11 Monster

Awaking in an unfamiliar room, Harrah blinks her eyes several times... and when her vision become clearer, she nearly cries out after realizing, she was sleeping in the same bed with General Leonard Ming!

Not only that, she's clinging onto him, her arms wrapped around his body and her head pillowed on his right arm. She blushes.

She cannot help but stare at his peaceful face. He certainly looked younger despite his age. Definitely, if he shaves off his beard he will look younger. He often gives a serious face like he was always in deep thought. She understands how very hard on him for all these years while the throne is empty.

A huge responsibility falls on his shoulders, and he works hard to maintain peace and unity in the land, not mentioning the threats of the outside kingdoms.

Leonard surely exhausted protecting the land, Harrah thought. She has to reward him soon, maybe a beautiful and suited wife from a good family. Does she wonder if the general has someone he likes? It will be easy for her to grant if ever he has a request in the future.

And the best way to get an answer is from the shaman, she will ask him next time. She will also reward the knights' who serves the kingdom loyally without a king. There are many things for her to takes care of, but first, she needs to see who are loyal and who has a hidden agenda to threaten the throne.

Harrah slowly pulls out her arms around Leonard's body. He's still snoring, he seems very exhausted. Carefully, she climbed down from the bed and make a silent step away. She was concentrating on not waking up the general because she doesn't know what face to give in front of him... she turns around and screams. She covered her mouth right away and glance at the bed, the general did not move, that's good.

"Have you been here all this time?" she whispered to Iore who seated in the corner. He let out a soft laugh.

"Of course, I promise I'll watch over you," he asserted and smile warmly.

He glances at the bed and said, "for 18 years, I never saw him sleeping this properly... he is the last person who went to bed and the first person who wakes up. I have been by his side the entire time and that is why I know," he added when Harrah gives him a curious look.

"I've been a shaman before your father was born." he smiles warmly.

Harrah dropped her mouth. How come, he still looks so young? Does his real age is like 100 years already? She wanted to ask.

She heard Iore chuckles. "you should say it out if you wanted to ask me of something."

"Ah, about that... It doesn't matter," she responded.

"You must be very hungry... your body still hasn't fully used to this world. Your energy still so vulnerable, you'll be losing consciousness now and then. " Iore notified her.

"Seems that's the way it is. I have to gain my full strength first," she conceded.

"Now, let me heat the food," Iore offers. A purple light coming from his staff and the food is like freshly cook. "now, dig in..." he picks up the teapot and pours the tea in Harrah's teacup.

She's surprisingly enjoying the foreign food. She had tried all the kinds of cuisine by different chefs from all over the world back home. This food was also good.

Iore pours more tea and she right away sips the good aroma tea. It's sweet but not bad on her tongue. "This is good," she murmurs.

She and Iore continued chatting with a low voice, while Leonard was just awake but pretended he's still sleeping. He doesn't know how to face the young girl, not mentioning he fell asleep as well which not so like him. Is he really get this old? What the heck? He'd hoped he didn't do something inappropriate while he was sleeping, he felt too shameless on his ends.

Ah, I need to pee. Leonard sighs silently.

How he can go out now? Damn it Iore, stop the chattering. All he could do now is crying inside his head.

"Ahem. Do you like to walk outside? The moon is at its peak, it was bright light outside." He suggested. He senses what's going on to the man pretending of sleeping in the bed.

"Really? Can I?" she claims excitedly. Iore nodded. Harrah immediately gets up from the chair and get out of the room.

Leonard sits up and heaved a deep sighed. "Ah, I thought I need to hold out longer."

Iore chuckled. Leonard glared at him before he takes the other exit door. "There's something I wanted to ask you and so don't leave yet," he ordered.

Iore just replied with an amusing smile.

*****

Meanwhile, Harrah made light steps in the garden. She realized that the town Chief's house is a little resembles in Japanese houses.

She's reaching the middle garden when someone halts her.

"Who are you? Show your face?" he questions her.

Harrah looks up and held down the hood of her cloak. The guard surprised a bit then continued pursuing her.

"I've never seen you here before. Who are you!?" he about to grab his sword when someone tapped his shoulder.

"Hold your beast their brother." Zen pats the guard's shoulder. "She's with us," Zen lean on the guard and whispered something that made the guard felt terrified.

"I'm sorry, milady!" the guard gets down on his knees.

Harrah look at Zen with a flustered face wondered what he told him. Zen looks away and whistles... Hoping it's not about her true identity which she and Iore are very careful to reveal any suspicious action.

Yet, he just called her milady so it's something else and it sounded not right because he smiles playfully. She'll tell Iore about it and ask him to interrogate Zen later.

Back in the room, Iore was trapped in the corner. Leonard gives him a suspicious look. His sweat began trailing down his forehead.

"What?" he asked him.

"Tell me, what's going on?" Leonard asked in a serious tone he usually used during trial court times.

"What going on? Why don't you ask me straightforwardly?" he challenged him.

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"Really?"

"Uh-huh..." Iore nodded, his lips grinning amusingly.

Leonard stayed silent for a long moment before he questions him, "tell me, how long I've sleep... I mean, me and--" he can't mention Harrah's name. Sweat showing out on top of his forehead.

Iore laughs.

"Stop it!" Leonard is blushing. He looks like a teenager having a crush for the first time.

Before he could answer, they feel the ground shaking then followed by a loud growl.

He and Leonard stare at each other then blurted, "Harrahina!"

They quickly run outside and witnessed when the monster with a long body leaps and attacks a certain direction.

They saw Zen jump in midair, holding Harrah in one arm.

Leonard takes out his sword and comes forward to attack the monster. He strikes the monster body. The monster felt the pain but it did not stop from attacking them. It's tail lashing towards Zen and Harrah.

Iore immediately makes a shield to protect them.

Leonard takes the opportunity while the monster got distracted. He makes a one-time move and slices the monster's body. The monster splits and its body turns into ashes.

"What's going on here? That monster is living in the Eastern desert and is a soft one. They don't harm unless their birthing period." Iore upset.

"There's something going on here more than what we know," Zen appended.

"The dark force is growing stronger it seems," Leonard stated. "We must hurry and find answers in the Hemora City."

He recently received reports and he's not happy about it.

Harrahina walks forward where the monster ashes left few traces. Her heart suddenly in pained. She needs to gain full strength sooner.