I and Judah stood in silence for a brief second, before he turned away and continued to peacefully stare at the lake.
"It might rain any day now." He informed. "Or any time."
I looked up at the grey clouds gathering around, thoughts totally lost. I nodded, "Yeah.."
He reached forward to ruffle my hair. "Won't you go post those letters?"
I bit my lip, putting them away into my pocket safely. I almost knew everything I've wanted to know now.
Why Vadon was doing what he was, why all the nobles were dead, what the clans wanted to do, I could answer them myself now.
There were two questions remaining, and I wanted to ask Judah the one question I feared he would shrug and not answer.
"Hey," I paused, as he smiled at me to continue. "All these girls you hit on today, were you being serious?"
He snorted a laugh from he throat.
Oh, that was absolutely unexpected.
"No way." He waved his hand in front of his chest denying it. "Besides I already have someone."
My eyes widened at his answer. "What?"
Thinking back, he never let any of the girls he talked to touch him, or he never made any physical move.
"Yes." He grinned. "I have a fiancé back in Scaldris's capital."
My jaw dropped. "Whoa!"
"Shh." He put a finger on his lips, bending down and whispering something in my ear that only made me want to gasp even louder. "It's a secret, alright?" He said.
I nodded, agreeing. "Okay, deal."
"Judah?" I heard a familiar voice right behind Judah, and he moved so I could see who else was behind him.
"Wallace?" Judah laughed. "And who do you have here?"
Beside Wallace, I saw Jonan standing, totally unmotivated with a hat covering his head and Wallace's clothes on him. A size larger than his own clothes, he still looked great disguised as a commoner.
Sure, Wallace had nobles's clothes but he usually wore the others while training, claiming he was much more comfortable in them than royal silk robes.
"Jonan," I beamed. "You actually joined us?"
"It wasn't just me." He rolled his eyes. "Vanola and Eden are right here."
I choked, taking a step back. Holy shit, the women of the capitals made their appearance. And they totally stood out from the crowd, even though they looked nothing like their usual selves.
Vanola looked away, staring coldly at strangers who hesitated to walk past. And Eden, she just walked around to stand next to Judah and stare aimlessly at lake.
I chuckled nervously.
"Did everyone have fun today?" Judah asked. I didnt know what it was exactly, but he held warmth inside him. Whenever he spoke, he made sure everyone was comfortable around him.
"Yes." I answered, throwing punches in air. "I feel good today and lively."
"It was shit." Jonan brushed off the topic.
"It took me the whole day to convince Jonan to come." Wallace grumbled. "And now the sun's setting."
Judah laughed, clutching his stomach. Everyone watched in amusement, as he threw his head back.
"Whoa, brother, chill." Jonan blinked. "What is wrong with you?"
"Nothing." He shook his head, tiny laughter's still erupting from his mouth. "It just feels amazing, surrounded by everyone."
It did.
I haven't ever been surrounded by so many people in my life time.
"There you go," Eden cringed. "Talking like an old man."
"I am old. Older than everyone here." Judah put his hand around his cousin sister and pulled her close. She didn't refuse the embrace, just tried her best to look uninterested.
The sun was down, and I realised I couldn't give away my letter anymore at this hour. I wished everything was fine back home, and I'll come back earliest in the morning to have my letter delivered.
"Alright, everyone, I have an announcement." Wallace snuck into the small circles we were all standing in, to gain everyone's attention. "Master Enoch was sent to capital to make arrangements for us."
"Yeah?" Judah nodded understanding.
"Yes." Jonan spoke. "And, we need to be back in the training grounds before dinner. Master Abel is, as we can see, old and cannot completely take care of us these next two days."
"That is alright." Judah patted Jonan's back. "I will take care of us."
Those words, that was exactly what I had told my mother in her last few moments, though I, myself, hadn't heard them in a long time. It only reminded me of the times when I too little to even make memories.
"That is not very assuring." Eden remarked, pursing her lips. But everyone knew she never meant it.
"But, better than anyone else." Vanola said, for the first time in a while, she actually used her voice to say something pleasing.
I wonder if the Vanola I had seen, was completely different from who she actually was?
"Are we heading home, now?" I asked.
"Home?"
I bit my tongue. "I meant, the training-"
"Yes." Judah cut me off. "After having something on the way."
"I do not have money." Wallace shrugged. "Your treat, Judah."
"I do not have any objections."
And that was how, we walked back to our bunkers. Judah did buy us ice-creams, and I couldn't help but notice how the cousins had an appreciable bond between themselves.
Wallace fit right into their group, chatting away his opinions, and not that anyone opposed to his ideas, they didn't mind as long as someone kept the atmosphere at ease.
I watched them all closely.
I had bene living here for about a month and a half, and today would be the day I won't ever forget.
"I wonder if the capital will welcome us."
"They will." Vanola said, and everytime she spoke, everyone would go quiet. "It's not about all the clans anymore. This is about three against one. And we're losing."
"Pathetic." I heard Jonan say.
"But we all are good to go. Let's get the appeal from the capital and plan against Auris Clan." Wallace said, looking at everyone from the corners of his eyes.
For a second, I had forgotten our main objective of being here.
Right.
War.