~ = chapter six = ~

After the little battle finished and a few arguing here and there, The trio retreated out of the village and into the woods - mostly to keep Stephen's dead army away from the village - as they sat still in different sitting positions on the dirty green grass.

Looking at their bruises and making sure that they aren't infected, they decided to give a few minutes to rest before they can move on to find Hosuh.

Daniel looked over at Stephen and at this army before he sighed, huffing. "Get that army of yours away for a bit will ya? We gotta get back to the Inn for a bit before we find Hosuh."

The greenhead knows, actually knew from a very long time that Stephen and Hosuh were close friends, actually the first two friends before he moved in with his family. He remember the day when they first met each other.

Shaking his head as the memory faded away, he stands up and helps Ann up. Stephen keeps his zombie army way from the village and temporarily leaving them dead for a bit.

Stephen then yawned. "Can we just go to sleep for a bit? or like rest? It's still noon and i'm quite tired. I'm sure the Inn has some healers or herbs to heal our injuries." He voiced out in a tired tone.

Daniel sighed but it was caught off by Ann's yawn before he also yawned. They glanced at each other before bursting into soft sounds of chuckles. "Alright, we can go back to the Inn."

They turn back to the path of where the village is and ventured back.

They chatted but not for too long, silence washed over them, it wasn't the first time the silence came. In fact, Stephen and Daniel are quite used to this silence, it has happened a lot with them in the past when they were children. There were times where they couldn't talk because of a fight the other day. There were times when they just can't help but stay quiet as they gazed up to the floating lanterns as they light up the entire night. And sometimes, there were times that silence was really needed for them when tragedies struck.

And the type of silence they're having right now? The silence that they need. They know that Hosuh isn't dead or kidnapped, but sometimes the gray-haired soft boy was too important to them to not forget. The only thing that's really stuck on their minds is Hosuh and the wish for him to come home.

Walking in the building, they asked for a healer which the receptionist complied as she was actually a healer and healed them up

("I'm a bit sorry if it jingles a bit. I'm quite a bit rusty." The women worried but Stephen was quick to reassure as he sighed in relief.

"Daniel, this is so much better than Hosuh's healing."

"Oh shut up, he's gonna hit you and he's still learning!")

The two childhood friends banter for a bit, going up to their shared room. Ann looks around for a bit, it was a plain room but comfy one.

Walls bore with gray pink colors pairing with birch wood as the floor. They hold white clean neatly-made beds that are clearly made for royals, the windows have a great view on the village and the forest - now that they think about it, the cottage seems really close by. I guess that helps with capturing the kidnapper bastard if his lair is actually nearby, especially since his friend mentioned that he lived here. - and lastly, there were candles that can easily be switched off and on by manipulation of fire magic. 

How the other three - even though Hosuh's not here -  didn't seem amazed by how comfortable the room is surprises her.

Needless to say, Ann was grateful to have these trainees with her. She still doesn't completely trust them as she hijacked their mission for the greedy wish of gold but maybe, just maybe. She'll learned to trust them but for now, the guard is up.

"Anyways, Ann you can sleep on Hosuh's bed until we find him from wherever he disappeared from." Daniel nodded his head to the bed, taking off his armor before slipping into the bed and wrapping his body with the blankets. "I'm out, night."

Ann looked at Stephen who also seems to be asleep - He is plopped up on the bed, butt in the air. What in the name of the king, Stephen? - but she didn't question anything. She simply tucked him in with the blanket and slipped in Hosuh's bed.

Looking up at the rose gold painted ceiling, she smiles. She throws her dagger at the candle, the flames giving way to dust as she close her eyes, surrendering to unconsciousness.

~ = ~

A door swung open as a boy, around the age of 5, walked out, hopping and excited to start his day. A woman behind him closed the door, patting his head and held his hand. 

She had black long hair, curled up within the end. Her bangs swished to the right just like her son who had the same color as her hair but the eyes were different. The woman had cool-brown eyes while the boy had forest green eyes. 

"Daniel." The boy stopped, turning to the woman. A questioning confused expression was shown in his face that his mother laughed at. He pouted."Be safe and have fun." 

She crouched down, giving him a soft kiss on his forehead and booping his nose. The boy grinned. "I will, ma!" He waved, giving a soft kiss on her cheek and running off to the King's Castle.

He met the king who was super nice! He was really nice and he was the one who escorted little Daniel into the gardens where the young boy sees two other kids playing with each other.

The blackhead stopped, he looked at the King with a nervous look."Oh, don't worry boy. They won't bite. I promise. Have fun with them." The elder smiled gently to him which made the boy confident in his self and he walked to the other two in gentle steps. 

The king followed from behind.

~ = ~

The greenhead's eyes fluttered open, waking up for a bit. 

He looked at his friend and his ally - he isn't sure if he can call Ann his friend yet - before looking over to the carved door. 

He sighs, mumbling to himself about getting a cup of water. Snatching the blankets away from his body and letting it fall to the floor, he pulled open the door. It creaked a little but it didn't made too much noise to wake up the others. 

It isn't too late but the building is rendered with silence. (Calm, cozy silence that Hosuh would have liked.)The man shivers for a bit, the cold storming in and out of his body as he walks to the bar area of the building. 

He asks for a cup of water - thank god it's for free - and takes a small tiny sip. It's cold.

Daniel looks up at the ceiling then back down to his cup, thinking of a plan. 

He sighs at the thought of his friend.

Hosuh was a amazing friend. He was quiet but funny. He was talented and creative at the same time. He was the warmth of the group and he was the one that kept them back together no matter the arguments that Daniel and Stephen would spew. He was the most understanding person ever.

Daniel doesn't know on what luck had made him to have such friend but he doesn't regret it.

~ = ~

A light brown haired boy was swatting his hands at his friend, letting a few giggles here and there as he pushes his friend's supposingly minion (It's a clay,no worries.). "Argh- hold still! I'm trying you to get you into my army!" The other boy yelled in delight while the other limped and gave up.

"Okay, okay! You got me, Stephen! Uh.." He looked around him and laid on the ground as if he was dead. "Aughahtwio rrawht fuahg a." 

The black haired looked at him before bursting to laughter, clutching his stomach at the process - and the forbidden clay doll falling to the ground -. The brown hair grinned in triumph. 'Success!'

"Boys." A gentle voice called out from behind them and the two turned to see the king with a young boy next to him, a nervous smile planted on the boy's face.

The brown haired stood up and walked over to the king, bowing in respect - but the king fussed him, saying that he didn't need to do that - and glanced at the boy. "Hello!I'm Hosuh. The other is my friend, Stephen. It's nice to meet you!" The brunette smiled softly. 

The boy's nervous smile turned confident and sure, he held his hand out. "Nice to meet you, Hosuh! I'm Daniel!" Hosuh shook his hand in response.

The king looked over to Stephen who was looking at them, excited to play with a new friend. He beckoned him to come over.

"Stephen, meet Daniel. Daniel, meet Stephen." Hosuh introduced them. 

The two stared at each other awkwardly before Stephen greeted the other blackhead. 

"Hi. You have black hair too?" He pointed at the other boy's hair.

Daniel blinked at that before nodding. "Yeah? What about it?"

"Me too!" The younger pointed at his hair.

"I can see that."

"I know!!"

The king chuckles. "I'll let you three to talk and get to know each other." The trio smiled and bowed in respect - technically, Hosuh had to force Stephen to bow but it worked -  and the highness left the gardens, leaving the trio to talk.

~ = ~

Finishing his cup, he walked back upstairs.

He notices that the two are awake and were waiting for him when he walked in, Stephen looking at him and giving him his armor. The purplehead huffed when Daniel teased him aboutbeing nice to him to which the other denied. 
("As if, i'll be nice to you, Daniel!"

"Sure, Stephen. Sure")

Ann waited for them patiently. Sure, she was eager to find her ally, Hosuh, and finish this quest but patience is a virtue that she intend to keep to spread to others.

"Alright, let's go. I'll explain the plan when we're out." was all Daniel said before he packed up walking out. The other two followed.

= KING'S MISSION =

Daniel had explained them the plan to find Hosuh and complete the quest altogether. Stephen would look outside the village area, see if he can find any footsteps or any case of them finding Hosuh. Ann will ask the villagers if they've seen a gray haired man near them while Daniel asks around the guards and higher ranks if they know anything about the kidnapper.

It was a weak plan than what Daniel can usually plan - now that he thinks about it, the days are full of plans and plans and plans - but he would like his childhood friend back, rather than completing the mission without him/

And so they searched. 

Searched from every bit of bush, behind the trees, finding secret passageways and searched there. Hell, even the branches of the tree if Hosuh climbed up there and couldn't come down - which is rather likely - but no sign of a gray haired man besides Daniel's growing white hair when the purple head spots him.

Ann asked every villager she comes across, some said that Hosuh headed this way, some said that Hosuh headed that way, some said that they never saw him at all, some said that they don't know who she was looking for but sadly, no answers came - and it was quite confusing - so Ann resorted to stomping the ground in frustration and throwing daggers at the poor scarecrow manwhose job is just to scare the crows.

Daniel was lucky enough to find some answers that the kidnapper was indeed a wizard man from where George and Hosuh confirmed, and the kidnapper was morely need to be taken out as he also did black magic which is considered to be banned. 'Damn, all that magic just to find someone who resembles his sister? Dedication but real creepy.' The soldier thought, going back to the front of the Inn where he sees the other two.

"Nothing?"

They shook their heads.

"Hey guys."

~ = this chapter is written by crystal_tale = ~