Maya blinked, shocked at the sight in front of her.
'A plank?! What the…'
It was a long, weathered plank with a rough texture, covered in dirt and bearing the earthy scent of aged wood.
'…Not to mention, how did she drag the dang thing up to the attic?!'
Ignoring Maya questioning her own reality, Elena proceeded to drag it across the room, toward the big window at the back. Opening the window wide, she started pushing the long heavy thing outside.
Still in disbelief, Maya stared over Elena's shoulder as she propped it up to reach the curtain wall that was ever so slightly higher than their window sill. Miraculously, it was just long enough to reach it, and it alarmed Maya about how close their room was to the outside roaming with monsters.
'Is she on another drunk frenzy? Should I stop her?'
After securing it in place, dusting off her hands and proudly propping them on her hips, Elena glanced back at Maya.
"Do you think it would hold up?"
"Hold up what?"
"Us…"
Maya stared at her, wide-eyed.
"You're kidding?" she didn't like the direction this was heading to. "No way!"
"Eh? It looks pretty sturdy to me," Elena poked it with her foot, proving it wouldn't budge easily.
"No! In no world are we—or you—going to step on there!"
"C'mon. Live a bit. Where's your sense of adventure?"
"Where did you even find that thing?!" Maya frantically pointed at the plank as if it wouldn't be there if she did it with less intensity.
Elena sighed. "You ask unimportant questions."
"How did you even carry a seven-foot-long plank up the stairs?!" Maya continued with cross-examination.
Elena rolled her eyes.
"…And no one stopped you?"
"No one gives a damn. It's just another art project in their mind."
"Put it back before someone notices it missing."
"No one's going to miss a plank, Maya. It's a plank!"
Now, Maya sighed, pressing on her temples. It seemed pointless to even try arguing with this stubborn person.
"Actually, forget the plank. We have more important things to discuss."
"I didn't drag it here to forget it—"
"How could you leave me alone with Keith?!"
Elena paused for a moment. "Did he hit on you?"
"No…"
"Then what's the problem?"
"You are! I can't tell what's going on in that head of yours. You tell me to stay away from him and then leave me alone with him!"
"You get too caught up in little details."
'L-little details??'
"You know, Maya…" Elena casually grabbed one of her nearby knives and started carving lines into the wooden window frame that happened to be close. "You're one of few bold people who dare argue with me."
Maya flinched. Something Elena does so casually can completely change the mood. It seems facing those two girls earlier made her forget that Elena was the most intimidating person she knew. Those two were mere housecats compared to the panther that she shared living space with.
"…I like that about you. But I am also not very patient. Do you want to test the plank, or fuck off?"
Finishing her sentence, Elena climbed onto the window sill, leaning outside with a carefree demeanour, which made Maya's heart race with worry. Then, she used the knife she'd grabbed earlier to secure the plank from moving side to side.
Elena tossed a quick glance at Maya to gauge her reaction, before making her first step on the plank.
"Elena! Stop it! You'll fall!"
"Then you'll be rid of me," Elena said with an indifferent tone, ignoring Maya's protests, and taking another step.
Maya jumped forward to grab Elena's sleeve in a desperate attempt to stop her, which made Elena flinch. She turned her head back, shooting a glance at the hand grabbing onto her and then at Maya.
"I don't want to be rid of you," there was sincere concern in Maya's voice.
"There'd be no point to your sweet words if you'd be the one to make me lose my balance."
Maya quickly let go of her, mumbling an apology.
"Haa…" Elena inhaled. Then, with a smirk, she made a quick dash on the board.
"Elena!" Maya's voice became a high-pitched squeak.
However, before she could do anything more, Elena already stepped onto the wall surface and whistled, taking in her surroundings. "Ah! What a wicked view!"
Maya stared at her, her heart still wanting to pop out of her chest in fright. But she got there safe. Elena gave her a bright smile, beckoning her to join.
Maya swallowed her saliva. Should she do it? Surprisingly, it didn't seem as frightening doing it herself. Is it because she was an air mage and comfortable with heights?
Thinking about Elena falling was making her panic because she didn't know what to do in such a situation. Maya didn't feel confident of catching her or doing anything on that matter. But Maya herself… Even if she would slip and fall down, she was confident in landing without injuring herself even from this height, simply because her mentor drilled her on learning how to utilize her bending to soften her fall.
Tanya insisted they first learn how to deal with dangerous situations to minimize the risk of injuries later. In fact, because this was so high up, Maya was even more confident she would have enough time to react. Unlike being a klutz, tripping and falling from short heights with little time to react, this would give her plenty of time to manipulate the air and land as softly as a leaf.
Making a step forward, Maya felt exhilarated. However, on the windowsill, she had to face Leo's disapproving look, shaking his head.
'Leo, did you forget the dance Tanya made us do on small spaced-out footings of those tall pillars?'
Maya proceeded, first testing the board with her one foot. Elena was right. It did seem sturdy. She'd certainly found one thick plank.
Maya made her first step, putting her full weight on the plank. The wall was somewhat higher than the windowsill, so it was a slight incline. Suddenly thinking about the risk of the board sliding down, Maya glanced back to confirm the knife was securing it in place.
"Do you need a hand?"
Maya turned toward Elena's voice and was suddenly surprised by how close she was. Unknowingly, Maya already made it halfway there, and was now close enough for Elena to grab her if she wanted to.
Shaking her head, Maya stepped onto the wall. Now right beside Elena, from the commanding heights of the town curtain wall, she gazed at the breathtaking vista unfolding before her.
"It's amazing," Maya mumbled to herself.
The mountain forest below spread like an endless sea of emerald streaked with hints of warm, early autumn colours, each tree standing tall and proud, their fragrant essence wafting through the crisp mountain air. In the distance, snow-capped peaks painted the horizon in pristine white, their majestic presence contrasting with the verdant expanse below. The peaks stood as sentinels, silent witnesses to the passage of time and the secrets held by the ancient mountains. The air, thin and invigorating, carried whispers of unseen creatures and the rustling of leaves in the mountain breeze.
As Maya stood at the pinnacle of the citadel curtain wall, she felt a profound connection with the untamed beauty that surrounded her. It was funny since she had been outside before. But it seems only with some distance, looking from above—and without any spider webs in her way—could she feel the awe of the prolific wisdom of a mountain forest.
Her gaze shifted toward the faint melodic murmur of water. There must be a mountain stream nearby.
"Wanna go check it out?" Elena suggested as if she could hear her thoughts.
Maya looked at the high drop from the curtain wall, feeling dissuaded from the idea. It must be more than fifteen meters high.
"Elena, you are aware that people who go out there without an escort usually go missing, right?"
"It's daytime. Besides, I have a hunch we'll be safe even if something comes up."