Capítulo 17: Chapter 17 - Painful Flashback Of Memories
Yana sat in front while Riyugi held her with one hand to prevent her from falling off the horse they were riding. Yana was fighting to stay conscious, her eyes fluttering as she noticed the numerous scars on Riyugi's chest, remnants of lashes and whips.
"You can do it, don't give up. Please, I cannot fail this mission." Riyugi urged.
But Yana was too weak to respond.
When they reached a small town, they immediately asked the Ronoru residents if there was a healer capable of removing poison from the body.
One Ronoru resident knew and directed them to where the healer lived.
They found the healer's house at the edge of the town, on an elevated area.
"What happened to her?" the healer, an old Ronoru, asked.
"She's been poisoned. The poison needs to be removed." Riyugi said.
"Come inside, and I'll treat her." the old Ronoru said. They entered the small wooden house.
Inside, there were many medicinal herbs, some in jars and bottles. Riyugi carried Yana, who could no longer walk, and laid her on a mat on the floor. The old healer was shocked to see Yana.
"An Aruha? I'm sorry, but I do not treat Aruhas." the old Ronoru said.
"She is human. The king has ordered her safety for his purpose." Riyugi said.
"Are you sure?" the old Ronoru asked, incredulous.
Riyugi drew his katana and pointed it at the old healer's throat.
"Will you treat her, or will I end your life?" Riyugi threatened.
In a panic, the old Ronoru quickly prepared the necessary medicines and tools to remove the poison from Yana's body.
While the healer was frantically preparing, Banki noticed Yana's body slowly disappearing.
"Leader, what's happening to her? Is she dying?" Banki asked in confusion and fear.
Riyugi didn't know either. He rushed to Yana and tried to hold her arm but could no longer touch her.
"What's happening to her?!" Riyugi yelled at the healer.
The healer was also bewildered and didn't know what was happening until Yana completely vanished.
They didn't realize that Yana might have awakened again in her real world, just like when they traveled earlier. They feared it was a sign that Yana was dying as the poison had fully spread through her body and blood.
"Hey, miss! Wake up! Wake up!" Yana heard, and when she opened her eyes, an elderly man was in front of her.
She looked around and realized she was on a bus.
"Where are you getting off? This bus is nearing the terminal." the conductor who woke her up said.
There were no other passengers on the bus.
"Did I miss the hospital?" Yana asked.
"Yes, a while ago. We're heading back to the bus terminal to rest and have a snack." the conductor replied.
Yana stood up quickly but felt very dizzy and had to sit back down.
"What's happening to you, miss? Are you okay? You're pale." the conductor said with concern.
Yana tried to recall her dream. She was shocked to see that she was still wearing Riyugi's jacket, a thick leather one he had put on her.
She couldn't believe she was still wearing it upon waking up in the real world. She touched the jacket to make sure it was real.
"I... I brought his jacket here?" Yana said, astonished.
"What are you talking about? Are you out of your mind?" the conductor said.
But he noticed Yana's pale lips and her skin turning slightly green. He felt her forehead and was surprised at how high her fever was.
"You're burning up. I think you have a fever." the conductor said, shocked.
So the conductor and driver decided to take Yana to the hospital for treatment.
When they arrived at the hospital, Yana lost consciousness. The doctors quickly attended to her and brought her to the emergency room.
"Look, her body is slowly reappearing!" Yana heard, and when she opened her eyes, she saw the old healer, Riyugi, and Banki looking at her. She had returned to the dream world.
"Hurry up! Treat her now!" Riyugi commanded the healer authoritatively.
The healer complied. He gave Yana herbal extracts to drink and placed leaves on her wound. Within minutes, Yana felt better and her strength gradually returned.
"I've removed the poison from her body. She just needs to rest. I recommend you leave tomorrow. She needs adequate rest." the old man advised Riyugi and Banki.
So they stayed at the healer's house. Yana lay down to recover while Riyugi and Banki stepped outside.
"What happened to her? She suddenly disappeared earlier. Did she return to her world?" Banki asked Riyugi in confusion.
"Yes, I think she temporarily returned to her world." Riyugi concluded.
"Yes, she doesn't belong in this world. But when she disappeared, the jacket you put on her vanished too." Banki noted.
But Riyugi didn't respond. He was just staring at the countless stars in the sky.
"I just noticed you have so many scars on your chest and back, leader." Banki remarked in wonder.
Riyugi turned to him, and memories of each scar etched on his chest and back came flooding back.
***********
*FLASHBACK*
Riyugi was six years old when he first faced King Merif. He was crying that day because his parents had been killed.
They were happily having dinner, celebrating Riyugi's sixth birthday when two Ronoru suddenly entered their home and mercilessly killed his parents right in front of him.
He would never forget the splatter of his parents' blood with each strike of the blade on their helpless bodies.
Blood splattered all over the house and on Riyugi's body and face. After his parents were killed, the Ronoru quickly left, leaving Riyugi crying beside his lifeless parents.
Riyugi tried to wake his father and mother, but he failed. A Ronoru arrived at Riyugi's house to bury his parents. After they were buried, he was taken to the kingdom and presented to the king.
His tears hadn't stopped flowing from his immense grief. The king approached him and wiped away his tears.
"Don't cry. What happened was destined for your parents because they sinned. Their lives were the price." the king said to him.
But Riyugi kept crying. He knew what the king meant because he knew his father was a Ronoru who fell in love with his mother, an Aruha. Their family was despised, and no one accepted him except his parents.
All the Ronoru children bullied him. They looked at his family with contempt and disdain.
"I am sorry for the loss of your parents, Riyugi." the king said.
"Do you want revenge on those who killed them?" the king added.
Riyugi stopped crying and looked into the king's eyes. The boy's eyes were burning with anger and vengeance.
"I can help you, but you must promise me. You will dedicate your entire life to me. You must follow all my orders. If you help me achieve my goal, I will help you get revenge on those who killed your parents." the king said, smiling at young Riyugi.
Because of his immense grief and anger at those who killed his parents, Riyugi agreed to the king's deal.
He didn't know that the king of the Ronoru had ordered the killing of his parents. The king needed Riyugi because the seer had told him that Riyugi possessed the powerful strength of a half-Ronoru, half-Aruha child necessary for the king's plan.
If he hadn't been strong, the king would have ordered his death along with his parents.
From that day on, young Riyugi stayed in the kingdom. Every day, he was trained by the king's highest-ranking soldier. It was like hell for him; with every mistake, he was tied up in the palace dungeon and mercilessly whipped all over his body.
He was also trained to control his power and unleash his full strength. Every time he failed to do so, he received lashes on his body until it was almost covered with scars.
But he endured it all in the name of the king's promise to him. The king made him feel valuable through his loyal service.
So he intensified his training and strengthened himself to please the king. Over time, he gained immense power.
He grew stronger and more resilient, but the cost was the complete loss of his emotions. His heart became like stone. He mercilessly killed anyone the king ordered him to. He became like a heartless robot, the king's mere weapon.
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