Sign of the Zodiac: Taurus
Suburbs

Ekhtuya takes Bianco on his white horse Oz. They swept through the forest and avoided the city streets to get to the outskirts of the city some distance away. There are only slums with semi-permanent houses made of dry wood. Some people seemed to notice their arrival in the corners of the narrow alley. They look thin and unkempt.

“Should we stay here?” whispered Bianco asked as Ekhtuya tethered his horse on the edge of the forest bordering the residential area.

“Do you want to protest now? This area is the safest. I have contacts here. Though you are Nuchas but never come here apparently,” Ekhtuya comments while glancing at Bianco.

The young man was still observing the surroundings with a bit of unease. All this time he was too comfortable living in a bar. Though conditions like this are actually prevalent in Nuchas. People who live in poverty and are limited. Slums untouched by rulers. Even the people in the city center just ignored them, of course the two ruling families of Nuchas also did not kidnap this area. Maybe that's what made Ekhtuya decide to come to this place.

After a while of walking, they arrived at one of the old wooden houses whose columns were worn out with age. Ekhtuya knocked on the door of the house several times. A middle-aged man appeared from behind the door. His body was large, but it had withered. The waves on his skin showed that when he was young, this man was probably quite muscular.

“You came again,” muttered the middle-aged man in a hoarse voice.

“I want to rent a place to stay again. This time a little long. Maybe about seven days,” said Ekhtuya firmly.

The owner of the house was upset. “Five bronzes a day. No less,” he said half grumbling.

“It's doubled since I last rented your house,” protest Ekhtuya not accept.

“Ah, you stayed a long time. Don't you know that's troublesome. I also made you breakfast and dinner. That's a cheap price for my services. Whether you want to take it or not.” The owner of the house did not want to lose either.

Ekhtuya sighed softly then turned to look at Bianco who stood with a blank look.

“Hah? Why?” bianco asked confusedly. From that moment he was busy observing the circumstances around so as not to pay attention to the conversation Ekhtuya and the owner of the house.

“Give me thirty-five bronze,” Ekhtuya said as he raised his palm.

Bianco respond immediately. He handed the bronze piece in Ekhtuya's hand as requested. He did not expect that staying at the homes of residents of this suburb could be so cheap. In the city, if you want to stay at the Red House alone it will need at least twenty silver a night. Not to mention if you want to hire women from Chulo. Adena who is among the most expensive women can get one gold per night.

“Come in,” invite Ekhtuya later.

Bianco followed Ekhtuya into the house. Simple furniture made mostly of old wood seems to decorate the room in the house. There were only two small rooms in the house. Apparently Ekhtuya once saved the owner of the house from pursuing malignos. After that the owner of the house was kind enough to rent his house to the foreigner. Since then Ekhtuya knew about this suburb.

“Does she live alone?” bianco asked as soon as he and Ekhtuya were already in the bedroom with the curtain door.

“It looks like so. I only stayed here one night when I arrived in Nuchas. But during that time I have never seen anyone else stay here,” Ekhtuya replied as he bandaged Bianco's wounds which were quite severe.

There were many scarring, burns and bruises all over the young man's body. Ekhtuya treated Bianco's wounds carefully and painstakingly.

“What are your plans after this, Ekhtuya?” ask Bianco then.

“I'm still waiting for my reply from Giyatsa. The letter-loving bird was looking for me in Nuchas. After I get a reply, I can only determine my next step,” Ekhtuya explained.

“What kind of person are you really looking for?”

Ekhtuya was silent for a while. “Entahlah. I'm not sure. But maybe he's a strong man,” he replied softly.

There are a lot of people stronger than Bianco in Nuchas. Even so they are all nothing if faced with Ekhtuya. If his strong standards alone are that high, Bianco is not sure Ekhtuya can find the right person in Nuchas.

“Although that is the case, no matter what happens later, I hope I can still be with you, Bian,” Ekhtuya added.

Bianco looked at Ekhtuya who was sitting in front of him, treating the wounds on Bianco's chest. The young man stroked Ekhtuya's hair gently and hugged her.

“Thank you for accepting someone like me, Ekhtuya,” whispered Bianco slowly.