THE LAST HOBBIT'S

44 - Proximity

...'They spent the night together. It may be close,"...

...*****...

Helena was startled and immediately looked at the subject before her. He met a glare with Arslan's eyes and it stunned him for a while.

"You..."

"I should be able to come over well and explain everything to you" Arslan lowered his gaze and continued. "You and the Lunar Orchis shouldn't have suffered such a loss, but I don't have much time."

"N-no... That's not true" Helena said, "If you meet me and give me an explanation... There's no way I'm gonna believe it,"

Helena lowered her gaze and said, "You... It has long since disappeared and your name is hardly ever heard from again. While I... It is a very difficult person to trust others. So..."

"Even so I shouldn't have made a fuss in your place. I'm sorry" Arslan took a breath and then looked at the beautiful girl before him.

"Miss Helena," Arslan opened the sound. "You can think of me as shameless because even after what I did to you and the Lunar Orchis... I still want to ask you for help."

"W-what do you want?"

"I must go look for the sword-making materials, as well as find the location of the Dragon-Capturing Sword. The help I need from you has something to do with my trip there."

Helena Vennamous looking at Arslan. His voice was slow as he said, "What... You're really going to forge that Star stone?"

"Mn, after all, hasn't anyone been able to forge the stone? But if Miss Helena doesn't allow it, you can take it back. I'll look for the ingredients"

"No, ma'am-not that." Helena Vennamous rubbed her arms and nervously said, "You can take it. I will also prepare your needs. Um... When are you leaving?"

"If possible, I'll leave tomorrow. I don't have much time because I have to visit a few places,"

"Tomorrow... It seems too difficult to prepare everything. What's.. Can you wait one more day?"

"Sure, I'll wait."

Helena Vennamous watched as Arslan began drinking her tea. This figure does have a short posture because it comes from the hobbit race, but despite having heard that this race is weaker than the dwarves - the subjects before him clearly have other authority.

"What.. Can I ask you something?" Helena Vennamous opens her voice. His tone still sounded nervous and that could be realized by Arslan.

"Why... You disappeared that time?"

Arslan looked at the beautiful girl before him upon hearing the question. Helena Vennamous is clearly talking about the events of 50 years ago and it seems like this girl is looking forward to her answer.

Arslan breathed slowly. Without a word, he also said. "the reason... Maybe because I feel like I don't have anything left, I even lost my place to go home."

"You... Lost your place of residence?"

"The hobbit race no longer exists, so without race... I lost my home and my identity. I think so," Arslan again filled his glass with tea. Her facial expression did not change, very different from Helena Vennamous.

"I... It might be a bit outrageous if you had to ask this. But..."

"No problem. I don't mind,"

Helena Vennamous takes a breath. He said slowly and said, "I've heard this from my grandfather. He said that the hobbit race was not actually annihilated by the dragon, but... Exterminated by the elves and ma-humans. What's... This right?"

Arslan met Helena's view and she replied, "Come. I don't really remember,"

"W-what? But..."

"There may have been some events where it was too bitter that I forgot about it. But the thing that was clearly remembered was that it was because of the Dragon Conquering Sword that the races were at odds. Then the victims of the strife were the weakest race of all,"

"Wasn't that so... This proves that the races at that time... They're the ones who killed your family?"

"I don't have that kind of thinking" Arslan said. "For me... Because I was until they met a sad history. My regrets... Made me decide to stay away from the world,"

Helena Vennamous looked at Arslan and felt somewhat sad. He took a breath and then opened his voice, "You... After all this time you finally came out. Why that? Wasn't... No more family you have to protect? Then why... You decided to get involved with the outside world again?"

"The Dragon Conqueror Sword that the race is fighting is a stain from past events that I did not have time to erase. So sure... I feel responsible for finishing what I haven't had time to do."

"But why... He looks like... A very desperate man. As if he had no more spirit, not even to live?" Helena Vennamous bit her lower lip and lowered her gaze.

******