Aster Veren
Episode 199's

- Esther

"Hey. You really don't see girls around here?" Uncle Rigel's voice surprised me. A daughter? Who did he mean?

I saw Sarah shake her head quickly because her mouth and eyes were closed.

"It's weird .. when I got the information about it. Did I misunderstand? Could it be that the child who sold the ring was someone else? He could have found Veren's prized possession and sold it when the owner was gone." He said it reminded me of the incident this afternoon when I sold my mother's wedding ring undercover.

I don't know, I think it would be very dangerous if I sold it with my new look. So I decided to go undercover while selling it, and again the news was going around quickly? Though I only sold one ring, but it felt like everyone started to move in search of my whereabouts again. I was reported dead a few months ago. Butwhy?

"Mr Rigel!" Another voice made me hide behind a pile of sacks in front of me.

"Ah, has the boy arrived? Let's go." He immediately left his place.

Seems like according to plan. My mind confirmed his departure and moved quickly toward Yuna and Sarah as Dean distracted everyone.

"Sstt, it's me ..," I whispered to them and untied them before releasing the bonds in their eyes and opening the duct tape that covered their mouths.

"Sister hiks ...." I grabbed Yuna's sobbing and guided Sarah out with me.

"What about Dean?" Her question made me look at her.

"I'm sure he's fine. After we get out I'll help her, so you go with Yuna to safety okay." I made him nod in agreement without much talking.

***

"So he's the kid you mean?" Uncle Rigel's low voice gave me goosebumps, it felt like my whole body was frozen because of the pressure he was exerting.

I haven't even gotten close to Dean, but the pressure all around him is on me hiding behind a tree near the barn.

"So you intend to sell your kids Yoga? You think they can pay off all your debts?" It still shocked me when I heard Uncle Rigel's words.

"You?" Furious Dean looked at the person called Yoga.

"Areally useless dad huh? You want to beat him up, right? Just do it, I won't interfere."

"What?" My mutter was puzzled by what he said, does that mean Uncle Rigel has nothing to do with the abduction of Sarah and Yuna? But he was inside to take care of them. Then why?

"Master! Those kids, they're gone." The scream of a man broke my mind and made me rush to grab a piece of wood lying not far from my place. Then ran up to a bald man who caught me.

Without wasting any time, I immediately kicked the man's shins until he fell down in pain in a crouching position, then the second strike I immediately hit him on the nape with all the strength I gathered.

The man groaned quite loudly until two others appeared before me, but fortunately the man I hit had lost consciousness. I can reduce their number.

"This kid!"

"Is that kid over there?"

"Don't tell me he's the one who let two kids in on the run?"

"You're pretty smart too, uncle." I said before throwing my kick at the face of the tall man in front of me, then moving quickly to the other side to fend off the other man's attack.

It was quite difficult to face them together because it seemed like they were smarter at fighting than the unconscious man. Especially when one of them pulled a sharp object from behind his jacket.

"Give up son, I won't hurt you if you're—" he said, immediately cutting it with a wooden throw in my hand before throwing my kick into his stomach. And in anticipation of the counterattack, I had already sprinkled the sand I reached a moment ago towards their sight. Then kicked the bodies of the two men in front of me again until they fell.

I feel lucky to be able to fight in this kind of situation, even though it's not as good as Uncle Hans. My mind recalls the teachings of Uncle Hans who taught me martial arts while my father was still unconscious in Singapore.

"Faren! Down." Dean's screams made me immediately duck on reflex. Then I saw Uncle Rigel dodging Dean's attack and taking a safe distance between him and me crouching behind him.

"Didn't that guy say he wouldn't interfere? Why are you moving?" I mumbled back to remember what he said a while ago.

I saw Dean's performance was pretty messed up with some bloodstains on his shirt. Well it's only natural that he got it all, because his opponent just used a sharp weapon. I didn't even notice the wound on my hand if I didn't look down and hold my body weight with one of my hands.

"... you! Have we met somewhere?" His words really made me flinch. Even his gaze looked so intimidating.

... I haven't been caught yet, have I?

"A—what's going on here?" The foreign voice surprised me and Dean was among those who confronted us.

"Village chief?" I muttered as I saw the old man standing not far from my place.

"La—! Quick run!" Excited one of the men standing next to Uncle Rigel who was none other than Dean's father.

"No! Don't—" Dean said when he saw two strangers bend his father and the man lying next to him. Even the other two were already tied up near the tree. I didn't realize it because I was too focused on the figure of the village chief who appeared before me.

"Wait Rigel!" Carel's yelling didn't stop the man's escape.

Judging from the situation, it seemed like he had come along with the village chief and the two men. But why is the time so right?

"So who are they?" Ask the man who tied up Dean's father.

"Itu—"

"He's my father, the others I don't know." Cut Dean gave an answer with his irregular breathing.

"Dad? Why is he here? And what are you doing here?" Then again ask.

"We came to rescue Sarah and my sister from them. Dan—"

"Sadah?" Said the village chief looking very surprised, "why do you want to save Sarah .. ah they're here—" The next stop when he saw the four men who had been bound before us, then Carel also stopped the ramblings of the village chief before he finished speaking.

"So can you explain to me why all the supplies are here?" The question made me think back to the pile of sacks covered in tarps in there.

What is rice and wheat? My mind remembers its size.

"That's ...."

"Because everything is done and they've been handled by these people. We better get back, I'm worried about Yuna and Sarah." I told Dean who was still standing watching his father.

"really. We better go back now." Disapproved my words.

I intended to go with Dean after thanking the two men again stopped our footsteps when I heard Carel's voice high enough.

"Whatchu mean? mr Albert?" He said while holding the phone near his ear. It seems he was talking to someone.

"Wait, what? What did I just hear?" I muttered in surprise when I heard Mr. Albert's name mentioned. Don't tell me my fake death was revealed?

"Faren." Dean's voice made me gasp.

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

"certain. Let's go!" I immediately led our way back. Out from the back of the hill, trying to calm my mind of all the questions that were piling up in my head.

Uh! I forgot to ask that .., I continued in my heart as I remembered the condition of aunt this afternoon. I completely forgot because there were so many things that surprised me today.

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Thanks for reading...