The woman that I saw from the past few days appeared in front of me and with a new affront in her new self, she looked resolutely at me with her eyes of purity and gentleness. Unlike her rag-like attire that she brought together with her deranged behavior when I met her for the first time, this particular woman faced me with serene aura around her.
She is the mother of our smithy apprentice, Maria Luna.
W-What is she doing here? Isn't she supposed to be staying in the new lodge that I suggested to the Boss?
The woman asked my name as she kept staring into me, wanting her attention to be reciprocated.
I want to talk to this woman but from my past experiences with her, I suddenly developed a slight fear in interacting towards strangers. Pops was correct, never interact with persons that you do not know… and my first encounter with her is a realistic example of the effect of breaking that reminder.
I was about to leave her and return to the two boys, when Cardamon placed his hand in my shoulders and said:
"It is okay, Lady. She just wanted to talk with you! Tell you what, ever since you focused in your duties for the city, this woman goes to the headquarters every day in order to ask about you! The Boss kept replying the same thing, that you are in the city… but she does not believe his words and due to that, she goes to this place each day! My apologies for not saying this to you in an early occasion… I just do not want to be a hindrance to your training…"
I-Is that so…?
I kept looking at her and when I realized something, I told the two boys to go on ahead without me. I have to talk to her first. Thankfully for them, they just agreed without any questions and went to the headquarters.
"So? What do you want to talk about?"
We decided to sit down in one of the benches in the village, one with a good shading away from the sunlight in order for us to have a good conversation. I let her sit down comfortably to the bench and made her relax a bit.
I cannot afford to startle her again just like last time…
"T-Thank you for your kindness, Lady Astoria… I will be in your debt for as long as I live."
Maria started her words with a placid gratitude for me. I did not know what she was thanking me for, but I just let her talk for the meantime. While speaking, she had a face of seriousness on her expression as well as a mixture of worry and slight melancholy. For the first time, I realized how composed she was, unlike her first behavior when I talked to her in our recent encounter.
"I-I am confused… I did not even do anything. So thanking me about something that I do not know leaves me puzzled, Maria…"
Argh. Talking in front of a person that made you uncomfortable before is rather difficult!
I know, back in that time where I visited their home, Maria was just silent while we were talking with Nada, thereby making it fine and assuring for me, but this…
When my thoughts seemed to have reflected my face, Maria flashed me a mild smile, then said:
"I am thanking you for your recent feats for us, of course. When I realized the things you have done for us, it made me look forward to what is in front of me, rather than what is in my back…"
…
"I was a woman who aspires normalcy. I wanted to experience how to become a normal person, a normal girl, and a normal human being. When I was a child, I dreamed of becoming a person who can establish something for her own and protect it with everything within her own power. Now that I am an adult- a phase in my life where I can finally achieve what I have been dreaming on, I desperately pushed myself to become the image of normalcy that I was longing for…"
…
Why are you telling me all of these, Maria?
"I fell in love with a man… a man that wanted to be the elite of everything in his line of work. I realized that he and I are not alike since I can settle for what I have… unlike him, wanting to be in the highest peak of swordsmanship."
She… is… talking about her husband.
"But despite of our differences, I still adored him and we fell in love together. For a short time in my life, I felt that I have received what I was longing for… the normalcy that I have been dreaming. The both of us became a family, a team, a force to be reckoned with on our line of work and everything became a bliss for us. I thought that I couldn't be any happier than this…until our child arrived. I…"
Halfway through her words, Maria fell in an inevitable sob. Her shoulders quivered through the outpouring waves of emotions on her statement and as an effect, it made her difficult to say what is next… however, she continued:
"My son… my precious son. He means a world to me. I can do everything just for his sake and my very being adores all of him. I cannot overstate how much I love these two men in my life…"
Maria's voice uplifted in adoration and delight as she mentioned the existence of her very son. She paused uncannily in her words while staring at me, then broke yet again in a melancholic expression.
"Until one day… my husband left me. He said that an order of mercenaries invited him for the betterment of his name and status as a swordsman and without a tidbit of hesitation, he agreed to join them. I… I might have been overflowing with good events in my life lately, that… due to this oversaturation, it led me to this kind of life. I guess… I guess that hoping for a normalcy in life is a hard thing to attain, after all."
While talking about her heart-shattering past, she finally broke down in a pure sob mixed with sheer agony and pain that can be felt from her voice. She cried alike to a child and seeing her like this… it made me tear a bit too.
W-What should I do? I am terrible in situations like this! How can I comfort a person who longs for someone whom they cannot reach anymore?
I was about to panic about this conundrum that I am having, when I suddenly touched the head of the weeping Maria. Amazed due to this involuntary reflex made by my hand, I just continued in stroking her long, black hair while letting her weep continuously.
I cannot offer much other than my company and ears.
Maria cried for minutes and when she finally calmed down, she gave me a wary smile and said:
"I…feel comfortable now…thanks for listening to me, Lady Astoria. I made you listen to my past and not answered your real query…"
Yeah, you are right about that.
"I give you my pure gratitude towards helping us on finding our new home. The Boss of this very village told us that it was from your suggestion that we must transfer our house to a new lodge and everything was easier for us in the past days. I…thank you."
As she was saying those words of appreciation, her expression changed…
Maria now smiled at me… free from those grim emotions she was showing me earlier, as her smile rose from the curvature of her lips widely, showing the new life and resolution she attained as of late. Her eyes glistened with new life from her face as it mirrors the same light of the yellowish rays of the sunlight, signaling the awakening on her soul. Her silky hair swiveled along the sways of the wind signifying that she is now ready to walk on the path of her appointed fate.
To "look what is in your front, rather than in your back", huh?
She bowed at me continuously with liveliness in her barrage of thankfulness from her words. While looking her behave like this, it made me remember a specific child who acts much alike to her…
"Huh… same roots, same fruits, eh?"
"What do you… mean by that, Lady Astoria?"
I blabbed out a simple observation and in response, Maria confusedly asked my out-of-nowhere statement.
"O-Oh… nothing…"
Hearing me flustered like that with a tinge of embarrassment, Maria broke in a feminine laughter.
Ah, finally… a good emotion coming out from you!
"…You just reminded me of someone who does that kind of behavior. Tell you what, I also ordered him to refrain in doing that same actions alike to yours…" I finally said when I contained my discomfiture.
"What... is it?" she asked.
"I told him to stop bowing at me like that! I am not a grand and mighty person to be bowed at! So please, Maria… do not bow at me! Also, while we are at it, just call me 'Tori'. I feel at ease when others call me in that name."
"I-If that is what you desire… I guess I cannot complain with that. But to know that you have the knowledge and humility to admit that you are not a mighty person for your age…that is already an image of greatness for me." she said at me while smiling warmly.
Maria… I… thank you.
The both of us laughed merrily without any remembrance of the sad emotions we exchanged earlier, and with that, she requested me for something. Maria held my hands with both of her own and said:
"It might be ungrateful of me to request for something when you already aided me a lot… but can I ask you of something Lady As-… Tori?"
Hmmm… you were about to slip there, Maria…
"W-What is it?"
She replied with an expectant gaze and warm expression, then continued:
"Please… I would like you to look after my son. Take care of…"
…
Maria suddenly stopped. Her eyes became enlarged and as it happened, the same tension returned in her body. She quivered yet again while trying to place her left hand on her head as if to cover or hide it away from me. Her whole body trembled as she made a mixture of sounds that clearly communicates her pain and panic in front of me. I tried to make her face into my direction but she kept hiding her face, so I applied a small force into my arms and with that, I finally saw her expression…
It was her same face that she portrayed on our first encounter.
The expression of fear… an endless torment and agony reflected into her pained face.
I tried to calm her down. I did not know what to do. She looked like she was in a state of an extreme and inexplicable pain. When she felt my touch, she shouted a blood-curdling scream. She tried to push me away, but I attempted to be more forceful.
I do not want to see this woman suffering ever again.
Every villager in our vicinity just stared at us and no one even dared to help me. All bystanders and bench-sitters roused up on their chit-chats while being still, continuing their talk about us.
I kept shaking Maria in her shoulders in hopes to knock some sense into her, but to no avail as she became much furious at me and attacked me in my grip. She shouted some unintelligible sounds and gripped my arms so-intensely that they might be on a verge of breaking apart. When she was done in gripping my arms, she went her way on my body and squirmed both of her hands to me.
Much to my surprise, I did not manage to let-out a cry of pain nor a bit of whimper.
"I…It is alright."
While still being attacked by her, I tried my best to communicate to Maria.
"It is alright… Maria…"
Upon saying those words-
*THUD*
Maria fell on my lap while still resting her left hand in my waist where my scabbard is resting.
She collapsed on me- her face completely reverted back to normal and now wearing a sleeping face.
Our position lasted for half an hour…
"M-Maria??" I tried to call her.
…
…
"H-Hey… wake up. Maria?"
…
"Helooooo? Maria?"
…
"MARIA!!!"
"WHA-! What in the… what happened? Ah-…"
Maria woke up in a loud start when she collapsed at me and the first thing that she asked me after doing all of that… was about the prior events.
I do not even know how to react on the progression of the scenarios here.
"Y-You slept in my lap while we were chatting. A-Are you… t-tired perhaps?"
Calm down. Do not show a slice of fear in your face!
"M-My apologies! You were not troubled about it, were you? I apologize deeply, Lady As… I mean, Tori!"
Maria wore a face of panic and worry. But unlike her terrifying expression earlier, I would prefer seeing this one than the latter…
While both of us were marveling about the escalation of the scenarios in front of us, Cardamon returned on our side while saying:
"What is holding her up into this hour… uh, hey you two! What happened around here?"
In the end, I explained everything to Cardamon regarding the events that happened in the wake of our conversation (while Maria is not listening, of course) and requested him to escort her to the lodge.
I am running late to the training, after all.
Maria showed no disagreement to my words and she happily went with Cardamon back to her new home. When she was about to be escorted, I finally said to her:
"Everything is going to be alright, Maria. You can count me on it."
She gave no words in return but she flashed me a single smile…
A soft, resolute smile.
When both she and Cardamon finally left, I walked around the path back to the headquarters and while returning, one thought kept stabbing me in my mind:
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE FORGOTTEN HEROES HAPPENED BACK THERE??!"
***
I returned back to the training session with everyone.
However, due to those encircling thoughts that were plaguing my mind about what happened on our conversation with Maria, my meditation and Essence training became unsuccessful.
Such of these thoughts were the following:
"Why, in all of a sudden, did Maria became manic in front of me when she was about to say the name of her own child?"
"Why me? In all of those people around the village that she can talk to, why did she chose me to discuss about her past?"
Oh… and also:
"Why did she suddenly collapse on my lap when she was about to break me from her insanity? What happened back there? Also, did she not remember anything on her prior actions when she slept?"
Look, if you faced those set of scenarios earlier, focusing in a new task will be a hard ordeal.
That is why, I decided to take a rain check in the training for today and resume it tomorrow.
We went back in the city with a fleeting emotion of sourness from our heart, and decided to call it a day.
I tried to finish and reforge the sword of Nada for a couple of hours and afterwards, I already grew tired from it…
Afterwards, when I finally laid in my bed, I fell asleep.
The fourth day.
We headed for the marketplace of Estocia as our next appointed place in our cleaning duties.
As expected, the place is rowdy and full of people who are shouting for different deals and offers. A lot of merchants are screaming their lungs out in order to attract potential patrons that will support their goods. There are also those buyers who are being lively while browsing wares. Others are haggling, some are arguing, while the majority of people are silently looking for their needed items for their everyday lives- a very typical scenery in a place such as this.
Looking at them like this… it is rather difficult for asking them to make space for us in order to commence our services.
"So uh… since they are being chaotic like this… can we just uh…"
"NO." x2
Malthur was about to ask regarding the postponement of our duties… but Roy and I are now faster in reading his thoughts.
"What??? What do you mean 'no'? You two did not even let me finish in my statement!!!" he fumed irately.
"It means that we decline on your offer. We have to finish these duties no matter what and taking the easy route for doing it is a not a choice! You know this, Malthur!" Roy said.
Taking an easy route for the duty is not a choice huh, Roy?
Would you like me to remind you about what exactly happened yesterday, specifically concerning about how we managed to clear our duty ahead of time?
"Argh. Look around you! We cannot clean the premises at that state!" Malthur's voice rang around the market due to his anger.
We argued with him for a long second and due to the loudness of our voices, every heads in the market turned towards us.
The both of the boys stopped when they realized that the rowdiness of the market died on the vicinity in favor of hearing the heated argument that was raging among the three of us. We fearfully turned our face into our surroundings and when we did, all of them were staring at us, silently. All of the eyes were locked in our images and when a dead silence fell in our ears, suddenly, the market erupted in a noise once again:
"Whoa! Would you look at that, the three Myrmidons are arguing about it already! They do get along right now, eh?"
"I wonder… who is it going to be? Will it be Sir Malthur? Aww… I would really prefer Sir Roy…"
"Hmmmm… such youth. It is that time of the season, after all…"
What are you…
"Hey! What do you guys mean by that?!"
As if to mirror my similar train of thought, Malthur parroted my same question to everyone.
Everyone around the marketplace stopped on their boisterous chit-chats and kept looking straight at the irate face of Malthur. After a while, a woman with a baggage stepped forward in our direction and while wearing a face of pity, she said:
"Forgive us for our rudeness, Sir Malthur… I guess that our lack of astute observation from the moment that the three of you came in this place was unbecoming of us. We should have seen this already and here we are… a hindrance to the three of you."
What are you even implying about?
Did you guys eat your breakfast?!
The woman continued:
"As an act of apology for our failure and lack of oversight, we will let you three be so that you will sort this one out. Again, I apologize for our failure."
B-But we are here to…
Before I can even rebut from her ridiculous and confusing statement, she roared a mighty shout that it made everyone listen to her immediately:
"LISTEN, ALL OF YOU! WE WILL LET THE THREE MYRMIDONS ALONE FOR THEMSELVES SO I ORDER ALL OF YOU TO LEAVE THE PREMISES IMMIDIATELY!!! QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIONS ARE NOT ALLOWED!"
Whoa… what are you doing?
"M-Ma'am? What exactly are you doing? I am not sure if I can follow effectively in your words-"
At this point, asking this woman about what is happening at this very moment is a must. I desperately tried to unravel their initial intentions and implications here, but this woman just ignores me and keeps shouting her words in front of everyone.
Instead of answering me, she continued in her announcement and due to the intensity of her voice, everyone in the vicinity wordlessly followed on her statements. All of the merchants and patrons alike swiftly headed out in the marketplace and afterwards, the woman finally faced me while patting my shoulder heavily and said:
"There, I did my part. I now leave the rest to your liking, Astoria…Now shush. You just have to be calm for the progression of things, okay? You are still young, after all. So panic and nervousness will be your greatest enemy when that particular 'scene' comes."
H-Hold on… what???
"L-Let me stop you right there, Ma'am… what do you mean by all of that?"
While clenching on her left shoulder, I asked the carefree woman who is still smiling happily in front of me.
"Do not worry! Do not worry! I, the head of the Estocian marketplace committee, will help you in all of my power to select your perfect half!!! Name's Ionah, and I am glad to be of your service!!!"
Wait… perfect half?!
"Well now, three Myrmidons… if you will excuse me."
I still have a lot of questions to ask for this slim-bodied woman, but she already ran away from us with a swift dash.
I am… very confused right now.
We watched everyone go away from the entirety of the marketplace and while listening to the ever-growing silence, Roy broke the stillness of the place by saying:
"Well, no more to worry about, eh Malthur? Shall we start then?"
…Right.
The sweeping session lasted for four-long hours.
We wordlessly tried to finish the area of the decent-sized grounds of the marketplace. The entire process was dull and awkward as we did the cleaning while listening to the deafening sound of the silence. When the whole task was over, we awkwardly left the place with a feeling of oddness form our senses.
Back to the village…
"Come on! Focus! You are not doing it right, kid! Your form is not correct!"
Boss shouted his instructions at me while I am agonizing at the fact that I am having a hard time to meditate for my Essence. Truly, the task was a formidable one for me as it took me a lot of sessions just to enter a state in my mind where I do not think of anything…
Argh. Is there even a correct way or form to attain a pure state of meditation???
Right now, it is the ninth session for my attempt in meditating…
Focus… focus…!
I kept pushing myself to clear my thoughts and forget everything, except what is happening right now…
Focus…! Clear your thoughts, Astoria!
As I am trying my best to suppress the ever-cascading thoughts in my head, the images of Nada and Maria flashed in my mind.
That poor Maria… I wonder what happened to her after that odd conversation of ours? Was she able to arrive at home safely? How is she doing right now? While I am at it, how is Nada also? Is he doing fine right now from all of his mixed works? How come, he does not visit us anymore? Even just a small presence coming from him or anything will do fine!
From those thoughts, mixtures of related to unrelated things bursted out in my mind…
Now that I mention it, how about the villagers of this place? I wonder if they noticed that the monster is not attacking them anymore. From the recent days, it seems that none of them are aware about the domestication of the monster that attacked them! Are there any announcements coming from the Boss that they shouldn't worry anymore, since we already eliminated the Hainu???
"… Hoi…"
Speaking of the similar group of people, I can already feel the embarrassment and disgust from the other swordsfolk since… well… I think that we are not doing our best enough to be the ideal Myrmidons for them. I mean, can you blame us? We were just thrusted in this new line of responsibility without any prior preparation and training! I just realized that from these recent days, other swordsfolk and Guildsmen are giving us the disgusted looks or even displeased stares… as if to imply that we are a disgrace to this city… What is the meaning of that?!
"Hey!!!"
Specifically speaking, there is this particular Guildsman in the group that comments his distrust and annoyance towards us, whenever we meet him. He is the same man the attempted to drive Cardamon away when we were talking with him in the Guild and right now… he is spewing a lot of spiteful words against us.
"I said, hey!!!"
WAIT…
'A feeling of malice and an urge for change'
Hmmm… could it be? If his characteristics and behaviors match the description, he should fit right away! He is… he must be��!
*SMACK*
Two heavy hands smashed my still head while I was trying to meditate. Due to the surprising force, my head drooped lowly and met the hair-like touch of the weeds in the ground. While lying limply in the grasses, I heard the nervous voice of Roy followed by the laughing guffaw of Malthur:
"A-Are you alright, Tori?"
"Yahahaha! Serves you right for not paying attention!"
How dare you two!!!
I quickly rose up from my position and faced the two traitors in front of me.
"Now…now…Tori!!! Please, calm down! We just did that from the commandment of the Boss so please, do not attack us…" Roy attempted to calm me down, but it did the opposite.
"Hah??? So just from a tasteless order, you would betray me, your childhood friend?! Traitor!!!"
I came to pounce at his face when Boss blocked my path. He stared intently at me and with a serious expression in his face, he asked an odd-sounding question:
"Tell me, daughter of Samson, have you mentioned the affinity of your sword to me?"
Hmmm? Affinity? This sword?
"It is just… I can already tell from these two boys that their respective swords are obviously affiliated with an 'element'. For instance, that Redhead's sword is affiliated with the 'Fire' attribute. I already discovered that with that… uh… accident from the recent days. That pale kid on the other hand, has the 'Ground' affinity. It was not that obvious but judging from his ways on using the said blade, it was noticeable after a lot of thought! This just leaves us with yours… now then, what is the affiliation of your sword?"
Boss asked me a series of question with an aura of observation and earnestness around him.
My sword's affiliation, huh?
Hmmm… I forgot. What was it again???
I am certain that this odd stick has a certain affinity, but for some odd reason, I did not remember it…
To be honest, it did not matter to me.
"Isn't it water, dumb smitha?"
While still lost in the thought of figuring out the correct element where my sword is affiliated with, Malthur suddenly answered the specific name element that resonated in my mind.
T-That is it!
"I-I believe, it is water, Boss…" I said with doubtlessness.
"Hmmm… is that so? Well, let me do something to fix that difficulty for you."
The Boss stepped out for a bit and when he came back, he was bringing a pitcher of water and a little goblet in front of us. He smiled menacingly at me and in order to dispel that, I had to ask him:
"Uh… you brought…those?"
"Now, assume your meditation stance. The correct one." he said seriously.
"I do not know about this, Boss… I have tried for a lot of time already."
"Just do what I say. Trust me. Oh and also… once you have closed your eyes, whatever you do, do not even dare to attempt on breaking the meditation state." The boss further instructed, his sternness is further deepening.
"I… uh, fine! I will try, Boss."
I just had to agree in the end…
Finally, when the surroundings fell into silence, I slowly closed my eyes and assumed in my calmest stature, then attempted to meditate again.
A water…being poured…
Huh? What is happening?
"Hey! I said focus, haven't I?" the Boss roared.
Eek! Okay-okay!
…
What is…
I am so cold…
What is… dripping in my head?
…
Agh…
Blue?
I was already in a state of unexplainable calmness.
Even without opening my eyes, I feel like I am sitting in a different place… a different environment that hugely contrasts with the place I was lying before.
While sitting calmly in the place, I feel the ever-increasing light of blue…alike to the raging dawn on the morning. Furthermore, as I feel the increasing light of the ever-familiar azure in my senses, I am also hearing the sounds of the droplets of pint-size water- dripping and falling slowly in both of my ears. The said sound fills me with deep calmness that I cannot mistaken it into drowsiness nor sleepiness… just a pure state of tranquility into me.
I was sitting still into my stance when the light bursted into my senses that I thought, it nearly blinded me. I opened my eyes only to discover that…
"I am wet…"
…
The three gentlemen in front of me stared at me with victory in their expressions…
"So… would you two kindly explain to me… who did this?"
Both Roy and Malthur stared at each other and when they were about to answer, Boss patted me in the head and roared happily:
"WAHAHAHA! So your guess is right! It is indeed water! Congratulations, child!!!"
"…Are you congratulating me for being soaked like this???" I said angrily.
Although… even if I wanted to be angry, there was this light and warm force inside of me that prevented me in lashing out.
"Huh? So you are unaware of it, huh? I am congratulating you for your successful meditation! Also, you performed it there ever-so successfully, you were probably meditating for two hours!!!" Boss said, a sincere smile is growing from his face.
Oh! I am glad! I was about to forfeit about all of these-
Hold on-
"TWO HOURS??!"
Roy placed his hand on my shoulder and as if to comfort me in finding out that I have a terminal disease, he said gently:
"Boss was right. You were there, sitting straightly for two hours without any sound nor word. I thought that you were just sleeping…but it doesn't look like you were doing it."
Malthur joined in:
"Argh. Lucky you, Smitha. Because of that, your inner Essence deepened to a greater extent…" he said while wearing an obvious emotion of jealousy.
R-Really? Did I truly do it???
"HAHAHA! Now that you know your affinity, use the method that I did for you so that you can deepen the levels of your Essence!!!" Boss said, still laughing merrily.
So…to summarize, I can meditate effectively if I soak myself into the water? Odd.
But why water, of all of these things???
"So uh, Boss. I can use the waters in order to heighten the volume of my Essence…is that correct?" I asked him half-mindedly.
"Right you are! From the ancient days, when the swordsfolk are having a hard time in calling out for their swords, they would use a thing or nature-related objects in order to aid them in focusing even further. They found out that these objects must be connected to the affinity of the element of their respective sword hence, I asked you first regarding the affinity of yours! We call these objects as 'Catalysts'." he replied with a face as if he was telling us a grand piece of history.
Hmmm…Catalysts, huh. So mine is water, then?
The Boss continued:
"So from now on, when you are having a difficulty in meditating, trying it out with your own preferred catalyst can aid you. Although… I cannot assure you its dependability for most of the times…But do not worry about it, WAHAHA! Well? Aren't you thankful that I aided you in meditating properly?"
Hmph. It is alright.
"Yes, yes… I thank you, our great Boss. AH- So does that mean, you were the one who drenched me in the water like this?"
The Boss flinched nervously from my comment.
We went back in the city afterwards with excitement on our hearts due to the breakthroughs that we are learning about our swords. I continued my forging to the sword of Nada, grew tired and postponed it, then hurriedly went to my bed.
Then, I slept.
The fifth day.
Roy warned the both of us that our next assignment of place will be the most gargantuan yet. Malthur and I just shrugged it off since we both knew that Roy is just overstating things like most of the times.
The three of us faced each other in the middle of the road where the place is surrounded by towering buildings, establishments, and homes.
"Today, we are going to clean the residential area!" Roy said joyfully.
A-Are you joking?!
"AHAHAHAHA!!! Nice joke there, Redhead! I did not know that you have a gift in attempting to jest but here you are, giving your best! HA-HA…"
Look, even Malthur is having a hard time in believing this.
Roy just smiled in front of us.
"Hey…you are just kidding with us right? A simple, unassuming morning joke?" Malthur spoke nervously.
His expression is comparable to a person who just found out that he failed in a regional ordeal, despite doing his best and announced first-handedly to his family and friends that he will win and complete the said trial flawlessly, only to realize the painful truth. Now, in order to mask the incoming pain and embarrassment, he allowed his levity to take the wheel in his heart and now likes to joke around in order to cover his painful defeat…
In Roy's side, he still stood there, smiling unflinchingly.
Upon realizing the seriousness and honesty from the face of Roy, Malthur fell in a deep state of horror and hopelessness. He held his head with both of his hands and waved helplessly from left to right while shouting:
"NO! I DO NOT CONDONE TO THIS! THIS PLACE IS TOO HUGE!!!"
Hah…can I blame him?
After all, the residential area is considered as the largest division of ground lot in the entirety of Estocia. Although incomparable to the more gargantuan sizes of residences from other big cities, Estocia houses a fairly huge amount of residences in the city.
We planned that due to the bigness of the place, we will divide the day today and tomorrow for the cleaning of this area. In summary, for the residences, we will allot two days in order to complete it.
Well, standing around and talking will not help us in finishing this so…let us begin.
We forced Malthur to move around and aide us in cleaning and although he was still uncooperative from most of the times, he still helped nonetheless.
Everything was going okay when a voice from the rear-view of a simple house called me:
"Oh? Are these the so-called 'Myrmidons' on our place? What are they doing here that instead of protecting us with their swords, they do this…lowly job."
A familiar voice rang in my ears, then it registered in my face.
Alright…I think it is time to settle things with this Guildsman…
***
"I do not think… I already heard your name…What was it again, mister?"
I confronted the man that loves to spew a lot of accusations and insults to us. Good thing that Malthur and Roy are busy in minding their own area and as a result, they are not here right now. In this hour, it is just me and the rude Guildsman.
He smiled brashly at me and when he leaned closer to the window of the house, he spoke:
"My name is Crowhart Corvus-Draven. I am part of the Guildia of Estocia. My, it saddens me that you forgot my name already, Lady Astoria…"
I laughed it off despite the fleeting urge in me to smack his face, then said:
"Hehe-he… I apologize about that, oh proud sir. My memories do not seem like to register things that are trivial for me."
Crowhart returned back the laughter with an even loud jeer and commented lowly:
"Ooooh-hoo! SCATHING! Are you perhaps trying to imply that I am a trivial person? Please, my lady. Do not wound me on the youngness of the morning."
Hearing him laugh like this in a condescending manner as if he is trying to look down on us, I swiftly commanded my hands to contains themselves.
"Look, I just wanted to know why you are doing…this. Talking in our backs like you know what we are doing, criticizing us without any prior knowledge of what we are going through, and flatly telling everyone that we are an unfit image as a Myrmidon…why? Why are you doing this?"
Noticing that I should stop on playing coy with this man and decide to finish this so that I can go back to my work, I asked Crowhart with a disdainful tone in my question.
"Hmmm…let us see. My reason? Well, there is none. I just really want to point for everyone how unfitting you three are in your position as Myrmidons. Now, you may tell me that I am jealous or envious to you, but truly, that is not the case."
Crowhart said with a face of playful seriousness. He took his small slurps of a fragrant beverage which, without a doubt, is a coffee.
"Allowing a Swordless to enter the grounds of the Guild unannounced, shamelessly accepting requests for everyone without a care for your individual image, and the worst of them all this! Allowing to tarnish the legacy of the revered Myrmidons for ages by… sweeping the city?! Do not make me laugh!!!"
He, too, after drinking his coffee, fell in a deep earnestness in his voice and while he was speaking, his emotions towards us resurfaced unreservedly.
This will not do. His reasoning and perception is misplaced.
"What do you think is the 'real' purpose of a Myrmidon then? Is it not to protect the people? To hear their cries and requests and willfully give it to them, if possible? Is it not that so??!"
Anger is slowly surfacing to my words.
"PAH! Such ideals about selflessness and heroism and yet, the three of you are obviously oblivious to the true legacy of the Myrmidons that came before you! Have you no shame?! Any decency at all?! Ugh…"
Crowhart suddenly bursted from an emotion that clearly reciprocates mine- uncontrollable anger and fierceness. His pale eyes exponentially went enlarged, as if to depict that the person whom I am having a heated conversation with, went mad. He stared at me while I can see that his hands were trembling due to the shaking goblet that he was handling.
"You think that being helpful for every person can be truly beneficial to them? Are you implying to your inner consciousness that, if you were to aid all of the people here in the city, you can somehow save them for their own trials and worries?! HAHAHA! PATHETIC!"
H-Hey… Crowhart?
Most of the times, if I were to be locked in a heated argument with a person that I hate, I will be merciless to them by sending an endless barrage of words that will destroy their will to argue with me for the entirety of the argument.
However, when I stared at the facial expression of this person, it made me realize that arguing with him might backfire at me… for some odd reason.
"C-Crowhart? A-Are you okay?" I stuttered in calling him back to reality since he looked like he was about to assault me in any second now.
"PATHETIC! THE THREE OF YOU ARE ALL DISGRACES TO THE CITY! You think that all of you are making any changes, but no! Nothing at all!!! You are just repeating the endless cycle of mistakes that the other foolish Myrmidons have committed in the past! Do not help them to their pleasure! Help them to be better!!!"
Crowhart continued to shout in front of me like a madman.
"Hey! Crowhart! Can you hear me? What is the matter? I know, I admit that we are somehow not that great at this but…hey! Are you listening???"
I tried to pull him back but he seems to be blinded by his own… wait-
Could it be that…?
"HOI! Stop squirming and screaming like that!!! You sound like a broken-hearted maiden who just got rejected by the man of their dreams! Heyyyy!!! Crowhart!"
I pounced at his shoulders and shook him violently to calm him down. I attempted to shake him like this for a lot of times but when he was not budging at all, I tried a different approach…
"CROWHART!!!"
*SMACK*
I smacked the head of the maddened Crowhart and gave it with my all in order to send him back to the reality. He was forced downward due to the force and when he did, his squirming body fell in his chair.
"Arghhhhh…" he groaned painfully.
"Hey! Snap out of it! What is the matter with you?"
"Arghhh…ugh…I should be the one asking you that, my Lady."
Oh, great. He is back again.
Also, my apologies. I may have panicked there…
"My apologies… you managed to behold one of my…tendencies. It is just, whenever I feel stressed regarding one topic and mix it with my passionate hatred, I tend to explode…like this."
Hey… I should be the one to apologize to you.
It seems that my plan worked as the paleness in his eyes returned and his normal, nonchalant and prideful expression can be seen in his face once again. However, right at this moment, his face is overly-shadowed by regret. He kept in drinking his still-warm coffee, as if nothing tense happened in the first place, then continued:
"I guess… I am terrible in sending messages to people that I wanted to talk with. I have this terrible tendency and I do not know how to get rid of it…it is rather vexing. Make no mistake my lady, I do not hate you. It is just…whenever I see you do those self-deprecating tasks not just for yourselves, but for the past Myrmidons also, I cannot stop myself!"
"Hmph. I guess, you look at the Myrmidons in high regard, eh?" I smiled at him.
I do not know, hearing him speak up regarding his issues made me sympathize for him a bit.
"…Yes. I admire and patronize the Myrmidons of every ages in this city. For every cycle of the season, the city of Estocia has produced a lot of high-caliber, elite, and legendary Myrmidons and from the recent lineup before you three, I always aspired and endeared the recent Myrmidon-trio."
"M-Myrmidon trio?" I inquired confusedly.
"You do not know them? Really Lady Astoria, you should know better! Look, for starters, we have the leader of them all and that is, your father! Samson GrinLock Justocia!" he said, chastising me.
Oh…right. I completely forgot.
To be honest within myself, I always disregard my Pops as a Myrmidon, considering how busy and serious is his line of work in the smithy and the Guild.
When he started talking with my father, his pale eyes suddenly filled with excitement and anticipation.
"Then, there is the lady of the team. She was regarded as the "Sparkling feet" due to her superb skill with her personal sword. Her name was Kaminaria Falla!"
Really, what is up with that? What is with this sudden shift in this conversation?
"Finally, the third member is…is-"
Suddenly, when he was about to continue in his words, he paused a bit- now appearing to be disheartened to continue his next words.
"Hmmm? What is wrong? Who is the third one?" I quickly asked.
"…I forgot! I completely forgot! HA-HA. My, how unbecoming of me as a tight follower of the Myrmidons that I love! I nagged at you earlier for forgetting the names of the previous Myrmidons, and even I, forgot one of them!" he said, miniscule panic is in his face.
Hmmm…are you sure?
Well, whatever.
"The point is, the trio of the Myrmidons before you were legendary! They performed a lot of feats that solidified the city of Estocia as a place of worthiness for legacy! That is why…seeing you three tarnish their overall work is…well, I can only say that it is unsightly for me."
He said at me, his honesty is peeking through his slight smile even though he still looks down on us.
"Are you calm now?"
Upon hearing my question, Crowhart sighed a bit and nodded.
"Well, I am glad. Listen here, whatever your perception about us are, I can honestly say that they are purely misplaced. We are doing our best to not be a 'disappointment' for everyone and every day, we are aspiring to follow the paths of the recent Myrmidons before us!" I told him seriously.
He, in return, just continued in drinking his coffee while I try to convince him.
"I still cannot understand what are you trying to come across to me regarding on that 'saving' and 'aiding' the Swordsfolk part, but even I can assure you that we will NOT tarnish the legacies of Pops and his allies! Not even the ancient Myrmidons!" I further said, raising from my posture with my broom held up high.
"Hmmm…hm… if you say it that way…"
Crowhart leaned in closer in my face and chillingly said to my ears:
"I will be watching from afar."
He hurriedly pulled his face away from me and was about to close the windows when I asked him swiftly:
"HEY! You are knowledgeable about the Effese that attacked the city on the last festival, correct? Forgive me for asking this but… are you affiliated with it?"
"HA???" he said in a varied emotion. His face may have further enunciated the shock and confusion from my query.
"I mean, they say that the Effese can take the form of any being that contains malice and a feeling of change in their hearts. Hearing from this, I just realized that somehow, you fit for that category…have you even heard any of these? Hmmm…perhaps not?" I naively continued.
"Really, you are an informed one, Lady Astoria. Regarding about that 'descriptions' about the Effese, I was the one who firstly reported it to the Guild. The captive gave her answer to me easily!" he said, annoyance is resurfacing in his face once again.
EH? Libra did…what?
I thought she was silent before talking to us, according to Pops?!
"Now think. Why would I become the evil entity that nearly killed your father if I myself, am a tight follower of him? Huh? Really, you are wounding me deeply today, Lady Astoria!"
Well…
"Also, yes…I have to admit that I am rather mad and angry towards the three of you but what good will I get from killing the three of…argh! You know what? Believe what you want to believe! I do not care!" he said in an outburst yet again.
"I apologize! I am merely checking for my suspicion for you! Can you blame me? You are acting hostile towards us so I had to ask you!" I rebutted from his anger, trying to defend myself.
"Argh! If you are about to ask me like that, it will serve you best if you ask your two comrades too! I heard that the Sir Malthur of Silvos has a great temper! Who knows, perhaps he is the Effese!"
The moment he said that, a tried to picture Malthur while being possessed by the Effese…
…Uhhhh, yeah, not likely.
"If you do not want to inquire the son-of-the-Marquess boy, how about the Flemeroy-boy?"
Crowhart immediately withdrew his annoyed expression and exchanged it with a serious one.
"Roy? Why him? He is a diligent and good-natured person! I thought that you knew that in first-hand!" I stated, shocked and confused from his proposition.
When he heard my statement, he finally drunk his last portion from his coffee and upon placing his goblet to the table from his right, Crowhart smiled in front of me and said slowly:
"Oh… I am not talking about that, Lady Astoria."
He smiled at me with his lips widened, depicting his sudden turn of mood in front of me. Out of a sudden, I felt a surge of uneasiness from all over my body. My thoughts seemed to have caught in my recent memories and right now, I do not want to hear the next words coming from him…
Is he…no. it cannot be…
"Hmmm…are you really that uninformed about the boy with a crimson hair from your team, my lady? Or perhaps, you are trying to not remember it?"
Stop…please. Do not…
"Regarding the past of the son of the Chief? Well then, he…"
My body froze as I tried my best to not hear the incoming words from Crowhart. There was that inner half of me that wanted to go away from him as soon as possible in order to not hear his words, then there is this other half of me that remained in standing there- having a posture of a deceased corpse. As I listened further and further from his words, I felt a jolt of numbness from my entire body. I guess… I was too freighted to hear his statement,
When he continued in his words, my inner left and right ears rang a high-pitched sound that sent an unbelievable discomfort to my body.
"T**t R***h**** b**, he ki**** his ever-****** mo****…"
My mind went blank, my vision blackened.
*SLAP*
Before I even realized it, from the sudden pain that seared from my right hand…I slapped Crowhart from his right cheek.
He let out a short gasp and when he concluded that he just indeed received a slap from a girl, Crowhart fell silent.
I, too, fell into it.
From that moment, only the sounds of the busy footsteps from Swordsfolk and moving caravans from afar rang… each with a varying loudness from themselves.
"I see… so that is your stand from that."
After being thawed from unshakable shackles of the shock, Crowhart finally said something, then stood up. He retrieved his goblet from the table and without looking at me, he painfully said:
"I told you my lady, do not wound me…"
He slowly walked away from me, then silently closed the windows.
I, on the other hand, kept standing from there for a short minute. My mind exploded with various thoughts that I felt overloaded from them.
In order to shake my thoughts a bit, I tried to sweep the grounds of the residences once again.
I managed to hold up for an hour.
I was still silently swaying the vicinities of the area, when I heard the annoying voice of Malthur, followed by the gentle-nagging of Roy.
"Wah! We finally finished our area for today! Come, let us have our break already!"
"…"
"Really, I watched you from afar and the only thing that you did is converse with the passing ladies in the area! Really, are you serious about this?"
"…"
"Hey! I did not do such a thing!!! Do you have a proof? Let us see…hm… NONE! You have no such thing so be silent!"
"…"
"…Really, Malthur you…argh. Fine, I believe you then. But next time, please be serious from our next tasks! Look, we only have two days left so it is time to be serious about this!"
"..."
"Thank goodness you went easy for me this time! Come! What are we waiting for? Let us go! I am beat!"
"Argh…fine. Uh…hey! Do not run like that in a place like this! Malthur…ugh. Hey Tori! Help me in catching up with that guy!"
"…"
"Tori? Can you hear me? Hey??? Did you finish your area? I am sorry that we left you alone in a place like thi-"
I finally faced the troubled Roy and when I did, his face fell into a pure shock.
"Tori? Hey! Why are you crying? Hoi! What happened? Answer me! Who did this to you…Hey! Where are you going?!" he asked me frantically.
I did not bother responding. I simply carried my heavy broom and while my tears are still falling, I walked with my twin-legs for their own pace. Shortly, I passed the equally-shocked Malthur and when I felt that they are already catching up to me, I seriously said:
"Let us go and show to those who doubt us, who we really are and what we are as Myrmidons!"
I bravely wiped my tears and while the both of the boys exchanged confused looks, I continued in walking forward.
You will see! All of you will see!