A Doll and a Copper Coin

Chapter 4: Yulein

Huga knelt in front of his parents' and grandfather's graves. While Gorin and Ashli stood at a corner.

"Mum, Dad, Grandpa, sob sob... I'm leaving now." Huga said.

" Big brother Gorin and big brother Ashli are taking me to look for your killers."

" Don't worry I'll come back one day to meet you." Huga said.

" Please protect me. He sobbed.

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They started their journey to Norac city. Along the way they encountered a demonic beast which was defeated by Ashli. They arrived at a village an hour later.

The village was a small village situated in the forest. It consisted of a few restaurants and shops, but mostly of small wooden residential houses. They were a hunting village, who made their living from hunting the animals in the forest and selling their products to others.

They walked towards a shop on the streets of the village that sold food items. Gorin bought quite a lot of food items. He stored them in his storage ring. When they came out into the street they met a woman walking down the street. She looked at them and then at Huga.

"Oh my, isn't this Huga." She exclaimed coming closer to them. Huga quickly hid behind Gorin.

" Ai, you don't even remember me. Well I can't blame you, you were only four when we last met." She lamented.

" Well, I'm your mother's friend, Yulein¹." She said.

" You know my mum?" Huga asked revealing his head from behind Gorin.

" Ye we've been friends for a long time now. We met a long time ago. Enough about that, who might you guys be?" She asked.

" My name is not your concern." Gorin answered.

" Wait aren't you that kid that Maylei² talked about? The one that saved Huga. What she described really matches your appearance." She said

" Nice to meet you kid." She said with a smile.

" By the way, Huga how's your mum doing?" She asked.

Huga started crying, clenching Gorin's cloth.

" What's wrong? Did something happen? Tell me if something happened." She demanded coming closer making Gorin to raise his hand to block her view so she couldn't see Huga.

" Dead... They're dead." Huga sobbed.

" Did I hear you well, what did you say. Did you just say dead. Is Maylei dead? Tell me, talk to me kid." She demanded.

" This can't be." She said in denial. She stood there not saying a word, sad and lost in thoughts.

" Huga were are you going now, you can come live with me." She managed to say after a while.

" I want to go with them." Huga said.

" Are you sure you want to go with them?" She said.

" Hmmm.." Huga  replied nodding his head.

" Alright, please look after him well. Please don't let anything happen to him." She said after some thoughts.

" He's.. he's the only child of my friend so I want him to live for her so she'd be happy." She said within sobs.

" Thank you." Huga said. Hearing this, she gave him a small smile.

" Come here, give aunty a hug." She said. Huga reluctantly went forward and hugged her then ran back.

" You could take him to his uncle if you can't take care of him. He lives in Neiru village at the other side of the kingdom." She said.

She searched her clothes and brought out a pouch.