Tales Of Darkness And Light
Chapter 36's

Rue ran while observing his surroundings. As far as his eyes could see, there was only—darkness. Fear enveloped his heart, he did not know where he was right now. Constantly running, suddenly his eyes caught the figure of someone standing in front. With all his energy, he ran towards that person. The fear in his heart dissipated and a happy smile expanded on his face as soon as he saw the figure of that person. Despite only looking at his back, he knew who it was.

"Apples!" call Rue happy.

The apple turned its face back to look at Rue. However, he did not give a reaction. Looking back to the front, he walked away.

"Apple! Wait!" call Rue to panic.

The apple doesn't look at his face anymore. Continuing to walk away, he seemed as if he had not heard Rue's call.

Rue ran with all his might chasing after the Apples, tears streaming down from both of his eyes. However, no matter how fast he ran, Apple was not overtaken by him at all.

"Apple! Waitaminute! Don't leave me!!" rue shouted with all his might. The figure of the Apple getting away from him, overwhelming fear filled him.

"Apples!" Shouted Rue while opening both of her eyelids. Tears flowed down her cheeks and her body trembled in fear.

"Calm down, you're okay." Said a girl while hugging Rue and trying to calm her down.

The warmth of someone embracing her made Rue wake up. Looking around, she realized she was in a large and beautiful room. The room was white with some beautiful furniture neatly arranged.

Dreamlike.

Rue realized, just now it was a dream. But the dream felt very real. What's more, the dream was the same dream he had seen before he, Apple, Fedrick and Lara left the forbidden forest. Trying to calm himself down, he convinced himself the dream would never come true. Apple has promised it will not go anywhere, Apple always keeps its promise—Appel will never leave it.

Sensing Rue who had calmed down, the girl who was hugging him slowly let go of his embrace. Looking at Rue's face, he smiled gently. "You okay?"

"Eh! I-I'm sorry, I must have surprised you." Rue's face reddened in embarrassment, and looking at the girl in front of him, she smiled as well. The girl in front of him was very beautiful. With her black wavy hair and blue eyes—she was the prettiest woman Rue had ever seen.

"It's okay" the beautiful girl shook her head with a smile that never disappeared from her face. Thank goodness you're sober."

"Conscious?—Ahhh!" rue shouted suddenly and surprised the girl in front of him. He remembered the incident he had experienced. The ship he, Lara, Mire and the others boarded was caught in a huge storm on the third day of their voyage to the Kingdom of Catax. He who tried to help fold the sail of the ship was thrown out of the ship due to the crashing waves. In the ocean where the storm raged, he was unable to do anything and started to lose his consciousness, then after that—he had no idea anymore with what happened next.

Staring at the girl in front of him again, Rue asked softly. "Where is this?"

"You're in Aule Village now. I found you stranded at sea this morning." The girl was slow.

"Thank you for helping me, emm..." Confused, Rue did not know how to summon the helper.

"Mirthy. My name is Mirthy." The girl introduced herself.

Rue immediately replied to Mirthy with a wide smile. "Thank you, Brother Mirthy. My name is Rue."

"Just call me Mirthy, Rue." Mirthy's face reddened quickly, she was completely unfamiliar with the 'Sister' call Rue had used.

"alright. Thank you, Mirthy." Repeat Rue again with a widening smile.

Mirthy who saw Rue's smile came smiling. This golden haired girl in front of him was really sweet, usually she would be very nervous if faced with an unknown person. However, not knowing why, she felt very comfortable while being next to this girl even though they had just met.

"Is there no one else stranded besides me, Mirthy?" ask Rue again.

"Emm, there's absolutely no one else besides you, Rue." Answer Mirthy quickly.

"That's it..." Rue muttered softly. If only he was stranded, most likely the ship they boarded would not have sunk. Lara, Mire and the others must be fine. But, where are they now?—dia had absolutely no idea how to contact them.

"R-rue, where are you from and where are you going? I'll help you contact your family or friends. J-if you don't mind..." Mirthy hesitantly offered help upon seeing the confusion on Rue's face. There was anxiety in his heart, what if he would be branded too meddling in the affairs of others because of his words just now?

Surprised, Rue looked back at Mirthy expectantly. "really?"

Mirthy nodded his head.

"Thank you, Mirthy." Said Rue happily and hugged her.

Mirthy's face flushed red as soon as Rue hugged. She did not expect Rue to embrace her at all, and also, relief filled her. "S-sama-sama, Rue."

"Daughter."

"I know..." Reply Mirthy slowly.

"Daughter? The palace? Roach?" rue asked confusedly.

Staring at Rue, Mirthy stammered back introducing herself. She was afraid that the attitude of this girl in front of her would change if she knew who she really was, but, she also knew, she could not keep it a secret. "My name is Mirthy Adelia Hirrim—a-I am the Princess of Hirrim Kingdom, Rue."

"You're a princess?" asked Rue again surprised. "Then do you know Lara?"

"Without? You mean Princess Lara of the Kingdom of Catax?" Mirthy answered with a surprised question.

"Yes, that's right!" laughing, Rue felt very relieved because Mirthy turned out to know Lara. "He's my friend. I got separated from him when the boat we were boarding was caught in a storm. Can you help me call her, Mirthy?—tell her I'm okay."

Mirthy did not expect Rue to know Lara at all. He had met Lara several times, although he never spoke to her. However, looking at Rue's excited face, Mirthy knew, she couldn't possibly lie, she must have really known Lara.

"All right."

"Thank you, Mirthy." Rue's smile was wide. However, a moment later the smile disappeared replaced by doubt. "Emm, Mirthy, can you help me contact someone again in the city of Cirrions?"

"Cirrions? You mean the City of Cirrons in the Kingdom of Arthorn?"

Rue nodded his head.

Mirthy smiled. "Well."

"Thank you Mirthy!" rue shouted happily and hugged her back. He was overjoyed, because with Mirthy's help, he could tell his current location to the Apples.

......................

Rue and Mirthy did not stay for long in Aule village. Not long after Rue regained consciousness, they continued on their way to Ioreth, the Capital of Hirrim Kingdom. Mirthy actually wanted to postpone their trip because Rue had just regained consciousness, she felt that Rue still needed a break. However, Rue rejected her by saying she was fine. Rue did not want to stay any longer in Aule Village, he wanted to reach the Capital of Ioreth as quickly as possible, because that way, he could send a message to Lara and Apple.

Using a large and luxurious horse carriage, as well as the escort of ten soldiers, their journey went smoothly. Together with Rue, Mirthy was very happy. He rarely gets along with someone because of his shy demeanor and easily nervousness. However, Rue did not make him nervous. The girl's cheerful, friendly, and warm attitude really made her very comfortable.

"When are we going to reach Ioreth's capital, Mirthy?" rue asked while looking out of the window of the horse carriage. As far as his eyes could see, he found no sign of a city.

"Maybe around night, Rue."

"Night, yes..." Rue muttered softly while sighing. However, suddenly his eyes caught a strange sight in front of him through the window of the horse carriage.

In front of his eyes was a vast piece of dry land. There was no grass or trees growing on it, on the thing around their chariots, grass and trees flourished.

"It was the former city of Aureduil, the lost city." Said Mirthy suddenly. He could see the confusion on Rue's face looking at the dry land ahead.

"The lost city?" rue asked confusedly and turned to look at Mirthy.

Mirthy pecks his head. "Yes. Thirteen years ago on that land stood the City of Aureduil, a very large and prosperous city. However, one night, the city suddenly disappeared as if it were swallowed up by the earth, as did all the inhabitants of the city."

"Gee!" rue was surprised.

"No one knows what happened to the city" Mirthy continued, his blue eyes staring at the affluent city whose loss remains a mystery. "Since that time, the land of the former Aureduil City had become a cursed land. No plant can grow anymore, and also, the land is always dry as if it had a long drought despite the rain."

"That's it.." rue muttered softly and looked back at the land of the former City of Aureduil. But, looking at the land, he felt familiar. Rue sure, had seen a scene similar to the scene before him just now. Soil that remains dry despite rain, land where no plants can grow on it. The only difference there was was that the land he saw was not this wide. Merely, he could not remember where he had seen this similar scene.

As Mirthy said, they arrived at the Capital of Ioreth at night and directly entered the palace. The completely exhausted Rue did not pay attention to his surroundings anymore. He did not enjoy the slightest night view of the bustling Capital Ioreth.

Arriving at the palace, Mirthy immediately ordered a lady-in-waiting to escort Rue to the guest room to rest. He knew that girl must be very tired by now. Rue had only come to his senses this morning from the calamity he was facing, and without sufficient rest, he immediately continued on his way towards the capital.

In the room reserved for her, Rue paid no more attention to anything and threw her body on the bed. The comfortable and soft bed made him feel very sleepy. A sweet smile flashed across his face as soon as he thought he had made it to Ioreth, the Royal Capital of Hirrim,. A feeling of joy and pleasure filled his heart, he could already tell his location to his friends, especially to—Apel.

Apple's smiling face flashed in Rue's mind and made the smile on her face even wider. Closing his eyes, he then let himself sleep in his peaceful sleep. "Apple..."

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