The Kind of Evil

‎Rasmus groaned as he slowly opened his eyes and found himself in the cave. He felt like he had deja Vu because he woke up in the same cave and the same spot. He slowly sat up, but then he felt immense pain all over his body. The cramps made his body stiff and was squeezed at the same time.

‎"Now I know the limit..." Rasmus groaned as he leaned against the wall.

‎"You woke up already?" Yur asked, walking toward Rasmus with cod-like fish that had been grilled. The fish looked so big in Yur's hands, and how Yur had to use both hands to hold the fish. "I brought you food to eat..." Yur said, offering the fish to Rasmus. The way Yur looked up and offered the fish, it made Yur look like an innocent child with those big eyes.

Rasmus looked at Yur who looked so small in front of him for a moment before he took the grilled fish from Yur's hands. He took a bite on the grilled fish, and to his surprise, the fish was well-seasoned and the meat was so juicy.

"Thank you, Yur," Rasmus nodded his head. "You know how to cook? I noticed that every food that you made for me, they were all delicious," he asked and took another bite of the fish.

"I watched humans fish and how they grill them. I know how to make human food, and I'm confidence with my skill," Yur put a smug look on the face as Yur rested its hands on its waist. "I'm amazing, right?" Yur giggled mischievously, boasting itself to Rasmus.

"Yes, you are amazing, Yur," Rasmus smiled as he nodded.

Yur giggled cutely with its hands behind its back, swaying its waist side to side. Rasmus chuckled softly as he continued eating the grilled fish, finding it bizarre that a cute child was actually a dangerous great spirit.

Rasmus ate the fish quietly until there was nothing left but the bones. Yur watched him eat, and the way Yur stared at him, it looked like a child with questions written all over their faces as if they were observing him like an alien.

"It has been a week since Aris and I came here," Rasmus said as he massaged his left hand. "Have you thought about joining us?" He asked, looking at Yur.

Yur's expression saddened when Rasmus brought up the topic, and it was enough to tell that Yur was reluctant to leave the forest. However, Yur wasn't naive or foolish like humans, Yur knew that leaving was the only right choice. The spirits would be hunted by demons, and they would die and would be unable to be reborn into the world.

‎"We will join you since you promised us a place to live in. However, what makes you think the place that we are going to live in won't end up like this forest?" Yur asked, staring into Rasmus's eyes.

‎"I don't know, but at least all of you will be near me and Aris. If something happened, it would be easy for us to help you and your kin," Rasmus answered as he rubbed his palm. "I also don't understand why I believe the place that we are going to visit is safer than here. I can't remember that place, and yet I feel like it will be a safe place for you," he continued, thinking about the memory of the past when his father brought him to his father's favorite place.

‎Yur tilted its head, staring at the distance in Rasmus's gaze. Yur had been living long enough to understand human feelings and emotions. However, Yur still couldn't believe that the person in front of Yur was both Human and Orthias, or neither Human nor an Orthias.

‎"Is that place special to you, Rasmus?" Yur asked, tilting its head to the other side.

‎"Not mine, but my late father's favorite place. It was a forest, a beautiful one with a lake. I don't know where it is, but I believe you might be able to help me find that place," Rasmus answered and looked at Yur.

‎Yur found that place to be as sacred as the Spring Forest based on Rasmus's description. Yur knew enough about Rasmus's lineage, and how much the Blackheart family contributed in getting rid of evil in Central Neva. Yur had seen Rasmus's late father enter the Spring Forest before, and found him to be an interesting human.

‎"Your late mother was an Aristoria, and if your father found that place to be his favorite, that could mean that there were spirits there as well," Yur pointed out, crossing its arms. "Since the Refenus kingdom was on the southeast of Central Neva, and the spirits that came to this forest weren't coming from the southeast, I believe there's a place where spirits live there," Yur continued, furrowing its brows.

‎Rasmus found Yur's deduction skill to be amazing, and it caught him off guard because of Yur's appearance. He thought about what Yur said, and he found Yur's words to be worth remembering and to be considered.

‎"Yes, you might be right," Rasmus nodded in agreement. "However, where is Aris?" He asked with his brows raised.

‎"Lady Aris is looking for the purest Mana stone in this forest. She's going to place us, the spirits into the Mana stone as our temporary place to live," Yur answered, sitting down beside Rasmus. Yur's tiny figure and how Yur spread its legs open like a child was oddly adorable. "Lady Aris will use her power to make a perfect vessel for us to reside in. She knew that it would be bad and dangerous for us if a big group of spirits came out of the forest," Yur dangled its feet back and forth.

‎Rasmus hummed and nodded with understanding, finding Aris's initiative to help the spirits baffling. He had never seen Aris do something for others except for him, and that was because he asked her to. He wondered why Aris adored Yur from the moment she saw Yur.

‎"You should get some rest, Rasmus..." Yur said, standing up on its own feet. "Lady Aris said that I shouldn't bother with your resting and recovery time since we will be leaving as soon as Lady Aris made the vessel for us," Yur added, taking the fishbone.

‎Rasmus watched Yur walk away with the fishbones in its hands. The sound of tiny barefoot hitting the ground echoing was somehow comforting to his ear. He then decided to close his eyes again and let his body rest since he still couldn't feel his legs and back.

‎Dreams could be said to be the apparition of the desire of the subconscious. It was what happened to Rasmus when he tried to remember the place of his father's favorite place of solitude.

‎"Do you like it here?" Erglade approached Rasmus and stood behind him, staring at the lake.

‎"Yes, this place is beautiful, father. But..." Rasmus paused to turn around to look at his father. "Why is this place so far away from our home? Can't we move here instead?" He asked.

‎"Because it will only taint the beauty of nature. Humans tend to destroy, reshape, and throw away things that aren't useful for them," Erglade answered as he sat down with his black cape blown gently by the breeze. "If we move here, we will ruin the beauty of this place," he patted Rasmus's head.

‎Rasmus nodded with understanding, and then decided to enjoy the quiet morning. He watched as the thin mist lingered on top of the lake with swans swimming on the lake. He realized it was his first time going outside the mansion, and to spend alone time with his father.

‎"You see that small island in the middle of the lake?" Erglade asked as he pointed at the small island with a giant dead tree on it. "That place is my favorite place. Once you're old enough to swim the lake or capable of flying, go there and you'll feel how peaceful that place is," he said as he stared at the island with lazy eyes.

‎Rasmus looked at the island, scared to even dip himself into the lake. He didn't dare to swim because the lake was very deep and had giant fish inside. He then looked at the giant monkey pod trees that surrounded the lake. He also saw a mountain in the far distance where the peak was blocked by the clouds.

‎When Rasmus was about to open his mouth, he was awakened from his dream. He opened his eyes and saw Aris sitting beside him, staring at him with her brows raised.

‎"Did I wake you up? You seem a bit disappointed," Aris said as she tilted her head.

‎"No..." Rasmus said under his breath as he sat up. "I think I know where we have to go now," he continued.

‎"That's perfect because I'm also ready to go," Aris said as she pulled out a glowing bright blue gemstone from her pocket. "The spirits are inside here, and Yur is waiting for us outside," she pointed out.

‎Rasmus nodded with understanding as he stretched his arms. He felt a lot better, even though his insides were still sore.

‎"Let's leave," Rasmus said as he slowly got up. "I guess I'll keep using this," he pulled out the cane from the spatial ring. "It's a nice thing to have, and it's a waste not to use it. It can deceive those who are following us too, giving them false information," he added.

‎Aris nodded and watched Rasmus hold the cane and use it to help him walk. She then walked beside him, leaving the cave and the forest with him and Yur.