5_The Tale Of Verdugo.

THE TALE OF VERDUGO.

“I don't understand.” Hilda sat beside her.

"Did you say I have the venom? Like, you mean I'm cursed? Forever?" She cried.

"Calm down. All I know is that Verdugo is the only one with the venom and the only one to probably give it to you," Hilda placed a hand on Keondra shoulder. “Which is impossible because according to stories, he stopped existing like a hundred years ago. So you see why this is bullshit? It's not true. Nothing is wrong with you, you're fine.”

"He did! He bit me!" Keondra frowned, remembering all that happened.

“I think you are hallucinating now, I will get more potion to calm your soul.” Hilda attempted to stand up.

“Hilda.” Keondra held her back. “It's all true! I need you to believe me.” She pleaded.

“How do you expect me to believe that? I think you're just scared of the tale of Verdugo which probably traumatized you as a child.” Hilda worriedly said.

Keondra helplessly closed her eyes. “Tell me what you know about the venom.”

"It is said that anyone with the cursed venom is the enemy of the full moon." Hilda narrated. "So whatever you do, you can't see a full moon."

"Else I turn into a monster." Keondra sadly said. "That was why he attacked the palace on a full moon." Keondra said.

"Palace?" Hilda asked.

"Yes, he killed my mother, princess Niylah and came for my father too in Wrodromor."

"Princess Niylah? The elf warrior? She was your mother?" Hilda asked excitedly. "That means you are the princess of Wrodromor, daughter of Lord Ludwig, the lost princess."

"Yes." Keondra simply said.

"Wow!" Hilda quickly flew to the corner of the room and came back with Keondra's swords.

"Where did you find them!?" Keondra smiled and hugged her swords.

"In the valley." Hilda frowned. “No, this can't be true.” She shook her head and moved away. “This can't be.”

“It is! I am here. You need to believe me.”

“If it is really true, how are you still alive? Lord Ludwig, Lord Casper, princess Niylah, all these legends died hundred years ago.”

“I don't know how, I can't believe it but it's true.” Keondra paused. "So that means king Ludwig is dead. Grandpa is dead.”

Hilda sadly watched her.

Why does she feel like she can trust her?

What if she is lying? And if she's not?

How is this possible?

“I'm sorry….um…"

"Keondra."

"Keondra. Lord Casper and Lord Ludwig both died as heroes in our stories. So what are you going to do now?" Hilda asked, still in doubt.

"Thank you so much Hilda for helping me without knowing me. Verdugo can't know that I'm still alive. I need to go to Kraxuris." Keondra said.

“Verdugo doesn't exist anymore. Even if the tales were real, he disappeared into the mountains a century ago, never to be seen again. He took his evil with him.” Hilda insisted.

“But here I am.”

“I don't know what to believe anymore.” Hilda shook her head. “Maybe Raul was right, I should've left you..”

“Thank you for not leaving me.” Keondra quickly hugged her. “I know you don't believe me but I beg you to help me. I need you, I don't know what's going on here or what ever this new world is.” She slowly released her. “All I know is that I woke up this morning, there was an attack on Wrodromor and Verdugo killed my father and threw me off a cliff. It still feels new and fresh, like it was just yesterday. Hilda, I'm scared.” Tears filled here eyes.

“Don't cry.” Hilda wiped her face. “Shh. So how old are you? Are you like my.. ancestor?”

Keondra chuckled. “Last time, I was about 216 moons.”

Hilda gave her a smile. “We use years now.” She made a thinking face, calculating something in the air.

“What are you doing?”

“If you're about 216 moons, then um.. you should be around 18 years.” Hilda explained.

“Okay.” Keondra tried to look like she had an idea. “I have to get to Kraxuris.” She suddenly stood up.

"It would be easier for me but for you, you have to walk, a lot. You can do that right?" Hilda asked.

“We didn't walk on fours back in my time you know…”

“Well…”

“You know what I meant!” Keondra rolled her eyes as the two laughed. “I'm not that old and my era was quite developed.”

“I will help you, but you have to listen to everything I say. The world is quiet…different from what you think it was.” Hilda informed as she walked to the table.

“How bad can it get? I am used to worse. I can fight, I can hunt, I will survive.” Keondra proudly said. “No problem. All I need is food and water. The moment I step in Kraxuris, I'll make Verdugo pay for everything he did!"

Has she been listening to anything she said?

“I don't know how it was back then but the world is really quite different now.” Hilda turned to her. “There's no Vroudia anymore, every empire is on its own. There are boundaries and rules. The dynasty fell apart many years ago, they don't trust each other anymore and I don't know why because they kept the truth from us. Some even tell stories of other empires as myths or jokes. They now think we are ‘ghosts’, some call us witches, that's what they call us. Assyria is the most hated and they made it seem like we don't exist anymore. Each empire is slowly fading, we are losing tradition and culture. The strongest so far is Wrodromor, Xethen was always an outcast, the vampires are trouble.”

“How about Kraxuris? Surely there's something left.” Keondra worriedly asked.

“Not as strong as Xethen, but Lord Casper left quite a legacy. There are warriors but they can be out numbered. It is actually the only empire that accepts all types of creatures except the vampires. They are open to all. The demons are always hostile and Wrodromor is kinda flexible too. They do tolerate elves and demons but with very strict rules.”

“Then that is perfect! We will go to Kraxuris.”

Hilda walked to her with something in her hands. “Here, I took them off you when I found you.” She held it up.

Keondra looked down at her armor, scabbards, quiver and arrows. She sadly collected them. “Thank you.”

“I will help you if you still wish to continue in your quest.”

Keondra looked at her. “Verdugo is still alive, I can feel it in my soul.” She said. “And I am going to find him, and kill him.”

She put on the quiver and scabbards while Hilda quietly watched.

“I need more arrows, it can be dangerous out there.” She turned to Hilda.

“What are you talking about? You can't go out there like this. People will stare the moment you step foot in the city. And they will talk.” Hilda informed. “You need a wardrobe change.”

“Huh?” Keondra looked perplexed.

“I will handle it when we get to the city of Kraxuris. But for now, you have blend in, take them off.” Hilda smiled. “This is so exciting!”

“There is nothing wrong with what I'm wearing.” Keondra shrugged.

“You look like an ancient warrior.”

“That is very accurate.” Keondra smiled.

“Just lose the armor, and the quiver. Oh, don't forget the sheaths too…”

“You want me to go to war naked?” She frowned.

“Okay, nobody's going to war.” Hilda sighed. “We can get you new ones in the city. Just leave the crop-hoodie and baggy pants. You look fire!”

Keondra looked down at herself. “I'm taking my swords.” She stated. “So, how do we get in?”