-Jacob.
-Yeah?
-Is it normal to feel like I'm being watched?
I stopped pushing the shopping cart and turned my head around after listening to the kid's question.
-Kid, what are you talking about now?-I asked as I took the hood of my cape off.
-Well… Ever since we got out of the river I've felt like we're being watched…
I looked at our surroundings, inspecting every possible spot where someone could be watching us from. After scanning the area with my eyes, I leaned down and flicked the kid's forehead with my finger.
-You're being paranoid
-I'm serious!-she said while pouting.
The kid tried to slap me, but after seeing that I dodged her attack, she pouted even harder. I laughed at her reaction, messing her hair in an attempt to calm her down.
-It's okay that you're being wary of your surroundings in times like these, but paranoia won't be helpf-
My words got interrupted by a crackling sound that emerged from the trees behind me. With a swift arm movement, I opened my cape and pulled the kid inside of it.
-Stay here for now…-I whispered to her as I took out a combat knife from my left side.
-But I want to help…
-No, you're not ready yet.
I diverted my attention from the kid to the source of the sound. From behind a tree, I could spot a few leaves and sticks moving abnormally.
-You want to help, kid?-I asked and waited for her answer. After seeing the kid nodding under my cape, I gave her an order-Pass me one of the throwing knives, will you?
The kid searched in all of the pockets of my cape and after a few seconds, she gave me the knife I had requested from her. I stood up and put the combat knife in my right hand, holding the throwing knife with my dominant hand.
-You know what? Give me another throwing knife…-I ordered her while doing a sign with my right hand.
-Another?! Just how many of those do you have?!-she asked with a whisper.
-That's not important right now, just give me another!
I waited for a few seconds, hoping that she would get the knife quickly. During that time, my eyes never left the tree.
-Here…-the kid said while peeking her hands out of the cape.
-Thank you…-I gave her a smirk-Now hold on to this one.
The kid gave me a mean look as I gave her the combat knife, but instead of throwing a tantrum or starting an argument, she complied. As I stopped looking at her and started to aim at the tree, I felt the kid hugging my leg with one arm. I let out a small sigh and shook my head, laughing for a brief moment before focusing on the tree again.
-Ok! I'll give you two options, so you better be grateful!-I shouted in the direction of the abnormal tree-You can either get out with your hands in the air or you can stay there and watch yourself be killed by my knives… I don't care which one you choose, so it's up to you!
Right as I finished speaking, my hand twitched at the sight of a man with his arms up. I laughed innerly, knowing that I wouldn't have to waste much energy with him now.
I watched carefully as the man took a couple steps out of his hiding spot, following his every move with my hand. But then, out of nowhere, the man plopped on the ground.
-Is it over?-the kid said from under my cape.
-I guess?
-Can I come out now?
-I don't know, can you?-I laughed as I put the two knives I was holding into my right hand.
The kid came out of hiding, giving me a mean look and blowing a raspberry. She then turned around, seeing the motionless body of the man in front of us.
-Jacob!
-What?!
-Didn't you say something like "Oh, let's not kill people unless we have to"?!-she said while imitating me.
I took a deep breath, trying not to snap and do something regrettable.
-Look, it doesn't matter if I did or did not say that, I didn't even touch him.-I showed both knives in my hand to her, letting her know that there wasn't even a bit of blood on them-See?
-But you had 3 knives out! How can I know that there isn't one of them buried in him?!
-Because you have the third one, dumbass-I saved the throwing knives and then leaned down, flicking her forehead strongly.
The kid fell back, feeling the effects of the knockback of my attack. She dropped the knife in the ground and curled up in a ball.
-Hey, be careful with it!-I told her as I picked up the knife, putting it back in its place.
-You should be the one being careful! This one hurt a-
She tried to finish her complaining but got interrupted by a grunt behind her. We both got goosebumps as we took a few steps back, redirecting our attention towards the man in front of us.
The kid ran inside of my cape, hiding in it quickly. She then proceeded to look for one of the combat knives, placing it rapidly in my hand.
-This is a right handed knife…-I said while giving her an awkward stare.
-So?
-My dominant hand is the left one…
I pulled the kid by her shirt and got her out of my cape, placing the knife in her hands as I patted her back.
-Remember how we had to skip part of the first lesson before?-I said with a smile.
-Yeah?
-Well…-I patted her back repeatedly, encouraging her to walk to the front-after you check if that man is still alive or not, we can resume the lesson.
-Why me?
I raised my hand to her head's height, threatening to give her another forehead flick.
-Is this a good reminder?
The kid nodded and started to focus on the man. If she wanted to avoid another flick, she would have to check if the man was still alive or not.
She crouched in front of him and started poking his back with her left hand. The kid waited for a few seconds and then stood up.
-Seems dead to me.
-How can you tell?
The kid rolled her eyes back and pointed at the body with both of her hands. She groaned in frustration as I laughed at her movements.
-Isn't it obvious?!-she shouted as she pointed at the man.
-Well, not really…
-Then what else can I do to check if he's alive or not?!
I kneeled to the girl's height, holding her left hand with mine. Then, I put that hand in the vein on my neck.
-Can you feel it?
-Feel what?
-The goddamn vein palpitating!-I shouted
-Oh… yeah…-he responded calmly-What about it?
I looked to the ground, groaning in frustration because of the intellect of the kid.
-Well… why don't you touch that man's neck and check if it's palpitating?
-Ooooh…!-the kid turned around and ran towards the body-That way I can tell if his heart is moving or not!
I opened my eyes widely in disbelief of her lack of knowledge. I then punched the ground, trying to contain myself and not say something offensive.
-Yeah…-I said with a vein poking out of my forehead-good job thinking about it…!
The kid smiled at my comment and moved her hand over the man's neck, touching the vein that I indicated to her before. She waited for a few seconds and then, after feeling a faint palpitation, she got up quickly.
-He's still alive!
-Hooray…?-I asked awkwardly, not knowing how to give a proper reaction to that information.
I looked at the kid and then took a quick glance at the man. What was the next step after finding out that he was alive?
The kid started to get curious for the man, inspecting every inch of his immobile body. She started to check every pocket, trying to find anything that could tell us something about him. However, her search turned out to be useless, since she couldn't find anything useful in his pockets.
I waited for her as she inspected the man's body, supporting myself against the shopping cart. My eyelids began to feel heavy, almost closing themselves as I looked at the kid. Then, just as I was about to fall asleep, she shouted.
-Jacob!
-Wha-what?-I said with a confused and sleepy voice.
-What did your dad work as?
-Well… heh… not to brag, but he was the best blacksmith in the world.-I said as a cocky smile formed on my face.
-And how exactly can you tell his work apart from other blacksmiths?
I blinked twice. Her question was a bit specific, but instead of thinking too much about it, I just answered her.
-Hmm… Besides the quality of his pieces, all of his creations have a signature shine on them…
-A shine like this one?
The kid held the man's hand and brought it up. The light reflected on a ring in his hand, taking my breath away as I came to the realisation that it was one of my dad's works.
-Wha- but li- just… how?-I stuttered-I never knew that he made rings…
A proud smile formed on the kid's face as she looked at the ring. And just as that smile appeared, it disappeared in the blink of an eye, turning into a scared face.
The man moved his hand weakly and grabbed the kid's arm. Then, he raised his head and spoke.
-Talya… Help…
And right as he finished saying that, his head went back to the ground.
The kid got desperately out of his grasp and then ran to me, hugging me with tears in her eyes. Instead of paying attention to her, I looked at the man in front of us and his ring.
-Talya… Why do I feel like I've heard that name before? -I thought to myself while remembering the man's words.