I followed the guard into the darkness. The cool air brushed against my body making me shiver slightly. The sweat from training had made my garb slightly wet so even a faint breeze was oozing through to my bones . I breathed out a small breath of air and wrapped my arms around myself to stop from shivering.
" Are you alright?" the guard said from in front of me.
" Just a little cold" I responded as I rubbed my upper arms.
" I will take you to your residence to get changed first" the guard said as he undid his blue cape and passed it behind himself. I took it from his hands and fastened it on my body. The smell of his natural scent was strong but not overwhelming as it entered my nostrils.
[ He even smells nice. There must be something wrong with him! ]
There is no such thing as someone this good looking and gentlemanly who also smells nice. I spent the walk back out of the bamboo forest trying to pick out flaws but his strong back felt safe to stand behind and I found myself cursing from being unable to look away as his brown hair shined in the sparse moonlight.
[ Get a hold of yourself! ]
I felt like a child with a child's heart falling over a cute guy I knew nothing about. It was frustrating me. I thought back to how I argued with the princess earlier and walked out of my dorm like an idiot and sighed.
[ What do I do about that mess now? ]
" I guess we should head back first" I replied unwillingly after a while.
" You don't want to go back to your residence? " The guard said half listening as he used the sheath of his sword to tap the bamboo so he didn't trip in the dark.
It was at that moment I realised that he was struggling so without even thinking I told him to stop for a moment. He stood on the spot as I grabbed his hand without thinking startling him.
" I'd get us out of here consider it a thank you for the cloak" I said as I closed my eyes and focused my magic.
The trees hummed in sync as I swung the guard close to me and with my eyes still closed kept the both of us from hitting any plant matter on the ground or near us. Due to my Wood magic it was not even a cup of teas time before we were out and back on the grass patches.
It was then I noticed that there was a warm presence between my fingers. The guards hand was interlocked between mine and he was staring at me with a strange expression.
[ I .. without thinking… Please shoot me now. I am a moron! ]
I coughed to clear the weird air as I wondered if the soldier would ever talk to me again. I dropped his hand and put on a smile that didn't reach my eyes.
" Sorry… we were just a bit slow" I said sheepishly.
" You are an wood mage? Strange" the guard said as he ignored me and continued to walk forward as if nothing had happened.
I followed behind like a baby duck as his voice reverberated inside my head.
[ Strange? He thinks I am strange? ]
[ Strange how? ]
[ Is it a good strange? ]
[ WHY AM I THINKING LIKE THIS?! ]
In a matter of a day I was completely defeated by this handsome guy who spoke and acted like a games non playable character, I couldn't even tell what I liked about him but I couldn't look away.
We continued the rest of the journey back to my room in silence, him standing in front and me behind like a lost kitten. Since it was dark there was not many students around. Most would be in their dorms at this time studying.
We had finally arrived at the dorms where the halls blazed with bright lights. I had to squint to make my eyes adjust being in darkness for so long had caused me to be pained by the magic powered candles.
As they adjusted I noticed that there was a stray leaf of the guards back. It took me a while to sum up the courage and walk a little faster to pluck it off.
" What are you doing? " The guard said without looking at me as he continued to walk.
" Picking off…. a leaf" I said quietly.
" I see.. Thank you" The guard responded.
[ ...… ]
I wanted to throw the leaf away but after some mental debate I pocketed it instead.
[ I shouldn't litter ]
We had finally made it to my room and he stood like a pike waiting for me to enter. His face looked flat and expressionless but I knew that I had probably annoyed him. I went to straighten my clothes before I walked in before the guard came up closer to me.
He was so close I could feel his breath on my face as his arms moved to my shoulders. My face went read and my head dizzy.
An unclip sound was heard.
" My cloak " the guard said in a low and mellow voice.
" Ahh.. I see.. your cloak.. right" I managed to push out of my closing throat.
The guard raised his eyebrow and finished taking his clothing back as he tied it back on to himself and took a few steps back.
" Shall we" I said when he was finished as I opened my dorms door.
" Yuki! " voices said in unison as I walked in.
I looked around to see everyone was in my dorm still. The room looked crowded with activities. There was even some crudely drawn maps with "X" marks crossed all over them. If someone told me this was a scene from a crime show on television I would believe them.
I looked over and saw princess was sitting in a corner drinking a cup of tea and just had her head down.
[ What do I do? ]
I looked behind me and saw that the guard was waiting outside.
" Come in I will not be long" I said to the guard as he took a step forward and waited inside near the door like a bouncer at a club.
Nathan stood up from Leopold's side and surprisingly hugged me.
" I am glad you are back Yuki." Nathan said smiling.
Ki, Ren and Loki walked up to me to check me for wounds and when they saw I was fin Ki and Ren went to pack up what could only be described as a mass search attempt.
Kibbled ran up to me and stood at my feet.
" Where did you go Yuki?! I was so worried! I couldn't hear your voice!!!" Kibbles said staring. I looked down at the Kithun with it's bright slitted eyes and picked him up holding him near by face.
[ I found a really nice spot I will take you next time if you want to see it! ]
" Don't run away without me!" Kibbles said sulking.
[ Loki would have been able to look after you ]
" But he isn't you Yuki!" Kibbles responded nuzzling my face.
I walked over to Rosli and Leopold who was looking after her. Leo became a bit guarded when I started to approach but as I got closer I nodded and he moved away.
Rosli's eyes were puffy and her dress had small mud stains on it. She must have been searching the hardest out of everyone.
I shook my head.
" How can I take you to a fancy dinner with you dressed like that?" I said flatly and pretended to be disappointed.
" I am.. Wait… uhh" Rosli said in a daze.
Leo looked hard at me before he patted me on the shoulder as if thanking me. I couldn't stay angry at her and I didn't want rumors to go around that I treated her like garbage… I mean my life depends on it.
" Well you need to get changed. Is your dorm close?" I said looking at the princess.
Her eyes seemed to light up like gems as she wrapped her arms around me.
" Yuki.. hic … Yuki… I AM SO SORRY!" Rosli said as a wet patch appeared on my shoulder.
This continued on for a little while before I pulled her away and wiped her tears.
" You can't go with puffy eyes either.." I said.
" I will look amazing! Just you wait!" Rosli said as she jumped up and grabbed Leopold and Nathan.
She completely ignore everyone else in the room as she took one last look at me and left through the door.
Setsu who was pretending he didn't exist until now looked at me and beamed.
" You did a good thing… her highness was really worried… those royals sure are scary." Setsu said.
" What do you mean?" I said as I stood up.
" They were ready to call the royal guards and tear the school to pieces. If it wasn't for Loki the school would have been razed to the ground" Setsu said shivering.
" I.. I just went to cool my head.." I said scratching the back of my head.
" but you ARE training to be the new general of Tama. Your position and status is irreplaceable to the people. " Ki said flatly.
" I am always worrying you.. Sorry Ki, Ren Loki, Setsu" I said apologetically.
" Don't apologise, just don't be a pain in the neck and take Kibbles next time" Loki said as he looked over at me.
" I better get changed" I said after we had finished talking.
I looked over at the guard who was silent the entire time and pretending he was thin air before I walked into my room.
Everything had been arranged neatly and finding clothes to wear was simple thanks to Ki's organisational skills. After I had picked something Ki had come into put on the finishing touches and to fix my hair.
I looked into mirror.
I was wearing a black outfit with a gold threaded Kithun etched into the pocket. On my hips was a gold sash with some fine gems hanging off it. I looked devilish but rather handsome. Even if it was a self assessment I stood a little straighter and brightened.
[ I am ready ]
I took a deep breath and walked into the lounge area.