The The Melian Revelation
Episode 4

Mildryd, a small town always crowded by visitors. Even before dawn, the streets were filled with merchant trains from the surrounding villages.

Aelwen lifted his groceries with two hands. He sneaks between the train and the Komodo dragon. Komodo dragons are plant-eating reptiles that only live in The Melian. The creature walks with its two hind legs strong and tame enough that it is commonly used as a mount or towing carriage.

The open-walled wooden buildings and shingle roofs squeezed through Aelwen's narrow passageway. The girl must be careful not to fall into the large puddles that form among the upholstery of the streets. Aelwen's destination was a restaurant located right at the end of the alley.

A piece of weathered wooden board that reads ‘Liar’ Cat's Shop hangs in front of the entrance of the restaurant, complete with a picture of a black figure resembling a grinning bobcat.

Aelwen frowned each time staring at the weathered wooden board. Until whenever he would never understand the taste of Gill—their elder. A few years before Aelwen joined, Gill bought this restaurant and named it after their gang. Later, this place became their everyday headquarters and guise.

Suddenly there were cheers of visitors from inside the store. As if understanding what was happening, Aelwen rushed to push the wooden door and poured into the dining room.

The visitors who filled the five large wooden tables dissolved in excitement. Aelwen immediately realized what the cause was. Vrey and Blaire just arrived from the back door of the tavern. The cheering crowd grew louder as the two girls made their way to the center of the dining room.

A scruffy man raised his glass into the air. “Betul, right, I said! They succeeded again!”

“Sial!” the tall man next to him. “I thought the Elvars would catch them tonight.” The man reached into his pocket and shoved a few pieces of money on the cheque.

Aelwen just shook his head weakly. But his friends, especially Vrey, actually grinned widely when he realized he was made into betting material by the visitors of the store.

Yes ... Their profession had already become an open secret in Mildryd. There's a lot of thieves in Mildryd. Thieves like the Wild Cats gang are already a part of this city. No wonder, because one of the driving wheels of this city life is indeed the trade of dark goods.

Without putting down her groceries Aelwen rushed over to Vrey. As usual, the girl looks striking with bright brown hair and dark purple eyeballs that are sharp like a cat.

“Vrey, Blaire,” sweep. “You're finally home. I'm so worried.” Vrey replied to his friend with a smile. Instead Blaire snatched the groceries from Aelwen's hand.

“Can you check Vrey's arm?” ask Blaire. “He was injured quite deeply.”

Aelwen immediately responded. He took off his apron and handed it to Blaire. “Gill is in the kitchen,” he said. “He told you to meet him directly.”

Blaire wore an apron deftly while muttering, “Let's go. You take care of Vrey first.”

Without waiting twice, Aelwen grabbed Vrey by the arm and took him to the back of the dining room. They ascended to the second floor through a narrow wooden staircase that was frenzied whenever Aelwen set foot on it.

Aelwen, Vrey, Rufius, Blaire, Clyde, and Evan live in the attic of the diner. The attic consists of a long hallway with two doors on each side of the hallway. The front door is Gill's room. Blaire and Rufius lived next door. The boy, Evan, and Clyde, share a room across from Gill's room.

Aelwen and Vrey's room is located right next to Clyde's. Vrey used to live alone in the room, before Aelwen joined their plot three years ago.

Aelwen precedes Vrey and opens the door that closes their room. The room was very narrow, part of the wall was slanted because it doubles as the roof of the building. In the middle of the sloping wall was a large wooden window that was always open. Two tiny beds lined up right below him.

He lit a candle on the nightstand deftly and helped Vrey sit comfortably on the bed. Without giving time for Vrey to just sigh, Aelwen immediately searched for him with questions.

“Why were you guys so long? What happens until your hand is hurt? Did you fight Elvar? Did you guys get the horn? Besides Shadhavar, what other strange creatures have you met?” Aelwen uttered all of that in one breath.

“Si boy act up! Incautiously. Naw. Ja. And unfortunately there is no,” replied Vrey.

Aelwen chuckled. After three years of sharing a room, Vrey was used to Aelwen's fussiness. Vrey already knew how to answer Aelwen's question quickly, without wasting any time.

“Important y'all congratulations,” timpal Aelwen. “Sini, let me see your wounds,” he said as he removed the bandage wrapped around Vrey's arm.

Aelwen realized Vrey was desperately enduring the pain. The girl tried to hide it by putting her face as flat as possible. But Vrey's throbbing ears tell Aelwen everything.

But Aelwen also understood how stubborn Vrey was. So he said nothing and started to clean Vrey's wounds with medicinal herbs. When he finished, Aelwen cupped his right hand over Vrey's wound. The girl took a deep breath. Aelwen felt his palms start to warm, he concentrated for the warmth to radiate and seeped into the gaping hole in Vrey's arm.

Slowly Vrey's skin was torn apart as if it was fused back together. The wide wound that had previously shed blood was now gone almost without a trace.

“I think enough,” murmured Aelwen while wiping the sweat on his forehead.

Vrey smile. “’Still,” said. The girl carefully observed his scar. “Your healing magic is progressing rapidly compared to three years ago. You're secretly practicing, huh?”

“Of course,” replied Aelwen while cleaning up the used bandages and bottles of medicine. “I can't go hunting with you. So as much as possible I should be able to take care of you when injured.”

“You changed a lot,” Vrey said. “I remember the first time I met you. You really suck, even worse than me. Can not clean, let alone cook, sewing torn pants was not able! Good thing Blaire patiently taught you.”

Aelwen smiled wryly. Yes ... Vrey found me three years ago.

Aelwen had just escaped from his home in Granville. Lost, out of money, rained on, and cold, Aelwen decides to take shelter on the porch of a tavern, this tavern.

At that time, Vrey could have driven Aelwen out. But instead, Vrey invites her in, giving her a change of clothes, warm drinks, and food.

Aelwen recalled how he had consumed Vrey's cooking soup voraciously. Not fancy indeed, just a bowl of diluted soup containing the shoots of withered vegetables, which in hindsight may be more feasible for animal feed. The food was nothing compared to the sumptuous dishes Aelwen used to eat at his house. But for Aelwen, the soup was the best he had ever enjoyed.

“You have no regrets?” ask Vrey suddenly. “Rescape from home to live in this slum shop?”

“Not at all,” replied Aelwen. “My family wants me to become an Acolyte. But I don't want it. Here I am free to be whatever I want.”

Vrey piqued his lips. “Be whatever you want?” ledek. “You mean cook and cleaner?”

Aelwen responded with a small laugh. He remembered how he had pleaded with Very and his accomplices to be allowed to live and work in this tavern.

Of course at that time I did not know that they were thieves! thought Aelwen.

Now come to think of it, he understood why they hesitated to hire him. Perhaps they were worried that the presence of strangers in the tavern would damage their guise.

It took a year before Vrey and his friends finally told Aelwen their real job. He was not surprised when he heard it. In a bit he could already smell something strange from their actions. But Aelwen was glad Vrey and his friends decided to come clean to her. Because it meant they had accepted Aelwen to be part of their group.

Aelwen finally finished cleaning up all his equipment. “Come down,” take it. “Gill is waiting for you in the kitchen.”

***

Gill—a young man in his thirties—is the leader of their cabal. Aelwen peered into the kitchen from between the dining room doors and realized the man was clenching his fingers in annoyance at the kitchen table. His riled looks aggravate his appearance which is already disheveled.

“He was angry,” whispered to Vrey and Blaire who could only exchange resigned gazes. Accompanied by Aelwen, they ventured into the narrow kitchen.

“Success, boss!” vrey. “Rufius and Evan are coming soon with their horns.” But as Aelwen had expected, Vrey was greeted with the greeting ‘khas’ Gill.

“Success what! Where have you been since? Just took one horn for a long time. Your abilities have decreased, huh?” hardiknya with a thunderous voice.

“It was wrong Evan!” vrey and Blaire answered almost in unison.

“The boy sneezed the time Shadhavar almost ate his feed,” added Vrey. “Cause of him we almost caught!”

“Si fool it!” gill grumbled as he clenched his fists tightly. “Kajar him if he comes home later,” Gill speech stopped when he saw the scar on Vrey's arm.

“Why is it?” tanyanya rough.

“Free scratched, already treated Aelwen, kok,” replied Vrey.

“Oh, yes, already,” reply Gill, indifferent as always. But Aelwen could catch a glimpse of the concern flashed in the man's eyes. It was only that feeling that Gill could show his subordinates if he wanted to remain seen as a hard leader.

Suddenly the kitchen door behind Aelwen opened. He looked over and saw Rufius. Her messy hair made her face look even more violent than usual. Evan stood beside Rufius, trembling in fear. Their entire bodies were drenched and covered in mud. Clyde caught up behind them, still wearing his warrior uniform. His dark brown hair seemed soaked in sweat from being covered in a helmet all night.

The smell of sweat mixed with mud and rotten leaves spread from the direction of the three people. Until Vrey—whose kiss was the sharpest among them—had to cover his nose with his hands.

Gill looked in disdain at them. “What the fuck is this?” Rufius glared furiously at Evan “This stupid boy!” mean it.

“I told you whatever happened don't stay away from me. Even running ridden just because a rabbit surprised him.”

Vrey furrowed his brows, “Terus?”

“It's clear, right?!” balas Rufius riled. “He fell off a cliff and almost drowned! I had to desperately drag him out of the river.”

Clyde snatched a glass of wine. “Why are you helping him too, should just let him drown!” before I take a sip of the glass.

“My intention, anyway, is to save the bag containing the horn of Shadhavar only,” cut Rufius vile.

“It just so happened that his bag got stuck in his body.”

Evan's face turned as white as paper upon hearing all of that. But Aelwen knew, Rufius didn't really say it. Vrey and his friends might say rude things— sometimes cruel even—but they actually care about each other, in their unique and unusual way of course.

Vrey grabs the muddy bag in Evan's hand and pulls the contents out onto the table. A large Shadhavar horn. The horn is hollow in the middle, several holes decorate the sides— at a glance the shape resembles a flute.

Gill grabbed the horn and scratched it. “Good work,” praise. “Customers who order this horn will be satisfied. Payment of this object is enough to live well for the next few weeks.”

Clyde placed the empty wine glass on the kitchen table. “Means ‘live baum’ for all of us or just for you, Gill?” insinuations.

“Clearly, right?” answer Gill sewot. “You're just street cats. It's a good thing I picked you up when no one would accept you.”

Clyde simply pulled the corner of his lips upwards and smiled wryly.

“Yes already, it's dawn,” Gill put that horn back in the bag. “Aelwen, close shop!” his orders. He turned to Vrey and Blaire. “You two, make sure everyone pays for the food!”

Aelwen and his friends head to the dining room, before Gill's clasping makes them jump.

“Except you, rancid boy!” hardik Gill just before Evan left the kitchen. “Stay here! I'll teach you a lesson!” Gill clenched his right fist into his left palm.

It was hard not to feel sympathy for Evan. Moreover, Aelwen realized how pale the boy's face was. But this is how it is. Gill is very hard on them, tends to be light hands instead.

In addition to Aelwen— which is only doing household affairs—all members of this cabal have felt ‘lesson’ from Gill. The man did not hesitate to discipline his men who messed up or made mistakes. But that's why they can be the best thieves and hunters in Mildryd as they are today.