Zaffera's Pov
"What are you going to do?" Ginn asks folding his legs in front of mine and looking at me straight in the eyes.
"I have no other choice if I want to become Queen. Queen Mother wants me to do this as a test to prove that I'm ready. And I am ready." I say reaching for his hand and using it to caress his face as I continue saying, "I will be alright, don't worry about me, I will be back everynight at the same time and I will update you on how it's going... I promise". I lean forward and kiss him.
I don't want to spy on the enemy. In my opinion we should focus on our strategies to take over them instead, but no, Queen Mother wants me to play this stupid game. I'm mature enough now to become queen but she still seems me as a little girl uncapable of taking on responsabilities and it's exhausting. At least Ginn understands me and knows my potential. He knows I would pass on the traditions Zyron has held for generations and make a good leader in battle. And we would do it together and take down Kingdom after Kingdom as a powerful duo. Queen Mother doesn't see this though. She thinks I lack due expirience and true commitment - hence why the task.
"I know you can do it, but what if you get attached to Arrow. They are the enemy, you can't allow yourself to get too close to them or you will start to think like them... You have such a big heart and..." he replicates but I shush him by dragging him up with me as I stand.
"I might have a big heart but I am no dummy, I will do just fine. Now let's go to training, this is the last time we get to train together before I go off to Arrow."
The training is quite intense as usual. Me and Ginn make a really good team and it's like we can predict each other's moves which is really important in Battle where communication becomes scarce. There's almost a nostalgic feeling that comes to me as I'm fastening the seatbelt on the ship that is going to take me to Arrow. There's only one place I know well in the area and that is The Enchanted Garden. Ginn introduced me to it when we first met.
Our was an arranged meeting where our guardian where to discuss matter of union that would bring further prestige to the family. He found the whole process boring and invited me to ditch the place with him. I belive I was lucky because I was instantly captured by him which made the whole arranged situation a lot better. I had seen him in training before and also then thought that he's strategy was somewhat similar to mine. It was almost as though someone else was acting out my movements.
I land on a spot in the garden by a tree and to my surprise I'm not alone. There's a person coughing and I mentally apologise to him as I know that this ships expell quite the fumes. The last thing I expect is for him to speak to me.
"Can I help you?" He says with a confused look as he approaches me.
I decide to introduce myself and bow to show respect. My guardians have drilled in me the significace of showing respect whenever greeting someone new. She says that it makes you a more likeable person and for this assignment I need to be as likable and approachable as possible.
"I'm Fenyang... What brings you here? I rarely see other people in this place" he speaks looking at the ship behind me, possibly wondering why I've made such an appearance. I mentally think that perhaps this wasn't the best entrance to make and I start pacing around trying to find an excuse and ending up walking around a beautiful purple tree.
"I am... I am here to see the Enchanted Garden." This isn't far from the truth and I hope I don't sound as doubtful to him and I do to myself. "Yes, I heard so many mystical stories about it but never saw the place with my own eyes. My guardians are quite strict and hardly let me out the house, especially not so far away from home." The rest simply rolls off my tongue like a rehearsed scripte I had prepared eventhough that is quite far from truth. I dislike lying and wouldn't be if it wasn't that I have to for the mission.
Curioused by him I lean forward and stare at him straight in the eyes. I frown as I realise that maybe I should avoid interacting with other people and strictly focus on gathering information.
"I shouldn't be talking to you", I say to then walk away towards the Enchanted Well to avoid further questioning but unlucky for me he follows me and asks me if I know him.
Quite frankly I don't, I don't know anyone from around here as most of my time is spent studying and training in the Kingdom's Palace. I try to satisfy he's question saying that my Mother has warned me from speaking to strangers and unintentionally I feel very tenacious speaking about her. I look up to Queen Mother a lot and I only wish to be like her one day and for her to be proud of me. All the more reason why I can't mess up.
Walking up to him I grin, thinking I could use a friend to help me gather the info I need to make Queen Mother proud and agree with a 'Maybe'. I then offer him some water as I'm already getting some for myself to which he nods and reaches for some with his hands.
I can't read him much but at least he seems friendly given that he's the one that got curious of me. I avoid asking him any personal questions as that could result in suspicions.
That night as promised I fly over to see Ginn at the appointed spot.
"How did it go?" he asks grabbing my hands gently and leading me to seat next to him on a bench. He's always very sweet and thoughtful and right now he seems even more mindful than usual.
"Well I think. I've made a friend. It wasn't my plan to but he kind of approached me and I will use it to my advantage." I say looking at the grass dancing as the wind softly blows over it.
"Just be careful Zaf, I don't want you to get attcahed." He kisses my forehead slowly and holds me tight but I can't enjoy the moment as I just feel deep concern. At last I shake those thoughts reminding myself the whole purpuse of the mission which is to be crowned Queen and prove Mother than I am ready.
"I won't. Trust me."