Chapter 8

"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.