บท 91: Wedding Ring

Tap his finger on the bar counter for a few times, Kei looked up at the lizard-man again. "When it restock again?"

"Man..its all gone. There is no one going to that mountain again. There's a new guard reside and claim that place now. No one able to return back without ever getting hurt." Lizaros explain it to him.

"Since it's pretty useless to us, no one wants to go there again. Not worthy of their times." He continues again and wipes the glass with a white clean cloth like a real barista in Zoro's world. Hmm, wait. He is a barista. It just that he had a lizard figure.

"Do you know where is the mountain located at?"

Lizaros put the glass with a thunk sound on the table. He staring at Kei like he just throws a joke right now. "Are you lost your mind? You're not even qualified to go there."

"Do I look like I'm joking right now?" Kei shot him a serious question. His eye did not waver a bit looking at the lizard-man.

After three seconds, the lizard-man sigh and shake his head. He went to the back of the counter and return to them not long after.

"This is the map to go to that mountain." He smacks a roll of old paper on the table in front of Kei.

"And remember Kirei, when you die down there, your body will become our food. Our source of strength. Don't blame me if you were eaten alive by the guard." He warned him and glance at bit at the little human beside Kei.

"As if I'm gonna die," Kei scoffs a bit when he took the old maps.

"And by the way..why did you eagerly want that stone?" Lizaros change the topic.

"I had a special reason to retrieve the stone." He refuses to tell the lizard-man his real reason is. In here, they cannot trust anyone. Even though they may closest and friendly toward them.

Like what that lizard-man said before, the magicians, fairies, and elves from Peridot is their source of strength. They like to eat them and savor their meat.

Between the human and the fairies, the human is tasteless to them. The fairies had quality meat and taste far better form the human. For long ago, the Onyx Kingdom has the desire to invaded Peridot Kingdom, however, King Lennox (King Larren's grandfather) build a brick sturdy wall, high up like a mountain to prevent them from entering the border.

And at each 500 m radius from the wall, King Lennox put various beast that has been trained by Pheromone user to protect and kill whoever trespass the border. The wall has been built by the Royal forges at that time.

Like Kei, whenever he entered the Onyx Kingdom, he will make sure to cover his body scent by using protection magic which can't be seen by rough eyes.

It makes these creatures in this kingdom did not regard him as their food, but Lizaros once used to smell his scent accidentally. When he tried to attack him, he was hurt pretty badly and almost got killed by Kei.

If not because he was still young at that time, Kei might already end his life long ago. As thanks for not killing him that time, he being one of his informant and stone dealer.

That is how they related and befriend.

"Whatever. Pay for the drink before you left." Lizaros said and continue to do his job.

He put a few coins on the table, he stands up and signaling Zoro to follow him back to their Academy.

By the time they went back, it's already evening and the class already long done.

"Well, tomorrow, come to my office. We need to check this map before we went there." Kei said to him and open up another portal for him.

Nod his head, he looks at the portal. Feeling a bit hesitant to step in. What if he sends him back to that dark alley?

"Go on. That's lead to your dorm." Kei said to him when he noticed his doubtful face.

"Are you sure it is the dorm?"

Chuckles, he shakes his head slowly. "You really afraid of that creature huh? I wonder, where you used to live before."

'Duh!! I live on a planet call earth. Where the normal human being lives there and not some kind of creature like in this world!'

"Now, go. Don't waste my time." Kei starts to leave him. He's a bit tired and wants to return to his house too. His wife must be waiting for him right now.

Inhale a bit, he steps inside the portal slowly and once he already fully gets inside it, he slowly opens his eyes and found that he really return to the dormitory. He exhales in relief.

"Z?" Rachael who just done bathing looking at the man who stands like a statue in the hallway.

Hearing the familiar voice calling his name, he turns around and hug the girl. "Rach."

"Hey..you stink. Where did you go today?" Rachael tries to break the hug from him. She just finished taking a bath and now he wants to hug her?

"Are you free right now?" He stares at her face without makeup. Since the day they've thrown here, her bare face is his favorite sight now. It kinda refreshing and make him feel comfortable around her. Maybe he really falls for this girl now.

"Mm..yeah." She breaks the hug and wraps her wet hair with the towel.

"Let's go then." He holds her hand and brings her to the rooftop.

From the rooftop, they could see the small yellow light from the town and the Academy. It was beautiful. The night sky also full of stars. Unlike in their world, it's rare to see so many stars like this. The night breeze feels so refresh and cold too.

"Hey..you know what, Rach.."

"Hm?" Rachael glance at the man beside her. They both standing at the brick wall enjoying the night view.

"As much as I want to go on a date with you like a normal couple and having a lot of time pampering you..you know we're in a state where we have less time to do that, right?"

Rachael diverts her eyes back to the sky. "I know. Its a matter of life and death we're talking about. Surviving in this world and the war that will happen soon.." She slowly sighing.

"Once we're back to our world, I would like to go on a date with you. Doing all the things that we can't in this world. I promise you. We'll get married and I will meet your family properly." He intertwined his finger with her and brings it to his chest, making her face him.

Smiling to see his serious face, Rachael said. "We never know if we can or not, going back to our world. Whether we already die there or not, aren't we?"

"Rach, look..even we probably dead in our world or this world later...I still want you to be my wife. Did you have the same thought as me?"

"Are you saying this because you have no one to depend on besides me? Or you really in love with me? Which one is it, Z?" She scrunches her eyebrow a bit.

"If I told you, I love you, you will not believe me, right?" He answers it with the question.

Frowning a bit, she tries to process his word. Well, he said the truth. She has doubt about his feeling toward her. She is obviously madly in love with him even though she didn't show at all like how Hayden and Grey show their love to the one they loved, but her heart already fixed to this man.

And, there is a huge doubt about how he feels about her too. She knew he was so in love with her sister-in-law before. The way he shows his love toward her and her sister-in-law is so different. He was just like Hayden back then. So faithful and loyal to her sister-in-law. Unfortunately for him, her sister-in-law loves her brother since they were a child.

Still, he accepts his defeat and wishes them to be happy. A very dignified love. But for him to fall for her…is it possible? Even if they are married, he still gonna see her sister-in-law later, will he be able to forget everything at that time? He has been loyal toward her sister-in-law for more than ten years.

He will not forget all about that, isn't he? Unless, she can have him in this world and give all her love before they return back, (if they can return) it'll be at least, a little happy moment for her, no? She's struggling with her own heart.

"You said..you want to marry me, right?" She finally said after she turns silent for almost five minutes.

"Yes." He said firmly.

"Then..how about if we get married in this world?" She gives the suggestion.

Zoro froze. He was shocked. Unexpected that this word will be coming out from her mouth. He curled up his lips a bit.

"I would love to." He caresses her cheek lovingly.

"But...I want to properly propose to you. Will you wait for a few more days?" He said with a determination in his voice. He decides that he will get that stone and create a ring for her. Their wedding ring.

"Sure. I will wait no matter what." She smiles at him.

Draw her closer, Zoro locks his lips on hers. Hug her tighter and tilting her head a little to get a good angle and more deep. He kisses her with passion until it makes her hard to breathe.

A moaning sound escapes from her mouth and Zoro licks her bottom lips before he releases it.

"I love you, Rachael." He whispers to her ears.