Tales Of Darkness And Light
Chapter 5's

"I'm sorry, we've really been troubling you." Fedrick truly apologized deeply when they had been inside the cave where Apple and Rue lived.

"It's okay," Rue replied with a smile. The girl had calmed down and was not frightened anymore even though Apple was not beside her. "Look easy."

"We're leaving this forest today." Sela Lara who had been silent eating her breakfast in the morning quietly.

"Eh! You guys going today?" asked Rue surprised.

"Yes" replied Lara, who was still eating breakfast. He did not allow the slightest look at Rue. "We must reach Radiata City as soon as possible."

"Radiata City? That fast?" ask Rue again. Her green eyes immediately glazed over at Fedrick and Lara. They'll be separated soon.

"Yes. Therefore, can you show me the way out of this forest, Rue." Fedrick's smile, though honestly he doesn't want to leave the forbidden forest so soon. Meet with Apple and also Rue—he still wants to be together and get to know them further. There was something else and caught his attention as he stared at the figure of the black-haired youth as well as the golden-haired girl. However, Fedrick also knew, what Lara said was true; they had to reach the city of Radiata as soon as possible.

"I don't know the way out of the forest" Rue said slowly. A guilty expression filled her pretty face. "The tah— apple"

"You can come with us." Cut the apple suddenly. The black-haired youth stood in front of the cave entrance. A white cloth had been re-bound shutting his pair of blood-red eyes.

Apple's sudden offer surprised Fedrick and Lara. Did they not hear wrong? The young man finally wants to talk to them? They can come?—does that mean Apple and Rue also go to the city of Radiata?

"really?" ask Rue happily. Running small towards Apple, her pair of sky blue eyes sparkled with happiness. "We're going to Radiata??"

The apple did not reply, he just nodded his head. Rue then laughed and hugged the young man tightly so excited. A moment later she let go of her embrace and ran to hug Lara. "Lara, we'll go to Radiata City together."

Staring at the face of Rue who was hugging him with a smile, Lara did not until her commanding heart let go of the girl. He admitted, he liked that innocent smile like a child. Resigning and letting Rue hug her, the black-haired girl felt a little uneasy now. Not against Rue, but with himself. Why was he so weak towards Rue? Even against both his parents and elder brother alone, he was nothing like this.

Fedrick laughed at Rue's attitude. Inwardly, he felt very happy that he could still be with Apple and Rue. Gazing at the black-haired young man who was still standing in front of the cave exit, he smiled. "Thank you very much."

The apple was silent as usual.

"Why do you guys suddenly want to go to Radiata city?" tanya Lara suddenly looked at Apple. He was still motionless due to his position which Rue tightly hugged.

Once again, Apple remained silent as if what Lara said or asked was not captured by her sense of hearing. Reversing his body, the young man then walked out.

"I'm sorry about Apple, Lara, Fedrick. Maybe he's not used to your presence yet" Rue said suddenly. He let go of his embrace on Lara. However, a second later, a wide smile flashed across her beautiful face. "But, believe me, Apples are the nicest people in the world."

Fedrick and Lara said nothing. Turning his gaze to Lara, Fedrick seemed to ask for confirmation on the black-haired girl. There are too many puzzles about these two people they just met. Living in the forbidden forest, the power of the Apples, then; aaron's reaction and speech upon seeing the blood red eyes of the young man. Both Fedrick and Lara felt that Apple was willing to leave this forest suddenly like this was none other than because of its existence which Aaron knew.

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When Apple, Rue, Fedrick and Lara left their cave dwellings for Radiata City, the sun was still not over their heads. Apples only take a few minutes to pack the necessary items to start the journey.

Clothing, food, medicine and other necessities were packed with the black-haired young man meticulously and effectively into a leather backpack that was now on his back.

The apple gives Fedrick and Lara a dark blue coat each, while she and Rue use a dark brown coat. Fedrick and Lara were quite surprised to receive the coat, but they said nothing but thank you. They need a coat to continue their journey.

Walking through the quiet forest, Apple took the lead in front. As usual, the young man silently mute a thousand languages. Rue, Fedrick and also Lara who followed from behind did not speak much either.

Fedrick then looked at Rue who was observing their surroundings with an enchanted look. Braving herself, she started the conversation. "Rue, can I ask you something?"

"Yes?" rue's smile on Fedrick.

"How can you live in this forest?" Fedrick was very curious how Apple and Rue could live in this forest. From the items in the cave where they live, it is clear that they have long been in the forest that no one has dared to enter so far.

Lara who was walking beside Fedrick was also staring at Rue. Same with the blond-haired young man, in fact, he was also very curious. How could Apple and Rue live within this forbidden forest both? Then, what does Rue have to do with Apples?—they both look clearly not brothers.

"How can Apple and I live in this forest ?" Rue's innocence was full of confusion.

"Yes." Yeah." Fedrick nodded his head.

"Why? Is it weird we live here?" ask Rue again. Confusion filled him with strange questions.

"Yes, very strange." Sela Lara fast.

Rue scrunched his forehead. He doesn't know how to answer the question. Ever since he came to his senses, he had already been in this forest with Apple. How does he explain that? A moment later, he turned his eyes to look at Apple. "Apple.." he called slowly hoping that the young man would be willing to answer the question.

"I don't know," replied Aprl flatly. He did not let his face back. "Don't ask me."

The answer of Apple made Rue sigh. Confusion and guilt filled his face for not being able to give answers to Fedrick and Lara.

"It's okay, Rue," Fedrick could see Rue's confusion and guilt, and he didn't want to burden the green-eyed girl."You're not obligated to answer my question."

Lara said nothing. His black eyes were directed towards the sturdy figure of the young man in front. Rue who knows nothing, neither himself nor Fedrick believes. But, the Apple that doesn't know anything? They both don't believe. The quiet young man was too mysterious.

Trying to change the mood that suddenly felt awkward, Fedrick changed the subject. "You've been to Radiata City, haven't you, Rue? What do you like the most there? I heard, Radiata City is a beautiful city."

Fedrick and Lara are stunned to hear Rue's unexpected answer. "You never get out of this forest?" ask Fedrick slowly.

Rue nodded his head, "Since I opened my eyes until now, I have always been inside this forest with Apple," the golden-haired girl then smiled widely. "And you both need to know, you're also the first person I've met all along."

Fedrick and Lara's footsteps stopped. They could not hide the feeling of surprise and also bewilderment in the heart. Always in the woods? The first person he met? What does the golden haired girl mean?

"What do you mean, Rue? Menga—" asked Fedrick. However, his question was cut off by the sound of Apples from earlier walking in front. "Rul."

"What's up, Apple?" rue asked puzzled by the Apple that had now stopped walking and looked at him.

"Whisper," replied Apple flatly. "Don't talk anymore."

Rue's confusion instantly turned into annoyance at Apple's flat answer. Stepping a foot closer to the black-haired young man, he opened his mouth to protest. "I'm not noisy, Apple!"

Apple paid no attention to Rue who looked annoyed. The direction of the black-haired young man's gaze was then fixed on Fredick and Lara. He said nothing; remained silent. However, both Fredick and Lara suddenly felt goosebumps.

Behind the cloth that closed the young man's eyes, Fedrick and Lara knew, there was a pair of blood-red eyes staring intently at them. Eyes that warned them not to ask any further.

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As night falls, Apple, Rue, Fedrick and Lara are resting. The darkness of the night with the moonlight as the only illumination made them decide to continue the journey tomorrow morning. The cold air that blew and also the silence of the forest, inevitably, kept them on their guard. Making a campfire, Rue, Fedrick and Lara sat around him to warm themselves, while Apples, the young man stood leaning against a tree not far from them.

Lara who was staring at the bonfire in front of him then started the conversation. "This forest is weird."

"What weird?" rue asked confusedly.

"When I first entered this forest, I still saw animals. But, since yesterday, I haven't seen him again." Obviously Lara's flat. The silence of the forest enveloping them, inevitably, made him feel very strange and unnatural.

"You're right, Lara," roused, Fedrick looked at the black-haired girl beside him. "I haven't seen an animal in this forest since yesterday."

Lara then turned her face to look at Apple. "Are you sure this is the right way out of the woods?"

Apple did not answer Lara's question. They walked west, which meant going deeper than this Forbidden Forest. The black-haired youth said this was the fastest route to reach Radiata city, and those who knew nothing about this forest could only believe it. But now, there is doubt in my heart.

"This is the right way, Lara. Trust the Apples. Apples are never wrong," Rue interrupted suddenly. A moment later, he immediately laughed. "If you two find it strange why there's not a single animal you've seen since yesterday, it's because you're near an apple."

"Because of her?" fedrick and Lara asked at the same time. Confusion filled their faces.

"Yes," Rue nodded her head with a smile. "Since the past there has never been an animal that dared to be near an Apple. All the animals will run away as soon as the Apples come."

Rue's explanation only made Fedrick and Lara even more confused. The two of them turned their faces to look at the Apple that was behind. However, as usual, the young man remained silent as if what Rue said just now had nothing to do with him.

Apple's silence made Fedrick feel bad. The black-haired youth was the most reclusive person he had ever met. Asking Rue to go deeper into what he said just now in front of Apple— was so disrespectful, right?

Looking back at Rue, Fedrick changed the subject, "You guys have been living in this forest for a long time, right, Rue? It seems like this forest is not at all as dangerous as people tell it."

"What do people say about this forest?" asked Rue curiously.

"This forest is famous for ancient magic traps and magic creatures." Lara replied, her black eyes staring at the bonfire.

"Then they're all wrong big time," Rue's laughter heard Lara's reply. "During this forest, I have never encountered any magic traps or magic creatures. This forest is not dangerous at all."

Fedrick and Lara thought back to this Forbidden Forest upon hearing Rue's laughter. What the girl said was not wrong, this forest was completely harmless as people said. There were no magic traps or magic creatures in it, because during this journey, they had met nothing.

"I think you're right, Rue." Smiling Fedrick agreed to what Rue said.

However, all of a sudden, Apples walked up to them. The black-haired youth stood right beside Rue in silence. His cloth-covered eyes glanced at the large trees in front.

Confusion filled Rue, Fedrick and Lara.

"What's up, Apple?" Nodding his head at Apple, Rue asked quietly.

A loud noise suddenly sounded. Rue, Fedrick and Lara reflexively stood up. Their eyes were focused on the direction the commotion was coming from. The bonfire they lighted makes them still able to see even though the darkness of the night envelops.

The sound of commotion they heard, was none other than the noise of some large fallen tree trunks. Something big was approaching them quickly.

"What it—" Fedrick said was never resolved when he saw what then emerged from behind a large tree in front of him; a giant spider.

"W-how can.." Rue stammered out his voice. Her green eyes were wide-eyed in disbelief at what she saw. For many years living in this forest, he had never encountered such a spider. This forest is always calm and peaceful, right?

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