Terros and Veronica decided to drop by in the wet market to buy food ration for their house in the forest. They also bought one whole large chicken and herbs to be roasted for tonight's dinner in front of the bonfire. Veronica bought one bottle of Grapefruit wine from one of the wine stores.
One hour later.
They're back in the forest.
Darkness already descended the land.
After they deposited their purchases in the cupboard, Terros went outside and made a bonfire in the front yard. They roasted the whole chicken that they have purchased in the market.
Fifteen minutes later.
Graven suddenly appeared in the front yard. "Hello, guys! Are you having fun? Mind if I join?" he asked.
Terros and Veronica smiled. "Join us!" they said in unison.
Graven went to Terros's side and lowered himself on the ground covered with banana leaves.
"What's up with you?" Terros asked him.
Graven sighed. "I'm fine but worried," he spoke.
"Why?"
Graven looked heavenward and saw the stars shining brightly in the sky above. "The sky is beautiful tonight! But for how long?" he asked.
Terros patted Graven's shoulder. "Take it easy! By the way, Veronica and I just visited the manor a few hours ago to help you find Sofia. We found out that Sofia is already back home, safe and sound! What a great relief to everyone, especially to her sister and parents!" he said.
"Yeah! It's a great relief indeed!" Graven responded. He still wears a somber expression on his face.
"Are you worried about what's going to happen next?" Terros asked.
"Yes. I already told my wife that I'll be gone from home for more or less a week just in case the poisonous black liquid will attack my body again, and I can't go home for a few days," he said.
"Good! You don't have to worry much about your wife. Only focus on yourself for the time being. We don't know what's going to happen next when the black liquid strikes again. Good thing, this time, the deity and Veronica already finished making five elixirs! We have something to use just in case it strikes again!" Terros informed him.
Graven's face brightened a bit. He looked at the woman. "Thank you so much for your help, Veronica. Also, give my thanks to the deity for her tremendous help in making the elixirs!" he said and looked at the old man beside him. "Thank you too, Grandpa!" he said. Gratitude shone in his eyes.
"Don't mention it! I'm glad to help you, guys, even a tiny bit!" Veronica smiled.
Terros looked at Graven. "Son, I hope your expression brightens up a little bit. You look like you are about to die," he joked.
Graven smiled.
"Now that we have touched that topic about the elixirs. You can bring five of your men here tomorrow morning so that we can test the elixirs on them. Two of the elixirs were made to expel the black liquid from their bodies and cleanse their internal organs from any residue left by the black liquid once it leaves their bodies. And the other three elixirs are meant to prevent any damage to internal organs once the black liquid starts to attack the body," Veronica explained.
Graven looked at Veronica. "Wow! Nice to hear that. I've been so depressed lately about the black liquid that sometimes I feel that my world is about to come to end. I can't surrender my wife to that cursed King, especially that she's pregnant with our child. If he got a hold of Laura, he won't spare my child in her womb!" he said sadly.
Terros sighed. "I know, son. You know, sometimes, I just want to destroy that crumbling castle and get rid of that cursed King. But I'm also thinking of your two men that are already imprisoned in the basement of that castle. They would die along with the King and his entourage," he said.
"Yeah, the King already got two of my men as his captive. I can't put their lives at risk! I need to save them!" Graven said.
Silence descended upon them.
The only sound that can be heard around them is the crackling of the burning woods, the gentle evening breeze, and the delicious smell of the roasted chicken.
Veronica was silently listening to Graven's outpouring of emotion. It must be pretty hard to be in his shoes right now, pressured by the King to hand his pregnant wife just to save the lives of his men. What a difficult choice indeed!
She doesn't want to be in his position right now, torn between his pregnant wife and the lives of his men! That would make her crazy for sure!
Graven looked at Terros. "If you are in my shoes, Grandpa. What would you choose to save? Your pregnant wife or the lives of your men?" he asked him.
Terros pondered about the question for a few seconds. He looked at Graven in the eyes. "Of course, I would choose my pregnant wife! It may sound selfish, but we are talking about an innocent baby here. So yeah! I'll choose my wife and my unborn baby to save anytime," he said with finality in his voice.
"That is why I can't give up my wife and our baby, Grandpa! They are my world!" Graven said as he choked on his words. He sounded like a wounded animal that was about to cry.
Terros patted Graven's shoulder, comforting him. "Shh...take it easy, son! Things will turn out fine in the end," he said, trying to lessen his worries.
"Thanks for your comforting words, Grandpa!" Graven said.
Silence returned and enveloped the trio. The atmosphere around the bonfire turned somber.
Half an hour later, the roasted chicken is finally ready.
Veronica rose to her feet. "I'll go upstairs to get the rice," she said and walked towards the bamboo house. She climbed the stairs and disappeared inside the house.
A few minutes later.
Veronica returned to the bonfire holding the pot of rice along with the plates, spoon, and knife. She placed them above the banana leaves.
Terros removed the roasted chicken from the makeshift stick and put it on the plate, and began slicing it into smaller pieces. He glanced at his companions. "Roasted chicken is ready! Let's enjoy our little feast, guys!" he said cheerfully. He put rice and four pieces of chicken into Graven's plate. "Eat now, son!" he ordered.
Graven picked up the plate. "Thanks, Grandpa!" he said and began eating.
Veronica was already munching on her favorite chicken thighs. "Hmm... so spicy, delicious roasted chicken!" she raved.
They continue eating in comfortable silence.
One hour later.
The trio reduced the whole chicken into bones.
"I'm full!" Veronica smiled while rubbing her tummy. "Let's drink some wine, guys!" she said.
"Okay, that's a good idea!" Terros agreed.
Veronica went back to the house and returned a few minutes later with a bottle of Grapefruit Wine and three glasses placed on the wooden tray. She rejoined the men and placed the tray on the banana leaves. She opened the lid of the bottle and poured the wine into the glasses.
Done, she handed the glasses to the men. "Let's drink!" she said.
Terros and Graven accepted the glass.
"Cheers for a peaceful and brighter tomorrow for all of us!" Veronica said.
"Cheers!" Terros replied and looked at the depressed guy sitting beside him.
"Cheers!" Graven chimed in.
The trio drinks their wine in one go.
"So sweet!" Graven commented. "I like it!" he said with a smile. "I need more!" he said.
"Sure!" Veronica said and poured wine into Graven's glass.
Terros put his glass down as well. "Mine too!" he requested.
Veronica poured wine into the glass.
Terros drink the wine bottoms up.
The trio continues drinking the wine.
One hour later.
Veronica was the first to surrender. "Guys, I'm drunk and very sleepy. I'll go to my room now and sleep," she said and disappeared from the clearing. She appeared inside her room and climbed the bed. A few minutes later, she was already snoring in the bed.
Outside.
Terros poured the last wine into his glass and swigged it in one go. "Son, do you want to sleep here?" he asked.
"No, Grandpa. I will go to my headquarter and sleep there. After I wake up tomorrow, I will bring my men here so that we can run the experiment on them," he answered.
"Alright, good night then! I'm going now to my room to sleep. I'm getting drunk!" he said and patted his shoulder affectionately.
"Okay, sweet dreams, Grandpa!" Graven replied.
Terros disappeared from the clearing and landed in his room. He went to bed, lie down, and shut his eyes to sleep. A few minutes later, he was already snoring, drifting into a deep slumber.
Back at the clearing.
Graven stared at the bonfire that was slowly dying in front of him. He looked around him. Everything is quiet and calm. So peaceful in this part of the world.
A calm before the storm.
Half an hour later, when the dying ember of the bonfire finally gone, he stood up. Time to leave the place and go to his headquarter and retire there for the night.
He initiated the teleportation process in his mind and gone from the place.
Meanwhile, outside Terros's protected fortress.
Luke was camping in a small clearing. He erected a tent in the corner, under the shade of the tree. He's been waiting in this place since early evening for any sign that his brother will leave the forest so that he can follow him to find his beloved Laura. He already missed her so much! He only has her beautiful images in his mind to accompany him during his lonely nights. He won't sleep tonight and waited patiently for his brother's departure from the forest so that he can follow him to the place where he hides Laura.
Right now, the only thing he can do is wait!
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