Chapter 52 – Righteous Elven

Leone’s trip to the resistance base was rather short. He was introduced to the leader of the resistance and got a quick introduction to the other members. Non-humans and humans working together with the same goal in mind made Leone felt odd.

The base was also not that great. But it was filled with enough weapons to arm an entire army and enough to supplies to feed. Leone was quite impressed how far they have come. The Leader of the Resistance told Leone simply that he will give him missions through Awk. Awk will be Leone’s handler and aside from secrecy, the one thing that the leader of the resistance wants is to never betray the resistance.

Leone obviously promised by his elven honor that he won’t. The leader was satisfied and he was given his part of the supplies. While taking his supplies he heard Awk and the Leader talk.

“Healer is still alive?”

“He is. Should be no problem with him other than his head—though I wish he would stop pissing off our guy who is welcoming every newcomer.”

“I see. Take care of Healer; he is a great asset to our cause despite his inability to see the world beyond his.”

“Sure. You got his share?”

“Yeah, get the share”

Awk took the share.

“Pieces of meat again?”

“Yeah, it is all he eats anyway.”

“Lucky...”

“Now don’t try to steal from him Old Awk. We don’t want him starving until we get out of this place”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Awk smiled as he took the rations. Leone frowned at what he heard and thought.

They sure are treating him as a tool. I hate it.

No matter how maddened someone is. For an Elven like Leone, pride, dignity, and justice prevails. So hearing his savior being treated like some dog made him feel anger inside.

But Leone keeps the hatred inside his heart and just walked away from the base with the supplies on his backpack. He then went back to the house where Awk was staying.

The street was sandy, dusty, and crowded. Despite the city being a massive prison that keeps in the important prisoners like him. A city is like a living humanoid’s body. Without blood and heart beats, it would be nothing but a corpse.

The people here keep this city alive. So despite the ‘soldiers’ guarding the walls, they do not act bossy simply because a riot of the citizens would turn this city upside down.

The people have the advantage but the scale of the wall puts any threat. But that would change now that a resistance is brewing under the cover of the city. Leone was now a part of this rebellion simply because he too wants freedom. He has lived his life in the borders of the Elven kingdom that he could not possibly think to be away from his homeland.

Leone had no family anymore. But despite that, home is still home. Even birds would return to their nests after seasons end.

...

Leone arrived on the same street and heard a gravely, raspy, deep and husky voice. Leone got a bit attracted to the singing voice and oddly he saw Healer standing on top of a wooden box, singing.

“~You ain't nothin' but a hound dog

cryin' all the time.”

Leone raised a brow at the sight of Healer shaking his hips and singing in front of kids and old women. The audience was quite thrilled at the funny tune he was singing.

“Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit

and you ain't no friend of mine.~”

And Healer’s song ended with him smiling while kneeling with his arms rose up high. Leone smiled wearily at the bard-like act of the Healer and entered the crowd of people. One of them commented.

“I don’t really know what he was trying to portray in that song but the tune is good enough!”

Leone agreed with the person. Healer wasn’t quite good in the singing part but the tune of what he was singing made the song quite fun. The people like his pauper act enough to clap at his performance.

Seeing Healer sat down on the wooden box, lost in his world made the people disperse. Leone stayed standing in front of Healer. Healer finally noticed Leone and smiled with his head tilted to the right.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Healer...” Leone replied as he went closer to Healer. It made Healer circle his head and raise his right brow while plastering a dazed smile.

“Who’s that?” Healer said.

He then started looking everywhere as if wanting to know who that is. Leone then said:

“I am talking to you?”

“Me Healer?”

“Yes, that is what everyone calls you.”

“No, no, I am...” he stopped talking and stared through Leone as if looking a thousand yards away.

Leone knifed his hands and put it on his hips. He didn’t like being stared at so he turns his head away.

“No, I am not Healer, I am Ludak!” Healer said while cackling madly. Leone didn’t really want to bother arguing with him, so he just went with it.

“Okay, Ludak right?”

Ludak furiously nodded his head at Leone’s words. He seems maddeningly happy, carefree and nonchalant. He stood up, took Leone’s silky hands and started shaking it.

Leone let him do what he wants until it got a bit awkward. Letting his hands go, Leone took a breath and casted a glance at Ludak. As he does, Awk who was walking with supplies in hand arrived. He called out to Ludak and said.

“Healer, here’s your food!”

He threw a piece of meat which Ludak caught with his hand. He then started chewing on the dried meat as if it is a fruit. He cowered in the corner of the house and chewed on the piece of meat like a dog.

Leone stared coldly at Awk.

“What?”

“Can you please not treat him like some dog?”

“What’s with you? It is not like I am doing this because I am cruel. Giving him by offering your palm towards him makes Healer act rabid.”

“Really, then let me try.”

Leone took out a piece of dried meat and offered it towards Ludak. Ludak stared at Leone’s palm only to grab the meat with his mouth.

“See? He acts like a dog anyway.”

Awk shrugged his shoulders and went inside the house. Leone felt sorry for Ludak, so he took out food from his own and started eating with him. Somehow, he just can’t let his savior act so miserable alone.

He just felt obligated.