Side Quest Received: Obtain the cure for Ella and Edward's Mother.
I kept my lips tightened and my eyebrows raised as I listened to the complaint of the man in front of me.
"The Sierra Madre?! Are you insane?!" Knowing about my heightened hearing, he suppressed his voice even when screaming.
The angry man in front of me is my uncle. The owner of the wagon I promised Jheric that we could use. He's a middle aged man that works as a delivery man. He's always been the one to take my father and I to our adventures. Since none of us owns or could ride a horse. Every adventure always starts with him arguing with my father about how taking a literal child to a dangerous place is never a good idea. Sometimes he was able to reason with him, but most of the time. He'd just give up and follow along with my father's demands. This was another case of that. Only this time, it's him and I arguing.
"You know how dangerous that place is! You almost died when you first went there, and that's with your father around!"
The reason for his anger is my favor for him to help us get to the Sierra Madre Forest, the longest mountain range in the land, and also the most dangerous place. The Sierra Madre Forest is known to house the most ferocious of animals, beasts, and toxic plants in the land. It's considered a restricted area, but since no one has actually claimed the land, there are no knights or guards to keep anyone out. Except for one.
It's not my choice to go to that dangerous place, but Jheric told me that that's where we can get the thing we need to cure Ella and Edward's mother.
"I know, I know. But I have a valid reason this time." He always gets mad when my father would reason that it's for training, and it's the best for me. "It's not for training." I added.
"Eurus," He tapped my shoulder, voice filled with empathy. "I know your father's death has taken a toll on you but you don't have to do this."
He probably thinks that I'm planning to go there to cope with my depression. I don't want him to worry, since he's basically my second father.
"It's… not about that. I promise."
His reaction is of no exaggeration. Especially when I've been just locking myself in my room and refusing to eat prior to today. I still am affected by my father's passing. Even when I'm just doing what I do everyday like eating, drinking, or training, It all feels surreal. Like something is missing. But that's more the reason why I want to help the kids and their mother. Because I don't want them to experience that.
I told Jheric to wait for me outside of the inn while I convinced my uncle, but it seemed like he was an impatient man. "He's telling the truth. We're not going there to mess around." He came inside and decided to vouch for me. He leaned towards me as he passed by and whispered, "I'm sorry I overheard your conversation."
I nodded.
He offered his hand to Uncle. "We have to go there to save someone, and we need you to take us there Mr.?"
Uncle was taken aback by his appearance, but he's used to meeting new people so he quickly regained his composure and shook his hands. "Christopher, and you are?"
"Jheric. A friend of Eurus."
"And what business do you have with taking my nephew to the Sierra Madre?"
I was a bit surprised with how different my uncle acted compared to how he talked with me. He sounded more serious and direct. Which Jheric returns.
"To save someone."
The silence that followed felt heavy, they stared at each other for what felt like hours. The one to break the silence was a groan from my uncle while scratching his head.
"Fine! I'll take you two there."
Jheric and I breathe a sigh of relief. We thought it was done until my uncle leaned closer to Jheric's ear and whispered, "I already expect him to get hurt, but if anything more than that happens to Eurus. You're dead."
He had told the same thing to my father before. So I didn't worry much. Jheric on the other hand, felt all his hair standing up. But we got what we needed, all we have to do now is pack for the long journey.
"And so, what are you guys planning to do if the Fair Folks found out you guys were there?"
Fair Folks are one of what we consider sub-humans. They're people who have made home in forested areas since ancient times. Their distinct traits are their pointy ears which gives them a better sound direction and enhanced hearing, along with a stronger and more defined upper back paired with strong arm strengths (though not thick) for their main weapon, a bow. Although a good amount of them live right at the east edge of the Sierra Madre, they mainly act as the protector of the forest and do not claim it as theirs.
On my first visit to the Sierra Madre where I came face to face with the king of the sky, the Fair Folks came to lecture us about the danger of going near the Sky Titan's nest. They're not very fond of my father, but they seem to put him in high regard. They do tell us to never come back, so it's a good thing that my uncle mentioned them.
"It's just us three so I think they wouldn't mind." I reassured.
My Father and I haven't really done anything to cause harm to the forest so I believe they'll let us get what we need.
I noticed Jheric's look of concern, like he wanted to speak up but he couldn't. I remarked his nervous look and asked if he was okay.
"Yeah… Can I leave the talking with the Fair Folks to you? If they came, that is."
"For sure." I returned a warm smile to ease his concern.
Next Destination: Sierra Madre Forest.
Uncle's wagon was mainly used for delivering letters and small items, but it's larger and tougher compared to other wagons in the same service. His deliveries after all, were more of a hobby than an actual job. The wagon could easily fit 6 people and still have enough room for baggage. It's hauled by a stallion named Ship and a Mare named Agnes, the fastest horses in the land.
The wagon was going steadily fast that Jheric can't help but praise the horses.
"We're sure to get there sooner at this pace."
"Ship and Agnes are the best horses there are, after all." I proudly stated with a grin on my face.
"Is that their name? I've never seen any horse run this fast."
"They're also apparently legally married. I have no idea how that happened"
It's not just the horses that should be taken to account. It's also the wagon itself. Its wheels have added suspension that gives the passengers comfort even while going at such speed. The frame is made of Narra wood that just becomes tougher the older it gets.
Jheric and I talked about the wagon and horses for a bit before deciding to rest until we got to the Sierra Madre. The journey will take hours even with how fast we're going. There are also some rigid roads that prevent the horses from running fast. Not many people had gone to the Sierra Madre, so there are no roads built specifically for going there.
The Sierra Madre, where I had my first taste of real danger. The never ending trees took my breath, the mountain range spanned to the ocean, the birds and insects were so lively. The place with the richest life. It almost feels unfair to call it the most dangerous place in the land. Though that may be true for humans, it was not so for the wildlife. The trees looked so thick, the leaves and grass were so green, the animals and beasts looked like they were in good shape. That's how I saw it at first, but I couldn't deny that it was still a kill or be killed kind of place. It's actually a good thing so that the harmony and balance in the food chain wasn't easily disturbed.
Although my memories were hazy. It feels like it was just yesterday, when I was fighting beasts side by side with my father. It was going so well, until I turned in shock to see my father covered in blood, clamped in the beak of the Sky Titan. And then,
"Ugh, It's the same dream again."
I've been having the same nightmare since my father's death. It seems like my unconsciousness is mixing my memories together. Taking my trauma on both my father's death and being face to face with the Sky Titan. Sometimes it's when I was fighting the Sigbins, or other occasions that I've been close to dying. There's also some times when it's just reliving the days where my father would just be lying in bed, coughing blood and screaming in pain. Those were the most awful. I honestly wished I had just stayed awake the whole ride.
I took a bottle of water from my bag and leaned over the open back of the wagon to wash my face. I let out a heavy sigh then drank the remaining water.
Jheric, who had woken up before me and spent his spare time leaning over the wagon's wall and staring out the back—took notice of my exhausted sigh. "Morning, didn't like your dream too?" He asked with a smile filled with sorrow.
"Yeah."
He kept his gaze at the sky without looking at me. " Do you think clouds are just like fog but at a higher elevation?"
I thought it was a weird random question at first, but now that I think about it. I've asked the same thing to Mr. Eliott before. "I was told they are."
Jheric simply hummed, as if to say he understood.
It seems like it wasn't just me who had an awful dream. I let out another sigh before going to the front window to check on my uncle. The wagon also had a sliding window at the front for viewing the surroundings and talking to the coachman.
Hearing the sound of the window being opened, Uncle greeted me.
"Afternoon, is Jheric awake too?" He looked lively while munching on some dried beef.
"We both are. Are you okay over there?"
"I'm good here. Also, we're almost there. I'll park the wagon where I usually do."
The wagon obviously can't go inside the forest and Uncle couldn't just leave it right at the edge of the forest since some predators might snatch the horses if they caught sight of them even if it's outside the forest. So we stop at the meadow right before the edge of the forest and just walk the rest of the way. Uncle would stay to guard the wagon and horses.
I've informed Jheric, and he didn't have any objections.
Uncle started to set up a camp while Jheric and I prepared to enter the forest. We wore thick clothes, a long sleeve and a robe paired with thick pants to keep the insects away and boots for the muddy terrain.
"Are you ready?" Jheric asked me.
"Yeah, just hope the Sky Titan doesn't notice us." He looked at me like I said something weird. "W- what?"
"Do you mean the Minokawa?"
"Is that its name? Yeah."
"The Minokawa only stays at the Sierra Madre for two years to lay eggs and until its hatchlings are able to fly. So you don't have to worry about it."
So that was the reason why the Fair Folks were so angry with us. The Minoka had just laid an egg. It made me feel so grateful that it didn't see us as a threat back then. Knowing that the Minokawa wouldn't be here, I let out a sigh of relief.
"There's one problem though." I sensed a terrified feeling in Jheric's voice.
"What is it?"
"The Bakunawa is awake at this time of the year."
"Bakunawa?"
"You know, the Sea Titan."
Titan is a title given to the largest and strongest beasts in their habitat. Like how the Minokawa is the largest in the sky, I can imagine the Bakunawa being as large or even larger given the title Jheric called it by. I've known of their existence, but since my father had only mentioned two of them (One being the Minokawa which I had witnessed alongside him), I've never heard of a second Titan living in the Sierra Madre.
"The Sea Titan, huh." Uncle had overheard the conversation and couldn't help but be interested. "I remember your father saying that it's one of the things he wishes to never come across."
I was baffled to hear that there's a beast that my adventure craving father didn't want to see. He had remarked how terrifying it was to witness the Minokawa, but he also said that he wanted to see it again.
I looked at my uncle with an open jaw and widened eyes. That's clearly asking why my father didn't wish to see the Bakunawa.
"He mentioned how the Minokawa doesn't hunt humans unless provoked, and how it's mostly in the sky which are a lot easier to spot. But when it comes to the Bakunawa, you'd have to be deep under the dark sea which just means you'd already be dead before you even notice it."
"Most of the time, but it surfaces in the full moon. That's why it's been called the Moon Eater by some people." Jheric Added.
"Some people had also witnessed the Bakunawa and Minokawa fight-."
"Okay okay, enough of that." I had to stop the two of them for making this trip sound more terrifying than it already is. "So, you think we'll come across the Bakunawa or not?" I looked at Jheric with a serious expression.
"Relax, we're not going to." He laughed as he pats my back. "We're just messing with you."