Zerlyn approached the unknown man and was confused as to what to do. Because her attitude that is always attentive to others makes her feel guilty if she leaves the man alone in the woods.
"What should I do? Is this man sick? Why did he suddenly faint? Should I wait for him to wake up? But, I can't waste my time here."
After thinking for a while, Zerlyn decided to lay the man down in the bushes so that no wild animals would attack him.
"Sorry, unknown man. I had to leave you alone. I was also in a hurry. I also have my own problems. I hope you are fine until you become conscious."
After that, Zerlyn walked quickly because it was soon to dawn. She should get out of that place as soon as possible.
After half an hour of walking, Zerlyn finally found the road. Finally, she was out of the Bourine Village area.
"I finally managed to get out of the Bourine Village woods. Now what should I do? Should I follow this road? It seems that this road is always traveled by people."
Suddenly, the light of the rising sun shines, and the dark atmosphere has become brighter. Zerlyn turned to look at the rising sun.
"It looks like I don't have time to stay here for long. I have to go further. Hmm... It looks like I'll just follow this road to the north. If I follow the south side, it looks like I'll end up back in the Bourine Village area. Ahh! I'm doomed. This is the result if I never leave Bourine village. I'm like a fool. Ahh! Whatever... I just follow this road to the north."
She put out the fire of the wood torch. She discarded it, then continued her way to the north.
In the village of Bourine, the situation has become a mess because Zerlyn is no longer in the village. The villagers flocked to Hagen's house and shouted.
"Chief Hagen! Where are you hiding your daughter? Hey! get out of the house. Come out and face us."
Hagen stepped out of the house with a serious expression on his face and spoke.
"All of you who are watching over her, but we're the ones you're blaming."
One of the men in the village replied to Hagen.
"But she's gone! You must be the one who took her away."
"You can check my house if you want to be sure."
"Check his house!" The man yelled furiously.
Some people entered Hagen's house and searched his house but did not find Zerlyn. They left Hagen's house with unhappy faces, and Hagen asked,"How, are you satisfied?"
One of the men said again because he did not feel satisfied.
"We're sure you hid her somewhere."
Everyone in the village agreed with what the man was saying and gave a nod.
"That's enough, your attitude is annoying. Who do you think you are to control our lives?" Zale came to meet them, holding his sword.
He's got an irritating look on his face as he stares at the people in the village.
There is an old man yelling at Zale.
"You must be the mastermind! You must be the one who helped the woman escape!"
Zale drew his sword towards the old man. "Her name is Zerlyn, not a woman. Watch your mouth when you say something."
The villagers were surprised when Zale drew his sword.
"These people are really crazy. We have to drive them out of this village."
"Yes! Drive them out of this village. Since they are irresponsible!!"
All the villagers shouted. They want them to be driven away.
"Don't worry, we will leave this village even without you telling us to leave."
Drusilla approached them while she carried their things and was ready to go. The villagers were speechless as Drusilla carried their things.
"Hagen, Zael. Let's get out of here. I can't wait to leave this village." Drusilla said cheerfully and enthusiastically.
One of the old women said sarcastically.
"Do you think you can live out there? Only in your dreams."
"Ahh... old lady, don't forget, before I married Hagen, I was a traveler. After I met Hagen, I had to stay here in this village."
Drusilla gave her a creepy smirk.
The old woman didn't say a word after listening to Drusilla's responses and seeing her facial expressions.
Zale grinned, glancing at the old woman, and exclaimed,
"Old lady, I forgot to say. If I'm not mistaken, you have a granddaughter who will soon turn 18, right? Why don't you ever speak up about that."
The old woman was shocked to hear Zael's words, and she stammered.
"I... I... don't..."
Zael smirks and cuts her off before she finishes her words.
"Oh, you really wanted to be secretive. I'm sorry I spoke anyway. Whatever, we have to go now. We'll excuse ourselves. Father, mother, let's go."
Then, the three of them walked towards the gate.
The villagers stared at the old woman with a curious face. The old woman feels uneasy and with a frightened face, the woman said.
"Why... Do you look at me like that? I… I really don't have a granddaughter."
"We don't care, we want to check your house." The villagers shouted and ran towards the old woman's house.
The old woman was taken aback when she saw the villager running towards her house like a wild animal. She pursued them, yelling, "I swear I don't have any grandchildren!"
But the villager paid no attention to her.
After leaving the gate of Bourine Village, Hagen turned to look back and looked at the village with a sad face.
Zale gave a cool smile and asked. "Father, are you sad?"
"Uhm... it's just, yes, I feel a little sad. Because I've lived here for decades and today I'm leaving this village."
Drusilla had a pleasant expression as she spoke to Hagen.
"Hagen, this is the time for us to explore the outside world. Until when do we have to be stuck in this village? I'm sure our lives will be happier after this. During your life as a chief, you're just like a servant. They never respect you or treat you nicely. Let's start our new life as an ordinary person without rank."
Hagen let out a sigh with a smile and said.
"You're right. Before we die, let's see the outside world."
They smiled happily and got on the carriage that Zael had prepared.
Zerlyn has been walking for almost 2 hours. But she hasn't found anyone or any town yet. She is tired, thirsty, and hungry. Her steps were getting slower, and suddenly she stopped walking because she heard the sound of flowing water. She looked for where the sound of the water was coming from. Then she walked to the left side and entered the bushes, and the sound of the water was getting louder.
In front of her, a clean and clear rocky river. She was very happy and quickly took the water in her hand and drank it until she was full. After drinking water, she felt energetic again.
"Finally, my thirst is quenched. But I'm still hungry. Where can I find food?"
"I can help you get some food."
Zerlyn turned to look behind her and was surprised to see a man behind her. She stared at the man's face, and she froze.
"You... you're the guy who passed out."
"Yes, I am." He smiled with a cheerful face.
She was stunned to see him and said in her heart.
"Uh... this man's face is a bit different. Just now I met him he looked gloomy. Right now, he is more cheerful, his face is also quite handsome, and his blue eyes are mesmerizing. Maybe I didn't really see him properly earlier because it was quite dark."
"Are you okay, young lady? Did something on my face?"
The man asked because Zerlyn just stared at him without saying anything.
"Oh... I'm sorry. Nothing... I'm just thinking about something else."
Zerlyn gave a nervous smile and looked away.
The guy just smiled and said, "Young lady, what's your name?"
"Z-Zerlyn."
"Zerlyn... uhm... beautiful name. You can call me Ignacio."
When Zerlyn heard his compliment, she couldn't help but blush.
While they were talking, Zerlyn's stomach suddenly growled.
She touched her stomach and felt a little embarrassed because her stomach growled loudly.
Ignacio smiled and took something out of his shirt, like a golden knife. Ignacio can pull it to a length of 1 metre and a half. He walked towards the river bank and jumped into the middle of the rocky river. Zerlyn was surprised that he was able to jump so far in the middle.
Ignacio watched the surface of the water carefully, then he speared a rather large fish. Zerlyn jumped for joy because Ignacio had managed to catch a fish. Ignacio jumped back to the ground. Zerlyn approached him with a happy face.
"You managed to catch a fish? You are amazing."
"You're exaggerating. It's just normal. Do you know how to cut a fish?"
Zerlyn shook her head. Ignacio furrowed a little bit after he heard Zerlyn didn't know how to cut fish.
"Come here, let me teach you." Zerlyn approached Ignacio and learned how to cut the fish. Ignacio took out a small knife from his shirt pocket.
"Descale the fish with the back of this knife. Cut the fish's stomach open to remove its guts, and clean it with water. Do you understand now?"
"Y-Yes..."
"Good, you hold this fish and I'll make a fire."
Ignacio prepared the firewood, and he turned his back to Zerlyn. The fire was ready.
Zerlyn approached him and said, "Wow... how can you light the fire so fast? You don't use stones or wood to make fire?"
Ignacio was a little shocked because Zerlyn was suddenly behind him.
"O-Of course I use it. I already threw it away. Give me the fish." The way Ignacio said it, it was as if he was trying to hide something.
They sat while waiting for the fish to be grilled. Zerlyn remembered Igancio's words the first time they met.
"Ignacio, what do you mean by your words that we just met for the first time?"
Ignacio's eyebrows scrunched up, he was totally confused.
"What do you mean?"
"You don't remember, do you?"
"What did I say?"
"After hundreds of years, I finally found you, my long-lost love, my fiancee."
His eyes were wide in surprise, and he chuckled. He tried to hide something again.
"Ahh... maybe I'm just talking randomly. At that time, I didn't feel well."
"Oh... is that why you suddenly passed out?"
"Y-Yes. But after I woke up, you weren't there, and the strange thing is that I was in the bushes, covered with grass."
Zerlyn gasped at Ignacio's words, and tried to explain.
"I'm sorry for having to leave you alone. I had to leave quickly. That's why I hid you in the bushes so that no wild animals would attack you."
"I see... but why do you have to leave in such a hurry and why do you wander around at night?"
"Because..." Zerlyn paused for a moment and was thinking of what she should say to him. She doesn't want to tell him the truth.
"Because I want to go to town."
"Town? Why do you want to go to town?"
"I want to be a traveler."
"Traveler? You don't even know how to cut a fish. How can you be a traveler?"
"That... I... I can learn. Uhmm, how about you?"
"I am a traveler."
"Traveler? So you know the way to town?"
"Uhmm... I can show you since I also want to go to town."
"Really? I am so happy." Zerlyn was happy that she had a companion to go to town with.
Ignacio just smiled and then checked the fish to see if it was done.
"This fish is ready. Now you can eat it."
"How about you? Didn't you want to eat?"
"I'm not hungry. Just finish the fish. After you finish eating, we will continue on our way to the town."
Ignacio had a big smile on his face, and Zerlyn happily nodded in agreement. She happily chowed down on the fish. Ignacio gave her a quick, serious glance before looking away and waiting until she was done eating.