't charge you. You have already suffered enough..."
Black head," Yes, yes.... exactly....I can recommend you for a job too. The boss there is very kind and also provide accommodation for their employees. Oh and the boss is my wife's cousin. So I can vouch for his character. The pay is moderate. So you don't have to worry."
Ethan's blue eyes sparkled in the evening sun. The two honest guards were again dumbfounded by this inhuman beauty. They hurriedly retracted their gaze. At this moment the same thoughts were revolving around their head in chaos,' God! how can she...he be so beautiful. I am loyal to my wife.....only to my wife. I am not bent... absolutely not...'
Ethan who didn't know their inner turmoil said excitedly, " Really?"
One thing he was greatly worried about was finding a new job in this new world. But his dog blooded story seemed to solve his problems. Well, he was a little guilty for conning these two honest men. But inside he vowed, 'if these two people ever needed his help in the future he will happily do all he can.'
The brown head said," Yes, of course. The boss runs a inn. Recently he is in urgent need of waiters....well, you can wash dishes or wipe tables right?"
Ethan beamed," Yes, yes I can. Before me and my wife started doing our own business, I did all kind of small part time jobs. I have enough experience."
Black hair, " Ok, then that settles it....oh, look Jack and Gorge are coming. Our shift have ended. Let us take you to the inn."
Ethan looked that two burly man were coming from the town dressed in the same styled leather armour. They were probably another town guards coming for night shift, Ethan thought. As they came close to brown and black head their eyes fell on Ethan and they froze. Their whole face turned red. Brown and black hair snickered. They simultaneously went to their colleagues' side and whispered in their ears," He is a male.".
The two man woke up from daze and their face turned into a deeper shade of red, this time in shame. The brown and black hair bursted out into laughter and the brown head said," Well, let's go into the town, little brother. You must be hungry. Just stay in our house and have dinner there today. My wife and child are always alone in the house. They will be happy to get your accompany."
Ethan hesitated. These people are too naive and soft in heart, bringing a total stranger in home. Black hair probably perceived his hesitation and said," Don't worry little brother, our town is very small. But our whole town is like a big family. Everyone helps in each other's trouble. As you are going to live here from now on, you are also family. So don't hesitate in receiving help."
Ethan couldn't help but said his doubt aloud," Do you help all the strangers with such kindness?"
Brown hair smirked," All the strangers? Of course not. This small town of ours had received the mermaid queen's blessings. As long as someone has misgivings towards our town they can't even cross the town's threshold. They will be blocked by an invisible barrier. But haven't you already crossed the threshold?"
Ethan was astonished with a ' so mermaid exists ' thought in his head but then heaved a sigh of relief. He thought,'This world is magical where many unknown dangers might exist in every corner of it. But this town is safe. From now on this safe heaven will be our nest."
Unknowingly his mouth curled into a splendour smile, so beautiful and bright that even the blooming flowers would pale in comparison. The brown and black hair retracted their gazes. They inwardly cried while pressing their fast beating hearts.
The town was a little mediaeval european styled. When Ethan and the guards reached the town square carrying Moon in his embrace, it was already quiet dark. His long bangs covered his face, making his facial features obscure.
The street lamps on both sides were dimly glowing with a dull radiance. But in them there were no light bulbs but almost fist sized luminescent crystals. Ethan stared at them in awe.
Although the sun had already set, the town square was buzzing with the locals. It was quite lively. The locals were gossiping in full force whether they were men and women. As Ethan crossed past them many curious gazes fell upon him and Moon. Some gossips also entered his ears.
"Hey do you know the queen died while giving birth and even the newborn baby also didn't survive....oh....our queen.."
"I am saying you, this is already old news. Let me tell you the king have gone mad from grief."
"Don't say it like that.... It's really heart wrenching to lose your love so early."
"I just returned from the capital this week. I heard that the king hasn't gotten out from the queen's chamber for almost five days."
....
Ethan didn't listen further. Whether the queen died or not, did not involve him. So he wouldn't bother. Suddenly a piece of the town's news floated into his ear. This time he perked up his ear and listened.
"I am telling you, it's really odd for two adult men to drown in the lake in just a month. And that Rick fellow was even a good swimmer."
"Yeah, believe it or not this old man has a very bad premonition. You young people just wouldn't listen."
"Grandpa, Rick was drunk that day. So he may have lost consciousness and drowned."
"Then what about the brat Adam? That child never touched any alcohol in his entire life."
"I think he just slipped and hurt his head, then lost consciousness. Thus drowned."
"Young people this days, never give your elder's thoughts any importance.....sigh....but at least stay cautious these few days. My heart is not settling down.."
"Fine,fine...you just worry too much grandpa."
.....
Ethan frowned after hearing their words. But he couldn't listen further as he was dragged by the brown hair to the east road surpassing the town square. The black hair already waved them goodbye at the town square.
The brown hair spoke, " Hurry, it's already dark. My wife's gonna kill if I late any further. And if you gonna stay there any more the town's people gonna surround you like a cocoon. Just greet them tomorrow morning."
Ethan laughed. He just threw the gossips behind his head.
After turning a few streets and alleys they reached a small but beautiful house. In front of the house was a small garden. There were variety of unknown flowers and vegetables planned in an orderly manner. The one storied house was very plain with red tiled roof and bricks. The brown hair entered through the gate and knocked the door. He was about to knock twice when the door opened. A woman in her mid twenties came into view. The woman had long black hair tied in a loose braid. She used small white flowers as ornaments to decorate her black braid. Her facial features were average but the honest smile blooming on her white face made her very pleasant to the eyes. She said in a slightly angry tone," Why are you so late today. I have been waiting for who knows how long....."
She stopped as soon as her eyes fell on Ethan and Moon. At this time a slight breeze blew and Ethan's beautiful face came into view under the street light removing his long blue bangs. The woman was mesmerized for a while and then a dangerous conclusion brewed into her mind. Her mind went into utter chaos and tears formed in her black eyes. She wailed and said," You unfaithful man!! This is how you repay my love, my devotion towards you....wu..wu..wu....you have a seven year old boy already....wu..wu...you still are not contained.....you animal....."
The wrongly accused brown hair,"huh?!!"
Ethan sighed. In this short day, no only in just couple of hours how many times is this that he had been mistaken as a girl. He had even created a family affair because of his face. Ethan really wanted to cry.
Moon woke up in this commotion. The little girl is confused. She looked at crying woman, then at her confused husband and at last towards his dad who was sighing continuously.
Moon,"?"
After another long sigh Ethan spoke, " Sister, I am a man."
Moon didn't know what was happening. She just supported her dad," Yes, yes, my dad is a man."
The brown hair at last understood the matter and laughed out loud, " Wife, you must not be betrayed by his face. He is a pure man."
The wife who had stopped crying,"...."
She had cried for nothing. At this moment a little boy of seven years old came out of the door and said innocently," Oh my god! Mom this big sister is too beautiful!"
Ethan's face twitched.
The wife,"..."
The brown hair, " hahaha..."
Moon hurriedly protected his dad and said," My dad is a man...a man.... understand, little boy?"
Little boy," I am not a little boy. I am older than you...and this big sister is so beautiful so of course she is your mom, not dad, you stupid little girl."
Moon," Hmph, you are stupid...my dad is a hundred percent genuine man."
Ethan stopped the two and greeted the woman in the house.
" Sister, My name is Ethan and this is my daughter Moon. We have just reached your town and nowhere to live. So brother is kind enough to let me stay in your house. But I didn't expect that my appearance would create such a huge commotion. Sister believe me.....sigh....I am really a man.."
The brown hair as if remembered something, said," Oh! look at me, I haven't even introduced myself yet. I am Richard, this is my wife Tera and this brat is Fin, our son. Wife, say something...."
Tera blushed in shame," little brother, forgive me for showing such a mess. You are just too beautiful. Now that I think about it how could a ugly man like my husband, could attract such a beautiful woman....I mean man...well whatever.....come..come.... don't just stand there. Hurry into the house."
Richard whined," wife, I am not that ugly...."
Tera rebuked, " Shut up! If you have explained earlier this would not happen."
Richard," But, you didn't give me..."
Tera," Shut up! so annoying. little brother, come quickly. You and the child must be hungry. I am not bragging, but once you taste my cooking, you will be licking your fingers."
Ethan smiled warmly. He was just about to enter the house when a heart wrenching woman's scream startled them to the very core.
They hurried to that direction without any extra word. It was coming from the town square. As soon as they reached there, they saw a woman was pouring her heart out, her entire body was a mess, Blood was oozing out from the wounds, all over her limbs. Her eyes were in panic as if she had seen something very frightening. Many locals have already gathered around her.
Tera also ran towards the woman and asked anxiously, " Rita, what happened?"
The woman's lips were trembling. Her whole face was pale. She widened her eyes so much that it seemed they would tear in the next moment. Rita, that woman looked quite scary at that moment. She suddenly screamed," I saw her, I saw her... It's a siren....siren...in the lake... .everyone's going to die....wah....wah....the siren drew my husband into water..... husband....wah...wah..."
Soon everyone's face in the town square started to pale. At this moment a old man came forward and loudly said,"Everyone hurry back. Obey this old town mayor's words. Don't open the door no matter what happened in the night. And bind the men of your house tightly whether it is child or old. No one is allowed to leave home. Understood?"
All the locals obeyed," yes mayor."
Then the town square became deserted in a few seconds. Ethan came to Richard's house in a daze. No one spoke. And the terrifying night came which Ethan will never forget in his whole life. It was also the night when Ethan met him.
Far in the distance, near the town entrance a tall man suddenly landed on the ground. It was as if he came flying downwards. His face was not visible but his long shiny golden hair could be seen even in the dark. He softly said," My queen, at last I have found you. This time I vow to protect you."