Chapter Thirty-Seven

The training grounds was filled with warriors cries, clashing opponents and the sent of steel and sweat was heavy. I sat on the stairs and watched the fighting as Lance brought me some water to sip on. Lance sat next to me and we watched the fighting in mild interest.

"How old are you?" He suddenly asks and I paused my sipping my water to reply.

"Four, how old are you?" I ask and he smiles.

"I'm six, but you seem much more mature then four. I heard the knights that caught us talking about you, they were speaking about how they always forgot you were still a little kid. Why do you work so hard anyways?" He asks and I remain quiet for a moment before answering simply.

"I need to be capable of protecting what I have." I reply and he stared at me before laughing.

"Isn't your mother supposed to be saying that and doing that? Why do you think you have to protect her?" I laughed in a harsh short laugh before staring out over the field.

"I never knew my dad. I could lose my mom any day, and I could lose all my friends too. I don't want to lose what I have, and I never want to be helpless." He stared at me but I didn't meet his stare and I simply looked over the field and thought about the resolution I had made when I was younger.

***

When I had been born I was initially incredibly confused and scared. Once I calmed down and realized my situation I vowed at becoming a strong person so I couldn't be bullied like my last life. I had worked like a slave through all the paperwork my grandfather and uncle could throw at me. When I finished that I was to study and get top marks on everything. I always longed to be carefree but I had had to grow up after my mom died, and live at the mercy of those people. I couldn't even call them my family. I had vowed later to protect my mom and my friends so I never lost people again. I know it's impossible but I want to at least try and not be helpless to my and their fates. Perhaps it's the childish body that's influencing me to think like this, but that's alright. I will become a sword and shield, and keep what I have.