THER MELIAN: CHRONICLES

Episode 6

The ship that Laruen boarded drove slowly splitting the Yami River. He grabbed his hood, the rain that had fallen since this afternoon had still not subsided.

It was late afternoon when the ship he was aboard finally sailed close to the Lavanya Capital, bad weather making their voyage a little late. Laruen sharpened his ears, the sound of the hustle and bustle of the city was carried by the wind from the downstream of the river.

He glanced from both sides of his hood. Karth and Eizen stood not far from him, all of them wearing green robes and leaning on the side of the ship. Lourd Valadin was not with them, he was with Ellanese on his way back to Granville.

Valadin split their group in two. Laruen, Karth, and Eizen are tasked with continuing their journey to Lavanya City, where the Templia Undina is located, while Valadin and the Ellanese head to Rylith Lamire. They would return the amulet to Lourd Haldara, then wait for Vrey and his friends to appear there.

According to Valadin, Vrey himself might have escaped after the events on Mount Ash yesterday. But he was with two friends. It was his friend who would probably convince him to complain to Rylith Lamire. Therefore, it was important for Valadin to precede him back to Granville and intercept him before they encountered Lourd Haldara.

Vrey ... somehow just thinking about her name has made Laruen sick. Until a few days ago, she didn't even know that she had a sister. Nor did he know of any other Vier ⁇ Elv who had been so close to Valadin, that Valadin invited him to stay at Falthemnar.

All this time Laruen felt special because of the attention Valadin had given him, and now he knew the reason. But what annoyed him the most was Vrey.

How could that bastard girl waste Valadin's kindness. Did he not know what Valadin had to go through in order to bring Laruen and his mother to the Telssier Fort?

Laruen could not imagine what Valadin would have to go through to bring Vrey to Falthemnar. How could Vrey betray Valadin's trust like that, and then just leave him to return to being a thief? Laruen bit his lips, his emotions boiling imagining in his body was flowing the same blood as a thief.

Nah! She had no sister like that, Laruen would never admit it. She refuses to acknowledge Vrey as her sister!

Smelling flowers fill his smell. Laruen could see the origin, the entire river before them was filled with flowers. Their ship sailed through hundreds of flowers. They will soon be approaching the city center. The noisy sound of the city again filled his eardrums. He never liked being in the city of Man.

Suddenly Karth and Eizen were already standing beside him.

Eizen pointed an island in the middle of the river to Karth. “The island is Naian Mujdpir, Templia Undina is there,” he said.

Laruen observes the well-appointed island of Eizen. The island was enormous, perhaps hundreds of meters wide, far wider than the coral island on which the Templia Voltress was located. But the shape is weird, the square box is perfect, and everything feels fake.

On top of the island there is a very sturdy square wall, fencing the large buildings inside. Laruen also saw several towers erected around the wall, many soldiers standing guard there.

“I've heard of it,” Karth said. “That's Lavanya Kingdom's palace, right?”

Eizen nodded. “Now you know why the Elders opposed the establishment of the Kingdom of Lavanya. This whole valley is our territory. Plus they set up Naian Mujdpir on top of the underwater cave where Templia Undina is located.”

Laruen. “Erecting their Palace on top of Templia Undina? Insulting once!”

“Man is indeed a troublesome creature,” said Eizen. “How difficult it is to build an island on a river like this just to build a palace. I don't see what it's worth!”

“I'm not surprised,” timpal Laruen cynical. “They are the same as the Draeg Nation, always defying the laws of nature. Look at them, creating machina that poisons the air just so they can fly.”

“Save all your babbles for another time,” cut Eizen. “I don't want to hear it. If you have any advice on how we can enter Templia, then I'm willing to listen.”

Karth shrugged his shoulders. “Entering Templia means the same as entering Lavanya Palace, will not be easy.”

“I can bewitch all the water in this river to flood and destroy the island,” suggested Eizen lightly.

Laruen glared at Eizen. “Hah! It was me because Lourd Valadin entrusted the matter of strategy to Karth. Don't you know how important it is to keep our plans secret? Which means we can't use that much magic in plain terms. Your way just now will attract too much attention!”

Eizen glanced in surprise at Karth. “Your partner has no sense of humor, huh?”

His words only made Laruen even more furious. He really doesn't want to joke.

“I know a driveway,” continued Eizen. “When establishing the island, the Draeg also built underground waterways from the river coast to deep into the valley. It is alleged they also built a secret underground road for the Lavanya Royal family to use in times of emergency. The channel was like a labyrinth with hundreds of dead ends and was filled with deadly traps. Only members of the Lavanya Royal family know the safe way to pass through.”

“So you mean we need one of the royal family members to show us the way?” ask Laruen. “That's how it is,” replied Eizen. “But it won't be easy. Royal family members like them rarely leave the palace.”

“Wait a minute,” said Laruen. “What's the difference between kidnapping a royal family and destroying an entire palace? Can't both be blamed on our nation?”

Karth answered. “Making someone disappear is a simple matter. I can think of several ways to make it look like an accident or a regular crime. People won't think we're behind it. Another case if suddenly there is a strange wave tens of meters high that swallowed the entire palace in an instant.” Karth glanced at Eizen while chuckling.

Eizen smiled with satisfaction. “I'm glad to see someone still has a sense of humor,” he said. “So, in the next few days we will do reconnaissance, then decide who is the best candidate to kidnap.”

Karth nodded. “Mission this time is much heavier than before. There will be many victims when this plan is carried out, we must not leave a single eyewitness.” Then he turned towards Laruen. “I wonder if this time you're ready?”

Laruen nodded steadily, there was not a single doubt in his heart. This time he would not hesitate anymore, he was ready to do anything for Valadin, and he would prove it.

At the same time, their ship docked to the port. Accompanied by the rumbling of thunder and drizzle that never subsided, one by one they went down and left the ship.

***

Vrey could barely sleep that night, Leighton sleeping on a bamboo mat right next to him making him uncomfortable. He himself was astonished, with Aelwen he had already shared a room for three years.

Why is Leighton different?

The thought continued to haunt him until almost dawn. But Vrey eventually fell asleep too.

The warm morning sun coming in from between the lodge wood woke him up. He blinked his eyes and realized the cottage was empty. Rion and Leighton must have gotten up and left the cottage. Vrey pushed one of the walls of the hut upwards to look outside, the pier and the stream welcomed his eyes.

A few small children ran over the pier before plunging into the river. A charmer bathed a gadya not far from them. Gadya sucked water with his muscular nose, then spouted it out toward the swimming children.

Vrey has been sultry since last night, he'd love to play water with them. He walked out of the cottage towards the pier. That's when he realized Rion and Leighton had already joined the boy.

The first one I saw was Rion. The man swam across the river. Then he saw Leighton poking out from the surface of the river. Her long blonde hair was soaking wet. The bright skin of Leighton is conspicuous among the inhabitants of Lavanya. Although the body is slim, but Leighton is quite muscular, it's just that Vrey never realized it because Leighton always wore long-sleeved clothes.

Leighton noticed Vrey's presence near the pier and raised his hand and waved. Vrey replied to his longing. He turned around, undoing his intention to swim.

Vrey's stomach suddenly nauseous. He had known this fact for two days, but now that he had seen it with his own eyes, everything felt even more real.

Aelwen is Leighton, and he's a man.

An hour later they continued their journey. This time, Vrey fell asleep along the way. The stale air and stench from the forest floor made him sleepy. He could barely open his eyes.

Vrey lifted his leg up on the chair. He looked up to watch the situation around him. Not too far ahead, hundreds of small rafts floated above the surface of the water. On the raft there are various items, ranging from vegetables mayur, fruit, meat, fish, to spices. There were a lot of people on the raft, they were bargaining and dealing from on their raft.

“What is it?” ask Vrey.

Rion answered. “This Yamuna floating market. We have arrived at our destination.”

Right behind the raft group was a village that seemed to float on the river. The village was entirely built on a stage built on the surface of the river. That's Yamuna City. The scent of incense and stinging flowers wafted from that direction as the wind blew towards them.

Gadya who took them around the floating market Yamuna and across the river filled with flower petals.

“Very many flowers,” murmured Vrey.

Leighton nodded. “It's time for flower festival.”

“What is a flower festival?” ask Vrey.

“The ceremony wreaths flowers,” replied Leighton. She looked happy that Vrey asked her. “One of the festivals held to celebrate the anniversary of this kingdom.”

“Today is kingdom?” ask Vrey again.

“Nations Sancarya began arriving to the region about two centuries after the Kingdom of Granville was founded, Leighton” explains. “The longer their numbers grew, but they refused to join the Kingdom of Granville and did not heed the treaty of division of the Three Nations. Their existence almost caused war. Eventually, all parties agreed to negotiate.

“After that the Kingdom of Lavanya was finally officially recognized. Now, every year they celebrate their royal anniversary with a big festival, one of which is the festival of flower fighting. This flower is the favorite flower of Queen Ashcansha, the first queen of Lavanya. Residents wade flowers along the river during the festival to honor Him.” Leighton ended his explanation.

Vrey looked at the river full of flowers that lay before him. Hearing Leighton's story just now, he realized how foreign the history and names were to him. He never missed his home like it is today. It seemed only now that Vrey realized how far he had left Mildryd.

Vrey took a deep breath, trying to expel the invoking discomfort. But the fragrance of flowers filled his smell, a very foreign aroma, different from all the cities in the Granville region he had visited.

Gadya they finally docked to the dock. Vrey, Rion, and Leighton are coming down. They walked down a wooden stage that crackled every time they were swept by a river wave.

Rion looked up and looked at the scorching sun shining overhead. “Any, I don't see a single airship.”

“I also don't see,” said Vrey. “You are sure we are in the right place?”

Rion's face was wrinkled with anxiety. “Wait a minute here. I'll check it out.”

While Rion was away, Vrey walked to the end of the pier. He observed a part of the city that lay across the river.

Vrey noticed that there were a lot of lanterns hanging in front of every house. Women and children are working with bamboo and cloth to make more new lanterns.

Leighton stood by his side. “The lantern will be used for lantern festival,” he said.

Vrey glanced at her and realized Leighton was smiling at her. He forced a smile before turning his gaze towards the city.

“What is lantern festival?” ask Vrey, distract.

“People light lanterns, then take them off into the river or fly them while praying. Too bad we have to go to Granville this afternoon. If

no, I'd love to see that festival.”

Rion's voice stopped their conversation. “I think you'll get to see the festival.”

Vrey furrowed his brows. “What do you mean?”

“We're late, the last airship just left yesterday. No airship comes or goes until the whole festival is over, ” replied Rion.

“What?” said Vrey. “And when is it?”

Rion tried to remember. “Festival of flowers, lantern festival, boat festival, fireworks festival, and many others, all of it will take about one to two weeks.”

Vrey slips. “We can't wait here that long. Valadin may already be on his way to Mildryd by this time.”

“Not hope,” said Rion. “We can take a boat, sail the Yami River and head for the Lavanya Capital. People said there would still be an airship there until two-three days.”

“That's better than waiting here, let's go,” Vrey said.

They traveled further down the pier until they found another. Dozens of river cruisers leaned on the dock. Vrey realized the large ship had no sail, instead there was a waterwheel on each side of the ship. Inside the mill there are dozens of wooden slats that serve as paddles. In the center of the ship was a large chimney that emitted black smoke. Vrey recognized the smell of smoke that's the same fuel as the airship, the aereon.

Rion spoke briefly with one of the crew members in Lavanya language, then reached into his pocket and paid some bronze pieces to the crew before the man allowed them to board.

Vrey explored the deck part of the boat happily, this was the first time he had boarded a watercraft. He had indeed been on an airship, but being on a watercraft felt different. Every time the waves moved, the entire body of the ship also rattled. It feels both scary and fun. He leaned his body against the front fence of the ship, observing the waves of the river slapping the stern. Shortly thereafter the ship began its journey across the river.

Leighton walked over to Vrey, leaning against the fence.

Vrey bit his lips hard. He hasn't forgiven Leighton. Whether since when, his obvious anger and disappointment was slowly erased during this two-day river trip. But that doesn't mean he can treat Leighton as his friend again like he hasn't.

Vrey stole a glance next to him. Leighton just stood quietly beside him, looking towards the river, his long braid played out a gust of wind. The boy looked completely foreign to him.

But Aelwen and Leighton are the same person, right?

Vrey can't deny it anymore. Deep in his heart, he realized Leighton and Aelwen were the same person, if ignoring the fact that Leighton was a man, an Eldynn and, most importantly, a prince!

But shouldn't that change the fact that Leighton is his friend?

Vrey doesn't know the answer, he's really confused. He didn't want to think about the problem. But the more he didn't want to think about it, the more it bothered him.

The half-day journey felt like years to him, before their ship slowly approached the Lavanya Capital.