111 Dorothy of Ikkleshan (1/2)
In a certain night on Alchem Town...
”Gavin!” A young lady called out from behind him.
Gavin turned around and saw a girl running towards him, ”Dorothy?”
As she arrived in front of him, he approached her and checked on her.
”Why are you running here? Aren't there people assigned in your quarters? You're our guest! You should have requested your servants to call for me instead.” Gavin said.
Dorothy came from Ikkleshan, an autonomous city-state in the central region led by a confederation of natives.
In pre-establishment of the kingdom during the chaotic warlord times after the dissolution of the Pertheon Empire, the band of natives in between a river and a former cliffside founded a confederation to defend themselves from the aggressive warlords that wanted to annex them.
The city was beside a destroyed cliffside and a river called Gertun, literally meaning ”King's River” in their tongues.
The natives later on, helped the Grand Magician and the future first king of the Trigurniburg Kingdom to establish order all over the now official kingdom.
”I wanted to talk personally with you. It's important.” She replied while slightly catching her breath.
”What do you want to talk about?” Gavin asked.
Hearing Gavin's question, a reluctant expression appeared on her deadpan face.
'She's cute.' Gavin inwardly commented.
”What's with that shyness? Come on, just say it, you're a guest here.” Gavin urged.
”Well you see, I...” Even after Gavin's urges, she was still a bit hesitant over what she was about to say.
As Gavin was about to say something again, Dorothy swallowed a mouthful unnoticedly and interjected, ”I want to talk to yo-, I-, Alche- I mean Allen Morgan.”
Gavin's jaw dropped by the other's statement, he thought, 'It's not what I think it is, right?'
He was still as a statue for a few seconds until he was able to recompose himself, ”Ohh... I get it, you want me to introduce you to my Junior brother!”
'I can't believe with that kind of indifferent face; somebody would get attracted to him.' He then sighed in glee, 'I am so very, very proud of him.' Although the ”feelings” weren't directed to him, he became euphoric as if he would cry out of joy.
”Don't worry, I can do that by tomorrow morning.” He nodded in response and added, ”I need to go now, my master made me go on an important errand. I'm sorry I won't be able to accommodate longer!” He sprinted off at once, leaving behind Dorothy.
”Uhm...” Dorothy was dumbfounded by how fast Gavin talked. She never even got to reply back.
”But actually...” Dorothy wanted to say something else, but because Gavin wasn't present anymore, she sighed it off and left the area.
***
The pages in the black book were answered one by one. Going through different illusions, fighting the beasts referenced from the plants and herbs that they had to answer.
Many contestants fell and lost on the way due to the extreme conditions and circumstances that became harder and more complicated as pages were turned.
In the end, only two people managed to turn to the last page.
…
Allen reappeared in a square with a protection orb on top of the fountain in the middle. Looking to the sides, rows of buildings made up the side of the streets that stretched out from the square.
In spite of all the standing structures, no people could be seen using them.
It was utterly quiet.
Eerily quiet.
”Hello.” A calm voice greeted from behind.
Turning around, Allen spotted a familiar woman.
A slight change on the woman's eyes was noticed by Allen. It was an expression of startlement.
”Allen Morgan.” The woman said.
”Dorothy.” Allen said.
It was a silent afterwards.
”You still have that eyepatch of yours. I thought Gavin was helping you cure your blindness.” She continued the conversation.
”You know what happened. He won't believe anything.” Allen replied.
”Let's not talk about it anymore then.” Dorothy changed the topic, ”What was the plant? The last one already had all its definition written, but I didn't see the name.”
”It's Visergoroth Eater.” Allen answered.
Dorothy: ”S***.”
”We need to find a place where we could concoct pills and elixirs to battle that kind of a monster.” Dorothy said in a monotonous one like Allen would do.