"Jack!Tristan!" Sloane pulled harder along the rocky path where they stood.
"Milady? You're back early?" Jack stood up holding his arm tightly.
"Milady we've defeated group two-"
"Don't go on dying on me!"She interrupted as she raised her voice unintentionally startling both of them.
Jack's grip on the wound grew tighter than before. He hung his head low.
" Ah! I apologize."Sloane realized after a moment.
-"She was worried sick the whole time for him?"Tristan stood speechless.
He saw her examining his arm with intense care.
"I'm the one who should be apologizing milady. I wasn't careful." Jack reassured. He never saw her panic like this before. This was probably a new side he witnessed.
"The cut is deeper than expected." She frowned upon observing the wound on his right arm.
"If only we had a medic." She mumbled.
"Milady group three and two have been defeated. Here are their banner-Whoa! Bro, what happened here?" Nine jumped with shock.
"Brother you need not overreact." Twelve said to him. She was quite overwhelmed by the scene.
Sloane helped Jack up and asked Twelve to treat the boy's wounds.
She looked at the dusk sky.
-"Another day with unraveling mysteries."She groaned.
"Let's head back to the campsite."
Sloane felt uneasy staying in the place which made way for their enemies.
The place was no longer safe for them.
-"What if we encounter the Nethilorian Army?"
Her mind kept repeating these words.
It hadn't been long since the sunset.
"It's raining," Tristan said in an alarming voice.
"Now what?" They glanced at each other.
"It doesn't matter if it is a passing shower." Nine reassured.
"No. There'll be a thunderstorm." Sloane corrected him.
She sat with the assassin cleaning her blood-covered blade with a piece of wet cloth.
They looked at her doubtful about her predictions when suddenly lightning crashed down on a remote area that was farther away from the mountain.
"Did we perhaps anger God?"Nine asked. This provoked Twelve as she asked her brother to shut up for heaven's sake.
It was evident that she was afraid of lighting.
This must be psychological trauma. She remembered that she used to hide in her mother's lap when she was three years old. Her mother would comfort her and would advise her to be strong enough to confront lighting.
But now it seemed that they were ridiculous but heartwarming memories.
" Tomorrow we are to catch up with group one. They seem to be stronger than others we've confronted so far. They're on equal par with us."
The assassin near her whispered something in her ear leaving her shocked.
She looked behind where the cave was leading deeper into the mountain.
She tried her best to look normal in front of others. They put their trust in her even though she was younger than them except for Jack who was the youngest of them.
She looked at him. He was near the cave entrance. He gloomily looked up at the night sky which was gloomier as it rained cats and dogs.
Her brows furrowed as she empathized with him.
The others prepared to sleep.
"Jack..." she got up and sat beside him.
"Why don't you go rest up a bit. You'll tire yourself out."
He smiled as he usually does.
"Milady. Please let them rest. They've worked harder than me."
"Don't sound like you haven't done anything." Sloane scolded him. She was frustrated that he didn't complain even in times like this.
"Then I've got no choice."
Jack looked at her with a baffled expression.
"I'll accompany you." He understood what she meant and immediately started protesting against the idea.
But she was just stubborn as her father.
He finally gave in.
Not long after their argument Jack was unaware that he slept soundly like a baby.
-"He must've been tired out from bearing the pain."She smiled as she watched the sleeping boy and gently stroked back his pitch-black hair.
Sloane looked back where everyone slept soundly.
"Uh...did I perhaps disturb you milady?"
Sloane signaled him to be silent as she was afraid that Jack would wake up.
She draped him with her coat to prevent any further damage to the wound Twelve had treated carefully.
——————
The next morning was quite dull as well. It was a drizzle. The thunderstorm had passed out before sunrise.
Sloane didn't sleep the whole night. Her mind wouldn't allow it even if she wanted to.
She trained herself to stay awake for continuous four days if she were ever in a dire situation for survival.
Jack was the first to wake up.
"Good morning." Sloane greeted him.
"Milady. You didn't sleep? Did I sleep?" Jack was aghast as he looked around.
"Pfft. You slept like an innocent baby. I couldn't bring myself to wake you up."
He panicked flushing like a beet out of embarrassment.
-"How could I be so careless."He internally screamed.
"Are you feeling better?" She asked him.
He nodded still embarrassed about it.
She was concerned about his health the entire time.
"I feel useless." He mumbled as the others were up.
"Yawn*What's for breakfast Twelve?" Nine lazily looked at his sister who's hair was messy as if she was struck by the lightning.
"Good morning." She replied in a low voice.
"I'd recommend it if you'd set your hair." Nine commented.
"Same goes for you, my dear big brother." Twelve retorted.
The others snickered since both looked alike.
But the warm moment ended rather quickly.
"Milady Look Out!!" Jack pushed her away.