A small flame flickered in his palm. It was getting bigger and bigger. The small green flame wavered and shook as Grandpa Ulaan tried hard to concentrate on his mana. He was going to overexert himself.
"Grandpa Ulaan, you are-!" I was getting scared.
He didn't stop, or maybe he couldn't. Oh, screw it! I took his hands quickly in mine and stopped the flames on his hands with a cooling spell.
"Coolithos," I blew on his palm and it instantly cooled.
He looked at me and I fidgeted nervously. Damn, am I going to get reported? He wiped his sweaty brow off with his towel and he was silent for a bit. Is he going to kick me out? Should I beg him to let me stay?
"Grandpa Ulaan, please let me explain-"
"Nadia," he stopped me, "I will wait for the day you will tell me your name."
He stood up and walked over to the ground oven. But, I can't. It might risk your life. I sat there looking at my hands. I felt someone patting my head.
"I'm not rushing you, I know that your situation is a bit complicated but I want to protect you," he said.
"Grandpa Ulaan, knowing my name or who I am, it will risk your safety," I stand up.
He was shorter and frailer than me, yet I felt like he held so much power.
"I know. But, it's better for us to know Nadia. We have our suspicions, but we don't want anything happening to you, so please don't carry these burdens by yourself."
We went silent and continued to make more bread and put them in the oven. After we got out the fresh batch I made a decision.
Grandpa Ulaan noticed that I was going to say something and he nodded at me to come to the back.
He opened a wooden door and we sat down on the porch. We sat watching camels walking down the road and small children running away from their grandparents. I smiled. I used to be like that too. The sun was setting and a soft wind whispered around us. Grandpa Ulaan had his eyes closed and his face was relaxed. His cane was set down beside him and he held his hands in his lap.
Somewhere deep inside me felt relief. Relief with finally having someone know. But, I also was scared. The Prince would probably kill them for taking me if he ever found out. May he never. I knocked on wood so I didn't jinx it.
"Nailah El Nour," I whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Nailah, my name is Nailah," I told him.
He was quiet for a bit before he put a shaking palm on my head, "It's okay, you can cry now."
Tears spilled down the side of my face. It was not fear, but gratitude. For once, someone held me and comforted me for who I am. I was not kicked out, I was accepted. I cried silently and I tried to muffle my sobs with my hands. He patted my head as I sat there, pain and relief coming loose within me and flowing out in heaves.
I wiped my face on my sleeve after a few minutes of weeping.
"Thank you," I said and smiled a watery smile.
"You fool," Grandpa Ulaan pinched my cheek, "this was always your home."
"Yes, I'm home," I smiled and he laughed.
"Go and wash your face, you look like a raisin."
"Wha- Raisin?!"
I hurriedly stood up and before going inside I shouted into the air.
"I'M HOMEEEE!"
Grandpa Ulaan jumped in surprise before whacking me with his cane to go inside.
"Ow, ow, I'm going!"
I smiled a genuine smile after what felt like a long time.
"What are you smiling so brightly for?" Grandma Sufia asked from behind the counter.
"I just love everything right now," I said.
I went and hugged her and she squealed in surprise.
"Nadia?" she laughed and I hopped to the other side.
"I'll see you tomorrow," I told her happily.
"You look like a raisin by the way," she smiled as she said that.
I looked at her blankly, "Grandpa Ulaan said the same."
She shook her head as she smiled. Grandpa Ulaan came from the kitchen and I put my finger to my lips. He mouths 'ok' and puts his thumbs up, he tried winking and failed.
"What are you guys doing?" Grandma Sufia asked looking between us.
"Nothing!" we both said at the same time.
I jumped out of the store after waving goodbye and skipped my way home.
Leela was waiting there for me and I carried her up in my arms. It was evening and I wanted to spend a couple of hours with my Leela. My schedule was so busy that I didn't spend much time with Leela.
"Leela, let's go outside today!" I twirled around with her and she flapped her wings in joy.
Her scales turned a light blue color from the spell I cast earlier. I rubbed her head to ease her concentration. She purred and I grabbed some bread and head outside.
"Let's meet Mr. Clingy Crow!" I clicked my heels in the air.
I wrapped Leela in a scarf and put her on my shoulder. I wrapped the cloak around me and covered Leela as well.
I gave her some of the bread and we ate it together. I brought a small pouch for the crow and filled it with some cut up bread pieces. I locked up the place and headed out for a walk. I sometimes went on walks with Leela in the night so she could adjust to the outside environment as well.
I walked down the rocky path and hummed softly. Leela purred quietly as well, as if in rhythm with my humming. I twirled and hopped and skipped. I forgot about my stress and listened to the wind, just like my grandmother taught me. My cloak swished around my feet as I gracefully pivoted from one foot to the other.
The wind died down and I skipped the rest of the way to the small hill. I jumped from rock to rock as I made my way down the hill. Around halfway, I settled down and let Leela walk around.
It hadn't been even a minute that I started to relax before I heard a commotion from below. A group of men was kicking at something on the ground. Flamed torches raised, ready to beat down at the thing.
I watched from afar, deciding whether I should intervene or not. I tried looking closer when I saw flaps of silver-black wings. Is that-?
I hopped from the rock I was sitting on and raced towards the crowd of men.
"STOP YOU BITC-!"
OOF!