Chapter 24

After seeing Lady Prestine gets back to her sleep. Sahana look at Baley who's obviously trying himself to calm down as well.

"Be true to your words. There's no saying when will this thing happened again." Sahana mumble through his breathe.

Baley opened his eyes. Scratching his forehead, he look back at Sahana irritated. "You really irritates me most of the time. You thought I was bluffing after seeing the Lady acted that way? Aren't ya' just so full of yourself now? Hmm? SIR Sahana?"

Sahana clicked his tongue and ready to leave. "Be a bit useful.."

Baley roll his eyes and glare at Sahana's back. He was really leaving this time?

"Whatever..." He talked back and let him leave the room. "Now that she has calmed down, I can understand how you felt back then. The way lady Prestine cried. The way she was so scared. She's becoming more and more like Miss Haniaen.."

Sahana stops his pace and look back at Baley. What he said was all true. "There's no evident that can prove everything about your suspicion, yet."

"There's no way that her spirit just reacted with your mana."

"There's the truth about that..." Both of them quited down.

When Baley finally stops talking he continued his way out of the room. "If she's really Miss Haniaen, your sister, was that even possible in the first place?"

That question was left hanging. No one answered. No one is sure about the answers too.

It was just their notion.

Miss Haniaen, who went missing years ago. No one was able to recover her remains. Neither saw her after that hurricane. It was as if she was swallowed by it.

Haniaen, Sahana's sister that he cared so much that he almost gone mad back then. Losing himself, losing his reasons to hold onto life. If it wasn't only for their master.

He must have gone his mind too.

The only light in his life. Haniaen, the only reason why he wanted to get stronger back then. But it wasn't even enough to protect her.

'Don't let them take me away, brother.'

Sahana closed his eyes when he remember those words. He disappear in the thin air while trying to remember her well-being.

Baley sighed when Sahana left like that.

'So rude!' He thought.

He grabbed the small chair and seated into it. He wanted to stay beside Prestine. Well, he can brag about how she calmed down because of him too.

Smirking to himself, he lighted the small candle using his magic.

'If she wakes up in the dark, she must be scared again.'

**

Eiliff, who just arrived inside Prestine's room was a bit surprise to see Baley with her. He went out for a few invistigations regarding the incident that involved the lady. He wasn't sure about the results yet.

But it was surprisingly to see Baley guarding her.

"Master, you are back." Baley who bowed it's head to him.

"It was all false evidence Baley, they don't even match with Sahana's informations." He said.

He look at Prestine's sleeping face. Infuriated when he witness those tears from her eyes. "She woke up a little while ago, master.."

Baley answered him even without asking. "She was so scared."

"This will take her time to recover and to finally forget about everything." Eiliff

He sit on the bed as slow as possible not to wake her up. He had a long day. It makes him more tiring hearing Baley's words. "She got traumatized."

"Indeed.." Baley said and started moving to leave their master with Lady Prestine. "You have to rest now My lord.." He said and bowed his head before leaving.

Eiliff continued to stare at Prestine's sleeping face. This wasn't the first time he's doing that.

He's been secretly coming to her room ever since the first day they arrived at the tower. He kept it a secret, not to let Prestine know of that.

Until the night he was finally able to sleep beside her.

When he heard the sound of closing door, he rested his eyes for a second and exhales.

No one's aware of it, but being with her makes him calm down. All of the nightmares he's been having every sleeps was all vanished with her. She was like his placate.

She's unconsciously soothes all his worries. She can make him calm down even hearing her deep sleeping breathes.

'You have to wake up soon,'

Eiliff who's now lying in bed beside Prestine closed eyes and about to sleep, when Prestine move.

He opens his eyes to notice Prestine's hands shaking, the room is warm. He was sure about the weather. But for her to be shaking like this. He got up and pull the blanket to cover her. But what he heard from her stunned him.

"Don't touch..me.."

He gritted his teeth and tried to hold her hand. It was unconsciously slapped by Prestine's hand.

"Prestine!" He moved closer to wake her up. She must be having a nightmare.

"Prestine...!"

"Don't!"

Prestine's eyes widen when their eyes met. Her eyes wet with tears.

"You were dreaming..." He said in a calm voice.

"Eiliff..." Even her voice was trembling.

"Yes, I am here.." He answered.

"W-what happened? What are those?"

Eiliff raise his hand to wipe her tears. It was just for a second but he felt that Prestine flinched when his hand touched her face.

"Get more rest, everyone's worried about you, you know that right?"

"Y-yeah, I saw Sahana. And Baley.. is Flora okay?"

"Everyone's fine. Except you, you have been sleeping for a week already."

"A week?"

Eiliff smiled when he felt that she had calmed down. "Yeah, does this still hurt?" He ask and gently touch her forehead.

"I hit my head because of the impact, of course it hurt like hell.."

"So weak..." He tried teasing her. Smiling more likely mocking.

"I really, really wanted to hit you right now.."

He smirk at her and laugh. "You are not in the condition to do so Lady,"

"I know that so well!" She scoff at him. "Where were you when that happened?"

"I was at the border of the territory, I was checking the area when I heard about what happened. I tried to get back as soon as possible, but I was too late.." He explained.

"Sahana..."

"Yes? What about him?"

Prestine close her eyes, as if remembering something about Sahana.

"H-he looked scary back then, but when he came here, he looked different.."

"Sahana may look like a weakling, but he's different when mad."

"That was obvious.. He always looks so gentle.. I w-wasn't expecting to see him like that.."

"Were you scared?" Eiliff tried to comb her hair with his fingers.

"I really was..t-they were really scary."

Eiliff stops his hand when she started tearing up.

"You are safe now, I am here with you right now..."

"But, you weren't there when that happened!"

"I'm sorry.." He said, feeling guilty for leaving the inn back then. Clenching his fists with anger. "Sahana cleaned them up properly, and left the one who hit you barely alive."

"Eiliff..."

"Hmm?"

"Sta..y"

Eiliff smiled to himself when he heard her say that. She wanted for him to stay with her? Even without her asking that, he'd obliged to stay with her.

It's already been few nights that he was unable to stay with her. But hearing her said those words, makes him felt elated.

Morning came and Eiliff woke up earlier than Prestine.

The sun has already set. He slowly got up and was prepared to leave when Prestine opened her eyes.

"Are you leaving now?" She asks that made him laugh. "With you doing that makes it look like that you have been sneaking in here."

"Good morning." He said instead of retorting back to her words.

She didn't answer her, instead she closed her eyes again as if going back to sleep. He put his palm against her head and smile.

"We will leave here as soon as you recover."

"Where to?"

"There are two more towns before reaching the red tower, so you must be well enough to travel."

"Yeah..."

"The next town's weather is winter. And I've heard you like winter season? If you wanted too, we could stay there for a few days.."

"Winter season huh?"

"Yes, winter season. Are you still hurt? Does your head still hurt?" All of a sudden he ask me.

I got curious as to why he ask me that. I was about to ask him about his question when the loud sound of opening door stops me.

The three idiots who suddenly barged in.

"My Lady!" Idiot one. (Baley)

"You are finally awake!" Idiot two. (Chess)

"I am so happy to see you again!" Idiot three. (Arcon)

I was stunned when I saw them act like that. No it was like I was caught off gaurd by them! I didn't do anything wrong!

When I look at Eiliff who also got stunned and wasn't able to leave because of these three!

"What the..." Eiliff who seemed surprise. "What are you doing here early this morning?!" His voice ask full of annoyance.

Baley smirk and look at us. He was smiling like crazy!

"My goodness, to witness this! To witness the two of you!"

"Goodness heavens!" Chess. "To see them early this morning together."

"I don't even know where to start by asking." Arcon who also seemed harmonized with the two idiots.

"What are you talking about?" It was me who ask them.

With those suspicious looks, I have a doubt that whatever they are thinking was neither good to hear.

"My lady! I am so happy to finally see you wake up! After the long week being bound in your bed. It pains me everytime I see you in your bed unconcsious!" Baley who even put both of his hands to his chest.

"It was really painful, that every visit I did, I always witness you cry in your dreams!" Chess who's even shaking his head with disbelief.

"Stop being melodramatic guys.." I glare at them.

"My lady!" Another person came in. It was Sahana with those big round eyes, ready to cry a river. "My lady!"

Their actions are weird. The way they look at me and Eiliff with those suspicious eyes.

I tried to calm down by sighing. When I look at Eiliff who I thought was leaving, now sitting on the edge of the bed across me, he was also sighing.

"My lady!" Sahana who rushed to my side. "Are you still in pain? Does anything hurt? Do you feel nauseous?"

Nauseous? All of a sudden? Is he talking about the wound in my forehead?

The three idiot came beside me too. Baley even sit beside me and check me with those doubting eyes. "You didn't get bitten by a bug again, right?"

"A bug?!" Chess, who look at Baley's smiling face.

I heard Arcon sighed loud and look at Eiliff.

"By the way Master, why are you here early?"

"You shouldn't be asking master about that!" Baley.

"Of course you shouldn't Arcon! So stupid!" Chess.

"What the hell is going on?" I ask again.

"Hmm... I think no bug bites here.." Baley said, holding his chin looking at me intently!

"Guys?"

"Don't mind them, my lady." Sahana. "Are you still in pain?"

"It stings a bit, but I think it's enough for me to hear all your answers with my question. What are you all doing here?" I look at Baley. He stands up and rested his arms to his chest.

Smiling at me. "We came here to check on you, what else?"

"And, we weren't aware that Master was also here. Did he come earlier than us?" Chess.

"Oh, please don't tell me.." Arcon look at Eiliff's way. "Did you sleep here Master?"

My heart started beating when Arcon asks that. Don't tell me, they knew about it, and decided to gossip about it!

Looking at Sahana who's doing the same at me. Trying to smile the tension I am feelng. "I feel better now.."

The three idiots kept changing looks from me to Eiliff's way.

"He He.. I should have known not to bother.." Baley mumble to himself that I heard. His voice became nervous as well.

I look at Eiliff who suddenly became quiet.

"I have to go now." He said that and disappear!

He didn't even bother looking at me!

Right after Eiliff left, the three of them sit on the floor, looking at me.

Sceptical looks, are what they are giving me.

"Guys?"

"Did master sleep here?" Chess.

"It was pretty obvious." Baley.

"He didn't do anything to you right? My lady?" Chess.

"Did he let you sleep peacefully?" Arcon.

"Please tell us My lady!" Sahana.

"What the hell is wrong with you four?" I ask them.

"J-just let us know if he did try harm you! My lady." Baley.

"Why would he do that?!" Chess. "Didn't master commanded that the lady must be kept safe?!"

"Then why must he sleep here with the lady?!" Arcon.

"Stop these nonsense!" Sahana said then look at me. "Did he do something to make you uncomfortable?"

Oh, wow Sahana! You just really get along with them so well!

"Guys, he came in to check on me. It was me who ask him to stay overnight. Okay? Nothing with all those doubt looks you are giving me, he was here to comfort me."

Baley and Chess who's overreacting finally calmed down. But Arcon kept looking at me. Suspiciously. Tsk!

Sahana calmed down as well. When the four of them finally calmed down. They got to ask me questions about my well-being. They were all worried about me. That's a heart warming emotion I got there.

With their concern and presence I suddenly remembered my friends. Ellis, Tessa and Adriane. If this all happened in my world. For sure Ellis would be the first to panic. Adriane would start nagging me like a mother. She must kept reprimanding me how to take care of myself, and so on. And yet Tessa, the one who's more calm will nag at the two.

I miss them.

"I missed you guys.." I randomly said thinking that these three idiots are the male versions of my friends.

Sahana being Sahana, smiled at me.

"So we are..." Sahana and Arcon said in unison. Baley and Chess smiled at me too.

What a bright smile to start this day.