THE LAST HOBBIT'S

8 - Helpers from the North

...'He is caught between a black witch, but is helped by a human.'...

...*****...

The foreign call made Arslan spontaneously duck. Some arrows shot out and so quickly hit the black magicians. What makes the incident even more surprising is that the witch who was hit by the arrow was immediately burned violently.

The deafening scream made Arslan look up slightly. His eyes instantly rounded as he watched how the arrow stuck into the chest of a masked magician and set him on fire in an instant.

"The arrows...." Arslan immediately remembered the incident a few years ago. The arrow he saw was a golden arrow from the Nordic nations.

!!

Someone set his foot, right in front of Arslan. The lambaian white robes and blonde hair exposed to the sun further added to Arslan's belief that in his presence this was indeed a man from the Nordic nation.

Arslan can see fast movement and excellent archery skills. The black magician who now only two people left even preferred to escape, but the efforts of both were in vain. The darts slashed onto their backs and left the two witches' bodies enveloped in a huge fire.

The figure before Arslan began to turn around. The bright blue color in his eyes and his physical appearance of a 14-year-old teenager made Arslan again surprised. The subject he saw was really very young.

"You okay?"

Arslan unconsciously held her breath. He swallowed and then nodded. The human race is indeed divided into several types and the Nordic nation is one of them.

"Thank you," Arslan opened his voice. Although curious as to how the Nordic could come to this place, he refrained from saying so.

"What about your two friends?"

"Ah," Arslan remembers Sofia and An. He went to both of them and checked on them.

The blonde and blue-eyed teenager approached Arslan, he helped check the condition of one of the subject's friends and then opened his voice. The teenager's forehead shriveled as he asked, "She is an Elf and the other one I think is from the Giant Race. You're not from the same race as them, either... You guys really are partners?"

Arslan blinked at the question. He looked at the white-robed teenager in front of him and said, "They are indeed my traveling companions. Sofia and An. I'm Arslan myself, so... What's yourname?"

"Nature Willamar. I'm from the north and on a mission" the blue-eyed teenager noticed the unconscious female elf before looking back at Arslan.

The figure named Natur Willamar said, "I looked at this person carefully, and was convinced that she was the princess of the Elmora Kingdom. Is that true?"

"Why are you asking me that?" Arslan frowned. He could not help but suspect this subject before him even though Natur Willamar was only a 14-year-old teenager.

"Does the princess of Elmora Kingdom have anything to do with your mission?" Arslan asked back. He inwardly begins to think of several ways to get rid of this subject if it proves harmful to him, including on Sofia and An.

Natur tilted his head before starting to cross his arms. He looked at Arslan and said, "You look very alert. I'm the one who saved you from those black witches. Do you think I'm the bad guy?"

"............. I don't know, I think you have a special reason to help us." Arslan said, "We were targeted by evil witches and did not rule out the possibility of other races also targeting us."

"Aren't you supposed to say that they're after Sofia Bellwings' daughter from Elmora Kingdom?"

"................"

Natur snorted and said, "This elf is clearly Sofia Bellwings' daughter. But you don't worry, I'm saying this isn't about kidnapping her or anything. She's wanted by a warrior of the Elmora Kingdom and as far as I can tell, princess Sofia Bellwings really likes to break the rules of her kingdom."

"What?" Arslan flinched, "You mean he ran away?"

Nature took out a piece of paper from behind her cloak pocket. He showed the contents in the paper which was nothing but a royal decree. Arslan was obviously very surprised, because he thought Sofia had this adventure because she had obtained permission from the King.

"You know what?" Natur said, "You could have been put to death on the charge of taking the princess away. So if you're smart, then wake him up and tell him to go back to his kingdom. That'll further guarantee your safety,"

"Rather than what you said... I'm much more interested in your purpose in coming to this place." Arslan looked at the teenager before him and said, "You are from the north and as far as I know... The human race with blond hair and blue eyes is just a Nordic nation."

Arslan continued, "This place is in the west and your age is still a dozen years old. You're too far from your house, so how could I not be suspicious."

Natur rubbed his chin before starting to scratch his head. He took a breath, "I don't know how to explain it. But in the Middle World, each race had its own territory. Even so, we can still cross the other territory. And as long as you know, I'm in the Land of these Elves legally. I have his permission, unlike the black magicians before."

"Then how did you find us?"

"It was just a coincidence. I was hunting and saw a blinding light. Then I followed him and helped you,"

"But what are you doing in this forest?"

"Why does he keep asking?" Natur rubbed his cheek and replied, "I'm looking for Longevity Remedy ingredients and there are some plants that can only be obtained within this forest."

"The medicine lives a long life..."

"Fire-rooted lily spider, water ginseng, fruit from the dracovudu tree, and.... The bark of the silver tree trunk. I still need two more,"

"............... Who is the longevity medicine for?"

"That's for-wait, of course. Why have you been asking me questions since?" Nature ruffled her waist and said, "Didn't you care about these two friends at all? They're still unconscious,"

"They're still breathing. That's enough in the answer that they're okay,"

"Who will sue me in this forest?"

"W-what?"

"If they die, I'll just bury them. Done,"

!!

Nature shocked. He was clearly shocked because the figure before him was so relaxed to speak so, even without any guilt at all. He watched Arslan closely and then scratched his head.

Nature opens the sound, "You are.... Of what race? All I see is that you're from the human race, but your body is too short. How do I explain it... You are bigger than goblins and your skin color is definitely not similar to theirs. You are even shorter than the dwarves and your nature is not the same as theirs. You're this... Actually what?"

"................"

It would be very suspicious for Arslan if the teenagers before him knew that he was from the Hobbit race. So that's why getting a confused reaction from this blonde boy made Arslan so calm to deal with him.

Arslan said, "I am of the Garielnains race. Races that have the same characteristics as the Giants. We are solitary creatures,"

Nature blinked, her forehead shriveled. "Bas... What's name?"

"Garielnains,"

"I've never heard of any such race,"

Arslan took a breath. Of course it was the kind of race that was unheard of because the name was just a mere essay. There was no such race in Middle World or anywhere else.

And besides, the figure before him was a 14-year-old teenager. This child is unlikely to know about the Hobbit race considering Arslan is the only hobbit left. The history of this race is impossible to tell and if anyone knows... Their reactions would be the same as those black magicians.

Arslan breathed softly and said, "It's up if you've never heard of Garielnains. That's none of my business. I thank you for helping and I won't bother you if you're going to go back on your mission."

"You..!" Nature flinched, "W-did you just throw me out?!"

Uk...

!

Natur almost scolded Arslan for being very disrespectful if Sofia's voice did not interfere with him. He turned around and saw the red-haired elf girl slowly getting up while touching her arm.

"Ouch... It hurts..." Sofia grimaces. He also circulated his views and now saw Arslan standing with someone with him.

"Arlan..."

"How are you doing?" Arslan open voice. He also saw An starting to open his eyes despite not changing his position.

"My head and arms hurt" Sofia said. "Did I faint?"

"I think so" Arslan replied and watched Sofia. He continued, "I thought you were strong enough, but just falling like that made you unconscious. If it wasn't for the help of Nature, we'd all probably be dead."

"Nature?" Sofia frowned.

"He is Natur" Arslan introduces the teenage boy next to him, "Nature Willamar. He's from the north,"

!!

"Nordic?" Sofia jerks. He had just watched the figure beside Arslan in a good way and was now convinced that the subject he saw was indeed from the Nordics.

Nature crossed her hands and smiled. She said, "So Miss Sofia Bellwings. What made the Princess of Elmora Kingdom get to this place? Your condition... I can say very pathetic,"

!!

"W-how can you..." Sofia noticed, she bit her lower lip before starting to turn her face away and snorted.

Sofia said, "What I do in this place is none of your business. You don't even deserve any answers from me,"

"........... Alright. But Princess Sofia should know clearly that what the Princess is doing is.... Can get your partner in trouble. And I don't think it's far from 'losing lives'." The naturist started to turn around and was about to walk away. It was just that he stopped stepping after a while.

Natur continued his words, "Ah. Is correct. I forgot this. The Elmora Kingdom was in an uproar because their Princess had disappeared. The king gave the order to find and bring you home. The prize is so big and I think it's because of this... A lot of people will be after you from now on."

Arslan saw a smile on Natur's face before the teenage boy walked away. The subject's speech may not sound threatening or dangerous, but Arslan can tell the meaning of the smile line he sees.

"Sophia....." Arslan opened his voice when he no longer saw the back of Natur. He turned his head and looked at the elf girl, then said. "What all this time.... Have you lied to me?"

!!

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