CHAPTER 6: PAYBACK THE FOOD

"Your Highness, your order," Riseptos asked Xcerox who put his hood away. They never thought such an incident would happen near their royal city.

Xcerox was watching Zeliker before he turned to Enta.

"Rescued the people first. Then, we can continue our journey. Ashla, Frix, you go with Riseptos. Me, Gizelis and Nish will wait for you at Gizelis's home." He ordered them.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Riseptos and Frix along with Ashla, the only lady in the team, move out with their horses.

"Gizelis, tied this person and interrogated him later."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Gizelis went to grab Enta but suddenly Enta moved to throw something on the ground. A gas bomb explodes but does not harm anyone. Zeliker frowned and looked in the direction of Enta's flees.

‘Ah... He escapes... Whatever. It's not my responsibility to capture him anyway.’

So, he did nothing.

"Damn, he ran away." Nish's brown eyes glared at the place Enta disappeared after the gas subsided.

"Let it be. If we ever meet again, we can capture him. Show the way, Gizelis." Xcerox moves his horse towards a path. He thinks it was the way to Gizelis' home.

"Zeliker, come up," Gizelis said while taking his horse towards Zeliker.

"No need." Zeliker disappears and surprises everyone there.

"Did he leave?!"

Nish was afraid that Zeliker had left the area. They won't be able to catch him. Then, why did they even come here?

Gizelis squinted his eyes before he looked at a moving branch. There was no wind but the branch moved. That direction was his home.

He smiled silently and then hopped up on his horse. Zeliker would have not shown him where he was headed but still, he did. It was like he was telling Gizelis he would await them at his home.

‘He is very considerate after all…’

Gizelis moves his horse towards his house. The horses gallop fast while no one can answer Nish's question. Xcerox just follows Gizelis because he thinks Gizelis knew where Zeliker went.

When they arrive, they smell burnt meat coming from the house in the middle of the sunflowers field. Gizelis entered the house through his open door and saw Zeliker was eating a bowl of something that almost looked like charcoal.

His eyes widened and hurriedly snatched the bowl before Zeliker could munch on it. His heart almost dropped after looking closely inside. This was the deer meat he hunts. How can it look like this?!

"What are you doing?" Zeliker growled.

He was angry when his food was taken away. And he worked so hard to burn the meat until it no longer smelled like blood. Using his power of course since he never used a kitchen before.

"Are you eating that?! That looks so awful!"

Nish wanted to puke his stomach out after seeing it and also after smelling the horrible odour. As for Xcerox who also went in, he looks stunned before he backs away to rest at the front door. He was glad he had eaten before coming here. He would have lost his appetite after seeing it.

‘That is so gross! Is this demon so stupid until he wants to eat that?’

He shuddered silently.

Zeliker glared at them. It was his food! Who cares what it looks like as long as it can fill his stomach!

Gizelis sighs. "I'll make a new one. Please wait a moment."

He doesn't have the heart to make Zeliker eat this nasty thing. But inside, he was very sad because Zeliker doesn't mind eating it. It was like Zeliker normally ate this thing without anyone preparing it for him.

‘How did Zeliker survive in Flink?’

He can't eat humans and he knows animals or monsters living in the demon’s areas were mostly unedible to eat. So, what did Zeliker consume then?

The thought made him almost stumble when he went to the stoves. He couldn't ask Zeliker because it would be like he was a busybody. But somehow, he was saddened at the thought that Zeliker might have been hungry and unfulfilled all these times.

He shook his head.

"That would be impossible. Zeliker still looked like he was healthy. Maybe... Someone helps him with his sustenance. There's no way Nekruis would let his son go hungry, right...?"

Zeliker watched Gizelis preparing his meal. He becomes grumpy because he lost his food and also because of their comment.

He was a prince! How can he know how to cook one? He wished Silvert was here. Silvert always knows how to feed him.

Xcerox and Nish didn't want to get close to him so they stayed at the front door looking out. They were waiting for Riseptos and others to bring them the news about the kidnapping.

An hour later, Gizelis put the steaming delicious foods in front of Zeliker who was still sitting at the kitchen table. He even put the eating tools besides the plates.

Zeliker was awestruck after watching so much food. The smells made his stomach growl again.

‘These foods smell so good! Almost as par as Silvert's!’

Gizelis smiled after seeing the hungry Zeliker salivate his cooking. After that, he left Zeliker alone. He doesn't want Zeliker to continue aiming his glare at him. Those sharp eyes were asking him to scram.

‘Does Zeliker feel humiliated if someone watches him eat?’

He chuckled at his funny thought.

"Did they come back yet?"

"No. Could they have a problem?" Nish looks worried.

"I'm sure they won't. Riseptos is with them." Xcerox replied.

"True. Riseptos is one of the strongest demons we have in Eskimos. He is also the former general of Flink. It would be impossible to defeat him."

Gizelis agreed with Nish. "I hope the victims are alright. Never thought some people would be brave enough to kidnap them near the royal city." He frowned.

"Send a letter to my father about this activity. They might be someone behind this." Xcerox commanded.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Nish went out and pulled out a small flute from his inner jacket. When he blew it, a secretary bird look-alike with four wings flew towards him. It was his bird messenger to send things to others in secret.

Gizelis, who just finished writing a notice on a small piece of paper, gives it to Nish. Nish rolled it into a small scroll and put it inside the bag clasped to the bird's neck. The bird's size was just as big as his palm so it was easier for it to hide.

"Maikai, go to Ladoss Investigation Building," he told the bird who he called Maikai.

Maikai, who understood his master language, chirped and then flew up. Its fast speed makes it look like a flash of lightning moving towards its destination.

Zeliker came out of the kitchen and went into the bedroom. His step was so quiet that even Gizelis and Nish didn't notice it. But Xcerox who felt some movement, looked at him.

"Did you tell Zeliker that we are going to move out from this kingdom?" He asked Gizelis.

"Not yet, Your Highness. I'll go tell him now."

Gizelis went to the kitchen. He thought Zeliker was still eating but he was no longer there. He was amazed to see the plates of food had been rinsed and put neatly on the dry rack.

He then searches for Zeliker in his bedroom. After all, he has a habit of sleeping after eating, so he doesn't realise he would go there first to take a look. And he did find Zeliker lying down on the bed.

"Are you asleep?"

"I would if you didn't disturb me..."

Zeliker opened his closed eyes. He turns to look at Gizelis.

"... Thank you... For the meals..." Zeliker's eyes went to the side, hiding his awkwardness. "What?"

He looked confused because Gizelis was gawking at him. As for Gizelis, he never imagined he would get a thank you from Zeliker. This was like a dream!

Maybe he needs to ask Xcerox and Nish if Zeliker did say it. So, he turns around to see both of them also gaping from the front door. They heard it too since the bedroom was not that far from them.

‘My god... It wasn’t a dream at all!’

"Ehem! We need to leave." Xcerox snapped out from his surprise and turned normal first.

Zeliker, without asking where they were going, stood up again. He follows Gizelis and them out of the house.

"Should we search for them?" Nish becomes worried.

Xcerox nodded. "We’ll be depending on you, demon prince."

Zeliker stared at them who were now looking at him.

"Are you talking to me?"

"Who else?"

"You want to save people?"

"Yes."

"You're asking me to be a search dog?"

"Yes."

Gizelis and Nish were sweating when Xcerox and Zeliker exchanged questions and answers. Xcerox's last answer makes them shocked.

‘Your Highness, are you really saying that?!’

"I refuse."

Zeliker folded his hands. He was amused by Xcerox wanting him to be their searcher for the kidnappers.

Didn't Xcerox hate him? Why ask him now for help?

"You have eaten, right?" Xcerox smiled with a hidden meaning.

Zeliker raised an eyebrow.

"You know Gizelis works hard to cook for you, right? You should at least pay him back, right...?" Xcerox even said 'right' twice to make his words more reasonable.

Zeliker went silent for a moment. While Gizelis, who become Xcerox subject, was frozen. He turns to Xcerox in horror.

"Your Highness! There's no need for Zeliker to pay me back. I willingly cook for him because I want to!" Gizelis screams internally.

"Okay."

Gizelis snapped his head towards Zeliker in disbelief.

"I won't wait for you if you're slow."

Zeliker walked towards the direction where he saw the carriage go before. He started to run when he realised Gizelis and the others already got on their horses.

"Can he use his abilities? His collar won't explode, right?" Nish asked.

Gizelis forgot about it and pushed his horses to move toward the running Zeliker. He wasn't surprised to see the collar malfunction. With Zeliker having been using his power continuously, the collar couldn't take it anymore and stopped working.

"Zeliker, maybe you should open the collar? It would be more comfortable."

Zeliker didn’t look at him. "No need..."

Since Zeliker said so, Gizelis just let it be. When they arrived at a forked path, Zeliker didn't even stop, he ran to the right. His eyes have been looking at the trace of the carriage even though there were multiple marks on it. Only he can feel what was new and not. After all, the hooves mark of Riseptos and others were also there. It's easier to track them.

A few hours have passed. Xcerox and everyone there had turned serious. This search was too long and they were amazed that Zeliker can still speed up like normal. However, their horse already slowed down and can't keep up.

"Zeliker!" Xcerox called.

Zeliker stops running instantly and jumps back. He landed beside their tired horse.

"It's late... How far did they go?" Gizelis's expression shows anxiety. Their surroundings already turned twilight.

"I can hear laughter and fire burning. About... Three kilometres away." Zeliker told them.

"Really?!" Nish was relieved. They finally arrived!

Xcerox frowned. "I wonder what happens to Riseptos and the others... They should have defeated them by now."

"Perhaps, there is something or someone the kidnappers have that made them stuck in their rescuing the victims." Gizelis guessed.

"Then, what should we do, Your Highness?" Nish's expression turns grim.

"Zeliker, can you sense Riseptos location?"

Xcerox had to ask Zeliker for help again. He's their only demon in the team right now.

Zeliker was silent for a moment while looking in the direction he told them. His eyes snap red suddenly and hurriedly grab Gizelis and everyone by the back of their shirt while throwing them away. An explosion sounded at the place they stood, killing their horses.

Everyone was surprised by his action and the explosion that occurred. The red flame of the explosion still burned the screaming horses until they went silent. Such yelling was impossible to not be noticed by anyone nearby.

Who's bombing them?!