Unexpected Destiny: The Half Dragon and The Nine Masks

Chapter 10

"What? Work here?" Auristela repeated Andres' words. The man who was taller than Arion offered her and Arion to work on this farm. Who is Andres, is Andres the owner of the farm? Auristela's pupils dilated, was her guess right?

"Yes." Andres nodded. He turned to the farm. "I employ two people here." He smiled at Auristela and Arion. "Don't worry. We'll teach you how to herd and express milk."

Auristela looked at Arion, they both looked at each other. Auristela felt guilty because she used to think that Andres and Anthoni worked as shepherds on this farm. Auristela scratched her itchy neck. "Excuse me, is this farm yours?"

Andres nodded. "Yes."

Almeta took one step forward, standing next to Andres. She grabbed Auristela who was standing in front of Andres. "I'd be happy if you two worked here. I finally have a female friend." Almeta's face shone brightly, smiling very broadly.

Auristela smiled faintly. "I …." She glanced at Arion who was looking at the road. "I can't decide for myself. Give us time to think." Auristela knows it's hard to persuade Arion.

Andres nodded in understanding. "Yeah, think about my offer. Whenever you're ready, come here."

Anthoni saw Andres' sturdy back, he didn't understand why Andres offered Arion and Auristela a job. Because Andres is the type of person who is very careful and not easy to believe.

"Thank you for offering us the job," Arion said. He still had doubts about, whether he would accept it or not. However, with Andres' good intentions he must respond well too.

"Honestly, I hope you two want to work here." Andres smiled. "Don't worry about salary, I'm not a stingy person."

Auristela chuckled, while Arion smiled faintly. "You said, you hired two people?"

"Yes." Andres nodded.

"I never see them, I always see you or Anthoni or you two." Auristela was confused.

"If we come, they go home. Alternately." Anthony answered.

Auristela nodded in understanding.

"You two will meet them later." Andres was shocked when a squirrel ran past his feet.

"It was late afternoon." Arion looked at Auristela, his twin sister understood what he meant. The two of them said goodbye to the three humans who for some reason they often met, and they continued their journey back to the inn.

Andres raised his hand before Anthoni made a sound to ask. "Ask later." Anthoni closed his mouth. Almeta shrugged her shoulders, she was also confused.

Auristela and Arion took a stroll through the Omega mountains which always fascinated them. Several times they met people who walked or rode horses.

"Rion."

"Yes?"

"You will accept Andres' offer?"

Arion shrugged his shoulders, hesitating. "I don't know."

"Why? As of today, you haven't gotten a job." Auristela kicked pebbles in any direction. One of the sizable stones hit the rabbit who was sitting under a tree, and the white rabbit immediately ran. She felt guilty. If only she could speak the animal language.

Arion let out a long breath, Auristela is right. He looked up, his green eyes staring at the leaves of the shady trees, leaving only a small gap for sunlight to penetrate. He doesn't have a job yet, if in the next few days he doesn't work, the money that his father gave him will run out. Father did tell them to go to the horse farm when the money ran out, but he was embarrassed and he was too lazy to go back to the elven kingdom. Because his father's horse farm was not far from the kingdom's territory.

"From childhood, we are used to herding horses which are much wilder than goats. We have also used to milk horses."  Auristela jumped to pick the very beautiful purple flower.

Arion nodded his head, confirming Auristela's words. The only difference is that the horse is tall, while the goat is small. But sometimes some goats have tall and large bodies.

"Rion."

Arion turned his head, again he didn't realize Auristela had stopped walking. They were facing each other, about five meters apart. "Why?"

Auristela looked at the purple wisteria flowers. "Have you ever missed flying with wings?"

Arion looked around, it was dangerous if anyone heard him. "Yes, of course." He also looked at the wisteria flower whose stems dangled almost touching the ground. "Stela, we have to get back soon, before the sun goes down."

Auristela sighed. She decided to follow Arion, so she can't be sorry. When they were living in the palace, they rarely used their wings. Just as a display, wings are the most important part of their lives, equal to their lives. Auristela shook off all longing thoughts using those wings, then she smiled as she ran after Arion. "Let us go home!" said Auristela after standing next to Arion.

"You've decided?" Auristela asked Arion. "If you accept it, so will I."

Arion glanced out of the corner of his eye.  "Why? So you don't learn to cook?"

Auristela smiled broadly as she held up her two thumbs. "That's right. I'm too lazy to cook." She chuckled.

Arion rolled his eyes.

 "Drizzling." Auristela raised her hand, and two drops of water wet her palm. They were only halfway to the inn.

 "We have to run before the rain gets heavier." Arion pulled Auristela's hand, they ran through the water that fell from the sky which was getting more and more intense.  Arion suddenly stopped in his tracks, resulting in Auristela crashing into his back.

"Rion!" Auristela stroked her nose which was throbbing in pain.

Arion smiled a little, he stroked Auristela's small nose. "Sorry. Looks like we can't continue our journey. The ground is muddy, we could slip if we run." He glanced to the right. His sharp eyes saw the cave 3 meters away from them. "There's a cave over there. We'd better take shelter until the rain stops."

Aurel shuddered when she saw the muddy ground, luckily Arion was careful.  Otherwise, they will slip and return home covered in dirt.  "Come on. It's raining hard."  Auristela walked first, she was careful in her steps so as not to slip.

"Cold."  Auristela stood in front of the mouth of the cave, hugging her drenched body.

Arion looked at the dark sky, the trees around the cave were not shady so they could see the sky. Arion looked into the dark cave, then he heard the sound of footsteps slowly approaching from the direction of the cave. He gently pushed Auristela slightly away from the mouth of the cave, Auristela just obeyed.

Auristela screamed in surprise, when a spear made of wood shot towards her feet, almost hitting her sandal-clad feet. Her heart almost fell out. She glared at the spear stuck in the ground. "Who throws this spear?"