Maximus chuckled. "You are admirable. But you are better than the moon."
"Better than the moon? How?" she asked.
She is but a simple human and she loved flattery as much as every other person. And she wished to know more of his thoughts to understand if he's just loose with his words without meaning anything.
"I once had a wise friend," Maximus kissed her head and rested his chin on the crown of her head softly.
She hated being short but she wouldn't say that being in his embrace like this is bad.
"That friend proposed something very new to me…well, it was new to most of us…"
There was a pause and Felixa tried to turn and look at his face but he continued, not letting her see his face.
"The moon has no light of its own- my friend said…" he breathed out.
Felixa had a feeling that he is smiling. But he didn't let her look at his face even if she tried. She felt something stirring inside her head as she started to remember something. And Maximus continued.
"The moon only reflects the light of the sun. I don't exactly know how it happens but… I do believe that the moon is conveniently placed so that it illuminates in the absence of the sun and as it revolves around the earth…"
Felixa couldn't hear him well as she remembered Tubby's laugh. They were sitting at the top of a mountain in front of the fire and she suddenly had that thought when she was looking at the moon. Luke heard Tubby's laugh and came closer. Tubby repeated what she said and Luke just stared at the moon.
'Maybe… Still, the moon is the hero of the night,' Luke said and walked away.
Tubby was still laughing. 'Are you going to say that the earth is flat like those heathens next?'
'No,' she kicked his butt. 'But I can explain the eclipses.'
But he wasn't listening to her and was laughing. The beer he was holding was spilling all over him. He probably was drunk.
"So, no. You are not the moon…" Maximus' words made her come back from her trip to memory lane. "You don't need anyone else to make you shine. You are someone whose light cannot be hidden!"
[For Max to speak of this incident… Could he be… Or did he have a friend who had the same thoughts as me? It is possible…]
"What are your opinions about the sun then?" she asked. "Am I the sun?"
"Sun is there always…" Maximus held her shoulder and made her look at him. his impeccable face had a gentle expression and his lips were curved to a gentle smile. "Whether it is day or night, the sun is there illuminating and warming in its own way…"
The gentle breeze caressed her face and she turned to look at him. And seeing her smile, his face bloomed.
"You are everything, Lexa… Sun, moon, stars…You're the sky that holds them all," he kissed her forehead.
"You are my everything," he smiled and in his eyes, she saw a million stars shimmering.
She stood by the window, lost for words. These are probably the best words she has ever heard.
Not minding her bewildered look, he placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Let go to bed," he walked to the bed as if he said something so simple.
[Doesn't he know what he did to me?]
Felixa grabbed her chest as she felt some tingling feeling originating there. It kindled a warmth in the bottom of her heart that coursed through her veins making her feel… happy.
"Why, Max?" she asked. "Why am I your everything?"
She wanted to know. She wanted to know what makes this man who is the greatest conqueror of the time to say such words to someone like her.
"Why?" he looked at her after fixing the blanket.
"Because you found me, Lexa…" he smiled. His hand reached his heart.
"Found… you?" Felixa's heart skipped a beat.
She remembered saying those exact words to Tubby after she died in her past life.
"Yes…" he walked to her and placed his hand on her cheek. "You found me," he said and looked at her without even blinking his eyes.
Felixa gulped. There is his gaze as if he wants her to say something. And she didn't know what to say. She's definitely not going to ask the question in her heart.
[Are you Tubby?]
Maximus grazed his thumb over her lips. His eyelids trembled a bit and a little furrow formed between his eyebrows.
"That day, I was stuck in a hole and I thought I'd die because no one came to my rescue. No one found me. But you did, Felixa…" he smiled. "You found me and gave me carrots."
"Oh?" Felixa let out a deep breath.
[He was talking about his meeting with Wispy…]
She started feeling a little down as he said that. Her head bowed and she bit her lower lips. But then she took in a deep breath.
[It is better this way. Wispy can have Max and I will have to find Tubby. Just like Wispy found Max, I will find Tubby. I should find a way…]
When she got to bed she had a nice sleep. Throughout the day, she had many worrying thoughts, but now, she felt peaceful and relaxed. She still had an odd feeling at the bottom of her heart that was like a little rust on a good iron sword. Ignoring it, she had a nice, dreamless sleep.
The next morning, Maximus woke her up early in the morning and brought her to the training ground. She didn't feel scared but she was a little excited. She was always the one training and so sitting and watching was a little weird for her. But sitting on the bench under a tree with snacks and tea, she was entertained.
The sounds of the clashing swords and the shouts and laughs of the soldiers all were too familiar and it brought a smile to her face. She loved this place where true brotherhood exists. Although she was surprised the shirtless ones were sent out, she still enjoyed it here.
Julius and some other man were training together and Julius glared at her as usual. She smiled with a shrug as it would make him madder. She liked making him mad. She thought it is allowed since he hates her for no reason.
She watched Maximus spar and one by one she could remember all the techniques he used. His techniques were brute as someone who fights in the frontlines but there was an elegance of a trained warrior mixed with his roughness.
Her hands shook a bit as she looked at Maximus. She lifted her hand and with the palm facing her, she fisted her hand. Closing her eyes, she could imagine the past her having a good spar with someone of Maximus' skillset.
[But no… I am Felixa. I cannot carry a sword. And I don't want to touch a sword again.]
Someone dressed as a pageboy approached Maximus from his back. His steps were light as if he was someone used to walking on marble floors. Felixa pressed her lips as she felt for that pageboy.
It is never a good idea to approach a warrior from his back with careful steps for he will consider him a threat. It won't end well.
She got curious and watched keenly as she was in for a scene. She wanted to see the blonde pageboy trembling in fear. He'd need this scare so that he won't act stupid in the future.
*Swing*
Maximus turned swinging his sword just as she expected. But something she didn't expect happened.