"This is the letter?"
"Yes. Thank you so much." I smiled, handing over the envelope. "How long is it going to take, to get delivered?"
The man on the other side of the counter hummed in thought. "Rustwood village? Two months, at the least."
I froze. "What?"
"What?" He asked.
"Please give it back. I'll go myself."
Of course, I wasn't going, what would be the point of writing a letter? And, two months for a letter that could reach in less that a day through transport? Don't fuck with me, alright.
"Boy, you need to think. There are many other letters to be delivered-"
"No, it's okay." I sighed, reaching forward and grabbing my letter back from the man. I'll as well go to the other post office and find out how long that would take.
"Think again-"
"No, thank you."
I walked out of the office, Judah waiting for me at the door. He laughed, patting my back as I shook my head in disappointment.
Master Abel had refused to let Judah or any of the nobles out in the open, but he let them when they disguised themselves perfectly as commoners. It was mainly Judah and Wallace who wanted to go out.
I want this letter to reach my sister before we move to capital. I wanted to be sure it did reach on time.
"Not here either?" Judah asked. "Do we go back to the fest?"
I nodded in agreement. I could go in the evening to the other office myself. It wouldn't hurt now, would it? I won't drag Judah any longer with me.
"Did Jonan really not come?"
He shrugged. "He's always been that way. He stayed in every fest."
"I've never been to a fest." I added, thinking about how Jonan had all the privileges to have fun every time yet he didn't, but I've always wanted to attend one.
Last night, I did walk out on everyone, but eventually I couldn't ignore them anymore. I had to come forth and talk to them, they were the only ones present around me now.
It was like I was forced to do so, which I definitely was, but socialising and maintaining a good time with everyone was my own choice, though, I've never gotten ahead to talk to neither of the other nobles.
Vanola would look at me sometimes, as if she wanted to say something, but would walk away in the end.
Eden, just never spared any time on anyone except her cousins.
"Have you never been to one?" Judah smiled. "I'll help you out with how to have fun."
His definition of having fun was that we'd run around different shops and booths, buy everything we've ever wanted and look at attractive women walk by.
He'd wink at few, and would smirk at others.
I wished I never came out with Judah. We were getting so much undeserved attention just because of his looks.
That thought reminded me of Oswin.
I wonder what was he upto now.
"Where are we heading to, now?" I asked, as we walked side by side, cold breeze blowing softly. The day was already ending, and I wasn't ready to let go yet.
"To the lake." He smiled, his eyes crinkling. "I've heard the view is beautiful."
And it really was. It was breathtaking gorgeous to look at.
There was a small boat with visitors on it shrieking and enjoying in their own way. The fest streets were loaded with people who were dressed up exceptionally bright.
So this was what a fest meant?
"There," I pointed out to a place under a tree. "Looks good."
"Ah, good job."
I and Judah stood in the shade of the tree, leaning over the fencing around the lake. I stared out there, while he closed his eyes as if he was experiencing pure bliss.
I flipped the letter around between my fingers repeatedly.
We were going to shift to the capital soon. What would it be like? Master Enoch was honest in letting us know the situation the Capital was in. It had become a warzone, a city that was incapable to be called as one now.
Two years, the war went on, and no one knew outside the Capital. I wanted to know why? How did this happen?
"Quinn," I heard Judah sigh, and lean away from the fence to look at me in all seriousness. "This has been bothering me for a while now, so do you think you can let me know what your abilities are?"
I hesitated.
"I don't know either."
He looked at me for a second. "Unbelievable."
"I really don't." I defended myself. "If I did, I wouldn't have worked on fighting only, I'd have tried to hone my skills much more."
"So you're telling me, Master Abel did not tell you?"
"No? Does he know?"
"Oh he knows, alright." Judah grimaced. "All the blackouts, you passing out in the middle of the sessions and the way you describe it. Isn't it obvious?"
I knew this was coming.
"So it really was related to my abilities, am I right?" I chuckled half heartedly, looking down at my hands. "They used to itch a lot at first, but recently, they've been bruising up."
Judah immediately straightened up, walking forward and stating into my eyes immensely. "Master knows, you need to find out from him. You should use your abilities in the battle."
He was intimidating, and I knew I had to ask Master Abel the day I felt odd.
"Something seeps out through my hands." I told Judah. "It's pitch black and I've been trying to cover it up all this time. I'm scared."
My heartbeat was rising in my chest. Yes, I had been extremely anxious about this particular thing. It's pitch black and it gushes throughout my hands and into the air, as if it wants to cover me up totally.
The blackouts are no more just my mind cutting off my vision, it's like the whole world turns blank but I could see something amidst of it all.
I could see people approaching me. Just their faint outline of the body, but it was enough.
"Don't be afraid." He takes a deep breath. "Just welcome it like it's your own."
And I can't do that.
"Welcome it?" I gulped, as my fingers trembled at my sides. "Am I supposed to accept it?"
He bent down to be eye-to-eye with me."I was scared too, and I was 10 back then. You can do this, Quinn."