There was the sound of nurous footsteps. Heels are treading across the floorboards. Their high-pitch voices sounded innocent and pure. Within the room, children were happily arranging books. Their small little hands are organizing hundreds of books piling on a round wooden table. These books were the last ones the pathfinders could find within the lost city of Loren.
Watching over the children were two people, one male, and one female.
At the far side of the room, surrounded by rows of high bookcases, one child aid to emplace a book into the third shelf of a bookcase. However, he couldn't reach it no matter how hard he tried. His eyes turned sullen, and a pout appeared on his lips.
"Having trouble, lad?" A woman spoke gently as she helped the boy place all the books on the shelf.
Beaming, the kid's eyes sparkled. He exclaid when he recognized the woman. "Thank You-!"
"Shhh..." Placing a hand on her lips, she silenced him.
"Oh!" The boy covered his mouth and whispered, "Thank you, Lady Pola."
Pola's eyes curved, and she ushered the boy away. The child turned back to wave at her before he went to join his friends.
anwhile, the woman who was watching over the children turned to his partner with confused eyes. "Have you seen the lady anywhere? Strange... she has been gone for a while now."
"No, I don't" The man shook his head.
They were oblivious of the backdoor opening at the back of the room.
Slipping out of the archive, Pola sighed as she ventured through the alleys. She pulled her hood down as she erges towards the open streets. Pola ca across different stalls selling ordinary objects that were currently priceless ever since the beginning of Kron. But she was not impressed and interested, so she kept moving. At last, she found herself standing before the gates of her destination.
Many people who wished to enter were driven away by fierce-looking Veresyahs.
Pola didn't like trouble, and she didn't have her authorization token with her. Saving herself the problem, she walked ahead until she saw no people. She slipped through the hidden cracks in the wall like how she used to do frequently before she was nad a noble lady. A frown appeared on her face as she pats away the dust on her skirt, annoyed by her not-so-presentable appearance.
No one noticed her. She's too quick and stealthy, the skills she acquired during the previous years since the fall of Zenin City. When she encountered Veresyahs, she would hide and collect information from the conversations they held.
"Have you seen the maeruthan yet?" A Veresyah elbowed his companion.
Pola paused as she crouched on the tree branch.
"Ugh, which one?"
"The one who caught our heir's eye. The..." He paused to rember. "Ah! The one with silver eyes!"
"Oh, him. Yeah, I saw. I just got dismissed from the Lord Marlov's arena a while ago. I believe he's letting the maeruthan reveal his ability. Perhaps, they're still going at it, right now."
This was all that Pola needs. Without making any noises, she leaped through the forest, heading towards the training arena of Veresyahs. The leaves fluttered as her figure whooshed past the trees. After several seconds, she found the area and quickly hid behind the viewing towers. Her heart was pounding as she forced herself to calm down.
'It's alright. It's just a peek.' She thought.
Gathering her wits, her body turned, and her eyes moved past the wall's edge. Simultaneously, a blast of cool mana spreads outwards. It hits her, and she flinches. The coolness entered her soul. It was incredibly refreshing and soothing. Surprised, she returned her gaze to the open arena.
Moulin was stretching. He was listening to Marlov's advice, and in turn, Moulin gave the Veresyah a bit of advice on strength control. He oblivious of how his pants that reached up to his belly button hugged the alluring curves of his legs, how his loose shirt made him look highly seductive, or how he nonchalantly swept his bangs revealing his pale forehead.
Pola grinds on her thumbnails. What is the third young master wearing?! She already knew Moulin was primarily unaware of how people looked at him. However, she could not accept the obvious leering gazes of those Veresyahs!
Especially the one with pale yellow eyes and gold-streaked antlers!
Verun felt a sudden chill.
"Hey, What're you doing here?"
Pola flinched, and she abruptly turned her head. "G-Ghana!" She exclaid. 'How did I not notice her presence?'
The female warrior raised her eyebrow as she scrutinized the young woman before. However, she was starting at Pola strangely longer than Pola thought.
"Ghana?"
"Uh, What?" Ghana blinked. Then, she cleared her throat, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Oh, Why are you here?"
"Oh, Um..." Pola paused, taking her ti to create a convincing excuse. However, before she could open her mouth, Ghana interrupted her.
"There's no use lying. I've been noticing your presence for the past week."
Pola pressed her lips together. 'But if she knew, how co she had only confronted her today?'
With a sigh, Ghana revealed an amused smile. There was an intrigued gleam in her blue eyes. "You ca to see Moulin, didn't you?"
"W-What? I..." Pola stepped back with knitted brows.
"Co on." Ghana grinned, and the sword on her belt clinked as she patted Pola's shoulder. "You know, Moulin isn't one of those maeruthans who are too distracted not to notice anything around them. Especially, a gaze that has been following him for days."
Pola stopped. "You an..."
Ghana nodded, "He noticed you since the first ti you ca to spy on him."
...
"The... young master did?" The young woman's expression was filled with shock. Her round eyes were wide and incredulous.
"Yes..." Ghana replied. "I guessed he didn't want to put you into shock again, so he didn't try to approach you or react."
"..."
Pola didn't know what to say. The words refused to escape her mouth. Does that an that he's currently aware of her right now? Pola's gaze lifted, eyeing the slender you who had his back turned to her. She realized that Moulin had never turned in her direction at all. As if he was striving not to show her his face.
Pola bit her lips. Her eyes are blinking away, the tears forming on the corner of her eyes. Admittedly, she was too nervous about facing her young master. It's been many years. And she spent those several years thinking that he was dead. She grieved a lot.
It was too sudden for her.
However, that was a few weeks ago. Currently, she wanted to see how her young master was faring. Maybe speak a word to him, smiling with him, or embracing him. Pola lowered her gaze wistfully.
Seeing her woeful expression, Ghana couldn't bear it any longer.
"Moulin!" She shouted. Her voice bood throughout the area. It made every single person cease their movents.
Moulin wasn't an exception. The young man turned his head. His heart was thundering wildly like a thunderstorm was whorling inside his chest.
Ghana was the first to reveal herself. She walked without care. It was her very dominant presence that made every single Veresyah fear her and admire her at the sa ti. Silver eyes watched as Ghana strode towards him. She was taking her ti, Moulin noticed. The woman's carefree attitude brought a smile to his face.
"Ghana..." Moulin greeted. He waved a hand at his opponent to pause their battle before returning his attention to Ghana. "What can I do for you, my friend?"
"Not ." Ghana clapped his shoulder. Her eyes then darted towards one of the viewing towers. "Her..."
Moulin didn't need to ask who Ghana was referring to. He already knew. But although he did, he was feeling a bit nervous. He didn't show it.
When Moulin's eyes shifted towards a particular viewing tower, Pola instantly hid herself. Pressing her lips together, She clenched her fists and heard the pounding of her heart.
Why was she hiding herself? No, she just wasn't ready for Ghana's sudden actions. What was that woman thinking?
"Pola?"
Pola flinched.
It was her young master's voice. Truthfully, they were no longer master and servant. They were just people now. It didn't matter anymore. She lets out a stuttering sigh.
"..."
Ghana blinked when Pola didn't respond. What was taking her so long? Murmurs entered her ears, and she swept her gaze to the Veresyahs behind them, who stiffened and stopped their complaints. They were annoyed that their session had stopped, and they wanted to continue training with the young lord. Feeling a slight irritation in her heart, Ghana only turned away.
Indeed, she had interrupted Moulin's ti. Perhaps, they should do this another day.
"Moulin, Forgive for the interruption..." She began apologetically.
"Oh. It isn't a bother, Ghana." Moulin tried to appease her with a smile. He wanted to freeze these muttering people behind him.
Hearing their voices, Pola suddenly felt panick rising inside her if she doesn't do this, who knows when she'll have the courage to do so again!
Confused and nervous, she shoved everything deep inside her and hurriedly stepped out of her hiding spot. A gust of wind blew past her and knocked the hood backwards, revealing her anxious expression.
"Y-Young master!" She shouted.
Silver eyes lifted. And Moulin stopped. He didn't realize he was holding his breath.
'Finally...' Ghana grinned with bright eyes.
The young woman, freckles dotting her cheeks, approached Moulin while ignoring the confused gazes around them. At every step, her heart drumd. And when she finally stood before with a fearless yet nervous gaze, she stuttered.
"H-How have you been?" This was all that her mind was able to deliver. Honestly, she was stiff and tense.
Moulin wasn't able to react after a few monts. Pola turned embarrassed, and Ghana had to elbow him to snap him out of his trance.
"A-ah? I..." Moulin blinked. His gaze t Pola's. Then, his eyes softened as if warm water doused his soul, giving him a brief feeling of anxious warmth before the refreshing cold.
"I'm fine." He said. His answer was abrupt, surprising Pola.
Hearing his answer, suddenly, tears began to fill Pola's eyes. She lets out a sob. Her sudden sadness caused Moulin and Ghana to panic.
Moulin hurried reached for Pola, speaking as gently as he can. "Pola? What's the matter-"
He was cut off when Pola suddenly stretched her arms and hugged the youth. Her shoulders shook, and her fingers trembled as they clutched on Moulin's back. On the other hand, Moulin was surprised. His arms slowly rested on Pola's back. And with a wistful smile, he embraced her and closed his eyes
The two people looked so sorrowful, were the thoughts of the Veresyahs around them.
Moulin slightly opened his eyes and was welcod by Ghana's frown. She didn't even bother hiding her distaste. Moulin teasingly raised an eyebrow which Ghana responded by rolling her eyes.
Moulin lowered his eyes, and he felt Pola embrace him tighter, followed by her relieved sigh.
"Thank you for coming back to us, master." She whispered.
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