I'm sorry Kiara, but just this once.
I'll break one of your promises, and that promise is..
Not Killing Them.
"STOP!!", I shouted as I woke up from a nightmare.
"K-Kiara?! Are you okay?!", Claire asked who's beside me.
I looked at her first then looked around my surroundings to analyze where I am. And I remembered that I am in a carriage with Claire and the others.
"Y-Yeah.. I'm.. Fine..", I replied.
"Are you sure Kiara?", Mike asked who's at the right side of the Carriage.
"Y-Yes, it was just a.. Nightmare.", I replied.
I tried to remember that nightmare but the more I tried to remember it, the more it fades away like it's nothing.
"I don't know if you're okay..", Mike said.
"I'll check your vitals once we get to the Village and to my Laboratory.", he continued.
"N-No really, I'm fine.. There's no need to check on me..", I insisted that I'm okay.
"I insist."
Mike really is persistent..
No matter how many times I reject his offers towards me, he still insists on helping me..
Maybe he's just that kind towards other people like myself.
"Hey! What's happening back there??"
Asked the man who had a familiar voice, and that man is Steven. Who's currently riding the horse while carrying the carriage towards the Village.
"E-Everything's fine Steven!", I shouted back.
"Are you sure??!", he shouted back.
"Yes! Everything's okay here darling!", Claire shouted as well.
Steven then didn't reply anymore, meaning that he now knows that everything is okay and is focusing on the road.
I took a peak from the Carriage's cloth and saw snow on the ground, but it's not snowing anymore. And it's also a bit cold, thankfully Steven gave me a jacket before we left the Shelter.
Suddenly, Steven stopped the horse then entered the Carriage from the front by opening the cloth. Then he asked Mike to continue driving because he had something to discuss with me.
Mike agreed and took control of the horse and continued to hit the road.
"Kiara, do you still remember everything that we discussed before we left the Shelter?", Steven asked.
Now that I think about it, I almost forgot about our discussion earlier because of thinking too much about that nightmare.
But after seconds of trying to remember it, I finally remembered everything that we discussed.
"Yes, I still remember them Steven."
"Good, just make sure to be ready. Because.. We're almost at the Sun Village."
After he said that Kitty immediately opened the front cloth of the carriage to see the Village.
"Dad's right! We're here!", Kitty shouted in joy.
I've never heard Kitty shouting like that, maybe she's just glad that she's finally back home and can't wait to meet her friends again.
Steven asked me once more to be always cautious. I nodded after what he asked.
After our talk, he then got to where Kitty is and they talked together.
Apparently, by the time I woke up early in the morning from the shelter. They were already awake, packing up and ready to leave.
Steven also asked me if I'm really sure that I'll be okay as a Guest of their Village. I told him that I got it-ish.
Since he didn't understand what "-ish" meant, he continued to tell me the details of his plan.
He told me that I'll be from a rich family that's making Wine, and Steven will pretend that he already tasted the Wine and will agree of me as the Guest.
I asked if that's all, he then nodded. Then we went ahead and hit the road, which leads us to the event now.
I stood up and also took a closer look at their Village.
We're close but we're still not there yet.
Their Village is surrounded by Stone walls, and the gate is made out of wood.
Although the Gate prevents the criminals from entering, they can always enter the Village by climbing over the top of the wall since there are no wires or sharp things at the top of it. But maybe there are Guards that are behind those walls.
By the time we arrived at the wooden Gate, two Guards who are Guarding the gate met us up.
They greeted Mike good morning then asked if the Chief is with him, Mike nodded and Steven got out to confirm that he is indeed with us.
The Guards then greeted and addressed Steven as Chief Steven.
"Good Morning, Chief Steven! How was your vacation?", asked Guard no.1.
"It was.. Mostly good.", Steven replied.
"Ah, is it because of the 2 day blizzard storm?", asked Guard no.2.
"Yes, did it happen here as well?", Steven asked.
"Apparently it did, but we followed what you instructed us before you left Chief Steven, and everyone in the Village is safe.", said Guard no. 2.
"Splendid work!", Steven praised them.
Is it just me or did Steven's choice of words change?
"Yeah by the way Chief, um.. You remember.. Our deal right?", Guard no. 1 asked.
"Ah.. Apparently I failed to keep the deal of giving all of the Guards souvenirs. Because of the 2 day blizzard storm.", Steven explained.
They had a deal? What kind of deal was that?
"Ah hah! So that means, you'll be the one to treat us Wine when the festival comes Chief Steven!", shouted by Guard no. 2.
"Yeah.. I admit my defeat..", Steven replied.
Ah.. So that's their deal...
So apparently, Steven and the entire Guards of the Sun Village made a deal. If Steven comes back with souvenirs for the Guards to congratulate their hardwork, then the Guards will be the one to buy the Wine for the upcoming festival.
But since Steven lost the deal, he'll be the one to treat all of the Guards the promised wine.
"A loss is a loss, there's no choice to accept it, I guess..", Steven said.
Ah. His choice of words returned to normal.
"Yeah.. It's a shame but.. Yeah..", Mike tried to comfort Steven but failed while tapping him lightly on his shoulders and while also still on the horse.
"Well, the talk is done now Chief. May I inspect your carriage now?", asked Guard no. 2.
"Of course.", Steven agreed then the Guard started to inspect the entire Carriage.
He did inspect it entirely outside, but by the time he started to inspect inside and saw me..
"Chief? There's an unknown woman behind your carriage! Who's she?! A criminal?!", Guard no. 2 said while in panic.
Why is he panicking? Is this the first time he saw another human or woman that's not familiar to him?
"Ah. I forgot to tell you, that new woman behind there. Is our.. Guest.", Steven explained.
And everyone, went silent.
Seconds after the silence, the Guard then asked..
"From which family does she belong?", Guard no. 1 asked.
"From a rich one!", Steven replied.
"Be specific, Chief.."
Wow.. Even if Steven is their Chief, they're being pretty strict towards him.
I wonder if this is just a protocol or are they just following the no strangers allowed rule.
"Uh.. Um..", Steven started to stutter and couldn't answer the question.
This is bad, if he won't answer then I'll be doomed.
I have to do something..
After some time, I finally found a way to escape this tight situation..
"Um.. Steven's right, I'm from a rich family, and my family makes Wine for a living. A pretty good Wine if I do say so myself. Right, Steven?", I said and acted.
"H-Huh?", Steven replied.
Please catch up to my act, Steven..
"Didn't you taste the Wine that I gave you earlier?", I said while still in act.
"Y-Yeah! It was.. Pretty good! The best wine I've ever tasted!", Steven said while still stuttering and nervous.
Phew.. Looks like he caught up..
The Guards stayed silent for a while then..
"Ah.. I see, a wine maker family!", Guard no. 1 said.
"Yes! I also offered that I'll be giving some of our wine on this Village, since your festival is coming up right?", I said.
"Y-Yeah, Kiara offered me that..", Steven said.
The 2 Guard went silent again.
Then they both looked at each other, then nodded in some agreement..
Are they reading their minds?
"Yes! We would love to drink your wine!", the 2 Guards shouted in rejoice.
Phew.. I think they bought my act..
After that talk, the Guards then left in order to open the Gate so that we can enter.
Steven looked at me while still having the nervous face, he smiled and put a thumbs up.
I think he just got saved by me.
Steven then got back up and the carriage and whispered thank you to me. I nodded and he then took Mike's place as the driver and started to go inside the Village.
While the Guards are welcoming the Chief's return and my arrival.