"Move, get out of here!"
Distressed with quivering legs, a girl frantically waves her hands over her head with a worrisome face under the dark clouds and icy wind biting her pale skin.
That girl is me.
No matter how overly panicked I looked, my dear friends don't seem to get what I intend to tell them. They're still, however, urging me to go over toward them. I'm feeling utterly confused why they're cheering and grinning from ear to ear when there's clearly an attack going on, and I'll be abducted the longer I stay out here.
My heart raises, my throat is itching to scream when I see the overly large figure behind the five of them. With wide eyes, I rush forward. My pace picked up as I watch the figure closing in behind them. My friends unbothered; they don't know the danger that's about to come.
If only I had my bow and arrow right now, I could have struck whatever it is down. But I'm left weaponless and without guards because both thought it was a great idea to chase after the bad guy leaving me here all alone like this isn't some diversion.
"Look behind you!" I shout, wondering why they still aren't getting my message. And as soon as I get closer to the fence, Maru finally decided to turn to what's behind them closer to them. With my speed and momentum, I jump over the fence without much effort. Thankfully my dress is somewhat comfortable, like it was made for doing crazy stunts.
Out of breath with my pale face tinting red, I finally reach the five of them who were now staring at the creature. Except, now that I'm closer and got a better look. It isn't a creature, "Aryll, why did you make it look like that?" Hestu complains disapprovingly.
Someone with the ability to control the wind bringing leaves, dirt, and pieces of branches from the woods together to form a monstrous shape that could deceive you as an enemy from afar made this non-existent creature in front of me. And that someone would be Aryll?
"Why did you do that, Aryll?" I regained my composure. Every element that holds the shape of the figure falls to the ground as the magic disappears.
It was all indeed a diversion, not made by the Beorene creatures to capture me. But one played by the elves to trick the knights, luring them away from me.
"We've been high up in that tree for days looking for you," Pico points on the tree where they usually spy on the entire castle, "we were worried because you haven't been out training- but we saw you today."
"We figured that we should bring you in the woods to train, but those knights followed you around like you're some criminal!" Hestu shrieks pulling on her hat; Pico taps her shoulders to calm her down. She notices this making her cheeks go red as she looks down to her feet.
"You looked uncomfortable with those two trailing your every move, so we decided to help you out," Maru lets out a grin, and my face softens.
I let out a sigh of relief at the fact that this wasn't an attempt to kidnap me. Also, I'm moved by their concern. It's the first time I see them after the incident during the festival. I spent my days recovering inside the castle.
With a chuckle, I thank them, "although I think you'll be in trouble when the knights realize that it was all just a trick."
Talus shrugs with his hands on his hips, "I don't think they'll be coming out of these woods anytime soon, which means-"
"We planned to take you to our village as promised!" Pico exclaims excitedly, whereas I'm taken by surprise.
"T-to your village?" I repeat, stuttering.
"Yes," Maru nods before continuing, "there's someone who's been wanting to meet you, Rose Ann."
"Really, who could that be?"
Information about the daughter of Rosetta appearing in this realm could have already spread to different places. It even got as far as Beorene, and this makes it more unsafe for me. Who knows who else could have been plotting against my mother from the past. They'll have me instead.
"Pico's mother, who's been terribly sick for years, but she keeps mentioning your mother's name."
I leaned forward with my hand on my heart and uttered the words without hesitating, "bring me to your village."
I won't find answers if I confine myself inside that castle. I may be disobeying Blossom's command, and Rhys would have my head once I'm back, but I can't control how eager I am to know about my mother. If there's an open path that leads you closer to your goal, you'll take it without having second thoughts.
Maru blinks at me, "ok-okay, I didn't know you'd get really excited," she laughs in surprise.
"I was hoping to meet more of those who knew my mother."
"My mama can help, but she's very sick, so please be patient with her," Pico smiles ever so brightly. I bend down to cup his cheeks with my hands, but before my hand could reach him, Aryll steps in and slaps it away.
I gasp while Hestu, by my side, frowns at him, "Aryll, that's not nice!"
"Don't touch my baby cousin," he glares at me, making my blood freeze. My face pales; I scratch my head with a slight smile, apologizing to him but feeling humiliated from the rejection.
Pico hisses, "I'm not a baby!"
But Aryll doesn't respond to this. Instead, he rubs Pico's head. The sight is too adorable, but I still don't get why Aryll has been very upset with me. He seems to dislike me from the very beginning. I wonder what I did to make him feel that way.
"Well, we should go before it gets dark," Maru says, and I nod in agreement.
As we begin to move from the spot where our small discussion took place, we are alerted by the rustling of leaves and a man groaning so loudly. We find the nearest bushes that could conceal our identities and hid behind them, peeking through the sides to see who the noise came from.
My hand rushes to shut my mouth, preventing me from laughing when two worn-out knights emerge from inside the woods. They no longer had their helmets on, giving me a clearer view of their faces which I have to admit, they don't look so bad. One had a red shaggy hair that falls above his neck, and the other with a buzz cut and a long scar on the side of his forehead that runs all the way to his cheeks. However, they look friendly.
Their faces look like they've run a mile only to be dissatisfied for not reaching the trophy. That exhausted expression changes almost instantly when they spot a lifelessly-quiet front yard.
The knight with the shaggy red hair pulled on his roots, dropping to the ground feeling defeated, "We're dead meat, Commander will have our heads!"
"WE LOST THE GIRL!"