"You're joking, aren't you?" I asked, breathlessly.
She sighs. "Madam, if you cannot even land your shinai on any parts of my body, how can you protect yourself in case you are in danger?" She then pointed the shinai she was holding at me. "Please stand up, madam. We have at least two hours to lose. At that time, try to hit me with your shinai. " She positioned herself and looked at me. She is serious... I stood up and placed my shinai in front of me. I am already sweating, but I can feel the determination coursing through my system.
"Once you hit me with your shinai, madam, we can use the bokken next. Your foundation in sword fighting will be stronger if you slowly learn the weight of the bokken. Then, we can use the sword. " She explained.
I nodded my head. Even the maids have a special class such as this. Since we never knew when the danger would come, the Chen Clan made sure that everyone in their clan was ready and able to fight. "Here I go." I said, sprinting towards her while gripping my shinai tightly.
"You are always forward." She said it softly and quickly avoided my attack. We continued rehearsing until it reached two hours. But in those two hours, I didn't even hit her with my shinai. At the last moment, I almost struck her on the neck, but she immediately defended herself with her shinai.
She then kicked me in the stomach, causing me to sit up coughing. "Our rehearsal is over, madam. I apologize. " She said, then walked towards me immediately. She helped me up and smiled.
"I-I'm sorry. I am not good at this. I know I'm from the Hong Clan, but I'm not like those who know how to fight and are brave in battles. I don't even know if I will ever master using bokken. " I said and held my breath.
"It's fine, madam. That's why we are practicing, so you can learn. Wait, go out and sit outside the dojo first. I'll get some water. " She said goodbye. I sat on the stairs while she got some water. I looked at the trees and flowers, then sighed. All I can do is breathe. I told Zeid that I knew how to fight. That's right. But I just don't really know how to handle a sword or any scary weapon. I can fight with my spiritual energy. But it's not that strong. That's why I said I know.
I'm really ridiculous.
"Madame, it is four o'clock. Perhaps you would like to go and relax at the hot spring." She handed me the glass, which I emptied immediately.
"No. It's fine, I have a bathroom in the room. I'll just take a shower there. " I stood up and handed her the glass. "Alright, I'll go first. Thank you for being patient with me. I want to learn, so I hope when we rehearse, don't hold back. " I added, and then she smiled widely. I waved her goodbye and went off. While walking in the hallway, I saw Zeid in front of his room. Just staring at the small pond, deep in thought.
After all, it's always like that. I don't know if he is calculating all the positions of things or thinking about his future. I just ignored him. After all, his room was in the other hallway. And my room is on the other side of their territory, so I can't meet him.
"I caught a glimpse of Madam Mira at the dojo earlier. Oh my! She doesn't know how to fight. I thought she was like her clan members who love to fight and are aggressive." I heard a voice in one of the rooms.
I stopped. I don't know, but I want to hear what they have to say even though I know I'm going to get hurt.
"Is that so? That means, even if we treat her like trash, she has nothing against it. Hahaha! She's pathetic! " Another voice said.
"What else? To be honest, I don't like her. Why did she marry Master Zeid? There are so many women who are more deserving of Master Zeid than she. They are not suitable for each other because she is weak. " Said the voice from earlier.
I bit my lip and clenched my fist. I know I'm this weak... But I didn't like it either. Especially my marriage to Zeid. I quickly left and returned to my room. The weight in my heart is there. But maybe I shouldn't be affected. After all, they were just telling the truth.
---
"Huwaa~ nothing is better than jumping into the tub after a tiring and stressful day~" I closed my eyes and leaned my head back. For a moment, I didn't realize that sleep swallowed me up.
6:00 PM
E-Eh? Am I drowning?
I can't breathe.
H-Help me...
Help--
"Wahh!" I got up suddenly and looked around.
"W-what?!! I fell asleep. Oh, Mira. " I quickly got out of the tub and rubbed my body. Parts of my body are now shriveling. I was in the water for almost two hours! I almost drowned. "Huhuhu Mira, it's not old age that will end your life but stupidity. " I don't know whether to laugh or cry at my stupidity. The water in the tub got cold, which I immediately flushed, then quickly exited the bathroom while wrapped in a towel.
It was night, so I quickly lit the lamp made of energy stone. I just gave it a little spiritual energy. I immediately put on my clothes and dried my hair. I can no longer eat with them. Because it's embarrassing if I come late and I look like this. I just drank water and wrote a letter to my parents. I will send it before I leave the city with Kaito. As soon as I finished writing the letter, I stood up and went out to the porch. I sat on the stairs and looked at the relatively bright environment. It's only seven o'clock, so it's not quite dark yet. And one more thing: the moon is so beautiful today.
I sat and thought for a few minutes, until I just yawned. Suddenly, there was a rustling, so I looked at the source. I stood up... My room is quite far from the other rooms. That's why they can't hear very well even if the pots rattle in here (even though there are no pots in my room). "W-Who is that?" I still stammered my question. No one answered, but something quickly hit my neck before I heard footsteps moving away.
I was clinging to my neck where that sharp object hit me. I lit the energy stone on the porch and looked at my hand. "Blood..."
I immediately looked behind me, where an arrow was buried in the wooden wall. I looked at it and saw the rolled paper, which I immediately took and opened.
"Mira Hatake,
We will come back for you. But even if you prepare, you cannot avoid what is destined for you. So be nice and come along. "
I frowned.
What do they need from me? W-why... Who are they?
"What the---wait.. My vision..." I looked in front of me but it was getting blurry. I'm sleepy...
*BLAG!*