Chapter 6

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 to learn how to fight? You are still young to think about things like fighting and war," I said as I eyed her from head to foot as if to mock her decision.

"Because I want to help you, Aliara. I learned from Hurisa that you will go on a journey again and fight when the next full moon comes."

"Can you be able to learn how to fight in just nineteen days, before the full moon, Kid?" Matias said from my side who has been quietly observing the child in front of us since earlier.

Adrina moves her attention to Matias. "I can. I will endure it, Matias," she uttered with determination.

In full honesty, I want to admire her courage to do things but some part of me is really in contention about her joining us. What can she possibly do there? Considering her frail body, her height that is not accurate for her age, big no. I am sure as hell she will be defeated in no time if she even tries.

"You can? With that body?" Matias said as he laughed at Adrina's words like it was a joke. 

"Are you mocking me, Sir?" she asked with grave seriousness.

"Ade you insulted, Kid?" he mockingly answered that leaving Adrina's face a distorted smile, obviously losing her patience. "If by chance that you went to a war, perhaps you will be the first person to die. I think you need to ponder on your decisions first, Kid."

"Matias," I stopped him. He just grinned at me and shook his head while the kid had his glare at him for some time now.

"Adrina," I called her to gain her attention. "For now, you are not allowed to join us and learn how to fight. You are too young...in my eyes and everyone else's'. I cannot be careless at this. This is a serious matter and I do not want to lose you. I took you with me because I want to keep you alive. If you really want to join us, go and get taller and older."

"I do not need your permission, Aliara. I said that I want to learn how to fight so I will," she persistently said and walked away.

I palmed my face and shook my head. I think a headache is about to come just by talking to her. She is really a weird and rare one.

"That kid is weird, Aliara," said Matias who blurted out my thoughts. We think the same. "She is too mature for her age and the way she speaks is too...mature. And the courage too. Amazing. Now, I am curious as to where she came from," he added as he followed the trails where the kid walked, rubbing his chin as if thinking so deeply.

That caught my attention. "What do you mean?"

"Are you not curious as to where she came from?" he asked as he followed her again with his sight and gave back his attention to me shortly after. "Are you not interested to know her origin? Who are their parents?"

My brows raised at the thought. "Do you want to know where she came from, Matias?"

"If you want, we can always find out together," he said.

I shift my gaze to Adrina who is now in a serious talk with Hamil, one of our men who is always with us when there is a war happening. Looks like he, too, is wondering what the kid has something to say. A few scratches in the head here and there. After some time, Hamil walked towards us with confusion in his eyes.

"Miss, the kid that you took in wanted me to teach her the basics of fighting," he said, hesitating as if not knowing what right words are to be said.

"Alright, Hamil. Teach her. Let us see up to where her cockiness can bring her," Matias said and I nodded as a sign of agreement.

USING MY speed, I quickly get to the hidden falls where I often went for a bath once in a while. We just finished training and I can feel the soreness of my body from the whole training we did since early in the morning. There are no other ones here aside from me, not even the mermaids. And if there is, Vivi will warn me.

"Vivi," I called. I put down my cloak nearby and started removing my clothes but I stopped when I did not hear his response. 

I checked the tree where he perched whenever we went here but I did not see even a single feather of him so I eyed the surroundings.

"Vivi!" I called again but this time, louder. Still, no response. He should be here by now for he knows where to find me. Wherever I go, should be where he goes. I never lose sight of him.

"My lovely lady! My lovely lady!" 

That made me stop from thinking. I immediately shifted my gaze to the back where I heard Vivi's voice but my eyes widened when I saw who he was with.

"Is he what you were looking for?" the man said while grinning at me. He lifted his left arm where my pet resides for a while.

"What brought you here?" I asked him when I regained my consciousness away from the shock I felt earlier. I moved my gaze to Vivi who was still relaxed in the arms of the other person, it seemed like he was having a good time with his new friend. "Why are you with him, Vivi? Are you the one who brought him here?"

"No! No!" he answered defensively and flew to a nearby tree. 

While I am distracted, he gets the chance to be near me and to my shock, almost in my personal space. This man is really doing something unexpected. From suddenly appearing here and now, invading my personal space.

"We meet again, thief," he said as he got his lips near my ear, grinning, causing me to freeze in my spot. "...kiss stealer." He added in a whisper that got me shook a little more. 

I hope he cannot hear my hammering heart beat but on how close we are, I guess he can hear it. I am just nervous. This is nothing. 

I swallowed the lump that was forming in my throat, I could not even utter a word so I just stared at him when he returned his face in front of mine. I cannot help but stare in awe. His face is really flawless. Maybe even glowing. So handsome.

"Your pet bird is so intelligent, I like him," he said as his eyes averted to my shoulder, fixed it even. His touch left my lips half-open. It gave me an unknown feeling, I felt electrified.

"What do you think you are doing?" I almost stuttered. Good thing I still have self-control left, if not…'Ridiculous' I said to myself and slightly back away from him. "How dare you?"

"I just fixed your clothes," he said innocently.

My forehead knotted in confusion, I backed away once more. "I asked you, why are you here? What are you even doing here?" I suspiciously asked.

It is a surprise seeing a Fariano guard here. This place is far from their kingdom so it is really shocking to see him here. Also, there is nothing to get or do here in Kozania unless he has other motives.

"Why, Lady? Is a Farianio citizen like me prohibited to come here in Kozania?"

I snorted at him. "It is not. I am just wondering," I said, getting my cloak on the rock, ready to leave the area because of his arrival. I cannot take a bath while he is here.

"Are you leaving?" disappointment was  in his voice. I shifted my gaze upon him but quickly averted it elsewhere because everytime my eyes landed on him, I felt like I was enchanted and could not remove it anymore.