The Story of the Wind Wanderer
Border Pearl #117

The fireplace has been made with piles of firewood in the middle of a very dark and dense forest. Eugene appears to be sound in his warm sleeping bag, while Aaron and Alaia are still awake for a third of the night before morning, as well as Altezza. The black-haired man sat on a large piece of wood lying around the fireplace, and looked agitated by himself. Alaia, who was almost always looking at the man, chose to approach him and asked, "are you not sleeping?"

Altezza smiled, shook his head and replied, "well, I suddenly find it hard to sleep."

Alaia chuckled small and smiled sweetly. The sight of the gray-haired girl then shifted towards the sky tonight which looked a little cloudy. Still with a smile on her face, the woman said, "sleeping in the middle of a forest like this is difficult, let alone we never know what is behind the darkness of the forest," looking at the forest around him.

From the far side, Aaron leaned against one of the trees, and quietly listened and monitored Alaia who was busy talking to Altezza there. Altezza himself realized it - it felt like he was being noticed by something terrible.

"But you still have to rest, because we will walk a long way again" continued Alaia, ending by looking at the face of Altezza who sat next to him and smiling at him.

Altezza nodded in understanding, smiled and said, "thank you for reminding."

A moment later Alaia decided to rest, she moved to her warm sleeping bag which was not far from Eugene, and immediately wrapped her body in the sleeping bag. Altezza and Aaron are still awake. Aaron, who had only been monitoring from afar, now decided to approach and sit right next to Altezza.

The atmosphere was very quiet, only the sound of crickets and animals in the forest, and the sound of leaves rubbing against each other due to the cold night wind. Between the silence of the night, Aaron invites Altezza to have a little chat in the third tonight.

"Can't sleep yet?" the first question Aaron asked Altezza.

"That is," answered Altezza briefly with a downward glance, looking at the bonfire that was still burning until the sound of crackling burning wood was heard many times.

The blonde-haired Aaron looked at the bonfire before him and spoke, "sorry if I make you uncomfortable because I've been watching you since we met."

"I just don't want us to let alone Alaia being with the wrong person" Aaron continued, glancing at Altezza who was sitting beside him, and then smiling slightly after he finished speaking.

With a calm and relaxed attitude Altezza smiled, "it's okay, I feel it's a natural thing because you guys only knew me a while ago."

Aaron's attitude which initially seemed stiff and cold, slowly changed to be more relaxed. The conversation between the two of them not only arrived there, it still continued to discuss some things about each other, until completely forgotten with time.

***

King Aiden and his army were already in the region or the border from the morning, and built several guard posts guarded by witches' squads that had been divided. Residents of several villages that live near the bay were confused because the arrival of the thousands of soldiers from the royal capital. But their confusion was answered directly by King Aiden who chose to speak in front of his people about what happened.

All the villagers of about 300 were gathered on the coast of the bay, and it was there that King Aiden spoke of what was happening in the South without any cover-up. The fear, the worry, both of these disturbs the feelings of everyone who hears, let alone they know the news of what is happening in the South from the mouth of the king himself.

"What about us?"

"What is our fate?"

"Will there be war?"

Whispers rang out among the group of villagers after King Aiden delivered a few things before them. To quell the fears and anxieties of his people, the king said, "I will move you to the Anai Valley in the Zephyria Region, where it is a safe place, safer than the current Pearl Region."

"Safety throughout the trip will be guaranteed, so you don't have to worry ...!" king Aiden continued, then glanced at his confidant Weiz who was standing not far beside him.

One of the men raised one hand, and the other immediately pulled over to make room for him. He was a white-haired old man, and he seemed to be a respected person by the people of the village in Pearl Bay. King Aiden was happy to give the middle-aged man a chance to speak.

"I'm sorry, Your Honor. What about our residence? Comfort will be very important, especially we are not only made up of adults, but there are also many women and children." The middle-aged man spoke, bowing his gaze as a sign of his respect for the king.

King Aiden seemed to be smiling faintly with a look at everyone before him. What the man said was true, he could see there were many children and some were babies. Their comfort is a priority.

"There is no need to worry about that" King Aiden stepped up to the man, before saying, "I have prepared more or less the basic needs needed, as well as supplies for your journey to Zephyria."

Not only was the middle-aged man smiling and happy, but all the villagers gathered on the shores of Pearl Bay felt the same way. Representing his society, the middle-aged man lowered his head again and said, "thank you very much, Your Majesty. May nature and the wind protect and take care of you."

After the conversation, King Aiden approached Weiz and immediately told him to prepare everything. Not to forget he also divided the troops who will carry out escorts along the journey to the destination. Of course he wants his people safe, and to arrive safe.