Tales Of Darkness And Light
Chapter 28's

An early twenty-year-old man stood looking at Aaron who was before him. His hair was black, his face was not clearly visible because he was wearing a white mask covering his eyes. "Are you sure?" tanyanya slow.

"I'm sure it was him. Black-haired and red-eyed like blood—who else would it be if it wasn't that damned creature." Aaron replied while grunting dislike.

The man in front of Aaron only smiled as soon as he heard the answer he got.

"He's hiding in the forbidden forest. I don't think he's ever stepped his foot out of there in ten years." Added Aaron again.

"Bidden forest?"

"true."

"Hm, I didn't expect him to be hiding in that forest at all. He who kept denying who he really was, ended up hiding in that forest?" The man's laughter was slow.

"He helped Fedrick and Lara. I think he's with them now." Folding both hands on his chest, Aaron felt the information he was given was quite up to here. He was reminded of the golden-haired beautiful girl who was beside the cursed creature, but he immediately ignored her.—the girl had nothing to do with all of this.

"Find him" the man ordered. "Whatever happens, find him and bring him before me."

Aaron stared flatly at the man before him who was commanding him. But, his two eyes were shining full of anger—what is he, how dare to rule himself like this? Reversing the body unconcerned, Aaron then replied rudely. "Not you orders, I know."

The man just smiled looking at the figure of Aaron who disappeared from sight. Closing his eyes, the smile on his face widened, "Black cat," he murmured softly. "Your majesty would be very happy to see her furry pet cat again..."

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"Until when are you gonna be such a daze, stupid?" asked Lara while hitting Rue's head from earlier immersed in her own thoughts.

"Ouch! Don't hit me, Lara." Reply Rue was annoyed while holding his head which was hit by Lara.

"What's wrong?" ask Lara again not to care. He knew that something was bothering the golden haired girl beside him. Rue was not a person who could hide something, he was too easy to read like an open book.

Rue turned his eyes to look at Larabon hearing the question "I don't know, Lara," he replied slowly as if in a whisper. "Every time I feel that feeling, I feel so scared..."

Hearing Rue's reply, Lara knew what the girl meant, even though she did not fully understand "Forget it. It was just a nightmare."

"It wasn't a nightmare, Lara," Rue replied quickly. Both of his eyes were full of fear. "I know, it wasn't a nightmare!"

Lara sighed seeing Rue's reaction. Inevitably, he recalled again the incident last night when the girl suddenly woke up and shouted calling out to the hysterical Apple.

Lara sat looking up at the night sky. At nightfall, the robbers decided to continue their journey tomorrow morning. They camped in a forest not far from their destination city. Most of the robbers had already fallen asleep in their sleep, as well as Rue who was beside him.

"It looks like you're really unlucky to have to deal with a stupid chick like her." Said Mire who walked over suddenly.

Lara did not say anything, her face remained expressionless.

Mire throws a blanket at Lara. "Parach him. It's so cold tonight, that fool can catch a cold."

Lara received the blanket and looked at Mire "Find me another one. You don't want me who's your precious hostage to die of cold, do you?"

Hearing Lara's words, Mire could only grumble and walk away to find another blanket for her.

Lara opened the blanket and enveloped Rue. His eyes looked at Rue who was asleep in silence. This girl was really strange, not knowing why, she absolutely could not be hated by anyone. With her cheerful, optimistic and also stupid attitude, she attracted anyone who was beside her to like her. Lara could see clearly all of that. During their journey, the robbers who held them hostage did not treat him at all as a hostage. They look like old friends who often joke and argue, even though Rue is always the loser. The attitude of Mire who was worried about him was cold, clearly showing how much she liked this girl.

Rue who was in deep sleep suddenly rattled up, Lara who was staring at his face could clearly see the change in his face. The pretty face now looked extremely agitated and frightened, her tears flowing down her cheeks. "Apples, Apples, Apples..."

Lara shook Rue's body and tried to wake her up. "Rue, wake!"

"Don't Apple!! Back back!! Back!!" rue shouted loudly while opening his two closed eyeballs.

"Rue! Be aware" Call Lara. However, Rue who had not been fully aware had not heard Lara's call at all. He continued to shout calling out to Apple with his eyes wide open and his body trembling.

Lara raised her hand and slapped Rue's cheek to resuscitate her "Calm down, Rue! You're just having a bad dream!"

As soon as she felt Lara's slap, Rue stopped screaming and held her cheek, her consciousness returning.

"You're just having a bad dream. Be calm.." Repeat Lara while hugging Rue. He raised his right hand stroking the girl's back trying to calm her down.

"No," Rue replied with tears flowing down her cheeks. "No, Lara. It wasn't a nightmare.. That feeling... Apples...

"What were you dreaming about last night?" lara asked as she raised her hand to protect her face from the daylight above.

"I've already said," Rue replied quickly full of annoyance. Why didn't Lara believe what she said?—she had to explain it to him today about what happened. "It wasn't a dream, Lara. I've experienced that feeling before. That is the feeling when Apple beru—"

"No," Rue replied as she shook her head. "Not long after I woke up, I no longer felt that feeling anymore."

"That means it's just a nightmare, stupid."

"Lara, it wasn't a nightmare!" shouting Rue. He really no longer knew how to explain to Lara to believe what she said.

"Well, even if it wasn't a nightmare. What can you do?" ask Lara later. He looked straight at Rue beside him.

Rue remained silent. The first time she came to her senses, she was unable to do anything to Apple right now. They were far apart, and he didn't even know where the young man was now. Turning her head down, she felt like crying and was extremely desperate.

Lara sighed looking at Rue. She did not understand nor did she want to understand, but at least she did not want to see Rue sad. "If you don't feel that feeling anymore. That is, the blind guy is fine. Didn't you say he was very strong, clever and calculating?—so, there's no need for you to worry."

Rue thought for a moment as soon as he heard Lara's words. He felt that what he said was right, Apples must not be okay. He no longer felt that feeling, and most importantly, Apple was not like him who could not do anything—Apel certainly could solve all the problems he faced well."I think you're right, Lara."

Lara nodded her head looking at Rue who had regained her composure. Raising his hand, he gently flicked the forehead of the golden-haired girl. "When do you want a face like that?Didn't I tell you your face is more suitable for smiling?"

Rue smiled as soon as she heard Lara's words. Determining his forehead, he then laughed and hugged his friend. "Thank you, Lara."

Lara gave a small smile, to her Rue indeed deserved to smile and laugh like this.

"It looks like you've returned to this realm, you stupid chick." Mire suddenly said from behind them. He walked over to Rue and Lara with Vin who was smiling widely.

"Don't call me a dumb girl, Auntie." Reply Rue was upset.

"There's no time for your stupidity. The ship is about to depart, we need to quickly board the ship, if we don't want to miss." Clearly Mire was without concern for Rue.

"Ship? Departing?" rue asked confusedly while looking around. He was very surprised, as they were no longer inside the forest. They had now been inside the city or rather were in the harbor of "Eh!! Since when have we been here?"

Hearing Rue's question, everyone who was there looked at him with a look of disbelief. This girl was completely immersed in her own thoughts, she was completely unaware they had entered Denethor Port City since this morning and was not in doubt, either, he must have also not heard an explanation of the route they were going to take.

"Leave that fool alone." Mire was upset and walked away followed by others, including Lara. All her life, the first time she saw a strange girl like Rue.

"Wait on! Waitaminute! Don't leave me!" rue shouted in panic and ran after them.

The Port of Denethor is a very large and prosperous city, all of which can be seen from the magnificent buildings of this city. The city is also a very crowded city as it is the only city in the Arthorn kingdom that has a direct shipping lane to the Kingdom of Catax

"It's so pretty!" enchanted, Rue stared in admiration at the port city of Denethor from the deck of the ship that was sailing out of the city.

"I didn't expect you to be able to successfully infiltrate this city and sail easily to the Catax kingdom without being discovered." Lara said as she looked at Mire who was beside her. He knew, Denethor City was not a city with weak guard, the city's guard could be said to be quite tight. However, seeing these robbers being able to easily roam around inside this city and sail towards the Catax Kingdom without being caught by the guards, he began to doubt it.

Mire smiled, hearing that. "We have our own way of tricking the guards in this town."

"I'm not interested in knowing your ways." Reply Lara and turn her head back her eyes looked at the blue sea in front.

"Well! Auntie! Look at the fish!" rue shouted with excitement and excitement while pointing at the fish in the sea he saw. Not knowing since when, he had dashed to the back of the deck of the ship. "It's so big!! The color is also very pretty—you guys think, how about I catch it?"

Lara and Mire who heard Rue's cry just silently said nothing.

"I don't want to serve that noisy, stupid chick. I feel like it'd be better if it stayed like it was this morning for a while." Mire said as she shook her head and walked into the cabin of the ship.

Lara followed Mire from behind. Despite not saying anything, he strongly agreed with what the robber woman had just said.

Looking at her that Lara and Mire did not care about, Rue could only put on a sullen face and looked back at the diminishing port city of Denethor. Instantly, he calmed down, he would soon leave the kingdom of Arthorn—he would be separated even further with Apples.

Questions ran through his mind. Is the apple okay? Is he still in Radiata City? Or has he arrived at Cirrion City? Did he know he was kidnapped by robbers? What the hell is he doing now? And most importantly; does he miss her?—because he misses that young man so much now.

Do you love her?

Rue recalled again with Lara's question. Apples are his most loved ones. But, does she love Apple?— to be honest, she has absolutely no idea what love means. Is love and love different? He felt his head very dizzy as he thought of the answer to the question.

For that blind guy, what are you?

One more question that Rue could not answer. To Apple, what is this? Was it for Apple, he was also his most beloved person? All along, he had always been hanging and troublesome Apples. What if the Apple that was separated from him now realized and considered itself to be very troublesome and disturbing?

Rue bit the seedlings underneath. He did not dare to think any further, for he was very afraid. What if Apple hates it? What if Apple doesn't want to see him again? What if Apple leaves him?

"Apple," Rue murmured softly and closed his green eyes. "What am I for you?"

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