Beginning Beyond The Horizon

The afternoon sun shone on the five Tanzanies, and the tops of their heads began to burn, but they continued towards the unknown destination on the map. Along the way, they encountered many travelers in the same direction as them. Yul walks beside U-ri and watches as Hajime, Abrafo and Michio talk to the travelers.

"They do like to talk," U-ri said, looking at Yul. "Why don't you ask for directions?"

Yul said, "We also know where we are going because we already have a map, so we don't need to talk to those travelers. The less we talk about our mission, the less we expose ourselves."

"Those three must have gotten along well," said U-ri, sighing happily. "I was worried that the three of you would not be able to take care of two elderly people."

Yul looked at Hajime who had a pleasant conversation with the travelers, which reminded him of the night when Hajime cried and begged him not to leave. Looking at Hajime's smiling face, he felt a little uneasy. He knew that Hajime was hurt deep down. He knew from experience that the bright, carefree smiles of deeply hurt people are often fake.

Yul said, "Let them enjoy themselves until we part ways with those travelers."

It was almost noon when the five men and travelers arrived at the intersection. The men say goodbye to the travelers and walking up the mountain road and the travelers walked down the small path.

Along the way, U-ri was the last one walking behind the other four men. With weak knees, he desperately tried to catch up with this group of energetic young people, but unfortunately, he couldn't catch up.

Michio turned to Hajime and Abrafo, then boasted, "Hey, buddies, look... look at what one of the female travelers gave me." He showed them the basket of fruit the travelers had given him as a parting present. "Hmm... don't know why these fruits are called dragon eggs." He picked up a pink round fruit from the basket. "Do any of you want it?" He looked at the five people, but he saw that U-ri fell behind the others. He put the fruit back. "How about we rest and eat before continuing?"

Abrafo said, "Why? I have no problem walking and eating."

Yul turns around to see that U-ri is still far away from them. "We take a break before continuing. It's not like we're on a time mission," he said.

Hajime said, "Good idea."

Michio said, "I'll cook."

U-ri finally catches up to the men as they drop their belongings on the ground. Panting heavily, he frowned displeasingly at the four people. "Do you know that I'm already sixty, and I can't keep up with you? You have to be considerate of your elders."

Abrafo said, "We are considerate of you, that's why we stopped here to rest. You see, Michio has started cooking."

Hajime smiled and took U-ri's hand, found a seat under the tree, and sat U-ri down. "I even made this seat for you," he said, pouring a cup of water from a bamboo water bottle and handing it to U-ri.

U-ri took the cup of water and said grumpily, "Don't give me a cup of water as a bride. I won't fall for this kind of bribery."

Michio laughed and joked, "How about a dragon fruit?" He knelt in front of U-ri. "Your Highness... Please eat and rest, these servants will cook for you."

The four men start laughing, leaving U-ri alone in the shade to drink water.

Although U-ri does not have any position in the court, but U-ri is a very famous figure in the court. Everyone knows that Jawara has always favored U-ri's ideas and logistics as U-ri has served the royal family for three generations.

Abrafo looks at U-ri sitting under a tree enjoying his water and fruit. He said, "The old man was spoiled by servants and maids in the palace. I was thinking, are we going to be his servants all the way?"

Michio said, "He knows that we are not his servants."

Yul said, "From now on, let's not rush, we should walk at U-ri's pace. We are in this together."

Michio stood up and waved at U-ri, "U-ri, lunch is ready."

U-ri shouted, "Bring it to me. I can't get up."

After lunch, Hajime summoned his three wolves. The five jumped onto the wolves and continued up the mountain road. The wolves led the five men deeper and deeper into the heart of the mountain.

The men slowly entering an old road. It seems that no one has walked this road for a long time, because the road is full of weeds. The men noticed that they entered a very old narrow path. They looked to the side of the road and began to see strips of old yellow clothes tied to branches. They looked to the side of the road and found that there were many dilapidated broken sedan chairs stood only a few feet away from the old road. If they have not look carefully, they may not find the broken sedan chairs hidden in the grass.

Hajime turned to Yul and asked, "Are you sure we're heading in the right direction? This road doesn't look like a road leading to a village, but more like a road leading to a cemetery."

Yul pulls out the old map, which still shows they're headed in the right direction. "Based on the map, we're still headed in the right direction."

Abrafo said, "This place gives me the creeps."

Michio sneezed and rubbed his nose. "Why do I feel cold all of a sudden?" he said, looking at the side of the road.

Hajime opened his mouth, and he could see the condensation coming out of his mouth. He said, "It's not just you. Actually, I also suddenly feel cold."

Suddenly, three long strings flew out from the dense forest, wrapped tightly around Hajime's waist, pulled Hajime from the horseback to the ground, and continued to drag Hajime into the forest.

"Hajime," Yul yelled, jumping off the wolf, drawing the sword from the scabbard on his back, and severing the three dragline silk threads with a swift swing. Just when he was about to help Hajime up. Abrafo suddenly fell off the wolf's back.

"Ah!" Abrafo screamed when he was pulled away from the pack of wolves and into the dense woods beside the road.

Michio yelled, "Abrafo!"

Yul rushed forward, but he was too late, because Abrafo had disappeared beyond the trees.

Yul drops his bag and belongings on the ground. "Hajime, you stay here with U-ri. Michio and I are going to find Abrafo."

Michio dropped his bag and stabbed his spear into the ground next to his belonging. "U-ri, I'll leave this for you just in case," he said, grabbing his three-section staff.

Hajime quickly put down his backpack and belongings. "I'll go with you, too," he said.

Yul said, "You don't have to go. One of us must stay and protect U-ri."

Hajime took out his bangle and threw it into the air. His bangle lengthens, covering U-ri and their belongings. He said, "U-ri, you have to remember that no matter what you see or hear...don't step out of this bangle."

U-ri asked, "What do you mean?"

Hajime said, "Just remember my word. Never step out of this bangle under any circumstances. Even if the person approaching is one of us."

U-ri said, "I see." From Hajime's expression, it can be seen that they must have entered some kind of ominous place.

Hajime said, "Do you still have the talisman I gave you?"

U-ri nodded.

Hajime reminded U-ri again, worried that he might not follow Hajime's instructions. He emphasized strongly, "Remember my words. Whoever you see, don't go out. Tell them to come within the protection of the bangle."

U-ri said, "I know. Go save Abrafo."

Hajime left with a heavy heart, but he soon followed Yul and Michio into the dense forest.

Hajime, Yul, and Michio stared into the field full of corpses. The strong smell of carrion made Michio and Hajime vomit.

Yul turned to Hajime and Michio and said, "It looks like a village under that small valley."

Hajime wiped his mouth and grabbed Yul's arm. He asked, "Are you going to that village?"

Yul said, "Maybe whoever took Abrafo took him there."

Michio opened his eyes after vomiting and found a white mucus trail on the ground on his right side. He said, "Yul, look at this."

Yul looked down at the ground and saw the sticky white trail leading deeper into the forest. He sighed with a heavy heart, and said, "This path looks like it's fleshly made not long ago."

Hajime said, "Then it must be where the individual took Abrafo."

Yul said, "Follow me closely."

Nearly an hour passed, and U-ri was still standing next to the belongings on the ground. Just when he was about to sit down due to pain in his lower back, he saw Abrafo walking out from the side of the road. He looked up at Abrafo happily. "Abrafo," he called happily. "This way! Over Here!" He waved at Abrafo.

Abrafo said, "Why are you in that thing?" He began to remove the thick silk from his clothes. "Get out of that thing quickly and help me get the gunk off my clothes."

U-ri looked at Abrafo and said, "Why don't you come inside the circle, and I'll remove those white things for you?"

Abrafo began tearing the sticky white silk from his arms and hands. "Quick, come and help me."

U-ri refuses to step out of the safety of the bangle. He said "No, you walk in. It's easier for you to get in than it is for me to come out."

Deep in the dense forest, the only sounds Abrafo heard were his breathing and the sound of his body being dragged through the dead vegetation. He felt paralyzed from waist to toe. He wriggled his toes with all his strength, but there was no feeling in his feet. He wanted to open his mouth, but it seemed that his mouth was sealed with a spell, and he couldn't speak. He looked left and right, but he didn't know where he was. He followed the big white silk thread slowly upwards and found that he was being dragged away by the belly of a huge spider. He widened his eyes, thinking to himself, half of his body was paralyzed, how could he get out of this situation.