Magic Of Mana Book 1: The First Tragedy
Chapter 6: Northern Forest (Part 2)

Chapter 6 (Part 2)

Northern Forest

“You are amazing, Miss!” suddenly a voice that Shumi was familiar with appeared and made her choke.

Shumi turned her body towards the source of the voice and stood up. “Su..Shukoi?!” he was very surprised, “ba..how can you be here? Since when???”

“Sorry, Miss! But I used to spend my late nights in this savanna! Sometimes just sleeping while staring at the beautiful sky, sometimes I train until the morning" he replied calmly.

“Then? You saw me running earlier?” shumi asked started to panic because her plan could be messed up.

“Ya about a few meters before you get into this forest.”

“Means the effect of my lightening potion was gone before I arrived, huh?” Shumi said in his heart.

“You're running away, huh?”

“Hah?! Ti.no..emm..yeah! I want to go to topaz holy city, Shukoi!”

“As your personal bodyguard, I have to bring you back!”

“I refuse! I beg you, Shukoi! I have to see my sister there! I should know everything!”

Shukoi looks confused, “ sisters? Mean Miss?”

Shumi is a bit surprised at first, but he understands that Shukoi definitely does not know the truth about him. “Alright, I'll tell you, Shukoi! This is because I believe in you, and I beg you whatever I tell you, just keep it as your own information!”

Shukoi paused for a moment, then said, “well, Miss.”

Shumi recounted everything that happened and said to her foster father and went back to telling her dreams about her birth. Everything he tells without anything he covers again makes Shukoi look incredulous and confused what to react to.

“Ja.so...” asked Shukoi still dumbfounded.

“Yes, that's why I want to go there! And I also want to inquire about this ring!” Shumi took out her foster mother's ring from behind her chest which she now made into a necklace, “this ring is dim now, and this is what kept the Queen alive before.”

Shukoi paused before saying, “ya, the gem in the ring should be bright orange ”

“I'm not forcing you, but I beg you! Go back to the palace and assume I'm not here! Pretend you didn't meet even see me tonight!” Shumi hid back her necklace.

“Can't, Miss! Sorry very much!”

Shumi was disappointed, “in that case, I have to knock you unconscious here!”

“I want to accompany Miss Shumi!”

Shumi surprised, “ta.but.”.

“I'm a former royal assassin squad! My ability must be very useful to the Princess! Although after this I will be punished, even if executed, I am still willing to accompany the Princess!”

“But I am not the original descendant of the King and Queen!”

“You remain the Princess I must protect!”

“Shukoi!”

“If you are not willing, I will kill myself instead of having to lie and let Miss face danger alone.”

Shumi remained silent. He knew Shukoi wasn't the one who was just bluffing.

Shumi was still silent. He thinks hard. He was greatly helped by Shukoi accompanying him, even if Grand Commander Arthur was willing, he would have wanted it badly even if it would not be possible. But on the other hand, he also did not want the royal punishment to fall on Shukoi when he returned home later.

“I beg you, Miss! Or would I rather die right now huh?!”

“Alright! You're forcing!”

Shukoi smiled, “ini makes me better than anything. Thank you, Princess!”

“I should thank you, Shukoi! But stop that call first! Just call me a name or Miss is still okay! I don't want anything to complicate later.”

“Good, Miss Shumi,” replied Shukoi while slightly bowing in respect.

“I'm a little tired, even though I've used stamina enhancer potion earlier. We'll rest first, yeah?”

“If so, the royal army will find us, Miss!”

“Are you not exhausted? How did you get here? Through that big gate?Wasn't it never opened?”

“Through the south gate, then round the city fortress, Miss! The city of Throttling is indeed surrounded by vast grasslands, but it is quiet and very beautiful only on the north side. It is rare for anyone to cross or roam here.”

“Walking? And you're not tired?”

Shukoi suddenly took out something from her robe and said, “I always prepare myself if I meet the enemy, so I always wear this anti-magic clothes and carry weapons. Also this, Miss!” He presented a round-shaped and dark-colored medicine.

“What is this?”

“Pil Dog, Miss!”

“Hah?! Not wrong?” Shumi was surprised by his name.

“I don't know her real name, but the soldiers used to call her that, Miss. I will not fall asleep for 24 hours if I swallow 1 pill only and the energy is very large.”

“Alright, I just found out you guys are using this, instead of my potion?!”

“Your homemade banquet is too expensive and exclusive, Miss! We better keep your artificial herbs if you really need them. And sorry, the size is difficult to save.”

Shumi was slightly offended, "alright! It's more practical to carry this, huh? Thank you Shukoi, will I drink.” Shumi immediately drank it with the help of water. It tastes very bitter and unpleasant. “Like eating rotten leaves, yes?”

Shukoi just smiled and lowered her head. “We walk slowly, Miss," he said.

“Well, slowly my stamina flows back, but yes to walk I'm quite capable," he said. He tried to get up and stand up. “I thought I would meet a horse, but you are enough, kok,” chandanya and Shukoi also smiled widely.

Shukoi took a dry tree branch large enough for the size of a tree branch, then wrapped the tip with a red hair-binding cloth.

Shumi knew his point, then took out another potion, this time it was red and there was a small cloth potogan inside. He dripped the contents of the potion several times on the cloth that had wrapped around the end of the tree branch until it was wet.

“You must have very prepared everything, yes?” praise Shukoi while holding the base of the tree branch, watching Shumi trying to light the fire with a match that she constantly swipes.

A little while later, a small fire appeared and Shumi quickly burned the wet cloth. The fire burned the cloth. “I'm not sure we won't draw the attention of something in there with this torch,”.

“Until the sun arrives, we should still be safe, Miss! We are still on the lips of the forest, so it should still not matter" Shukoi replied. Later, Shumi continues his journey with Shukoi entering the very dangerous forest.

* * *

(Connected to the next part)