The Lost Kingdom Of Maria!

Chapter 6: The Clash in Saikono

Saikono Village—or perhaps it would be more accurate to call it a town—was a place of striking contrasts to Petita. Circular in shape, it was surrounded by wooden walls over four meters high. The wood, sourced from the supernatural trees of this world, was nearly impenetrable. In this world, trees were more than just plants; they were living, breathing entities, their leaves inhaling and exhaling like humans and animals. The Menma within them made their wood incredibly durable, almost otherworldly in its strength.

As the sun began to set, casting an orange-pink hue over the village, the streets of Saikono came alive. The clean, cement-paved roads added a sense of order and beauty to the scene. Unlike Petita, the people here wore clean, silk clothing, and the streets bustled with activity. Shops lined the pathways, their simple yet elegant designs adding to the town's charm.

Among the crowd were Fayrouz and Fulan, walking side by side. Fayrouz's expression was as calm as ever, while Fulan looked around in awe. "This place is so lively compared to the last village," he remarked, his eyes scanning the bustling streets.

Fayrouz kept her gaze forward, her voice steady. "We need to find a merchant or someone with a cart to take us to the Kingdom of Saita. We should reach it by tonight. Don't forget that."

Fulan glanced at her. "I know... You seem so calm, like you're used to places like this."

Fayrouz turned her head slightly, her tone unchanged. "Places like this? You should see the Kingdom of Saita from the inside. This village is nothing compared to it."

Fulan fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "So this isn't your first time going to the Kingdom of Saita..."

This time, Fayrouz didn't hesitate to respond, though she didn't look at him. "So you're the type who likes to talk about the past? I don't mind telling you, but I doubt you'll share your real story with me."

Her words caught Fulan off guard, and a faint look of surprise crossed his face. He slowed his pace slightly, his tone calm but measured. "I don't recall doing anything that would make me seem suspicious."

Fayrouz didn't slow down. "Maybe. But I'm curious about your Menma particles..."

Fulan smiled faintly. "You should stop observing me in such a perverse way."

This made Fayrouz stop in her tracks. She turned to face him, her expression unreadable. "Excuse me?"

Fulan replied without missing a beat. "Nothing. It's just that watching the particles and cells flowing through my veins seems a bit... invasive."

"That's a good attempt at changing the subject," Fayrouz said, her tone as calm as ever.

Before their conversation could continue, a loud voice interrupted them. "That's enough! I'll put an end to this tonight!"

Fulan and Fayrouz exchanged glances before turning toward the source of the commotion. A crowd had gathered in a circle, their attention focused on two men in the center. One of them carried a massive sword on his back and wore a brown shirt with black pants, the attire of an adventurer. The other had a beard, a silver axe strapped to his back, and wore a military-style jacket and pants.

The bearded man, clearly furious, was in an aggressive stance. "I was insane to let her follow someone like you! I should've dragged her away by force if I had to!"

The man with the sword remained calm, his voice serious. "I never asked her—or you—to come with me. You both knew what the life of an adventurer entailed from the start. Death is something all humans share. The adventure I'm setting out on tomorrow will likely kill me too. I respect her decision, so I won't mourn her death excessively."

The bearded man's anger flared. He grabbed the swordsman by the collar, his voice trembling with rage. "If you love death so much, I'll make you see it today! That fool only loved you, you bastard! She didn't care about the adventure or any of that! Don't you feel even a little regret for her death?!"

The swordsman's eyes were unreadable as he replied, "No, I don't regret anything..."

These words pushed the bearded man over the edge. He grabbed his axe, which glowed red-hot as if fresh from a forge before returning to its original color, steam rising from its surface. "Good. Then I can kill you without remorse!"

*Whoosh!*

But before the axe could descend, Fulan's body erupted in a faint white aura. He darted through the crowd, positioning himself between the two men. At the same time, Fayrouz's blue bandages shot out, wrapping around the bearded man's axe and halting its deadly arc.

The crowd gasped as the two strangers intervened, their actions swift and decisive. Fulan stood protectively in front of the swordsman, while Fayrouz's glowing bandages held the axe in place. The tension in the air was palpable, but for now, the immediate danger had been averted.

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