The Antagonist's Full Moon

28. Melian Laughter

"Uncle didn't come with us into the forest? But, why?" ask Liv. The elf girl thought that until the destination of the temple, they would always be three.

Frode allowed his cross-legged seat. He sipped some sweet tea for a moment, then continued. "The famous merchant who invited me to work together lived in Hartvig City. I have to meet him first, and I will take time. You're gonna have to hurry up to Themaris, right?"

Dean unrolled the map. Nitville Forest is located south of Hartvig City. The forest would be a shortcut for them to get to Tranum city in less time. After that, they could continue their journey to the city of Themaris, which is west of Tranum.

"You're right, sir. The state of the Nitville Forest is too dark and filled with wild animals. Oxin won't be able to make it into that forest, either" Dean explained.

"So, are we going to part with Uncle Frode?" Liv asked in a sad tone.

Gently, Frode stroked Liv's head. "Just split up for a second, Miss. If all my business in Hartvig is done, I'll catch up with you in Themaris."

"All right ... ."

Dean pointed the city of Themaris at the map, showing it to Frode. "If the three of us can get to Hartvig tomorrow afternoon, then the journey continues the day after tomorrow. The next morning, Liv and I will cross the forest to Tranum in one day. From Tranum to Themaris, one day. Tracing the cave, one day. Three days we'll be in order and out of Themaris. Will you be able to meet us in that city on the fourth day from now?"

Frode examined the map Dean showed. "I think can. Travel from Hartvig – Erling – Eskildsen – Themaris takes three and a half days. So, most likely I even reached Themaris while you were still in the cave!"

"Good then" said Dean. Then, the man thought for a moment. "I need your tent, to stay in the woods."

Frode gasped. "You're planning on staying in Nitville?!"

"Just in case we get out of the haunted forest when it's dark, or if it rains. The nearby village takes twenty minutes on foot, with my strength as a human, of course. But I'm not sure about him ...," Dean said, glancing at Liv.

The elf girl simply nodded. Dean continued saying, "If that were to happen, we'd better wait for the morning."

"Oh, okay. I'll pack the things in my cart, which you'll probably need during the journey to Themaris." suggested Frode, who was immediately agreed to by Dean and Liv.

After dinner together, Frode and Liv came out of Dean's room, about to rest in their respective rooms. Dean looked back at the map of Legolas Kingdom.

In the past while writing, Dean was very excited to describe the world building where Haldir lived. Dean added wild animals here and there, magical forests, rivers that were always flooded with big fish, and many other things. The sketch of the image he made of Legolas Kingdom was exactly like the map he had before him at the moment.

Dean rolled up the map, then packed it neatly in his new cloth bag. The journey is still so long, in the world of his own imagination.

***

Meanwhile, the next afternoon in the capital. Melian seemed to be relaxing in the residence of Themaris. Liv has been away from home for days.

Everyone thought Melian was saddened by the loss of her sister. In fact, whenever the servants were about to carry out their duties in Melian's room, they always found her young lady crying. When asked, she always replied, "I've been lonely since Liv wasn't around."

However, once it was not being seen by anyone, Melian began to smile knots. It was as if the loneliness he had just said was overflowing. As if her crying was not real.

Now, Melian was sitting in her father's recliner by the lobby window, reading a book. Sunlight entered the room, shining on Melian's silvery-white hair and her porcelain-white skin. Melian moved, seeing her reflection on the window.

I am the most beautiful! he said in his heart, smiling with a smile.

Seen from the reflection of the glass, the servants seemed to pass by in the corridor, visible from the lobby whose doors were open. Melian. He stepped up, wanting to question the servants passing by. They carried rickety cabinets whose mirrors were broken, worn pillows, and a few other items.

Melian saw that all the servants were coming from the stairs leading to the third floor.

"On the orders of the Great Lord, we were asked to vacate the room on the top floor" said the servant.

Melian raised an eyebrow. "Liv's room?"

"Yes, Miss."

Do you want to throw away all of Liv's remaining stuff? ask Melian in heart.

"I'm sorry, Miss. We know, you love the youngest Miss very much. But, we were ruled by the Great Lord .. ," said the waiter, feeling bad.

Quickly, Melian changed her face to be sad. "It's okay .. But, I want to see Liv's room for the last time. What can?"

"Sure, Miss! Please go upstairs. But please be careful, there's broken glass and lots of dust." The waiter said goodbye and Melian went up to Liv's room.

Liv's room now looked a little wider after her rickety cupboard was removed. Only the mattress was left, as well as the base cloth which was no longer clean and looked messy.

Melian went inside. Looking at the young lady, the maid mopping the floor immediately lowered her head.

"Ah, just keep doing your job. I won't be long" said the young lady.

Melian sat on the edge of the mattress where her sister used to sleep. Maybe not just sleep, but eat, drink, and look at the stars that are visible from the window, Liv also did on this mattress.

On the writing table that had a rough surface, there was a quill pen and ink that Melian had given Liv first. Melian gave it to her so that her sister could write, pouring out her heart into a diary, which she also gave.

Was the diary Liv was carrying, or is it still in this room?

Melian returns curious, on Liv's only personal item. Melian hoped that the diary would be left behind, so that it could be read by her.

His hope was granted, when he saw a book containing linen papers wrapped in yarn and brown covers, poking out from behind the folds of a messy mattress base.

Whoa, meet! I didn't expect, to be completely left behind!

Melian opened the pages of the book, one by one. The girl read the contents slowly, something that should be Liv's personal secret.

Every time Melian finished reading, she smiled grinning, even occasionally chuckling.

In fact, sentence by sentence Liv wrote, telling all the sadness and misfortune of the girl during her life in the world, in the form of a letter to her late mother. In fact, the contents of the book are not at all funny.

Melian's laughter came to a halt, as she turned the last page. Seen there, Liv ran out of her diary, so the girl wrote behind the back cover.

The writing uses black ink, on top of a brown cover. Slightly blurry, but still legible. The blurry writing made Melian so gasp and glare at reading it.

"Mother, I'm leaving today. Liv pamit, yeah. I will change my destiny. There's someone who promised to make it happen, as long as I can help him get home. He said he was the creator of this world. See you, Mother."

***