MERCIA
74. Golden Palace.

"Mercia I don't mean to be disrespectful, but the scent of your wife's perfume was made of edianna, and she pointed to the flower, not everyone knows the flower's real name, but you know, you know, and if my guess is not wrong, you must be from Proxima, you enter this place through the golden mountain pass."

August and Sylvana were stunned to hear Ralf's words.

"You're right, Ralf, everything you say is true" August said.

"It's a good thing that you met me, if you met anyone from that kingdom you'd be doomed, especially your wife."

"Thank you, there's a lot I want to ask you about.."

"This world? we can't talk now, first I have to sell my crops, second it's too dangerous to talk in this place. Come with me, I'll take you to the inn."

"All right."

August and Sylvana got on that wagon.

"The inn belongs to my cousin, so you don't have to worry about the rent, but I'm asking for one thing, once you're there don't get out of that room, especially your wife, stay inside until I come back to pick you up, my cousin will arrange everything you need."

"Thank you Ralf, but I still don't understand why you're helping us" Mercia said.

"I once went to Proxima, there I met a girl, we loved each other, I proposed to her and wanted to marry her, I brought the girl for me to introduce to my parents, but bad things happen, we meet the royal party, they do bad things to him and kill him in front of my eyes, I can't save him."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"It's okay, it's a long time gone, I just want the events that happened to me not to happen to anyone else especially you guys right now."

"Thank you we won't forget your kindness" Sylvana said.

"How much is this flower?" ask August.

"If you want it you can pick it up yourself later, this flower I brought is just not what you imagined."

"I don't understand" said August.

"The flower of Edianna which has power can only be obtained when the flower blooms at full moon, you must pluck it at night, while the flower I carry I pluck it during the day, that's to add vegetables and perfume-making materials."

"I understand."

After a while they arrived in a small town, they stopped at a large three-story building.

"this is the inn, we're going to see my cousin, you guys bring some veggies with you to hide your faces."

"good."

They entered the inn, the atmosphere of the place was not too crowded, the people did not seem to care about the three of them. Ralf meets his cousin, he speaks briefly, Ralf's cousin just nods, then meets August and Sylvana.

"Stay with the vegetables and follow me" said cousin Ralf, and he led them both into the barn.In the barn was a secret staircase hidden above the ceiling.

"Well you'll find a room, here's the key, I'll send you some food later."

"Thank you. um.."

"My name is Toma."

"Thank you Toma."

The two of them climbed the stairs when the sandwiches above them found a room that was very hidden, blocked by piles of wood, paper and other objects.

"it's a mess" said Sylvana, but she was surprised when she opened the door, the room was so big and neat, in contrast to the outside of the room seemed cramped and messy."

"Mercia do you trust Ralf and his cousin?"

"We don't have a choice, but we still have to be vigilant, you don't have to worry that I'll always take care of you."

"Always?"

"Of course."

At this time August and Sylvana had a different understanding of the word always that had just been spoken from the mouth of August.

"You should have asked Ralf for two rooms" said Sylvana.

"That's your fault, what would he think if the husband and wife slept separately?"

"It's so silly, we're in brackets what we should do." asked Sylvana.

"You rest, clean yourself up, and the beautiful, I'll be back." August opened the window and jumped out.

"Hey where are you going?"

August didn't hear. Sylvana just took a deep breath, then closed the window door again.

"Clean yourself and the beautiful what it means. hahh.."

August did not go far, he was only looking for the tallest tree, when he found it he jumped into the tree, he observed the details around the small town, when he felt no threat, he said, he turned his gaze to the golden palace, he moved and focused the energy in his body on both of his eyes, making his vision super sharp.

He continued to observe the market situation inside the palace, he saw Ralf selling his crops.

Suddenly he was startled by the voice of a woman and a sharp dagger stuck to his neck.

"If you move I'll cut your neck."

"I understand."

"Who are you?" ask the woman.

"My name is Mercia, can I turn my body?"

The woman pressed down on the dagger that had been stuck to August's neck even harder.

"You're not in a position to negotiate, you're just talking when I ask, Understand..?!"

"alright."

The mysterious woman touched August's temple with both fingers, when August felt weak and unconscious, when he was about to fall, the woman caught him and carried him in her arms and darted away from the big tree.

**

Late in the afternoon, Sylvana began to feel anxiety, she repeatedly stood by the window watching the situation outside.

'he said he only left for a little while, but it's approaching dusk why hasn't he returned?' his mind and heart continued to rage.

'Did something happen to him?'

Sylvana suddenly flinched. 'Ahh. I haven't returned the shield.' Sylvana's anxiety is getting so.

he took the triangular shield that he kept in the folds of his hooded robe. It gave off a bluish glow, Sylvana rubbed the shield, but she accidentally touched the golden dragon carving in the middle. he felt a small electric shock on his palm. Sylvana observed the dragon carving.

"I know you're not part of this shield, come out I want to talk" said Sylvana.

The shield in his hand instantly floated up, spinning slowly against the clockwise direction, The blue aura of the shield grew thicker then in the middle appeared a golden yellow ray, golden light, the dragon carving twitched and then out of the shield flew around the room, each twisting and turning making the golden dragon's body even bigger to fill the room.The golden dragon gazed towards Sylvana, looking at Sylvana, along with that the door of the room opened.

"Mr Mercia I brought you ma'am.. Aaaaaa..."

Bruck.. Prangs..

Toma fell unconscious to see a huge dragon snake in his secret room, from where he stood the giant snake was seen wrapped around an elf, and when the dragon looked at him, Toma's heart seemed to want to come out of his mouth.

"Who dare you call me?"

There is no fear of Sylvana seeing the big dragon in front of her, she is still in a position to sit on the edge of the bed as before.

"My name is Sylvana I'm a friend of Mercia's owner of the shield, I'm calling you because I'm afraid something happened to her, she left without the shield and until now she hasn't returned."

The dragon stared intently at Sylvana as if looking through her soul.

"My name is Nyx, I see the honesty in you, what do you want?"

"Do you know where he is?" ask Sylvana.

"Mercia is my master, I serve her, I'm bound to her but I haven't fused perfectly with her body, I don't have the ability to enter her mind, unless she calls my name."

"Is there no other way?"

"The shield is already fused with his soul, I can use it as a bridge, but it takes great strength to build it."

"I can help you, give me a minute."

Sylvana closed her eyes.

'Sonja I need your help.'

'i'm not going to help that guy.'

'He's been helping us so far to find Moonheaven.'

'Let it go, we don't need it anymore.'

'please, I'll let you take over for seven days.'

'don't want.'

'ten days.'

'one full moon.'

'Huh.it was too long, half full moon, after me and Mercia found Moonheaven.'

'agreed.'

"Alright Nyx I'm ready."

The golden dragon went back around in circles then turned into a golden beam and entered into the shield, while Sylvana both her eyes and both her hands let out a red glow then she held the shield and a red light slowly flowed over the shield.