Suddenly, Anura's feet rose up from the ground. Ramone had lifted her up with his big hands up high into the air. She was only six, and his hands were about the size of her chubby babyface.
"No more crying," Ramone said while he swung her playfully in the air.
Anura squealed in panic. Looking down at the ground from the height where Ramone held her. She was nearly above his head!
Each member of Team Aislinn gathered around them, smiling as Ramone lowered her down onto his arm, carrying her. Anura sniffled. She still had tears straining her face, and her nose was watery from her crying.
Anura was happy to see them again. Walking alone in the crowded town was scary; it made her realize she was just a kid.
"We should get you cleaned up," Jacob said, taking his thumb and rubbing the dirt on her cheek. "Where did you go to get this dirty?"
To his words, Anura looked down at her dress. It was dirty and stained, looking as if she came out of the dumpster. She lifted her hand and sniffed it, wrinkling her face in response.
She reeked! She probably brought some of Hac's foul-smelling odor with her. Ew!
Watching Anura, Yue giggled. "Yeah, let's get you cleaned."
The rest of Aislinn nodded in agreement, but Kenmer just glared at her with his arms crossed.
"Or… we could just hand her in now and get it over with," he said, shrugging.
"No," replied Ramone. He paused for a moment, thinking. "We should keep her for a while."
Anura's heart stopped, and the air surrounding the Aislinn group was still.
What did he mean by those words? It was like a shock to her. She felt happiness and confusion—a mixture of emotions.
Wait— is he thinking of not handing her in for the bounty?
Would team Aislinn really go watch over her only after the words of their leader? She was a child of the Soma family. A family that the kingdom has been declared traitors. But the leader of this lowly adventures group would go against the king's words for a child?
Yue's face immediately brightened. "Yessss!" She squealed. Her joy was indescribable—an ecstatic aura emanating off of her. Pulling Anura out of Ramone's grasp, Yue lifted her into the air and embraced her tightly. Maybe way too tightly.
"I- I can't bre- breathe…" Anura managed to let out.
Yue gasped. "Oh, gosh! Sorry!" She yelled, panicked, and immediately loosened her tight embrace.
"Let's take her with us," Jacob nodded. "She'll become one of us. A member of Aislinn."
Lane tilted her head slightly and smiled in admiration at Jacob. The pretty woman's eyes twinkled. She was lost in her daze, admiring the man before her.
Madam Csilla simply nodded, but when she caught Anura staring at her wonderingly, she smiled too.
Everyone agreed, but Kenmer. He looked at everyone's faces in question, trying to find just a hint of doubt and unacceptance.
"BUT THE GOL-" before Kenmer could finish speaking, Yue clamped her hand on Kenmer's shoulder, gripping it tightly. "ARAHHH!!!" It looked as if she was about to crush his shoulder blades with the strength of one hand.
Glaring at him, Yue smiled devilishly. "Shut up."
"Oh, dear God, have mercy... spare me..." Kenmer pleaded. He bit his lips and looked up at Yue in agony. His legs were shaking, but Yue had no sympathy for a greedy jerk. She gripped him tighter.
"ARHH!" Kenmer screamed. The anguish in his voice was laughable.
Madam Csilla's staff suddenly comes flying towards Yue and clunks her on the forehead. "Stop that! Don't kill the children!" She scolded, with her raspy old voice.
Yue stumbles back from the impact, and her grip on Kenmer is released. "Mmm… sorry, Csilla," she mumbled, in pain wincing and gritting her teeth.
Anura was surprised there wasn't a big bump on Yue's forehead from Madam Csilla, whacking her all the time. If Madam hadn't healed her forehead every time, she would be carrying a large mountain on her head.
Csilla sighed. Anura noticed that this time Csilla didn't bother to tell Yue to call her 'Madam.' She must have given up on Yue.
Anura looked up at Ramone. "What do you mean by that? You won't give me back to the nobles?" She hoped that's what they meant. She could start her new life with them. Free.
Ramone nodded. "We'll keep you safe. I've been wondering why you're so frightened to go back. That isn't a normal response from a child who should have been spoiled by the riches."
"Don't worry, Anura. If you're really telling the truth, we will protect you and the pride of Soma," Jacob said, patting her gently on her head.
Anura was surprised by their sudden change of view. "How come?" she uttered in disbelief.
The members of team Aislinn glanced towards each other, silent. Then Jacob scratched his head and chuckled, looking towards Lane. "Well, Lane and I used to train under Soma."
Anura gasped. "So, you knew my parents?"
She had wanted someone to share this burden with, and maybe she found someone who understands her.
Lane shook her head in denial. "No, no. My parents were previous knights of Soma. The knights rarely meet the Somas unless you were a part of the Soma's main troop. I was born into a knight family and trained like one, but I wanted to explore the world as I got older. So I left to become an adventurer instead."
"It's the same for me," Jacob chimed with a grin. "We actually left together."
"Does that mean you know the Soma's sword techniques?!" Anura asked, her eyes twinkling.
"Mostly," Lane replied. "Might be a little rusty though."
Anura beamed.
This means that the knights trained by Soma will continue generations of Soma fighting techniques! The kingdom can't completely wipe out the Soma's memory.
"Enough of the chatter! Let's get back to the Tavern. My old legs can't keep up with you youngins," Csilla complained. She began walking ahead, leaving the rest behind.
• • •
The walk back wasn't much of a struggle. Anura had mostly been carried by Yue until Ramone snatched her back after seeing Yue's arm almost drop Anura.
Kenmer didn't even spare her another glance since they started walking. He's quite the grumpy one, or is it because she's stealing all the adults' attention. She snickered at the thought.
"Why are you giggling?" Kenmer asked, with a look of disgust. "Are you okay or just dying inside your head?"
Anura glared back at him from Ramone's arm. "Mind your business."
"Suit yourself," he replied shrugging.
Walking up the stairs of the adventurer's inn, Ramone handed her to Lane, and together they started walking to the bath.
She held Lane's hand tightly. Looking up at Lane, she imagined the figure of her mother by her side. Her mother's memory ached in her heart as she watched her smile, looking back down at her.
"Anura?"
The vision of her mother vanished and became replaced by the image of Lane. She wasn't her mother.
Lane smiled affectionately, furrowing her brows in worry. "What's got you in such a daze?"
"Uh...! No- nothing!" she replied, flustered.
Lane pushed open the door to the bath and started undressing her. There wasn't much to talk about, and Anura was again lost in thought.
As she got in the bath, Lane's light touches that washed her were comforting. Anura lay there, staring up at the ceiling. The warm water calmed her and built a feeling of safety.
Lane started rubbing soap into her dirty hair, and Anura just stared down at the soapy liquid. The sounds of the running water were all she heard. It reminded her of the bathhouse in her home. Where she used to soak in while one of her maids washed her hair.
She wondered how the maids were. Where were they now? They must be dead too... She had flashes of her family's manor being destroyed. Every one of her past... must really be dead.
"Anura?"
"Yes?" she replied in a distant voice.
Lane sighed.
Turning her head, Anura faces Lane with a questioning face. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Close your eyes so I can rinse the soap out of your hair."
"Okay," she answered, closing her eyes. The rush of warm water flowed down her back, and a few drops sliding down her face.
"You know, I've always wanted a daughter. Having you here makes me happy. I know that may be selfish of me, knowing that your parents were killed, and now you have nowhere to go," Lane said.
Anura didn't reply and instead sat silently with her eyes closed.
Did she want her to acknowledge her as her mother? She couldn't do that, her mother was Silvia. Silvia Soma...
Anura wanted to feel her mother's touch when she brushed her hair and the gentleness when she caressed her cheek before bed. She'll never be able to hear her mother's soft breath again.
"You don't have to call me your mother or treat me like one. I just feel that you're still young," Lane explains softly, while her hands brush through Anura's wet hair. "Don't you miss your mother? A child like you, losing all that she used to rely on."
Anura gulped, looking down into the translucent water. Her words felt like a sharp blade grazing her skin.
Lane seemed to notice Anura's discomfort because she then said, "I'm sorry. We don't have to talk if you'd like it that way?"
"No," she exclaimed. "It's okay!" Due to Anura's rapid turn, the water splashed around her. Some droplets fell out of the tub.
Lane giggled. "Be careful."
Anura looked around at the mess. "I- I'm sorry!" She lifted her hands to cover her flushed face.
"Don't worry. I'll clean the water when you're done," Lane reassured, patting Anura's head gently. Her soft smile was affectionate as Anura nodded in response.
Lane sighed. "I understand it'll be hard to adapt to a life without parents and the figures who looked after you."
Tears peaked in Anura's eyes as she imagined her mother and father. They were holding their hands together, with one hand outstretched to Anura. They were all just a memory.
"No, I am very grateful for you and the rest of Aislinn's help. If it weren't for you and Jacob to find me... I could have been killed by wolves in the mountains. Or died there alone," she said stiffly. "And for you to let me stay and protect me..."
Lane let out a small breath of a chuckle. "You spiked our interest. Your urge to kill... is quite strong. You nearly broke Kenmer's neck when you tackled him before."
"He deserved it," Anura scoffed.
Lane lifted Anura out of the bath, being extra careful so she wouldn't slip. Gently, she dried Anura with a white towel laid out on the sink counter.
"Say, Anura..."
"Hmm?"
"Do you remember... you're a candidate for the Queen tourney?"
Anura tilted her head. "Queen tourney?"
What is she talking about?
"The prophecy where ladies selected by the Sphere of Apotheosis would join a tournament to be queen. Everyone heard the heralds announce your name; it was announced all over the kingdom."
Anura flinched in shock. She had forgotten. In ten years, she was supposed to fight in the tourney for the queen crowning. So were the daughters of Gwyneria and Fraus.
She clenched her fist at the thought of Gwyneria and Fraus ruling. After they murdered her family... She could never forget their evil faces. They don't deserve glory after they stained their hands with the red blood of the Soma family.
"Yes, I remember."
If one of them wins... especially Lady Diana's daughter. Wait, what was her name?
Estelle... Estelle Gwyneria. Yes, Estelle Gwyneria. If she wins, Anura's family's death would be like a pedestal, she used to walk up to fame.
"There's a future for you, Anura. That is why we've decided to protect you. Your destiny is something we are willing to protect, so we will guard you with our lives," Lane says as she helps Anura into her new dress.
The new dress was plain, one a commoner would wear. It was plaid blue with a ruffled collar top, ending at just above her knees.
"Yue picked this dress out. You can't wear that nobles gown anymore. You'll be exposed. This dress will help you blend in," Lane explains, patting down the dress and fixing her sleeves. Cupping Anura's cheek, she smiles with a nod. "I have something to give you."
Anura's eyes follow Lane's movements as she reaches for something in her pocket. What could it be?
Lifting her hand out, she noticed two strange metal discs. Lane moved her hand that held the discs closer into Anura's view.
"The Soma's wind imprints!" she exclaimed with a gasp.
Lane immediately covered Anura's mouth with her hand. "Shhh! Others might hear!"
Anura, with her eyes widened in surprise, nodded. Finally, Lane let her hand off her mouth, and Anura let out a big sigh.
"These! I recognize these! These metals and the symbol carved in them were my fathers, they put them in the servant airships" Anura pointed out excitedly.
"Yes, Jacob and I found them on you when we found you in the woods," Lane says, handing them to Anura. She placed the two discs in Anura's baby hands.
"Wow!" Anura gasped as she looked closer, rubbing them against each other in her hands. Anura remembered that she took a few discs before leaving, but she thought she had lost them.
Tears welled up in Anura's eyes. She held the discs closely to her chest. "Papa..." she mumbled. This was the only thing she had left.
Lane embraced her in her arms. "It's okay, Anura," she whispered, comforting her.
"Thank you, Lane. I thought I had lost them." Her voice was muffled through her tears. "I'm sorry. I cry a lot."
Lane hugged her tightly. "It's okay. You can cry as much as you want. I'll be here."
At that moment, Anura had the wish of becoming queen. To protect and regain the pride of her family. Her father, her mother, the lives of the Somas, all that was left was Anura and a few wind imprints.
Anura remembered when she first heard that she would be participating in the tournament she cried because she was scared. Now, the fear that was once what held her back, is now the fear she bears of losing.
She sobbed in Lane's caring arms, her tear soaking into Lane's clothes. Lane lifted her up, carrying her to their room. She was tasked with the job of watching over Anura, and she was committed.
Placing Anura down on her bed, she realized Anura had fallen asleep. She smiled. The discs were still in her hand, and Lane tried to take them to put somewhere else safely, but Anura's tiny fingers held them tightly. She sighed in defeat instead and brushed Anura's golden locks tenderly with her hand.
Anura looked so vulnerable. The calm and ease that was held on her face while she slept made Lane smile.
"I'll protect you," she whispered, kissing Anura's forehead.