Chapter 7: The cursed land Lernaen (part 4)

Heracles, Gwen, Amelinda had woken up and were having breakfast with Lily and aunt Calliope.

“I will go to pick some oranges after breakfast. Do any of you want to go with me?” said Lily, looking on Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda.

“Yes, we will. All of us will go with you.” Amelinda said quickly.

“It’s great to hear you say that. We will go after our breakfast washing everything.” said Lily excitedly.

“Right--”

The breakfast finished after minutes. Amelinda kept staying helping Aunt Calliope and Lily clean while Heracles and Gwen went out first and waited her and Lily in front of the house. Later, Amelinda and Lily appeared and give Heracles and Gwen each a basket they they walked in the orange garden. 

“Only you and your mother but you have a wide garden of orange here. How can you eat all of the oranges?” said Amelinda curiously. She was right beside Lily.

“Not only us living here. There still have other people but they don’t live with us.” said Lily.

“Other people--” squealed Amelinda, “Where are they?”

“Not far away from this place. They all gather in a small village.” said Lily.

“Oh - Why don’t you go and live with them? Is it better to live with them than live separately here by the forest’s edge?” Amelinda curiously asked.

“Not completely. Honestly, I and my mother like to live this place than to live in village. We like this forest, like to work on our garden. We like our house quiet and peace.” said Lily.

“You and your mother like to live separately from the people, right?” said Amelinda.

“You may also think so.” said Lily smiling.

“There had a question you still didn’t answer us.” the voice of Heracles came behind. “Who is your Lord?” he added.

“Yes, I also curious about your Lord.” squealed Gwen, “who is he and why do you have to thank to him? It’s not necessary to thank a lord in meals.”

“It’s necessary Gwen.” said Lily seriously, “We can’t live here if our lord doesn’t agree. Therefore, to thank to him before meals is the way we show our gratitude.” 

“But who is he? And where does he live?” Heracles asked again impatiently.

“I am sorry Heracles.” said Lily innocently, “I can’t tell you his name. It’s a prohibited name and I also can’t tell you his place. I don’t know it.”

“Are you serious?” Gwen said at one, “You are not allowed to call his name and even don’t know where he live.” 

“Yes, we don’t know. No one of us knows where he lives but we know that he is the owner of this place, live and protect us safely here.” said Lily.

“You sure?” Gwen spoke up.

“Yes, I am.” said Lily innocently. Her voice didn’t have any suspicion.

Gwen turned to Heracles. They felt confusing about her unfounded belief but they both didn’t want to break it. They didn’t ask more, kept going behind her and Amelinda. Lily led them walk for a while then stopped in middle of the garden.

“Here we are. Help me pick oranges around.” said Lily.

“Let it for us. We will take care of this place.” said Heracles.

“We will let you here. I and Amelinda will go to the side.” said Lily. She turned to Amelinda, “We go.” she added. Then she and Amelinda strode off leaving Heracles and Gwen to stay at there. Heracles and Gwen quickly saw ripe oranges around. They separated. Heracles stretched reaching on an orange on a high branch trying to take it.

“Heracles--” said Gwen suddenly.

“What?” said Heracles, grabbing on the orange.

“Are you curious – uhm – I mean that Aunt Calliope looked like normal people but Lily is half-human and half-snake.” Gwen said, still picking.

“Honestly, at the first time I saw Aunt Calliope, I was a little surprised because I thought she had to be half-human and half-snake like Lily. However, it is only at the moment. Later, I thought about it and believed that Lily’s not biological child of Aunt Calliope. I think she is an adopted child.” said Heracles.

“Yeah, this is only way to explain the things. No normal could give birth to a half-human and half-snake child.” said Gwen thoughtfully. He turned back to pick oranges in silence. “However,” he suddenly raised his voice, “have you ever thought about it. That Aunt Calliope is also half-human and half-snake; and she only hid it by some magic. I guess. They are different. That’s the reason they don’t live with others in the village.” 

“It also can happen.” said Heracles. He stopped a little to look at Gwen, “But, why do you think about it too much. I think both Lily and aunt Calliope are good people. They are very kind to let us live and eat with them. We should not drill down and see their individuals.”

“Yes, I see it, Heracles.” said Gwen, “It is my curiosity.” He stopped seconds, “Honestly, I am a little worried. We are in a strange place and strange people. My father has ever told me thousand times that – don’t believe anyone if you don’t know exactly who they are. Though, they treat you well. Always be alert.”

“I don’t know but I trust my father. He always has reason for everything.” added Gwen.

“I see. I understand your father’s saying but now we can’t refuse any help because of our doubt.” said Heracles.

“You misunderstood me Heracles. I don’t mean that we have to refuse help from Lily and his mother. But, there have two things bothering my mind much. One why Lily and her mother don’t live with others and the other who their lord is. They made them to be suspicious people.” said Gwen.

“I want to know who their lord is more than to know why they don’t live with others.” said Heracles, “Who is he? Why is he worshipped as gods and goddesses here? But, I think our main purpose now is still to find the way to leave this place, not to discover about things around here.” Heracles’s really serious.

“Of course, I know it.” said Gwen.

“I hope we can discover where this place soon and then to find the way to leave. We have wasted too much time staying here.” said Heracles.

“Yeah,” replied Gwen.

Heracles and Gwen wandered around the place minutes, picked and filled full their basket with juicy oranges then they walked, found Lily and Amelinda. It didn’t take them much time to see Lily and Amelinda. They didn’t stay far away them.

“Our baskets are full. What about you, Amelinda, Lily?” said Gwen.

“Ours are also full. We are going to find you and ask you to turn back home. Lily has something wanting us to help her in afternoon.” said Amelinda.

“Yes, I plan to bring oranges to children in village in afternoon. I want you to go with me. We will have lunch and then go after that. Do you mind?” said Lily.

“Of course we do not; we’re pleasant to help you, right Gwen?” said Heracles.

“Yes, I’m really excited wanting to meet others. How do the people look like? Are they kind as you and your mother?” said Gwen.

“They are normal people Gwen. They are kind and pure. I think you will like them as you meet them and they also will too. Only don’t do anything strange. They are people born and spending whole their lives to live here. They scare and alert to new things.” said Lily.

“We will notice it. We will not do anything strange, right Heracles, Gwen?” said Amelinda, stared on them.

“Of course, we will not.” said Heracles in serious tone.

“That is the only thing I feel worry. Now we should go home, have lunch before come to the village in early afternoon.” said Lily.

“Follow your words.” said Amelinda.