I Told You Once, And I Told You Twice, I AM Maxwell!

Chapter 7: The (Annoying) Handmaid

It didn't take them long to reach Nia Khera after leaving the Kijara Seafalls. The sands slowly turned to dirt and grass, and soon, it began to slope. Milla was amazed at how Jude was practically skipping uphill without a problem.

"Someone's missing." Jude said as he stopped at the entrance of the village. He had a set frown on his face and his arms were crossed. Milla and Alvin shared a look of slight confusion.

"Who?" Milla asked. Jude looked around for a moment before dropping his arms with a...sigh of relief?

"Ah, looks like I can avoid getting scolded for a while." Jude said with a smile. He threw a grin at the adults behind him and scampered over to an old man sitting on a mat. "Chief Keita! I'm home~!"

"Lord Maxwell?" The old man looked up rom what he was doing and suddenly smiled, "Oh, how good it is to see you safe, my lord!"

"Lord Maxwell's home!"

"He has returned, he has returned!"

Milla and Alvin was surprised to see people either rushing or walking toward the entrance, all with relieved smiles on their faces. The children hurried over to Jude, but suddenly stopped short. Everyone around Jude dropped to one knee, bowing their heads and clasping their raised hands together.

Jude looked over them for a moment before heaving a sigh. "You don't need to do that overtime I'm here. I'd rather keep things informal, thank you."

As if a spell had broken, the children dropped their hands as got up, all crowding around Jude with several questions thrown at him. The adults slowly got up and returned to their own duties.

"Lord Maxwell, where did you go?"

"Everyone was worried!"

Jude laughed pleasantly as he grinned at all of the children. "I just went out for a little while. Have any of you seen Ivar?"

The children shook their heads as the village chief walked up to them. Jude couldn't help but notice the worried frown on his face.

"Lord Maxwell, Ivar had left the village in search of you. He was in such a panic that he couldn't sleep well." Chief Keita said. Jude hummed in understanding as he nodded. He took the time to politely tell the children off, saying the they needed to help their parents before turning his attention back to the elder.

"Alright. I guess I have to do this without him. Chief Keita, gather the four temporal stones and give them to Alvin and Milla," he said, gesturing to the adults over his shoulder behind him. "Alvin, Milla, will take them and accompany me to my shrine."

Chief Keita looked a bit unsure. "But, Lord Maxwell, can you trust them?"

Jude smiled, "Of course! They were, after all, the ones who accompanied me home."

"Very well, Lord Maxwell, as you wish," Chief Keita said with a nod, heading to the closest villagers.

"Thank you." Jude said. He looked over his shoulder and gestured to them. "Milla, Alvin, I hope you don't mind, but, follow me please!"

He didn't wait for a response as he began to head up a dirt road.

"Oh~kaaaayy...What just happened?" Alvin asked as he crossed his arms. Milla took a deep breath and shrugged as she sighed.

"You know, I'm just gonna go with it. He's impossible to figure out." she said, following after the Lord of Spirits.

._._._._._.

Skit: Jude's Hometown

Milla: So, this is Jude's hometown... It's more peaceful as I thought it would be.