"THANK YOU. You really do not have to," I told them, patting their heads while I received their flowers with glee. I nodded as a bid of farewell when Hurisa held my shoulders.
"That was nothing big compared to what you do for us, Miss. If not for you, all of us may have been suffering up until now just to have little food to survive on a daily basis." The oldest of the children aged eight as she spoke to me and I wondered a bit because she did not speak that way when I last saw her.
"You are too young to speak of something like that. You were supposed to just play and enjoy life. Do not think of anything that is not of your concern," I said with a smile on my lips. They just nodded as if they understood what I just said.
"That is just fine, I guess. Let them be aware of the things that are happening around them," Adrina said, springing like a wild sprout beside me. I wanted to hit her in the head because of what she uttered but I just glared at her hoping she would get it. This kid, it has just been two days since we arrived. She is getting comfortable and knows the things in here.
"Are you the one who taught them such full-grown remarks, Adrina?" I said as I squinted my eyes towards her.
"I just told them the truth. This world is not what they think it is. This is an ugly one. Unfair and unjust. Life is not only about playing tag with your friends. It is not always laughter and smiles," she said in an unfeeling manner.
I just sighed at her and gently pulled her in my embrace. "Go and play again with the other kids. And thanks for the flowers again. I appreciate it." I sweetly smiled at them as I stayed there for a while as they smiled at me back while running away.
"You should not have said that to them, Adrina. They are too young to understand and process the awareness you want them to have. Reality in this world is not that important for a child, like you " I calmly said and she just stared at me for a full minute so I just shook my head. Too stubborn. I put my arms to her shoulders and ask, "Did you know that you are too serious, Adrina? You should still be joining them to play just like your sister." I pointed to her sister who is now trying to interact with the other children and play with them.
"I am not a child to play with them," she said, smirking at me, causing my brows to knot.
"And how old are you, Miss?" I mockingly asked her.
"I am ten, Aliara. I am not that young. Do not treat me like a child," she said in all seriousness while looking at her sister in the not so far distance away from us.
"But ten is far too young for me, Adrina!" I said with a slight horror evident in my voice. I want her to understand what I just said but she is just too serious for my liking. Or perhaps, everyone here, too, thinks like I do. I wanted to laugh and tease her but I changed my mind. Her stare is not helping either. I thought she was just seven or eight because she is much smaller than the children I know at her age.
"For me, my age is not that young anymore, Aliara. I'm ten," she said with conviction and finality. I cannot help but just shake my head.
"Lady Aliara, you are too gorgeous," one girl said as she approached me from behind. I think she aged four judging from her appearance. Looks like she is looking at me in awe long enough until she could not contain it anymore, I noticed just now.
I removed my arms from Adrina's shoulder and faced the girl, sat afront her at eye level.
"I have no right to compete with how pretty you are more than me," I said as I gently caressed her face, get a flower from the ones they gave me earlier, cut the stem shorter and placed it on her left ear.
"Really, Lady Aliara?" she asked with sparkling eyes as she held the flower I put in her ear.
"Yes. You are the prettiest among all the kids in here," I said, giving her my brightest smile. By that, her eyes almost reflected the luminance of the afternoon sun that is above us and smiled.
"I will tell it to my playmates!" she quickly landed a peck on my cheek and excitedly ran away to the other kids. I looked at her as I watched her eagerly telling the news to them.
"I am slowly learning that your heart is really pure, Aliara," Adrina said that it gained my attention back to her.
"And I will prove to you too that ten is too young." I stood and patted her head but she just smirk at me and dodge it.
"Will you be able to prove it if I cook your favorite bird?" she said.
"Do not lay a hand on Vivi or I will…" I trailed as I looked at her unwavering eyes. "Vivi!" I called him. He was chilling at some tree nearby. He immediately landed on my shoulder.
"My lovely lady! My lovely lady!"
I intently glared at Adrina for some good seconds until I surrendered because she still had her unwavering look on her eyes. This is going nowhere. I rolled my eyes on her and just walked away after to go in my quarters and rest.
THE CLINKING of my sword was heard in the area as it landed on Matias' arm, my sparring partner for today as part of our daily training.
"Cheater!" I said with my eyes squinting in disappointment.
We agreed to not use any ability while practicing but he used his. Having his arm turned into a rock to dodge my attack. This is cheating. Unfair! That is his ability, he can turn any part or his whole body into a solid rock at any given time he wants it. This is what made him victorious with his fights with the enemy.
"It is just fair. You dare to use your speed against me," he said smirking as he charged towards me.
My eyes glared at him and using my speed, I quickly managed in his back and had my sword glaring at his neck.
"If I used my ability, this fight would have been long done and you know it, Matias," I hissed at him and tightened my hold to my sword making its sharp edge nearer his neck. He tried to move and make his neck into rock so he did not have a single scratch even though my sword is sharp and at its finest.
He darted using his sword to mine that is why it swerved its target, him. My jaw tightened at his cockiness with me. I charged again and he ducked. He attacked me after and all we could hear was the clinking of our swords.
"Your fight is going nowhere. Stop it. Both of you. I have been watching since you started but none of you two is winning against each other. It was all attacking and dodging each other. Might as well rest for now."
We looked at where the voice was coming from at the same time. It is Adrina, she is watching from the sides. She looked at us with full seriousness, both hands behind her back. Some of the men around us laughed because of her remarks but immediately get back to what they were doing when I looked at them.
Matias and I looked at each other, both shaking our heads and both yielding our swords. This kid, really. She is getting used to taking matters with the adults. But I do not think of it as a problem, for now.
INSTEAD OF continuing the battle between me and Matias, I shifted my attention to Adrina and to her remarks."And why are you observing us, by the way? Did I not tell you off to just play with children like you?" I said as I slid my sword to its shaft.She shifted her gaze to the children playing not far from us and mockingly looked back at me. "Did I not tell you too that I am too old to play with those kids?" she said sarcastically.My forehead knotted on what she said, stopping myself from getting irritated at her attitude. "Tell me, who is older than the two of us? You should listen to me, who is older than you, as a matter of fact.""Age is the only superior thing you have on me, Aliara," she said with weight, not really giving up the game.That made my forehead knot more. "And what do you mean by that?""I want to train too. I want to be able to fight like you," she said with finality in her voice that shook me."Why do you want
I SHIFTED my gaze towards the falls, "Yes."I started walking back to our hideout but stopped because he suddenly held my arm."You are the reason why I went all the way here, actually. I saw your pet, asked and he pointed out that you are here so I went uninvited," he said in a serious voice while his eyes are all on me. I do not want to believe him because Vivi denied his claim but my forehead formed a knot, wondering."And why do you want to see me, Mister?" I stopped when I realized why. "Are you still chasing me for picking a deep pocket I did a while back?" I asked in amazement.His face turned more serious, removing his hold on my arm. "I did not come here for that offense but for the crime you did to me, Miss," he said emphatically.My eyes narrowed at his words. "I do not remember doing anything wrong with you, Mister."This immediately planted a grin on his handsome face, seems to remember something I have no idea what is. "Then le
"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. Ido 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 t
"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