Memories - King's Return (Wakfu): The Hub

Chapter #8 - To Amelka

~four days later~

Adamai counted the results longer last time to be sure that he wasn't miscounting the numbers. There was noise of the people outside demanding and rioting to hear the total scores. He closed the window and tried to ignore them. One vote. His brother's fate which he had known was changed all for one vote. He ran to Elger Nouvelle Castle's training and rehabilitation room.

Meanwhile, Yugo had been working hard to regain his strength. All he wanted to know was what happened that night during the voting because he had been kicked out of the stadium. He hadn't left the castle yet and hadn't noticed the riots going on outside. He was on break when Adamai came dashing in with great urgency.

"Yugo! I finished the counting! How are you?" he excitedly told him, hoping he was in a strong enough condition to hear the news. Yugo stood up and jogged toward him at his current full speed, which was not a run at all. Adamai met him in the center of the room to tell him.

He sighed before awkwardly saying, "The vote, Yugo, was... lost." Yugo stepped back and walked over to the curtains. He looked out of the window, opening the curtains to finally see the chaos that arose from the citizens. He shut them violently before shrinking to the floor anxiously.

"So, they all hate me now?" he asked genuinely. Adamai reluctantly nodded in response. Yugo got up and walked toward the door, feeling smaller than ever.

"You'll be okay, Yugo. I'll make sure of it- I promise!" Adamai said, knowing that he needed comfort in the situation. Yugo looked over at him and nodded swiftly.

"Thank you, Ad... I just need a moment alone right now," he told him as he ran out of the room toward his own. He swung the door open and sat on his bed looking down at his hands as they shook. He was scared and hadn't quite processed what happened.

'I can't stay here' he told himself, gathering up a bag and his sandals. Yugo ran across the castle to the kitchen. He grabbed food and water before leaving for the exit. At the exit of the castle, Adamai met him and grabbed his hand.

"If you're going to leave here," he started, "Know that there's a man who lives in Amelka named Alibert. He's known you since you were young and surely will take you in if you need it." Yugo nodded again and hugged him before running to get out of Elger Nouvelle as fast as he could. He noticed a few children teasing him amongst themselves, pretending like they didn't know that he could hear them.

Apon reaching the shut gate, he noticed that the outside terrain was more overgrown than he thought. He thought about portaling with his current strength, but quickly disregarded the idea because of the length. He climbed over the gate.

After the sun began to set, the bag of supplies that he had slung over his shoulder felt heavy and scraped his back with each step. His feet were tired, and he stopped at a tree. He collapsed onto the thick bed of grass and looked at the stars.

He thought and thought about Adamai's words. 'At least I'm going somewhere' he told himself before drifting off to sleep.

Yugo woke up late into the day. He felt sore all over but urged himself to keep going. He walked for days and days. He was kama-less and was running low on supplies.

He asked anyone he met for directions to this 'Amelka' that Adamai had mentioned. His wandering thoughts fell on the man Alibert. He didn't even know his father. It made him feel foolish.

A heavy gust of wind hit his face. The late fall was transforming into gorgeous winter. He knew he was unprepared the day it began to snow. Doubtful about the weather, he neglected much sleep and ran more often. He knew he was close to Amelka.

Two days later, he awoke after few hours of sleep. It was early into the morning, around two a.m. he guessed. He felt strangely confident with the town in his sights. He looked into his bag for breakfast. It was all empty. He desired just a little drink of water or bread. He told himself that his father could provide some food as he coughed in the everlasting brisk and brittle atmosphere.

He left the bag there knowing the town was still quite far. He knew that it could take him two or three hours if he ran but felt weaker than the day before. 'It's just a lack of breakfast' he reassured himself. He kept coughing in the air. He walked for a few hours and approached the town. He felt tired still with the sun rising and his eye lids were weak at the early hour.

'It's just right there' he thought. His coughing was more frequent every minute. 'I can make it... if I stay... awake...'