People were looking.
As I walked us to one of the open grounds used for testing ammo, leading him along the way through the class halls and buildings, I could feel such heavy stares, catching faint murmurs of gossip the way I usually do as a Low Life.
That was it, I feel their projected hostilities directed my way. But they can be envious all they want. Knowing how curious they were, how they all wished this was them in my place, somehow put a small smile on my face.
In a sense I felt proud and happy, trying to maintain my poker face and a certain professionalism if we could call it that, considering the distance he was from me.
By the gods of Citadelia, he smelt so fresh, exuding this masculinity that no one can deny, towering me by at least a foot or so and proving to be even more gorgeous than I often imagined.
I kept stealing glances his way. He was not really hard to look at.
Are all the King's Trinity Men like this? His Majesty must put them through hell. It seems, to be among his most venerated of Men, it meant one needed a physique and stand that was close to perfection.
We all do see him train so diligently. Like that was part of his responsibilities.
Not only that but he was likewise such an intellectual, catching up to my stride to talk matters in such a clearly knowing way. My admiration only deepened. More so once we got to the field. Was he going to show off just for me? I can't help but feel this way.
A crowd had gathered by the nearby stands once the Academy realized where it was we were going to. But none of them ever had the privilege. Everyone was kept back. Only I stood there at such a close proximity to him.
"Just maintain that distance if you will, Makia? I remember Nuke said you often tested his guns, but I'd like it better that you keep safe."
I could only nod. I'm surprised that he even knows that. He appeared to be quite attentive to the smallest and perhaps insignificant details. Doesn't he know by doing so, he keeps pulling at my heart?
And when he was preparing to test, his back turned towards me, I could again see the man that rescued me at Begotten long ago. The very same I came to feel this way for. The reason why I was in the Gunnery to begin with.
I took what I'd said back. He is still on that list as to why I was here...
"Going hot!"
I snapped out of my thoughts in time to when the testing run started, the clay disks shot out from an automated machine to the side with a boom, and I gaped. The Captain was unarmed though! Going to get the Gun Unit totally slipped my mind in all this rush.
But wait just a second. What even was going on?
Then I only came to truly understand how he really plays his skills once I saw him move, like silk sliding to a stance, and in the full force at his command, sent a fist flying from the side, appearing to deal a heady slash like he was giving someone a side punch, intending to break defenses.
Except that the motion did something more.
I watched as that Gun Unit appeared, piece by piece materializing in his grasp as if being tugged out of thin air. I heard a click and I knew it was loaded, the safety easing cleanly as he pulled the trigger, the sound of a gunshot, such a fire, ringing clear across the area.
I think I swallowed, gaped, then swallowed some more. There was a thin, nearly invisible trail as the bullet discharged from its barrel swerved, curving in a way I've never known them to. Did they even behave that way!?
I had questions, confuzzled, especially as the results of his motions hit and broke its targets. I had to see the movement again and again without blinking. I had to squint to actually know how he was even making this possible!
How...how does he do this?
Also those shots. They were on point. His accuracy was second to none as he dealt with the moving disks, every single one shattered, never missing anything like the finest of beats.
Now I got it. This manner of battling. They'd given him a fitting moniker after all: Czar of the Curving Bullets. I understood now what that title entailed. This could never be more appropriate to define him. The crowd that day, cheering, clearly agreed.
How that dead weight of a weapon seemed as light as a feather in his hand was a complete wonder to me, but then again, it never should have shocked me. He was a Trinity after all. He was capable of so much more. They were legends.
"Well it works like a dream. Thanks for making sure it was put back together properly. You did an excellent job."
Earning such praise. As he approached, inspecting the gun in his hand, as he extended his own to pat my head, I felt warm and satisfied.
This meant I did good didn't I? I was so very proud of myself.
"Glad it didn't fall apart. I was afraid it would get stuck somewhere while you were using it, Captain," my genuine thoughts. Being this close to him, talking like this, it felt quite right.
I was useful. To the one my heart was beating for I was being of some help. To earn his esteem. It was a dream come true.
Also, while he chuckled, while all this blithe lit up his face and expression, while he was giving me his attention...could I be faulted for feeling a bit more special than everyone else?
This man...he was the epitome of ideal. He was my ideal.
---
Shant and August took some time to come back from the Appalea incident.
But when they did come back, they weren't the only ones with a tale to tell. I just had to mellow it down.
"You actually saw Captain Chalice pull that Gun Unit from Transit? Up close? That is so cool!"
I was only recently made aware that Shantee followed the lives of the Trinity. That in fact there was such a strong fan-base for each individual in this elite circle that some of the Kingdom press and publications had dedicated themselves exclusively to featuring them.
Our Captain included.
Thus she could report accurately about it, explaining to me what I had witnessed when I myself scarcely comprehended the goings-on.
"A Transit?"
"Duh, it's a dimension of sorts where Trinity like our Captain store their Arsenals. Arsenals are a special set of weapons only someone like him can use!"
Perhaps I should read up more on the topic now. I struck myself as clueless. I didn't even get half of what she said.
I admitted there was plenty I had to know about the man I liked and, secretly, I wanted to be familiar with everything that had to do about him.
Our worlds may be two ends apart, but that doesn't mean I can't close the rift between one link at a time. I was feeling positive. After our little get-together earlier, I felt unstoppable.
"He's incredible," August nodded, but he was bound to be joking about it, I was sure. "Someday I'll be Trinity too!"
"Get rid of your love handles first!"
"Yeah Gus! Your flabbiness is hideous enough that the King might not consider!"
We laughed at each other.
It was a very lighthearted moment, a most astonishing moment. Who would have thought I was made even happier with but the shortest of times spent with him?
It was very precious to me. I wondered if there would be more to come, praying to all gods or goddesses that could hear me out in fact that that was not the last.
May they bless me with such an encounter yet again.
"I heard the only thing that can match Captain is a Darkling..." and she went on narrating about what these 'things' were.
"Shan, speak in Kiran we can understand, okay?" Gus joked to which she frowned, only to then knock our friend by the back of his head with her fist for that comment.
Before I knew it, they were chasing and teasing after one another, causing a riot that was making me laugh out loud as they ran across the corridors.
These two. They might just end up together.
I'm happy. I want my friends to stay as happy as they are now too. I also considered briefly if I should tell them about what put that smile back on my face, though how they would react to my little secret, bringing to mind the Captain's face before we parted after the gun testing, somewhat still stopped me from doing anything.
The heavens of Citadelia! I was smitten by this man.
Was it wrong then to want more of his heart...and his kindness at this point?
Am I delusional