12 Chapter 3 - New Days, New Home

Part 1

"Marikit!"

I shouted out from my sleep while leaning forward as I abruptly woke up. The young woman, who was sitting beside the bed, twitched, almost dropped the thin she was holding.

"Laum!"

The sweet child-like voice replied with relieved tone. There, I found myself sitting a soft, white bed and gone from a bad dream.

W-Wait, where I am?

The pixie went hugging my belly, rubbing her wet face against it. Because her arms were not that long, she was like a little girl trying to embrace a huge oak tree.

As for me, I was already dressed with an oversized white shirt and caramel-colored trouser. My usual, tribal clothes were folded neatly, which also seemed to be newly washed too, on the table beside the bed I was currently at.

The young woman closed the book on her hands as she saw me awake, already doing fine.

Before she stood up, she eyed the pixie, which was still crying and hugging on my tummy. The young woman made a fist wishing she were in my place. Her eyes were sparkling stars, full of jealousy.

Oh, I remember this young lady.

As I went recalling thing, as far I could recall, she was standing next to – His highness!

My hands were on my head play backing images. That's right, I was having a battle with his highness! I had so many questions why I was in bed. I had not expected that I would still be alive after his highness was punching me like a maniac. Nevertheless, I was relieved seeing the pixie again.

My head was still fuzzy and I could feel that my hands were still trembling. I could still feel how the heavy blows broke my ribs that the highness gave to me. Moreover, I had gone into a bad dream, a nightmare… the naga, what was that?

Yeah, it was only a bad dream.

I convinced myself when the pixie was hugging me, snorting as tears were still falling from her pretty face. She was here, and I was still alive. Y-yeah, it was only a dream…

The sparkling eyes of the young woman instantly vanished. Her senses came to her again when our eyes meet. I made her a wryly smile though she made a cold glare as a response.

When I started raising my right hand to ask her a question, she stood immediately, not wanting me to speak a word. Still, darting her cold stares at me, lingering. She turned her head away and walked out to the room without speaking a word.

The door made a click when it closes.

Eh?

Hmm, I guess it hurts when being treated with cold stares like that.

"Laum, anything hurts?"

Eh? Is this pixie reading my thoughts?

I deliberately shook my head and to stray away from the word 'hurt' I asked back the pixie. "You, are you okay?"

She gave a quick nod as she swiped her nose. "You?"

"I am" I patted her hair once and made a smile on her pretty face. Nevertheless, the pixie was still delusional. She asked nonsense question like this.

"Do you still stars?"

"Huh?" I tilted her head,

Where did that weird question came from? I gave a response by shaking my head again. Her face suddenly looked up at me. Her little hands were fidgeting.

Oh, something's coming.

"Um… Is Laum hungry?" She smiled at me like the usual smile she wears, which convinced me she was totally okay. Hmmm... I know where this conversation going… "If you're not, well, I am."

As much as I'd thought… Well, itdid not surprise me to begin with, knowing her gluttonous nature of hers. However, worrying about me a little would not hurt her, would it?

"I doubt sometimes if you're really worried about me?"

"O-of course I am!"

Oh, she was. I'm glad. I patted her head again. I see, of course she was. She pouted. "I am hungry, hey!"

For now, I should ignore her complaints. I needed to know what happen when I was out.

"How long I have been lying here?"

"Jeez! Forcing me to talk when my stomach is crumbling" She made her cheeks puffed like a balloon. "Well, you must feed me a lot after, okay? It goes like this…"

****

Locked down and unable to do anything, His Highness machine-gunned Laum with his skill, Molten-iron fist. Every blow was heavy and one hit from this burning fist means death. With the aid of his pixie, Laum focused his mana strengthening the defense of his bubble barrier. Since their mana were enough made them unharmed every time His Highness hit the barrier, his mind wandered as he was mulling of a way to escape. He knew their mana pool was nothing compared to an infinite ocean. They will be in trouble when their mana hit low.

This is bad. But, Great, Marikit was still invisible. Don't let yourself to be seen… However…

His highness paused and grinned seeing something on the translucent barrier.

The barrier's started to give in.

One decisive blow would be the grace de coup for the weakening barrier. His mana was running low. As a proof of it, in his sight, his highness doubled and his consciousness was fading, a mana deficiency's symptoms.

And as he had expected, soon, the bubble barrier broke like a glass.

The molten-iron fist cooled and vanished as his highness's hand turned back to normal, conversely, his eyes was still glowing hot red, hot as it would surely basking in pleasure of torturing the young Moro.

"No more tricks!" His highness said preparing a heavy right-handed punch.

"Bwaaah!"

Saliva forced its way out from Laum's mouth. His eyes widened when the punch landed to his upper abdomen. His mind went as clear as the day as he savored the intense pain and he grasped for breathing air when it left his lungs.

Nonetheless, his highness was not satisfied. He wanted some more. Therefore, he smashed Laum's dumb face and blood splattered. He grabbed Laum's collarless cloth, delivered another solid blow, and repeated until Laum's light finally began to shut down.

Blood stained Laum's favorite tribal cloth and his body was tortured, tattered. Violet spots almost covered his body and his eyes were weirdly swelling. His lips burst out and grinded. If this continues, Laum's would not endure this and surely, he would die. The tied tightly bandana loosened up, and fell from his head.

Images of his Father and Mother started to play on his mind, followed by his little sister while she listening the stories of his Nanang.

Missing… someone's missing... Ah, Marikit. Where is she?

In his final review and delusion, he smiled thinking - Maybe, she was playing outside.

Ah, I am dying, right?

Sorry, Papang, Nanang, I could not keep my promise.

As the curtains finally closing, a voice ringed between him and his highness.

"Please, Stop! Don't hurt my Laum anymore!" A pixie appeared and spread her small arms as he was protecting her beaten Laum.

Mari – Marikit….

From his surprised, his highness obeyed to the pixie's plea and he stopped.

"Please, don't" The pixie was trembling. Her eyes were soaked but she was unyielding, spreading her arms before the man with fiery eyes and guarding her Laum with her small body.

"A pixie, huh?"

His highness muttered. The other three people inside the hall, Johan, Gil and the young woman, were also stunned at the sudden appearance of the pixie. Surely, it was an extremely rare sight. Pixies, nowadays, were rarely seen due to excessive hunting for they were necessary in making good potion and sacred ritual and such. In this land, bumping a pixie was rare as being struck twice by lightning except if it was casted by a lightning-attribute user.

"Samantha!" As his highness called, the young woman faintly squirmed.

"R-right away, Father" The young woman attentively answered. She knew the reason for his urgent call. Despite immediately responding to him, His highness glared at her, made her shoulder stiffened as his glare reminded her of his rule.

"A-as you wish, your highness" She repeated her response, wishing that his father would overlook her little mistake. She bowed down in front of him while His highness giving her a stern look.

As she was lowering her gaze on the floor, she thought it was perfect hiding her dejected face. Her eyes were blinking rapidly, perhaps wet.

Sooner, she walked straight and passed her father, still face down, heading to the bloody mess, which his highness did. His Highness also walked away as if nothing happened. He approached to his two assistant, Johan and Gil, but he only glanced at Gil.

As if his highness transmitted some telepathic message, Gil drifted apart from his co-assistant and gave a polite bow to his highness. He turned his head to the young woman, who was currently looking down on an unconscious young man.

While the other assistant – Johan - followed His highness two steps behind. The two of them went out the hall using a door behind the stone throne.

"No, stay away from him!"

Marikit barked at Samantha's offers. The pixie rejected her healing, despite the fact that her healing was insufficient since her mana had dropped low.

The butler stood silently behind Samantha, waiting her to notice his presence. He predicted that Samantha would turn her head behind soon enough, requesting a push from him. Gil, doing his servant role, gave her a nod that mended the wavering confidence of the princess.

"On the second thought, let me do it"

Looking at the pixie desperate healing at the dying young man, she knew that it was not enough. She knew she must help her immediately before his condition worsen.

The pixie was also aware of that. She knew her healing was not enough and steeling her pride would take her only to nowhere. She unwound herself and her wings shrugged sensing no malice from Samantha's offer and made her approval when she nodded. She was wiping her eyes, and anxiousness clearly printed on her face.

Upon seeing her indecisive approval, Samantha's eyes sparkled and her face beamed with radiant smile. Samantha's uncheerfulness vanished instantly as the pixie accepted her help.

Without further delay, Samantha placed both of her hands above Laum while he was lying on the floor.

"Ironmelt attribute: Phoenix warmth"

Her hands glowed with warm red lights, curing the wounds and bruises of Laum. Her healing skill was proficient, unlike the pixie. Even the red stains on the clothes of Laum had vanished. His swollen face returned to its original image like nothing happened. While casting her healing magic to Laum, she unexpectedly looked at his face made her one eyebrow twitched.

Tsk! Why do I have to do this? We could just throw this thing here and ...shelter the pixie.

"That'll do." Samantha said, satisfied.

Now, Laum was as if he was just sleeping, she turned at the butler behind and gave him a nod.

The butler walked forward and attempted to carry Laum but –

"W-what are you doing?" The pixie protested.

"He must rest. His wounds were healed, his stamina and mana are still low," Gil was in monotone and lacked in emotions.

"…."

The pixie became silent because she knew what he said too. At this point, she could do nothing but to accept the help of the two.

"Don't worry. We will not hurt him, okay?"

Samantha's voice was a lot reassuring. She nodded again to the butler and he lifted Laum.

The pixie fixed her eyes while Gil was lifting Laum like he was a log. Her wings were flipping, trying hard not to fall behind. While the pixie was doing that, Samantha was also focusing on the pixie, obviously admiring the pixie.

The pixie followed Gil but she turned as Samantha called her.

"H-hey, wanna ride on my shoulder?"

She smiled like a child, expecting the pixie to say 'yes'. Nonetheless, the result of her effort was completely different from what she expected. Hearing the young woman's canorous voice that sent chilling to her tiny spine, the pixie felt nothing but to be suspicious. The pixie shook her head as hard as she could.

"A-ah, is that so?"

She was dejected again.

Marikit ignored her and left her for good.

As they reached the room assigned for guest, the butler, without consent, left the room after he laid him on the bed. The young woman said she was staying behind as she wanted to ensure Laum's condition, or so she told. Hearing this, again, pixie's eyes widened while she looked to the smiling face.

Pixies' intuition must not be underestimated and Marikit was not an exception, she was aware of the young woman's intention. The two of them stayed in the room watching the unconsciousness Laum. However, Marikit had another person to watch out. She sat on the chest of newly dressed Laum while she was on alert on the woman smiling at her. She had a fish eyes, unblinking and so wide, glaring at Samantha. The two of them were only staring at each other.

That's what happened. By the way, the butler was the one who change Laum's clothes. After dressing him, he left the room with hastiness as if he remembered something. His face was shocked. Definitely, there's a reason why he left the room immediately. He saw something into the room that triggered him. Something... Big and shocking.