As the sound gets closer and closer…
Elzan: "Kids get behind me! NOW!"
The kids immediately get up and stand behind Elzan without questioning. Soon, the horses stops at the front of the house. Numbers of the royal army are now in front of the door. There are 10 of them. One of them knocked on the door. Elzan and his grandmother look at each other with concern. Elzan opens the door. It was a knight who was waiting outside.
Sharith: "Hello… I'm the right-hand man of King Kronox, Sharith and I'm here to collect the monthly payment."
Gloria: "But we've already given it last week…"
Sharith: "This is for next month."
Elzan: "Next month? This is only the second week of the month. Don't you think it's a lil too early?"
Sharithshakes his head, saying no. He then takes out his hand, asking for the money. Elzan and his grandmother know this is an unfair demand, but they seem to have no choice left.
Elzan: "This isn't right... We barely have enough to survive."
Sharith: "King Kronox doesn't care. pay them now or face the consequences."
Gloria sighs and reaches for a small pouch of coins, her hands trembling. Elzan clenches his fists, gritting his teeth. Sharith smirks as he takes the coins from the old lady and counts them.
Sharith: "This is only 500 kons. Did you forget that you're supposed to give 1500 kons per month?"
Gloria: "But this is all we have after we gave last week… please sir…"
Elzan steps forward as he speaks, holding the anger in his voice.
Elzan: "We're struggling to survive. Can't you give us more time?"
Sharith: "You cannot refuse to pay below the price; that's the law. Now pay up!"
Gloria looks at Elzan as she shakes her head, saying they won't have enough money for the rest of the month. Sharith notices a glass vase on the cabinet, thinking they are hiding the coins.
Sharith: "That vase looks expensive… Maybe you're hiding something in there."
Elzan: "It's just an old family vase. There's nothing inside."
Elzan steps in front of the cabinet, covering it.
Sharith: "Let's see about that."
He stepped inside the house and pushed Elzan aside to check the vase.
Elzan: "Hey! You can't just step onto someone's property like that!"
Elzan was about to grab Sharith's arm, but his grandma stopped him.
Sharith: "Now let's see if you're telling the truth…"
When he shakes the vase, a faint clinking sound comes from inside.
Sharith: "Well, well… looks like you did have more to give."
He then pours out the coins and counts them. Elzan was furious by watching him taking their savings in such a way. But he couldn't help but watch.
Sharith: "Well then, I'll be taking 1000 kons as the payment and an extra 200 for lying to the royal army."
Elzan: "WHAT?!"
The soldiers take their swords out and point at Elzan's shoulder and neck. His grandma got frightened as she held his arm tightly. Sharith glances at Elzan with an unbothered look and puts them in his small bag.
Sharith: "Look, kid… Don't try…"
He then pats Elzan's shoulder and smirks.
Sharith: "Alright, boys, we got what we want… Let's go."
Sharith then glances slightly at Elzan for the last time before he leaves the house. The kids are frightened knowing the same had happened to their house. Elzan is even more frustrated by his actions.
While Sharith is getting on his horse, Elzan escapes from his grandma's hand and grabs the bag from Sharith then runs away. His grandma covers her mouth in shocked by her grandson's action. Sharith immediately get on his horse as he was irritated. He ordered his men to capture Elzan. All of them left in rush leaving grandma and the kids at the house.
Elzan runs as fast as he can. He runs all the way to the village, passing other citizens but he couldn't pay attention for the mess he committed as he was running for his life while holding the bag of coins. He runs and runs until he reached the entrance to the woods. He stops and looks up at the tall trees. He looks back behind and back at the woods, rethinking his decision. He sighed one last time before stepping his foot and runs into the woods.
Soon, Sharith and his men reached the entrance to the woods. The horses refuse to step into the woods as their heads are turning back to the village multiple times no matter how hard the men try.
Soilder 1: "Sir, all of the horses refuse to go in there… Shall we let him go?"
Sharith: "Idiot! If we let him go, we'll lose all the money… Do you have any idea how frustrated King Kronox will be?"
Soldier 1: "Of course I know sir but… the rumors said once we entered the woods there's no chance we'll be able to get out alive-"
Sharith grabs the soldier's face and tightens his grip.
Sharith: "Look… I don't care if you guys come out alive or not from there… If you turned back right now you won't be able to see the sunlight again. UNDERSTOOD?!"
The soldier nods in fear.
Sharith: "Good… Now I want you and 8 of you to go in there and do you dare come back without the bag!"
The soldiers nod their heads frequently. They then saluted Sharith before getting off from the horses and going into the woods. Sharith watched them until he couldn't see their shadows. After that, he returns back to the King's castle leaving his men behind…