Chapter 12: Lost in the Wood
Vienna sighed as she returned to her way back to Lennon's backyard. The path that she took does not lead her to the hill she saw but to a 30 feet cliff and she saw how cruel and aggressive the waves hit. I shouldn't have followed the surge of my emotions, now I am lost.She couldn't see the house anymore as well as the path she take. She forgot to notify someone before going out so now they might think she's only sleeping in her room. She started to panic as she saw the trees starting to get bigger and older. This means she's going in the wrong way for she didn't see these trees when she entered the forest. She sighed in disbelief as she started feeling cold as the sun started to set gold in the sky.Vienna tried to calm herself so she can think more clearly. She wandered her eyes around and saw nothing but trees and flowers. She remembered that Lennon's house does have a large mango tree beside it. She should climb more so shChapter 13: ANGERED LEOWaking up in an unfamiliar place is normal for Vienna already. The very first moment she woke up in a place completely novel for her, she freaked out and jumped in the ship. She can't help but be proud of herself for coping with things more easily now than she was before. She became more independent and resilient as time goes by when no more walls and no more political problems are keeping her from being her.She's too tired of her former life that returning home doesn't excite her anymore. She wants to stay with the Hellbender, to be just her, so she can laugh and enjoy life freely. Her true freedom.Vienna stood up from lying on the bed and fixed it. The room design is quite manly. Surprised was written on her face as she realized who owned the room she was staying in. She roamed her gaze around and noticed the number of books is on the room as if it's a library other than a bedroom. A study table and a set of
Chapter 14: Weird Yet WarmIf only Vienna can turn back the time, she will change it. If she only fought the aftereffect of that weird drug, the current scenario wouldn't be this bad. Leopard who kept glaring at her as if she will turn into a bubble if he blinks. Samson who looks guilty and is currently fighting with himself with something nonsense. Thompson and Von who never left my side that after I showed up in this tavern, made for the hellbender pirates only. Jake looks so worn out and the captain whom Vienna never heard talk to when she arrived. But the way he breathes, one can conclude that he is angry."A-ah Vienna, I'm sorry. I should have checked the water that my mom prepared for you, then you wouldn't have to experience those things. I'm sorry!" Samson pleaded at her. Vienna felt bad because she knows she was wrong too. "No please don't. I admit it's my fault too--" "How is that your fault? You don't know thi
Chapter 15: Royal BadgeIt took a lot of hours to finally reunite every Hellbender's crew to help find the mysterious plant that may be the cause of all the troubles circulating the island. Also, Vienna and the rest started late as it took a lot of time to finish illustrating the plant. Vienna has to draw a lot for the other crew to use as reference.Samson who couldn't wait anymore look for it after she finished her first piece. Then next were the two youngsters, Leopard also started looking for it early together with the Captain. Only Vienna and Jake were left in the tavern to finish the drawings.Awkward silence covered the atmosphere but none of them are planning to break it, afraid that it might end the scenario worse. Vienna knew that Jake kept staring at her and somehow she felt uncomfortable and glad at the same time. She couldn't understand her feelings anymore. After almost an hour she finished drawing lots of pieces, she was glad
CHAPTER 16: COLDEveryone who heard what their Captain stated jumped in the water to check to see the mysterious plant. Vienna who's still panting due to the exhaustion mixed with fear because of what she saw back then. She's not a hundred percent sure about her theory, but what she saw is not just a simple badge but an honorary badge given to the most outstanding knights in Andra's kingdom.No one can duplicate it, not even imitate for it was made with a special material and the king's stamp was even visible at the back of the badge.She doesn't know what to do anymore, she's too afraid to confirm it. She doesn't want to believe that there's a 50 percent chance that it's true. She couldn't even mind the effect of the poison circulating in her entire body right now as the new issue ate her consciousness. She's having a hard time breathing like her throat is closing the airway, making her pant harder, gasping for air. Her body could not take
Chapter 17: Bon BoyageThe familiar feeling envelops my whole being. The dancing waves, the cold sea breeze, and the hot rays of sunlight hit my skin. Ahh, finally! It's my time. But this part is also the hardest one, leaving the land is easy but entering is a different kind of situation. I sighed as I focused my attention on the map I am currently studying. Thankfully the swaying of the new and smaller ship calms me now. Before, it makes me puke but surprisingly, my body adopted the surrounding now. I hold the quill pen properly and steadily as I draw some lines in the map as a guide to where we are going to use it when we're on land already. Now that we are leaving a few minutes from now, I have to prepare something in advance like the routes, the roles, and such.I also advised them to change the ship into a smaller one without the pirate flag they're so proud of. They agree but not with the flag, they said the flag is the
Chapter 18: DisturbanceI gulped the coffee Von made for me and smiled looking at pieces of compiled papers where all my plans are written. The only thing that is not visible is my plan of escape. For two days, I've been making this and revising it. I have had this hobby of organizing things since before and yes, I am a perfectionist and my blood boils when I find my work untidy or not appealing.My father taught me to be cautious about plan-making and my mother raised me to be a perfectionist. It's not that I hate it, I like it, I like clean things. It brightens my days, which is why Clara as my lady in waiting is such a pain in the ass for that lady quietly doesn't understand the word clean and the meaning of silence. She's always a mess and a very noisy lady. But what surprises me is her suitors, she has lots of men lining up on her.She's pretty and innocent as a daisy but her mouth is like a door without a lock. A driver who doesn't know how to break. But d
Chapter 19: Stolen Heart "W-what the hell happened?" Lilian exclaimed and look at me truly when she noticed my hair. It wasn't even cut evenly so it does look messy."Wow so wonderful, I didn't teach short hair suits you well! Hehe so pretty!!" Marion happily stated as she kept touching my now shoulder-length hair."That's not the point here Marion! She is a noble lady! They are not allowed to cut their hair that short!" Lilian shouted which surprises me. I don't understand why she is so fired up with my short hair. But what she said is true, instead of looking down in embarrassment, I held my head up high to show how serious I am with my decision.As for them, I'll keep all my resentment to them up until I can finally avenge what they did. I'll just have to act like usual and not let them feel my anger. After all, I'm good at acting too."With the nobles, the only one who is allowed to cut her hair that short is when her husband's
Chapter 20: ScammedVon and Thompson happily ate the curry Samson cooked together with Regor. Even I enjoyed it too since the chicken was preserved it has a different kind of taste other than the normal curry but that taste gives the curry more deliciousness it deserves. I didn't know that curry can be this delicious.After that awkward scene in the cabin, Marion can't stop telling the others what happened. No one can speak to Jake normally, he still can't get over to it and I felt embarrassed just by remembering it and the way Marion speaks to the others makes it more embarrassing. "I told you, the curve, the smoothness, and the color. Goodness, it looks like the heat didn't damage her skin!" Marion happily stated. I covered my face and shrink myself on the table."Marion, what a pervert," Leopard said and sip on his coffee."Hey! It's not just me, Jake saw it too!!" Marion defended. A loud thud enveloped the whole g
Chapter 26: The Knight's ArrivedAs soon as the sun rises, we all moved as fast as we can to continue traveling to the other town, the outskirt of the kingdom, Thermis. But entering is harder than anything else when it comes to that outskirt. I heard that that place is the place for the bandits and runaway prisoners. It's just a rumor and even if it's true, that town is the only safest town for all of us, especially me. Knights can't enter that town for unknown reasons and even adventurers have a hard time so I hope that we can enter the town without anything to worry about. I am even willing to pay just so we can pass. I am worried but the others are not, they seem too relaxed and excited about it. And then I realized something."Uhm, can someone tell me how are we gonna enter the next town?" I worriedly asked."No need to worry lady Vien, we have a pass for that!" Marion exclaimed. I stared worriedly at her when I felt someone patting my back. Jake just nodded at me and smiled, ass
Chapter 25: ConfessionsBumpy and lots of tiny rocks scattered on the muddy ground. The trip wasn't that nice, rain sharted pouring just when we entered the forest of the Zraidfield though thankfully, no guards and some knights is patrolling the mountain. It was hard traveling and the sun started setting out already so we all decided to stop by. We wanted to stop in the next town to rent a room but the weather is not with us now, the rain gets stronger and stronger and the horses stopped midway. We don't have any other choice but to seek refuge in the nearest cave, thankfully, there is one.Samson and Leopard made a fire inside the cave while Regor and Gerald took care of the horses, feed it, and made sure they are safe from the rain. Lilian, Marion, as well as Von, and Thommy prepared dinner for us. I tried helping but I can't, I am afraid that I am not confident with my cooking skills. So I pleased myself by reanalyzing our maps. I wanted to read the letter Padre handed me but I can
CHAPTER 24: SHE'S ALIVEThin, greasy, and covered with a long and white beard. Padre Sotto, or should I say, Sotto. I signaled not to call me something that makes them notice. But thankfully, they didn't ask anything anymore, letting me talk freely to Sotto."W-who are they, your highness? And please, for heaven's sake, why are you with them?" Sotto pleaded, I sighed."You don't have to worry too much Padre, I am safe with them," I replied. Padre Sotto still doesn't look convinced. "The truth is, they are the ones who abduct m--""A-abduct!? Oh Goodness, oh my lord!" He nervously exclaimed., not letting me finish. "T-then, I must report them to the Guards." He added."No no, please, as I was saying, I am with them. They did not do something foolish to me, I joined them because I want to know something." I immediately explained. He still doesn't look convinced by what I said but I am confident and desperate to not mess up things, we planned.I don't want to slip this chance and cause t
CHAPTER 23: Head PriestIt took quite an hour or two to finish the transaction, I never thought we have to sign contracts that much and beat me up, the payment was too overpriced. I do know that you have to pay to temporarily register your team to freely roam around but dang, it costs us 150 gold coins. Too much for temporary registration.And yeah, I knew something was wrong. Guild Master Ruan's office is filled with things that normal officers can't have. And what caught my attention is the golden bell head statue on his shelf below the not-so-appealing portrait of himself while flexing his masculinity, half-naked. To be honest, it's disgusting. But that's not it, that golden bell statue is the trademark of the golden city's cathedral, that was supposed to be in the head priest's office. Then why?Don't tell me-- I immediately wandered my eyes around while the Guild Master are busy signing the papers and preparing our pass. The four of us waited pat
Chapter 22: The Adventurer's Guild After a few minutes of walking and asking, which was done by Lilian, by the way, we finally arrived at the guild. And fortunately, I saw a vendor selling some sort of eyewear, luckily they have this unique one that suits me. It perfectly hides my eye color, I am not sure what kind of element they use to make this one but that's not the point here. Now that I can hide my eye color, no one will suspect me any longer but then again, it's better to be cautious than nothing.We are now gathering under the mango tree just in front of the adventurer's guild, talking about who will be the one who will negotiate inside and register our team. Yes, we are 'adventurers' from the other kingdom doing business here but we still need to register the team to have a legal pass to wander the kingdom. It's legal things and I'm doing it illegally. I smirked at the idea of illegal. All of my life, I have been raised to reign the kingdom and work
Chapter 21: City of ZraidfeildThe sun shines so bright as it reaches my face, kissing it softly. A few meters away from the ship lies the abundant City of Zraidfeild. Excitement and fear linger in me, this is the very day that I anticipated the most. The day where I can finally return to my own land, my beloved kingdom. We are heading towards the old port in the city that fishermen only uses. In there, we can dock the ship safely.Just a few hours and we will arrive at the port. I already prepared everything last night as well as their identification cards. Starting today, The Pirate Hellbender will become The Salamander Adventurer. They left all the things that are related to them as a pirate on this ship for their mission and left it all here on this small ship. Drake patted my back and motioned me to follow him inside the cabin. I saw everyone waiting for me inside, though it was not my fault. No one told me that they are holding a sudden meeting today.
Chapter 20: ScammedVon and Thompson happily ate the curry Samson cooked together with Regor. Even I enjoyed it too since the chicken was preserved it has a different kind of taste other than the normal curry but that taste gives the curry more deliciousness it deserves. I didn't know that curry can be this delicious.After that awkward scene in the cabin, Marion can't stop telling the others what happened. No one can speak to Jake normally, he still can't get over to it and I felt embarrassed just by remembering it and the way Marion speaks to the others makes it more embarrassing. "I told you, the curve, the smoothness, and the color. Goodness, it looks like the heat didn't damage her skin!" Marion happily stated. I covered my face and shrink myself on the table."Marion, what a pervert," Leopard said and sip on his coffee."Hey! It's not just me, Jake saw it too!!" Marion defended. A loud thud enveloped the whole g
Chapter 19: Stolen Heart "W-what the hell happened?" Lilian exclaimed and look at me truly when she noticed my hair. It wasn't even cut evenly so it does look messy."Wow so wonderful, I didn't teach short hair suits you well! Hehe so pretty!!" Marion happily stated as she kept touching my now shoulder-length hair."That's not the point here Marion! She is a noble lady! They are not allowed to cut their hair that short!" Lilian shouted which surprises me. I don't understand why she is so fired up with my short hair. But what she said is true, instead of looking down in embarrassment, I held my head up high to show how serious I am with my decision.As for them, I'll keep all my resentment to them up until I can finally avenge what they did. I'll just have to act like usual and not let them feel my anger. After all, I'm good at acting too."With the nobles, the only one who is allowed to cut her hair that short is when her husband's
Chapter 18: DisturbanceI gulped the coffee Von made for me and smiled looking at pieces of compiled papers where all my plans are written. The only thing that is not visible is my plan of escape. For two days, I've been making this and revising it. I have had this hobby of organizing things since before and yes, I am a perfectionist and my blood boils when I find my work untidy or not appealing.My father taught me to be cautious about plan-making and my mother raised me to be a perfectionist. It's not that I hate it, I like it, I like clean things. It brightens my days, which is why Clara as my lady in waiting is such a pain in the ass for that lady quietly doesn't understand the word clean and the meaning of silence. She's always a mess and a very noisy lady. But what surprises me is her suitors, she has lots of men lining up on her.She's pretty and innocent as a daisy but her mouth is like a door without a lock. A driver who doesn't know how to break. But d