Tales Of Darkness And Light
Chapter 40's

The apple stood alone staring at the sea in front of him. The night sky made the sea in front of him like endless darkness. The sound of the waves sounding and the cold air blowing made it truly feel alone in this world.

Rue wasn't beside her, and she didn't know where the girl was right now, Apples really felt very frustrated right now. If time were to turn back, he would not have left Rue with Fedrick, Lara and Esthel.

Apple did not dare to imagine what would happen to her if she really lost Rue. In this world, she needs nothing but Rue, because that girl is everything—the only light in the dark of her life.

"Rue is always thinking of you," Lara's voice suddenly rang out breaking the silence. Walking slowly, he approached Apple from behind. "Even in a dream, he keeps calling your name."

The apple was silent, its red eyes fixedly staring at the dark sea in front of it.

"Not a day has he not mentioned your name since you separated. You should know that."

Apple did not know to be happy or sad when it heard Lara's words. He was happy that Rue kept thinking about it even though they were separated. However, once thinking of the girl's unknown existence, sadness and fear enveloped her.

Standing tall beside Apple, Lara stared at the dark sea in front with an expressionless face. "Tomorrow, we will head to Ioreth City, the Capital of the Hirrim kingdom. We are planning to ask King Hirrim for help in finding Rue. Although we don't know if they are ready to help or ti—"

"I'll go with you guys." Cut Apple. He will come with them to meet King Hirrim. He would force King Hirrim to help them find Rue if he refused. Just as long as he could find Rue, he would do anything.

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After sunrise, the members who were going to the Capital of Ioreth gathered in front of a horse carriage. They consist of Apple, Fedrick, Lara, Calix, Regis, Mire and Vin. Peta and Van remained on the seaboard and continued their search.

Mire and Vin were running the horse carriage at maximum speed, while the rest were inside the horse carriage and discussing their plans.

"We need around all day to reach the capital Ioreth" Calix explained as he stared at the map in his hand. "Until Ioreth, we must face King Hirrim immediately. I hope he helps us."

"You better pray the guards don't doubt our identity." Sela Lara is expressionless.

"Right, I hope the guards don't complicate us." Added Fedrick. The guards would definitely not believe them if they suddenly appeared in front of the palace and introduced themselves as the prince and princess of the neighboring kingdom without a bodyguard following them.

"Yes, I hope they believe..." Calix muttered slowly to what Fedrick and Lara meant. He recalled how Fedrick and Lara had difficulty in Radiata City.

Apple and Regis said nothing at all. The two of them just silently listened to their conversation.

Their journey went well. When night had come, they decided to rest and continue the journey tomorrow morning. They made a bonfire to warm their bodies from this cold night.

"I think tomorrow afternoon we have reached the capital of Ioreth." Mire.

"really. If we don't get into trouble." Vin Smile.

"The problem? What problems can we have?" fedrick was confused.

Vin laughed at Fedrick's question "It's like meeting a robber on the way."

"Don't scare Fedrick, Vin," hit Vin's head strongly, Mire turned her face toward Fedrick with a smile. "It's okay, Fedrick. If anything happens on our way, I'll protect you."

"Thank you..." Reply Fedrick quietly while forcing a smile. The feeling of frustration filled him, he was not so weak that he needed the protection of a woman, right?

"Only a robber is unlucky if he dares to attack us." Calix laughed while shaking his head. With their current group members, he doubted the robbers would survive if they dared to block their journey. Especially with the condition of Apples now. Calix knew that the Apples wanted to reach Ioreth as soon as possible. Although he looked calm, in fact the young man was not at all calm, he would definitely not let anyone stand in the way of their journey.

"Where are we now?" asked Lara then while staring at the map she had in her hand.

"We're under a volcano near the lost city of Aureduil." Answer Vin quickly.

"The lost city?" ask Regis who was silent.

"You don't know, Regis?" fedrick said surprised, because the disappearance of the city is something that has been highly debated until now.

"The city of Aureduil is one of the great and prosperous cities within the Hirrim Kingdom. Suddenly, however, one night thirteen years ago, the city disappeared without a trace with its inhabitants." Mire explained with a smile. Staring at Regis, he liked the golden-haired boy and the blue eyes which despite being very small but already very handsome.

"I didn't ask you." Regis replied coldly no matter the injured expression on Mire's face.

"When the city disappeared, the city's soil became dry like a long drought despite the rain, and also, there were no more plants that could grow there." Calix explained, while Mire can only lament her fate that Regis does not care about.

"Why?" ask Regis again.

Regis was silent on Fedrick's explanation. Slowly, he turned his head to look at the Apple beside him "You know about the city, Brother Apple?'

"Yes, I know." Reply Apple briefly. His face was expressionless, both of his eyes staring straight at the burning bonfire in front of him.

Aureduil City.

Regis's question is ironic for Apples. In this world, he is the one who knows best the city of reality of the lost city.

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

"We finally arrived!" calix shouted joyfully in front of the door of the capital Ioreth.

As Calix said, they reached the capital of Ioreth by day. However, they were very surprised to enter the city when they saw the houses and streets filled with flower decorations. The city that is already crowded is clearly more crowded and lively than usual.

"I remember! Today is the day of great celebration in the kingdom of Rohirrim. This town is so good." Calix's smile recalled the biggest celebration of welcoming the harvest season in the very famous Hirrim Kingdom.

"yes too! I almost forgot this day of celebration." Vin smiled as he scanned his surroundings which were filled with food stands.

"We need to get around this town! We mustn't miss this celebration at all." Added happy Mire.

"I don't care what this celebration is. We're not here to enjoy the celebration." Sela Apple suddenly. He turned his blood-red eyes that had been re-covered in white cloth as usual on Calix, Mire and Vin.

Calix, Mire and Vin immediately fell silent. They feel better not to be lulled into the atmosphere of this city before what their goal to this city is achieved or they will be doomed.

Staring at Apple, Mire and Vin did not understand at all why Apple closed its eyes. However, they also did not dare to ask, perhaps he just wanted to hide his unusual eye color.

"Come, we go to the palace." Lara led their entourage that had just stepped foot into the Ioreth Capital.

The lively and dense atmosphere of the city made them have to walk to the palace of Rohirrim. As they passed through the field in the middle of the city, they could clearly see a stage in front of them. The large stage looks very small because of their distance so far and the sea of residents and tourists who want to watch the show.

"The main stage of this celebration." Vin shouted happily as he looked at the stage.

"Can we just watch a little show on that stage?" Pinta Mire is hopeful.

"I think it's okay if we watch for a while" Calix said slowly while observing the stage in the distance. "King Hirim must also be in this field watching the show."

Apple did not say anything at all, once again, he turned his head to look at them Calix, Mire and Vin.

Sensing the gaze of Apple, the three of them instantly fell silent back not daring to make the slightest sound.

"Idiot." Lara muttered as she looked at Calix, Mire and Vin. He did not understand, why were so many people like this beside him?

"Stupid." Add Regis with an expressionless face.

Fedrick shook his head. "When did they realize, huh?"

With his eyes closed, Apple could not see the sea of humans ahead. However, he could clearly feel the aura of thousands of different people within the field. Stepping his feet, as he was about to pass through the field, he suddenly stopped.

In the distance, Apple sensed the aura of the very existence of someone it was familiar with in the thousands of auras that filled the field. Reversing his body facing the field, he desperately controlled his raging emotions and searched for the source of the aura.

"What's up, Apple?" fedrick asked as soon as he saw Apple's attitude.

"What's up, Brother Apple?" ask Regis.

Apple didn't answer Fedrick and Regis' questions. It made all the members of their entourage stop and look at him confused.

Running fast, Apples suddenly shot into the field and broke through the people crowding the stage. He paid no attention to the panicked cries of Calix and Fedrick behind him, nor did he care about the angry cries of the sea of people.

Apples can feel it. In the distance, in front of him was a very familiar aura to him. A very different aura and there was only one in this world, an aura that was as gentle and warm as sunlight. How could he possibly be wrong, this aura was the aura of the person who had always accompanied him for these ten years, he said, the aura of the person who was most important to him in this world—aura from the person he had continuously missed since they were apart.

"Next is a dance and song offering from Her Highness Princess Mirthy's close friend, Miss Rue."

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