Chapter 2: Two Shot

Two Shots:

     Once upon a time there were two kingdoms that were the worst of neighbors. So vast was the discord between them that it was said only a great hero or a terrible villain might bring them together. In one kingdom lived folk like human with a vain and greedy king to rule over them. They were forever discontent and envious of the wealth and beauty of their neighbors. For in the other kingdom, the enchanted forest lived every manner of strange and wonderful creature. And they needed neither king nor queen but trusted in one another. In a great tree on a great cliff in the enchanted forest lived one such spirit. There’s a girl. But she was not just any girl, she was a fairy.

     The girl was lying on a tree branch happily watching the stars above the night sky, suddenly she hears a commotion below. Wanting to find out what it is, she immediately stands up and looks down. A humanoid tree-looking giant made of roots and greenery with faces that merely look like evil skulls is approaching her place.

“Balthazar!” she said, opening up her big wings and flying down to meet the humanoid tree.

The humanoid tree called Balthazar suddenly stops when it heard and sees the girl fly down because she was the purpose of why it comes here.

     The other creatures who were living near wonder why it comes here at this time because the humanoid trees usually stay on the border to guard against anyone, especially humans who want to trespass the enchanted forest.

     While the little creatures on the side were talking to each other and speculating about why it comes here, the girl lands in front of Balthazar, and she immediately notices that it was distressed by something.

“What’s going on? Tell me, is there something wrong and do you need my help?” she asks worriedly.

The chattering noises died down as they wait for it to speak.

     Balthazar didn’t say a word, but it begins to grunt like it saying something. The creatures and fairies who were near fully understood what it said. The news brought by Balthazar causes panic in the hearts of the one who lives inside this enchanted forest.

It’s said that there’s a human suddenly appeared out of nowhere inside the forest near the border in the east. The human also releases a dreadful aura that every time they want to go near the human they feel suffocated and pass out. It also added that there are two beasts besides the human who looks like guarding it. One was a white tiger, but it is much bigger than the tiger in the Moors, and the other was unknown because it had never seen a beast like that in its entire life.

     The girl immediately took off after hearing what Balthazar said, leaving a gust of wind behind. Balthazar and the others stumble back because of it.

“She’s always in a hurry with her big wings,” one of the fairies said.

“Stop dilly-dally and let’s follow her!” the other fairy said.

Balthazar and the others go after the girl immediately. They want to help her if needed and this forest was also their home, so they want to defend it.

     As they hurry and wanted to catch up, the girl is already near where the human is, and along the way she sees some humanoid trees that just sitting there and doing nothing, she senses a feeling of despair coming from them.

     Continuously flying forward, she sees more humanoid trees that guard this enchanted forest lying unconscious on the ground.

     She suddenly stops midair when a faint wall appears in front of her, it is like a barrier circling the small area up ahead.

Even though it was fuzzy she can still see through the other side of the barrier where more border guards were on the ground unconscious, so the girl decided to hurry and enter the barrier flying unhindered, but she didn’t even get far when her body feels getting heavier that she ended up falling slowly.

She tries to glide her way down, hitting the branches of tall trees along the way, until she falls and lands in a soft part of the meadow.

It’s dark down where she is, but it’s not a problem for her.

Using her two hands trying to push herself up but it was shaking making it harder to get up.

She even tries to use her magic to help herself but it’s no use and she did not even know why.

     After pushing herself, the girl finally manages to stand up but her whole body was shaking. Looking in front, she can tell that she finally reached her destination.

     In this small area of meadow which is surrounded by tall trees, the girl finally sees the beasts and the human that Balthazar warns her about.

On the side of the human was the tiger who was the biggest tiger she has ever seen, and the color of it was truly white.

While on the other side was a beast she didn’t even know, it was many times bigger compares to the white tiger and looks more ferocious than the other beasts she has seen.

And finally, the human who was in the middle sitting on a tree stump. The little light coming from the moon reflects on its long white hair, and the girl knows it is a man even though she can only see the back of it.

     The girl starts walking toward the man, dragging her big wings she pushes forward. Her little body was wanting to give up, and the need to protect the place she called home was the only motivation she has to continue moving forward to face the man that she deems invading her home.

“Interesting.”

The girl suddenly stops when she hears a voice in front of her.

“Who are you? Why are you here? Why do you attack the resident of this forest?!,” she said with a hint of agonizing tone.

The man didn’t answer her question and just stand up to where he was sitting, slowly turning around and facing her.

“It seems the strongest living being in this area was this little girl,” he continued with a hint of amusement in his tone. “A Dark Fey!”

The little girl did not quite hear the words coming from the man’s mouth. She was so focused and scared when the man turns around and face her. In her eyes, it is not a human that she’s seeing, but a being with green-cat like eyes that are shrouded by darkness.

She never felt this terror feeling before in her entire life.

     When the remaining strength in the girl’s body left, she collapsed and fell to her knees.

She tries to stay conscious but eventually passes out due to exhaustion and fatigue caused by what she’s been through.

“Seems I overdid it,” the man said while shaking his head.

“Raiju why did you scare her?” he jokingly said looking behind his shoulder where the beast is.

The beast known as Raiju makes a little growl sound like it’s denying what the man’s said.

     This trio that suddenly appear out of nowhere in this forest was Sephiroth and his two beast companions, a white tiger, and a Zinogre.

     When they first arrive in this world, he hid some memories known by his two predecessors deep inside his mind for a time being. Afraid that it will spoil him on his journey about wanting the authenticity of discovering something and experiencing it by himself. But he knows deep down that it was impossible unless he wipes out his memories which he didn’t want to.

     The only thing that Sephiroth didn’t hide was some information that can be useful throughout his journey.

Added to that, he even goes as far as banning himself from using some of his cheat abilities like gathering information instantly and mind-reading skills, unless he really wanted to know something.

     And when he felt some contempt earlier coming from the humanoid trees that slowly getting closer to where he is. He leaked a small amount of dreadful aura and pressure to test them, wanting to find who has a strong will to confront him face to face.

For him, having a strong will is the most important thing because if not for having it, he will never escape from that place. And if he ever encounters someone who has a strong will, they might gain his respect because having it has a higher chance to change their designated fate if they want to.

     But the one that gives him surprise the most was this little Dark Fey. Although she was still a little girl, she is the first being he met in this world that has strong will and determination.

Even appearing before him and ready to protect this place while her ability to use magic is sealed, has a strength like a normal human child facing the one who she deems a threat to this forest which the girl considers her home.

“Guess you’re in my responsibility for a while,” Sephiroth said while looking at the little girl who is on the ground.

     He picks up the little girl and bridal carry her, turning around and preparing to leave, but before walking away he looks behind his shoulder.

Outside the barrier where the clearing is, there are many types of creatures ranging from fairies, treants, murlocs, spirits, and many more who looks worried but do not have the will and courage to proceed inside the dense forest. They just wait and pinned their hopes on the little girl that she can resolve the problem by herself.

     Just as Sephiroth continue walking and trying to find some area where he can settle down for a short while, there is happening outside where the barrier is.

“I wonder what happen to Maleficent… why did she take too long to get out?” the little pixie said that looks plump, has brown hair, and wearing a red dress and hat.

She is worried that something bad happens to the girl called Maleficent.

     Earlier, when they are following Maleficent, a faint barrier also appears in front of them. They just ignore it since they can enter freely, but before getting far, their body suddenly becomes heavy and hard to move.

They also feel the dreadfulness and hopelessness that discourage them to move forward.

Adding to that, they feel that the magic inside their body is gone.

So in the end, they decide to retreat and go back outside the barrier.

Knowing that they will be a hindrance to the girl if ever a battle breaks out. So, they choose to stay outside and just put their hopes on the little girl who they deem the strongest fairy in this enchanted forest.

“Calm down Knotgrass, I’m sure Maleficent can handle the human who trespasses like the old times,” a blond girl pixie speaks confidently, wearing a green dress and a hat with yellow and white tips.

“You and your careless mouth speak without thinking!” Knotgrass turns behind her and flies in front of the blond pixie who tries to calm the situation. “This human is different, this human was powerful. Think… if that human there can create this barrier that seals all of our magic in this area, what about Maleficent and her magic and spells?”

Hearing what Knotgrass said, the blond pixie together with the creatures that know about Maleficent’s magic prowess was becoming more downhearted and worried.

“Knotgrass, Thislewit just trying to lift the mood,” a female pixie with short brown hair in a curl interjects. It’s wearing a blue dress.

“I know Flittle I just worried and frustrated that we are powerless to help Maleficent there.”

     Suddenly, a voice rang in their head.

(“Don’t worry, the little girl is sleeping and needed a full rest. Go back and rest, you can meet her in the morning.”)

After that, the voice disappeared completely before they can react.

     The three pixies look at each other with surprise and confusion.

“Did you hear it? Knotgrass? Thislewit? Everyone?” the blue pixies named Flittle looked left and right trying to find some reaction on everyone’s face and if they also hear what she heard in her head.

“Yes, we hear it,” Knotgrass said while looking behind her inside the thick forest. “I'll just wait here until it was morning and hopefully the human words are true.”

“I'll also wait!” Thislewit said.

“I also,” Flittle said.

And then other creatures follow, expressing their willingness to stay.

     Inside the forest where Sephiroth walking, he suddenly stops and looks behind and a sudden smile appear on his face.

“Little girl, you have a big family here worried about you,” he said while looking at the face of the little girl who was sleeping peacefully in his arms. “They didn’t even realize that the barrier I set up is no more.”

     Sephiroth starts moving again together with his two companions, continuing their trek inside this enchanted forest.

……….

     The sun was up and the sunlight streams golden through the window in a well-mannered announcement of the risen sun.

In a room where there is a girl that sleeping undisturbed, her face has a sign of a goodnight’s sleep with a bit smile on it. But that smile replaces with a little frown when the light coming from the sun through the window reaches her face.

     A small whispering sound breaks the long silence occupying the room.

“I’m too close to getting my true love kiss,” the little girl in the bed speaks softly while her eyes are still closed.

‘The sun ruin my dream,’ she thought while stretching her body. ‘Wait, why it is so soft?’

The girl feels comfortably soft that she wanted to be lazy all day and get back to sleep again because it is not every day that her nest on top of tree branches this kind of feeling soft.

Most of the time, she uses her wings as a cushion to sleep more comfortably.

     Feeling something was wrong, she immediately opens her eyes and finds that the thing she usually sees every morning was gone. The sky, some tree branches, and leaves are gone and replaced or blocked by some ceiling made of wood.

She immediately got up and stand to ready herself if there was an enemy nearby, causing the blanket that covers her to fall off.

     Looking around, she finds herself in some kind of enclosure made of woods.

‘If this is what I think it is, this is a dwelling place where a human use to live.’

This is the first time the girl sees what is inside where the human lives.

She can only see it from afar when flying not far from the borders.

‘How did I get here?’ she thought, trying to recall the memories back from the night when she confronted face to face the man who threatens her home.

Remembering how the man she sees as a monster brings her unimaginable terror that she never forgets.

‘Did a human save me after I pass out?’ she asked herself.

     Noticing something on the side, the girl immediately got off the bed and goes to where the window is.

     Looking through the window, she can see that the outside looks familiar.

Not far away there is a river that looks like the one she knows, and when she looks further ahead there’s the familiar cliff that she normally sees on the eastern side of her home.

     The girl decided to check it later after she gets out and see if everyone is alright.

     For now, she needs to figure out a way to leave this place.

Trying to feel the magic inside her and see if she can use it again.

‘It seems that my magic is back, I can feel the magic on my body!’ raising her left hand, trying to open the window using her magic but it won’t budge.

Furrowing her eyebrows, she tried opening the window again.

‘My magic still has no effect!’ looking down at the palm of her hands, then back at the window.

She raises her both hands towards the window, thinking that if magic is no effect, why not forcefully open it.

Trying to push and pull the window, even to the point that she wants to break it using her hands. But all of her efforts came to naught because the window still won’t open.

     Giving up the idea of using the window to get out, she looks around the room again and finds a door in the corner. She starts walking towards it because she knows that this thing is what the human often used as an entry or a way out of their place.

     In just a few steps, the girl who is already in front of the door noticed that it is not like the one she normally sees because it has many intricate designs on it. But she did’nt care about this and started to open the door in many ways.

     Firstly, she uses magic but after seeing that it was ineffective, she then uses her two hands which are also useless since the door in front of her is still close.

She then notices a knob on the side and grabs it, trying to pull it a few times when suddenly the knob moves and rotates followed by the movement of a door that opens a little. Her mood suddenly lifts, knowing she can now leave this place.

‘I need to hurry and go back to the Moors! I need to know what’s happening there!’ fearing that something bad happens to her home and the creatures that live there.

     Opening the door slowly, the girl remains vigilant while peaking in the gap. She tries to see if a human is guarding on the other side.

But when she sees that the other side of the door is another room, the feeling of disappointment appears on her face because this is not what she expected to see.

     The girl just sigh and start pushing the door quietly and enter, she was trying not to make a sound as much as possible. Walking carefully while looking left and right, she sees many foreign things that fascinated her.

‘Are all these things the human usually use?’ she asked herself while looking around.

Realizing that she’s getting distracted, she immediately focuses on what she was intending to do, which is finding a way to leave this place. She looks around again and finds that there seems like a passage in the corner.

Walking towards it, she sees a stair that is going downward.

‘This place is weird. As if it were built on top of some cave that leads down deeper,’ she thought continuously. ‘I hope there’s some opening on the lower part like some cave where I used to visit and play.’

     Having no other choice, she uses the wooden stair and starts descending where another room full of foreign things greets her, and like upstairs there is still no human presence around the room.

The only difference in this room was there is an open space not far from where she was standing. She walks forward until she reaches some kind of fence that was high enough to reach her neck, which also happens to have a wooden stair beside it.

‘This has enough space for me to use my wings if ever I need it.’

Putting her hands on the balustrade that she called a fence while looking down between the gap, there she sees an open door where the sunlight coming through it hits the floor.

     Knowing that this is the exit that she was looking for, she excitedly goes down the stairs but didn’t forget to be careful with every step she makes.

     As her feet touch the ground, she looks straight outside the door.

‘At last, I can leave!’ she thought cheerfully.

The girl didn’t immediately go out and just hid her little body on the wall beside the door and tried to see if there is a human outside.

She didn’t dare to underestimate the humans since her parents died because of them.

     Peeking outside the door and leaning a little, the girl can tell that it was early in the morning.

Her eyes moved left and right but she did not find anyone around.

Because of this, she bolted out of her hiding spot and run, but she didn't even get far when she stopped running suddenly.

‘Wait, I’m still in the Moors! I remember this area!’ wondering what’s happening.

Looking back at where she came from and in disbelief at what she sees.

     The place that she assumed in the cave was not actually inside it. Instead, the house was surrounded by trees with a familiar river in the front that flows around the Moors.

Added to that, it was not big and tall as she imagined based on what the inner is. It was also the size of a regular human house and just half the height of the trees that surround it.

“What…!” that is the only word coming out of her mouth while brushing up some of her bangs that blocking her eyes. She still can’t comprehend the things she experienced and see, together with many questions that needed some answer starts manifesting from her mind.

     A few moments passed before it dawned on the girl that she needs to leave, she turns around and slowly flapped her wings. But before she even takes off, something happens.

*Bang*

Suddenly, she heard a loud sound that startle and caused her to panic. She immediately crouches to her knees, holding her head with both hands. Then she quickly uses her big wings to cover herself up and hide.

She waits for something to happen and prepares to defend herself by gathering some magic in her hands.

     The girl continued crouching for a while until she starts getting impatient with waiting. She then makes some small gap between her wings and peeks through it.

‘Looks like no one’s around!’ she thought while slowly standing up and preparing to cast a spell.

Raising her guard while observing, and heightened her senses in case she was attacked from afar by an iron weapon called the arrow. But when she realizes that there is no one around, she breathes a sigh of relief.

Because of this, she decided to finally leave. She begins to flap her wings while looking up when suddenly she heard loud noise again as if something breaks.

*Crash*

It was not as loud as earlier to the point that she did not startle anymore, she just turns her head and looks in the direction where the sound comes from.

She was curious about what it is, so she ended up delaying her departure a little and decides to check it. And maybe she can also find some answers to the questions inside her head.

This decision of her may seem foolish to some, but she is just like one of many children that has full of curiosity about many things in the world.

     Carefully walks toward where the noise comes from until she reaches the side of the cabin. From there, she slowly moves forward while one of her hands is on the wooden wall.

And when she reached the corner where the back of the cabin is, she leaned her head a little, exposing half of her face.

‘I think the loud sound earlier comes from here.’

There she finally sees what’s going on at the back, a massive white tiger jumping all around like catching something. And when the tiger jumps on top of the wooden table, it broke down causing a crashing sound.

‘So that’s the one making the noise!’ she thought while furrowing her brow like trying to recall something. ‘But that tiger is somewhat familiar!’

     Suddenly, it brings a shiver down her spine when she finally remembered where she has seen it.

Because this tiger was the very same one that the girl sees on the night when she confronts the man who wields an unimaginable amount of darkness.

‘That means this house belongs to that monster!’

     The girl blanks out a little, then she thinks of a way to defend the Moors from this dangerous being. But first, she needed to regroup and warn the others about this part of the Moors.

But before she can even take away her eyes from the scene that happening in front of her, she saw a familiar small creature running for its life and trying not to get caught by the tiger.

It has brown spiky quills and a porcupine-like appearance.

“Pinto!” she shouted while rushing out of her hiding, wanting to help the creature called Pinto.

     Hearing its name, the little creature called Pinto looks back to where the voice is and finds that the girl whom it was looking for was running toward itself.

“Malekitu?!” it said cheerfully, but suddenly sensing some danger causing it to look back where the tiger is.

The tiger is already in midair, claws out trying to catch Pinto off guard.

Pinto in panic immediately roll itself into a ball and raise its quills in a defensive posture, hoping that it was enough to fend off the incoming attack. But instead of the anticipated attack and pain coming from the tiger’s claw, Pinto hears someone shouting at itself. Opening up a little, trying to find out what was happening. The fear in its eyes replaces by amazement when it sees the tiger stuck in midair. Its claws were so close that it only needs a push to reach Pinto’s body.

     Underneath the tiger were many overgrown grass-like vines holding it and preventing it from moving. The grass-like vines coiled around its neck, body, legs, and feet.

“Pinto! Stop staring at it and get out of there now!”

Hearing the shouting again, Pinto immediately unroll itself up and look behind, finding that the girl was the one that save it from the tiger.

Pinto sees that the girl uses her magic to save it from the tiger’s attack, with both hands manifested a green color aura and eyes with a pupil like a goat that glows a little.

     When the girl sees that Pinto just stands there like a stone while looking at her, she feels irritated by it and can’t help but shout at the little creature again with a hint of anger in her voice.

“Pinto, stop staring at me and get out of there fast!”

The shout caused Pinto out of its stupor, and it immediately runs toward the girl.

“Malekitu!” Pinto greets the girl with a hint of happiness when it reaches her.

Seeing this, the girl felt warm in her heart.

She can tell and see from Pinto’s eyes the joy and relief of seeing her safe. But this is not the time for them to rejoice because she didn’t know how long her magic can last before the tiger broke free from its entanglement.

Even using her magic and spell directly at the tiger, trying to make it pass out or sleep. But it is somewhat immune to her spells.

So, she just immediately thinks of a way to impede the tiger’s movement. And the first idea comes out in her mind was to use the grass below, making it like a vine. She wants the tiger to pass out by strangling it.

But she never thought that its body was so strong and the only thing she can do is to tie up the tiger in the air using the grass-like vines, restricting its movement.

     Feeling that the vines starting to loosen a bit, the girl continues pouring magic to reinforce it more.

“Pinto, you need to get away quickly!” she said while focusing on the tiger who keep on trying to break free.

Hearing this Pinto look worry and didn’t know what to do.

     Seeing that Pinto having a hard time deciding on what to do, she felt even more irritated.

She is already having difficulty containing the tiger within her grasp and the little creature who she save was just standing there and did not even get to safety.

“Pinto, go away now!” she said while gritting her teeth.

Hearing this, Pinto immediately runs towards the bushes, but it suddenly stops midway and looks at the girl's back.

There’s a trace of worry and unwillingness in its eyes, knowing that its presence will be a hindrance for the girl.

So, the little creature finally decides to leave. It wants to bring good news to its friends that the girl was safe and well.

     The girl’s heads turn a little when she senses that Pinto was gone. She felt relief and can focus now on the tiger, who was still in midair when a low angry growl caught her attention.

*grrr*

Looking at the front, her eyes met the tiger’s eye. She can see and feel the anger in its eyes. The tiger was so furious causing the vines that bind it to loosen a little more.

     The girl didn’t want to fight or kill the tiger. And if they fight, she didn’t even know if she can win or remain unscathed after the fight. But if the only choice was to put it to eternal sleep, she’s willing to do it even though she had never experienced killing someone or something in her entire life.

     She had seen many killings and deaths, especially in the past when the humans and moorfolks had a war with each other. That same war also makes her an orphan at the age of five, and it also opens her eyes to some ugly truths about the world.

So, she makes a vow to herself that she will protect this enchanted forest at all costs, where her parents sacrifice their lives to protect it.

     After a few moments, she decided to finally leave and retreat first. She needs to regroup and meet with all the fairies living in the Moors. They need to come up with a plan on how to face this problem that threatens their home.

But before she can open up her wings, a shadow cast over her followed by a man’s voice that comes behind her back.

“What is happening here?”

The girl was surprised and immediately look back at her shoulder. There she sees a human standing behind her. She turns her body more and can see that it is a man.

The man was half-naked, exposing his upper body for the world to see.

‘So this was a grown man,’ she thought.

This was the first time she sees a man up-close apart from her father.

     Focusing her attention more on the man behind her and ignoring the tiger who still trying to break free from its binding, knowing that the vines have enough magic to prevent the tiger from escaping in a meantime.

     Looking at the fully grown man and observing him thoroughly, the girl can see that she can only reach above the man’s waist.

Her eyes slowly went up into the face and wanted to see what the man looks like, only to find a shadow cast over it. But it did not hinder her to see the man's face, she can tell that the man’s face was above average and looks pleasing in her eyes compared to some humans she usually sees sneaking inside the Moors.

     When her eyes met the man’s eye, her mind suddenly goes blank because she knows who own that eyes. Those green cat-like eyes belong to the very same man who brings her unimaginable terror.

‘I should've left earlier,’ she thought.

The feeling of hopelessness and fear suddenly erupt inside her, it’s like she goes back to that night when she can’t do anything and just stand still.

     Thinking that there’s no way out, the girl didn’t even try to use her magic anymore. Waiting for her demise and wishing that her friends will be safe after she was gone.

‘What am I even thinking?’ gritting her teeth, she forces herself to move and jumps away.

Because she decided to confront the man on her own right now, she just distances herself but did not fly away and flee.

     Standing face to face with the man not far away from her with a firm look in her eyes when suddenly an angry roar reverberates through the area.

*Roooaaaaaar*

It was followed by the sudden appearance of the tiger that walked behind the man, giving a menacing look while showing its big fang on her.

She never thought the vines that tie up the tiger didn’t last long after she stops pouring magic on it.

     Charging up her magic, covering her entire body with an ominous green aura. Then she spread her big wings as wide as she can, lowering both hands near her hips with an open palm.

This makes the girl look villainous together with her horns, green eyes that glow fiercely, and a faint shadow that seems like evil manifest on her back.

“I am Maleficent protector of the Moors!” she stated loudly.

     Though the girl has a voice of a child, it contains some weight that brings chills to anyone who can hear it.

Even the tiger who hears her voice feels intimidated.

     But the man who was standing not far away from her was calm and unfazed. He has a serene expression on his face that seems he did not affect by the girl’s outburst and just looked at her silently.

     As the cold wind blows between the man and the girl, a dark cloud slowly moves and overcasts the area, causing a tense atmosphere surrounds them.

The world suddenly becomes silent as if it awaits the incoming storm that will decide the fate of this enchanted forest called the Moors.

……….

     Somewhere where the morning sun was already high up in the sky, basking the land under with its glorious might that seemingly gave a radiant color everywhere.

     One of the places that light touches were a magical forest, where inside it there was a small structure called a cabin.

     On the back of it, two figures are sitting at the table. One of them was Sephiroth who sitting there silently reading some kind of book, and the opposite of him was a little girl with wings and horns busy chowing down her food without manner.

     Closing the book in his right hand causing it disappears suddenly, Sephiroth then raises his head and looks toward the girl who seems nearly finished eating because he heard something funny coming from her.

“Burrrp!”

It was the girl who suddenly burp after finishing her food. She didn’t even notice the man in front watching her with a little smile on his face like he witnessed something amusing.

     And when the girl realized that the man in front of her was watching, she blushed slightly and immediately put a hand in her mouth to cover it.

     Little amuse by the girl’s reaction, Sephiroth just wait for her to recover her bearing.

“How was the food?” he asks.

Hearing this, the girl did not immediately reply and just cross her arms while raising her chin and trying to avoid his gaze by looking at the side.

“It’s good!”

     With a little smile on Sephiroth’s face, he continues to stare at the girl like he’s waiting for something.

     Still feeling the stare coming from the man, the little girl breaks her composure and starts fidgeting from her sit.

“Ok, I admit that the food and drinks are very delicious,” she said, reminiscing the taste of it. “It’s the first time I have eaten the food called bread, and the juice is the sweetest taste I’ve ever drunk!”

     Sephiroth chose to serve her freshly baked bread, since the girl said that she only eats fruits and sometimes fish.

The bread was a Panettone and Pretzel, he baked it before leaving and put it into his pocket dimension to preserve it. And for the drink, it is just a simple mango juice.

It’s just simple food, but the ingredients he used for it were not normal at all since all of it comes from his world, which was richer and tastier than the regular one.

“I’m glad you like it,” Sephiroth said, then he followed it with a teasing smile. “Never thought that a little girl like you has a louder stomach when you get angry.”

The girl just cover her face due to embarrassment while whispering something under her breath.

     Earlier when they had a stand-off, the tense atmosphere that covers the area was broken by a low growling sound.

Sephiroth looked at the tiger beside him, checking if it was the one who make the growls, but the tiger look at him with a hint of confusion.

When his eyes return to the girl standing in front of him, a faint growling sound can be heard again.

He chuckled a little when he looked at the girl who is blushing and can’t look directly at his eyes.

Since the tension between them died down, he invited her to sit down and eat.

     Trying to introduce himself, Sephiroth raises his hand forward, initiating a handshake.

“So… your name was Maleficent? My name is Sephiroth, nice to meet you.”

The girl watches the hand over the table, then she looked at the man called Sephiroth. She observes his face, which has a lean and long face with more mature features. It was different compares to her father’s face.

And usually, she can feel a small amount of emotion in the other living being, but this time it’s different, she can’t feel anything in the man beside the unexplainable calmness.

     Deciding to trust herself, Maleficent raises her hand forward and tries to return the gesture shown by Sephiroth.

‘Seems like the aura of calmness I release was working,’ Sephiroth thought, seeing that the girl trying to hold his hand and shake it.

     As their hand touches each other’s palm, Maleficent feels something growing inside her, and she can’t explain it.

“My name is Maleficent, and nice to meet you too,” she said while trying to figure out what this feeling she feels right now.

     They hold hands long enough that Maleficent felt awkward about it. So, she pulls back her hand and holds it to her chest causing Sephiroth to chuckle.

‘It’s a nice feeling to hold someone like that!’ she thought while remembering how her parents hold hands with her.

     Sensing that the girl getting a little emotional, Sephiroth decides to lift her mood a bit by trying to initiate a conversation and at the same time asking for some information about this place.

“Maleficent, can you tell me about this place?”

The girl’s ears perk up when she heard his question.

“Oh… this place is called the Moors. It was home of many magical races and different creatures but most of them are fairies…” she continues to talk endlessly that seemingly like to boast about her home and the creatures that living here while Sephiroth just silently listens to her.

‘She still a kid,’ he was amused about the little girl who never stop talking like no tomorrow.

     Supporting his cheek by using his fist at the table, Sephiroth continues to listen to Maleficent’s stories until she asks him about something.

“What about you Sephiroth? Where are you come from?”

He straightens up from his sit before answering her with a serious and calm face.

“I come from a far place called Altera Fabunova!”

Altera Fabunova was the name of his world. He took a long time trying to name it and didn’t know if his naming sense is good or bad. But it sounds good to his ear.

“Altera Fa… bu… nova!?” she whispered and trying to repeat it many times. “What a long name, what was it like?”

“Same as the Moors, home of many creatures but there’s chaos in some part of it.”

“Chaos?” she asks.

“It’s overrun by beasts, magical creatures, wild animals, and dragons.”

“Dragons!!! I like to see one!” she said enthusiastically, clasping both of her hands with a star in her eyes.

Sephiroth silently wait for her to calm down and just summons a cup of tea to drink it quietly.

     Seeing this, Maleficent tries to regain her bearing and slowly calms herself down from excitement.

She wonders how did he do it. With a wave of his hand, he can fix things and summon something out of thin air. She can’t even sense him using magic at all.

     Trying to get back to where they are, the girl asks again.

“Back to your home… what about other races like humans?”

“There’s no human there,” he said.

“That sad,” feeling a little sad about what she heard, assuming that the humans were wiped out in that place.

She held no malice against the humans even though they are the reason she was orphaned. Even going as far as scaring out some humans who are sneaking into the forest to prevent them from meeting and being killed by the border guards.

     Maleficent got out of her contemplation when she heard the man questions her about something.

“I just wonder why the creatures living here in the Moors disdain the humans?” Sephiroth curiously asks after seeing her feeling down when talking about humans.

     She begins to explain the war that happens between the moorfolks and humans. On how many died in the process, including her parents years ago.

“So that’s why the one you called border guards are ready to attack me.”

“Yes… and how did you appear here in the first place? The border guards said that you just walk outside the hole that appears into thin air,” she asks.

     Sephiroth did not reply and just sipped his tea because he knows there is a follow-up question coming from the girl.

“Are you even a human? Because there’s no human can do what you can do!”

     Just as Sephiroth was about to answer, he hears her talk again.

“And that darkness, there’s no way a human possesses that!”

“I consider myself a human,” he interjects while looking at his reflection on top of the tea.

     Feeling his solemnness, the girl just stays silent. But it didn’t take long before Sephiroth open his mouth again.

“Maleficent, remember this, every living being has some darkness inside of them… even you. It just depends on how they will carry and control it like me!”

     The girl stays quiet for a moment before she asks him again about the abilities he has shown in front of her.

“Are you using magic? I have never seen any human using magic! How did you do it?”

He just looks at her and smirks, then said. “Your world is bigger than you thought. You’ll be surprised at how many humans can use magic out there, outside the Moors!”

     Maleficent became silent again and thinking hard because she never thought that a human can wield magic, causing a serious expression on her face.

     Wanting to lighten the mood a bit, Sephiroth began asking some questions about the girl.

“How old are you?”

“I’m nine.”

“You’re smart and powerful for a nine-year-old Dark Fey,” he said, raising one of his eyebrows.

“A Dark Fey? Is that what I am?” she looks at Sephiroth eagerly to know more.

     Seeing that Maleficent truly has no clue about what the Dark Fey is, he just tells her what she needs to know most and did not tell her about its origin since he didn’t even know what kind of lore the Dark Fey has in this world.

“Do you think, out there, there’s a Dark Fey like me?” Maleficent asks him while looking above the morning sky.

Finishing his cup of tea before replying. “I don’t know! This was the first time I see personally a Dark Fey, and it was you.”

One thing he was sure of one thing, the girl in front of him was somehow connected to a Phoenix. He feels the power of it when she used magic earlier, but it is still dormant inside her.

     Maleficent continues to stare at the sky with a longing look. She dreams of what’s her kind like, imagining many Dark Fey flying to the sky together with her.

But her daydreaming was cut short when Sephiroth tells her something.

“Honestly, I was fascinated by your horns and wings.”

     Feeling pride growing on her, Maleficent gets off from her sit and shows off her wings by spreading them wide.

“I also find your eyes to my liking, and also your long white hair!”

“It is silver, not white,” he corrected her.

     After complimenting each other, Sephiroth wants to ask Maleficent formally if he can stay here for the time being.

He can settle in the Moors forcefully and no one can even stop him, but since Maleficent gave a good impression on him, he decides to ask respectfully.

“Maleficent, you said earlier that you are the protector of the Moors… right? Can I ask if we can stay here for a while?”

Hearing this, the girl is silent for a moment, thinking about something from where she’s standing, then she looks directly at Sephiroth’s eyes.

“I’m fine about you staying, but I don’t know about the others! I will tell and consult them first,” pausing a bit. “Please if ever you can stay here, I hope you won’t hurt anyone living here!”

“Alright, as long as they don’t bother or bring trouble to me and my companion.”

He didn’t care whether he can stay in the Moors or not. If they do not agree, he’ll just leave and don’t bother them at all since Maleficent gains his admiration and respect.

     Sephiroth looks at the tiger who was not far away that is facing its back on them.

“Byakko, come here,” he called the white tiger who was busy licking its paws that look like it was finished eating something.

Hearing its name, the tiger gets up and starts walking toward them.

Because of this, Maleficent steps back a little when she sees the tiger is getting nearer.

“Don’t worry!” he said, assuring her that's nothing going to happen.

     When the white tiger reaches them, it sits beside Sephiroth, Maleficent can now clearly see how big it truly is.

Because the Moors were so vast that fairies are not the only creature living here, it is also home to many wild animals and tigers are one of them which she often sees. But compares to the one in front of her, she can tell that the tigers living in the Moors will lose by a large margin in many aspects, whether it was physical appearance or physical prowess.

“Maleficent, meet Byakko, and she’s a female tiger,” he said.

You are reading story Sephiroth in the Multiverse at novel35.com

Byakko just stares at her and looks bored.

“Byakko, apologize for scaring her.”

The tiger looked at him like it was asking why should she apologize and just grunt.

“Come, Maleficent… think of her as a little cat,” he said.

     Convince by his word, she steels herself and starts walking toward the other side of the table.

     Sephiroth got out from his sit and go to the back of Byakko, wanting to watch the interaction between them after seeing that the girl slowly walking after heeding his request.

     And here comes the moment where the tiger and the little girl face each other again.

‘Come on Byakko, just let her pet you a little and I will prepare your favorite meal, ok!’

A voice suddenly appears in the tiger’s head, causing a little drool to come out of its mouth.

     Maleficent who has no idea what’s going on at Byakko just looks up at the tiger carefully in front of her. Having a chance to observe it thoroughly now, she finds that Byakko was more majestic than any tiger she saw.

She sees stripes cover its entire body proportionally, a mark that looks like a symbol of something covering its forehead, the white fur which looks soft and finds it hard to resist not touching it.

“Pleased to meet you, my name is Maleficent,” she lowers her head a little and looks up, trying to be courteous.

Since Byakko was big, she drops to the ground with her four legs to lower her head, trying to match and align it with Maleficent’s face.

     When Maleficent sees that the tiger voluntarily lowers its head, she carefully extends her right hand trying to pat Byakko’s head.

     Seeing this, Byakko replied by making some movement. She moves forward her head to meet the girl's hand.

     As the girl’s hand lands on the tiger’s head, she felt blissful because of how soft its fur is, feeling that her hand will sink anytime if she pushes it further.

“Your Byakko right!” she whispered repeatedly while her other hand touch the tiger’s jaw.

Byakko’s head which was bigger than Maleficent’s body was stretching forward like it saying she wants more petting.

‘This cat!’ Sephiroth said to himself while shaking his head.

     After a moment pass, Sephiroth look up and see that it’s noon already. He looks at the two who are most likely lost themselves in each other’s world.

“Ahem!”

He coughs loud enough to get the attention of the girl which was successful when she looks in his direction with a little smile on her face while she continued petting the tiger.

“Girl, I think it’s time for you to leave now!”

“Why? Let me finish up here first, it’s really soft and fluffy!” she said while clinging to the tiger’s neck.

“If it’s on me, I’m ok with you staying… but your friends are waiting for you since last night,” he explained softly.

     Maleficent’s eyes widen when she hears it. She immediately jumps off from the tiger’s neck then flapping her wings ready to fly up, but before leaving she looks back at Sephiroth and Byakko.

“Again, it’s nice to meet you Sephiroth, Byakko… I'll come again later.”

After she said this, the girl immediately fly off, leaving a gust of wind, going towards the direction where her friends are.

     When Sephiroth didn’t see the girl's silhouette anymore he pulls something in the air and a short black coat materializes slowly until it was fully drawn completely.

“Byakko stop being lazy and come, let’s tour this place up!” he looks at the tiger who was lazing on the ground and seems asleep.

The tiger who is feeling good and wanted to rest after being caressed by Maleficent stands up and stretches its body.

“I wonder where Raiju is… I think he was sleeping somewhere,” he said to Byakko who was walking beside him.

Putting the black coat over his white shirt with black jeans and a red sneaker. He is really like a tourist who was just come here to this enchanted forest for sightseeing.

     And so, the man and a beast wander inside the dense forest called the Moors, leaving behind the place where the cabin is, which slowly regains its tranquility after they left.

……….

     Early morning a silhouette of a man can see swinging a sword repeatedly that seems it’s been going on for a while now. Half naked and barefooted, the sweat on his upper body starts glistening, causing his toned muscle to stand out more.

“Do a man always do this kind of thing?” someone said with a young girly voice.

When he heard the question, he put down his sword and look at where the voice coming from. It was a little girl who was leaning her small head on the tiger’s body that seems asleep on the ground.

     Deciding to stop his training, he walks toward the bench where his thing is.

“I guess I’m different from the rest of the men!” he replied to the girl when he reaches the bench and sheath his sword in its scabbard.

He then put the sheathed sword on top of the bench and picks up the towel that hangs on the side to wipe himself up when he heard the little girl talk again.

“Sephiroth when do we eat?”

This girl who talking and waiting for him to finish training in this early morning was Maleficent, who also frequently likes to join him for a meal.

     It’s been days since Sephiroth finally settle in the Moors. The fairies who live here convey their message that they can only stay under one condition, that is not to cause harm to those fairies who live inside the Moors.

Of course, Sephiroth agreed, but he makes his own condition that as long as they don’t bother or bring him trouble, they will live together peacefully.

     Sephiroth in his sweatpants starts walking toward the cabin while hanging the towel on his neck. He wants to clean himself up and change clothes before cooking a meal for the breakfast.

“Just wait a little!” he said before entering the cabin.

When the girl heard it, she continues to lie down beside the tiger. Smelling the sweet smell in the air coming from the flowers and fruits that some of it she didn’t even know. Feeling the grass on the ground gave a pleasant feeling to her skin. It really feels like a different place compared to a few days ago when there was only a clearing in front of the river and some trees.

And not far away were some border guards who rooted themselves in the ground, she feels that they are somehow content resting here in this place.

Unlike some fairies who were still wary of Sephiroth and stay away from where his place is, the border guards are different because they have reached an understanding.

     A few days ago, when he starts moving out his garden from his pocket dimension and arrange it around the cabin, it somehow affects the surrounding land, making it more magical and fertile than the rest of the Moors.

Because of it, the border guards whose in the vicinity were attracted by it and started to gather around near his place.

When Sephiroth notices the border guards around his cabin, he asks them why they gathered outside the vicinity of his place.

And after he learned the reason, he gave them an offer that they can rest inside his garden in exchange for their service to guard his place, which they happily agreed to, since his place was also part of the Moors which they’re guarding for a long time.

     Maleficent who was waiting and resting her back on the side of Byakko suddenly sees something glowing in the air, and she knows what it is.

If someone takes a closer look it’s a bug like a firefly at night.

     When a glowing bug lands on her nose, it releases a low current of electricity which startles her.

She immediately gets up, causing the bug to fly away.

“Thunderbugs,” she said while looking at the many bugs that slowly appearing in the garden.

The Thunderbugs that were all over the place started to glow more like they were dancing, and she knows what was the cause of it. Suddenly, she heard something, causing her to turn and look at it, only to see a massive beast slowly passing by and just glancing at her.

It has yellow horns, a big long tail, a blue scale covering all over its body, and a spike on the feet and at the back of it. And finally, some white fur that covers some of its body parts.

“Raiju,” she whispered while Byakko didn’t bother to lift her head since she knows who it is.

Maleficent always has a reserved demeanor when meeting the Zinogre. With feeling a little pressure when facing the beast, but she knows that it wouldn’t bring harm to her or the Moors unless it gets provoked.

     As the girl watches the back of Raiju disappearing inside its shed, it is followed by the disappearance of Thunderbugs that hides in every corner of the garden.

Suddenly, a delicious aroma permeates throughout the garden causing her nose to move in the direction where she smells it, while the tiger lifts its head and moves its tails up and down.

     Turning her head to where the cabin is. She sees Sephiroth who already changed his clothes, walking towards the table.

On his hand, there’s a tray with two plates of food and drinks. Following behind was a large chunk of meat floating, and she knows it is for the tiger.

     Maleficent dusted her dress up and walk towards the table and sit, while the tiger begin stretching its body and follow close behind her.

“Little lady… fish, veggies, and soup for you,” Sephiroth said while placing the plate in front of the girl.

“What’s this food called?” she asks and followed by saying. “Never mind, I think I know that it is one of that hard to say the name again.”

     Sephiroth just smile hearing what the girl’s said, placing her drink on the side. Waving his free hand, the large chunk of meat starts moving towards the tiger.

     After he sees that all was in place, he finally settles himself and sits in front of Maleficent. But before starting to eat, he looks at the girl who awkwardly uses the wooden spoon and finds it amusing.

He felt weird at first when hearing Maleficent request to use a spoon like him. Telling her that it is alright to use her hands whenever they’re eating together.

But the girl keep on insisting, so he made her a wooden spoon since she says that iron can burn fairies.

     They eat their food peacefully with a little talk between them, but the one who mostly talk was Maleficent who sometimes giggles and Sephiroth just silently listens to her quietly.

     After finishing their meal and clearing the mess on the table, Maleficent, who was drinking her juice watched Sephiroth pull out his sword into thin air.

She didn’t feel surprised anymore after the man in front of her did it many times.

Even tried to ask Sephiroth many times about how he does it, but he shrugs her off and just smiles.

“Every time you unsheathed that sword of yours, I feel endless evil coming from it,” she said, still looking at the sword on top of the table.

“The Yamato? Of course, because it’s imbued with tremendous demonic power!”

“You mean It’s made from demons?”

“Do you know what the demon is?” Sephiroth ask her.

“Yes!… my mother told me they are the vilest creatures of darkness.”

‘Hmmm… seems there’s also a demon in this world,’ he thought while placing a wooden ring on the table.

Gesturing her to come over.

Maleficent gets out from her sit and walks over to his side.

“Give me your hand,” he said.

     The girl raises her left hand and places it above Sephiroth’s palm. She trusts him and knows that he will not harm her.

“Listen, little lady, don’t ever remove it to your finger!” giving her instruction while putting the wooden ring into her finger.

Looking at her left hand and observed the ring which has an intricate design, but she was happy to have it since this was the first time someone gives her something like this.

“What’s this for?” she asks.

“This ring is for your protection,” he said, holding her left hand where the ring is.

Because he’s a little fond of the girl, Sephiroth make a wooden ring for her protection in case there’s something unforeseen happens to her when he was not on her side.

     Although he is somehow omnipotent, he set rules to limit himself from using his abilities when traveling to different worlds and dimensions.

So in the end, he finally decided to make accessories like a ring that warns him if Maleficent’s life was in danger so that he can teleport back to the girl’s side if he travels far away around the world.

     Maleficent continues watching the ring in her hand, seemingly trying to etch every detail in her mind when a hand touches the top of her head.

She looks up a little and smiles when she sees Sephiroth’s face.

“You can go now, I’ll be leaving the Moorlands later!” Sephiroth said and removing his hand from the girl’s head.

His words make Maleficent blank out for a moment, but she recovers when he turns around and starts walking away from her.

     She immediately runs in front of Sephiroth, spreading her arms and hands wide that seemingly trying to stop him.

“What’s wrong?” Sephiroth stop while putting his black coat on.

“Why are you leaving?... Don’t you want to stay in the Moors anymore?... Why ask me if you can stay, but eventually you’re also leaving?”

Sephiroth look at Maleficent who has a trace of sadness on her face.

‘This little girl,’ he thought and sigh deeply.

     Kneeling on one knee to match the girl’s face while placing his left hand on her shoulder, removing some hair that blocking Maleficent’s face. He sees sadness in her eyes, and he knows where it is coming from.

“Look at me!” he said to the girl who was looking on the ground.

Maleficent look at his eyes with a hint of sadness.

“I’m not leaving the Moors,” he pauses then continued by saying. “Maleficent, I like to experience and see many things… that’s why I leave my home!”

“Why are you leaving, then?” the girl asks him back.

*sigh*

A sighing sound come under Sephiroth’s breath.

Even though he didn’t need to, he decided to clear things up.

“Do you know what lies beyond the Moors?”

“It’s a human kingdom!” Maleficent replied.

“So… you have no idea, do you?”

Maleficent just shakes her head off. She only knows that outside the Moorlands there’s a human land since there are three human kingdoms near its border that can see from afar whenever she flies outside the Moors.

“That’s what I’m after, I want to see, discover and experience everything that the world can give to me!” Sephiroth calmly said to the girl.

     Maleficent is silent for a moment, then her eyes suddenly get bright when an idea appears in her mind.

“Can I come with you?” she asks Sephiroth with an expectant look in her eyes.

“No!” he firmly said without thinking.

“Why I cannot come?”

“You said you’re the protector of the Moors? Then who’s going to protect it if you’re not here?” he said while trying to see the look on the girl’s face.

“That’s not fair!” Maleficent said while pouting. “Can’t I ask you to make Byakko or Raiju protect the Moors for the time being?”

Sephiroth just look at her like he’s saying it’s not going to happen, then he raises her chin using his hand.

“Don’t worry, maybe I will be gone in a week or two… and don’t remove the ring ok!”

     Seeing that there’s no way to convince Sephiroth to take her with him, she decided to let him go and just wait for his return.

“You better be back or else…” she pouts her lips and turns her back on the man.

Sephiroth felt funny seeing this, he stands up and place his hands on the girl’s head.

“Maybe when you grow up a little, I’ll take you out and play, but now is not the right time.”

The reason Sephiroth didn’t want to bring Maleficent out was that he wanted to explore alone for now.

Even his two beast companions who together with him will also be left behind to guard his cabin because he knows that they will bring him a little trouble on the way if they come.

Maybe in the future, it will change that he might get a companion to travel with him, but this time he goes solo.

     Maleficent run away from him like she didn’t hear what he said. She didn’t even look back and starts to fly away until he can’t see her silhouette anymore.

Following the girl’s departure, Sephiroth with the tiger go to where Raiju is, he tells them what to do after he departs. Thereafter, he talks to border guards and gives them some instructions which they happily agreed to, since it’s for the safety of the Moors.

He instructs them to patrol more frequently around the forest.

     As Sephiroth finish the things he needs to do, he looks up and finds that it pass noon already. Deciding that it’s time to leave, holding the Yamato in his left hand, he starts walking toward the east.

He chose to go east because it was the nearest border to his place, and it’s only taking a little time of walking before he gets out of the Moors.

     Passing by many tall trees with thick branches and leaves creating shade from his path. And when he near the exit, he stops for a moment. Sensing something behind, he just shakes his head a little because he knows who’s following him.

After a brief moment has passed, he continues on his way and didn’t look back.

     When the shadow of Sephiroth exit the Moors, a silhouette of the girl comes out from its hiding place and watching the back of him walking far away. She was hoping that her friend will true to his word and return soon.

     A few moments pass and the girl can’t see Sephiroth back anymore, she decided to return. Leaping in the air and flying back inside the Moorlands, where she waits for his return.

……….

     A man looking down through the window where the crowd of people has a life of its own, the vibrant clothes shine in the morning light and people move like enchanting shoals of fish. There is chatter between sellers and buyers, old friends catch up, and new friends are made. It’s definitely busy, but the hustle and bustle bring life to this town.

     This man wears a black coat with light neon blue serpentine patterns and three separated coattails. Underneath was a black sleeveless zippered-turtle neck beneath his midnight blue formal vest. He also wears charcoal gray fingerless gloves, black pants, and dark boots covered by teal gaiters. If anyone can see him, they think that he’s a noble from birth.

But being a noble isn’t true because this man was Sephiroth who came into this town last night.

     When Sephiroth first set foot in this town, the first thing he did was to learn and observe the currency that the people are using, which is coins that are made up of silver and copper for most of the common folks and gold for the noble and other upper-class individuals.

In his memories, many humans and other beings use currency like money, gold, and many more. And knowing it can make his travel more convenient.

     The gold coin was proven more useful when he presented it to the innkeeper in exchange for information and lodging. With three gold coins, he was able to learn that this town was called Nuxvar, it is one of two towns under the small kingdom of Gavaria which is ruled by King Henry.

     King Henry of the human realm whose kingdom lies in the east of the Moorlands was a ruthless, ambitious, and greedy person who was in his late thirties.

Rumors that he attempt to conquer the Moors years ago but failed to do so, and now he was at war with another kingdom in the south, that’s why Sephiroth felt a tense atmosphere in the soldier guarding the town.

     Looking at the massive castle through his window, Sephiroth plans to leave this place today. He just wants to gather information about the world and didn't plan to involve himself in something else for now.

     After observing the town for a while, he decided that it was time to leave. Getting out of his room, he passed five to six rooms in the corridor, he can tell the room that was given to him was somewhat special.

‘Guess three gold coins will do the thing,’ he thought while going down the stairs.

Downstairs, he can see that the rowdy scene from the previous night was no more. All that was left was an upside-down chair above the table.

Suddenly, he heard someone talk.

“My lord, you’re early, I haven’t prepared your morning meal yet,” a bald man appears in the room behind the counter.

This middle age man was the one who runs this inn and tavern which was located near the gate, his usual customer was common folk who comes after a day of work, travelers who need a stay for a night, and some soldiers who want to drink when their shift comes to end.

That’s why he was surprised when a noble enters his place because usually nobles didn’t even bat an eye at taverns outside the noble district. But this noble who came in last night was different, he was polite and even gives him three gold coins for answering some of his questions.

     Sephiroth looked at the innkeeper who seems cleaning before he came down.

“Don’t bother… I will leave now,” Sephiroth said, looking at the bald man who has a complicated expression after hearing what he said. “Do you know where I can find a map? And also a horse?”

“My lord, a map is a rare sight in this area… but if you go to a marketplace in the noble district you might find one there!” the innkeeper immediately replied while looking down at the floor like he did something wrong. “And about the horse, old Gaspar sells it not far from here if you turn left near the gate.”

     Hearing what the innkeeper said, Sephiroth walks toward the door and pushes it with the hand that holds Yamato. But before he fully opens the door, he stops pushing it further.

“I’m satisfied with your service!” he said but didn’t look back.

     Hearing this, the innkeeper who was still looking at the floor perk his ear up.

“Thank you my lord, we will do our best to further improve our service!” he said while bowing down his head a little.

But the only reply the innkeeper got was the sound of a closing door. He looks to the door and finds that no one is there anymore, he relaxes his shoulder while taking a deep breath.

‘It seems he needs to do something urgent that he needs to leave early,’ he thought. ‘I wonder what his name is?’

He didn’t even dare to ask Sephiroth about his name, fearing that it may anger him.

     The innkeeper continues his work while humming happily with every stroke of the mop passing on the floor. He feels lucky that he wishes every noble he sees was like the one who gives him three gold coins, but he knew that it was impossible. Knowing that is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet that kind of noble.

……….

     Sephiroth who finish wandering around the town in the afternoon was standing in the stable near the gate, he watches the horses for some time now that he garner attention from the folks who pass near the stable because of his unique features, especially his hair.

Sephiroth didn’t mind the onlookers who are looking at him and just focusing on the horses in front of him. He’s lost whether he gets a horse or not.

Since he didn’t prefer to fly for now, he plans to walk all the way where he intends to go. But last night he thought getting a horse was not a bad idea.

     Suddenly, he hears someone talk on his side, causing him to turn his head and look at who is talking.

“My lord, can I help you with something? If you need a horse I can show our best one, although it’s not on par with what the lord usually uses, but I can assure you that it was able to run for a few days!”

     An old man with only a little hair left on the side of his head is the one who was talking to him. The old man looks nervous and feels uncomfortable because he can’t even see any expression on Sephiroth’s face at all. Clutching his hat tighter into his chest, a little sweat starts appearing on the side of his forehead while he waits for the noble in front of him to speak.

“Are you old Gaspar?”

The old man known as old Gaspar was more nervous because the noble in front of him know his name.

“Yes my lord my name is Gaspar, but folks here call me old Gaspar!” he said hurriedly because he didn’t want to offend the noble knowing that he even know his name.

“No need to be nervous, the owner of the tavern near here said that you sell a horse?” Sephiroth asks and assuring old Gaspar that there’s nothing to worry about.

Hearing this, the old man breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the noble only wants to do business with him.

     Sephiroth didn’t bother himself about what was going on inside the old man’s head and just starts walking toward the horses.

     When old Gaspar sees him walk, he immediately follows behind, thinking of a way to promote his horses to the nobleman who’s in front of him.

“My lord, we only have five horses here, and I can show you the horse that we recently caught,” old Gaspar said, trying to present the best horse they have to impress him.

Sephiroth just ignore him and continue on his way, entering a somewhat small and open shack where the horses are.

He didn’t even bother about the dirt and feces of horses that scatter around the ground, he’ll just try avoiding it, but still, some small dirt was unavoidable, and he ended up stepping in it.

     Seeing this, old Gaspar was afraid because he didn’t have time to clean up, causing some dirt to get into the sole of the noble’s boots. Afraid that he will blame him for dirtying his boots. But he was surprised that the noble in front didn’t blame him, even ignoring the dirt and continue walking inside where the horses are.

     Today, old Gaspar’s understanding of a noble was broken because of the man in front of him. Throughout his life, he only knows that a king and nobles are the ones who need to fear and respect.

Because he saw it many times that in just a single order coming from them, the nobles can decide whether he and other commoners can live and die within the kingdom.

But this noble was different, he can’t feel any hint of arrogance and disgust when he talked to him, unlike most nobles in the kingdom who let their servants do the talking to commoners like him. The worse case was some noble, easily offended if you look them in their eye. Although he can feel some indifference coming from the nobleman, it’s not bad compared to other nobles.

     While the old man contemplates how his view about nobles, Sephiroth suddenly stops walking causing the old Gaspar to bump into him and stumble back a little.

Realizing what he’s done, the old man bowed his head and immediately apologized.

“I’m sorry my lord, I didn’t know what I’m doing and dirtying your precious clothes!” old Gaspar said while keep bowing and apologizing.

     Sephiroth’s head just turn a little but didn’t look back since he knew that the old man was fine and didn’t fall to the ground. The one that caught his interest was the horse in front of him.

The horse just lay on the ground, looking thin, frail, and old. If someone sees the horse, they can say that it is in the last stage of its life, where it’s only waiting for its final sunset.

But Sephiroth see otherwise. When he looks at it, its eyes were undimmed and its vigor unabated. Like it wants to run in the field like old times, but its body can’t keep up anymore.

(“Want to run again?” Sephiroth ask the horse through its head.)

He didn’t get any reaction apart from the horse's eyes getting widen a little, but it didn’t raise its head and continued to lie down.

(“I can make you run again, but you have to follow me.”)

After saying that, now he gets a response from the horse. It neighs, but a little to no sound coming from its mouth, like it agreed to the condition he made.

     Old Gaspar, who is behind Sephiroth has no idea what’s happening in front of him. He keeps bowing his head and praying that he didn’t upset the noble in front of him, but someone suddenly talks, which interrupts his praying.

“I want this one. How much?”

“I’m sorry?” the old man said and raise his head a little, wanting to confirm where the voice come from.

“This horse, how much it is?”

Old Gaspar now realizes that it was the nobleman who speaks and asks about the horse. He immediately gets to his composure and looks at what horse the noble wants.

When he saw the horse, he has a look of confusion on his face.

‘Is this the one that he wants? This mare was on its deathbed. Maybe he just wants its meat, but I don’t think it gives that much since it’s already old and thin,’ old Gaspar thought.

     Wanting to offer a better one to Sephiroth, he gathered his words nervously.

“My lord, I don’t think this mare suits you. This one was already old, and it cannot run anymore, and if it’s meat you’re after I think there's a better one out there,” he’s trying to convince Sephiroth at the same time appeasing him and present the best horse he got.

“No, I like this one! How much?” Sephiroth said, bending down and reaching the dark red mare’s neck and caressing it while giving it enough energy to stand and move around.

     Seeing what he’s doing, the old man has a worrying look and wants to tell him that the dirt on the ground might get into his clothes, but decided not to say it.

Feeling that Sephiroth really want that mare, an idea came to his mind.

“My lord, since this mare was to your liking, why don’t I give it to you as compensation for earlier?” he pauses a bit and immediately says. “Since it’s already old, and maybe it only has a few days left before it dies.”

     Hearing this, Sephiroth slowly stands and turns around facing the old man who feels intimidated by him.

“Old Gaspar we’re doing business here, so how much was the mare?”

The old man immediately shook his head while gesturing his hand like he didn’t need to pay up.

“No my lord, I can’t let you pay for the trouble I cause… and also that horse was already dead anyway since it didn’t eat for days, and we’re only waiting for it to die and bury it somewhere.”

     Sephiroth just stare at him without any expression shown on his face, and it makes the old man feel more uncomfortable. In fact, if Sephiroth take away the horse, he already plans to call some people and put it on his old wooden cart so that it can be easier to move around.

“Give me your hands!” he orders.

Unknowingly, old Gaspar put his hand forward.

Sephiroth get something inside his coat and place it on the old man’s hand.

“I think 25 copper coins is enough for a dying horse.”

     After paying, Sephiroth walks pass and taps lightly the shoulder of old Gaspar three times, then he continues walking toward the entrance.

Old Gaspar, who was still in trance, just looking at the coins in his hand when he heard the noble behind him talk again.

“Why do you still on the ground? Come were leaving!”

Confuse about what the noble said, he gets an answer when he heard a neighing sound followed by a dark red horse who was supposedly lying on the ground and who’s on its deathbed suddenly stands up and starts walking.

It walks pass him like it was nothing.

Looking at its body, he can clearly see that it is still thin, but there’s no sign of weakness when it walks. He was amazed, shocked, and can’t comprehend what miraculous thing he witnessed in his eyes.

     He repeatedly looks back and forth at the horse who’s following behind the nobleman and the coin in his hand until he can’t see the silhouettes of the two. This day was a weird day for him.

……….

     Sephiroth walked pass through the gate of Nuxvar, following him was a dark red mare that he bought earlier. Now it has a saddle and a rein on it, which he gets when he wanders around the town again before leaving.

“Lucy, I told you that you need to recover first before I can ride you!” he said like he was talking to someone, but there was no one around except the horse that was following behind him.

The horse just release a groaning sound after hearing what he said.

     Hearing this, Sephiroth just shook his head and giggle. This new companion of his was the old thin female horse who was on her deathbed earlier, and he named it Lucy.

Feeling more energetic, Lucy demand that he gets on her back, but he refuses to do so making the mare grumpy like some kid who didn’t get what they want.

     Walking a few steps outside the town, he can see that the night is near, the sun slowly coming down reflecting an orange color on the fields and houses on the side of the dirt road that he’s been using.

     As he walks further and passes a few people who go in the direction of the town gate, noticing that some of them get out of his way, bow their heads or steal a glance when passing by.

Sephiroth just smile and glance to his left, then shook his head a little, feeling that the eyes observing him in the town since he came last night were gone.

‘They really at war, huh… I think they’re just being cautious of outsiders who are entering the kingdom!’ nodding his head while stroking his chin.

     On his first night on Nuxvar, Sephiroth already senses someone watching him. But he didn’t care since he didn’t feel any malice coming from that person, so he let it be. As a matter of fact, he found it amusing since it was the first time someone spied on him, even though no one can spy on him if he wanted to.

     When he walked far enough, he gets something inside his coat, it was a map from his pocket space. Unfolding the map in front of him while still holding the rein of Lucy in his left hand.

“Hmm… This map was really like a children’s drawing. Guess high-quality map didn’t available for the public,” he whispered.

The map he bought only showed the land around the Moorlands that tells it was surrounded by four human kingdoms and three of them sharing borders with it.

And on the upper part of the map, he can see that not far away on the north, outside of Moorlands was a fishing town called The Old Port and further that was the ocean water called The Blazing Sea.

“Let’s see… we will go to Ulstead! What do you think?” Sephiroth looks behind him to where Lucy is.

     Deciding that his goal now was Ulstead which was in the west of Moorlands. He was planning to use the path that people usually use, starting from south of Gavaria going around the Moors to reach the other side which was Ulstead.

Estimating that it takes months for normal people on using this route to reach Ulstead. While in some cases, some brave few men ventures into the Moors and risk being killed to get on the other side quickly which only takes weeks.

     Well, all of this was not a problem for Sephiroth, whether he reaches his destination slower or faster is up to him anyway. But this time he set his travel for less than a month as possible since he promised the little girl that he will not be gone for long, so he will return to the Moors after he visited Ulstead.

     Together with Lucy, Sephiroth walk on the path that slowly getting swallowed by darkness as the moon can be seen on the horizon, emerging from where it has been hidden. Enjoying the breeze hitting them as they walk towards the incoming night.

……….

Somewhere in Gavaria

     A middle age man can be seen sitting in front of a table, which at first look, everyone would say that this middle age man was part of nobility based on his attire.

With a few candles lit up causing the darkness that the night brings hides in every corner of the room. It also helps the man who seems busy writing something on the piece of parchment with a quill in his hand.

     Suddenly, a light knock can be heard outside the wooden door, causing the man to put down his quill and stops writing.

*knock* *knock*

“Come in!” he said, followed by a peasant man opening the door.

“Close the door when you enter!”

The peasant man just bow and do what the nobleman said, silently closing the door.

“Report!”

Hearing this, the peasant suddenly changes his demeanor like he was not a peasant at all. He straightens his back and put both of his hands on his back.

“My lord, the mysterious man left the town at the south gate of Nuxvar before dusk!” he followed by asking, “Should we follow him?”

“No need, that’s all!… you can return to your post now.”

     Waiting for the man to leave, closing both eyes, the middle age man put his arms on the table and then clasp both hands under his nose, blocking the brown mustache and the short beard on his face.

When he heard the sound of the door closing, he opened his eyes and slowly left his chair then walk towards the big glass window.

He’s thinking about the young mysterious man who came in last night with striking features by having silver long hair.

He didn’t even get any information about who or where he came from, and all he knows was that the young man comes from the direction of the Moors.

‘Base on his attire, he seems like noble or a royalty while based on his stature, he’s like a seasoned warrior or a swordsman.’

     The middle age man believes that the mysterious man comes from some distant kingdom and not from an enemy kingdom in the south. Because in his years of service being a spymaster for the Kingdom of Gavaria, it is the first time he sees that kind of feature with white or silver hair.

He only heard some rumors on a far northern part of the continent where it’s snowing all year that some people there have white hair, but he didn’t see one until now.

‘I think he’s in a hurry and only needs supply for his travel,’ he thinks while looking aimlessly outside the window. ‘And based on what information he’s asking, it’s his first time coming from this part of the land.’

     As the middle age man now a spymaster deeply thinking inside his room, the night was just started getting deeper. For some, it was time to rest, but for a few, it was a sleepless night.

……….

     Inside the woods where the light coming from the moon above has difficulty passing through the tall trees and thick branches, casting a shadow from the land below, creating a darkness that any man can think twice before venturing inside of it during nighttime.

     But some brave men didn’t get intimidated by this, and one example was the man who sat on the ground and looked at the bonfire in front of him. On the side was a horse who was asleep on the ground peacefully as if the woods were its home and did not care if a predator is lurking around them in the darkness.

     This man who was sitting on the ground and hugging the sword in his arm was none other than Sephiroth and the horse was Lucy.

     He decides to rest at night for Lucy to recover completely and make her absorb the demon fruit he feeds her while they are walking.

As the name of the fruit says, it will make her into a demon slowly.

Although he can instantly transform Lucy, he didn’t do it. He wanted to watch the process of Lucy becoming a demon horse.

     Sephiroth looked at the fire in front of him, but his mind was somewhere else. He was thinking that this world and some of its people feel familiar to him, he knows that the answer was inside his memory he hides after arriving in this world.

‘This world really familiar especially Maleficent but if I were to look into the memory that I hide, where’s the fun in that,’ he thinks amusingly. ‘One thing I’m sure is that this world, earth, and my world have the same rotation of night and day.’

After visiting Nuxvar he learns that this world has a calendar system similar to Earth. This world has seven days a week, and 24 hours a day. But one thing he didn’t see was a time system like a clock in Gavaria, they are using a giant bell that rings four times a day with each ring indicating it was dawn, noon, dusk, and midnight.

‘Maybe in some other place there’s a clock,’ he thought. ‘I think I will also make my own calendar system in Altera since I made it like Earth… Never mind, since there’s no one living there can understand it. And I’m also the only one who keeps tracking the time and year there.’

     As the night goes deeper, Sephiroth still didn’t sleep. He makes many plans on what to do in the future inside his head, and he knows that some of these plans will not come true or will be different from the way he intended to be.

Like this time when he said he goes around the Moors to reach Ulstead, but when he met a merchant on the road and tells him about the story of a valley filled with Stone Giants, it sparks his curiosity and that’s why he’s here in the woods.

     Before knowing about the valley, he plans to use the path that was used by travelers and merchants to move around the three kingdoms near the Moors. His next stop was supposedly the kingdom of Helstreth which was south of the Moorlands, but now he will skip the human kingdom for the valley full of Stone Giants.

     Of course, the merchant says that he can go to Helstreth first, then from there, he goes to the south of it where the mountain range is. After reaching the mountain range, he needs to do a few more hikes, which take months before he can see the valley.

But when the merchant tells him that there is a shortcut and that it will only take him almost a week to reach the valley entrance, he urges the merchant to continue with what he’s about to say.

The merchant tells him that if he sees a dead tree on the path that leads to Helstreth, he goes left where the vast woodland is. Telling him that he needs to venture it and follow the small beaten path until he reaches the exit which is the entrance to the valley. He also assures him that there is only one dead tree along the way and warns him about many big predators that lurk inside the woodlands, especially at night.

     Sephiroth decides to trust the friendly merchant’s word and take the shortest route to the valley, but after he enters the woods, he felt puzzled because he didn’t see any single predators that the merchant warns him about.

Since he didn’t leak any power of his in order not to scare some animals away, he’s expecting to see some predators like a wolf. But there is no one around to welcome them, even the small animals he sees begin to cower and run away in fear whenever they see him.

     Looking up and watching the moon above, he lost himself a little from the thoughts that he keep thinking deeply. After a while, he sighs and looks at the mare who sleeping peacefully not far from him.

“It’s near midnight,” whispering underneath his breath.

He looks around for a moment but still no sign of a predator on this night which was a mystery to him, but he didn’t bother at all, he thought it was a good thing anyway.

Deciding to finally sleep, he closes his eyes while still sitting on the ground. After a few moments, all that can be heard was a low crackling sound coming from the fire that give light to the small clearing he was in.

………

     Early morning, Sephiroth was busy preparing Lucy, because he plans to ride on her back today throughout their journey.

“Looks like you already recover a bit!” he said while caressing the mare’s neck.

Lucy just snorts happily by breathing out a little. She was so happy that she will be able to run again today.

“We will go after I finish eating, so just eat some grass on the side while I'm having breakfast.”

     While eating, Sephiroth realize and overlook something, the reason no predator is going near them was because of Lucy. She begins to transform into a demon horse, causing her breath to release a small amount of demonic scent, which scares away some wild animals within the small vicinity around them.

‘Guess I’ll need to seal some of the demonic features that Lucy has,’ he thought while finishing the last bite of the sandwich in his hand. ‘Maybe I’ll make some accessories.’

Because he loves to make accessories, he decided to make a ring fit for the horse leg. Opening his left palm, something started materializing out of thin air and landed on his hand.

“This ring was ok,” he said, inspecting it briefly, then he walks towards the horse.

“Lucy, are you ready?”

The horse just paws the ground.

“Ok, before we leave, here wear this!” the ring magically appears on the horse’s front leg, and it fits perfectly.

With a simple design and a dark red color that blends on the mare’s skin.

     After Sephiroth sees Lucy was ready to go, he climbs on her back and holds the reins, telling the mare which direction the valley is.

“Let's go!”

Lucy immediately gallops and runs fast, leaving a trace of dust behind her path.

You can find story with these keywords: Sephiroth in the Multiverse, Read Sephiroth in the Multiverse, Sephiroth in the Multiverse novel, Sephiroth in the Multiverse book, Sephiroth in the Multiverse story, Sephiroth in the Multiverse full, Sephiroth in the Multiverse Latest Chapter