Chapter 4:
Lena's Adventures.
Served by a rotting man, the two sat on the bar.
"What brings you here, friend?" The Black clothed man said.
"I never accepted that title."
"And I won't wait for you to." The man smiled to himself.
Octan went silent, finding the exchange tiring.
"So, what is it?" The man asked.
"What about you?" Octan said, moving the discussion away from himself. "Weren't you hunting the Consortium?"
"Still am," The man said, sipping his drink. "This is just a... Detour. Hopefully."
Octan fell silent once more.
"Conversing with you sure is a hassle," The man said.
"Then don't."
"Now that's a bit selfish. If not for each other, who else do we have?"
Octan didn't reply.
The man put down his drink, gazing at it, his eyes in deep thought.
"Well, I see you have gained your own company."
"Do not be mistaken," Octan said. "I see none of them as a companion."
"How harsh, I would bet they both do."
"The child certainly doesn't." Octan snorted.
"Hmm? Family problems? I had sworn you would be the doting father kind..."
"I'm no father..."
"That's cruel."
Octan fell silent again.
The man sighed, exasperated.
"So, are you going to tell or not?" The man said. "What brings you here? I would've never taken you for the venturing kind."
"Needs. That man, he is a client of mine. He offered quite the sum for a quick trip through the null zone, some childish dream of his or something."
"That so? And, you are that tight?"
"Less tight, more greedy. I cannot downplay the sum he had offered, and it has only gone up since our departure."
"In pursuit of retirement, then? I can't imagine you laying back in some outskirts."
"I won't. I will probably just add it to the rest of the catalysts and great cores."
"We need to talk about that, too. Just how long will you keep hoarding? You might have not noticed, but I have, Octan. Orphanages, villages, towns, hell even this place. You could put those to great use if you won't for yourself."
"I'm in no obligation to, Yaqob," Octan said. "Nor will I ever be. May they rot in their grounds, both my riches and them."
"Then, why?" Yaqob said. "Why the errand? Don't you find it hypocritical? Both your motives and the purpose of the man you are serving?"
"You..." Octan trailed off, his words swallowed in his throat. "You wouldn't get it." He mumbled.
"What do you think of this, Lena?" The man asked. "A village! An entire village! In the null zone!"
Lena kept quiet. She didn't find any words to speak, so she didn't. Humouring the man hadn't crossed her mind.
"Even this won't break your silence, I see..." The man sighed disappointed.
Having split up, Lena and The man went around the explore the village as Octan stayed back to catch up with his friend.
...Or so the man had played the scenario.
Wanting to explore the new wonder in solitude, he had pushed Octan into staying back. Octan had denied his request and even raised the suggestion of leaving him as a danger to the client. Instead, the man insisted profusely. In the end, a compromise was made; Lena would stay around the client to keep an eye on and call for Octan if needed.
Walking around the fogless village, The former adventurer gazed in awe, appreciative of the world around him. Lena followed to his side. She too looked around her, not in search of anything, but rather to fill her empty mind.
As Lena put a hand over the band of her ponytail, a kid stood in the side of her vision.
Turning to face the sudden intrusion, she saw a kid peeking over a corner.
Lena stood still, ignoring the client as he continued pressing forward, and gazed at the kid.
With only the right side of his head in view, he gazed back at Lena.
Lena stepped forward, approaching the kid. As if a trigger, this had caused the kid to shrink back and hide behind the wall of the torn-down shack of a "house." The kid peeked over once more only to immediately jump back behind his corner, Lena had gotten much closer than he had expected.
The kid, having calmed down, peeked over once more, only to have Lena stare at him point blank. Her face was blank, as if that of a docile animal, it simply looked at him, with no anger, hate, amazement, or sorrow. Simple neutrality. A neutrality that held a gentle air to it. The kid shook in place as Lena studied him. her eyes darting up and down, she studied his body.
Peculiar, it was. Lena has been around her fair share of the world, this one was definitely not one she had seen before. The boy stood a miracle that he was able of such.
His leg ended with no foot, but rather a lump of meat. One of his arms too ended with no hand, but rather a lump of meat with fingers sticking out of it, his other missing halfway down.
His left shoulder appeared to have what seemed like sprouts growing out of it, with them connecting to the back of his neck. Then his left eye, his skin covering over where its eyesocket should've been, was burned.
Finally, at the top of the kid's scalp, Lena could see a deep scar on the kid's scalp. His skin was dug into with grotesque imagery of red blood clots forming around it. While it might've been easily hidden with a layer of fair hair, the scar had taken all the hair around it, exposing itself for the world to see.
Lena studied the kid, unable to understand how she felt about his profile.
The kid fidgeted in place, unable to cope with the girl's interest.
"H-hello... Are you our visitor...?" The kid said, his words hesitant.
Lena stopped her eyes, gazing at the kid's mouth. His lips slightly parted, one of them was torn on its right, exposing his teeth.
Then raised her gaze, meeting the kid's eyes.
Her train of thought was simple, The barman had called them visitors, and she was there; such she was a visitor.
Lena nodded.
The kid lit up, his eyes beaming with joy.
"Thank you, almighty!" The kid praised, retreating as he faced upwards.
Lena cocked her head, then spoke.
"Who are you thanking?"
"He who watches us all, of course!"
Lena cocked her head further.
"What do we have here?" The man said, appearing from behind Lena.
Lena turned around facing the client. She looked up at him and remembered she was supposed to keep an eye on him.
"Don't worry," The man chuckled, noticing the sudden focus in Lena's eyes. "I won't run away, I have no reason to."
"You too, a visitor are you?" The kid asked the intruding man, his previous wary of Lena not to be seen.
"K-Kid..." Instead of answering, the man was taken aback. He too studied the kid's person. "What happened to you...?" He said, frowning.
"Are you not?" The kid looked up at the worried man, unable to understand the question.
The man gazed at the sorry state of the kid, it hadn't left him in complete shock, as the bartender too had been in a terrible state. Rather, it was the fact that such innocence could too be spoiled.
"Yes, I'm a visitor too." The man said, attempting to force a smile.
The kid smiled, beaming with happiness.
"Come," He said, taking hold of Lena's hand. "My parents would love to meet you!"
The kid rushed, dragging Lena alongside him.
"Wait!" The man said, following the two kids.
Lena followed submissively, finding no reason to dig her feet into the ground or tell the boy to stop. The man was following, so she wouldn't have to worry about the task she was left with.
Lena looked down at her hand, the grotesque mesh of meat somehow grasping her wrist, she felt... repulsed.
"Here," The kid said, pushing through his supposed house. "They will wake up shortly, just wait!"
Having been let off, Lena looked around the house, not much of a surprise to find on her person. To her, this felt more like a house than anywhere she had been in the last 2 years. On the other hand, the nobleman tiptoed around, disgust expressed in every action he took.
"Asleep?" The nobleman questioned. He must've wanted things hurried, Lena thought.
"Yeah," The kid answered, rummaging through the rubble in search. "Except for Old man guest-taker, It is forbidden to stay the night."
"Forbidden...?" The nobleman questioned.
The kid nodded in reply.
"If let's say," The man said, his voice weary. "You didn't retreat... What happens then?"
"Punishment," The boy said, emphasizing the word. "The Creator will punish you."
"...What?" The nobleman murmured to himself.
"Then why are you up," Lena suddenly declared.
"Oh, Kids are allowed to stay up! That's why I was playing with Belica just a moment ago." The kid said, his disoriented mouth smiling, torn lips curling.
Lena replied with a simple nodding hum.
Looking around, she fell to her legs, sitting with them crossed.
"Oh, yeah please, do sit down. I wouldn't wish to hurt or inconvenience the precious visitors."
The man forced a smile, looking around disgust apparent in his face. And then forced himself downwards, sitting completely still on his legs.
Across from the two, the kid too sat his legs crossed, smiling broadly at his two dear guests. Now and then he would turn around facing a certain room within the rundown abode. Lena could guess where his parents rested.
"They are awake!" The kid suddenly exclaimed, jumping. He spun around, throwing the weak door open.
Lena and The nobleman exchanged glances.
Soon enough, the two could hear footsteps approaching them.
"...Is that so, Lotty?" A gentle voice came to. Much gentler than any Lena had ever heard. It held a sense of warmth, a sense of attraction. As if a home one would long for in a voyage, the voice grew, the image of its owner portrayed in light to Lena.
And, the light was tainted. Turning the corner, Lena's image had been shattered.
Three people came to view, the kid that had led them, and two adults. All withering away from life all the same. The Father, His right eye replaced with a growing sprout reaching to the top of his forehead. His left cheek was missing, revealing his exposed gums, and ridden teeth. His left ear too, chipped away at. Down to his arms, he was completely missing his fingers in one, and the other was too a lump of meet with fingers protruding all over.
The mother, on the other hand, was in a much better condition when compared to the two. While both son and father seemed to be missing parts, or have unnaturally grown parts, of the human anatomy, the mother was visibly fine. Not only that, but most importantly, seemed in a well physical state. A bit too well.
She too was missing an eye for sprouts and had branches circling the back of her shoulders, but other than that, she was fine.
Another point Lena had made note of was that while the kid and his father looked completely malnourished, bones almost peeking through their shrinking skin.
The first to break the silence was the kid's father.
Kneeling to the ground, he prostrated himself to the two. "O, great creator. Thank you! Thank you for this gracious gift."
"E-excuse me..." The man said, standing. "I think there might've been a misunderstanding."
"Oh no," The woman said, too attempting to kneel but failing. "There is no misunderstanding. It is without a doubt, that you two are from his holiness."
The man turned to Lena, clearly discomforted.
"H-hey... Look, We are just... adventurers? Driven by curiosity only, we seek no worship." The man said to the awed people.
"Lotty," The mother said, her face to the ground not facing her child. "His greatness asked for the visitor this day, could you please guide him?"
"Of course!" The kid gave a cheery reply. "Come, mister!"
"His greatness...?" The man questioned, his voice... different. "...Come...?"
Lena turned, the change in the man's peaking her interest. She could see, his previously unaccepting expression, now changed. In it's stead, a grin. The side of his right lip, the one in Lena's view, curled in excitement.
The adventurer turned, his childlike expression, beaming with supposed joy.
"Lena..." He said, accepting the words he was about to spew. "...Tell sir Octan, I will be right back..."
The man stepped forward, the boy smiling at him.
"Take me there," The retired adventurer said. He patted the kid's head and stepped out alongside him.
Lena kept sitting, indifferent to the situation. She had forgotten about her purpose and suddenly remembered. She jumped up, attempting to get away, but a sudden call stopped her.
"Not you," The calm, gentle voice called. "His greatness only asked for the visitor, he hasn't asked for all of you yet."
The woman raised her head, facing Lena with a warming smile.
"I was told to keep an eye," Lena said.
"His greatness will only help," The man said, too raising his head. "Do not worry, visitor."
"I'm Lena," Lena said.
The pair of them chuckled at her sudden introduction.
"And I'm Lora," The woman said, then nodded to the side. "And, my husband over here, is Moro."
The man stood up, stepping towards Lena.
"Why don't you let us treat you, great visitor?" He said, kneeling and putting a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"...Let me ask Octan," Lena said.
"O...ctan?" The man asked, "Would that be another visitor? If so, please bring them over. It is your kind that has blessed us, and we would do anything to return the favor."
Lena nodded and spun around.
Lena walked back, taking it at her own pace. Having seen the light for the first time in 2 days, Her sense of curiosity had peaked. The village was finally in full view, all of its decaying residents and landscape.
It was neither a calming, nor foreboding scenery. To Lena, it was just a scenery.
Passing through, using nothing but her vague memory of the left and right paths they had taken, Lena had run into someone.
"Oh, sorry kid," The stranger said, ruffling Lena's hair. "Didn't see you there, apologies." He laughed looking down at the child.
"Where is the bar?" Lena asked.
"The bar... hmmm..." the man mused, a hand to his chin. "There... Maybe?" He pointed down the ridden path.
Lena's gaze followed the man's finger and then turned to him. He dressed conspicuously. Dark-patterned white clothes under a dark cloak, Iron gauntlets that covered his arms elbow down, and a sword handle peeking from within his cloak.
"Hmm?" The man hummed, eyeing Lena. "What is it, child?"
"Are you a villager?" Lena asked.
"Me? No, not at all. A passerby, that's all. Or, as they would call me, a visitor. And, you?"
"Visitor."
"Hmm... Figures. You wouldn't ask me for directions otherwise, wouldn't you?"
"No."
"Hmm, and why are you here? A spiritual journey?"
"No."
"Looking for treasurer?"
"No."
"In search of love?"
"No."
"Hmm, not many words leave that mouth of yours."
"No."
"That wasn't a question..." The man chuckled.
"Well, you go ahead. I'm taking my leave as well. May we meet again one day, child who doesn't talk." The man said, walking away.
Lena watched the conspicuous man disappear and then spun around following his directions.
Finding the familiar-looking sign, Lena stepped in.
"Ain't it Octan's little daughter!" Yaqob claimed, approaching Lena.
Lena faced him, raising her head as he closed the distance.
When none was left, he reached out both his hands and pulled her up.
"I bet Octan never carried you like this, did he?!" He said.
Lena, suspended in the air by the man's strength, turned to face Octan, still sitting at the bar table.
"Hey now!" Yaqob sarcastically shouted. "Don't you take your eyes off the one carrying you!" He spun around playfully. To his disappointment, no childish expression left the child.
"You really are father and daughter..." The man claimed. Disappointed, He brought Lena down.
"I'm not her father." "He is not my dad." Both of them asserted in union.
Octan turned to them, "Where is the client?"
"They took him."
"They... took him?" Octan was unable to process The simpleness of Lena's words.
"Yeah, and then invited us for breakfast. They told me to call you." Lena faced the giant, bear of a man. "And, you."
"'And you...'" The man gave a soft chuckle.
Lena nodded, unable to read the tone of his words.
"Any idea where they took him?" Octan asked Lena, hurrying towards her.
Lena shook her head.
"Yo---..." Octan sighed.
"Excuse me, great visitor. But, if you may. Could I interrupt?" The bartender said, his sprouts-grown mouth blurting out words.
"Go ahead," Octan said, allowing the man his words.
"Could I ask, great visitor, who was it that offered you the meal?"
"Lora and Moro," Lena said.
The man smiled gently, "Ah, I see, yes. Lora must've made it back. Moro had suffered the last year without her, and a child to raise. It's good to know she is back. No wonder His greatness had asked for the Visitor."
"You know something?" Octan asked the guest-taker.
"But of course, great visitor. I must take care of all visitors until his greatness' call. But, I wouldn't advise against visiting Moro's house. It will be an experience of great value, for both you and them. You are free to do as you please, until his call of course."
"Octan," Yaqob called. "I believe we should go. Something has been bugging me the entire time I've been here. Let's see what the little one has been invited to."
"...Sure." Octan accepted.
Lena was taken by surprise, for the first time she had seen Octan go along with someone's wishes without any seeming benefit to himself.
"Well," Yaqob said, smiling at Lena. "Why don't you lead the way?"
Lena nodded.
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