The Antagonist's Full Moon

27. Man and Elf

The journey starts again in the morning. After staying up all night to catch fish and prepare breakfast, Dean fell asleep in the cart.

The man sat leaning against the haystack and the wooden crates. Both of his eyes were closed, enjoying a breeze. Frode said that his magic energy had accumulated enough to smooth the way of the wheelbarrow during the journey. So, Dean could sleep quietly without being awakened by the shocks caused by the uneven ground.

"Wake me up, when you get to Eetelbum town," Dean told Liv before going to bed. The elf girl nodded. It was still half way from where they were camping until they reached Eetelbum. Liv sat next to the sleeping Dean.

Liv is actually curious about the features of the human body that exist in Dean, but he never had a chance to learn more closely. Time and time again, Liv noticed Dean's round ears, and held her own taper. Dean's black hair did not escape the focus of his eyes.

So close Liv observed Dean's face, that a large rock blocked the smooth trajectory of the wagon, causing the girl to fall to Dean's chest. Spontaneously, the man woke up and was shocked when Liv was already on his chest.

Frode shouted from the steering wheel without glancing into the wagon. "Sorry, I didn't see, there was a big rock!"

Frode's cry was not very audible in Dean's ear. Her heart was beating too fast to see Liv was nearby. "What are you doing!" shouted Dean.

Liv rose from the fall. The black fog billowed out at the nose, thickening and protecting him from collisions with Dean. "I-I was wondering what the human body is like .. That's all!"

Dean frowned and raised an eyebrow. Then, the man flipped his body to the side. "Don't bother me! I'm sleepy!"

"Yes, yes, sorry!" said Liv ketus. Dean tries to close his eyes, this time turning his back on Liv. However, he could not sleep well anymore.

***

By late afternoon, Elvenar Eetelbum castle began to appear from a distance. Each Elvenar has a castle in its own power city. On order, Liv woke Dean. The man rubbed his eyes before he could see clearly.

The sky looks red. The road in front is divided into two, namely turning into the city of Eetelbum, or straight continue the journey to reach the city of Hartvig.

"Are we going to enter the city?" ask Liv. Dean shakes. "There's checking. We better not stop there."

"But there are customers I have to deliver their orders to Eetelbum" Frode said.

"So, how? Did me and Dean just get down here?" ask Liv again.

Dean thought for a moment before deciding. "If we continue, there is a village after the city of Eetelbum. Let's stay there."

"Street?" ask Liv to make sure. Dean snorts. "It's impossible to fly, isn't it?"

Liv pursed her lips. The girl gets pissed every time Dean sniffles at her. Frode immediately pulled the wagon to the side of the road, so that Dean and Liv could get off without blocking another vehicle that wanted to pass.

"Then I go to Eetelbum first. I'll put you in the village. Does anyone want to leave to buy, while I'm in town?" ask Frode.

Dean raised a hand. "Place for me. Oh, buy me a bag, which is enough ordinary cloth."

"alright. Anything else?"

Liv thought, then said, "I don't exist, Uncle!"

"alright. I'm going first. You guys be careful, yeah!"

Dean turned around, then grabbed the tote bag in Liv's hand. Again, Liv was surprised her bag was taken for granted. Dean steps away, carrying Liv's bag on his shoulder, before Liv refuses his help. Not to forget, the man put a hood on his head to cover his black hair and round ears.

"Is the village still far away?" ask Liv, who has managed to match Dean's steps. The man pointed far ahead. "It's only ten minutes walk."

With ease Dean said that, without remembering that the elves never exercise. The existence of magic made the elves never rely on physical strength. Let alone Liv, who only once went out of the house twice in a lifetime. Just five minutes into the walk, Liv had already gasped out of breath.

Dean realized that the elven girl of his fictional character was no longer walking by his side. Liv was far behind, leaving Dean to walk back. "Why?"

"Capek .. " said Liv, gasping for air. His body was exhausted.

Dean took a long breath. He just remembered the characteristics of the elf body he had written in the novel. "You can't walk anymore?"

"I can, but slowly, yes ... ," pinta Liv.

Dean looked up at the sky. It is impossible to slow down, because soon the sun will set. The two of them no one could light a magic fire torch.

Dean held Liv's carry-on bag around her neck, then sat on two knees. Both of his hands were down. Then, he said, "Kugendong, let's hurry."

"Eh?!" Liv gasps. Carrying men?! Liv screamed in her heart.

"Hurry up! Night hunt!" Dean clucked in annoyance.

"But are you holding me?" ask Liv to hesitate.

"I am human, my physique is stronger than elves. Come on!" take Dean again.

Hesitating, Liv approached Dean's back, then leaned his body there. Dean's wide hands supported Liv's thighs firmly. Then, the man stood up and started walking.

"If it's heavy, I'll just walk .. " Liv said. That girl really feels bad for Dean right now.

"Oh, just calm down. Your body is so light."

Liv's stunned. The smell of Dean's body sweat and his hair was different from that of an elf, smelling all the way to Liv's nose. But the girl did not hate him. Liv smiled and said, "Thank you, yes!"

"Hm .. " said Dean briefly. In the heart of the man hoping, may his heartbeat not be heard by the girl.

Arriving at the inn, they immediately booked two rooms. Luckily, Liv was able to rent a room with a hooded appearance. In the village, the citizens are not much suspicious of foreigners who come. It is very common for migrants to stop in the villages to rest before continuing to travel to the destination city.

It seemed, they did not recognize the figure of Liv Themaris, so the rumors of Liv's contagious curse were not so spread in a small village like this. Only when paying the rent, the inn owner gasped as soon as he saw the back of Liv's black hand. Liv quickly covers her hands and takes Dean to the room, before a furore emerges.

Before long, Frode came to bring Dean's order. A change of clothes, a coat hood, and a cloth bag. Not to forget, Frode ordered dinner for the three of them and was taken to the room. Now Frode and Liv gather in Dean's room to listen to Frode's words while filling his stomach.

"Tomorrow, we'll go to the city of Hartvig. It should be done in one day. Next, as Dean planned, you two will enter the Nitville forest. But unfortunately, I can't participate."

***