Tales Of Darkness And Light
Chapter 12's

Apples stand leaning the body on the wall of the houses of the people in the middle of the city of Radiata. Although his eyes were covered in cloth, he could clearly feel what was happening in front of him as if he could see through his sense of hearing, smell and also the ability to read the aura.

The city of Radiata indeed managed to repel the forces of the kingdom Ormund who attacked the city. However, that did not mean they could avoid fatalities. The sound of crying was heard everywhere, the embankment for those who lost parents, children, lovers and friends. Fortunately, the mess is pretty much under control thanks to Calix and Linden who are trying their best to give orders and help the wounded.

Apples do not like the atmosphere around them. The beads of loss and the smell of blood all around inevitably remind him of the past he wants to forget— his dark, dark and; brutal past.

The only thing Apple is grateful for now is that Rue is not here. He did not want to show the scene in front of him to the girl. Rue was too fragile to see the scene that was in front of him right now.

"You're here, Apple." Someone's voice suddenly sounded, and without looking, Apple knew who it was—Calix.

Apple did not reply, he did not even give the slightest reaction as if he did not hear it.

Calix smiled looking at Apple, he knew, the young man heard it, but acted as if he didn't. Apple was the strangest person he had ever met. Despite knowing he was the future king of Arthorn kingdom, Apple still looked unconcerned. Unlike Rue who was plain and knew nothing like a child, Apple was an unpredictable person and also a dangerous—.

But, even so, Calix was very grateful for what Apple had done. The young man had helped them defend this city even though he was not from this city, and moreover, Apple had saved him.

"I think you need to eat. You haven't eaten anything since last night, have you? Linden had prepared the food at her house. Let's go there together." Take Calix smiling.

The apple remained silent not answering Calix's question. Actually, he wanted to refuse. However, Calix was right, he had eaten nothing at all since yesterday. Standing up straight, without looking at Calix, he walked past.

The stunned Calix mixed in puzzlement immediately turned around. However, looking at the direction Apple was heading towards the Radiata mayor's mansion, he couldn't hide his laughter. In his entire life, this was really the first time he had been completely ignored. Running after Apple, Calix was unable to stop his laughter. "Wait for me, Apple."

Calix did not mind Apple not replying to him, and he was also used to that trait and attitude. Walking aside while looking at the young man's face, the white cloth covering Apple's eyes grabbed his attention. To be honest, he could feel the young man closing his eyes due to the abnormal color of his eyes. But, why?

"Why did you close your eyes, Apple?" ask Calix. He knew the young man would not answer, but he wanted to try his luck.

There's no answer.

"Hey, Apple," call Calix. He asked again on another topic. "Why didn't you use magic against Ormund's soldiers last night?"

Calix recalls last night's events, Apples did not use his magic against Ormund's soldiers, except when he helped him from the witch who attacked him. Apple is an incredibly strong fighter even without magic. However, he also knew, the talent and magic power he possessed were much more incredible. As they were fighting at the first meeting, Apple almost attacked him with magic. The magic that the young man was using back then was magic that he had never seen, and Calix knew, magic back then was powerful and dangerous magic.

Apples are a very strange person for Calix. The young man did not look like a friendly and kind person. However, he knew, Apples did not kill the Ormund warriors who attacked him. The young man only beat the soldiers unconscious during the battle.

Staring at the Apple that still did not care about him, Calix did not ask any more, it seemed like the young man would not answer his question no matter what he did.

As the two of them reached the Radiata mayor's mansion the guard soldiers invited them in. A waiter drove them to the dining room. The food had been served on the table, and both Apples and Calix ate the food available in silence.

After eating, Apple walked out of the mansion not caring about anything, while Calix, he attended the meeting held in the mansion.

Walking away from the city center or rather avoiding the crowds, the Apples were fed up. He did not want to smell the blood or hear the levees from the residents of Radiata. He then found a park located on the edge of the city. The park is very quiet and quiet. Given what just happened in this city, there's no way anyone would come here unless it was recorded

The park is quite large and there are a lot of oak trees that grow well in it. The apple climbed one of the trees and sat on its branch. Removing the cloth that bound his eyes, his red eyes looked towards the east where the city of Cirrion was located.

How's Rue doing now? What the hell is he doing now? Is she okay? The questions kept spinning in his mind. Ever since they met, Apple had never separated from Rue like this. Rue was always by his side, laughing and smiling at him.

The apple breathed a desperate sigh. They had just been separated for a while and he had missed her a lot. Closing his eyes, he could only call out his name slowly. "Rue..."

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Rue turned his face towards the back. Stop moving, her green eyes were staring straight back as if they were confirming something.

"What's up, Rue?" asked Esthel who was walking beside Rue."

"It's okay" replied Rue. Both of his green eyes were still glued to the back. "I just feel like someone's calling me."

"That's just your feeling, stupid." Reply Lara while biting the apple in her hand.

Lara doesn't care about Rue. Continuing to walk, he chewed an apple in his mouth. They had walked for quite a long time and passed through Bold Mountain. Their journey was very smooth, and if there was anything strange about their journey, then it was none other than the beasts that followed Rue.

Lara, Esthel and also Fedrick who possessed beast-control magic would never believe what happened if they did not look with their own eyes. The wild beasts that followed Rue not only invited the girl to play, when they realized she was starving, they were competing to bring food in the form of fruits in the mountain, and to see Rue laughing happily accepting her, they were in a race, looks like this isn't the first time. In fact, the moment they made it out of the Bold Mountain, the beasts pulled the girl and clearly did not want her to leave the mountain. Confusion ensued, but after Rue gently and smilingly thanked him and during the stay, they no longer followed.

Both Fedrick, Lara and Esthel realized that what happened was not magic. The beasts did not move due to the influence of magic, but rather their own will. It's just, they don't understand, how this could happen.—Rue is really full of puzzles.

"Ahh," muttered Rue while smilingly staring at the surroundings filled with trees. "This place reminds me of the forest where I live and the Apples."

Fedrick smiled at Rue. But not for Lara. The black haired girl replied to him tightly. "This place is different from the forbidden forest where you live, fool ."

"Bidden forest? You live in the forbidden forest?" ask Esthel surprised. He stared in disbelief at Rue.

"Sir Estel, you misunderstood me," said Rue quickly filled with panic, "The forest is not at all as dangerous as you can hear. The forest contained absolutely no ancient magic traps and creatures anyway.." Rue's explanation stopped by itself as he recalled the giant spiders they faced when they wanted to get out of the forest.

"The forest is dangerous" Lara interrupted again. He looked at Rue with his face flat. "If I don't understand how you can live there all this time without encountering such a creature."

Rue thought back. What Lara said was indeed true, it was just that, all those years of living in the forest, she had never met a magical creature before. But, come to think of it, he rarely explored the forest. Apples never allowed him to walk far from the cave they lived in, and as long as they lived in the forest, it was the young man who sought food.

Confusion surfaced in Rue's heart, he clearly remembered, when Apple faced the giant spider, the young man was neither afraid nor surprised, either, it was as if it was not the first time he had encountered such a creature.

Sighing, Rue felt his head ache. He found absolutely no answer from the confusion he had in mind. Not wanting to think anymore, he decided to ask Apple alone when they met later.

"I'm just grateful," Fedrick's voice then sounded and made Rue turn to look at him. "The forest we are in today is not as dangerous as the forbidden forest. May we soon reach the city of Cirrion, and also, may the Apples catch up with us soon. Right, Rue?" ask her with a smile.

Fedrick changed the topic of conversation because he could see the confusion on Rue's face No idea why, he didn't want the girl to have such expression—he preferred the pretty face was always smiling freely as usual.

A wide smile adorned the pretty face of Rue hearing Fedrick's question. He nodded his head quickly. Fedrick was right, he wanted to get to Cirrion City soon, because he felt the sooner he reached Cirrons City the sooner he would meet Apples.

Vigorously, Rue dashed forward. Laughing, he turned his back on Fedrick, Lara and Esthel. Both of his green eyes sparkled happily. "We have to ce—Ahhh!!" rue's laughter turned to scorching. From within the ground where he was standing, a huge net suddenly appeared catching and hanging him on top of the tree.

Fedrick, Lara and Esthel were shocked to see what was happening. They had not had time to do anything, from behind the trees around them about twelve men stepped out. They all smiled grinning with eyes full of evil intentions. Their clothes were dirty and messy with a sword tucked in the waist.

"Who are you?" ask Fedrick beware.

"You want to know who we are?" laughter from one of them. "We are robbers."

Fedrick, Lara and Esthel were shocked to hear what they said. The area around Mount Bold is not a place prone to robbers. Why are there robbers here?—and also, why should at the time they have to reach the city of Cirrion as soon as possible?

"It looks like your prices are going to be very high in the slave market" said the robber again, staring at Fedrick, Lara and Esthel. Their beautiful faces were not something they could find every day. Laughing, he ordered the other robbers "Catch them!"

Ten of the robbers walked up to Fedrick, Lara and Esthel. Without wasting any time, Fedrick and Lara made a magic limgkaran and cast a magic spell. The ice needle misses from inside the magic circle and attacks the robbers.

The robbers were very surprised by Fedrick and Lara's magic. However, they all managed to dodge the attack by jumping to the side.

"They can be magic" said one of them."Be careful!!"

Pulling out the swords on their waists, the robbers surrounded Fedrick, Lara and Esthel full of vigilance. One of the robbers then went forward to attack them, followed by the others. Fedrick, Lara and Esthel evade the attacks and attempt to avenge the targeted attacks on them. However, fighting a robber who uses a sword with his bare hands is not easy. Their numbers were out of balance, and also the three of them could not use magic as the robbers simply did not give them the opportunity to create magic circles and cast spells.

As Fedrick, Lara and Esthel confront the six robbers, the two remaining robbers take Rue down from the top of the tree. They were very surprised when they saw the golden-haired girl, despite the fear, the beauty on her face did not owe a single bit. A wide smile filled the faces of the two of them, their chairman would definitely be overjoyed by their catch this time around.

The frightened Rue was helpless against the two robbers. One of the robbers then hit his back neck with a hand. Instantly his gaze darkened, Apples face flashed in thought before he lost consciousness.

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