Memory in the End

Chapter 11: Owyne

None of us were expecting what happened the next day. It seemed to be too easy, too convenient. And really, it was not anything like what I had imagined.

We happened to come upon a beautiful orchard. There were various types of fruit trees; great apple trees, orange trees, pear trees. This couldn't have possibly been done by the hand of nature. The whole area was a garden.

"It can't be..." Aru murmured a couple of times as we walked through an area of flowers.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Henry added in. Michael only trod on ahead silently. None of them were inclined to tell me just what is was they were so concerned about.

Ahead of us, standing underneath a peach tree, was a large figure. I could only see his lower body, as the rest of him was covered by the branches. At his feet was a basket of peaches, and next to it...an...ax? No, this wasn't any ordinary ax used for cutting down trees. If it was, I wouldn't be so surprised. This was a double-sided ax, the kind that would only be used in battles.

The grass beneath our feet rustles as we get closer. Our footsteps seem to startle the man, and he bends below the branches to peer at us. He recognizes us, or rather, he recognizes the other members of the Five, and fully steps out from behind the tree to reveal his tall stature. He and Michael were almost about the same height, maybe a little taller. He stretched out his arms in a warm welcome.

"What a sight for sore eyes!" he says boisterously, "Michael, Aru, Henry! What are you lot doing in my orchard?".

"We should be asking you that," Michael says, "Owyne.".

Owyne gives a wide smile and pats Michael on the back. He ruffles Aru and Henry's,

the latter looking more displeased.

"What are you doing here?" Henry asks, fixing his hair.

"Isn't it obvious?" Owyne spins around, showing off his garden, "I've constructed this entire place with my power. This area used to be a barren wasteland, but I brought life to it," he waves for us to follow us, "Come, there is so much more to this place.".

We follow him through the orchard, passing by rows of trees and fields of flowers. Owyne and Michael walk side by side, exchanging questions about their activities after the Five had split up. It is an odd sight. Owyne is taller, and a bit bigger than Michael. When he laughs, he throws his head back and lets his voice bellow. Michael on the other hand is quieter, and not as spirited as Owyne is. I notice Owyne glance back at me, and then he turns back around.

"So, uh," he scratches the side of his head with a finger, "Did Ivan...turn into a girl?".

Everyone stops in their steps at once, almost falling over from Owyne's ridiculous question.

"Was it a witch's spell or something?" he asks honestly. He seems to be serious. He wasn't joking like Aru does. Is he even more of an idiot? Is he just really dense?

Michael gives a long sigh, " Owyne, why...why on earth would you think that?".

"Eh? Well if he got hit by a witch's spell and turned into the girl, then that would explain why we're all together again. Aren't we trying to help him turn back?".

Henry grumbles, "It'd be amazing to see what goes on in that thick head of yours.".

Aru bursts out laughing, and he can barely speak, "Pff-Owyne, y-you, haha. You can't be seriously th-thinking that?" he points to me, "For one thing, Ivan definitely wouldn't look this attractive as a girl.".

"You know he'd kill you if he heard that," Henry mutters.

I chuckle a bit, "I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier. I was waiting for a more suitable moment," I bow to Owyne, "My name is Arrabella Embertail, daughter of King Gregory Embertail and princess of Isaigalla kingdom." I smile slightly, "Unfortunately for the both of us, Ivan is not among us.".