CHAPTER 27 (2): HUGE MISUNDERSTANDING

“After the war ended, we sent some people to find Elgarb and his family but they were gone. Elgarb’s parents were killed in the war while Elgarb went missing. The searcher brought the pearl that we knew instantly belonged to Zelfon because the pearl was carved with a small ‘Z’ that only belonged to him. When we meet Zelfon again, he was in fright and won’t tell us where Elgarb was. Then, we heard rumours that a child was killed by Elamos’ guard because the latter used power and attacked them.”

His eyes turn to anger. “Elgarb was half-demon and half-human. He’s a Duo. We couldn’t get the identity of that Duo because his dead body was thrown into the fire to burn to ashes, leaving no trace of him anymore.”

He turned toward Zeliker with a red rim in his eyes. “Elamos hated demons so much at that time. Even a Duo won’t have his mercy once they do something wrong to him. My siblings and I could only guess that Zelfon had brought Elgarb home and Elgarb's identity as a Duo was found out by Elamos’ guards. They may have threatened him and he had to use his power for self-defence…”

Xcerox then went silent again. After listening to Xcerox stories, Zeliker finally understands the reason for their dispute. Even Silvert, Gizelis, Nish and Trez who had listened were stupefied by it.

‘Did I just make it more complex? This is hard to solve…’ Zeliker thought with slight guilt.

Zelfon called them when the horses arrived. Zeliker still had his normal expression toward Zelfon but Xcerox's expression was turning darker. He would aim his hateful gaze at Zelfon’s back who had ridden the horse ahead of them. Zeliker moved his horse closer to Zelfon and watched him from his side. He could see nothing disturbing those calm and cold eyes. Zeliker sighs silently.

“Zeliker, you want to help them reconcile isn’t it?” Silvert telepathy him.

“Yeah… Who could have thought they have a bad past. Maybe I made a mistake by getting my butt in their problem.” Zeliker replied.

Silvert chuckled. “You do that a lot now…”

Zeliker rolled his eyes before he thought deeply.

“Hm… But I think Xcerox made a mistake. He shouldn’t have made such an assumption without proof. What if Zelfon didn’t make Elgarb get killed at that time and may have another situation he couldn’t talk of. This is like he never actually trusts Zelfon or befriends him in the first place.”

“Yes, and there are loopholes in their investigation. Maybe Elgarb is alive and is actually sent somewhere safe when the attack happens in his home.”

“It must be... I need to chat with Zelfon to listen to his story. Find an opportunity for me to speak to him alone.”

“Okay…”

When they arrive at the city market, they let the guard that follows them take the horse to a stable nearby. Then, they walk around it.

Zelfon shows them some famous places there.

“You can check the current new items from the merchant shop here. It has weapons, accessories and anything for travelling.” He told Zeliker and others in front of a huge and tall building.

“Well, then. Let’s go in and see.” Zeliker walks inside, followed by everyone.

Because of so many people, there were several lines of people asking, buying and viewing the items inside.

“Follow me.” Zelfon led them to the staff there.

When the staff saw him, he recognised Zelfon's identity immediately. He slightly bows.

“We are honoured for your visit again, sir. Please, come this way.” The staff didn’t say the honorific for Zelfon since he always knows Zelfon likes to be a low-key person. So, after he led them to the third floor, he opened a fancy white oak door. Inside the room, the space was huge, clean and comfortable. This was the room for VIP guests.

“Please have a seat.” The staff told them and led them toward the long and single sofas.

Zeliker, Silvert, Gizelis, Nish and Trez took the long sofas while Xcerox and Zelfon took the single one. It seems they like to be separated, one on the left and one on the right of Zeliker groups of four. Their sofas were facing a small stage with red curtains in front of them. As for the guards, two were standing behind while another two were standing guard outside the door.

“Your Highness is lucky today. We just got a few fresh items delivered to us this morning. Would you like to take a look at it?” The staff said while he went to stand on the stage.

Zelfon nodded.

“Please wait a moment.” The staff said and then went inside the curtain.

“It’s like watching a theatre,” Silvert commented.

“Normally, the merchants would build this stage for giving an extra vibe toward the customers, making them impatient and excited at the same time,” Nish explained.

“You seem to have frequently come to this place, huh, Nish?” Gizelis nudged him with his shoulder.

“Well, I love to collect some strange but beautiful things. Who knows if something here would interest me.”

“Does it include a control collar too?” Zeliker teased him.

Nish grins. “Anything fancy I guess.”

Zelfon and Xcerox either have their eyes closed or open them while staring straight at the theatre. They just have their ears listen to the conversation beside them. Soon, the staff came back with another two women who were also the staff there to help him.

“First, we have the new set of Rainbow Pearls from the North Sea beyond the Flink Kingdom. These pearls are hard to get since they were guarded by the sea monsters.” The staff said while the two women opened the curtains.

A box of beautiful pearls that shows rainbow colours when a light shines on it, appeared in their view. Gizelis and Nish had their breath stop for a moment because one, the staff, said the name of the Flink Kingdom and second, because of the pearl's beauty.

As for Zeliker and Silvert, they watch Xcerox's expressions turn worse with anger covering them.

“Your Highness!”

Suddenly, a shout sounded in the room. It was from the two guards that hurriedly ran toward Zelfon. Zelfon had his hands on his head while groaning in pain.

“Zelfon!” Zeliker and others went near him too except for Trez and Xcerox who were stupefied by the scene.

Zelfon's eyes were chaotic and showed horror like he was seeing something they didn't. One of the guards growled and took out his sword. He aimed it at the merchants’ staff.

“How dare you bring out the prohibited item and show it toward our prince! Don’t you know any pearls weren’t allowed in front of the royals?!” The guard, Amronius Quon, shouted at the staff.

The staff went kneeling in fear. “We, We didn’t know! Please forgive us, Your Highness! Please forgive us!”

“Why? Why are pearls now prohibited here?” Xcerox stood up and asked one of the guards.

“This… This is because… Any pearls will scare our prince. He was traumatised by it since he was little. Ah, Your Highness!”

The other guard named Peixin Fortre, who was holding Zelfon, explained and then called out when Zelfon passed out on him.

“Your Highness!” Amronius also shouted out.

What are they going to do? This shouldn’t have happened in the first place. They need to tell the king.

“My apologies, Your Highnesses. Our prince may not be able to accompany you further. We are going to take him back to the palace.” Amronius sheaths his sword and carries Zelfon in a princess style.

“We will go together.” Zeliker made up his mind.

The rest agreed, including Xcerox. The latter watches the pale Zelfon and feels complicated.

‘It’s the same thing that happened a long time ago when we asked him about Elgarb. He still has not recovered from it? Why? What is going on here?’