After reloading the bullets into my stolen small pistol, I finally joined Lord Kaltain and his subordinates for dinner. To be honest, Lord Kaltain didn't eat at the musty place reserved for soldiers, but at a truly special place. We had arrived at Samu Palace a few hours ago, exhausted from unloading the sacks of crops as well as dealing with the fire which, if I'm honest, was caused by me. Lord Kaltain didn't tell me to take responsibility, but I was self-conscious and helped out.
Suddenly Lord Kaltain sat down next to me, after a long chat with his henchmen who had been holding me captive. The white-haired man smiled, looking down at my still-intact bowl of food. "Eat a lot, so that tomorrow when the awakening doesn't derail the plan," he said, propping his chin up while smiling endlessly at me. "Stop smiling at me, you're making my appetite disappear," I grumbled. Lord Kaltain raised a hand. He but still glanced at me beside him. "That smile is a sign of happiness. Don't you know?"
I chuckled. "What makes you happy at this time of night?" I sucked my food lazily. I didn't feel like eating anything else except chewing on Mr. Kaltain. "I didn't know you were so crazy."
Lord Kaltain chuckled. She brought her body closer to me, almost squishing me. I moved away, but she followed me wherever I moved. Some people were whispering while eating, I knew what they were talking about. They seemed to be wondering why their Kaltain Master would want a musty girl like me.
Well, I didn't want to be with Mr. Kaltain either.
"I told you, Abby. I want to rule Orpheus," he whispered in my ear. I shuddered. "Let's help me achieve that. You understand, right?"
I stomped on Mr. Kaltain's foot with emotion. "I understand, of course," I said, "you must also help me today."
"What?"
"Give me a nice room."
"Huh?"
I rolled my eyes in exasperation. "I have nowhere to sleep tonight. All the servants' and guests' rooms are full. You'll have to get one for me."
"That's easy, I can do it for you."
"Nice one, sir. I don't want an ugly room."
"You want a lot, yes."
I giggled amusedly, continuing my meal comfortably as I felt a little reassured by Mr. Kaltain's words. I no longer wanted to sleep in a tree because of rabid mosquitoes. I also didn't want to make any noise. Until tomorrow, I wanted everything to go as planned.
"Abby, don't you want to welcome someone?" whispered Mr. Kaltain when I had finished half my bowl. "I thought you two were close?"
"What do you mean, anyway? Welcome who? Who am I close to?" I continued my distracted meal, but Lord Kaltain shook my shoulder, eyes focused in one direction. "I'm busy, sir. Talk to me later."
"There, you'll regret it if you don't see!"
Mr. Kaltain straightened my head with both hands, pointing my head in one direction. I gaped at the sight of Shiloh in a hanging red robe. The usually messy brown-haired man now seemed to be neatly styled into a side comb. I could see that his sideburns were getting long. He was smiling with a girl who was also wearing a red robe, only reaching Shiloh's chest. I gawked even more when the short girl took Shiloh's hand. The two of them left this soldier's eating place after handing over a piece of paper that had no idea what it said. I was disgusted to realize that it took two to give the paper. Unclean.
"Looks like your friend has another one," Mr. Kaltain muttered as he fiddled with the apple on the table. I swatted away the man's hand and the apple he was holding fell worthlessly. "Sorry, I should have respected your feelings more. You must be sad right now, huh?"
"I'm not sad, you idiot!"
Mr. Kaltain glared. "Why would you say that? I'm not stupid, am I?"
I patted my head, feeling like I wanted to erase the contents of my brain right now. "Listen, sir. I don't care about anything, okay?" I said, "You shouldn't care about things like that either. It's none of your business, okay?"
"I know it's none of my business, but your problems are my business."
I gave him a disgusted look. "You just take care of your castle's broken roof tiles. You're incompetent."
"Hey!"
I laughed with satisfaction as Mr. Kaltain's face turned red. I had succeeded in making him uneasy. The man glanced around, afraid that the stupid conversation would be overheard and become a rumor everywhere. I finally ended my laughter by downing a glass of water, then propped my head up. "How did it go? Still want to mess with me?"
Lord Kaltain sighed. He said softly. "Next time, you shouldn't say things in such a loud voice, Abby."
"What's wrong?" I raised my voice, intending to tease Mr. Kaltain, but suddenly the man's eyes turned red. I was stunned.
"I don't want many people to know. Understand?"
-Ordinary Visage-
I walked to the room that Lord Kaltain had chosen for me. I don't know how Mr. Kaltain could have given me such a well-located room, where the hallways leading to the room were decorated with antique paintings. There were large windows covered with gold-embroidered curtains, and yellow lamps that cast dim light. Mr. Kaltain had taken me halfway, but he had to leave again because he was called by his men. He said the benchmark for my room was the room with the door facing the painting of the orange-haired woman.
I paused just to make sure that I didn't pass any of the paintings on the wall, walking slowly down the quiet hallway. There was one large window that didn't have any curtains drawn, in fact it was opened wide to let in the breeze. I approached the window, looking out at Samu's great power. The houses on the right and left sides were divided by one big road where I first came here. The grassy fields were planted with sparse lights. Samu's sky was beautiful now, there was a moon almost touching its full form far up there, the light was so bright that it reached the red carpet of this alley. I closed my eyes, enjoying the cool night air as I rested both hands on the window frame. I've never felt this peaceful before.
"You're finally back, Cav."
I gasped as I heard someone's voice in my ear. I rounded my eyes, seeing Shiloh who was still wearing her red robe standing tall in front of me. My feet stepped back, while Shiloh smiled as she approached me. "Where have you been? I almost gave up looking for you."
I raised one eyebrow. Her words were crazy. "Why are you being so sweet?"
Shiloh smiled again. I felt strange because Shiloh didn't usually smile like that. "I'm sorry for arguing last time."
"Your forgiveness will come in handy if you come with me, Shiloh."
Shiloh turned her attention to the window, resting her elbows on the window frame. "I want to, Cav-Abby."
"And then?"
"You know, tomorrow is the second revival. You have to leave before the show starts."
"Why do I have to go?"
Shiloh glanced at me. I looked at her questioningly. "If you want me to follow your words, you have to tell me everything."
"I don't know, I feel that there will be something dangerous with you if you're still here tomorrow."
"Your instincts are crazy, huh?" I laughed lightly. "It's just a feeling, you know? Not an actual fact. I won't make any more trouble. Tomorrow, I'll still be here."
"I don't want you to leave tomorrow either, but you have to, Abby."
I chuckled. "Don't call me Abby when we're alone, Shiloh."
Shiloh sighed. "No, you have to listen to me du-"
"Then let's go together."
Shiloh flinched. He swallowed his words and looked away. I looked at the man's face, which looked full of confusion. His forehead was wrinkled, while he was biting his own lip. His hands were clenched into fists. "I'd like to leave here if you'll come along."
"Why do I have to come too? You can go alone, right?" said Shiloh in a trembling voice. "Go with that Lord Kaltain you trust. You don't need me or Amyas and Aqua, do you? You trust that guy even more!"
I sighed. "You don't know who Amyas and Aqua are, Shiloh. Why do you trust other people so much, huh?" I said indignantly, "You don't even trust me who's been with you all these years. Where did your logic go all this time?!"
"I trust you, Cavi. I just wanted to find the best."
"What's best, huh? You've gotten crazier since you've been here!" I looked up, staring at him with blazing emotions. "Is keeping me in the dark the best thing, huh? What kind of best do you mean?"
"I'll tell you everything, Cav. Later, not now."
"When are you going to tell me?"
"Later."
I tugged at the robe of the man before me with emotion. "Why should I wait for such an uncertain thing, huh? Do you intend to not say anything even until I die?"
"Cav, I-"
"Listen, you son of a bitch," I said as I tugged hard on his collar, "I'm not going anywhere before the second awakening is over. You have to come with me if you still consider me your friend," I said with a feeling of disappointment struggling in my solar plexus, "I want nothing more than to go home safely with you. You must understand that I'm fighting tooth and nail for that, you bastard." []