Kingdom of Humans - afternoon

Alexander and I were done shopping for supplies. Along the way, we had bought clothes for most of the people back at camp. He ended up carrying the clothes and I would safeguard our supplies.

"What a mass haul, am I right brother?"

"Indeed, though, these clothes are quite heavy."

"Don't worry, we can take a break in a minute once we find a place to do so."

We were near the entrance of the kingdom. There was the same guard near the entrance as always.

"Want to get something to eat, brother?"

"Sure, let's . . . Hm?"

"What is it?"

"That woman over there."

There was a woman who seemed desperate for someone's attention, grabbing at people as they brushed her aside. Alexander went up to her.

"Excuse me, what seems to be the-"

"My husband! H-he has come back yet, he went out and hasn't returned!"

"Please, calm down. How long was your husband gone for?"

"Since yesterday."

"Why did he leave?"

"He's a meat vendor. He went out to collect more meat but he never came back. I tried telling the knights but they wouldn’t listen. Please you have to . . ."

Alexander grabbed the woman's hands.

"Don't worry, I'll find your husband; you have my word."

Alex put the clothes down on a nearby bench.

"Marie, would there happen to be a Fire Wraith camp nearby?"

"Yeah, northeast of here. You don't think that . . ."

Before I could finish, he ran out of the kingdom.

"Wait, brother! Unbelievable, at least let me finish!"

I took a seat next to the clothes sitting on the bench, alone, by myself, I noticed that it was getting close to evening. I wonder if Proxy remembers where we're meeting up at? Hopefully, Richard is taking care of Nunnalé on their walk around the kingdom, there are bound to be creeps lurking around out there.

"..."

I began to tap my lap. It sure is taking him long, I hope Alexander is okay . . .

"Oh, damn it! What the hell am I doing sitting here!?"

I went up to the woman that Alexander talked to.

"Watch these and those for me!"

I handed her the bags and ran after Alex. Despite my appearance, I was able to run for a pretty long time and covered a lot of ground (all thanks to hunting down fast animals in the woods). I knew where the camp was by heart, so it wouldn't take me long to get there, however, I was worried that Alexander didn't. I followed his boot prints, they were large enough to see without taking the time to find them. After a while I was able to reach the camp and so was Alexander. He was surrounded by several different armed bandits. He had knocked out a few of them already and the better news: he had a sword in hand.

"You shouldn't have come here, Alexander. That's right, we know about you and your sister, when we find her we're going to gut her."

Like I'll give you the chance.

"You'll have to do it over my dead body," Alexander stated.

"Fine then. Boys, get him!"

As they engaged him he intercepted them. He disarmed two of the bandits and then slashed at their legs and then swiftly knocked them out with the butt of the sword. He would continue to hit non-vital areas and knock out the bandits. It would be clear to anyone else that he didn't need my help. When my brother has a sword in hand he's more than capable of taking down a few bandits. He was actually more skilled in a fight than anyone would think, but without a sword, he's practically a damsel in distress. After a few more bandits went at him and got knocked out, there was no more coming from the woodworks. At least, that's what I thought until another was about to sneak up on him while he was rescuing the prisoners. Knowing that he wasn't paying attention I rushed down there to help him. I picked up a spear from the floor and I put it to the guy's neck.

"Drop the knife, unless you want me to tear your neck apart." Realizing the threat to his life, he dropped the knife instantly.

"Good, now go to sleep." I tripped him to the ground with a sweep of the lance and I stomped his head.

"Marie, you came?"

"Of course, I was worried that you got lost."

"I'm not a child."

"Trust me, children have a better sense of direction than you."

Alexander freed the prisoners (but not before having trouble with untangling the ropes to their hands).

"Thank you, thank you both!"

The prisoners began to hug us. This made me a tad bit uncomfortable. Meanwhile, brother seems to be caught up in the admiration of the people. Although I am happy for him, I thought it was time for us to move on.

"Excuse me, but we should get going. If you had any of your stuff taken go find it and follow us back to the kingdom," I instructed.

It took a minute for them to get their things back. After that, we led them back to the kingdom. The wife from earlier was still sitting with our stuff on the bench. She glanced over to the entrance with tears in her eyes. However, she came running as a man who came back in with us. They were both crying in the other’s embrace . . .

"So, how did it feel to save people," Alexander asked me.

"I never said it was a bad thing, but I just feel as if we're taking on too many responsibilities with managing multiple people in the camp. What if it becomes too much for us to handle?"

He placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Marie, I'm not worried about that and the reason I'm not is that you're the one taking care of the camp. With you there, we'll all be fine. Besides, they're vital to my goal. Speaking of it, I think it's time."

This sent a shock throughout my whole body.

"Are you serious about this?"

"Completely."

"But what if this fails, you'll . . ."

"Don't worry, it'll be fine. If I do it earnestly and if I have you at my side, I know it'll have to work out in the end. This is what I truly believe."

I feel the sincerity in his voice, it was ringing to my heart like a calming wave. Despite my chastising of his optimism, I genuinely looked up to him for it . . .

"What do you mean we aren't allowed into the kingdom!?"

A man from the group screamed at the guard loud enough for us to hear. We went over to see what was wrong.

"It's as I said, you are not allowed into the kingdom," the guard replied.

"Why can't we enter?"

"We traveled so far from our village. It was burned down by the Fire Wraiths."

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience but I cannot allow you to enter the kingdom."

"Then how do we get to enter?"

"You must possess documentation of entry that is given to certified merchants and born civilians of the kingdom."

"That isn't fair!" "That’s the law . . . I'm sorry."

The travelers (minus the meat vendor) were despairing over the fact they can't enter the kingdom.

"What are we going to do now? We'll die out in the wilds."

"The Fire Wraiths will finish us all..."

They all just gave up before they even tried giving themselves a chance. And to be honest, I know how that feels . . .

"No, you won't die," Alexander spoke up.

"Huh?"

"I won't allow any of you to die out here!"

He went up to the guard.

"Sir, are you sure they cannot enter?"

"Yes."

"But do you really want to persecute them to the wilds?"

The guard took on an uncomfortable look when Alexander possessed his question to him.

"Personally, no. I don't wish to, but I can't allow them. If I'm caught doing so, my family will be banished along with me. I can't risk that. Again, I am sorry."

"I see..."

He pressed his hands against his shoulders.

"Don't worry, I shall take care of these people, so do not feel guilty."

He gives him a warm smile, one that was meant to calm a person's nerves.

"Thank you," the guard muttered.

While this was going on, I heard something coming from the city. From the sounds of it, it was probably a motorbike. It was coming at us fast!

"Move out of the way," I warned.

A bike went speeding past us and into the distance. I noticed that they were being chased by another motorbike. It had drifted to a halt, kicking a lot of dirt from the ground. Proxy was the one driving the bike while Nunnalé and Richard were on it as well.

"Damn, did they get away?" Proxy got off the bike. "Yo, what's going on here?"

"Proxy, can you take some of the villagers back to the camp," Alexander requested of Proxy.

"Sure thing, but the seat is only big enough for one other person."

"That's fine, Marie, take the rest on your bike."

"What about Richard, Nunnalé, and you?"

"Don't worry, we can walk until Proxy comes back to pick us up."

I didn't like the idea of that. What if Wraiths were to come along?

"Are you two okay with this," I asked Richard and Nunnalé.

"I will protect my master until Proxy or you come back."

"Yeah, we can wait for you guys to come back."

The two were content waiting for him.

"Fine, but walk on the road we rode through, so either I or Proxy can find you when we circle back, okay?"

"No problem," Richard replied.

Now that was settled there was the guard to be concerned with. He saw Proxy ride out of the city with a bike. Surely he has to report this?

"Don't worry, I'll just say that two bikes went speeding out of the city. I didn't get a clear look at where they were going. Just please, take care of these people."

The guard saluted. Alex gave him a thumbs up. I guess that problem was solved without any need to solve it ourselves.

"All right then!"

Proxy swiped his goggles down to his eyes and jumped onto his bike. "Come one, come all (but really one)! Who dares to ride this machine-made beast!?"

Some of the travelers didn't dare go near Proxy's bike.

"What, I was only kidding. I'll go slow, I promise."

This was probably going to take a while for them to even edge towards going with him. Well, whatever, someone will ride with him when they realize it's better than walking there. I went over to go get our things. As I was picking up the bags I was approached by the wife and her husband.

"Thank you for saving my husband," the wife thanked with tears welling up in her eyes.

"I am truly sorry for making you go out of your way to save me. Please, if there's anything I can do to repay you, then I'll do it," the meat vendor said.

I was thinking of telling him we could use more meat, but maybe we can put that off for later on.

"You don't need to do anything. Just don't get caught by Fire wraiths again," I instruct him.

"I'll try to hunt near the kingdom next time. And again, thank you for saving me."

I gave them a polite wave as I walked out of the kingdom and they did the same. Proxy took one of the travelers with him while I took the last four. Richard, Nunnalé, and Alexander walked until Proxy and I went to pick them up . . .