Tales Of Darkness And Light
Chapter 48's

"What say!! Radiata City has fallen?!" calix shouted in disbelief.

Mire nodded her head. "Yes. The city of Radiata has fallen and Ormund's forces have now attacked the City of Cirrions. In addition, the Entaina Kingdom has also fallen into the hands of the Ormund Kingdom."

"What?!" Shouted Fedrick and Calix at the same time, while Lara who did not say anything could not hide her surprise.

Those who had made it out of the Capital Ioreth decided to temporarily hide themselves in the forest around the lost former city, Aureduil. Surrounding the blazing bonfire, Fedrick, Lara and Calix sit down to hear the Map, Mire, Vin and Van explain the current state of the Orsaland continent. Regis sat beside them accompanying Rue who was still unconscious, while Apples, he was not there because he wanted to clean himself and change clothes filled with blood.

"How could that happen? The Entaina Kingdom is not a weak kingdom." Fedrick was confused and in disbelief, as powerful as the Entaina Kingdom was, he knew clearly, therefore, how could the Ormund Kingdom possibly conquer it in this short amount of time?

"We don't know in detail how the kingdom of Ormund was able to conquer the kingdom of Entaina so quickly" Van said, staring at Fedrick. "And from the information we have obtained, the Kingdom of Ormund has now moved to attack the Kingdom of Crussader."

Fedrick was silent with a serious face about the new information he got.

"You need to know too, the Kingdom of Hirrim cooperates with the Kingdom of Ormund. Hirrim kingdom has sent its soldiers to attack the border between Arthorn kingdom and Hirrim kingdom," Vin added suddenly while staring at Lara. "I think it's only a matter of time before Hirrim's kingdom attacks Catax's kingdom."

Hearing Vin's remarks, both Fedrick, Lara and Calix did not say anything more. What Lara predicted was true, the Kingdom of Hirrim was actually cooperating with the Kingdom of Ormund. Why they were being held inside the Hirrim palace dungeon was not something strange anymore right now.

"I don't think we can be in this kingdom much longer." Mire said slowly. They all managed to escape from Hirrim's palace without much difficulty. As Mirthy restrains the Hirrim warriors chasing them, a secret route known to Mire and Vin manages to get them out of the palace. Then, with Peta and Van having been waiting for them along with the horse carriage not far behind the palace door, they immediately left the capital Ioreth as fast as they could.

There are no pursuers yet. However, Mire knew it was just a matter of time. King Arthur will definitely send an army to search for them.

"How did you know we were being held captive by King Hirrim?" Ask Calix suddenly.

"The day after you left. We have information about the fall of the Entaina Kingdom and the assault of Hirrim's soldiers on the border between Arthorn and Hirrim. We know, King Hirrim definitely can't let you go just like that, he will definitely catch you to be taken hostage." Clearly the Map answers Calix's question.

"Luckily, Mire and Vin alike did not get caught. We met in the capital of Ioreth and planned your rescue." Add the Van while smiling.

"Thank you." Calix smiles as well as Fedrick, while Lara remains silent as usual. However, he was also actually very grateful to them.

"It's okay," interrupted Mire who was embarrassed by the thanks of the three royal members in front of her. "Actually the one most deserving of that word of thanks was Princess Mirthy. Without him helping us, this rescue plan couldn't have worked."

Everyone there was silent as soon as they heard Mire's words. How's Mirthy doing now, is she okay? they don't know.

"I think she's okay" said Lara, then breaking the silence. "After all, she is the only Princess of the Kingdom of Hirrim, the younger sister of King Arthur as well as the only member of the Kingdom of Hirrim who mastered magic controlling the snow pride of the Hirrim Royal family."

"I think you're right, Lara." Fedrick muttered softly.

"Hopefully so." Calix added with a sigh. She never expected the famously shy princess would dare to go against her brother to save them. But, he also could not do much other than pray for his safety right now.

"Hmmn..." Rue's unconscious murmured from earlier quietly and opened his eyes.

"You finally realize you're stupid, too." Said Regis while keeping Rue. A feeling of relief filled his heart, for after all the girl was hurt by it.

"Rue, are you okay?" calix asked looking at Rue, while the others did not ask, but their eyes looked worriedly at the girl.

"I'm fine," Rue replied softly as she rubbed her eyes. Rise up to sit down, he looked at the others. "Where is this?"

"We are in the woods near the former lost city of Aureduil, stupid." replied Lara with an expressionless face. A feeling of relief filled him while making sure Rue was fine.

"That's it.." Gazing around him, Rue saw Fedrick, Lara, Calix, Regis, Mire, Vin, Van, and a short-haired bespectacled man he did not know. However, he did not see any Apples at all. Fear and panic filled his heart. "Where's the Apple? What the hell happened to him? Why isn't he here?"

Hearing Rue's question, no one answered him. Fedrick, Lara, Calix, Regis, Mire and Vin remember what happened to Apple in Hirrim's royal palace. What happened to Apple and its brutal attitude back then was not something normal and acceptable to common sense.

Van and Peta who were not at the scene back then were silent. They did not know what was happening, but seeing the body of the Apple that was full of blood as well as other strange attitudes, they knew something terrible had happened.

The fear and panic in Rue's heart grew bigger as soon as she saw the expressions on their faces. Without saying anything else she got up from her seat, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Where is the apple?"

Hearing Fedrick's reply, Rue immediately stood up and ran towards the lake without caring about anything else.

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The apple stared at his reflection from within the lake. Blood-red eyes, blood-stained face and body, anyone who saw it would be afraid and stay away from him. Opening his blood-filled clothes, he bowed his body. Both of his hands touched the cold lake water. But, he doesn't care. He wanted to cleanse himself immediately, even though he knew, the sin of murder he committed would never disappear.

"Apple!!"

The apple immediately turned its face staring at the source of the voice that called out its name. His blood-red eyes stared at the figure of Rue who suddenly emerged from behind a bush full of panic. Stunned, he did not dare to move and just stayed in his position looking at the sudden appearance of Rue. The guilt that existed had made him unaware of the approaching figure of the girl.

"Wait, Rue!" call Calix from behind Rue.

Apple's eyes could see Fedrick, Lara, Calix and the others chasing Rue. But, he still did not move.

As soon as he saw Apple, the feeling of fear and panic that Rue felt disappeared. Back running towards Apple while wiping away the tears, a wide smile decorated his face. "Apple!!"

Looking at Rue who was running over to him with a smile, Apple felt extremely claustrophobic. Rue had never changed, ever since they met until now. The girl was such a beautiful, innocent and holy figure. That's why it all hurts so much. They're too different. Her self that was so dirty, dark, and full of blood was simply not worth touching. The truth is, he shouldn't be next to the girl.

"Stop right there! Don't come any closer!" apple's order suddenly.

Rue was stunned to hear the orders of Apple, as well as the others. They all knew how important Rue was to Apples.

"A-apple, k-why?" rue asked stammered, tears flowing down his cheeks. He did not know why the Apples would not allow him to approach. Sadness and fear enveloped him. Is Apple angry with him? Doesn't Apple want to be next to her anymore?

Apples could clearly see the sadness within Rue's eyes as a result of his rejection. Pain and guilt filled him. Forever, he did not want Rue to cry nor grieve, he just wanted the girl to always smile, laugh with joy and—happy.

"I-I'm so dirty. You'll also get dirty if you touch me." replied Apple later. Rise up to stare at Rue, her voice trembling slightly as she desperately tried to control herself to remain calm.

Hearing Apple's reply, a smile re-expanded on Rue's face. The fear and sadness he felt disappeared instantly. Running towards Apple, he jumped to hug the young man tightly while laughing. "I don't care, Apple. I don't care how dirty you are!"

The apple doesn't move a bit. He just silently let Rue hug him. Rue had never let himself be this dirty since the first time they met, the girl was too innocent and did not know anything. Because of this, Apple felt a very tightness and pain in his heart. Is what he's doing right now? Can he touch her? Can he be next to her? If one day Rue knew who they really were and what he had done, would he still want to touch her like this? Will he hate her? Is he still willing to be next to her? Is he going to leave her?

"Apple, you're hurt..." Said Rue softly while letting go of her embrace. Staring at the face of Apple, he could see the tear wound on the young man's forehead. Apple's wounds had not yet healed, for he did not allow anyone to approach or heal his wounds when they had left Hirrim Palace.

Lifting both his hands touching the face of Apple, Rue wanted to heal the wounds present. However, before he did, Apples suddenly hugged him tightly.

"Apple!!" Call Rue surprised. His face flushed in the arms of the Apples. He did not know what the young man was thinking, did he not just order him not to touch him? Why is she hugging him now?

Apple didn't return Rue's call. He hugged her very tightly. He no longer knows what he should be doing now. Ever since they left the forbidden forest, he couldn't control the state of his surroundings anymore. Whatever the two of them experienced lately made him realize, he could not spare himself and Rue from the fate they had. No matter what he does, fate is always after them.

"Apel, are you okay?" tanya Rue was worried about Apple's uncharacteristic attitude.

Apple released her embrace and looked at Rue's face. He did not want to make Rue worry. "I'm fine. What about your wound? I'm sorry, I can't heal your wounds."

Rue smiled and raised both his hands touching the face of Apple gently."I'm okay, Apple. It is precisely you who are injured, and also healing wounds from a long time ago is my duty. That's the only thing I can do for you..."

Everything that was there except just being able to stare with a face was incompetent with what Rue was doing. Both of his palms that touched the face of Apple suddenly let out a white light and healed the wounds that there—Rue can do magic without circles and magic spells.

"Where are your wounds? Show me your back, let me heal all your wounds." Rue's orders were not aware of the shock of those behind him. Releasing their embrace, he turned the body of the Apple so that its back faced him.

All who were there could clearly see the birthmark of the wings surrounding a magic circle with a strange symbol in the center on the back of the Apple. Lara soon realizes the birthmark is similar to the birthmark on Rue's back, the difference is only the color and also the symbol in the middle of the magic circle. As for the Map that saw the birthmark, he was certain, he had seen the magic circle and the symbol. It's just, where?—dia couldn't remember it at all.

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