"Ekiu! Ekiu!...E...! Help!.." someone voice echoes in the plane of emptiness.
"I will burn you down with your diety! Hahaha..." The word from a bearded man echoes and overlap with other gibberish word, scream, cried and greedy laughter.
He was floating in the sea of memoried yet hasn't he woken up. The voice getting louder and he could see his town were burned by a big fire before he awaken from his dream. He sweats all over his body.
Gentle and solemn moonlight pierced in his room. The night was cold as the cold wind blows. He wipe his face with his hand and get off his bed to the window. He then saw Equ were practicing her axe fighting style behind the house. She seems very into it and didn't realized he was watching.
"She is such a hardworker. That's why she's better then me even her magic was at second lowest scale." He sigh and get back to his bed didn't wanted to disturb her.
Three days later...
Ekiu and Equ with the townpeople were hanging the festive small banner around the the town to enhance the festive feeling. Everyone was seemingly to be happy for the upcoming festival.
This festival is considered as a religious event since people here take the crystal blessing as the blessing from diety. They worship the crystal as a diety of nature since no matter what kind of plant and seed planted in this land, It will grow healthier then it's original place. Such a blessing is something that everyone would appreciate.
"This festival were made as a prayer and wish for the Diety. We wish for upcoming winter will be a smooth ride. The plant can still grow well even the changes of climate and so on." Said a blacksmith to outside tourist that also here to watch the festival.
"When it will held actually?" Ask a man from the group of tourist.
"It will be tomorrow afternoon. The event such as dances and music will start while before that, food stall of local goods will be opened since dusk!" The blacksmith said passionately.
The situation of the town already lively a day before the festival. All Oakwood's towns and capital were swarmed by people from all over the nation. There is around 7 town and 2 capital stand in this land of trees.
By afternoon, there is a few carriage from famous organisation, MaRTrANS enter the town gate. MaRTraNS is short form of Melloyern Revelry Transport and Navigation Staff. This organisation were formed by a group of people in purpose as the main transportation and navigation for festivities and Tourism. They also do goods transport as well.
The arrival of these carriage shows that another batch of tourist pouring in the town. Taverns, Inn and cottage will be collecting profits during this time of the year.
Meanwhile, Black Blade and Emerald were washing their face by the stream as Codex sitting under a tree in this foresty area. They already entered Oakwood's Region. While riding at the border of Lothal and Oakwood, Lady Silence and White separated from the three since there is not only one town to be guarded but there is 7 town and 2 capitals.
They don't know which one so they separated in teams. Madam Silence take on capital, White take one capital, the three will take the closest town. while the other 6 town will be taken care by the reinforcement that Lady Silence mentioned in the meeting.
"Hey Master! This stream is so refreshing!" She said as she jumps in after washing her face since she couldn't handle the tiring feeling of horse riding for hours without rest.
"Emerald don't! Nevermind... enjoy your time." He step to Codex.
"Okay!" She start swimming around.
Black Blade sit by Codex and watching Emerald playing water.
"She looks like a daughter of yours." Codex said with slightly amused tone.
"What? Well... yeah. That's how I view her. She's pretty childish but she's determined when the situation calls." He smile softly while resting his head on his palm and his elbow crutch to his thigh.
"You still not qualified as a father though." Codex take her glasses off and put her book down by her side.
She shift her position into sitting crossed-leg and look at Black Blade with a smile and a blush. He was confused by Codex declaration and look at her. He stunned to see Codex smile again after years. He just wanted to inquire regarding why she said so but he stopped on his track just because of the smile.
"You know? A father supposed to have a mother alongside him you know?" She said while sheepishly looking at him but also avoiding direct gaze to his eyes.
"You mean..." He stopped when Emerald suddenly call for him.
"Master! Help!" A forest bear with magic aura were going to attack her.
Seeing the scene, he immediately forgets about what he was into before and he jump with his blade in his hand and take down the bear in a second. He sigh and check on Emerald.
After make sure everything is fine. Emerald continue bathing in the stream and Black Blade get to the tree where Codex is. She was too embarrassed of what she said earlier since seeing the interaction between him and Emerald making his fatherly charm just really showed up that the feeling she suppressed just float up and she couldn't really control it.
Now, she was wearing back her glasses and covering her face with her red book. She blushes heavily at this point but hiding it.
"Let's just continue our..." Black Blade cut her words.
"... Where are we again?" He said since he didn't heard what she said since her voice barely a whisper.
"Just... forget it." She said and look away.
He was certain where those situation going but he still uncertain since he couldn't even finish his question earlier. He choose to just give her time.
Not long after that, Emerald get to the river bank with her whole robe soak wet. Black Blade was about to ask about that but emerald swirl the wind around her and not even a minutes later, she's already dry like never even bathe.
"Master! Sis Codex! Let's go." She was full of energy after the bath and get on the horse before the two did.
"Okay Okay." He said and get on the horse.
The three then continue their journey to the closest town. Along the road, none of them saying anything since Codex remind them to not being loud of the forest wolves will awoken.
Meanwhile, somewhere not far from the three, a man with spyglasses watching over them riding through the forest. The man sigh and his face filled with anger.
"Damn it! They called for Denials to protect the town." A woman in assassin attire step closer to him.
"Denials? That lunatic group of magician? They really take the letter seriously? Wow. That's really something. What shall we do boss?" She turn to a man wrapped in a leather cloak. The only thing that could be recognized behind the cloak is his pair of glowing red eyes and metal made boots.
The mysterious person step forward making clanking sound.
"Denials? Maybe I will finally get to taste power of some powerful magician."The person laugh maniacally with hoarse voice.
The two and some others with ninja attire nod and kneel upon the person.
"We shall..." The wind blow a few strand of goldish yellow hair from the cloak.
"... Burn it all down to their diety's knee!"
to be continued...