25 A Meal For Your Thoughts

The night had lasted longer than I thought was possible. There was no way to escape the onslaught of questions from Obrecht's mother. She kept asking about what I thought about her son for some reason, but aside from answering it with an "a good person" statement, I simply persisted with my silence.

It was a good thing Halvalt had come in to drag his protesting wife away so I could get enough space to breathe. With only the aid of my body clock, I could tell it was morning. I didn't get that much wink of sleep.

I bury my face on my mask's fur as I cuddle it, before unwillingly getting up. Without noticeably moving any limbs, I stretch my muscles by tensing and releasing certain parts of my body. I miss the morning rays of the sun. Perhaps waking up inside a cave every time made me miss the times I awoke to the mottled sunlight falling on my face when I stayed with Evelyn.

Obrecht's parents had mentioned that the trial would happen in the morning, so I get up earlier. It's not like I can sleep any longer with all the hidden anxiousness I feel inside. Although my blank expression and motionless body might hide things from the Lycan guards, it might amount to nothing in the face of the Hunter-kind and their extraordinary people-reading skills. I'm still unsure whether that's a good thing or bad thing.

Noiselessly, I move to the door and open it. It squeaks in protest in the quietness of the early morning. I peek out but see no one around. The opposite side of the hallway I trekked yesterday seemed to lead to more rooms like mine. I head to the dining area the same place Obrecht's parents and I met.

The table in the middle was just about right, holding a few bowls of fruit and small vase of what seemed like wild flowers in shades of blue and yellow. Bypassing the table and the small kitchen in an alcove nearby, I study the two doors I saw yesterday.

Repeatedly looking at each of them, I decide to take the right door. I hold the knob and push it open to see an empty cave room with a partially large arching window. The floor was padded with a carpet and a few seat cushions were laid around a very low stylish table.

I sort of missed the sun and had only wanted to sky-gaze a bit, even if I only had to sit by doorway. Yet instead of leading me outside, the right door led me to the only room that had a paneless window. It was almost the size of me, spanning from half a head higher than me up to my thighs and being as wide as my armspan.

I try to suppress a sort of rambunctious feeling that came at the sight of a million crystals glimmering like tiny stars up on the skyline. I sat down in a trance, watching the sky—no, was it a cave? Then, am I in a cave within a cave?

Mother, the Hunter-kind didn't hide somewhere on the continent. They hid somewhere under it. Ah, how I wish you could see this too with Father and Tukare.

After a while, I look down on what seemed to be a small path etched at the side of what looked like canyon. Further than that, and the numerous hanging bridges here and there, was the line of small stores that had also started waking up one after the other. At the middle of these stores was a round amphitheater that sunk in a semi-circular fashion that stopped at the middle stage.

As I look down, I notice the shadows around the canyon decreasing. I look up to the ceiling of cave to see a small blue beam of light in the distance. I had not seen it before, but as it got brighter and brighter, the pulsing light rippling through the million crystals that shone even more dazzling than before.

The door behind me creaks and I hastily adjust the bandages over eyes and wear over my mask. At some point, I didn't even realize I had taken it off. I stand up to face her direction, as it is what I perceive as polite.

At the sight of me, Odeti breathes an audible sigh of relief.

Placing her hands on her hips, she says, "How about you help me make breakfast?" Although it was a question, her tone of voice meant that there was no room for negotiation.

A few hours later, it was time for the trial. We make our way out of the house with Halvalt leading and Odeti and I walking side by side at the back. We cross a few bridges that had made Odeti chuckle for some reason.

Was it because I grabbed the railings dearly in fear of falling a fair number of feet? She can't blame me for being scared, it was my first time! There was nothing to grasp at if you fell; no vines or branches, and the rocking of the bridge didn't make it feel any safer at all!

I try to justify myself in my mind.

After the series of turns in the caves and few staircases, we came out to the place where rows of shops had lined. The number of people slowly streaming in to occupy the seats in the amphitheater made me feel skittish.

Obrecht's mother greeted a few people while Halvalt nodded to a few guys, settling to talk with a bearded strong man that was just as tall as him. I heard him call the person, Amos.

Rigidly, I stand alone in the middle of all these strangers. Albeit unable to see their faces, I can see the outline of their faces like soft dark blue sketch. In addition to that, I can hear their voices, so I use these three things to try and remember them. Halvalt had mentioned before that these were the members of the Batrani that govern Lumea, so I think it would be useful to be able to recognize them.

"Oomf—" I grunt uncontrollably in a moment of inattentiveness. Out of nowhere, Obrecht had launched an jump attack behind me. He had his arms around my upper torso, hugging me ambiguously.

It was a good thing I wore a mask, or else I dare not look at anybody with the fierce blush painted over my cheeks.

"Videre! Are you better? Are you feeling alright now? Thank Aovialutre that you're already awake! Did you miss when you woke up? I bet you were surprised when you woke up, right? Have you met my Ama and Apa? I wanted to introduce you to them myself but I had to stay with Tito Amos!"

(A/N: Tita = Aunt; Tito = Uncle)

Unable to keep up with all his questions, I turn to Obrecht but feeling his breath near my face despite the mask, I plant my hand on his cheek and try to push him away.

"Ob—Obrecht", I shyly scold. "Let go! Can't breathe!"

"Oh! My bad!"

Obrecht releases me from his hold and I stare at the ground, refusing to meet anyone's eyes that I felt were piercing me. Despite the silence becoming thunderous, I am glad to have Obrecht beside me to walk it through. Unconsciously, my body inches over a bit nearer to where Obrecht was.

"So this is the guy?" A woman walks over from Odeti's side and grabs Obrecht by the neck. Obrecht childishly nods in response. He didn't have a chance to answer further when a serious voice talks over their conversation.

"It's better to start the trial now. Save your acquainting to after. You don't know whether that child could even be trusted."

My skin prickles at his pointed look, all the more my hankering to hide behind Obrecht, but I don't move. He snorts before turning back and sitting on one of the cushioned seat spread over a semi-circular carpet at the edge of the stage. It feels as if I am against a panel of judges, and one mistake can land me a ticket of expulsion.

"Don't mind old Ruzha", the woman beside me and Obrecht says. "He's always that grumpy."

"Isn't that you, Kali? The ever grumpy one", the guy named Amos teased, with a side glance.

"Ha", Kali says in a provoking tone. She raises her chin in defiance, her arms crossed over her chest.

Just when I thought she was start an argument, she walks over to her seat. The other older people also take their places and sit cross-legged on the other vacant cushions, while Odeti moves to sit with the crowd in the elevated seats. Every citizen of Lumea settled behind the Batrani. The sheer amount of eyes on me brought about difficulty in breathing, my skin stinging at their sharp gazes.

A hand takes mine and my head swerves to see Obrecht smile down at me. He mouths a word. Breathe, he says. Everything disappears for a moment and all I see is his smile.

That's right, I just need to breathe. Obrecht's still here with me.