Fate Breakers

Crisis

A new day has arrived. Riel and Seira immediately continued their journey on a blind morning. The piercing cold air pierced through their clothes accompanying all the way until the sun had shown itself completely.

"About 1 km we will reach the village of Vandkilder. It is a village famous for its water source. You'd better take a shower there, you smell like an Orc's armpit." Seira.

"How many days have you not been in the shower, huh?" Riel replied annoyed.

"Mandi? Elves have their own distinctive scent that makes us not smell like you even though we never bathe for life." Reply Seira proudly.

"really?" Riel raised next to her eyebrows.

"Just try it."

Riel stopped in front of Seira and clasped the hand of the Elf girl before her.

"Eh?!" Seira's face flushed.

Riel pulled Seira's hand and sniffed it.

Plakk!

Seira who was surprised by what Riel did reflex pulled her hand and slapped Riel in the face.

"Easter!" Ketus Seira's.

"Lohs?! You told me to prove it to myself, you idiot!" Riel replied while stroking her cheek which had started to turn red from Seira's slap just now.

"really?"

"You said 'try it' but you didn't take it either. What's wrong with smelling the smell of your hands anyway?"

"Hmmm... That's..." Seira's face turned red.

"We only met a few days ago. I-it's not polite to know!" Seira continued while turning her face away.

"Ohh so apparently. But you do smell good." Riel replied as she turned her body and walked back.

"I told you Elves have their own scent." Seira grew embarrassed and covered her face with the brown hood she was wearing.

"But you still have to take a shower. Although your body will not smell like me, cleanliness is still important to maintain. Just look at your own face, you look like the Minotaurus I fought back then."

"Yes fine."

"Who knew I'd turn to you if you took a shower?" Riel looked at Seira with her jaily look.

"I'd rather take a mud bath together*** than be liked by you, fool!" Answer Seira.

"It's a pity that you're prettier than Aira." Riel's face looked extremely disappointed after hearing Seira's reply.

"Stop teasing me, stupid!" Seira's face was like a water guava so shy.

No one has ever called her beautiful in her entire life. Even the adventurer who loved her back then never called her that. His heart was turbulent at this moment, his feelings were not rancid, his heart was racing, he was very confused right now.

 

They finally reached the village of Vandkilder. What Seira said about the village famous for its water source turned out to be different from what they see today. The village looks very shabby. The residents ranging from the modestly dressed to the luxuriously dressed all look dirty like they have never met water for a few days. Although their houses are much better than in the village of Peme, the state of the community is far behind.

"Sheira." Riel was confused.

"I don't know why this is the case either." Seira replied while looking around.

"It's better that we find lodging first, then find information about what's going on here." Riel.

As long as they were surrounding the village, almost all of the residents looked at them expectantly as if saying 'Finally there is someone who will help us' and that made Riel and Seira even more confused.

Riel approached a gun shop.

"Excuse me, I'd like to find an inn." Riel asked a young man with his long hair that looked very stiff.

"A lodge? It's at the end of this road, you just need to walk straight ahead." Answer the young man. His mouth opened slightly and then closed again as if there was still something he wanted to say but he just blurted out his intention.

"Thank you." Riel replied as she flashed a friendly smile to the young gun shopkeeper.

"Hey, Riel. You tau? He tried to say something but it didn't." Seira said as they had walked quite a distance from the gun shop just now.

"Yes, I know." Answer Riel.

"Something's wrong with the water source here." Guess Seira.

"Well, now we have to book a room first and then find out more information like I said." Riel replied as she was already in front of the wooden door of the inn they were heading to.

Riel opened the door. Now he could see a fairly large bar in front of him. Round tables with 4 chairs surrounding it fill the void of the room on the right. On the left is a cashier table, bartender and a large wooden cabinet with a variety of beers on display. Very comfortable place to stay and relax in the bar.

"ah! Welcome to Vandkilder Inn. Please sit wherever you like." Said a woman with her long, tangled red hair unkempt.

With her tiny body, the woman approached Riel and Seira who had chosen their seats while carrying a menu list board in the store.

"This is the menu list, sir." Said the woman while handing the menu list to Riel.

"Hmm, why is all the menu just food? and all dry food." Riel looked at the woman in wonder.

"Sorry for the shortcomings, sir. But Vandkilder has been in a water crisis for several weeks now. Let alone to bathe, drink even we trouble." Answer the woman while lowering her head.

"Even though Vandkilder is famous for its springs, but why is it like this?" Ask Seira.

"Am I allowed to tell you a little?" Ask the Woman.

"Could only. But it's best to introduce yourself and sit with us here, there's no need to be so formal." Riel replied while offering an empty seat beside her.

"I'm Sil. Hmm before that do you really want to drink now? Water is not here anymore but you can have a beer if you want." Answer Sil.

"All right then. Please get me 3 beers, Sil." Riel smiled excitedly when she heard the word beer.

"Three?" Ask Sil.

"Are you not going to drink? I'll pay your share if I have to." Answer Riel.

"Ah, no need. All right I'll bring it. Please wait a minute." Sil left the two of them and walked towards the cupboard that was filled with those beer bottles.

"What do you think happened?" Ask Seira.

"Well, we better listen to Sil's story first." Answer Riel.

Sil returned to them while carrying 1 large beer bottle and 3 empty glasses neatly arranged on a tray.

"Please." Sil placed his luggage on the round table that was in the middle of them at this time.

"You also have a seat, Sil." Seira.

"Thank you." Sil lifted a little of her long black skirt then sat on the still empty bench.

"I'm Riel. Hey, do you want to introduce yourself or do I represent you?" Riel looked at Seira with an annoying look.

"What's the deal with you, huh?" Answer Seira cuek.

Sil just closed his mouth, holding back the laughter from seeing these two teenagers so familiar.

"ah! Sorry Sil. I'm Seira, to be honest I was forced to follow this fool because even if he was stupid but he saved my life. But the fact that he's a fool can't be denied anymore, so be careful with him." Seira whispered a little at the last sentence so that Riel could not hear it.

"Ahaha all right, all right." Sil finally couldn't hold back his laughter.

"Hey, I hear you, you idiot." Ketus Riel's.

"WHERE IS IT!"

"NOT POSSIBLE!"

Riel and Seira answered Sil's statement together and turned their faces around afterwards.

"Haha. Can I start the story?" Ask Sil.

"ah! Youre right. Sorry, Sil. Please start." Answer Seira.

"About 2 weeks ago, the funeral guards reported a very strange incident to the Village Chief. All the tombs are still newly damaged, the bodies are not in the tomb. At first the Village Chief thought someone had deliberately dismantled the tomb and stole the body for sale of his organs. But, since that incident also the source of water here is decreasing. Everyone who had martial arts were deployed to stand guard every night. But, there was no strange movement for the next few weeks. Until one day there was a child who said that he saw 4 birds that were very large and had a body resembling a human. But, everyone thinks it's just a little kid's fantasy."

"Harpy?" Riel cuts Sil's story.

"Har- what?" Sil asked who was still confused as he had never heard of the name before.

"That's Harpy. He's a half-bird man who steals corpses and spreads disease outbreaks." Riel.

"That's... A fairy tale?" Sil asked in disbelief.

"No. They are real. At first I also thought such a creature only existed in my mother's fairy tale. But, I have met several times other than humans and animals in this world. Before I came here even I had a chance to fight against them. The Harpies." Answer Riel.

"There is no clear evidence. I'm sorry, but we weren't taught to believe such an absurd story. Moreover, I heard it from an outsider like you." Answer Sil firmly.

"Ohhh..." Riel took off her clothes and showed the scars on both of her hands.

Sil was speechless to see the scar shaped like a bird's claw so large in Riel's hand. While Seira turned her face reddened by seeing Riel's body which made her slightly tempted.

"I believe in you. Put your clothes on! Sorry for making you do it." Sil turned his face away like Seira.

"Well, I don't want to bother telling you what happened if you won't believe it yourself." Riel put on her black shirt again and gulped down a glass of beer in front of her.

"Basic show-offer!" Ketus Seira's.

"Huh?" Riel was confused.

"Forgetit." Seira sipped a glass of beer in front of him.

"So, what do you think the Harpies are doing?" Ask Sil.

"What's the source of the springs far from here?" Riel asked back.

"The source of the spring is on the hill behind this village. But no one is allowed there for fear of anyone contaminating the spring. There were also some guards stationed at the foot of the hill." Answer Sil.

"It looks like I'll have to go there later to check things out there." Riel.

"You said 'me' right? Then I don't have to come with you." Said Seira while exhaling a sigh of relief.

"Yes. I checked his condition, you beat the Harpies. How's it?" Riel smiled cunningly.

"I'm coming with you." Seira puffed her cheeks in annoyance.

"It seems like there's nothing I can tell you anymore. I'm going back to the cashier's desk. Is there anything to order again?" Sil Saying.

"Fried chicken 2 servings." Riel replied while pointing her two fingers.

"Thank you, Sil." Seira.

"I'll bring it soon." Sil returned leaving the two of them and walked towards the kitchen.

 

After finishing the meal, Riel and Seira ordered 1 room for them to rest. Sil escorted them to a room on the second floor. The room was quite large with two mattresses in it and a window leading directly to the hill behind the village.

"Ah, fuck! I'll have to hold your stench until this thing's over." Seira complained while lying on her bed.

"Am I really that?" Ask Riel without feeling guilty.

"Very! Even more than you can imagine."

"But you seemed so comfortable embracing me that time." Riel smiled wryly.

"I-it... I just don't want you to fall because it would be a real hassle if I had to fly and catch you." Seira turned her face which started to turn red.

"I thought you were happy to be able to hug me." Riel continues to tease Seira under her blanket.

"No way I'm happy! I really wanted to let you go that day." Seira Protest.

"Haha."

Riel was very happy to tease Seira because every time he teased her, the girl's face would turn red and she just turned her face away.

"By the way, I'm curious about one thing." Riel's tone turned serious now.

"What's that?" Ask Seira.

"The magic of telekinesis." Reply Riel while frowning her forehead.

"A magic that can make you control things remotely?" Guess Seira.

"Yes, more or less like that."

"Hmm.before let me ask you, Riel." Seira said, getting serious.

"Hmm?" Riel raised next to her eyebrows.

"Where did you learn magic?" Seira asked with a sharp look.

"I just cast a spell that I remember from my mother's story. Then, subconsciously it turns out that I actually cast magic." Answer Riel.

"Then do you know the spell for telekinesis magic?" Seira continued her other question.

"Hmm.. if not mistaken" Riel tried to recall the spell.

"-Actie." Riel finally remembered the spell.

"I don't know what you're gonna do with that spell. But, there's no harm if you try it here first." Seira.

"All right, I'll try."

Riel opened her palm. Focused his mind all over the surface of his hand and cast a spell.

"Actie!"

A yellowish light flashed brightly from Riel's hand. However, he felt a strange sensation from his hand.

"Pump?" Riel was speechless thinking about whether he made a mistake with his magic.

"Me-mesu-ah~" Seira covered her chest with both hands.

"Eh?" Riel immediately canceled her magic.

Now Seira looked at Riel with a cynical look full of hatred. He got up from his bed without saying anything and then walked out of their room.

"Se-ira! Wait!"