3 days have passed since they went down from Mount Nimri. Their life was running as smooth as silk while venturing in a forest, as Marco, Vlera, and Starlight was on their way to another location.
"Tell me, Marco, what would you say if we were to visit an old village?"
"An old village out of all places? Why do you ask?"
"Nothing, just seeking your first reaction to the fact."
After swiping her map and the note that contains all the ingredients for the Cure, Vlera chuckled to realize that this might be a beautiful trip.
"After all, I would finally see her once again..."
"Who's that "her?" Hey, Vlera, answer me!"
Vlera chuckled as they ventured deeper into the forest, they were unaware of what will this forest lead them until they finally get to the end.
—
"Marco, Starlight, welcome to the Violet-Lumen Village."
Violet-Lumen Village, a village that has been alive for hundreds of generations. Violet-Lumen Village was a popular one indeed because of how old it is. Although it holds a very large number of decades, what lives here keeps its legend by progressing the village's system up-to-date while staying in its original state.
Inside were a lively community that takes the thrill of danger as a hobby. To keep this village alive, it needs a breed that can protect their village standing strong, and the residents of this village was fitting for the job.
...
"Wow... It's so beautiful..."
"I know, right?!"
As Marco and Starlight gazed upon the violet nature of the village, they never got to avoid to be fascinated of the place. Them, with Vlera, slid down from the cliff they ended at and then landed on the ground. Five well-armored men welcomed them with a spear on their head.
"Speak your identity and intentions, this is past the land of the Violet."
"Oh, no, you've got the wrong understanding, gentlemen."
"We don't need such an unnecessary sentences. Explain yourselves, now!"
Because of the man's violent approach to Vlera, she've got nothing but to raise her hand to reduce the tension, she then speaks.
"Okay, okay. I'm Vlera, Vlera Lurious. We came here... We came here..."
"Explain yourselves!"
They were unaware that they would get confronted right before they even stepped foot at the village, because of the fact, they haven't got to think of a reason as to why they're visiting the village. Their real intention was to collect a flower as an ingredient to Marco's cure, but that flower is no joke and will be an appropriate reason to enter the village. Because of the men's rude attitude towards Vlera, it gave her a smirk on her lips that means she has been provoked. She looked down on her feet and the man shouted once again.
"I repeat, explain yourselve-"
Before the man even finished his sentence, he found a foot in his face that sent him meters rolling in the ground, the other men were surprised of Vlera's action and turned their glare immediately to her.
"You!"
An even more wide smirk appeared on her lips.
"Marco."
"No need to call."
From her behind, Marco came running towards the four men. After doing an uppercut that sent a guy high above, he then kicked a guy in a stomach as he punched another man in the face finishing all four of them with a tackle on the last guy's foot to fell head first in the ground.
"Is that all?"
While staring at the pitiful image of the five men, Marco asked something that was replied by the man that received Vlera's foot.
"Of course, not."
*shing*
After the man's immediate reply, a quick faint of light shines and was caught by Marco's sight. He might have saw the light, but his reflexes haven't, before he even knew it, a thick needle was floating infront of his eye. He was wondering why did the man stopped the needle infront of him until he saw fragments of yellow energy around the needle, it was Starlight.
"I may be at the very back of the scene, but no needle can get past through my sight!"
She got so confident after she saved Marco from a fatal eye damage. She indeed saw the needle in a quick motion, but in her wide range of sight, there is one part that she can't be so sure anytime, and it was her behind.
"Got you!"
The 6th man appeared behind her and knocked her down using his body, because of the disturbance, Starlight unwantedly let go of the needle and successfully pierced through Marco's right eye. Because of the sudden turn of things, Vlera didn't got to think of an immediate action and was caught by the other four men. With Marco folding in the ground because of his eye, and Starlight and Vlera who's being pinned down, they've finally got nothing to fight back, it was until someone stopped the men from further actions.
"Guards of the Violet, refrain from what you're doing!"
The six men stopped what they're doing and immediately lined up standing straight infront of the woman that stopped them.
"Rule number 43, go!"
"Rule number 43: Be good at tourists even strangers!"
Making the six men say the 43rd rule, it made them clear of what rule have they broken, thus, they continued their speech.
"Any Guards of the Violet that have been caught breaking the rule shall be punished by the way the victim wants."
Starlight and Vlera heard what the guards said, after they finally stand up from the ground, they gave the guards a glare as they walked around the men's surroundings before they faced the woman.
"Would that also mean we can make them jump from a cliff if we wanted to?"
"Yes, but a compensation is needed for the poor family of the guard if the guard ever dies."
As Vlera talked to the woman, she never showed fear even if Vlera was taller than her, the woman kept her cap hiding her face and heard Vlera's reply.
"Pretty fair, huh?"
"That's just how this village was just like the old days. So, how can you satisfy yourself from the guards?"
"Why don't we ask the poor guy over there?"
After pointing her finger to Marco, the woman turned her gaze onto him and asked.
"What happened to him?"
"Needle aimed, pierced through sight."
"That's brutal..."
The woman approached the trembling Marco and sat on her feet.
"Hey, you have one free wish from the guards that made you feel this pain."
"Ghh..! It... hurts...!"
"Go on, bear with it for now. Tell the guards what you want."
"It... hurts...!!!"
The woman stand up and turned to Vlera, she then finally revealed her face behind the cap.
"Looks like your guy can't talk here."
"Is that so? Would you mind helping us for an aid?"
"Sure, it's been years since we last saved a worm."
From their way of conversation, Starlight could clearly tell that they have known each other for a long time, which has been confirmed when they called each other's name without any introductions.
"Would you mind telling me a few stories on our way? Shaina Kayn?"
"Sure, in fact, I would be glad, Vlera Lurious."
—
*toot* *toot* *toot*
Sounds of beeping can be heard around the room, the room was white and clean, it has the same scenario as the room when he got his head open wounded on that night with witch doctors. The Hospital. Because of a thin yet deep wound in his right eye, the woman named Shaina agreed to rush him into a hospital, as of now, Marco was sleeping tight with Starlight besides him, not because she care for him, but because she's tired.
"I haven't thought you were Vlera all this time! You've grown so fast!"
"Is that a tease? Of course, it's because I'm still aging!"
"But look at me, I'm the shorter one now even if we're on the same age."
"I'd say it's genetics."
"No, you probably took some pills."
"A what?!"
...
Shaina Kayn, Vlera's childhood friend. In their days, Shaina's Mom would visit Kallen very often because of their mentor relationship, she also brings Shaina with her regardless of her shy nature. It was a clear day when Shaina's Mom visited Kallen. Shaina was hiding behind her Mother when she introduced her to Vlera.
"Shaina, she's Vlera, Vlera, she's my daughter, Shaina!"
Her Mother got a very soft voice as she introduced her daughter to her mentor's child. Kallen was just watching in the distance when Shaina's Mom invited her outside. With the scenario in place, it left Vlera and Shaina alone.
"Shai... na?"
"Y-Yes!"
At first, Shaina can't hold a complete sentence towards Vlera, not only because of hey shyness, but because of Vlera's seriousness that's scaring her very soul.
"Hey, catch me."
"W-Wait for me...!"
Weeks have passed when Vlera can finally put a small smile on her serious face and Shaina who's gradually losing shyness towards Vlera. They played together behind Kallen's house numerous times that made their friendship even more deeper.
"Shaina...? Where are you...?"
One day, Vlera was finding Shaina. Along with her Mother and Kallen, they looked for her together until Vlera saw what she doesn't want to see.
"Is that...? Her teddy bear?"
Upon looking at the toy under a tree, Vlera confirmed that it was Shaina's favorite teddy bear, the tree rests with the other trees around making it a forest and that fact scared Vlera that Shaina might've in the forest.
"Shaina! Shaina...!"
Without her Teacher's permission, Vlera went into the forest that her Teacher strictly restricted her to do so. After seconds of running into nothing, she heard a noise.
!!!
"There's a cry in my left."
Without hesitation, Vlera turned to her left where the cry can be heard, after seconds of even more running, she found a kid being surrounded with wild wolves.
"Shaina!"
Upon grabbing a sturdy stick, Vlera charged through the wild wolves and got thrown immediately.
"AHH!"
After receiving a charge from the wolf, it sent Vlera flying through a tree, Shaina approached her.
"V-Vlera... Are you alright...?"
"Shai... na... Run..."
Upon listening to her weak voice, it only made Shaina to cry even more, she then saw a wolf that was about to bite Vlera until a chain in a bullet-fast speed pushed the wolf so far in the distance.
*Ka-Chink!*
It was Kallen. Her, with Shaina's Mom, approached the kids and ran immediately as the wolves get repelled after the sudden attack. The kids slept the rest of the day and woke up the following day when they saw their guardians besides their bed.
—
Because of yesterday's happening, it only proves their friendship to go even more deeper as time went by. Years have passed since that happened and yet the memories was still fresh in their mind.
"So, where's that teddy bear? I knew you can't say goodbye to your things that easily."
"It's in my room, it's now so old to be teared easily so I placed it in a glass..."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah."
The silence finally kept the room until Shaina opened another topic.
"Anyways, may I ask the reason why you bumped into this village?"
"Now we're talking... It's a bit of a secret so lend me your ears."
As she was instructed, she gave Vlera her ear.
"We're currently on a mission to get That Flower."
"That Flower?"
"That Flower, yes."
"You mean...?"
"Yes... The Midnight Feather, the flower."
And from there, the 4th Ingredient has been introduced.
Name: Midnight Feather
Identity: Unknown
— End of Chapter 25
Somewhere... where light is non-existent...
A tall man in black was standing besides a small girl with a long violet hair...
"So, should you make your debut now?
Amaya Violette?"