I was lost in a bright light. I could vaguely feel my own movements but it was like I was a passenger.
It was my fault.
It had to be.
All those people are dead, they came to kidnap me.
I was their target, so why... WHY?!?!
Why did they kill all those innocent people?
I came to in my bed, it was night. It felt just like when I first came here all over again. I looked at my small hands then fell back onto the bed.
Yes they were after me, but I didn't kill them. A flash of a bloody maid. I was a victim too. A guard dying to protect us. I have to make this life worth something. A man carrying me back home. I have to make up for not being fast or strong or smart.
I hear the door open and someone come in. I close my eyes and pretend to sleep. I don't think I can face anyone just yet. They come near my bed and sit in a chair next to it, they put something down and fix my blanket.
"Young Miss, today Willen and Lena started a training for protecting you. I have been creating better plans. We hired some new workers and they seem to be settling in nicely. The walls have yet to be repaired but the guards are doing double the work. Until your father returns we have to keep you safe. He needs to see the girl you have become..." her voice, it is wavering and I can hear her sobs in her breathing "Rei you have to come back so he can meet the real you."
She continues talking but I can't stay awake, I feel sleep wash over me like a wave and when my eyes open again it's morning. I am alone again and I sigh in gratitude. I get up and walk or waddle due to a weakness in my body, I drink the water that is next to my bed. I walk to the door while hugging the wall to stay upright.
I open the door and am faced with the back of a man, I would guess a guard from his dressing. He whips around and sees me holding onto the door. His eyes are filled with surprise then he bows and I have to step back to not get hit with his helmet.
I feel myself getting irked what is with this guy? Is he supposed to be the guard. what a sucky choice...
I look at him and pout before shutting the door. This causes me to fall on my butt and the door opens once again but it's a maid instead. She squeals and it hurts my ears so I cover them and glare at her though I doubt that anyone would care because it's from a literal child.
"Young Miss! You are awake!" the maid whom I do not recognize exclaims as if I did not already know I was awake. I am grumpy aren't I. I stoop thinking when another man approaches. Something doesn't seem right with him so I hide behind the maid and peek out from behind her.
The man bends down a bit and seems to inspect me like an object. He reaches out for me and I move away but he catches me despite my evasion. He holds me away from his body like something that smelled bad. I wanted to sneer at him but I couldn't bring myself to do so with people around.
I focus on him and start to inspect him the same way he was towards me. He had dark green hair sleeked back and ruby eyes that clashed with his hair. He had olive skin and it seemed like he had never smiled in his life. He wore a soldiers clothes and it made me wonder if he worked closely with General Kai. His worn sword was pristine but clearly used. Used...
I saw blood on his body and the hands that held me. I tried desperately to get away but he wouldn't release me.
"Let go! Let go! You're bloody! You're getting me dirty!" I cried and screamed but he still wouldn't let me go. I tried punching, scratching, I tried biting! This man refused to let go. He frowned and looked to other people but even they didn't know what to do.
He took me to my bed and set me down. I moved to the other side of the bed and looked at him warily. I hid behind the bed with my hands shaking. I saw blood on my own hands as well. I put them together trying to ignore the sticky feeling.
I prayed for the first time since getting here. I prayed for calm and determination. I asked for forgiveness and wisdom. I took deep breaths once I finished and the blood was gone when I looked at my hands again.
My cheeks blushed bright as I realized what had happened. I coughed and stood up to see over the bed I had been shamefully hiding behind. I avoided looking at the man. "I... apologize...Sir..." I couldn't take it for long so I scurried to the restroom connected to this one.
Commander Le POV
It was an odd feeling to see a little girl go from a little tiger to a white bunny. She fought hard for a child and I saw a glint of her father in her fight. When I put her down she fled and hopped away. I still felt how light she was, I wonder if all children were that light. She escaped again into another room and I walked away.
As I left the room maids rushed in, including the head maid. I walked to the barracks and ordered the men to start getting ready to leave in two days. Our work here was done and it was simple enough to leave the girl with a few more guards.