A pinky promise was made.
Between two friends, on a field of dandelions, under the cherry weeping tree.
But that promise was not only referred to Amelyn.
It was also a promise to the two, who kept running crazily around, making the little white dandelions roam through the sky, which eventually would get swept by the wind.
After the little talk that me and Amelyn had, we joined Seifer and Tata.
We played around for hours.
Something I have always watched from afar, something I have always idealized and something for which I have always wished.
Our clothes were mostly covered with some dirt and a taint of green, and so was our skin.
From head to toe we still had some of the tiny little white dandelions attached to us, or some dirt, which was also visible on our faces.
The sun was slowly setting, as the sky became orange and yellow, with the clouds that had a bit of pink.
That was a perfect view.
A warm view, where the colors of the sky was well combined with the cherry weeping tree.
All of us remained still, staring at the beautiful scenery.
After a few moments of being speechless-
"We should probably start going, it was a good day today." Seifer spoke and smiled gently at everyone.
He was right, we had to go before the sun was fully set.
The way to the tavern wasn't that long, but if I walked slowly, I would arrive at a time where the moon has already rose up.
I kind of remember the way, but from what I know, Amelyn lives near me.
So, we should be going at the same direction, fortunately.
"Y-yeah, it was such a good da-day." Tata said, in a soft voice.
"All righty, let's go back!" Amelyn exclaimed.
As the others started moving, I stood there for a few seconds, still staring at the cherry weeping tree and the sun setting.
But I didn't stay there to gaze at the scenery, instead I imagined the kids who played here with Laith.
Sir Exios's son.
A boy who radiated such a warm and bright smile in the photos, and I could sense that smile in the warm orange skies.
-
"We played every day.
He was caring, sweet and funny.
You would have liked him too.
He would make the most embarrassing jokes and not regret saying it."
-
'Yeah, if we knew each other, I would have liked him.' I turned my back at the cherry weeping tree and the sun set, as I needed to catch up with the others, who were already ahead of me a few steps.
We walked for a while, eventually reaching a place where there were houses surrounding us, instead of nature.
The lamps started to light up, even though the rays of the sun were still illuminating the place.
I eventually started to recall the way to the Tavern.
'Yeah, in about 15 minutes, I'll be in the Tavern. We just have to go straight for a while and then go right.' I thought to myself.
"See you all tomorrow!" Seifer said his goodbye to us, as he and Tata started walking to the opposite way as we were going.
"See… you." Said Tata, who made a little wave at me and Amelyn.
"They seem to be best friends." I spoke to Amelyn as we were waving to Seifer and Tata.
Amelyn instantly looked at me with a grin.
"Ho ho, they are inseparable.
They have known each other since they were babies! Sei and Tata are not related at all, but their parents are best friends, so eventually Sei and Tata would always meet up and play together." She gave a little laugh.
"Sei doesn't know this, but he is pretty much protective over Tata." After Amelyn finished talking, we started walking again.
"It's nice to have someone to care for you, huh?" I thought aloud.
As we were walking, Amelyn glanced at me.
"Isn't someone already taking care of you?"
I looked at her with a confused expression on my face, as I didn't know what she meant.
She smiled and scoffed to my reaction.
"Mr. Einar."
"Who?" I was puzzled, as I did not know who it was.
"Mr. Exios." She specified.
"I was talking about Mr. Exios Einar." She sighed.
"Oh." That was all I could say.
I did not know sir Exios's full name.
I never even thought about asking him it, but no one, in the tavern, ever called him by his last name.
I continued to think about it for a few minutes, as we were still walking.
All I could hear was Amelyn talking for a bit, but I couldn't hear her at all.
All I heard was muffling.
As my feet kept moving-
Bap!
I stumbled into someone with such solid clothing.
I was unstable, about to fall down-
"Woah there."
Fortunately, someone caught my arm.
I looked up and the individual had short red wavy hair and yellow eyes.
'The woman? Ms. Crimson?' I thought, as the face looked almost identical to that woman.
The only difference was that he appeared much taller and much muscular.
He had an armor on, that had a tint of light purple.
And his voice was deeper than Ms. Crimson.
"Be careful." The man straightened me slowly and did not let go of my arm.
He observed me for a while, and it felt a bit awkward, I didn't know what to do at that moment and strangely enough it seemed like he did not want to let go.
I felt a strong sense of déjà vu, as the man really looked like Ms. Crimson.
"Oh, you almost fell down! Thank you, sir, for saving her!" Amelyn bowed to him, and so I also bowed my head as way of thanking him.
"But do you need anything else sir? You have been holding her arm for quite a bit." Amelyn glanced at the man's hand clenching on my arm.
She had an uneasy expression on her face but kept a smile.
The man did not look, even once, at Amelyn, and instead he continued observing me.
"Did you go in a local market area days ago?" He suddenly asked out of the blue.
I thought about it but was quite surprised by the question.
"I go to the shops almost every day." I spoke truthfully.
Me and sir Exios go by the shops often, so I wouldn't really know what he meant by 'days ago'.
He gave a smirk and crouched down.
We were at the same height now, and his face was shown well.
'Indeed, he really looks like Ms. Crimson.' I stared at him, while imagining the similar traits that him and Ms. Crimson has.
"Mhm, then did you encounter a little boy? A boy who had golden hair and green eyes?"
'Ah, that kid.' I instantly recalled that moment as he had such nice golden hair and mesmerizing green eyes.
Green eyes that looked like emeralds.
"Ah, i- "As I was about to answer, Amelyn grabbed my hand.
"We have to go home, it's late. Our parents must be worried now." She suddenly spoke with a nervous tone, while smiling gently at the man.
The man finally took his eyes off me and looked at Amelyn.
He smiled at her and released his hand from my arm.
"Well, look at the time. You must indeed go home before your parents gets more troubled."
"Yes, thank you again for saving my friend! We will go now- "
"How about I accompany you, to make sure that you two get home safely?" He insisted as he smiled at us.
Neither did me or Amelyn gave him a response, as I felt that Amelyn was quite uncomfortable.
But why would she be so uncomfortable to someone who looked like a knight?
'Knights are good people, right?' But this knight seemed a bit different.
"They are with me."
I turned my head and looked behind me and Amelyn, as someone with a familiar voice spoke and interrupted the awkwardness.
My eyes widened to the sight.
Two people, who had different attires, and yet look so identical to each other.
"Ms. Crimson?" I looked at her as she walked towards us.
'They really do look alike.'
Amelyn eventually noticed how they are so similar, she kept looking back at the man and at Ms. Crimson repeatedly.
But I also did the same.
"You don't need to do that. They were with me this whole time; you can go back to what you were doing before." She said in an unkind tone.
I was dumbfounded to what she said.
But the man, whose smile faded quickly as he saw Ms. Crimson, glared at her.
He slowly stood back up.
"Ah, is that so?" He adjusted his attire as he spoke.
"Yes, sorry to have disturbed you. We will go now." I felt Ms. Crimson's hand on my back, as she gently pushed the both of us forward.
"Is that all you have to say? Not even a 'hello' to our first encounter after a long time?"
Ms. Crimson stopped and gave a sigh.
"We can catch up another time."
"Oh, I have all the time right now. How about we talk while I accompany all of you?" He brought back the smile on his face while moving next to Ms. Crimson.
Ms. Crimson gave a severe look at the man, as if she did not want to do any of the things he just said.
"That is kind of you, but really, we don't need any of your service.
You must be busy right now, as I just saw plenty of royal guards roaming around the town, and yet strangely enough I find you playing with little kids instead of working."
"Making sure that you all can be delivered safely to your houses is my priority too.
It's still considered work."
Ms. Crimson grabbed mine and Amelyn's hand and started walking.
The man followed us and kept walking the same pace next to Ms. Crimson.
And as both of them were next to each other, the doubtfulness was cleared.
'They are twins.'
"Suit yourself." Said Ms. Crimson, as it looked like the man did not want to leave us alone.
"Is she your kid? No, that's impossible. You would be such a terrible mother and wife that no one would actually want to have kids with you." He ridiculed Ms. Crimson.
"And what if she is?" Ms. Crimson talked as if she was annoyed by the man.
"I'm sure that she's not, and you wouldn't want that to be the case if she were." He glanced at me while keeping a smile on his face.
"You talk too much as someone who works hard and needs to be serious all the time. Are you also like this at the Imperial Palace?"
"At least i have a well-paid job. What about you? Where have you been all this time?"
Ms. Crimson closed her eyes, as if she was triggered by the things he has been saying.
Meanwhile Amelyn kept looking at me with a confused face, but all I could give her was a confused expression as well.
"How about you act as a knight like you are, instead of being so informal and disrespectful?"
"To you? Never." He scoffed.
While the two kept on bickering to each other, we were getting closer to the tavern.
And as we got closer, men, dressed like the man next to us, started appearing in our way, walking around.
Some of the guards noticed the man next to us and gave him a formal salute, by bowing down.
"Say, why are there so many guards around town?" Ms. Crimson asked the question that I have been pondering for a while.
And as I looked at the man, waiting for his response, he looked at me, causing our eyes to meet.
"It's a problem I can't disclose to anyone outside the Imperial Palace." He paused for a moment.
"But… if you happen to see a little girl, with long black hair, who has a strange extreme amount of energy… Then maybe it can help us solve the problem." He smiled at me and then at Ms. Crimson.
Ms. Crimson glanced at me and then looked forward, giving a little sigh.
"A little girl? How can a little girl have such energy?" She asked.
He looked intently at Ms. Crimson before responding.
"That's why we're searching for her, maybe she can give us answers. That's all." He shrugged.
Ms. Crimson stopped and looked at Amelyn.
"I guess this is the way to your house, right?"
"Yes, it is. Thank you!" Amelyn smiled at Ms. Crimson.
She then came to me to give a hug.
"See you tomorrow, Liliana." She whispered.
And after that she bowed to the man.
She walked a few steps away and got in front of a house in which she opened the door.
But for a moment she paused and gave me a look.
I waved at her and smiled.
She gave a smile in response before entering the house and closing the door.
"You did not notice any strange flowing energy when you came back here?" The man interrupted the silence.
"No, I was not alerted to anything in particular." She glared at the man's eyes before turning away and started walking again, holding my hand.
"But I was clearly aware by your presence here, due to the massive search party for just a little girl."
'Why are these two in constant tension with each other…' I thought as I was getting a bit tired by their bickering.
"So, who is that little girl?"
"Just someone in my care, so don't bother."
We were finally approaching the Tavern, as it was in front of us by just a couple of steps.
"How can I not? She looks like the little girl we're searching."
'Me?' I thought.
We were finally in front of the door.
Ms. Crimson stopped and looked at the man, grasping the handle.
"And so?
Have you finally weakened or what?
Don't you sense her energy?
She doesn't have that much of energy and she's weak as a butterfly.
There are other kids who might look like the girl you're searching for, but instead of searching for the appearance, search for the flowing energy as you can sense it easily.
But I'm guessing that you don't sense any at all, otherwise you wouldn't come at us and bother us throughout the whole journey."
Ms. Crimson opened the door and let me inside first.
"Thank you for the pointless service." She closed the door, leaving the man outside.
She was still standing next to the door, looking down the wooden floor.
She let a deep sigh and collapsed.
"M-Ms. Crimson!" I exclaimed at her and instantly rushed to her.
I looked at her, all worried.
She covered her face and was in a shell type position.
"I'm okay, I just need a moment." 'Why… why out of all people is he here. I can't believe I had such courage to defend the kid and act like everything is okay. He might know that I lied in some parts, but I tried my best.' Ms. Crimson shuffled her hair with her hands, in a frustrating manner.
"Is Exios here?" She asked me, still looking down the floor.
I looked around, but there was no sight of him.
But it was strange, as the Tavern, during this time, should be open and filled with people.
I decided to walk through the door that led through stairs.
"Sir Exios?" I loudly called out for his name, but no answer.
I looked at Ms. Crimson and walked towards her.
As I did, I noticed a piece of paper on top of one of the tables.
I took the paper and read it.
After reading the paper, I was confused and decided to give the paper to Ms. Crimson.
I handed her the paper, waiting for her to take it.
And as she finally looked up to me, she noticed the paper and took it.
Her eyes widen and quickly stood up.
"You have got to be kidding me!" She shouted.
'Liliana, please give this to lady Crimson.
Crimson if you are reading this, take care of her while I'm gone.
I'll be back by tomorrow night.
Someone asked for my presence, and if I don't show up, they might come in the Tavern and cause too much attention.
And you already know who that someone is, so I ask for your understanding.'
That was the context on the paper.