The Adventure of Myrr and the Nightingales: 3

Chapter 3

Houle sat at the front door, watching the scenery. The birds were chirping delightfully as it was bright and sunny day. He loved watching birds and smelled the fresh air in the morning and evening. This peacefulness brought him joy and happiness. Somehow, he missed his home.

His wounds were getting better but still he couldn’t move around much. He’s waiting for someone; someone who was very concerned towards him. He didn’t know her but she always told him that he met her before. He couldn’t remember anything except for his name. And he’s been staying in this big house for almost two months since he regained consciousness.

The male doctor usually came twice a week to check on his body and his health. That doctor was funny, he thought. He was talkative and sometimes annoyed him. But he couldn’t care less for everyone that he knew here was very friendly and helpful. Even the master of this big house was nice towards him although he had a very serious face and less talkative.

He heard somebody was calling his name. He knew this voice and that person whom he waited had arrived. She was running happily towards him and this time she brought something in her hand. She always came with her brother and that reminded him of his lost little sister.

“Hello, Houle!” greeted Myrr as she bought some cakes to him.

“Hello, Myrr,” he smiled.

Myrr sat beside him and showed the cake. “Esclice bought a cake. Here, try some,” she held the cake and he took it. “How was it?” asked Myrr as Houle was munching the cake slowly.

“It’s good. I like it,” he replied.

Myrr cheered.

“How’s your wounds?” asked Esclice.

“Getting better,” he said.

Esclicle smiled. “Well, Myrr. You don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

Then the master of this house appeared and Myrr hugged him. He was her uncle and he’s responsible to take of Myrr and Esclice since their father passed away two years ago.

“Esclice bought a cake, Uncle Shatter. You should try some,” said Myrr and asked him to try the cakes.

“Thank you, Myrr. Let me order tea for you,” said Shatter and told his servant to serve tea.

Shatter is the Chief of Elite Squadron and he’s an influenced man in Soncity, where most the Nightingales lived. Everyone respected him and he’s a good leader. His wife died because of a disease and because he didn’t have children, he adopted Myrr and Esclice to be part of his family.

They had their tea together and Myrr told her story in school to Houle. Houle didn’t talk much but rather listened to Myrr’s story. He remembered when he woke up from unconscious two months ago, Myrr was the first person who talked to him. She was very excited because she had found the man that she met in her dream. It was a dream comes true! But her happiness was crumbling into dust when Houle asked her who she was and where he was at that time.

But Myrr didn’t give up. She took care of him day by day for he was too weak to get up. He was confused when Myrr said that he scribbled the picture on the Scribbling Tree. But he knew that one day he will find who he was and where he came from. And he knew that Myrr will help him to find the answer.

Esclice finished his task early. He went patrolling in the nearest district and took a break at the food stall before going back to his office. After eating, he walked the opposite way to his office because he remembered something. Something that could give him an answer. He went to the Barrack 14 and met Scild, the Weapon Master and Tracker.

“It’s nice to meet you, Esclice. It’s been a while,” he greeted Esclice as Esclice came into his office.

“Am I bothering you, Scild?” asked Esclice and sat on the chair.

“No, not at all. I was feeling bored. My wife took the children for training since they needed to sharpen their skills,” he replied. “How’s Myrr? I heard that the man that you found gained his conscious.”

“She’s doing fine. She’s taking care of him. Besides, she’s having a month break before the entering the third level,” said Esclice. “I’m here to ask you something, about Houle. Myrr told me hundreds time that Houle is the man that she met in her dream. But Houle who appeared two months ago is slightly different from what she had seen before.”

“Different?” Scild was getting interested in what Esclice was telling him.

“In her dream, Houle’s hair was short and he had a weird mark on both of his arms. But there’s no mark on his arms and his hair was longer. But Myrr gave a nice haircut to his hair. She said it’s too messy and boys should have short hair rather than keeping it long. But that’s not the thing I wanted to discuss with you. It’s about the mark. Myrr drew this once and I still keep this drawing,” Esclice pulled out a piece of paper from his robe and showed it to Scild.

Scild looked at the drawing carefully. Myrr’s drawing was very neat and clear. He frowned and put the paper on the table. “I need time to investigate this thing. As a Tracked, I need a lot of details before getting the answer. Can I keep this drawing for a while?” asked Scild.

“Sure. No problem. If there anything you’ve found, just tell me,” said Esclice and stood up. “I need to go back to the office. Uncle Shatter might nag me if I come back late.”

“Shatter is a very punctual person. And strict too. I wonder how your father dealt with him when he was alive,” Scild chuckled.

“Dad was his big brother. He always listened to what Dad told him,” Esclice smiled and excused himself.

Houle watched Myrr playing with the little blue butterflies. Myrr took him for a walk in a wood near Shatter’s house. Houle was getting better and he enjoyed himself walking in a wood. He still tried to remember what had happened in his past but failed. He was quite sad but when he met Myrr, she somehow brought hope to his despair.

Myrr talked about her dream to be an adventurer when she grew up. She told everything to Houle even though he seldom replied to Myrr’s opinion. Myrr enjoyed her daily life talking to Houle. She was sure that one day Houle will get his memory back and remember the time that they met in her dream.

Myrr caught one blue butterfly and brought it to Houle who was sitting under the shady tree. “Isn’t it beautiful?” asked Myrr, showing him the blue butterfly.

“Yes, it is,” replied Houle and looked at the butterfly. “You love butterfly?”

Myrr nodded with a smile on her face. “I like butterflies. One day, I’m going to fly out of this place and travel to other places. I heard from my cousin that there are a lot of interesting places in this world. Maybe we can go together, Houle,” she said cheerfully.

Houle smiled and nodded. “I love travelling too.”

“That’s great! We can be a great team!” cheered Myrr. “Just imagine. Myrr and Houle, the greatest adventurers!” she waved her hand, imagining the two of them travelling together by riding a Gallop.

Houle chuckled and that was the first time he seemed so happy. After a few moments, he walked Myrr back to Shatter’s home where Shatter and Esclice were waiting for them. Myrr waved him goodbye and promised to come again the next day after school. Houle said that he will wait for her at the veranda as usual.

That night, Shatter asked Houle to join him for dinner in the Main Dining Hall. Houle was surprised to see the spacious hall with decorations hanging on the wall. He had never been to this hall before. He never thought that this house was this big. Big dining table stood at the centre of the hall and rows of servants were serving the food. All of them bowed down to Shatter and Houle as they approached the table. Houle couldn’t stop staring at the servants who were more than 20.

Shatter asked him to sit on the chair and the servants poured down the drink in each glass. The servant asked Houle if he wanted another drink but Houle politely refused. He was feeling awkward when the servants bowed to him before leaving. He stared at his meal. He never ate this kind of meal before. And it smells very nice that made his stomach grumbled. Shatter and Houle were having a silence dinner since they didn’t talk much. Shatter wasn’t the person who talked much and he was giving Houle times to adapt to his house and get his memory back.

Myrr, Lach and her two other friends Stuer and Hittan were waiting for their names to be called by their teacher. Today was the day that they’ve been waiting since they had gone through some tests. Myrr clasped her hand and prayed. She hoped that her name will be called because she really wanted to make her brother proud. Her teacher was announcing the names that passed the Elementary Level. Those who passed will be called Junior Nightingales and they will automatically further their study to the Middle Level.

Then Myrr heard that her name has been announced. She cheered as well as her other three friends who also succeed in their Elementary Level. They hugged each other and thanked the teacher. Most of Myrr’s classmates were going to the Middle Level. Myrr received a certificate and her result book. She passed the tests quite well and she could not wait to show this to Esclice.

She ran back home happily and told Esclice about her result. Esclice was very happy for her and he brought her to Shatter’s house. Shatter and Houle congratulated her and Shatter told her to do well in her Middle Level. Shatter threw a party and Myrr invited her friends to come. Lach came with her father, Feoh, the most respected warrior in Soncity. Feoh was also a good friend of Myrr’s late father and Shatter. Stuer and Hittan came with their parents. Myrr and her friends enjoyed the party and they danced together. Myrr also introduced Houle to her friends and they invited Houle to dance but Houle refused. He didn’t know how to dance and Myrr taught him a little bit.

Then, her cousin, Arwe came. He didn’t know that there’s a party at Shatter’s house. Shatter invited Arwe to join them. Arwe congratulated Myrr and gave her a present which was a tunic. Myrr needed to wear tunic if she wanted to be a Nightingale. Myrr was very happy and asked Arwe to dance with her. Arwe danced with her for a few moments and then excused himself to join Esclice.

“I went to your house but no one was around. So I knew that you’re here,” said Arwe, sipping his drinks.

“Myrr got her result and it’s quite good. That’s why we came here to let Uncle Shatter know,” said Esclice. “Anyway, what’s the reason you come here? Just want to meet me or something?”

Arwe took something from his pocket. “We have a mission and we need to report at Chieftan Regnum’s barrack tomorrow.”

Esclice sighed. He knew about the mission since last week during the meeting. It was not like the other mission that he had taken part. This one was very dangerous. He took a glance at Myrr who was playing with her friends. He knew Myrr will be sad if she knew that he had to leave him for few weeks.