The North Mountain Village
It had been six days since we left the city. I had followed her every day and everywhere. She would never stop surprising and aweing me with her decisions, her actions, and her words.
But this one made my jaw drop.
She used my sword to cut the hard rock that generally could be broken by some more potent tools and suitable equipment. But she could cut the rock with the sword, and it wasn't just an ordinary rock. The value stone of the North was the rarest and strongest material. They could be made for gems and accessories because of their uniqueness, beautiful shape, and color. It could be made for weapons instead of regular steel or iron. It could not be broken. People in Keithland would love to have and grab one of them, even just only for their eyes.
Another time that she surprised me was one of the worst times was when she was not breathing. It was the most awful situation that I had ever experienced with her.
She made my heart drop.
The old lady, the head of the village, took her to her room to rest. I would have liked to be with her, sit by her side, and take care of her myself, but the old lady insisted. I should just wait outside and guard the stones.
"How could it be possible?...Hm...the sword cut the stone...really, how could she do it?"
Craitis, the annoying man that was a bit useful but too loud for my ears, asked himself while looking at the big stone.
"..."
"Is there any technique to do that?"
He kept talking and tried to do a movement.
"Can you do it, too?"
He asked me this time.
"No."
"Then how could she do it, her tiny delicate arms like Zephyra? I don't think she can just do that."
He was still curious about her ability and suspected her.
"You underestimate her ability?"
"No, no. Don't glare at me like that. I'm talking about the facts here. The thin sword cut through the hard rock... it's impossible."
"But it happened."
"..Yeah, but,"
"It happened, so shut up for once."
"Heh, I know you're curious too."
"..."
Zephyra was always head-up and on another level before anyone else. When I carried her back down, I could feel her low and exhausted body—not just because of the environment or not enough food and drinks but because she used all her energy to cut that rock.
'Not the first ten times, for sure..' She said,
She was so determined. Her head was so strong to get something she wanted. How come that her tiny soft body could do something that grand in most of her life…
I stopped asking that question a long time ago but...still I could not get those thoughts out of my mind because she amazed me, always amazed me.
-1:14 am-
"Jodai?"
I called him from behind. He was sitting and watching the massive stone in front of him.
"Zephyra..."
He got up immediately.
"Why didn't you go to sleep?"
I asked.
"I'm watching over...And you...you should go back to sleep."
"I'm full rest."
"..."
"You go to bed. No need to watch over that. No one is going to steal that..."
I told him.
"We can not be sure."
"They can't. It's heavy. If someone moves it, we probably can hear the entire village, heh."
"Yes, you're right."
"I'm sorry about the sword."
I apologized to him again.
"Please don't. It served its purpose."
"Hmm... it's yours, and I was the one who..."
"I'm glad that you were the one... It's old, so don't worry, Zephyra."
"...Thank you…You should go to sleep."
"What about you?"
"I'll continue what I'm doing."
"!?"
He glanced at my right hand. He just realized that I was holding my own sword. Actually, it's Takaki's sword; I didn't have my own. Mr. Saya gave this one to me to practice and use at the association.
"Zephyra, you still want..."
"It's only halfway. We can not bring it and roll it over to the city, can we?"
"...Then let me handle it. Your hands are not perfectly recovered."
"..."
I glanced at him.
"No."
I told him.
"..."
"It's my purpose."
-3:00 am-
"Cling!… Cling!... Cling!"
-5:43 am-
"Cling!… Cling!... Cling!"
-7:37 am-
"Cling!… Cling!... Cling!"
-8:30 am-
"Cling!"
"Zephyr, child.."
Grandma stopped me.
"Yes?"
"Come eat."
"Yes."
I answered and put the word down on the ground.
I followed her to the wooden table that Craitis was sitting on. I noticed Jodai was walking toward the table, and he had two bowls in his hands.
"What about me?"
Craitis asked Jodai.
"I only have 2 hands."
He answered Craitis and sat across from me.
"Thank you, Jodai."
I told him after he put the rice bowl in front of me.
"You said you'll get it for me."
"I didn't say that."
Jodai told him.
"You... fine, I'll get myself."
Craitis got up and headed to the food station.
Jodai and Cratis seemed pretty closed.
"Your hands..."
Jodai looked at my hands.
"Hmm."
"They are shaking."
"Um, yes."
I ignored the shakes and put the food in my mouth.
While I was eating and resting with Jodai across from me and Craitis next to me, some villagers started to surround the big rock that almost broke all the way down.
"Woah."
And they looked surprised.
"That's amazing..."
Kento senior's voice stood out from the rest. I glanced at the group of people and saw Kento walking around and observing the rock.
He looked at me and glanced his eyes at the sword lying down on the floor. I shook my head to him. He smiled back.
"No."
I told him with a soft voice, but he knew what it meant.
"..."
Jodai looked at me with a curious face and turned his face to Kento, who was about to grab the sword and raise it up.
"What is he doing?"
Jodai asked.
Kento glanced at me again.
"Fuck-No."
I moved my lips clearly this time, but he smiled, telling me he didn't care.
"Cling!!"
And then his hands were shaking, and he ran up to his body and fell down to the ground.
"Woah!!"
And the audience that was watching him cried out.
"!!"
Jodai and Cratis stood up and looked even more shocked.
And then Jodai looked back at me while I was chewing the rice in my full mouth.
"What? I already told him no."
I told Jodai.
Craitis put his hand on my head, grabbed it with his big hand, and pulled my face up.
"What are you...Zephyra?... you tell me…now."
He glared at me like I was a mythical creature.
"Angel..."
I answered and smiled with my flirtatious act.
"Ha…!!"
He was startled
"...Okay..."
It took a second for him to say something and sit down next to me again.
-10:12 am-
"Cling!… Cling!... Cling!"
-12:45 pm-
"Cling!… Cling!... Cling!"
"*Sigh, the sword is almost..."
I talked to myself.
-1:01pm-
"Cling!… Crack...Crack..."
"Hmm..."
I made the sound and looked at my hands, which were shaking like crazy.
I was about to raise my sword once again.
"Zephyr... It's enough."
Grandma told me.
"Hm?"
"It's done."
"!!?"
I looked at the crack of the rock, which was running down at the bottom.
But the bright blue stone was stuck to the core of the rock.
"You..."
Grandma called Jodai, who was standing and watching me closely, to come up.
"Roll it over."
She told him.
Jodai rotated and rolled that rock over to the side, pushing it to stay in the same position.
"Zephyr, cut to that line."
"...I think the sword can be used only one time."
I told grandma and turned the sword over to see the blade.
"Then just strike it one time."
"..."
I looked at Jodai, and he nodded at me.
One time, either It will break or cut Jodai's hands but the sword is going to break anyway.
I moved to the position, did the posture, tightened my core, and raised my sword up a little bit slightly to the left. Give me strength, please let me cut it through.
"!!!"
"Cling!! Crack….Crack...Thug!!!"
"Woah Woah…Woah!!!"
"Yay!!!!"
And then all the villagers screamed out loud, jumped, and cheered for the final performance.
"Finally, Zephyra."
Jodai told me.
"..."
I looked at the big bright blue stone mixed with darker blue and white colors. The color reflected in the stone, and the shine of the strongest stone shone on me right through my eyes.
Grandma patted me on the back.
"Zephyra?"
Jodai called me again after I went silent.
"It's... It's beautiful...hic… hic."
I was shuttering.
"!!"
Jodai was shocked, as was the audience outside.
"Good job, Child."
Grandma was still patting my back.
"Thug!"
And I fell down on my knees along with the broken sword on the floor.
"Hic…hic… I'm sorry."
"Clap!!!!"
And then everybody gave me applause.
"Zephyra."
Jodai knelt before me and held my face up.
"..."
He was watching my tears running down my cheek again.
"You did it, and I'm so proud of you."
He told me.
"..."
He hugged me in his arms.
"Just rest...Zephyra."
He told me.
The night of the farewell. The villagers and grandma had a farewell party for us. It was big and looked more entertaining than the first time. I was wearing a darker blue dress, this time with a pattern of the river flowing in a lighter shade. It was beautiful.
The music tonight sounded very fun. I walked past the live band and passed the big orange bonfire. I accidentally turned my eyes through the flame and caught Jodai's eyes crossing from me. He was standing and gazing at me from afar.
I smiled at him.
Jodai helped me go through this journey. And the flashback of the first time we fought at the academy, the second time at the association, and the third time that I remembered it very well: arrogant face, arrogant eyes, arrogant words that wanted to be my person only just admired me from behind. He was proving to me every day and every hour or, even when I didn't have my right mind or lost consciousness.
These past days, I had seen his face directly.
'He's just like him...Only the eye's color is different, but the same eyes look… Zephyr, and you too.'
Grandma told me that he had the same eye as my mother's fiancé—the same as me. What did she mean by that?
"!!"
And then someone grabbed my wrist.
"Kento senior?"
"Why do you always look surprised when you see me?"
"You shaved the beard now."
I answered him.
"Hehe, yes...you look beautiful."
"Hehe, thank you."
"It was like back then again."
"Hm?"
"At the party in the mansion, I told you you were beautiful and asked you to dance...same like this now... we're at the party, and you look beautiful. And I wanted to ask you to dance."
"Hehe, this time, I won't step on your feet."
"Hehe, I don't mind."
And he took me to the dance floor. He put his left hand at the back of my waist and raised his right hand up while holding my left hand. I put my right hand on his shoulder. And suddenly, he led me in his dance along with the beautiful melody.
"Are you coming down with me?"
I asked.
"Yes, I'll head straight back home. My father probably thought that I was dead, hahaha, because I stopped sending him a letter after I lived on that hill…He must be shocked."
"And he would be proud... he would be so proud of you, Kento senior."
I told him.
"Hehe...I hope so."
He smiled.
"I know so."
I smiled back genuinely.
"I'm afraid to ask about your life, to be honest..."
"Why? Do I look devastated?"
"No...not at all...you looked more yourself and expressed more emotion..."
"..."
"It's not bad. It's great, actually. Back then, you only enjoyed yourself and were yourself only in the Sword Club or with me. But after I noticed a lot of things, it seemed like something happened to you...your mother that night. I really am sorry..."
"Thank you, Kento senior."
"And I heard that you got engaged to Mr. Kaiza Takaki. Then I also thought your life must be harder ...but the way you spoke about him, you seem to genuinely have some feelings toward your fiancé."
"..."
"And you also have...him, he is your bodyguard, right?"
"He told you?"
"No, I could tell. He has a sword, and you're with the Takaki. He needed to provide the protection for you… but your bodyguard, he isn't Takaki."
"Yes, he just joined in the summer..."
"Zephyra, do you really trust him?"
"...Why?"
"He's from Keithland, isn't he?.. I remembered him at the academy and... that tattoo."
Tattoo?
"He's from the house of Yamazaki."
It's his last name, and what about it?
His family was big. I know that, but why was he so...scared?
"He's not far from the rumors of Mr. Kaiza has...even more crucial."
"...The rumors are just rumors. It might be true, but everything has its own side of the story. Just like me, Kento senior. I have a lot of ugly stories, but right now, I know him as I know him now… I trust him."
"...Alright, Zephyra, I'm sorry if I..."
"It's okay. I know you are worried about me."
I smiled at him.
"...Then I shouldn't ask you about the stone, right?"
"Hehehe. Are you coming back to the city?"
"Of course."
"Then I don't have to answer you now... you'll know it later anyway."
"Hmm, you're sneaky... I'm glad you are still you!!"
"Ah!"
I cried out because he pulled me in and held me a bit tight.
"What are you doing?..."
Then, Jodai's voice came up.
"...We are dancing."
Kento answered.
"Is that dancing?"
He asked him.
"Hmpt..."
I pushed Kento senior away to be free before Jodai punched him.
"Thug, Thug Argh!"
And I heard the sound of someone falling to the ground and the screams.
"What is that?"
I asked and walked away from them to see.
I walked behind the bonfire and grabbed a drink while watching the circles in front of me behind the food and drink station. There were four torches around the circle, and groups of people were surrounding it.
"Interested?"
Grandma asked.
"What is it?"
"The mountain fight."
"Fight?"
"There's no fight, there's no party, right?"
"Ah...I can't believe I heard that from you."
"Go see..."
"Yes."
I answered without hesitation, took a drink, and went there.
I pushed myself around to get inside and took a good look. Two opponents were fighting each other.
"Is that...Craitis?"
"Yeah."
And some man beside me answered me.
This fight was similar to the bear man in the bamboo house. Craitis was big and tall like Craius, but his energy did not match Craius's, or maybe it was just a fun fight. I couldn't imagine if they got it together. It must be like the polar bears fighting each other.
"Heh."
And I accidentally chuckled to myself after picturing them pushing each other. Suddenly, Craitis pushed that man to the ground.
"Whoooo Whooo!!"
And the audience screamed.
"Hey, Zephyra, I didn't see you there...come to cheer me?"
"Heh...interesting."
"You guys want to join?"
And the Craitis shifted his eyes to the man behind me. It was Jodai and Kento.
"..."
"What is the prize?"
I asked.
"Pride...and fun."
Craitis told me.
"Zephyra, stop."
Kento told me softly like he always knew me.
"Rules?"
I asked.
"Who gets off the circle first loses, or if the opponent taps the ground 3 times, loses."
Craitis explained.
"Hey, stop her."
I heard Kento hit Jodai.
"I'll do it."
Jodai said it and stepped into the ring.
"Nice, it was like a farewell fight sending you off."
Craitis.
"No, I want to fight him."
I said to Jodai.
"Ha..."
Craitis made the sound.
"No, I want to fight him."
Jodai.
"No, let me fight him first."
"No, you just watch over there with your...senior."
"Ha..."
Kento made the sound.
"Oh my god, I never felt so wanted right now...yes, yes, everybody wants some of Craitis..."
"...You go for it, I'll watch."
I glared at Craitis and changed my mind after hearing what the bear man said.
"Eh..."
Then Craitis pouted his lips to me.
"..."
Jodai prepared himself by watching him and standing his ground.
The big guys pushed each other and gave some punches. Craitis missed his punches so many times, but he had the strong muscles to just hold him up and throw him down. Jodai got up from the ground so easily and couldn't wait to run to the bear. Craitis had a unique style of fighting like his brother. He didn't just use his strength from the upper body; he used every body part of his. He locked Jodai's neck intensely while Jodai locked Craitis's leg tightly, and they were just trying to pull each other down.
And finally, Jodai pulled his big muscled leg up, and Craitis's back hit the ground.
"Arg!"
And not in the second, Craitis spun himself up and used his back, jumping up and putting his hand on the ground to support his body. He used his leg, which was already in the air, and hit down, aiming at Jodai's head.
"!!"
And then Jodai moved himself before that lag hit his head.
"Wow…interesting...very interesting."
I spoke to myself.
"That was a mountain fight."
One of the audience said it out loud.
"You're quite skilled."
Craitis told Jodai.
"You too."