"Old sage, I'll be on my way". Alvah reported walking into the living room.
'Alvah', this name echoed in old sages head. He took a step forward only to look ahead and Alvah was gone. "What the?..." he muttered.
Vida looked beside to see no one. "Where'd he go?" with confusion and lost in her eyes she looked around.
"It's one of his many gifts" . Old sage spoke with a faint but true smile on his face.
"Many gifts?" . Vida questioned, disordered.
" Yeah actually" . She looked behind her grandfather, there she saw him Alvah.
"I can't leave without a goodbye from you". Old sage looked back and smiled hysterically with little drops of tears.
Old sage said to Alvah , " I would tell you my name at this point but let's keep it a secret, shhhhh". He placed a finger on his lips.
Alvah grinned and said. "she would tell me" , indicating with his chin looking at vida.
Old sage looked behind and asked her, "Would you?"
"For a kiss I would" , she smiled nonchalantly. A slight frown was seen on Alvah's face that faded quickly.
She noticed this and quickly changed her statement. " I mean I would do it for free, you've done a lot for me already, I..."
She felt a lip on her cheek with a hand placed on her head from behind. She blacked out but only for a few seconds and she was back.
"Thanks" she slowly muttered. By the time she opened her eyes he was gone. She smirk slightly looking at her grandpa.
*******
"Who's next?" Alvah said indolently
With loud sounds from a striked metal, Adalyn was sweating profusely. Her little arms couldn't lift up any further so she let it fall with intense breathing when she heard a knock on the window.
Her eyes dashed quickly towards the window. She only wished it would be one person and that was Alvah.
Losing her high hopes times without numbers she blinked her tears away before she looked away she saw one with a scarf.
She didn't need to be told that it was Alvah. She dropped whatsoever she had in hold running speedily outside.
She looked at the figure who walked slowly but handsomely towards her and she dashed into his arm with tears all over her little face and stained dirt.
"Relax, relax" . He mumbled to her hearing. Her breath was unstable and undoubtedly she had sore wounds all over.
He healed her whilst stroking her back gently. She felt much better than before unknown to her.
"How long did you wait for me?" he asked looking her in the eye.
She released her grip from his neck looking at him intensely.
"Since the day you left" She spoke tiredly, wiping her dry face.
"I'm sorry" he apologized sincerely. "She laughed loudly" . "That doesn't suit you. Don't do that just because you feel guilty". She moved his hair slightly to the back.
"I'd have to get used to saying it. There's a lot more people that deserve this from me" Alvah thought deeply how much he hurt Zillah and got Ghazan worried.
" I'm telling you. Your eyes speaks everything one needs to hear. Don't go embarrassing yourself because of an apology". His eyes bore more emotions than his words.
"Not when it's dark" He whispered. What'd you say? she asked twitching her face.
"Nothing" he said without hesitation. She was so small that her feet couldn't stop dancing when his feet rested whilst they were sitting. He lifted her legs placing it on his thighs.
" I like you and I don't know why. You're such a good child". He praised her. Adalyn smiled widely hearing those words from his mouth.
"Am I the first?" She asked interested in his coming response. "The first?" he asked confused to his wit.
" That you like?" She completed. He stuttered "I... well for a child... Yes". And he was being completely honest.
"That's good" . She nodded wisely. Alvah didn't take it seriously.
"Why were you looking pale earlier?. Didn't look like you're doing well?" he asked worried about her
" Alvah". Nice name she complemented. He admitted.
" I need to tell you something that's causing me misery Alvah" She lowered her head
" What could you possibly be going through that's bothering you, if it's not having good food to eat? "
She replied, " I'd have that when my sister is safe"
" What's going on with your sister?" he asked with an unknown concern.
" My sister. My dad... he wants my sister to get married very soon and when I mean soon I mean this year ending."
" But this year's already about to end" Alvah asked her. Because she was definitely out of time.
" Exactly and she hasn't found a suitor yet. He said he'd give her off to whomever he wishes to just to get her away" He took in a deep breath
" Is your sister, rude or have some... he couldn't find the right word to use but finally did. Is she bad?"
He wouldn't consider what attitude she has bad as his interpretation of bad is different.
" She's not. She's pretty good and kind just that here they get their girls married at the right time and age, they say"
He asked, being aware of the situation " So, you want to get a suitor for your sister".
" You want me to be your sister's suitor" . He said exposing her inner thought.
"Wow..." He exclaimed
"Friend" . This word choke his next statement. " I need to help my sister" She held onto his palm
" Speak like a child Adalyn" . He said to her worried about her overthinking and frustration. She looked at him nervously as her fear that he'd reject her idea has come.
"You've got no burden but carry a lot from others just because you care. You need someone to care for you". He spoke truly.
" Here's what we'd do?" . Her word hit him out of his imagination. His brows creased.
'Didn't I speak?' , he asked himself.
" I'll bring her here and you'll" , "Wait!" he Interrupted her. Seems to him like she's lost him.
His deep voice rang in her ears. And his eyes darkened. Is he provoked?, she asked herself.
"Adalyn, Adalyn" . Della called out to her. She looked at the right corner with a piercing gaze, she saw Adalyn.
"Adalyn" . Her voice was louder. Adalyn was frightened, quickly she stood up to defend herself.