The blow landed on her cheek, making her lose her balance as she staggered, taking little confused steps trying to regain her balance.

Spitting out the blood, she wiped her lips with the back of her hand, revealing a crazy smile that showcased her teeth tainted with the thick red body fluid. Satisfied that her punch landed, she shook her shoulders provocatively ready to take her to leave. Only to be stopped by two weak hands. Shaking her hands, the grip loosens but the girl from before lands a punch.

"I am Degratti!!" She shouts.

Sundaram is free from their grip but is pissed off by Degratti's punch.

"Sluts! Harlots! Bit...!" Sundaram shouts back provocatively but is stopped as a large hand covers her mouth. Blinded by anger, she swings herself to land a punch. But the person squeezes her neck between his elbow.

"Chill." He whispers before letting her go. She steps on her toe and cusses throwing a glare at him. But the anger soon fades away as she looks at her bag down the alleyway.

"Ah!!" One of the girls from before screams as she approaches her with her hands balled into a fist. But her hit does not land as Sundaram swings her backpack, knocking the girl off her feet and landing a few meters away from her.

"Weak! Pathetic!" Sundaram screams out as she squeezes the handle of her backpack. But the moment is short-lived as her brother pulls her, grabbing her hand and leading her out of the alleyway. Leaving the wounded girls unattended to bicker at each other.

With a straight face mostly hidden by his long hair that clad to his face that rested above the age-long smith apprentices' uniform. Black mohair coverall with the crest of the Forgerons (Smithsmen) over the thick leather booths with wooden soles.

She shakes her hand and withdraws from the grip as they reach the busy street in the marketplace.

"You're a blockhead." She says giving no effort to hide the spite in her voice.

"Watch where you are going, lad." A lady berates as she secures her goods as they weave through the crowded street.

"Whatever..." She retorts under her breath as she kicks a stone.

"You have to learn to control your emotions," Jestah stated.

"They started first, can't I protect myself anymore?"

"You had overpowered her, why the one side beating? You had already protected yourself..." He reasoned as he looked at her for her response.

"But they started it!" She retorted.

Jestah shakes his head in response."Learn to control your emotions."

"I have taken enough of their bullshit, they can't just walk around bullying anyone," Sundaram said as she frowned recalling the event.

"I wonder what explanation you'll give to dad," Jestah said as he threw a look at her.

"Dad..." She mutters under her breath as the feeling of réalisation rushes through her making her freeze in her steps.

...

In a study hall, three meters in height, covering an area of 70 meters square. Shelves to the ceiling were filled with books covering three sides of the wall and the last side was covered with a black glass-like material that let in fading light of long due day, flood in with its curtains withdrawn.

A long silhouette was cast down unto the study table a few steps behind as the man looked at the window blankly with his glassy green pupils. As silence bathed the house, occasionally halted by the whistle of the wind passing through the windows of the room above and the creaking sound of the moving doors.

The silence is broken when the front door opens and he hears the footsteps of his children enter the house.

"Welcome home." He greets still looking through the window.

The children are startled as he was supposed to be at work today. But the girl quickly recovers as he removed his shoes ready to go wash her feet.

"Father, what happened?" Jestah asks as he draws closer, entering the study room. "Why are you back early today?"

"I was relieved of my duties early today." He answered. Making Sundaram shiver as she poured water on her feet watching the dirty water flow into the hole in the floor.

'Does he already know?' She thought as she was getting disturbed.

"Have you eaten?" Jestah asks as he draws closer.

"I can't." He answers as he blinks making his emerald pupils glow as they are covered with a teardrop.

"Dad..." Jestah breathes in as he starts putting his hand over his dad's left shoulder.

"What happened today?" He asks, making Sundaram freeze as she walked in and Jestah's hand hangs above his dad's shoulders.

"What did you do?" He asks again still looking through the black glass as the room was getting dimmer. She follows his line of sight, looking at the setting sun as her heart picked with guilt.

"But..." She croaks out in a raspy voice as she took heavy breaths.

"But what my Sun?" He asks as he watches the last light of the day flicker and Jestah withdraws his soothing hand.

"I..." Sundaram starts but can't finish as a tear comes to her eye.

Her dad walks away from the window, into the darkness of the room. Stopping at his study table where Sundaram stood with her head hung down with guilt.

"Learn to control your emotions as your brother has told you today, it's a very important lesson you must learn in life." He says as he brings her closer to his chest as she burst out crying. He gently taps her head as his glassy green eyes stare into the darkness of the young night.

She stays there for a few moments after shedding some tears and clears her throat.

"What did I do?" She asks as she pulls away from his embrace.

"Go to bed young one," Her dad answers as he taps her on her head. "You've had a tough day."

She yawns as she stretches herself and makes chewing noises.

"Your bag." Her dad says as he hands it over to her. "Make sure you eat tomorrow morning."

"Thank you for stopping her," Maitreya says as he looks at his son with a gentle smile.