Gaila didn't show any signs of doubt, anger or fear while the woman was petting her. Her actions made me confirm that she was like a beast master. What I was confused about was her knowledge of my actions.
"May I know who you are?" I asked the woman.
"I am not that important. You can continue what you are doing."
"This is an abandoned room, isn't it? Why are you visiting this place? Are you the trainer or the beast master of those down there? Why aren't you attacked by them? Who are you really? Are you involved with this project?"
"Didn't I tell you to continue what you are doing? Don't piss me off." She said while patting Gaila's head.
Since she didn't want to introduce herself, I thought about asking her questions to know her.
"I wonder if there are still purebreds living in Cazanette."
"Of course there are. Look at yourself. Your trainer must also be one of the living purebreds."
"Do you know how long han gin hebi mushis live?"
"Approximately fifty two years or less I think."
"I see. They were quite old already. That's why they're not that active. Aren't you afraid of them?"
"I am not."
Even though she was talking to me, she kept on petting Gaila. This woman might not be a bad person. Gaila looked comfortable with her so I let her. I noticed her gloomy expression while she was looking at Gaila.
"Did you have a pet horse before? You looked attached to Gaila. Is there something you need to vent? I will listen."
"I am not the bad guy."
"No one says that you're a bad guy here."
"Haste…"
"Haste? Do you want me to hasten something?"
"No. Haste is the name of my friend. She's a horse."
"All of the horses are hybrids aren't they? What happened to her?"
"She died because of me. She is a purebred. She is the very first horse in Cazanette. She has been my friend since I was young. We were partners. She doesn't talk but I know that she talks to me in her on way. We understand each other."
"I'm sorry. I understand what happened to you. I've also been in that situation before. It's hard to lose someone close to you but we must accept it."
"No. It's not just the loss. It was something happened because of my existence."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you know, our lives have limitations. We were born and we will die. There is a right time for our end. You can't blame your existence for the death of your loved ones. If his or her life is already at its end, you can't do anything to stop it. A person might be free from illnesses thus everyone expects that person to live long but accident could kill that person instantly. Accidents and murders are phenomena that could kill the person instantly in unnatural death but can survive if it's not yet that person's time. You shouldn't blame your existence."
"You are too young to talk like that."
"It's not about age. It's about experience. I've lost a father at a young age so I know how it feels to lose someone close to you."
"Good for you. You have close relationships with humans. I was disliked by my parents since I was born. They do not care about me. They just think about themselves."
"If you were disliked, why do you keep visiting this place? Is there something here that made you comfortable?"
She stopped petting Gaila and glanced at me then sighed and pet Gaila again. "No. you're wrong. I'm visiting this place taking chances to see the wandering spirit of the first person who showed me love."
"Spirit?" I surprisingly asked as I scratch my forehead. I didn't think that someone from this world would believe in spirits.
"Yes. He died regretting something he had done accidentally. Maybe, if he can't rest in peace, I might see him wandering here and I would help him to fulfill his mission."
"If he didn't show up, it must mean that his mission might already been fulfilled by someone, isn't it?"
"I hope so." She sighed again. She brushed Gaila's back and rested her head on Gaila's neck while she was brushing Gaila's hair.
"Can I ask you one more thing? I hope I get some answer. I was really curious about it."
"As long as it is not about my identity." She closed her eyes.
"How did you know that I was researching about the history of Cazanette species?"
She suddenly opened her eyes and looked around the room. "Because you said you're not from this world. You will research for something you're not familiar with, right?"
"Yes. And maybe you know it because you have done it before, didn't you?" I stared at her to see how she would react.
The woman suddenly trembled in surprise after what I said. "What do you mean I've done it before?"
"If you are not really a bad person, I would understand your situation if I hear the truth. Just tell me everything you want and we might help you get out of here also… last generation's heroine."
"What are you saying heroine?" she laughed.
"I've already completed the puzzle so you should not lie about it. By the way, you care about Gaila so you are not a bad person. There must be something important that happened during your past missions. You must be the survivor of the last generation's heroes."
She patted Gaila and sighed. "Alright. You win. You are just like me before, pursuing to complete the mission and tried my best to get out of here. Unfortunately, until now, I'm still trapped in this damn world. We almost completed the mission but betrayal among the team members is very unavoidable, especially if someone offers them something the greedily wanted."
I smiled because of her confession. "Since I have the same situation as you, would you mind telling me what happened in your generation?" then I crossed my legs and sat on the floor.
"You're so persistent." She also sat on the floor and leaned on the table near her. "Good thing your eyes show your kind nature so I will tell you. You are the first person to hear the story.
As what I have told you earlier, I was ignored by my parents. I was so lonely back then so I went to the farm near us. I found a female horse and she seemed attached to me. She was my very first friend and we played every afternoon.
One day, while I was riding on her, we stepped on a trap – a very deep hole. I didn't know that there was a hole in there since that place was owned by my grandfather and no one can enter the whole premises aside from our family.
Inside the hole, it was very dark. The hole was too deep so we couldn't back to the surface. When I looked around, a saw a small light so we went towards the light. It was a tunnel that leads to a closed cave. I wondered where it came from. We walked towards the cave through the tunnel and we met two men who were trapped too. We have spent a night in that cave and fell asleep.
A little ray of light woke us up. That light led us here and trapped us with a rock boulder.
My companions eagerly wanted to leave this place at once. They said they have a family in the surface that they need to work hard to feed. They were ignoring me until a person named Master Rem approached us and told us our duty. Hearing the stories of the previous generation's heroes, my companions planned to attack the glowing castle directly. I and Haste came to the glowing castle. Amazed by the structure - they believed that the castle is made of gold- they dug some and put in a sack. Fortunately, they saw something that was a sort of passageway behind a wall. They told me to wait for them as they check the area. I've waited for an hour outside the castle with Haste.
Surprisingly, they came back with some ninja-like soldiers holding an unknown solution in a thirty milliliter syringe and injected to Haste. I didn't know what to do; I was so weak back then. I don't have any power to stop them aggressively. All I did was follow them here while they imprisoned Haste. I didn't know that Haste was pregnant. She gave birth to a male pony.
My companions and the black soldiers might have an arrangement behind my back and they seemed that they were trying to do harm to Haste. They ran and went back to the glowing castle without me. I was left with Haste. I didn't have any idea what happened to them.
I didn't realize how much time had passed. Haste gave birth to a female pony. Tired of taking care of the three, I slept. When I woke up, I haven't seen her ponies and I found Haste breathless beside me. It was because of my negligence that she died." She wept and breathed hard. Her tears were flowing as she continued speaking.
"I was depressed back then so I wandered to the forest and planned to go to the glowing castle alone. I met a purebreed man. He was gentleman and intelligent. He made me happy and lessened the weight of my suffering when I was alone. We got married and he introduced himself as the Cazanette's king. I never intended to be a queen at first but my greed for power overcame because I wanted to search for those black man who took Haste to take revenge so I accepted great power.
In the midst of my greed, I even conquered this coliseum. The king always visited this coliseum and waited for the ninjas to arrive to revenge for me. No one has arrived. We let time passed and I gave birth to a girl. Before my child turns one year old, I saw a unicorn flying around this coliseum. I was afraid that those black men became active again. Worried about my health, the king came here in my place. He did the research and found the project 880. I didn't know what happened but he came to the palace depressed. He died after starving himself as a self-punishment and left Cazanette to me with our child. He also wrote a letter which I found after his death saying;
'As a king who leads his kingdom, I shall explore every corner of my land. I am the law and the protector of my people. While fulfilling my duties as the king, I might have made a big mistake. The museum of our pioneers I visited has been messed up. It might bring harm to the people. The sin I've done is unforgivable. I accidentally mixed a solution 182 in one of the polymerization capsule. I shall take responsibility for this.'
I didn't let the people know about the accident. I decided to take the responsibility in place of the king and ascended my child to the throne to fulfill the king's words. I was watching over these han gin hebi mushis since they were little. I wasn't sure about this but additional to the program they're into, to collect purebreeds, they seemed to recognize me as their mother." She looked at the door – maybe imagining herself looking at her pets. She wouldn't want to stand up just to look at her pets for the sake of drama.
"Even though you didn't have a good memory with your parents, it seems like you already understand how to love and be loved." I embraced my legs.
"Yes. A little, but I can't trust comrades anymore. You can't say that they are protective because you're a girl. They just gain your trust by protecting you at first but will sacrifice you if they're in trouble." She looked down on the floor and curled her eyebrows.
"No. Not all comrades are like that. Some groups became friends because of their bonds. If you encountered a person with a bad attitude, it doesn't mean all people are like him. In your case, you've encountered only few of them because your eyes weren't ready to see the whole world. It's like looking at a small black dot in a big white wall without noticing the whole wall. You can only see the black one and didn't notice that the wall is very clean and white. Not all people are greedy. Your relationship with the late king would prove that." I was drawing an invisible circle on the floor while my left hand was still embracing my leg and my left cheek was resting on the space between my knees.
We heard a growling sound in the middle of our conversation. I thought it was my stomach but I wasn't hungry at that time yet. I realized that it was like the sound of a beast colony that was attacked by hunters.
"The han gin hebi mushis are awake. I'll visit them." The woman stood up and patted her behind clean.
"Wait!" I stopped her while standing up.
"I've already tamed them, don't worry." She smiled. She was already at the door and was looking at the Cazanette sky then turned. "I believe you've already seen the skies. It looks doubtful, doesn't it?" she sighed. "Continue your mission and I'll lend you my help. I'll make the HGHMs aid you in your journey."
"Thank you."
"I'll introduce you to them after I feed them and we will go to the town of knowledge after."
"Yes! Thank you!" as she went out of the door, I walked towards Gaila and stood beside her.
Brix and Reevahn were on their way to the Elder's cottage. They crossed the bridge on their feet with Globus and Granger and passed through the market place.
"Doesn't that cottage just looked near uphill? I'm already tired of walking. Why don't we just eat?" complained Brix. He can smell the different scent of food in the market place. Some of the vendors were grilling, some of them were frying. The smoke from the food lingered in Brix's nose so he sniffed to the nearest store.
"Your gluttony won't bring you anywhere" scolded Globus as he pulled Brix back to the road.
"Say, Reevahn. Why do we need to go here? There is a short cut right? It's like we're journeying the sides of the right triangle. Why don't we just take the hypotenuse?" Brix said while still looking on the food store around as Globus pushed him to walk forward.
"This is already the shortcut." Said Reevahn. His eyes were looking around the market place looking for something.
"You called this a shortcut? I want to eat already! The smell of the food here makes me really hungry!"
"Reevahn, what shortcut are you talking about? It wasn't about distance, was it?" asked Granger.
"So you read my mind? Yes, it wasn't about distance. The shortcut I was talking about was how to approach an elder. We can't just directly ask an Elder without anything to exchange for the information."
"I see."
"Globus, let me ride on you. My energy is already draining! We are not even advancing from this marketplace!"
"Shut up, you bum. Try it and I'll kick you back to where you came from."
"Brix, you've always visited your grandmother, right?" asked Reevahn.
"Yes. Why? Is she here? Where is she?" Brix turned around clockwise, counter clockwise and another clockwise turn.
"No, she's not here. What do you bring to her during your visits?" said Reevahn.
"Well, I don't know why but grannies love cookies and milk. They're like children. You know, I think they are on the time of regression. But usually in sit-coms, they loved to eat just the cookies' filling because they do not have teeth! Haha~!"
"Cookies? Then, let's look for cookies. How about milk?" Granger, where do the people get milk from?"
"Some have their own cow. Some hybrid women milk themselves and sell it. Master Ren's ranch produces cow milk for the population."
"Good. Brix, go back to Master Ren and ask for a bottle of milk and let's see each other at the center of this island." Reevahn commanded.
"What?! I'm sot tired enough to go back! I want to eat!"
"It's already snack time at Master Ren's. he might send you additional snacks for our journey."
"Roger that!" without hesitation, Brix ran back with Globus excitedly.
Reevahn bought a box of cookies and waited for Brix at a Rotunda. For almost an hour, Brix arrived riding on Globus.
"What took you so long?" asked Reevahn.
Brix got down from Globus. "You're right. Master Ren asked me to join them while waiting for the bottle of milk that I asked. Here." Brix gave the bottle to Reevahn.
"Globus, you don't look so tired. You even let him ride you" said Granger.
"I had a part on their snack."
"So, Reevahn, what did you do while I'm not here?" Brix interrogated while walking around Reevahn.
"I bought freshly made cookies. Smell it." Reevahn wave the pack of cookies near Brix's nose.
The aroma of the freshly baked cookies smelled so good that an old petite woman who was wearing a cotton-potato-sack-colored dress and a maroon cardigan over it with hair of a mix of brown and gray hair – mostly of gray hair, back of the knee length and was wearing a red lace veil that was ribbon tied under her chin – which could actually remind you of granny goose- approached them.
"That smells so good. Can I have some? I'm hungry." asked the woman as she crouched to smell the cookies from Reevahn's hand.
"You can't. We will bring it to somebody so you can't ask for it." disagreed Brix, crossing his arms.
"Sure, have some. Be careful, it's hot" offered Reevahn.
"But, Reevahn?"
"We should give someone food if she's hungry, right?"
"But, it's a present for someone."
"She will understand for sure. It hink she is not greedy because a nymph gave her a gift."
The old woman seemed choked. "Can I drink that milk?" Reevahn gave her the bottle of milk even though Brix stopped him. "Are you alright?" asked Reevahn while he patted the old lady's back.
"Who is that someone you're referring to?" asked the old lady.
"It's the great elder. Do you know her?" said Reevahn.
"I happen to know where she lives. Do you need something from her? I'll bring you to where she lives."
"Yes, we need her. Will you lead us to her?"
"Sure, but, can I take this milk? This tastes good."
"Sure, you can. Thanks for your help."
"Reevahn, I managed to get back and bring that milk, yet you gave it to someone other than the elder? What are we going to give her later?" reclaimed Brix.
"I think I can't walk that far to the cottage." said the old lady.
"You can ride on me instead." offered Globus. "is that place far?"
"Not really far. It was just before the bridge if I'm not mistaken." She chuckled.
"Okay, let's go" said Reevahn riding Granger
"Why do I always end up walking?!" cried Brix
"It is the vengeance of fate for your disrespect to elders" mumbled the old lady.
Meanwhile, they reached the forest before the bridge. They looked for the cottage which was believed to be Elder Miredifheimild's abode but there are no traces of residency wherever they look. The old lady got off from Globus' back.
"Thank you for bringing me home and thank you also for the cookies and milk."
"No problem, elder" said Reevahn.
"Hey, this isn't the agreement all about! You ate the cookies, drank the milk, and then brought us nowhere. This is just the forest's heart beside a river opposite a bridge! Where is the Elder's cottage?!" squeaked Brix.
"I think you still don't get it Brix" said Globus.
"Get what?" Brix turned
"we're already at Elder Miredifheimild's cottage." declared Granger.
The old woman smiled in the discussion. She was just standing and watching them realize who she really was. She stomped on the ground twice with her right foot and amazed the four. She made a grin while the surroundings – earlier a picture of the heart of a forest near the bridge that is crossing a river – changed into a bungalow wooden house which they also called a cottage.
"Y-you are the elder we were looking for?! Hey, how did they know that it was you while I remained clueless until now?!"
"Because it's the vengeance of fate that made you clueless."
"Elder, why are you at the marketplace?" asked Reevahn
"Because my vision told me that I will be having visitors and they will go to the marketplace before my abode. That was the reason why I went there."
"She's really a fortune teller" Brix whispered. "Hey, you three, how did you know that she's the elder? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Brix crossed his arms.
"If we tell you, you'll hide your true nature" vexed Globus.
"We used our instinct" Granger added.
"We used our brains properly. Master Ren told us that we're looking for an immortal pioneer. She's the only one I've seen who reached the age a pioneer should have." Reevahn explained.
"Okay, okay, I lost."
"Now, tell me what you need to know first. Is it your friend or the history?" She seated on the terrace of her cottage.
"Can we ask about what happened to Nina and Gaila first?"
"Of course." She closed her eyes gently. "They're just fine."
"How fine is it?" Brix asked
"Come here and hold my hand. I'll share you what I saw."
Brix and Reevahn held the Elder's hands.
"Close your eyes to avoid distractions from the environment."
As they close their eyes, they saw what Nina was doing after she was abducted by HGHMs.
"Elder, can you show us where she is now?" Reevahn asked
The scene in their mind changed and showed that Nina was walking downhill with Gaila and a middle-aged woman. Suddenly, the vision stopped and they released the hold from the Elder's hands.
"Elder, what happened?!" they cried. The Elder sat in fetal position, "I'm sorry," suddenly the Elder ran inside her cottage.
"Where are you going?" asked Brix
"My bladder is going to rupture. I'll go to the toilet."
Brix and Reevahn dropped their jaws. Later, the Elder came back with a sign of relief.
"Now, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern." She said
"It's good to see that Nina is fine, but who is with them? Elder, do you have an idea who she is?"
"That woman? I've never seen her before"
"You are a fortune teller, aren't you? Can't you see her?"
"I'm sorry, but I can only visualize a person if he or she is known by someone who is asking."
"Aaaaaaa…"
"So, you want to hear my story?"
"Of course!"
"But it is my personal story. Is that okay with you?"
"No problem."
The Elder told them the life she encountered inside Cazanette and when she started to gain consciousness.
Nina and the woman were talking about the doubts in Cazanette. Surprisingly, Gaila gained HGHM friends with the help of the dowager.
"Gaila, did you understand each other even if they do not talk?"
"We still have our communication signals just like the purebreds"
"You may use them in your mission if you like" the dowager offered.
"Anyway, your majesty, what are we going to do in the Town of Knowledge?"
"I'll introduce you to the people. You can also ask for their help if you think of a plan. Most of the people wanted to know their origins also."
"Maybe they are also worried if they were from creation or evolution."
"There are myths about this world so you should also listen to it when we arrive at the town. In addition to that, you might also need a weapon so I'll ask a blacksmith to make one for you."
"Thank you for your help. Don't worry, we'll go together if we finished this mission."
"No. I will remain in this world. I'm sure that the hybrids won't go with you. They will need a master."
Later, they reached the town of knowledge. It was a valley down from the hidden laboratory mountain or the so called the Harpy's Mountain. It was as big as the marketplace but not as populated as the market. The people were most purebreeds who were busy doing business in their own stalls.
"This is a town, although there is no mayor. It's almost like the marketplace. "
"Yes it is. The marketplace is the center of trading. The Town of Knowledge is the center of creation and information. This is where great blacksmiths, mages, knights and scholars reside. The library, where the writings of the previous kings are kept, are also here. You can even shop here but the marketplace is still the center of large trading."
The Town of Knowledge has a stoned floor road. Most of the buildings were made of clay where the colors vary from white to dark brown. You can rarely see hybrids around but the hybrids here were all half humans.
"Let's visit the blacksmith" the dowager said
We visited the blacksmith and she requested to make a sword that suits my personality.
"Well, for a beautiful queen like you, I'll take any request you make!" said the blacksmith.
Meanwhile, Brix and Reevahn together with Globus and Granger were done talking to the Elder. They were walking towards the marketplace.
"I wonder why she didn't know where she originated. She must know her parents or guardian." Said Brix
"We should ask for more information to make things clear."
"Is that library she wants us to visit farther than the harpies' cave?" asked Brix
"I wonder~" taunted Reevahn
"You already got the map from Alnah. Let me see that!"
"No way. You should exercise so I won't say how far our destination is. Haha~"