2

I came into the station at three in order to take my shift, but was stopped by the front entrance officer and told I had received a call from the royal city. I went into the only room of the station with a telephone and dialed the number I was told. The phone rang for a moment before a man spoke, "Hello?"

I cleared my throat, "Good afternoon, this is Lieutenant Grove from the Lakes View station. I was told that I received a call from this number and that it was urgent."

"Ah, yes! Eva! This is Prince Asher. I have a large favor to ask of you."

I was startled, "If there is something I can help you with, Prince Asher, I would be happy to do so!"

He lightly laughed, "You don't need to be so formal towards me, Eva, we were childhood friends after all," He sighed, "Anyway, I need you to secretly transfer the Wielder you are in possession of at the moment. Due to her young age, I am sure her parents will try to stop her transfer so in order to keep her transfer unknown to the other Wielders I need you to pretend to be her mother. I have already sent two of my soldiers your way so that they can act as the father and son in order to help you get her here without looking too out of the ordinary. Also, I will have to ask you to not take any crowded ways of transportation. The less you are seen, the better."

I leaned on the brick wall beside the phone holder, "Of course, Prince Asher. But it will take a while to get to the royal city without taking the train or major highways, so we will likely get there in three days if all goes according to plan."

"Splendid! I have already informed the soldiers that you will be in charge and that they must follow all of your orders, so I will be counting on you, Eva."

"Of course, Prince Asher. I will not let you down."

"My men should arrive late tonight or early morning."

"Alright, I will see you in three days." I said before hanging up. I went to the detainment room and alleviated the officer inside from their shift, "Kairi, tonight we will be leaving."

"Really?" She asked as she came and sat in my lap after I sat down in the chair, "You're going with me?"

I nodded, "I will be playing your mother along with two other soldiers that will be arriving later that will act as your father and brother. You must either choose to follow me willingly so that I will not have to keep your hands tied up or I will keep you tied up the entire trip."

She smiled and spreads her elbows so that she could wrap her arms around my neck without pulling on the ropes on her hands, "You're the first human I have ever enjoyed to spend time with, so I will not struggle. I will follow you willingly and listen to all of your orders, but you must promise me something."

I looked to her purple eyes, "Promise?"

She nodded happily, "You must promise you will not leave my side until we reach the capital. If you promise that I will follow any of your orders, I'll even kill other Wielders."

This girl was very odd, "Alright, I promise to not leave your side."

She cheered and then kissed my cheek, "This is great! It's like we're going on an adventure!"

I came back for my last shift of the day, which started at 9, and brought with me a bag that had only the essentials for me along with some clothes I thought might fit Kiri and would make her look more human. I cut the rope binding her hands before I helped her change into the tight-wasted, white dress that had only two underskirts so it would not be very hot. I also got her into a pair of tight laced shoes so she could walk in the woods if needed, "Aren't you going to change Miss Grove?"

I nodded as I took out a light blue dress much like Kairi's dress, "Yes, but you should start calling me mother."

She giggled, "Right!"

"Could you turn away, Kairi?"

She stared at me as I refused to remove my shirt, "Why?"

I frowned, "Don't ask questions, just follow my orders," I hissed and she quickly turned on her heels so I could quickly change, "Alright, you may turn back around now."

She turned on her heels again before watching me lace my own shoes, "Wow! Your hair is so long and pretty! It is a shame this job makes it so you must keep your hair inside your hat!"

I looked to the girl and if you did not look at her eyes closely, she looked just like a human girl, "My older brother used to tell me he liked my hair long, so I refuse to cut it." A knock sounded at the door and I quickly went over to it to see three men, "Stay here, Kairi, I will be right back." I went out the door and when I shut it I was surprised to see all three men staring at me. "Officer Trope, would you please focus?" I asked with a snarl.

"L-Lieutenant Grove! I did not recognize you for a moment!" The officer stuttered as he blushed, "These two soldiers say they are here to escort you and the Wielder to the capital."

I nodded and then bowed slightly to the two soldiers, "Yes, you are the men Prince Asher told me were coming. It is nice to meet you, I am Lieutenant Grove."

"We should get going." The soldier with black hair commented and I nodded.

I opened the detainment room door and looked inside, "Kairi, it's time to go. Grab my bag and bring it with you, please." She quickly skipped out of the room but all three men took a few steps back in shock as this killer laughed while grabbing my hand and taking it hostage.

"It's time for adventure!" She giggled before swinging my arm around, "Say, Mother, are these soldiers the ones joining us?"

I nodded before passing the three men while leading Kairi behind me by our joined hands, "Now you have to keep fairly unseen, Kairi, otherwise we will be attacked by other Wielders."

"Got it!" She sang before stopping as we reached the horse drawn wagon, "I will put your bag in the wagon, Mother." She said before taking my bag and hopping into the wagon.

The two soldiers came out shortly, but they were both changed into normal clothing. The younger, brown haired soldier got into the wagon area with Kairi as I sat in the front bench beside the older, black haired soldier. We started off but I looked back when Kairi grabbed my hand and held it tightly, "How long will our journey be?"

"Most likely, it will take two days."

I looked to the brown haired soldier in the wagon, "May I know your name?"

He watched my hand that Kairi held, "I am Meron."

"And I am Aric," Said the man beside me, "What is your name, Miss Grove?"

"Eva," I replied, "And this Wielder's name is Kairi."

"I have never seen a Wielder that is so clingy towards a human."

I nodded, "Neither have I, but Kairi made a pact with me."

"What sort of pact?"

I looked to the Aric, "She promised to not disobey me during this trip and follow all of my commands as long as I would stay by her side until we reach the capital."

"Why would she ask you to stay at her side when she is supposed to kill humans?"

I shrugged but tilted a little when Kairi pulled my arm as she hugged it, "I don't particularly dislike humans and I really like Mother."

"Why is Eva so different?"

Kairi thought for a moment, "I'm not really sure! I just know I enjoy spending time with Mother and am lonely when she isn't around."

I patted Kairi's head, "I have met and fought many Wielders in my life, but Kairi seems more human than the rest of them."

"Do you get a lot of Wielders out in the Lakes View area?" Meron asked.

I shook my head, "Kairi is only the second Wielder I've seen in this area, but I have not lived in Lakes View for all of my life."

"Oh? Where were you born?"

I looked ahead on the trail and pulled away from Kairi's grip, "I'm not sure," I replied, "I was found by the King's soldiers as a young child."

"Were you an orphan?"

I shook my head, "No, I had a family, but they were murdered when I was a child."

"Do you remember which of the King's soldiers found you?" Aric asked quietly to change the subject from my depressing memories.

I nodded, "I believe he is now the General of the royal soldiers, his name is Gonen."

Aric nodded, "Yes, he has been for a few years now."

I smiled, "I'm glad to hear that."

The rest of the ride was silent until we stopped in the forest to rest at around midnight. Aric and I went into the wagon with Meron and Kairi before we all received blankets and tried to sleep. Kairi quickly came over to me and laid her head in my lap. The two of us and Meron slept since Aric insisted on guarding first. I was woken up as the world was less black by Meron since it was my turn to guard as he, Kairi, and Aric slept. I got out of the wagon quietly and went to check on the horses. Luckily no one came near while the others slept so I woke them at daybreak. Aric quickly came into the front and joined me on the bench. As we started moving I turned back to Kairi to see her watching Meron fold the blankets, "Kairi, help Meron." She quickly nodded and started folding while I turned back around to watch the trial ahead.

"Miss Eva," Aric said quietly and I looked to him as he focused on the road, "Prince Asher seemed overly concerned about your well being when he spoke to me. He said that if anything were to happen to you that both Meron and I would be severely punished."

I sighed, "I'm sorry about that."

"What is your relationship with the Prince?"

I looked to my hands that were in my lap, "After Gonen rescued me I was brought back to the king and he asked me to become Prince Asher's playmate. I stayed at Prince Asher's side until he became betrothed since I knew his soon-to-be wife did not approve of our close relationship."

"They became engaged last year."

"I had heard rumors about that. So his fiancé is now living at the royal home?"

"Yes, along with her older brother."

I turned back when Kairi took my hand in hers, "You're concerned?" She asked with worried eyes and I looked away.

"Yes, along with other emotions."

"Why?"

I looked to the sky, "I will most likely not be allowed to be with Prince Asher if his fiancé is living in the royal home. She dislikes me."

"Why would someone dislike you?"

I smiled towards her, "Jealousy."

"Is that a human emotion?"