Chereads / The Villianess With A Heart Of Gold / Chapter 20 - Chapter Nineteen-- Villiage Hero

Chapter 20 - Chapter Nineteen-- Villiage Hero

I was sweeping the front steps, Donatello standing guard outside. It was a brisk autumn day, the leaves dirtying the steps of the monestary. I had been here for only a few weeks as 'Rhea but it was much simpler and relaxed. Everyone had a schedule custom to their talents and abilities. For me, I could wake whenever I pleased. I was always and early bird so I still usually woke up when the early morning guard switch happened and the sun was barely out. I at breakfast in the dining hall, and then went about my own chores. Sweeping the courtyard and front, tending to the gardens, and washing the dishes. People thought I was weird this way but I had a method to my madness. I chose to sweep the leaves to give myself some outside me time. I tended to the gardens this late in their version of October-- Samhain-- to work in my vegetation magic I read in Mercy's diaries. She wasn't able to work on it by being trapped, but now I was free. I was able to make sure that the flowes stayed crisp and bloomed despite the slight cold in the air. I was hoping that I would be able to help with crops and harvesting come spring and summer of next year. I wanted to be useful to this town and this world. I had already taken in quite a bit of clients from my healing services. The soldiers relied on me, and I even had people from surrounding villages visit the monestary. It drove Altir crazy, causing tension between us. Next I did the dishes because the older woman who used tk due them had too much pain in her wrists. People didn't want to take over her duty, so I stepped in. I was usually done around midday. Today was a bit too chilly for a sweep, so I waited until later to do it. Now the midday sun was high in the air, warming up my skin a tad. I was still wearing a nice baby blue lined shawl that kept me a bit warm. I had timed have my afternoon medicinal tea soon. I was surprised that Donatello was still up and not getting greedy for hibernation. I did a little research on Crito's and they were similar to reptiles from my world. Cold blooded, mostly carnivores, venomous and deadly. Although my Crito acted more like an iguana than a komodo dragon. Lackadaisical, attached and loving. He had quickly become a beloved figure in the below town. Children adored him, and the guards felt safer with him. Crito's only need to sleep once a week so whole I rested Donatello started to take initiative to guard the monestary and villiage. So far he was already stopped one carriage from falling off a cliff and one bandit attack. He was almost smiled as I reached over with the broom and scratched his side. He purred and rolled onto his back so I could scratch his stomach. I smiled down at him and started doing as he wished, making him roll back and forth in happiness.

"Now that's a happy lizard!" A voice called over making me jump. I saw a man in a loose silk tunic top and black pants done up in a scarlet sash run over to me. His short hair was a black dark purple and swept back, laughing sapphire eyes winking at me. His caramel skin almost shimmered in the sunlight. I was smiling but more out of confusion than anything. The man running over to me was Tobias, one of the passengers in the carriage Donatello caught four days ago. He was a merchant from Theosia who got chased by bandits. He was renting a room in the inn I town while trying to find a ride back to Theosia.

"He is indeed." I nodded and kept scratching his belly. Tobias got close to me and then slowed, looking at me affectionately. It was like the way a trickster looked st their next prank victim. His eyes were searching my face with a big goofy grin on his handsome face. I was unfazed though, but I enjoyed speaking him in a friendly way.

"How are you doing today miss Rhea?" He smiled down at me. His charm basically bounced off of me but I gave him a friendly smile which he reciprocated.

"I'm well and yourself?"

"Better now that I got to see your beautiful face." He smoothing took my relaxed hand off my broom and raised it to his lips. I knee my face was flushed, but I held out and waited until he smiled against my hand to pull it away. I wasn't used to contact with people. Conversations I could connect, but as soon as I am showed affection I get confused. I don't know how to deal with it and feel almost selfish for wanting the contact. Tobias had a sly smile on his face. I looked away and coughed into my band to try to cover my blushing face. I went to back up as well to create some space and almost felt myself trip. My klutz nature had been rearing its head lately, causing me to drop, trip and run into things. In the Counts manor it was easy to hide since I never really went anywhere. Now that I was in the open workd, it came back full force. I kept fake coughing until he touched my arm with worry.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm okay. Just a little exhausted from tending to the garden." A lie, I was just trying to cover up my face with a reason for it being red. He looked like he definitely didn't buy it but backed away from me with a nod.

"I'll be leaving back for Theosia in the next couple of days. I wanted to come back and thank you personally for saving my life." His demeanor turned from teasing to mature and grateful very quickly. It almost gave me whiplash. I was genuinely touched when he kneeled to the ground and bowed his head. It was a Theosian gesture of deep respect, their version of bowing to a power of authority.

"O-Oh! Please get up!" I dropped my broom and pulled on his shoulders to get up. My shawl fell from my shoulders and fluttered to the ground. Donatello sat up and licked the air as I tried to pull Tobias up. He remained knelt, one fist on the ground and the onter on his bent knee.

"You don't have to bow! Please get up!" I was so embarrassed and stressed. I didn't want him to think that I wanted something for his life-- that wasn't the way I operated. Altir actually didn't get along witb me because I would heal those for free which hurt his market for money. So having a man who I had very little a part in saving bowing to me in such a way I was overwhelmed.

"I must bow to the one who saved my life." His voice was serious and he was still unmoving.

"T-Then bow to Donatello! He was technically the one who saved your life." I backed up a bit and Donatello stood up and blinked lazily. Tobias finally looked up with a steely look on his face.

"I will never forget your kindness." He bowed his head once more before standing back up. He grabbed my shawl off the ground as he stood, wrapping it around my shoulders tenderly while looking into my eyes. I was flustered and my twitching from nerves. My heart was racing a mile a minute. That was went I heard the deep chuckle behind me. I twisted my head to see Edwin standing there with a nice smile on his face. He was a lot softer than he looked, at least to me. He was quite protective and caring to me, but I had seen him throw a punch at Altir for yelling too loud at me as well. Again, my stance on healing drove him crazy and he often picked fights with me. Edwin said he only protected me because Altir was annoying, or because I helped him with Donatello. Deep down I felt like there was more though.

"Never go to any tournament lass, unless you want to light up like that there." He grinned at me. Tobias joined in with a chuckle and even Donatello made a clicking noise I its throat.

"Its just I--" I couldn't finish my sentence before Donatello made a very loud clicking noise like laughter. It threw me off for a moment and made me dazed once more. The two men took another opportunity to giggled like school girls over it. I glared at them, but couldn't help but crack a smile. Flirty or not, I wished to have a good relationship with Tobias. I was hoping I could use him to quell anything in Theosia before it starts. Better to have it as a back up plan. Not only that but he was quite kind as well. I go to two every other day for produce and to help the towns people. I was there the day after the incident, and saw him doing chores and helping with the villagers like he had been there forever. He was quite likeable, and even Donatello was wagging his tail around him. I knew in that moment that he could be trusted. Those types of people were rare these days. I had to hold them as tightly as I could.

"So, you're leaving lad?" Edwin walked over, reaching up and petting Donatello's head. He pushed himself against his hand, a happy boy like always. Tobias nodded but his eyes didn't leave me to look at Edwin.

"I just wanted to say goodbye." He smiled down at me again, looking at me like I was a candle on a dark room. I clutching my chest and my heart pounded painfully.

"Well I very much so appreciate it but its unnecessary." I didn't mean for my words to come out so cold so I offered a warm smile.

"If people are in need of help and I have the ability to do it, it's only right I should." His face softened at my words as if I lifted some burden off him. Edwin just whistled again and I backed up away from the man. I was twitching from nerves.

"I hope you all the best on your jounery home." I bowed my head to him, feeling anxiety creeping on my skin. The wind blew through us and Edwin touched my shoulder. The way he was standing was protective, almost paternal. Tobias was unfazed, just smiling back as Edwin gripped my shoulder.

"I hope I can see you again Rhea." He nodded to me once more before spinning on his feet. He walked away, but there was something almost ominous about the interaction. I couldn't help but feel like I had encountered someone I shouldn't have.