
Fedrick, Calix and Peta immediately ran towards the boy and were eager to save him. But, the villagers immediately caught up and stopped their movements.
As the fire was about to touch the child's feet, the Apple that had not reacted the slightest bit suddenly shot out at an incredible speed towards the child. Jumping up and landing next to the child, he kicked away a dry, burning twig. Pulling out the Shire magic sword that was at the waist to cut the rope that bound the child, both of his hands immediately caught the small body that was about to fall down.
The little boy's green eyes stared in disbelief at the Apple that saved him, as did all the villagers.
"What are you doing?!!" the villagers shouted with anger.
The apple paid no attention to the angry cries of the villagers. He dropped the little boy off and asked him. "You okay?"
The little boy raised his head to look at Apple and nodded quickly.
Looking at the Apples who did not care about them, some of the villagers men who were there immediately ran towards him. Their faces were all full of anger, whereas the powerful clenched hands wanted to attack.
Apples easily dodge attacks and defeat them. Fedrick, Calix and Peta also didn't just stay silent to let the villagers hold them. Taking advantage of the opportunity when the attention of the villagers was seized on the Apples, they managed to escape and defeat the residents who held them back.
The anger of the villagers was mounting to see what was happening. They all ran forward to attack Apple and the little boy. However, Apple quickly raised his hand to make a magic circle while reciting a spell. A huge and tall pillar of fire appeared surrounding him as well as the little boy.
The villagers who saw the pillar of fire immediately abandoned their intentions and retreated backwards. Fear filled their hearts.
Realizing that the villagers would not dare to approach them again, Apple then turned her face to the little boy beside her. He knew, the reason why he had saved this child up to twice, and also why he had let this child sleep beside him last nightThis child reminded him of his own figure before meeting Rue.
"What's your name?" ask Apple.
"Regis." The boy replied while staring at the puzzled Apple.
"Regis," called out to Apple and reached out his right hand. "Come with me."
Regis' eyes widened in shock upon hearing the call of the Apples. A second later, he immediately jumped up joyfully hugging the young man. Apple invites her who is hated, feared and shunned by everyone to come with him?—though it feels strange because they just met yesterday, she knows, Apples are different from everyone. Pain and cold world, dark and lonely that there—Apel understand everything. This young man was not going to leave him like the people he had met all along.
Apple returned Regis' embrace. He easily lifted the small body and held it. Reversing his face staring at all the villagers, he let out his flat voice emotionlessly. "This boy will come with me. I won't stand idly by if you try to hurt her again."
All the villagers suddenly felt fear enveloping them as soon as they heard the sound of Apples. His voice did sound flat without emotion, but all of them could feel the seriousness and horror.
Fedrick, Calix and Map who saw what happened were unable to hide their shocked expressions. That cold, expressionless apple uttered such a sentence to protect the child?
Putting out the pillar of fire that surrounded him and Regis, Apple then stepped slowly past the villagers who immediately opened a path for them. No one else dared to attack or approach them. Cold sweat was flowing down, all the villagers could only stand in place without moving one bit more this young man in front of them was extremely frightening.
The apple that did not care about anything stepped out of the village field. Fedrick, Calix and the awakened Map immediately ran after him. "Wait, Apple!" calix yelled annoyed to see the young man again ignore them.
The apple walked towards the inn with Regis carrying it. The innkeeper was very surprised upon seeing the two of them. But he didn't say anything.
"Get me clothes and food for this boy!" Apple ordered the innkeeper and then pointed to a horse carriage beside him, "And I will buy the horse carriage."
Throwing something at the innkeeper, Apple walked towards the horse carriage and lowered Regis, while the innkeeper immediately ran into the inn preparing what he asked after seeing what Apple— threw a large ruby gemstone.
"Apel, can't you wait for us?!" calix asked irritatedly suddenly from behind Apple. Together with Fedrick and Peta, they walked towards the young man in black.
Apples don't reply.
"I think the Map is right" Fedrick agreed with what Map said. "There's no point in us staying here any longer."
"Gentlemen," called the Innkeeper who ran out from inside the inn while bringing new food and clothes to Regis. Approaching the apple full of fear, he handed what was in his hands to the young man. "Here, what do you ask for..."
The apple receives the new food and clothing and gives it to Regis.
"Let's go now, Calix, Fedrick, Apple" said Peta, who had finished tying the four horses to the chariot. "You all go inside, let me run this chariot."
Fedrick and Calix clapped their heads and rode in the horse-drawn carriage, as did Apple. The map whipped the four horses slowly and ordered them to walk. Accompanied by the sharp gaze of the residents, they finally left the village. A map that becomes a coachman can only feel very grateful because no one has stopped them.
After leaving the village of Sangrath, they directed the horse-drawn carriage towards the east. In the horse-drawn carriage, Calix opened a map to determine their route.
"We will take the sea route from the city of Denethor. Sea lanes will reach the Kingdom of Catax faster than land routes, so we can definitely catch up to them," Calix explained as he stared at the map. "—and from here to Denethor city we need about five days."
"Make it in three days." Sela Apple suddenly.
"What?? That's impossible, Apple!" surprised, Calix immediately turned to look at Apple, but also with Fedrick, because, there is no way they can travel that far in three days.
"I don't care!" reply Apple half yelling. "You want to continue this journey without rest or what? I don't give a shit! We must reach Deneothor Port City in three days!"
Apples felt very frustrated even though he did not show it. He disliked their journey which he thought was very slow and kept getting into trouble. Rue would be further away from him if their journey was still this slow. To be honest, he was eager to leave Fedrick, Calix and Map to look for Rue. He was sure, his journey would be faster if he was only alone. But—dia can't. He needed them to get information on Rue's whereabouts, and also he couldn't just leave Regis. He had invited this child to come with him—he had a hand in answer to him.
Calix. There was a little fear he felt as soon as he saw the attitude of Apple. The young man's eyes were invisible. But, he knew, behind the white cloth that closed his eyes, a pair of blood-red eyes were staring intently at him. Taking a breath, he could only agree to the wishes of the Apples. "All right.."
Fedrick and Regis who were next to Apple and Calix did not say anything. They just kept watching the two of them. Neither Apple nor Calix said anything else, so the atmosphere inside this horse carriage became very quiet and awkward.
Regis who could feel the bad mood of Apple, then let out a sound breaking the silence that existed. "Are you okay, Brother Apple?"
Apple did not introduce herself to Regis, but, from their conversation just now, she had obtained enough information about who was in front of her and where they were going.
"I'm fine, Regis," replied Apple as she patted Regis on the head. "No need to worry."
"Yes, Regis. You don't have to worry." Calix added with a smile, trying to melt the awkward atmosphere.
Regis turned his head to look at Calix for a moment and then threw his face away. "I didn't ask you," he said. "Don't get along with me."
Calix was silent. Stunned, he seemed unable to believe what had happened. Why is the attitude and manner of speech of this child so similar to that of Apples?
Apple still did not say a word, but his right hand was raised patting Regis's head as if he was praising him.
Fedrick who saw could not hold back his laughter. He knew, he wasn't supposed to laugh, but the stunned expression on Calix's face was now completely inviting his laughter. For Calix who was the only Prince of Arthorn Kingdom, he would have never expected to find another person who behaved like this to him other than Apples.
Calix who heard Fedrick's laughter could only grumble and sigh. She was not a small-hearted person to the point of not being able to accept another person who had this kind of attitude, moreover, Regis was a little child who had just experienced a frightening event.
The awkwardness in the horse-drawn carriage instantly melted away, and Fedrick and Calix were very grateful for that. The sudden existence of Regis would probably be quite helpful, since seeing Apples attitude towards him, they both felt that the young man had a pretty friendly side to the little boy—at least he replied when asked, wasn't he?
......................