I can feel the heat from the sunlight that hits my face. I slowly opened my eyes but immediately closed them again because the light is blinding me. I stretched my arms and sit up on the bed. I look at the bed next to mine and saw that the twins are still sleeping. It's already noon time, guessing by the bright sunlight that creeps inside the room. I must admit that I'm also tired so I can understand why they are still sleeping.
I touched the ring to assure myself that what happened last night is not a dream. I can't process what I've learned last night knowing that I have mana and also being fateless it just overwhelms me. I don't know what will happen in the future but I'm going to make sure that everything will end well. I'm going to trust Bhavisah even though I don't know if she is helping me or not because I don't have a choice but to trust her. I don't know anything about things, I only know some by reading books but it's not enough for me to survive.
I'm like a bird that was caged since birth without knowing things about the world but craves to go out and experience freedom and what the world will offer to me. So I need to live my life to the fullest and to ensure it, I need to avoid letting anyone know my secrets. I have a lot and I don't know how long can I keep it to everyone. I grabbed my bag and open it.
I took my diary and flipped it fast and stopped when I saw the picture of me, Leah, and Mother Ysabel. I was 3 years old in the picture and Leah is 2 years old. This is the first picture I had with Mother Ysabel and also the last picture I can take with her. She's like my mother and she will always be my mother. Mother Ysabel is the previous head of the orphanage but she died when I was 3 years old, 1 week after the photo was taken.
Everything would be alright if she's still alive. She loved us and treated us like we are her children. She's a nun so she can't have her own family. I wiped the tears that fell on my cheeks, I always end up crying every time I remember the past and how happy we are with Mother Ysabel.
*knock*
*knock*
*knock*
I put the picture back and shoved my diary inside the bag. I wiped my eyes again to make sure that there are no tears and tidy my bed hair before I open the door. The coachman is waiting outside and I kinda admit he is hot. I was taken back by the way he looked at me as if he was longing for someone and when he realizes it, he decided to look away.
His emotionless face is back like he doesn't care about everything even the world will end I'm sure he wouldn't give a damn about it. But I can't miss how soft his expression was when he looked at me before turning to his usual expressionless face.
"Wake them up we need to depart soon. It's already noon and we might get late for the baptism if we continue to stay here. I'll wait downstairs and order the food for our lunch." After he finished his words, he walks away without looking back.
I watched his back until I can't see him anymore. I don't know the reason why but I want to get close to him. It's like I need to know him and I can feel that we are somewhat connected in some ways. I return to the room and closed the door. I walk to the twins' bed who are still sleeping heavily.
I touched Carole's head and softly patted it, then I hold Noel's arm and shook him to wake up.
"Noel wake up" I called his name numerous times before he opened his eyes.
"We need to get ready, we're going to depart soon." I walked towards my bag and get the clothes that I need to wear today as I haven't taken a bath since we started traveling. I admit that I don't like how I smell right now. I exited the room as I'm going to the bathroom that was located at the end of the hallway. I entered the bathroom and looked around.
There is no one using the bathroom right now maybe because it's already noontime and they had already taken their bath. I locked the door because I don't like people seeing my naked body and I washed thoroughly with the soap and shampoo. After I finished washing, I wore the clothes and returned to the room. I found Carole drying her hair with a towel.
"Why did you locked the bathroom, Sam? I also wanted to take a bath but I can't enter."
Said Noel who walks towards me when he saw me entering the room.
"Oh! I didn't know. I just don't like taking a bath with someone, sorry Noel."
He just smiled at me and softly patted my head.
"It's alright, I need to take a bath now or I'm going to be left behind." He said as he hurriedly exits the room.
***
We just finished our food and I feel my stomach bloated because I ate everything that was placed on the table and I'm so full. I think I'm going to have a stomach ache later I'm sure of it. We are left standing near the gate of Cibil waiting for the arrival of the coachman.
From what I've learned, the Taragomi festival will last 1 week and it's already their fifth day now but knowing the fact that it will end in 2 days there are still a lot of people entering the town. We decided to look around when we finished eating earlier and the place has still a lot of people. It's my first time seeing different objects and things but what really caught my attention is when I saw different races in harmony.
I don't know if it's because it's dark last night that I didn't notice it but now I can see elves, demi-humans, and dwarves who are enjoying looking around and some are selling things. This is my first time seeing them or the second time because Bhavisah is an elf but seeing a lot of them is just so amazing. I've only seen them in the books and seeing them personally is one of the lists that I want to see and experience when I left the orphanage.
After 10 minutes our carriage arrived. We let Carole enter first followed by Noel, then lastly I enter the carriage.
"Sam, have you seen how cute those demi-humans are? I like to pinch and touch their tails and also the elves are so beautiful with their long hairs and pointy ears and also the dwarves are so small I think we have the same height? Or I'm taller?"
Carole excitedly blurted. I can't keep my pace and started laughing. Looking at the expression Carole has right now is so funny. I stopped laughing when Carole's face shows disbelief and also Noel.
"I didn't know you can laugh like Sam."
Noel is still in shock. I didn't expect them to be exaggerating about the idea that I laugh. Okay, I admit that I rarely laugh but I smile a lot so what's the shocking thing about it?
"Sam, even though we are not that close before but I saw you always alone and I never see you laughing. Yes, you smile back to everyone who talks to you but it never reached your eyes."
I was shocked by Carole's words. Yes, I admit that I faked my smile and it became my defense mechanism to hide my emotions. I always feel like I'm walking on a tight rope but knowing how Carole knows about it shocked me.
I remained silent because I don't know how to respond to them. Noel grasps my hands and smiled at me assuring me that they won't judge and understand me. Carole sits beside me and hugs me.
"We understand you Sam and we are grateful to see this side of you. You can loosen up and be yourself when you are around us. We're friends remember?" I was touched by their words and action. For the first time, I smiled at them genuinely that I can only give to Leah.
"Thank you Carole and Noel for understanding me." They also smiled at me then turned to laugh because of how silly the situation we are in.
We enjoyed our ride by looking around and talking about things like the foods we eat and many trivial things. We got closer the longer we stayed together and I like this feeling. It lightens my problems even though I can't share my secrets with them but knowing that I have someone to lean on overwhelms me. It's almost night and dark so we decided to stop here and make a camp.
The coachman and Noel decided to look for woods to use in making fire. Carole and I are left behind so we decided to clean the place that we're going to sleep. We are in a forest and I don't know what it's called but the trees are tall that it's dark even if it's morning.
Especially at night, you can't see a thing it is the same when you are closing your eyes. We only have one lamp as our source of light and waiting here just the two of us frightens me. Our lamp was generated by a mana stone so we are not afraid that it will run out and it will keep monsters away as they are not used to the brightness.
So they will not be going to go near to us but it doesn't mean they will leave us and I know that they are lurking in the dark and watching us. The feeling that someone is looking at us causing my hair to stand up shivering.
Carole clutches her hands at my arms tightly closing our distance.
"How long do we need to wait for them? I'm scared Sam." I pat her head to calm her even though I also need to remain calm as I feel that there is something approaching us.
I heightened my senses and look closely in front of us. I can feel something is nearing in our direction slowly creeping. I touched the ring frightened by something approaching towards us.