Tales Of Darkness And Light
Chapter 29's

"You know them, Map?" ask Calix doesn't believe it. He never thought that Peta who was a kindhearted person and lived on this straight path knew the robber.

The map nodded its head. "They were my childhood friends and were also former students of Erfin Magic College. It's just them... Um... how do you explain it, huh?"

Looking at the puzzled Map explained, Fedrick patted her on the shoulder slowly. "Slow down, Map. You don't have to be confused like that."

"Thank you, Fedrick," Smile the Map and start explaining. "Mire and the others were students of Erfin Magic College until two years ago. But, because of their free souls and also the attitude of those who like challenges and valuables, they decided to leave Erfin Magic College and become specialist robbers robbing robbers. They say it's a job that can make what they want most."

"His specialist robbers robbers? A job they can do what they want?" fedrick was confused.

The map nodded its head quickly and smiled. "If your friends are in their hands, then you can rest easy—your friends will be fine. Mire and the others often helped and freed those caught by the robbers. You guys remember Aisha?—she was one of the people Mire saved from the robbers."

"Of all kinds of jobs, they choose to be specialist robbers robbing robbers? They seem to be unique minded people." Calix said as he shook his head confused and notjudged. He had never expected that there would be such a job in this world.

The map that heard Calix say could only smile nervously. In fact he himself was also very confused and never understood. With the magic abilities at hand, Mire and the others had no trouble finding a job that promised them what they wanted. But, why did his friends choose to be a specialist robber robbers?—baginya it is a mystery.

The map then looked at the figure of Apple walking in front of him. The dark brown coat he wore, even though it had been cleaned, was still filled with blood-spotted red stains. The white cloth had again closed his blood-red eyes, and he looked like a quiet young man as usual. However, Peta still felt scared when she remembered the incident last night when the young man attacked the robbers.

The apple that heard the Map explanation did not give the slightest reaction. Fedrick, Calix and Peta didn't ask him anything despite having seen what happened last night, though he could also feel clear—they were afraid of him. But, at least everything was still fine, and he hoped that conditions like this could last until they found Rue.

Walking out of Bold Mountain, the four of them headed towards Sangrath Village which was indeed located not far from the mountain. They need information on the whereabouts of the robbers who kidnapped Rue and Lara now, and Peta says that she can get that information in the village.

Just as they were about to reach Sangrath Village, suddenly from behind the bushes in front of them a boy of about ten years old ran out and shocked all of them except Apples. The boy was blond with a pair of green eyes, his thin body was wearing very dirty and seedy clothes. Standing silently staring at Apple and the others, the boy's face was flat expressionless.

"Little sister, what's wrong with you?" ask the Map to the little boy with a smile. He tried to look as friendly as possible because he did not want to surprise or scare the child.

The little boy did not answer the Map question. Staring at Apple and the others flat for a while, he then turned his back and ran away leaving them.

"What's that?" calix was confused to see what was going on. The flat eyes of the boys just now who were staring at them did not look like the eyes of children there generally were.

Fedrick and Peta are just as confused as Calix. However, they had not had time to say a word, the Apple that from last night had been silent suddenly made a sound. "When do you want to stand there?"

Shocked, both Fedrick, Calix and Peta immediately set their sights on Apple.

"Eh! Sorry, Sorry! Let's go for a walk." Calix's laughter was quick, although his laughter was clearly nervous.

No one else said a word until they reached Sangrath Village. Sangrath Village is a fairly large village with a considerable population. However, the moment they entered the village, they knew this village was having a hard time. The eyes of these villagers looked very gloomy and uninspired.

Some of the villagers who saw Apple, Fedrick, Calix and Peta immediately moved away. There was fear on their faces, and Fedrick, Calix and Peta also knew the reason without needing to answer, namely; Apples. The young man was very striking with his old brown robe that was full of bloodstains.

Entering the Sangrath Village deeper, Peta was unable to hide her sadness at seeing the helpless villagers. "This village has failed to harvest."

Calix sighed, as the Prince of the Arthon Kingdom, he did not get any news that this village had a crop failure due to the war that had broken out. Guilt filled his heart. "I will write a letter and ask for help from Cirrion City for this village."

The map smiled as soon as it heard Calix say. If Calix as the Prince wrote a letter directly asking for help, then this village would definitely be helped. Eagerly, he then pointed at an inn not far from where they were. "You should stay at the inn first. Apples can clean up there and I'll find information on Mire and the others."

Fedrick and Calix agree with what Map says. Walking in this village with the condition of Apples now is not at all a good idea, indeed the robe he wears is now quite clean, but the blood stains that exist are clearly still very striking.

"Alright, Map," Fedrick smiled on Map. "We're counting on you."

"Give it to me." Reply to the Map while laughing and running away.

The village inn shown by Peta is the only inn in this village. The inn is pretty clean and nice, it's just that Fedrick and Calix had a hard time because the innkeeper was not willing to rent out a room for them once they saw Apple. However, eventually they managed to also get a room after they were willing to pay three times the usual rental price.

"This is new clothes for you, Apple." Fedrick handed over the new clothes he had requested from the innkeeper to Apple.

Apple received the shirt Fedrick gave her in silence. Walking towards the bathroom to clean his body, he left Fedrick and Calix resting inside the room they had rented waiting for Map to return.

"Fedrick's." Call Calix out of the blue while looking at Fedrick's serious sky blue eyes. There was no smile or laughter that usually filled his face.

"What's up, Calix?" fedrick was confused.

"Tell me," Calix's voice was very slow as if he didn't want anyone else to hear what he wanted to ask Fedrick. "Who is an apple?"

Fedrick was stunned upon hearing Calix's question.

"His strength, his magic ability, and also his hands changed." continued Calix with facial exposition that is very difficult to explain. "That's not something an ordinary man can do. Who is he, Fedrick?"

"I don't know either, Brother Calix," Fedrick replied after a while. "I just met him not long ago. He helped me and Lara when we almost got Aaron."

"Where did you meet, Fedrick? With his abilities so outstanding he should be very famous. But why doesn't anyone know him?" calix asked again, though then his facial expression turned back to confusion and difficulty. "Ya—even if sometimes he's a little weird and looks very cruel and heartless... "

Fedrick kept silent. He understood the intent of Calix, the figure of the Apple when fighting the dragon in Erfin Magic College and also the robbers in Bold Mountain could not be forgotten just like that. Sighing, Fedrick could only answer Calix's questions as best he could. "He lived in the forest and never came out of it. So, maybe that's why no one knows him."

Fedrick felt grateful that Calix didn't ask him what forest he was meeting with. He could not imagine Prince Arthorn's reaction if he knew that the forest was a forbidden paradise.

Fedrick couldn't tell Calix what he knew about Apple. He was afraid, what if what he explained was wrong? What if Apples were not what kind of magical creatures he had expected? Apples are no different from humans in general. However, his eye color, power, ability to use magic without spells and magic circles, his sudden change of hands, as well as his sometimes very sadistic and cruel attitude, it all makes him very worried. Are apples really magical creatures? And what about Rue who lived with him inside the Forbidden Forest all this time?

In silence, Calix who then saw the expression of distress on Fedrick's face could only sigh and change the subject of the conversation—there was no point in them thinking of an answer they could not answer, "The map hasn't come back yet, has it? It's getting dark. I think tonight we should stay in this village." He said while looking at the sky that had started to darken from their bedroom window.

"You're right, Mr. Calix," Fedrick replied quickly. He smiled, knowing Calix had intended to change the subject. "The map also needs to rest. He was injured, even though he said it was okay, I was worried that he would be exhausted."

Tok-Tok-tok-s.

Their bedroom door was suddenly knocked. "Who?" ask Fedrick.

"It's me" replied someone from the outside. "Map."

"Come in, Map." Reply Calix quickly.

The door of the room opened and Map walked in with a smile. "Sorry to keep you waiting so long, I've managed to get the information you want."

"Where are the robbers now?" apple asked who did not know when it had stood at the door of the room suddenly and shocked Fedrick, Calix and Peta. Apples had already cleaned his blood-filled clothes with clean clothes, and his eyes were still covered with a white cloth like a rut.

"They're headed for the Kingdom of Catax," answered a quick map of the information he got. "—and most likely they used a land route to reach the kingdom of Catax."

"Catax Kingdom?" fedrick was both surprised and confused.

"Yes," Map nodded his head and explained. "From the information I got, they said they managed to get the most valuable gem belonging to the Catax Kingdom, and they wanted to exchange the gem for money and other valuables. "

"Good?" calix muttered while scratching his non-itchy head. "Indeed, Lara who is the only daughter of the King and Queen of Catax can be likened to the most valuable gem of the Kingdom of Catax. But, still I can't think that way..."

Fedrick kept silent saying nothing. But, he strongly agreed with what Calix said. Lara with her cool, cold, and expressionless attitude is likened to a gem?—she is really difficult to accept it.

"Daughter? You mean the friend you're looking for is Princess Lara of the Catax Kingdom?" ask Map surprised.

Fedrick nodded his head. "true."

"What?! So the jewel that Mire and the others wanted to exchange was Princess Lara? That is, they are now being held hostage and intend to ask for ransom to the King and Queen of Catax?!" ask the map full of panic.

"That's the only explanation that makes the most sense right now, Map." Calix tried to smile. He did not understand why things could turn out like this.

The silent map in silence could not say anything else with a deathly pale face. From the beginning, he had already felt strange—why did Mire and the others not queue up Apple, Fedrick and Calix's friends to the nearest village as usual? but, in a dream he could not imagine his childhood friends daring to do something crazy like this— took a king's daughter hostage and asked for ransom? Even though he knew they liked challenges, did they never think about the consequences they would get if what they planned failed?

"You'd better rest, Map," Calix said as he patted the pale shoulders of Map. He could imagine how shocked this man would now be for the unexpected attitude of his friend. "I will ask the innkeeper to prepare the best and fastest horse in the village to continue our journey tomorrow, as well as the two of you" he continued, staring at Apple and Fedrick.

Fedrick replied with a nod of the head, while for Appel— the young man just kept silent and then turned his back on walking away.

"Where are you going, Apple? You need to rest you know?" calix shouted as he looked at the Apple walking away.

"I'll spend the night outside" replied the flat Apple without looking back. "Don't follow me."

Calix. This was the first time Apple had let out its voice after last night's incident, only, she had not expected this to be what she was going to say. Sighing in despair, Calux could only scratch his head and jostle desperately. "Basin' a fucking boy."

Apples walked out of the inn and down the village looking for a place to be alone. He needed a place to calm himself. He lost control of himself last night. Everything was dark, and overwhelming anger filled his mind upon hearing the robbers had hurt Rue. In front of Fedrick, Calix and Peta, he has allowed the darkest side of himself to take over. If only then, Fedrick and Calix hadn't stopped him—he really didn't know what was going to happen.

After what happened, Apple found out, Fedrick seemed to start to realize who he really was, even though he didn't tell the others or ask her. That's all possible because Fedrick himself still doubts the truth or because he considers Apple a—friend.

Buddies.

Is correct. Apples realized, Fedrick regarded him as a friend. But, that was because the young man still did not know in its entirety who the Apple really was. He was sure Fedrick would have been very frightened and stayed away from him if he had known and seen the real figure of his true self. All living beings who know and see the original figure will certainly feel disgusted, afraid, hate and away from it. Only Rue was the only one who had never been disgusted, afraid, hated and shunned him despite having seen his true figure.

Rue's.

The unanswered questions continued to fill Apples mind. Is Rue okay? Is he feeling scared? Can he eat right? Can he sleep well? Does he feel cold? Does she feel lonely?—does she miss him?

Apple missed Rue a lot. He had continued to feel uneasiness since parting ways with Rue. The nightmare that kept haunting him every night made him even more agitated and also—takut. Only with Rue beside him could he eliminate the anxiety and fear, because Rue was the light in the dark of his life.

"Basic bad luck carrier!" a woman shouted, Reawakening the apple from her daydream.

Although Apple closed her eyes, she could feel her surroundings perfectly. With his sense of smell, his hearing as well as his way of reading the auras of all living things, he was able to realize what was happening. Not far from his place, some villagers were surrounding a small child. From the smell and aura, Apple knew, that child was the child he had met earlier on his way to this village.

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