CHAPTER 3: THE JOURNEY

"What?! Really?!" Virgo was surprised and got hope.

"Vi, Virgo, are you okay?" Kairi felt pain on his shoulders.

This was Virgo's strength?! Ouch!

"Ah, sorry!"

Virgo responds after he was aware of his actions. He lets go immediately and shows a guilty expression. He knew the level of his strength.

"It's fine... What happened to you?"

Virgo calmed himself before replying. He did not want to scare Kairi again.

"Sorry, but Kairi, can you tell me when Pegasus appears here?"

He needs to know the days of Pegasus staying around the town.

"Erm, if I'm not mistaken, he stays about four days here. Then, he left. And that was before the day I found his chain," Kairi answered back.

"He stays at Aunt Erika's inn. I know this information because Pegasus only ordered take-out meals and I'm the one who sends them. Now that we are discussing this, I remember back when you told me about his hair's colour, length, and height. He does meet all the criteria."

"Yeah... He has a weird hair colour. It'll be strange not to notice." Virgo dryly commented.

"Thank you for telling me, Kairi. After Rafiz recovers, I'll quit the job."

"Oh, okay. I understand..." Kairi feels sad that Virgo would be leaving soon.

He was already familiar with Virgo's presence but did not want to stop him.

"I guess I made friends with him without noticing it." Kairi thought silently.

"Where are you going next?" He curiously asked.

"I... Don't know yet. But, I definitely need to find that green-haired guy." Virgo chuckled before he stopped.

"He's... One of my comrades-in-arms..."

"Comrade-in-arm? What's that supposed to mean? Are there any wars somewhere?" Kairi was confused.

He did not hear any news about the war. Well, only because he stays in a peaceful region.

"Okay! Let's keep working! Oh, new customer! I'll go serve him!"

Virgo ended their conversation and hurriedly left. He has already exposed too much which was supposed to be a very confidential thing.

"Why did I do that? He's not your kin, Virgo! Do not expose him to the dangers!" He scolded himself.

Kairi watched Virgo leave. Then, he looked at the chain emblem.

"Did I stumble into something unknown? This doesn't feel good... I must return it! For some reason, I feel like something is gonna happen..." His body shuddered.

"And to do that..." He grasps the chain while deciding on something.

After the tavern closed, Kairi went to Rafiz's room and went to knock on his door. But, before he could do so, the door of the room was opened from inside.

"Kairi! I miss you!" Rafiz jumped on him.

"Urgh, Rafiz... Let go... Can't... Breathe..." His face was hugged to Rafiz's chest, making it difficult for him to breathe.

Rafiz was taller than him by about 1.83 metres. As for him, he was about 1.72 metres, very short.

"Haha!" Rafiz lets go of him but his hand moves to mess with Kairi's red hair.

Kairi swatted his hand away before he smiled at Rafiz's childishness.

"Actually, I'm here to ask for your... Permission," he said seriously.

Rafiz's eyebrows rose after hearing it. He allowed Kairi into his room that only had a single bed at the left end of the room, a small bookshelf by the side of the bed, and a window at the top of the shelf facing the woods. There was also a small table and chairs on the right side of the room wall and another door leading to the bathroom to the left of the entrance.

Kairi sat at the end of Rafiz's bed while Rafiz sat down on a chair. They were both silent for a moment. Rafiz stared at Kairi and could imagine that something was playing in his brother's head. He felt uneasy seeing Kairi's expression which was less cheerful and a little absentminded. Kairi also didn't look at him, instead, he was playing with his fingers.

"Kairi, what is it that you want to ask me?" Rafiz asked after a long time.

"I... Err..." Kairi swallowed. He has a slight tension with his decision.

"Rafiz! I, I want to go outside for a few days, can I?!" Shouted Kairi nervously.

Rafiz was stunned for a moment before his eyes turned a darker shade of purple. His expression also looked grim. This was the first time Kairi asks to leave him in the four years they have been together.

Who is it?! Who put such thoughts in his brother's head?!

Fragments of dark memories appeared in his mind. His eyes snapped and turned vertically like a cat. He swiftly closed his eyes before Kairi could see it.

He doesn't want Kairi to see his eyes. They might have scared him. These changes only appear when he was anxious and fears for Kairi's safety.

"No, I won't allow it!" He disagreed.

"Why not?" Kairi's shoulders dropped.

"No means no, Kairi. That's final! You don't know any dangers that await you out there. I won't allow it! Never..." Rafiz got up from the chair and walked to the room window, giving his back to Kairi.

Looking at Rafiz's attitude makes Kairi's persistence reduced. Silently, he left the room. His heart was a bit sad. As for Rafiz, he looked out the window with distress and let out a heavy sigh. He brushed his hair back.

"I can't... I can't lose my important person again..." He remembers an old memory that led him to be like this.

Kairi lay on his bed. The night wind that entered the room brushed off his body. He looked at the room ceiling as he remembered Rafiz's words. He knew Rafiz cared about his safety but he was going to return, not leave forever. He just wants to send the emblem back to his owner and then return to Ryam Town again.

He thought for a long time. Could it be because he didn't explain in detail which makes Rafiz disagree with him?

He gets up to sit down. Tomorrow, he will try to persuade Rafiz. For now, he needs to think of a way to win Rafiz's approval.

The next day, he went to Rafiz's room again. But, he heard a conversation coming from it. He walked quietly toward the door until he could clearly listen to what they were talking about.

"Let him go, Rafiz. When can he go outside if you keep blocking him?" Kairi was surprised to hear Rafael's voice.

Not only that, Rafael was backing him up?

He did not tell Rafael about this because if he was able to convince Rafiz means he also got his father's approval. It was Rafiz who mostly decided everything for him.

"Dad, why do you want to let him go? You're not worried if anything happens to him?"

Rafiz wiped his face and hair with a towel. He just finished taking a shower before Rafael came in suddenly.

"It's not that Dad isn't worried about his safety but Kairi isn't a child. He's a grown-up. Do you still think he's not good at being independent? After all, he needs to find his... True identity. You must understand. Someone with no memory of his past would definitely try to look for it one day. And it seems such a day has finally come. You won't be able to stop him if he's determined to go look for it. Or do you actually want Kairi to hate you?" Rafael asked.

Rafael's words startled Rafiz. Of course, he didn't want Kairi to hate him but Kairi's safety comes first.

"But, dad! Kairi, he still doesn't know how dangerous the outside world is! There are various dangers and challenges he will have to face if he leaves!"

"Rafiz..." Rafael shook his head.

"Kairi has a life of his own. You can't control him like a robot or cage him up like a bird. Dad understands you want to protect him but Kairi has a right over his life too. Let him go, Rafiz."

Rafiz went silent and he knew that Rafael's words were reasonable. All this time, he imagined all the moments Kairi would tell him that he was going to leave. Because of that, he always gets restless. He didn't want to feel the same loneliness when he lost that person.

How can he let Kairi go? The 'if anything could happen to Kairi' scared him.

Kairi, aware of the topic of their conversation, walked away from the room. He looked calm. He doesn't want to listen anymore because he decided to stay. He knows how much Rafiz loves and cares for him so... If Rafiz didn't want him to leave, then he would obey. He didn't want to make Rafiz upset anymore.

A few days later, Rafiz finally fully recovered and was able to work again. As promised, Virgo stopped working. Now, they were all outside of the tavern to watch Virgo take off.

"Thank you for your help all this time, Virgo. This is your salary for helping out."

Rafael handed an envelope to Virgo. Virgo hesitated to take it but had to when Rafael didn't want to relent. He was not penniless but he didn't want to break anyone's heart, so he accepted the payment.

"We will miss you, Virgo," the restaurant workers said as they shook hands and hugged him.

They were sad because they were going to lose an expert worker and hard days were going to come again. Kairi looked at them amused because he knew what they were thinking.

"Don't worry! I'm sure one day we will meet again. I'll come to visit. Okay, I need to go now. See you all again soon!" Virgo said as he walked towards the entrance of the town.

"Eh, Virgo! Wait for a second!" Kairi called him back.

Virgo had to turn back. "What, Kairi?"

"You forgot this..." Kairi handed the Pegasus' chain emblem to him.

It was seen by all and the hidden Rafiz in one of the alleys. Rafiz was there all these times, just waiting to come out. He grits his teeth.

"So, it was the Bright Star's Clan brat..." Rafiz growled.

Virgo probably hid his aura from his foes and that was the reason Rafiz did not recognize him. Rafiz turned his head towards Kairi and sighed heavily.

"The change of time truly did come as the prospect foretold. I can no longer hide him but... That stupid brat! Why the hell is he showing off the star's emblem for?! Does he want his enemies to know? And how did Kairi have that thing on him?! Grr, is it you?! If I get a chance, I will kill you! You're lucky that I finished all of them before they could get near this town!" Rafiz went mad at the thought that Virgo endangered Kairi.

Virgo who was absentminded and didn't realise a killing intent from Rafiz, was silent for a moment while also looking at Kairi.

"Looks like I'm the one who needs to explain this to Pegasus. It's a pity you can't come at all. Heh! But I know Rafiz won't let you go anywhere," he chuckled.

After his words, Rafiz appeared with a large backpack. Everyone except Rafael looked at him in astonishment. Rafael smiled a little and knew what it implied. Rafiz looked at Virgo darkly. He made Virgo take a step back from Kairi.

"Here comes the brocon!" Virgo silently teased.

He heard the term from his colleagues in the tavern. Although he did not see it, now, he can tell that Rafiz truly has a brother complex towards Kairi. Because Rafiz stood in front of Kairi and gave his back to him. It was like he was protecting Kairi from a dangerous thug.

"Huh, Rafiz...? Where are you going with such a big backpack?" Kairi asked and looked confused.

Rafiz who has been ignoring Virgo looked at Kairi for a long time.

"Here." He handed the bag to Kairi.

Kairi was stunned and then surprised by Rafiz's next sentence.

"Virgo, you better take care of Kairi! Otherwise, you're doomed!" Rafiz snarled. He turns back to face Virgo.

Everyone was shocked to hear it and just found out the meaning behind the handover of the bag. All the employees knew Kairi wanted to go travelling but Rafiz did not allow it. Rafiz's change of mind shocked them.

"Did he really agree?! Is it going to rain today…?"

Everyone looked up to the sky, feeling disbelieving about Rafiz's approval. Rafiz glared at them.

"What?! I have compassion too, you know!"

"Ra, Rafiz, you… You meant it?!" Kairi too felt unbelievable.

"Not you too… Why can't anyone believe me?" Rafiz murmured.

Then, he gave Kairi a small smile while nodding. His heart was still heavy to let Kairi go. He pulled Kairi into his embrace.

"Make sure you remember all the self-defence I taught you. And also, if there's time, come back once in a while." Rafiz whispered in his ear.

He finds it hard to let go of Kairi but he has to do it. He didn't want the clueless Kairi to be there like a frog under the coconut shell, not knowing anything about their world. He pushed Kairi away gently while his hand didn't let go of his shoulders. He looked at Kairi for a long time. His eyes went a little red but not in tears. He once again hugged Kairi tightly.

Rafael had to pull him away but he was proud of Rafiz's decision.

"Go now before your brother changes his mind," Rafael reminded Kairi before looking at Virgo.

"Please take care of my child, Virgo," he requested.

"Yes, sir!" Virgo replied and accidentally saluted like a soldier.

It seems he forgot he was outside of his country. Other people would think his salute was funny and rigid but only Rafael and Rafiz know what kind of background Virgo had come from. Both eyed each other in silence. They hope Virgo can take good care of Kairi.

"Don't worry, everyone! I promise I'll keep an eye on Kairi!" Virgo finally realised his mistake and turned to give his thumb to them.

However, he could not have imagined that Kairi could follow him in the end. He can see Kairi's joy when Rafiz finally allowed him to travel.

"Thank you, brother! Thank you, father! I promise I'll come back soon." Kairi hugs Rafael before he hugs Rafiz again.

After that, he carried the backpack on his back. He doesn't need to check the contents because Rafiz always knew what he needed. After saying goodbye to everyone, he and Virgo depart from the village and begin their journey...