Reborn As A Haier-Elvian: The Blood Hunter And The Warlock (Replace To New Account)

Chapter 15 "The Meeting of Destiny"

Some time has passed. The pain in the head has subsided little by little. No longer as painful as before, my consciousness returned slowly. Sprawling the night sky with starry stars, the foliage moved as quickly as it fell from a waterfall. The surface on which I lay repeatedly swayed violently.

I spread my eyes around. Dozens of boxes and wooden baskets neatly arranged. Only one box near me was falling apart and spilling its contents.

Not wrong again, I was still in the cargo hold where I fell.

When you try to wake up, the pain comes back. The reflex of my hand immediately held onto my head, until the pain gradually disappeared on its own. I sat in one corner. This cargo wall is quite high, even though I still can not see the rider. The open roof made a cold wind envelop my body. I shiver in the cold. Then pull a cloth cover from the top of a wooden basket to keep the body warm.

Again I looked carefully at myself. In addition to making sure all parts of my body were still intact, I found my short bow broken. Maybe I was overwhelmed when I fell. Similarly, some arrows are there, until only a few pieces are left that can be counted by the finger.

I put my head up. I don't know where I'm heading, all I can do is wait until this cargo stops. I can't just jump off the top of a fast-moving cargo. Or my body will be seriously injured. I dropped my eyes on the wooden floor. Drowning yourself in the sea of memory. Last time I remember, Dimas was trying to chase this cargo. About what he's doing now? Is he still chasing this cargo as much as he can?

But it seems impossible. Only a crazy person would do that. It was impossible for him to trouble himself to that extent. He is the kind of person who lives simply. Recalling while hunting some time ago, the man tried to lure the jungle tiger with the rest of his dinner bait. Hoping luck would bring the tiger into his trap. I swear, it's a big deal.

That's how he is. Always put everything together. At most this time he returned to the headquarters and thought I would go home by myself. But deep down inside, I don't know why I hope his excessive anxiety is what's happening right now.

Honestly, I'm scared.

I want to be saved by him now.

*************

Time passed when I fell asleep. This cargo has stopped perfectly. I rubbed my eyes, then blinked them repeatedly. I put my head up. The morning sky has arrived. The sunlight gently hit my face. Caressing with warmth like I was giving me strength.

A moment later I heard the conversation of the people outside the cargo hold.

"Hey! Don't fall, you fool!"

"Sorry, sir!"

The boisterous voice of the crowd sounded loud. Similarly, the sound of footsteps, metal twangs, and other cargo items that seem to be around here. Makes the atmosphere of this forest become crowded.

"Quick! Unload your cargo and put it on those Elvian trains, or they won't pay us!"

The words of one of their leaders sounded, making me scowl. Elvian? Wait, wait, wait! If not mistaken, Dimas said they were a trading group from Sigrotia Iuna Utara. Did they infiltrate the Kingdom of Lurivia to transact with the Elvians?

When I was pensive, a sound of footsteps approaching shocked me. I immediately stood up, my instinct reflex telling me to immediately hide. Then I deftly removed my broken short bow to the corner of the cargo. Not forgetting to return the cloth I used as a blanket, to the wooden basket to cover it.

This cargo doesn't have much room to hide something as big as me. Once someone comes in here, I'm done. My eyes ran around. There was a wooden barrel that was quite large and looked solid. Without a second thought, I opened the lid of the barrel and hid inside. Damn, this barrel is filled with some sort of wet pickle. As a result, my whole body is wet and smelly with a fermented liquid that is very acidic.

"Duh! Why the hell, I'm so fucking shit?" I swear in my heart. If the situation were better, I would be angry.

By the time the footsteps were right outside the cargo hold, I had already sealed the barrel back. This wooden barrel is so tight, I really can't see anything coming out. It's really dark in here. The thing I'm still grateful for is the remaining air space I can use to breathe and hear.

"Geez! Why is my kargoku falling apart like this?" shouted one of the traders. From his heavy voice, it seemed like he was a middle-aged man. It invited a few others.

"You're really fucking shit, Old Man!"

"Maybe something fell. It's your own fault that you left your car roof open, Old Man!"

"Eat him, don't miss the convoy, Old Man!"

"Stop blaming me, Chickens! Don't you know any manners? Now, help me unload the cargo that's still intact!"

The men then got into the cargo hold and began to carry the goods. I immediately gasped. Panic if they find me in this barrel. I don't know what they'll do to me later. Faced with lawbreakers like them, I must prepare to face the worst situation.

Every second seemed to be walking slowly as the men brought out wooden boxes and baskets containing merchandise. The sound of footsteps of one of them approached. Heart's sniffing. My chest feels tight. Wish he'd ignore this barrel and let me in here. But it's impossible. Because a second later, he tried to lift the barrel I was hiding in. I almost screamed when he almost dropped this barrel.

"God! It's heavy on this thing. What's in this barrel, Old Man?"

"That's the best pickle from my plantation. The price is very expensive. Just be careful if you drop it!"

"Damn! Oi! Hurry and help me, you lazy pig!"

"Ah, fine! Waita minute!"

This cargo felt almost destroyed when the Lazy Pig entered. I don't know how heavy this guy is. The entire cargo swayed with each step of his foot. I almost screamed again as he lifted the barrel. If I had not closed my mouth with my hands, my whereabouts here would have been known.

The man nicknamed the Slacker Pig was hauling the barrel with myself in it out of the cargo hold. I waited anxiously for him to lay this barrel on the ground. After that he went away. I don't know what's going on outside. I can't just use my Super Indra either.

But all I know for sure is that this is not the right time for me to come out.

The situation out there still seemed to be bustling with merchants and Elvians. I knew there were some people around from the long-ear people, because their conversation was in Elvian. Since coming here, I don't know why the difference in language in this world is not a big problem for me. From the beginning, I understood all the languages in the world.

"It seems like this is everything," said one Elvian.

"Then pay them and come back soon. I can't stand it anymore if I have to linger with lowly creatures like them."

"Rome back?" my question is in my heart.

Not yet had my curiosity answered, the barrel where I hid felt back moving. Not because it was transported or carried by someone. This movement is softer and more stable. Referring to the words of the previous merchants, it seems like I was in an Elvian horse carriage.

My face was pale for a moment. Then blame yourself for getting stuck into this damn destiny. Sweat pours from my forehead. This barrel feels increasingly claustrophobic. If this continues, I will definitely be carried away to the Elvian territory. My path to escape would be even more difficult if that happened.

I don't know what's going through my mind, I use Indra Super to observe the situation around me. I managed to see the entire contents of this horse carriage. This vehicle is larger than the previous merchant cargo. Able to hold a lot of stuff in one go. The barrel I was hiding in was located in the middle of the cargo hold. Overwhelmed by a few small wooden boxes blocking my exit. It takes a lot of strength to get rid of it.

Then I looked more widely out of the train. There were a dozen Elvians escorting a troupe of five horse carriages. The unique thing about this horse-drawn carriage is that they do not curb towing horses. Just attach the rope to the horse's body. They also did not break down the body of the horse to make the animal walk. Just need to be ordered, the horses immediately understood. I changed my eyes to one of the Elvians. He looked old enough for the size of Elvian. He may have reached a thousand years old. Look at his sharp eyes. I felt his gaze piercing my heart as he suddenly looked towards me.

I stopped my Super Indra.

"Stop!" his orders. The sound of his shoes sounded heart-shaking as soon as he stepped down from the front seat of the horse carriage.

My heart stopped beating when he opened the door. I held my breath, pretending to be an inanimate object to fool her. But that didn't stop him at all. The old man went inside. I desperately held back my Esze existence and aura. My chest is deflating. My face may be turning blue by now.

But I have to hold him. I don't know what that guy did. It seemed like he was observing the carriage load closely. I obviously knew he was in the carriage because of his great presence. A second passed like a century. A minute is as missed as a millennium. The more I survive, the more I forget the time that has gone on.

"What's up, Captain?"

"none. Maybe it's just my gut feeling." Then the old man's voice moved away, followed by the sound of the car door closing. "Speed up the train! We need to get to town as soon as possible."

The horse-drawn carriage moved forward again. I took a lot of breath. Feeling insufficient, I hollowed out the barrel with a small dagger I attached to the waist. Make air circulation through small gaps and let fresh air in. The incident made me panic half dead and sweat. These wet pickles actually make this barrel hot. I flicked my hand to my neck.

"It seems impossible to escape Elvian," I murmured. "It's better to wait for the right time to escape."

About an hour later, the train stopped. The sound of the train's door was loud when it was wide open. From the small hole I made earlier, I saw the shadow of the Elvian army charging in. They started moving the cargo in the train to another place. I'm starting to fall into this barrel. Feeling indifferent about where they're taking me. Last time I found out, some Elvian guys took me in a wagon.

I'm snuggling in a barrel. Keep your head down and hope this day passes. I can sneak out of the Elvian territory and return to my warm room. I think it's better to be beaten and scolded by Grussel than to be caught in this situation. At least the pain and fear can quickly disappear. Not like now who doesn't know when this misery will end.

I don't know how long I've been in this narrow, sour-smelling wooden barrel. It may have been a few hours. Both legs that I bend to tingling and cramps because of it. About thirty minutes later, I realized the barrel had stopped moving completely. I don't know where those people put it. It seems that the Elvians have left me here alone.

I dare not move. Five minutes passed. After making sure there are no more people passing around here, then I ventured to use Indra Super. Projections in my mind describe this barrel being in a dark room. It looks like a warehouse. I concluded it after seeing the pile of stuff that was piled up.

It was fortunate that the wooden barrel I was hiding in was not overstressed with any other items, so I could easily open the cover of this barrel. I'm getting out of this barrel. Of course because I can't stand the smell of those pickles anymore. I leaned my back against the wall, then straightened the two trembling legs.

My whole body and clothes were wet and smelled of pickles. Even though I had already wiped it with a basket cover cloth, the smell still did not want to disappear.

"That's so! I don't think this can be lost if I don't take a shower" I quailed with a huff.

With a pungent aroma like this I could be the attention of Elvian who has a super sharp sense of smell. Looks like I'll have to get rid of this disgusting sour smell before I sneak out of here.

The time has come, the time has come. I also had enough rest. It's too risky to linger here. The Elvians might come back here again to supply the goods to the warehouse. To cover up the sour smell in my body, I slipped a cloth. Don't forget to erase my tracks so that Elvian doesn't feel suspicious if anyone has been here before. Then sneak away from the back door.

Hal yang selanjutnya kulihat, sangat membuatku takjub. Ternyata gudang tempatku tadi berada di atas sebuah pohon setinggi ratusan meter. Para Elvian ini memanfaatkan pepohonan hutan yang memiliki diameter super besar dan tinggi mencapai awan. Mereka melubangi pohon dan membuat ruangan-ruangan di dalamnya. Seperti rumah, sekolah, restoran, kantor, barak prajurit, dan hotel. Mereka juga membuat jalan untuk pejalan kaki di batang pohon. Berada di jalan ini membuatmu seperti melayang di atas langit. Mirip dengan skywalk yang ada di atas gedung pencakar langit di dunia asalku. Ada juga anak tangga menuju ke ruangan yang berada di bagian atas atau bawah batang pohon. Untuk mobilitas yang mudah dan cepat, jembatan gantung dibangun antar pepohonan.

Serius, ini benar-benar keren. Akhirnya aku melihat sesuatu yang benar-benar berbau fantasi lainnya di dunia ini setelah Esze.

Orang-orang berlalu-lalang di jalan. Semuanya adalah Elvian, tak ada satu pun manusia di sini. Tapi kehidupan di sini mirip seperti di kota Glafelden. Sebagian dari mereka ada yang berdagang, atau membuka kedai dan restoran keluarga, anak-anak kecil bersekolah di ruangan di dalam batang pohon yang paling atas, ada juga pegawai yang pergi bekerja di kantor dengan seragam bagus. Ini semua sama persis dengan kehidupan manusia. Cuma yang membedakan hanyalah tempat ini terlalu menakjubkan.

Lihatlah! Dari atas sini kau bisa melihat suasana kota yang sangat hidup. Di bawah sana ada sebuah tempat yang cukup besar dan luas. Sepertinya itu adalah panggung pertunjukan. Di tempat itu ada sekelompok Elvian yang beratraksi, disaksikan penonton yang duduk melingkari panggung. Suara riuh sorak sorai penonton dan tepuk tangan bahkan bisa terdengar sampai ke atas sini. Sepertinya penampilan kelompok itu sangat hebat. Kalau saja aku bisa lebih santai di kota ini, aku pasti akan turun ke sana dan menonton pertunjukannya.

Tapi aku tak boleh lupa dengan tujuanku. Meskipun kota ini sangat menakjubkan, aku tak boleh terlalu terlena. Ini adalah wilayah Elvian. Ras lain selain mereka dilarang di sini. Aku pasti akan ditangkap bila sosokku yang sebenarnya ketahuan. Dengan kain yang kuambil di gudang sebelumnya, kubungkus seluruh badan dan kepala, hingga hanya menyisakan wajahku. Kain ini bukanlah pakaian jadi yang nyaman, sehingga membuatku mau tidak mau harus terus memeganginya, agar tak tersingkap dan memperlihatkan perbedaan warna kulit dan rambutku yang mencolok dengan mereka.

Langkah kaki kecilku meniti jalanan yang mengitari pohon raksasa. Orang-orang di sekitar beberapa kali melihat ke arahku, lantas menutup hidungnya dan merutuk.

"Bau sekali gadis itu!"

"Apa dia tidak pernah mandi?"

"Sayang, cantik-cantik tapi bau!"

"Jangan dekat-dekat dengannya!"

Jujur saja aku tak tahan dengan semua kata-kata itu. Karena mengingatkanku pada masa kelam ketika aku dirundung oleh kakak kelas.

Ucapan mereka dalam bahasa Elvian membuat semuanya tambah buruk.

Aku mempercepat langkah. Mengambil jalan yang sepi agar terhindar dari orang-orang. Setelah beberapa menit terlewat, aku sampai di jalan belakang sebuah restoran. Saat pertama memang terlihat sangat hebat. Tapi bila semakin lama, jalan layang ini akan membuat pusing dan mual untuk orang-orang yang fobia ketinggian sepertiku. Kali ini, hal itu mengingatkanku saat tiba ke dunia ini dengan terjatuh dari atas awan.

Perutku mual. Aku ingin muntah berulang kali tapi tertelan kembali. Kepalaku selalu berdenyut setiap kali melihat ke bawah. Aku menyandarkan punggungku pada dinding batang pohon. Keringat dingin yang membasahi punggungku membekas pada kain yang kukenakan. Kakiku tak kuasa berdiri. Tenaga seperti hilang dari seluruh badan.

Namun aku harus kuat.

Aku harus tetap bergerak.

Aku harus segera pergi dari sini.

Berbekal pikiran yang sudah kutanamkan ke dalam otakku, aku mampu memaksa tubuh ini untuk terus berjalan. Menyusuri jalanan lengang di atas ketinggian ratusan meter. Terus mengambil anak tangga yang mengarah ke bawah. Tujuanku saat ini adalah segera turun. Lima menit setelahnya, kepalaku menjadi pusing. Meski telah mensugesti untuk tidak memandang ke bawah, tetap saja pada akhirnya aku melakukannya.

Dengan susah payah dan memakan waktu cukup lama, aku akhirnya berhasil turun ke bagian tengah batang pohon. Setelah harus melewati ratusan anak tangga serta beberapa jembatan layang. Tempat ini memang masih tinggi, tapi setidaknya tidak terlalu membuatku mual dan pusing.

Aku tiba di belakang sebuah ruangan yang sangat besar. Lebih besar dari ruangan lain yang ada di hutan ini. Hal yang mengundangku kemari adalah aroma harum yang keluar dari salah satu jendela yang tertanam di batang pohon. Menciumnya saja sudah membuatku lapar. Aku baru ingat kalau sejak semalam, perutku belum terisi apa pun. Pantas suara keroncongan sudah keluar dari sana.

Mungkin aku bisa mengambil sedikit makanan dari situ. Mengetahui makanan hangat berada begitu dekat membuat semangatku kembali lagi. Tiba-tiba saja kakiku menjadi kuat untuk berjalan ke bawah jendela, kemudian mengintip ke dalam. Benar saja, aroma harum itu memang berasal dari hidangan yang berada di atas meja. Ruangan ini sepertinya kamar tidur. Ukurannya besar sekali dan memiliki perabotan mewah di dalamnya. Lengkap dengan ranjang besar berkanopi. Sepertinya ini kamar milik orang kaya, atau bisa jadi kamar hotel tipe super mewah.

Tapi peduli amat dengan hal itu. Mumpung tidak ada orang di dalam kamar, aku akan mengambil sedikit makanannya, lalu keluar lagi. Tidak perlu banyak-banyak, yang penting bisa mengganjal perutku. Setelah memperhatikan dengan cermat dan memastikan tak ada siapa pun di sana, aku segera melancarkan aksi.

Kubuka jendela dengan sebelah tangan, sementara tangan yang lain masih memegangi kain yang membungkus tubuhku. Takut bila seseorang memergoki sosokku yang sebenarnya. Entah apa yang akan mereka lakukan padaku. Yang jelas, hukuman penyusup lebih berat dari pada mencuri makanan. Dengan sangat hati-hati, aku masuk dari jendela. Menjejakkan kakiku ke lantai seringan mungkin sehingga tak menimbulkan suara. Kemudian bersembunyi di dekat ranjang.

Aku bergerak lagi ke arah kamar mandi dan mengintip ke dalam. Aman. Tak ada siapa pun di sana. Setelahnnya aku memeriksa pintu masuk.

"Bagus! Sudah dalam keadaan terkunci," gumamku.

Jadi aku tak perlu takut bila ada orang yang menyelonong masuk dan memergokiku. Semua sudah aman. Keraguan dan ketakutan hilang seketika, berganti dengan rasa lega dari dalam hati. Dengan percaya diri aku berjalan mendekat ke arah meja yang terletak di tengah ruangan. Lalu duduk di atas sofa panjang. Kusampirkan kain yang menyelimutiku di samping.

Aroma harum langsung menyeruak ke dalam hidung. Jujur saja, aku tak tahu makanan apa saja yang dihidangkan. Tapi semuanya terlihat begitu lezat. Tanganku langsung mencomot sepotong roti—yang bentuknya sangat kukenali. Roti ini masih hangat, begitu pula dengan coklat yang meleleh di mulutku. Teksturnya sangat lembut dan berbau harum.

"Enak! Ini benar-benar enak!" kataku kegirangan.

Ini benar-benar roti terenak yang pernah kumakan. Tidak ada roti seperti ini di kotaku. Hanya memakan sepotong roti terbaik saja sudah membuatku nyaris menangis haru. Aku juga langsung mengambil gulungan nasi yang ada di atas piring datar. Di dalamnya ternyata terdapat macam-macam sayuran. Makanan ini mirip seperti sushi, hanya saja tanpa bungkusan rumput laut. Rasanya juga sangat gurih dan sedikit asin. Akan tetapi masih tetap dalam kategori lezat luar biasa.

Terbuai dalam kelezatan setiap masakan, aku nyaris menghabiskan semua makanan di atas meja. Niatku yang semula hanya mengambil sedikit makanan lalu kabur, berubah menjadi makan sebanyak-banyaknya sampai kenyang dan puas. Hingga tak sadar adanya suara langkah kaki yang mendekat dari luar. Aku baru sadar ketika suara kunci dimasukkan ke dalam lubang pintu. Dengan secepat kilat aku berlari ke arah lemari dan bersembunyi di dalamnya.

Sesaat kemudian pintu terbuka, suara langkah kaki berderap masuk ke dalam ruangan. Aku mati-matian mencoba menahan napas. Detak jantungku berdetak tak karuan. Lemari ini tak tertutup sepenuhnya. Di bagian pintunya terdapat baris-baris yang berlubang.

Dari celah itu aku bisa mengetahui siapa yang masuk dari siluetnya. Dia adalah seorang pria dengan tubuh tinggi, yang pastinya adalah Elvian. Pria itu terdiam setelah melihat ke atas meja. Pasti ia gusar denganku yang telah memakan sarapannya. Kemudian ia menuju sofa, lalu memungut kain yang kugunakan sebelumnya.

"Celaka! Bodohnya aku!" hardikku pada diri sendiri.

Pria itu mengendusnya beberapa saat. Lalu seperti anjing polisi, ia mengikuti bau yang sama dengan yang ada pada kain itu. Dengan kata lain, badanku. Pandangannya ia arahkan ke arahku. Lalu berjalan mendekati lemari. Sedangkan aku merayap mundur hingga terbentur dinding.

*KREK!

Ketika pintu lemari dibuka lebar, barulah aku bisa melihat dengan jelas sosok itu. Pria itu memiliki kulit yang pucat. Rambut kuning keemasannya seperti bersinar terang tatkala sinar mentari pagi menyiramnya. Dengan potongan rambut yang dikuncir pendek, membuat gayanya tampak trendy. Elvian ini tampak seperti usia dua puluhan jika dihitung dengan umur manusia. Wajah pria itu cukup menarik, dia tipikal orang yang mudah bergaul. Tatapan matanya seakan sanggup melelehkan hati setiap gadis. Pria ini memiliki tubuh tinggi dan cukup kekar. Secara keseluruhan, orang ini ibarat seorang pangeran impian yang mengesankan.

"Siapa kau? Manusia!? Kenapa bisa ada manusia di tempat ini??"

Ucapannya membuyarkan lamunanku. Refleks aku berdiri agar mentalku tak semakin tersudut olehnya.

"Aku ... ehm, aku," ucapku terbata-bata.

"Tunggu ... tapi telingamu itu .... Tidak mungkin!" Pria itu terkejut bukan main. Matanya terbelalak lebar. Wajahnya seakan tak percaya dengan apa yang ada di depannya. Sepertinya dia sudah tahu siapa aku sebenarnya. "Jangan-jangan kamu itu—."

Kalimatnya langsung terhenti begitu aku melempar baju-baju yang berada di lemari ke wajahnya. Aku mendorongnya keras hingga Elvian muda itu tersentak. Kemudian mengambil langkah seribu keluar ruangan. Tepat di depan pintu aku berpapasan dengan dua orang prajurit yang berjaga di depan. Mereka tampak kebingungan melihatku. Tanpa mempedulikan mereka aku segera berlari kencang. Hingga beberapa saat kemudian, Elvian muda itu keluar ruangan dan berteriak ke arahku.

"Tangkap gadis itu hidup-hidup dan bawa ke hadapanku!!"