Sign of the Zodiac: Aries
[Sign 1: Aries] Arid Field

Anaru was now fully paying attention to Airyung's explanation. In addition to the food was exhausted, also because he smelled the smell of heroism in the story Airyung. Anaru really likes heroic stories. He wants to be a hero that is respected by many people.

“Then what does the last sentence mean? ‘Only twelve, or not at all’?” ask Anaru who is getting interested.

“That means that the gate can only be opened if the twelve chosen people are united. And if one chosen person does not exist, then the gate of Orion will not open at all,” replied Airyung.

“So the kinokambe..I mean the evil spirits only need to kill one person and they can still run rampant in Luteria?”

Airyung nodded steadily.

“Therefore, we, the twelve best horsemen of Giyatsa, are tasked to search for those chosen ones and protect them until the time when the gates of Orion open,” Airyung explained.

Anaru seemed to be nodding in understanding. If indeed the girl was telling the truth, it meant that her arrival did not threaten the safety of the villagers at all. Even so Anaru felt the need to convince himself by asking some questions that still bother him.

“From what I caught, you have to find one chosen person from my tribe, and you need my help to find him?” ask Anaru later.

Again Airyung nodded.

“Although so I can't trust you right away. I want to know about some things and you have to answer honestly,” said Anaru in a threatening tone.

“Please. I promise I won't tell lies. I swear by the honor of the tribe of Giyatsa,” Airyung said.

“Why do the Giyatsa tribe believe in the prophecy of the Ehawee people?”

“Tribes in the great plains fight by forming strongholds and coalitions with other tribes that have the same purpose. Giyatsa, Ehawee and Leopolis are in the same stronghold.”

Anaru was indeed not very aware of the conditions in the great land of Luteria. He could not confirm the truth of Airyung's words. Anaru decided to continue on to the next question.

“How do you pass the uluwero along the coast?”

“Uluwero? Oh what you said was Khitai's protective forces. I honestly didn't meet them along the beach. I sailed safely through the Canawallan Ocean until anchored on the north coast of the island.”

“You lied! Uluwero fleet always keep watch along the beach and the waterfront!” exclaim an angry Anaru.

“I didn't lie. Maybe the troops were just on guard during the day. I landed in the middle of the night and I found no one along the coast.”

Anaru was silent for a moment. It is true, the uluwero troops are only on guard during the day. The story of the kinokambe makes even uluwero troops choose to take refuge instead of guarding his village from possible enemy ambushes.

“What happened to me? Why is my wound healing so soon?” Anaru continued her question.

“Your wounds are not too deep. I'm just smearing a potion typical of my tribe and as long as you pass out the potion works fine. I only gave the last touch when you attacked me earlier by channeling a little energy of my life to perfect the healing of your wounds,” explained Airyung

“You can do that?” ask Anaru amazed.

“That's easy when you practice often,” Airyung says lightly.

“I consider it a compliment,” said Airyung returned Anaru's smile. “So, do you want to help me?” airyung asked.

“Wait. I still have one more question. Where's my sheep?” ask Anaru who had not seen or heard the voice of a single sheep.

“Ah it... most of it seems to have been preyed upon by Chogru. When I got here, there were only two of them alive. And... because there is no other food.. I... cook it,” said Airyung while grimacing full of regret. “But you also ate it just now,” added Airyung quickly.

“You ate two sheep only overnight?” tanya Anaru looked completely shocked.

“What did you mean last night? You fainted for three days,” Airyung.

Anaru gawked in disbelief. It seemed like he had just lost consciousness yesterday. But the girl had been looking after him for three days.

“What kinokambe attacked me yesterday came again?” tanya Anaru was still in her confusion.

Airyung. “There are not many living creatures in this arid field. I don't think any choruses are interested in wandering around this area. They may be hiding near the village,” Airyung said.

Small villages in the Khitai tribe are scattered throughout the island and especially many choose to live on the coast. One reason is because food sources in the sea are now more abundant than on land.

The forests were ripe and the pastures dried up making it harder for people to keep sheep. Most of their livestock also died from starvation. The remaining cattle have become very thin and several times disappear in the prey kinokambe.

“Do you think this kinokambe can also strike at sea?” suddenly Anaru was worried that the source of food in the sea would also become scarce. The Khitai tribe will be completely wiped out.

“Kurasa no. Chogoru only appears on land. They don't usually appear in the waters unless someone accidentally sneaks in the ships. But hasn't your tribe cut off access to the Luterian mainland? I don't see the pier along the coast.”

Anaru nodded. “We occasionally catch fish if very hard pressed. Families who do not have sheep usually go fishing in the Canawallan sea. Some families even started forming fishing groups and selling their sheep to make boats,”

Airyung hmm short to hear the explanation of Anaru. It was only fitting that he met some fishing boats when he came yesterday. Airyung initially thought they were a group of Murano pirates. But the shape of the boat was too simple and did not seem dangerous at all.

“Actually what is kinokambe?” ask Anaru later.

“Chogru can have many forms. But generally they are dark, very dark, large to reach a height of five meters. Fierce with fangs and sharp nails. The arrival of choruses is marked by the coming of darkness, as if they are absorbing all the light around them. They are also very nimble.”

Anaru nodded again in response. He had never met the kinokambe in person other than the night he was rescued by Airyung. Perhaps because there are more sheep in the Khitai tribe, so the case of human death in Khitai is not too much. Most people only admit to losing their livestock at night.

“Already night. You sleep. I'll keep watch for a while,” Airyung said later.

“You've been looking after me for three days. You're not exhausted. Let me take your place keep watch.”

Airyung. “What a shepherd like you can do. I'll sleep in a minute too.”

Anaru sighed in annoyance at the words of Airyung who belittled a shepherd like him. But the young man did not comment any more. His body was already getting sleepy. He fell asleep shortly after crumbling on dry land.

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