In a fairly busy shop, Remin was sitting enjoying bitter coffee and a piece of cake. He sat casually reading the newspaper near the shop window. So seriously he read the news that was happening recently. Every now and then he took a sip of coffee and ate the cake with a spoon. Not long after, Berna came. Remin was surprised because Berna had met her during lunch time. Berna looked a bit gloomy as she sat in front of Remin.
"Why does your face look so gloomy?" Remin asked, folding the newspaper.
"It's all right, Remin," Berna replied.
"Did the meeting go well?"
Berna just nodded.
"It's lunch time. Would you like some more,Young Master?"
"I'm full. You just eat. You've been waiting for me here all day."
"If I eat and you don't, it's unethical."
"Then let's go home."
"In that case, okay."
Remin stood up and paid for his coffee and cake. After that he took Berna's bag and walked out, opened the carriage door for Berna and started driving the carriage towards the house.
***
One scorching hot afternoon, Ellie walked back to her old and almost toppled house. She opened the door and found only an empty living room. Her father, mother and Zaru were at the market selling vegetables. Ellie immediately took off her backpack as she entered the room.
"Tomorrow is Sunday," said Ellie as she plopped down on the bed.
A few moments later, she moved to change clothes and then walked to the market to help herparents. Arriving there, Ellie saw her parents' stall being filled with a flock of shoppers. Not thinking much, Ellie rushed to help her parents sell vegetables. Even though his brother, Zaru, had forbidden it.
"You don't have any homework, Ellie?" asked Zaru.
"Tomorrow is a holiday. Can still be done tomorrow, right?" Ellie asked back.
"You'd better wait at home," said his mother, who was wearing a gray hood.
"You'd better go home," said his mustachioed father.
Ellie paid no heed to her mother and father's words. She still helps sell vegetables until the afternoon arrives and his merchandise runs out. Her father immediately closed his stall. While her mother was cleaning the baskets made of bamboo by stacking them and then she tied them on her back using a rope. Her father tied a tarpaulin and rolled it up and carried him. Meanwhile Zaru brought the leftover rotten vegetables to give to the wild animals on the road.
"Ellie, is your friend coming back tomorrow?" her father asked.
"Yes. Can I see him again?"
"Sure you can, honey," said her mother.
"But tomorrow the debt collectors will come," said Zaru.
"No problem. Ellie you go. Zaru too. Let us take care of them," said his father.
When it was getting dark, Ellie rushed to sleep. But she was wearing the sweater Berna gave him because it was quite cold tonight. Ellie had a dream that she was running on a deserted street until she finally woke up just as the sun was peeking at the eastern horizon. She could faintly hear the sound of people arguing. Ellie got up then she opened the door to her room a little and peeked through the door.
Seen his parents were talking to a tall, skinny man, wearing a white coat, long curly hair, thin cheeks and wearing a round hat. At the door were five more muscular men. They got into a fight. Her father said that he would pay the debt in the afternoon. But the tall skinny man didn't want to know. He wanted to be paid right now because he was also ordered to by his boss.
"You pay immediately, sir," said the tall skinny man.
"OK. But maybe I won't pay in full," replied the father.
The father stood up and walked to his room and returned with two piles of money. The tall skinny man immediately counted it and suddenly he looked angry.
"It's not halfway there yet!" snapped the tall skinny man.
"Sorry, but in the afternoon we promise to pay in full," said the mother.
Suddenly the tall thin man stood up with an angry face.
"Hear! You're more than three months late paying your debt. And you ask for leniency again?" asked the tall skinny man.
"We're sorry," the father stood and bowed his head.
The tall skinny man then looked at his five male colleagues and then hinted at something. The five male colleagues nodded and then took all the things in the house. The mother tried to stop one of the men but then she fell because the man's strength was much stronger.
"Mother!" Ellie shouted as she opened the door and ran to her mother.
"Ellie, why did you come out?" her mother asked, standing up.
"I woke up to a noise," Ellie replied.
"If necessary, I'll take the child as collateral," said the skinny man as he walked over and lifted Ellie in one hand.
Ellie struggled but her small body couldn't fight the tall skinny man.
"Wait! You can take other valuables. But not Ellie, I beg you. She's still a kid and doesn't know anything," his father pleaded.
"Isn't this child precious to you? Even more valuable than this house and its contents, right?" the tall skinny man smirked.
"Please don't," said her mother.
Before long, Zaru came out because he too was woken up by a noise. Seeing his sister being held captive by an unknown man, Zaru ran but he was stopped by one of the tall skinny guy's five companions.
"Let me go! Let me go!" Zaru shouted while struggling.
"I will take this girl as collateral," said the tall skinny man who then ordered his five companions to leave.
"Ellie!" shouted Zaru.
***
Just like the previous Sunday, Berna had already prepared her food. This time he brought quite a bit because he was sure that Zaru, Weda and Nandi would also come. He promised to help Ellie. But he also didn't dare to tell Marudi and Merna about Ellie's problem. Because it's about money. During her time as an adopted child, Berna had never asked for money. But that doesn't mean he's unreasonable. Berna managed to master the technique of transmutation. He could turn metal into gold.
"Okay," said Berna then he grabbed a piece of iron.
When he grasped the piece of iron with both hands, suddenly light shot out from behind his palms. Berna then opened his hand and the piece of iron turned into pure gold. Immediately Berna felt joy and pranced.
"I can sell this. Even though it is written in the book that an alchemist is prohibited from selling transmuted gold, this is an emergency," said Berna with a smile and then laughed amusedly.
Of course Berna wasn't stupid. He knew that if he often sold gold to the shop, the shop owner would definitely ask a child of Berna's age where the gold came from. So, no matter how much the gold he made was valued, he would give the money from selling the gold to Ellie to help pay off her parents' debt.
A moment later Remin knocked on the door saying that the horse carriage was ready. Berna rushed down, said goodbye to Marudi and Merna and got on the horse carriage. Remin immediately shook the rope and the horse carriage started. Arriving at the tavern, Remin parked the horse carriage. Berna immediately went down and said goodbye to Remin then walked to the village park.
As usual, the park was deserted. Even on Sundays. Berna sat on the swing while waiting. But this time, he had been waiting for over an hour, Ellie had not come yet.
"It's not usually Ellie hasn't come yet. Could it be that her parents were dealing with debt collectors? Ah damn I don't know where the house is," Berna hit his thigh.
Half an hour later, Ellie still hadn't arrived. Berna immediately became restless. He stood up and paced around confused as to what he should do. But moments later, he heard someone calling his name. But it wasn't Ellie's voice.
"Berna!" someone shouted.
Berna then looked at the road. He vaguely saw Zaru running over and then stopped gasping for air.
"Zaru, what's wrong?" asked Berna.
Zaru then looked at Berna. Her tears came out.
"Ellie..." said Zaru.
"What about Ellie?"
"Ellie, she..." Zaru was unable to continue his words.
Berna put his arm around Zaru's shoulder and said, "Why? What happened to Ellie? Where is he?"
"Ellie...she...she was taken by the debt collectors as collateral."
Immediately, Berna's eyes bulged. But then her face turned red with anger. Berna let go of her embrace. He then lowered his head.
"Zaru, where are the debt collectors?" asked Berna with a very sharp look.
"Berna, what are you doing there?"
"I want to make calculations with the collector and the creditor."
"No, it's dangerous. They are the mafia in this village."
"I can handle it. Tell me where."
"Berna," Zaru now looks scared to see Berna's face.
"If you don't want to tell me, let me find out."
Berna then walked away with a face full of anger and a sharp look.
To be continued...