We finally emerged from the oppressive shadows of the woods and approached the village. As the settlement came into view, I saw the flickering orange glow of torches dancing against the dark timber of the houses. As we drew closer, I recognized the figures gathered near the gates: it was my people—Louis, Darryl, Elpis, and Aalis—alongside a cluster of anxious villagers.
The moment we passed the entrance, their heads snapped toward us. They rushed forward in a wave of relief and consternation. I slid down from Geri's back, my legs feeling steady once more.
"YOUR HIGHNESS…" Louis called out, his voice cracking with emotion as he ran toward me.
They skidded to a halt in front of me, breathless. Louis's face was a mask of worry. "Where were you going? Why do you disappear in the middle of the night?"
"Suddenly, I could feel regaining my body again," I answered in a low, weary tone. "I started to walk out, just for a simple walk… and went to the woods again, to search for Geri. I found her in the middle of the woods with—"
From behind the group, a sharp cry interrupted me. "ARGHHH! THERE YOU ARE, THE BEAST WHO HARMS HER HIGHNESS!" Aldea shouted, her face contorted with rage as she sprinted toward Geri.
I immediately stepped in front of Geri, shielding her with my own body. Aldea skidded to a stop, her eyes widening as she saw me standing and moving freely. She walked toward me slowly, as if approaching a ghost.
"What!! You are no longer paralyzed anymore…" she whispered.
"Yes, I am," I said firmly. "And I heard you were trying to chase Geri for what she had done to me, but it was not Geri's fault that I was being paralyzed."
Louis stepped forward, his gaze searching. "And who's the culprit that made you paralyzed?"
I hesitated. I was trapped between a lie and a truth that no one would believe. Suddenly, a soft whisper brushed against my ear from behind me. Alva, still perched upon Geri, hissed, "Just answer it was from a poisonous plant that makes you paralyzed…"
I took the opening. "It was a plant," I said.
Elpis pushed through the crowd, her brow furrowed. "What type of plant could make you paralyzed?"
Again, Alva's voice reached my ear, prompting the answer.
"It is Nightshade…" I said.
"Nightshade??" Elpis's tone turned nervous, her eyes darting toward the treeline. "There is nightshade in those woods?"
Louis turned to Elpis. "What is this plant?"
"Nightshade is a dangerous plant," Elpis explained, her voice trembling slightly. "When your skin contacts with this plant, it emits a poison... this poison is so toxic it can make a person paralyzed, even bring death."
"If there is such a plant in there, we should prohibit people from going there," Louis declared.
"We can think on that in the morning," I said, raising a hand to quiet the murmurs. "Right now… we need to take a rest."
Louis looked up at Alva, his eyes narrowing. "About her… Is she trustworthy?"
"She?? Yes, she is," I replied. "I will introduce her to all of you tomorrow. Now, we need to take a rest."
We retreated to the inn. Alva claimed Zoe's empty bed, and for the first time in a week, the house was silent.
The following morning, I was woken by Ame. She and Aalis performed the morning routine with their usual silent efficiency. Once dressed, I descended to the tavern. Everyone was already gathered, their breakfast forgotten as their gazes focused intently on Alva.
"It seems everyone is curious about her," I said, standing before them.
They all nodded in unison. I waved Alva forward. She stood up and walked to my side.
"She is Alva," I introduced her. "She will become part of us. She is very knowledgeable with plants, so she will be a great help for us in this situation."
Alva greeted the table with a stiff, formal little bow. Louis immediately raised his hand. "Yes, Louis, is there anything you want to say?"
"Where does your highness find her?"
Knowing that Alva and Geri's relationship was already strained, I couldn't resist a small bit of mischief. "Actually, Louis, I am not the one who found her."
"So who's the one who found her, your highness?"
"It was Geri."
The room erupted in surprised murmurs; Alva's jaw dropped. Louis leaned forward. "How could Geri, a wolf, find her?"
"Well, about that, you better ask her," I teased. "Because when I was in the woods, I saw her on Geri's back."
Alva leaned close to my ear, her voice a sharp whisper. "Why do you lie to them like that? And why do I need to be with Geri, that animal?"
I turned to her and simply offered a small smile and a quiet giggle. "Hehe."
Leaving Alva to her confusion, I addressed the group. "Now, if you want to know her more, you can ask her privately. For today, we will do two things: continue the crop plantation and create information boards. Elpis, Alva, Aalis, Ame, and Darryl will oversee the planting. This time, I hope you can try to pursue the villagers again to adopt this rotation in their fields. The others are coming with me to survey for the board spots and find a carpenter." I looked around the room. "If there is any question, raise your hand!"
Cail's hand shot up immediately. "Yes, Cail… is there anything?"
"Your highness said to survey; is there any criteria for these board spots?"
"Well, good question. First: the spots where everyone passes to and fro. Second: the spots where everyone gathers. Third: the entrance of the village. It depends on the village's activity. That is why we must survey it. Is there anything else?"
I noticed Cail's expression darken, his fingers twitching over his ledgers. "Cail, is there anything you want to say?"
"While your highness was being paralyzed…" he began, his voice nervous, "I… got… a report from one of the villagers. The granary of the village is depleted. So…"
"This crop rotation will not fulfill the nutrition of the village," I finished for him.
"Exactly, your highness. Is there any way to solve this matter?"
I fell silent, calculating our options. "How far is the other village?"
"Does your highness want to buy some supplies from another village?" Louis asked.
"Yes. Is there any problem with that, Louis?"
"I think the condition of other villages will be the same as ours," Louis sighed. "It will be hard to find a surplus there."
"How about the county city?" I asked.
"Surely they have supplies," Cail answered, "but the price… will be different."
I turned to Aalis. "How much does the palace give me?"
"About… 300 Gold Coins."
Unsure of the currency's weight, I looked at Cail. "Is that enough to replenish the granary? And for how long?"
Cail immediately snatched up his pen and began to calculate with impressive speed. I watched the young boy work, fascinated by his focus. While he worked, I turned back to the others. "Is there anything else to say or ask or maybe inform me while I was being paralyzed?"
Aldea raised her hand quickly. "About Zoe, your highness—is there any plan to find her whereabouts?"
"Zoe… Aldea, do you miss Zoe?"
"WHAT!!" Aldea shouted, her face turning a vivid shade of crimson. "Of course not! Just…"
"Right, right… I know what you mean," I smiled. "I don't know Zoe's full capabilities, but you do. If you start to feel worried, tell me immediately. If you are worried about her whereabouts, raise your hand!"
No one else raised a hand.
"It means only Aldea is worrying about her," I noted. "Let us wait three or four days. If she hasn't returned, we shall search. Does that make you feel better, Aldea?"
She avoided my stare, blushing furiously. A classic tsun type, I thought. I checked on Cail, who was just finishing his tallies.
"With that many coins, we can replenish the granary for about five to eight months," Cail announced. "But I advise your highness: spend only a quarter of your gold. That will fulfill the granary for two to four months."
"And that will be enough for all the villagers?" I asked.
"Yes, your highness. But we must replenish it as quickly as possible."
"From that phrase, it means we will not have any food in three days, right?"
"Yes…"
"How far is the county city from here?"
"About two to four days with carriages," Louis answered.
That was too slow. My mind raced, settling on Geri's unnatural speed. But I couldn't send her alone. I looked at Alva. "Alva, how about you go there with Geri?"
"ME??" Alva cried. "With that animal?"
I walked toward her, leaning in to whisper. "Surely you have magic to carry all the supplies, right? With Geri's lightning speed and your magic, you can make it in three days."
"But… I won't stand being with that animal again," she whispered back.
"What happens if I order you as your master? Do you go against it?"
Alva let out a heavy sigh. "Fine then…"
"Great." I turned back to the group. "Aalis, provide Alva with the coins she needs. Alva will go to the county city with Geri today, because Geri is faster than any horse here."
Aalis nodded.
"Okay, that's it," I declared, standing tall. "Now, we start our day."