Chapter 62: The Malayas 2
One morning in the town of Takkot, the same day Lyrica arrived in Alteria, two of Takkot's guards stationed in the north entrance are trying to kill time when the silhouette of a group of people appears in the far distance.
"Huh? Hey look, there are people."
"That white armor... they're Reilaea kingdom's knights—The Malayas!"
"Hurry, go tell the others!"
"Yeah!"
During that time, Riko and his squad are dispatched around the northern section of Takkot.
"Hey, Marlo, let's play dodge ball with your magic."
"I'm not wasting my mana to have you flex your agility, Roberto. Go play with Cardo instead!"
"You idiot! This sword is a magic tool, it's not just any other blade. Don't you know how expensive it is to repair a magic tool? Especially now with the kingdom's current situation."
"Why don't you repair it yourself, then?"
"Do I look like a blacksmith to you, Magdalo?" Cardo retorted. "If only that godda... No, forget what I said."
"They're intentionally making you hate them, and you're letting them get under your skin," Agario interjected. "You know it'll trigger if you try so much as to rebel against them, right?"
"I know..."
"Then keep it together, if you don't want to die, that is."
"Right, sorry."
Similar to the guards outside the north entrance of Takkot, Riko's squad are just killing time with one another. And that's because the only orders they received is to standby and be alert for any development that may occur.
That development has just arrived.
"Commander Agario!"
"What is it?"
"A group of Malayas is coming from the north entrance."
"What? All right, we'll talk to them. Go and let the high commander know."
As the guard went on his way to let the high commander know about the Malayas' arrival, Agario orders his squad to be ready and alert.
"The Malayas, huh... You guys have any idea why they're coming?" Marlo asked everyone as they head over to the north entrance.
"Hell if I know," Roberto replied. "We're only tasked to do what we are told, and that is to not let foreign visitors from entering the borders of Kruule."
"I see. Maybe they want to know why Kruule stopped trading goods with everyone including Reilaea kingdom." Riko followed suit.
"We'll know for sure once we talk to them."
With that being said, Riko's squad went to the north entrance to find out the reason behind the Malayas' sudden visit. But before the commander opens the gate, Magdalo suddenly asked everyone, including himself:
"How long are we keeping this up?"
Right then, everyone pauses from moving forward.
"I mean, I can keep up as long as I can be with my family. But... are we supposed to live like this forever?"
And just when everyone started making a despondent expression on their faces, including Riko, the commander standing right next to the gate lets out a hearty laugh.
"Looks like you're having the most fun of your life today, commander."
"He sounds crazy to me, just like whoever spread the rumors about the four heroes in the capital."
As the commander brushes off the remarks of Karlo and Riko's father whom he called a disgusting drunkard, Agario tells Magdalo while looking straight into his face:
"If there's one thing I know in this world that is absolute, it's that nothing lasts forever."
"Nothing lasts forever, you say?"
"That's right. Nothing lasts forever. Not Cardo's magic tool, nor Roberto's agility. Hell, not even hatred lasts forever."
As Riko quietly listens to everyone, at the same time he watches Agario reach out to the gate, Magdalo once again asks the commander, "Are you sure about that?"
Right then, the commander looks back to Magdalo. He then replied with a confident expression on his face:
"Yeah."
Soon after that, the gate opens. And as they all walked outside and came face to face with the Malayas, Agario demands the white armored knights,
"State your business!"
Following Agario's demand, one of the Malayas stated that they are looking for the missing group of Malayas that their kingdom sent to Kruule for more than a week now. Or more precisely, eight days ago.
The town of Takkot is situated not far from the southern part of the Forest of No Return which is located in between the borders of Reilaea and Kruule Kingdom. Meanwhile, the northern part of the forest is where the town of Eisvel is located. Traversing from the capital city of Kruule to the capital city of Reilaea would take three days with the most conditioned horses.
With Takkot being the closest among four towns located near the north border of Kruule, people in the northern region, especially the kingdom of Reilaea, often goes to the said town where they can get permission to enter Kruule's land to either send a message to the rulers or to simply trade goods.
The Malayas who came looking for the missing others wanted to get permission to enter Kruule in hopes of finding the other Malayas. However, with the Hari's decree in place, Agario forbids the Malayas from entering the land of Kruule. Much less, the town of Takkot.
When one of the Malayas asked why the Hari forbids foreign visitors from entering the kingdom, Agario could not find the words to respond. After all, Agario's squad is only given the task to standby and be alert for any developments. That, and to enforce the order that the Hari made.
The Malayas insisted on entering, stating that the Malayas Reilaea first sent should have arrived five days ago. However, five days ago, Agario's squad wasn't dispatched in the north section of Takkot, so they have no information if a group of Malayas did enter Kruule.
The Malayas would continue to question Agario and his squad, asking why the Hari suddenly forbid people from entering his kingdom. But unfortunately, even Agario and the others don't know the reason behind it.
For quite a while, the Malayas insisting and Riko's squad pushing them back went on. Until eventually, the Malayas gave up trying. Fortunately, no conflict happened between the two sides. But if that situation goes on, who knows what could have happen?
The Malayas prepare for their trip back to Reilaea kingdom after letting their horses take a rest. During that time, Riko's attention was caught by a number of Malayas talking in a group. Out of curiosity, Riko tries to approach them and hear what they were talking about.
"What if they are holding the other captive?"
"I don't see any reason why they would capture them. Maybe they got ambushed by a horde of monsters? Maybe goblins?"
"No, there are no monsters outside the Forest of No Return that could be difficult for us to beat."
At that moment, without Riko knowing, the young knight would hear something he least expected.
"We can assume that they came here five days ago and already left. And if they left, that means the four heroes aren't here, either." Said the white armored knight. "For now, we should head back to the kingdom and let the Reyna know about what we lea–"
"Four heroes?"
Riko's words were heard by everyone, including his entire squad. The group of Malayas and Riko stared at each other intensely.
"You... Why do you guys know about the four heroes?"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone