Trapped in the Past
EPISODE 14

**HAPPY READING**.

Through the Udariel Forest. Regaz and Athera arrive at Pelhium Village. The residents there welcomed Regaz's arrival happily. Regaz looks a little friendly from his attitude that impressed the bodo period, then on the other hand some healers began to help treat the wounded soldiers whereas Athera had treated Regaz's arm inside the stretcher as the man fell asleep.

Regaz chose to distance himself from Athera after arriving there. Athera himself did not know what happened to Regaz who was a little friendly with him earlier. The man looked indifferent and ignored him.

"Welcome, Your Majesty."

Regaz and his herd were warmly welcomed by the residents there. They even gave a large house in the middle of their reot hut to welcome Regaz.

Regaz remained silent and entered the house, telling his men to clean up their belongings and take a place to rest.

"Where are you going?"

Athera, who was intending to set foot in search of rest, had to stop when Regaz asked him.

"Rest."

Regaz clucking. " You have to deal with the people here. They're starving and the food we have has little to do with the assault in the Udariel forest and it's your job as Empress."

Athera looked at Regaz sharply. " Can't you be a little nice to me after all that?"

"What's? Because this?" Regaz shows his arm wrapped in bandages towards Athera and then smiles cynically until Athera is confused to see the change in attitude Regaz.

"We're breakeven. I've always been kind to you because I feel indebted and now it's all back to the beginning. I don't owe you as much as you do" Regaz said.

Athera clenched her hand. He thought Regaz had only made his bad attitude as a cover but his mind was wrong. During this time Regaz pretended to even good attention to him because he felt burdened.  Is that kiss included? Does he think giving him a kiss is a concern that he is recognized to have been loved by the man who always torments him?

Brak!

Athera dropped the small innards he held and left just like that to leave Regaz. He was disappointed in all this. Either because of Regaz's attitude or because his mission felt like a failure.

On the other hand Regaz just silent to see the departure of Athera. The man chose to enter the room in the house. Regaz tried to justify the character he was supposed to show athera. During this time Regaz began to realize that he began to be careless about his attitude to Athera.

"I will forever hate him and all his people." Regaz confirmed it in his heart as well as his mind. Because since the incident Athera slapped him until he got here, he began to realize that he began to be lulled by Athera. If this continues, then he will find it difficult to avenge his predecessor on the gazianors.

Then on the other side now Athera walked out of the house. He began to move his feet towards the village while looking at the conditions there. His heart that was still upset about Regaz's attitude slowly disappeared replaced by a feeling of deep pity. He has never seen anything like this in his modern world. The people are starving like the one who is about to die, their clothes have been torn apart. Women who have babies try to drink breast milk to their children when their condition is concerning and the parents who are sick seem to pass by without treatment.

Athera felt contemptible when her clothes looked good and tidy when around them. Why did Regaz and the other kingdoms not move faster to deal with them. Athera was completely inexhaustible. He began running back to the housing to pick up the remaining foodstuffs.

There are only a few grains, potatoes, and other foodstuffs that will either only be eaten by how many people there.

Athera brought it all, the servants who saw the departure of Athera immediately followed to help the woman, as well as the healers while the soldiers were going around checking security there.

"Food! There's food!"

They all exclaimed happily when they saw Athera coming with a bunch of groceries and intended to snatch it away. But Athera looked at them all coldly until they fell silent in fear.

Athera's gaze slowly softened seeing them all so still into their respective positions.

"Is the cauldron big here? Need it. We will make porridge from this foodstuff and then share it together" explained Athera.

They all stared at Athera.

"Are we really going to enjoy the porridge?"

Ahera nodded with a genuine smile. " Yes."

Athera flinched as the servants and healers appeared behind while offering help. At least if he failed to melt Regaz's heart, but he managed to melt the hearts of the people around Regaz.

"All right."

Athera began to move quickly when some residents helped him while the sick people began to be handled by the healers, in contrast to Regaz who was observing Athera secretly then he left there. He had gone around observing the village and sent a message to Tier to bring artisans or construction workers here to do the construction. It will make this village truly alive.

"Besides Udariel Forest, is there any other Forest that has lots of fruits or anything like that to eat?" athera asked some of the people.

They all nodded and then one of them made a sound. "From here there is a forest. There's plenty of fruit."

"Well, where am I going to the forest?"

"Our village is flanked by two woods. And this forest is after our village. We did not dare to go there because we were afraid of wild animals" they said.

"You better not go there, Empress," prevent the servants and healers.

"We ate just this enough, Empress," said the residents, who identified Athera when they made the porridge together.

Athera smile. " all right. I'm not going there. I want to go to housing first. If it's ripe please share it for them," explained Athera to the servants and they nodded.

Then Athera went to the housing. He went to get a horse. He wanted to go to the forest before it got dark. The food he made was not enough. At least there was more food, so Athera drove his horse into the forest there.

"Not too bad." Athera was driving his horse. He saw some soldiers asking where he was going but Athera just smiled. The horse kept moving until Athera saw the forest. Athera slowed down his horse then entered the forest slowly.

The forest here is filled with trees that are so large with thick leaves that sunlight is difficult to reach the light here. The forest is like at night.  At least Athera could still see the trees that had fruit. Athera got off his horse and tied the horse rope to the tree.

"It hasn't climbed for a long time." Athera smiled with satisfaction. He began to climb a tree that had apples that looked so fresh there. He was carrying a cloth bag until after picking he put it there. Athera had to be careful, otherwise he would have fallen from the top of the tree.

Ssst...

Athera's hand froze when he heard hiss behind him.

"Is that a snake?"

Sttts..

Athera shuddered in horror as the hiss grew clearer. Then he felt something move from behind his back then moved around his hand. The snake the size of his arm was now clearly plastered before his eyes. Athera screamed from the top of the tree while wagging his hand so that the snake fell but his movement actually made it limp while the snake fell first on the ground.

"Ti. no!" Athera closed her eyes when she realized she was about to fall.

TEPS.

"I'm glad I'm on time."

Athera was silent when her body was first captured by a man she knew. The man smiled happily as he looked at Athera.

Athera did not blink her eyes at all.

"Azen," said Athera slowly.

Alexios. The man was secretly following Athera. He lost track of Athera later when passing through the forest, he accidentally heard the screams of Athera.

"I'm Alexus not Azen" Alexus replied with a still smile.

**Connected**...