"WHAT DID you just say? Your dear mister? Do you adore him more than me now, Vivi?" I said with much anger laced on my voice. Is that why he did not want to get away from his arms earlier?
"I love you more! I love you more!" His gaze shifted from one place to another, not sure what his next move was. To stay on my shoulder or to go away.
"Why call him your dear tister, then?" I asked, my frown grew bigger when I was answered with silence. "If you love him more than me, go ahead and go to him. To your fool of a mister. I do not give a damn!" I said as I dismissed him on my shoulder signaling for him to go. I rolled my eyes when he flew away and got lost from my sight. He did not even say a word. The audacity of that bird.
"If you really go to him, I will make sure to tangle up your bones altogether. Hmmp!" I irritantly said while I slipped the pouch back to where I hid it and walked back to the hideout.
"You were gone longer than you ever did, I thought you would just take a bath. Did you take an errand somewhere?" said Adrina who magically appeared from my right. I quickly turned my head to her because of shock.
"Why do you always have to appear so suddenly without a warning?" I said to her with an irritant voice. And why is she asking me as if I answer to her? Even Hurisa is not asking me, always asking me about everything I do.
"You did not answer my question," she said sternly, not minding my remark against her earlier. This kid is really ridiculous.
"It is true that I went to take a bath by the falls, but…" I trailed off and bit my lower lip remembering what I--no, what he did to me. I suppressed the smile crawling out of my face. Hoping it will not betray me. "You need not to know such information, you are too young for that," I said, whispering the last words wishing she did not catch it.
Her forehead formed a knot, seeming to be suspicious by my words and actions. "But what?"
"Stop sniffing around, Adrina," I muttered with a threatening sound evident in my voice when I saw her squinting her eyes at me. I showed her the pouch of money when I remembered it. "Tomorrow, we will go to the market to buy you and Kera what you need," I said to her and smiled.
Her reaction is unfazed, seems like seriousness is all to her face and nothing else. It was even harder to talk to this kid evermore, she did not even know how to smile. It makes me feel that she is older than me.
"Perhaps something happened to where you have been. That falls must be mystical. I wonder what happened," she said with a single brow raised as if taunting me to spill what had been. How obnoxious.
My face turned red for an unknown reason or maybe I know why. I just forced it on the back of my head. The kiss Sevasti and I shared.
"Just rest now, Kid. You have a morning train tomorrow, right?" I grinned at her and it made her frown. Maybe not liking the way I said it. "I am going to rest now too," I added as I walked past her but got stopped when she spoke again.
"Are you not eating before going to bed?"
My gaze shifted to the women cooking not far from us. The men are helping them to control the fire just enough for cooking.
"I am full now," I unconsciously uttered, remembering something. I timidly smiled at her and continued walking to my quarters.
This fortress is just right for us. Afterall, it is just a number of us left after the war that cost too many lives. Some of them joined the bandits in other regions, some died of hunger. Made from some used oilcloth collected from various markets for a cheaper price. Our houses were clustered for us to know immediately who needs helping in times of danger. In terms of food supplies, women are helping each other to cook and we eat as one at a designated time.
I dropped all of my things on the small table at the corner of my quarters and quickly landed on my bed that fits only one person in my size. Alongside my quarters is where Adrina and her sister reside. I stared at nothingness for a moment and released the smile that I was hiding like a mad earlier. It felt really weird at that moment, something my mind cannot explain. When I close my eyes, all I can see is him. His beautiful eyes sparkled differently when it met mine, everytime. His lustful lips made me insane to the point that I cannot control myself. It felt like a dream, making me feel like floating.
But even if it feels bizarre, I still got the guts to rob and fool him because I knew this feeling should stop soon. I have no time for this. The sooner, the better. I do not want it to be the reason as to why my plans would fail in the future. I do not want to ruin the promise I swear in my father's name. A distraction as such is not needed. Not now, not ever.
I should not return to that place.
I sighed as I erased the smile formed in my face for a while now. 'You should not be this ridiculous, Aliara! All you should think about is your promise to the people of Kozania and to your father. They did not deserve the death they got. Get yourself together!' I scolded in my mind and before I knew it, I fell asleep.
I watched Adrina from a distance while she was forcing her little limbs to learn combat methods from Hamil. He is currently teaching her just as she wants to. But I did not permit her to hold a sword. Not even a bow or any other form of weapon. She is not ready for that. For now, she must learn the basics and I know it will take her time before she can handle it at least like an amateur. Another thing, a sword is so much heavier than her, so to say. She had to put on some weight for that.
I watched the other men practicing while I had my hands behind me. Men and women my age are struggling to get stronger since the early hours of the morning. Some of them are the ones from the hostages of the Verdantes that got rescued the time we attacked them in the woods.
Matias, who was beside me, also watched them train. Bathed in the sun, the only thing that is healthy in this land. Some of them had the chance to duel us earlier but none of them won against us two so we decided to just watch as they train with themselves. If Matias and I were to spar against each other again, the results would be like our other fights. No one will win because for sure, none of us wants to be defeated.
"That kid really persists in learning," Matias said with a slight smile on his face.
"If this is what she desires, she should work real hard for it," I said.
"It would take a long time before she finally learns all the things she needs to and gets to fight along with us in battles."
I nodded at his words. "Indeed. Just let her do what she wants. If she wants to learn combat techniques and fight with us instead of playing with the kids around her age.”
“I thought you would bring them to the market today? The sun is nearly setting already." I quickly looked at him when I remembered what I told the kid last night. What made me shocked is the fact that he knows it when I am sure no one was around when I told that to Adrina.
"How do you know that?" I asked with confusion lingering in my voice.
"She was boasting that to me first thing in the morning. Seems that both of you have forgotten," he said with one brow raised.
I shifted my attention to Adrina who was still focused on her lesson. She never looked tired listening and following instructions from Hamil. I sighed, took a cup of water from the jar of clean water nearby and went to where Adrina and Hamil were.
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"ADRINA," I called as I walked near them to catch her attention that she immediately gave to me. "Rest for now, Hamil," I said facing Hamil. He gave me a nod and went to the other who was training.I gave Adrina the cup of water I was holding."Thank you, Miss," she gratefully said. I just looked at her while she drank the water I gave in one go."Let us reschedule going to the market for tomorrow. You have been busy all day and I know that you are tired from all that training.""Good to know that, it was almost evening. The sun is setting at any moment now," she muttered under her labored breath after gulping the water.I just nodded at her and got the cup."Do not push yourself in training too hard, it will take a long time before you learn the things you have to," I said to her and she gave me a frown in return."But it was exactly eighteen days before the next full moon, the night of your attack," she uttered. Now, it was my t
LATER ON, they stare at each other and laugh ever so loudly. Seeming to know the answer they wanted to know just seconds ago, two of them gathered around me. "I wonder what it is that made your face as red as ripe tomatoes, Miss?" said one of them. She was talking to them but felt like that one question was for me, teasing. "Indeed. Perhaps what happened between the two of them was a beautiful thing," said the other one. "Maybe his lips and hers met." "Or maybe more." My forehead creased, not liking where the conversation was going. "No! It was just a kiss, mermaids," I defended but quickly covered my own mouth. I spilled too much. Because of what I did, they eyed each other again and laughed harder than they did earlier, almost choking. I just frown at what they are doing. I am beyond annoyed by these mermaids, they did not deserve the name. It should be sirens. Sirens are evil according to the myths. It sounded better. Sh
"WHY ARE you silent? You were not like that when we first met. I was talking to you but I did not receive a single response from you," he complained, glancing at the surroundings because the fireflies are starting to get active.I hid at the tree fearing that he would catch me for no particular reason."If only she was here, she would see how beautiful these little fireflies were. I wanted to see her lovely smile, her sparkling eyes and her reddened cheeks bathed in this wonderful scenery," he said with amusement evident in his voice.I was stunned for a moment by what I heard, my hand reaching for my ramming heart inside my chest. My heart was rejoicing. Rejoicing for what? Why am I feeling like this? Is this the right thing?"I really like her so much, bird. She was the only woman who made me feel like this, too much adoration. I can never remove her from my mind now."I bit my lower lip and gradually peered at him. He was just staring at nothing
"I am not a thief. How many times should I tell you that for you to understand, Miss?" said Adrina. It sounds sarcastic but that is her normal way of speaking. The angry lady was now furious because of what she said. Considering the age gap, the lady must have been offended."Fool! You have no right to answer a noble like me. Your tongue is too sharp. I will make sure you are punished." The lady tried to put a finger again at her when I interrupted and flicked her hand."Did you see her touch any of your belongings for you to accuse her of thievery, Miss?" I said. She did not hesitate to show her annoyance at my intrusion."And who are you? Do you have my permission to intrude in this? Mere people have no claims here. I have no need for your opinion," she said, her voice laced with filth as she looked at my being from head to toe. I did not have my cloak with me so I am left with a blue humble clothing.I wanted to glare at her or at least roll my eyes be
ADRINA LOOKED at me before speaking again. "Why do you want to know? Who are you, Sir?" she said.I wanted to scold her because of her attitude but I controlled myself. If only it was the other guard she was talking to, I might have dragged her a long time ago and punished her for her bad behavior."Fool! You should not talk like that to--""Favier," Sevasti interrupted what his comrade was saying. When their eyes met, they understood what the other one meant, Favier bowed his head subtly as an apology for what he was trying to say."Adrina," I said, catching her attention. "Respect him. He is one of the guards of Farianio," I continued. Her expressions did not change but she eventually nodded, forced."Are you a guard, Mister?" said the lady that caught my attention. Then she eyed him from head to toe that I unconsciously do too. It was not that grand compared to what he wore the other times we met but it was not too plain either. It is only right
"Let us go, Adrina," I said and dragged her out of that scene. I cannot even lift my head to face the two gentlemen who were still waiting for my answer. "We are going home! We are going home!" said Vivi. I calmed myself enough from the shame I have felt earlier before I talked. "Yes, we are going home," I said with a glint of annoyance in my voice. "Why do you have to join in the conversation, Adrina? I wish you would just shut your mouth with your unsolicited opinion," I said glaring at her but she just returned that kind of look to me. "Are you not the one who said that I am your child? I just stood for you," she countered. "Why do you have to do that? You know that I am just kidding." She scowled at me and removed my hold on her. "Why? Because you do not want that man to hear it? Do you know him? How do you know that he is a guard when he did not look like one such as now?" I averted my gaze away from her. Anywhere just not
HE IS also the one who moved away from that kiss. Both of us were chasing our breaths, our forehead against each other. I laughed heartily as I bit my lower lip while I eyed his."I almost believed her when she asked where her father was.""And I almost smacked that insolent woman when she held your arm for the second time."He slightly moved away from me, hands unmoved on my waist. His both brows arched while having a small grin on his lips. "I did not think you are the jealous type, my beautiful miss," he said, teasing.My eyes sharpen, "Do I have something to be jealous of, Mister?""None," he quickly said, the grin on his lips widening. "You are really mine now, my lady.""And how so?" I said while I raised a brow at him, removing both my hands on his nape.His forehead knotted at what I did and the way he groped my waist tightened thinking that I might run away from him again."Are you not?""Hmm," seems
I GAZE at the streams of water of the falls. I can hear its sound, as well as the chirping of the birds nearby. I smiled as I touched my lip at the memory of him claiming my lip in this very place.Seems like I can never really force myself not to feel anything for him at this moment. I was almost drowning to this happiness whenever I saw him and got to be with him. Even at this second, he is all I can think about. The wind is like putting me to sleep with its gentle breeze, it feels good.But I know I made a promise to myself that I will not let this feeling hinder all of my plans of revenge in the future. For the people of this kingdom and more importantly this kingdom, Kozania.I tightly gripped the hilt of my sword resting on my waist when I felt the fast approach of a presence. When I felt that someone arrived, I removed my sword from its sheath and positioned myself prepared for an attack. When our swords met, the clanging sound resonated all over the plac