"Well, if you aren't listening then I'll repeat it to you," the seven foot tall woman mumbled, taking a deep smoke from the pipe then exhaling it. "I promise that I'll be there to protect you, so just come with me because I really have other things to do after this, so just trust me and let's go, alright?"
I didn't answer as I am still deep in thought, pondering my conversation with Adarna, and as I recalled those memories, the realisation also slowly sinks into my head that the sacred bird mentions heavenly beings so many times.
Heck, the bird even mentions gods and goddesses.
"Stupid, so bloody stupid," I repeatedly said as I slapped my forehead multiple times, feeling a pulsating burning pain in my head.
"Kid, what are you doing?" Said Joan Truman, staring at me in distraught and alarm. "You're injured, don't do that."
But I didn't listen, however, I did stop hurting myself as I started laughing looking at the painting in the ceiling.
"Ha…haha…hahahahahahAHAHAHA!"
In my peripheral vision, Joan Truman takes a step back; she looks at me like I'm going crazy.
Well, maybe I am.
Adarna mentioned it to me so many times, and yet I didn't notice this crucial information; I was too preoccupied on how to become enlightened or how to find a saint during that conversation; that I subconsciously ignored those important details.
Not to mention that after having those conversations with Adarna, I didn't have time to ponder and reflect with myself. In addition to all of that ridiculous shit, Alexandra threw another piece of news to me after the sacred bird left; the red haired woman dragged me to a brutal savage place, leaving me alone to fend for myself.
Everything happened so quickly; that I have no room to think for a second and doubt everything in this world. No time to doubt that bloody book.
It felt like a thunder just struck me in the head and made me aware of how dumbly slow, naive, and ignorant I am.
Admitting it in my thoughts made me stop laughing immediately. Putting down the pillow, I stared at nothing again in a trance.
I took a deep shaky breath, sighing tremblingly. Slowly, salty tears started building up in my eyes, feeling my blood surging in rage.
"Kid? You alright?" Joan Truman asked, looking at me with tense apprehension.
I didn't answer; I only gaze at her in a trance, while warm liquid fell sliding down to my cheeks.
Joan Truman stared at me bewildered at my sudden mood changes. She approached me hesitantly; moving her legs step by step in a very slow motion, then she sat at the opposite side of the bed.
"Want to smoke it out?" Joan Truman recommended, raising her pipe in front of my face suggestively.
I shook my head, wiping the tears in my face. "I don't smoke," I replied.
"A shame," the seven foot tall woman muttered as she shrugged, putting the pipe back to her mouth, smoking again, then we both just sat in silence.
My head is filled nothing but resentment
I feel angry at myself. I blame Alexandra for bringing me here, but I know deep down that the one who brought all the trouble to us in the end is me. That time in the forest; that time with that little girl; and that time with Bakunawa are all decisions I made that brought trouble to me.
It's all because of me why Pula is…
My face crumpled recalling those memories in the Dregs Arena. I don't think I would be able to forgive myself if Pula…
"By the way…" Joan Truman mumbled beside me.
I turn to her as I snap out of my thoughts.
Joan places the pipe between her lips, taking a deep smoke, then releasing it in an O-shape. "How is your right hand? Do you feel anything uncomfortable? Tell me if you feel anything odd."
My brows creased; I stared at my weird hand that looked white as milk. "It doesn't feel strange, but…why does it look different?"
"Because your right hand is made of a white horn," Joan Truman answered calmly, puffing circle smoke in the air again.
My furrowed brows deepen in perplexity. "White horn? Why didn't you use my original severed hand?"
"Your severed hand is already rotting. Too much time has already passed by the time we arrive at the dregs arena," Joan Truman explained. "We actually almost didn't make it, to be honest."
My eyes widened in alarm as I hurriedly asked, "then you probably have seen Pula, right?"
"Pula again?" Joan Truman asked back confused. "I don't know who Pula is, but I only saw you, that ex-classmate of mine Alex, and that mythic monster on the ground next to you," she explained.
Joan then glanced at me as she questioned, "are you perhaps talking about that mythic monster?"
I nodded hurriedly. "Pula is my familiar, she had red, no, pink furs and four white horns," I replied, staring expectantly at Joan Truman. "If you saw her, could you tell me if she's doing fine?"
Joan Truman tilted her head, staring at the ceiling as she pondered.
"Hmm, how unusual, I thought that mythic monster was Alexandra's…but it turns out that," Joan paused, looking down at my right hand.
My brows weaved together in worry but I didn't interrupt as I waited for her to continue. I held my breath on edge, feeling my heart banging in jittery; my intestines rolling around unease in my stomach.
Joan Truman shrugs as she continued, "anyway, that familiar of yours is being taken care of by Alex in the underground floor of the Cassidy Mansion."
Hearing those words made me release a sigh of relief; my lips voluntarily formed to a relaxed smile.
As long as Pula is fine and alive then everything is still well. We could still start anew then live a hermit life in the forest. Right, I can't forget about Alexandra and the others. After everything is settled, Pula and I will go to the forest to live a peaceful hermit life.
I chuckled to myself, feeling elated in my heart. This time I will definitely learn how to fight; in order to protect everyone dear to me in this world. I look up, gazing at the painting on the ceiling. I feel hopeful again in my heart. Everything can be fixed again.
I turned to glance at Truman with a grateful smile. "Thank you for answering, Joan. You don't know how much those words mean to me."
"Don't mention it, anyway, since you're all well and fine now, do you want to go there?" Joan Truman said, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
My brows furrowed, staring at her. "Joan, I don't want to meet that woman," I said as I recalled those memories again. "At least not now…"
"I mean… to your familiar," Joan Truman replied. "Do you want to go to Pula, is what I mean."
My eyes widened in anticipation, nodding my head heedlessly. "Yes," I replied almost immediately. "Of course I want to."
Joan Truman grinned at my answer as she stood up. "Then let's go," she said, beckoning for me to follow as she sauntered to the door and exited out. "I'll bring you there myself."
After I followed her outside, another room came into view.
There's a cabinet, sofa, and a fireplace in this second room. Joan Truman went to the cabinet, getting some simple dark pants, a tunic shirt, leather belt, and boots that seem to be mine. She then threw those clothes at me and said, "get dressed first."
I started wearing the villagers' clothes in a hurry. Tripping to myself as I put my legs inside the pants. Getting my head out of the hole in my sleeves. And having the lace of my boots untied.
"We're not going anywhere, with you, looking like that," Joan commented, shaking her head in rejection.
I groaned as I rolled my eyes; this time, I took my time to properly wear my clothes. After getting dressed, Joan Truman led me out and we both walked down the stairs.
"Oh right, I forgot to inform you that you've been unconscious for over a week now," Joan Truman said with the pipe in her mouth. "And today is June 23, just in case you're curious to know."
"I see, thank you for taking care of me and saving my life," I said, smiling gratefully.
Joan Truman glanced at me then said, "don't smile at me like that."
I knitted my brows at her. "Why not?"
Joan Truman looked forward again, releasing some smoke while she shook her head. "Nothing, you don't have to thank me, I barely did anything anyway since I merely forged your hand, but the process of attaching it to your body and healing the injuries to your body were all taken care of by my superior," Joan Truman explained.
"But you still help, I'm sure," I insisted firmly.
"Well, that's true, but…" Joan Truman muttered as her eyes squinted, taking another smoke from her pipe.
I smiled warmly at the seven foot tall woman. "Joan, please send my regards to your superior," I said. "I'm indebted to the two of you."
Joan Truman shook her head, then she grinned at me and said, "no need for that since you'll meet her soon enough."
"What do you mean?" I replied, puzzled.
"She is taking care of your companion with Alex," Joan Truman answered simply.
"Really? That's good then," I said in delight. I'm happy that Pula is fine.
Joan Truman nodded. "Yes."
"Then I look forward to meeting her," I replied, staring ahead, concentrating my eyes on walking down the stairs.
Joan Truman didn't respond anymore; she only nodded her head, leading me quietly to the underground floor.
I followed beside her obediently, feeling delighted in my heart. I feel so glad that I had this conversation with Joan because it also gave me hope.
I smiled to myself, looking forward to meeting Pula once more.
As Joan Truman led me to the underground, I noticed that she had been peeking glances at me.
I turn my head to her, looking up since Joan is seven feet tall; while my body is only at the height of five feet and nine inches tall. I thought I'm already tall, but meeting Joan made me realise that my height is still small.
My brows furrowed as I stared at her, wondering why she is looking at me like I'm some problem to solve.
"What is it?" I said inquiringly.
"Hmm?" Joan replied, leaning her head down looking at me closely with squinted eyes of curiosity. "By the way, what's your name, kid?"
"I thought you already knew?" I said, perplexed.
Joan sighed as she exhaled a mouthful of smoke, then she put the pipe back between her lips again. "No, we were only told to heal your injuries and your severed hand," Joan answered, squinting her eyes as she looked forward, walking down the stairs.
"Oh," I mouthed, nodding understandably as my creased brows deepened. "I see."
That general probably doesn't want anyone to discover my identity as a noble, because if I remember correctly; according to the laws of the Maple Kingdom, a knight can't transgress or offend a noble.
"So what's your name then?" Joan asked again, glancing at me.
My lips curved and said, "my name is Nasrin Urduja."
Her eyes widened as she replied, "you're from the Urduja Clan?"
I nodded as I remained focused on the stairs. "Well, something like that."
"So you're a noble, then I should probably refer to you as lady Nasrin from now on…?"
I laughed as I looked at the silly tall woman. "No need for that, just call me Nasrin," I replied.
"Well, that's convenient," Joan said, smiling in relief.
"Mm," I responded in agreement.
"Hold on," Joan said, walking to a stop as she stood, tilting her head to the side, staring at me.
Seeing Joan stop also made me stop walking.
"What is it?" I mumbled softly.
"If you're a noble then why would General Amana beat you up? That's so unlike her…" Joan mumbled to herself.
I averted my gaze. "Well, she doesn't know that I'm a noble…"
"Then why didn't you tell her…?" Joan replied.
I didn't answer as a sigh escaped my lips.
In terms of hierarchy, my identity as a noble is still higher from the rest of the knights in the army of the Maple Kingdom.
Alexandra said that this Nilad City is under the jurisdiction of the Maple Kingdom. Which means the laws and the rules of the Maple Kingdom are still applicable in this city.
I understand this from the moment Alexandra told me that we're still technically in the Maple Kingdom's jurisdiction. However, during that moment, I dare not use my identity as a noble. Doing that is also like using the surname of the Urduja Clan to my benefit.
That might indeed help me, but it would also tarnish the reputation of the Urduja Clan, and I can't do that.
I'm not the original Nasrin, and furthermore, I already feel guilty occupying this body. I don't even know what happened to the original soul. Did she already die? Or perhaps is she still here with me inside this body?
These thoughts made me feel that I don't have the right to use the surname of the Urduja Clan. But, this also led me to an irreparable situation. My eyes narrowed as I recalled those memories again.
"I don't understand why you didn't tell that old hag—"
"It won't happen again," I said, cutting her off with a cold voice.
Joan shrugs, walking again. And I started moving my legs as well with my head in a trance.
I feel angry at myself again after what Joan said. In the end, it was still because of my stupid decisions. It was because of me that Pula is…
My eyebrows wrinkled together as I bit my lower lip.
No, Pula will be fine. She is and she will be alright. I can still redeem myself and make up for all of my mistakes. I took a deep sigh as I walked silently with Joan.
Joan Truman then led me to the underground facility of this building she calls Cassidy Mansion, and after a while of walking, we stopped in front of a dusty entrance.
Knocking sound echoes as Joan pounded her fist on the door.
"Sovereign, it's me Saint-Warrior Joan, and with me is that kid you healed," Joan said.
Shortly after. The door opened, and my eyes widened seeing the 5 feet 6 inches tall woman wearing the same black robe as Joan Truman.
Her sky blue eyes, straight long platinum untied hair, and the features of her face are similar to Kendra. But I'm sure this woman is not Kendra, because the protagonist has three distinct moles in her face. While this woman doesn't have a single mole on her skin.
Not to mention that this woman has straight hair, which she just lets hanging untied; meanwhile, Kendra's long platinum one is wavy and the side of her hair near her temples are braided with its ends tied in a rose bun behind her head, which made the protagonist appear like a fairy queen.
Still, I can't help but stare more at this woman's face. She resembles Kendra so much that they almost look like twins. The difference is that this woman doesn't look friendly like Kendra. The face of this woman is naturally cold and poker; this is the kind of face that would make anyone easily misunderstood her.
"Nasrin," Joan Truman called, glancing at me.
"Hmm?" I replied, snapping my head to the side. "What?"
"This is my superior, Saint Agatha, the sovereign of the Moonlight Sect, the one who attached the forge hand in your body, and as well as, healed the injuries in your body," Joan explained, gesturing to the woman standing in front of us.
"I uh, thank you ma'am, I mean, thank you Saint Agatha," I said, grabbing the back of my neck awkwardly.
The woman named Saint Agatha gave me a quick glance up and down, then she nodded her head as if satisfied about something. "It seems your body is fine and healed up," she mumbled.
"Yes, thank you," I replied gratefully despite feeling bewildered with her familiar features.
After all, I can't help but remember Kendra.
"Why did you bring her here?" Saint Agatha questions, looking at Joan.
"Well, this kid wanted to see her companion," Joan explained briefly.
Saint Agatha glanced at me. "So you're the master of that mythic halfling?"
My brows furrowed. "Halfling?"
"It seems you are not informed," Saint Agatha said, then she opened the door widely as she beckoned for us inside, "well, come in first and see the situation for yourself."