Chapter 7.1

When the horses were no longer fit for riding, they still provided a good means of transportation for their load. On the way to the camp, they traveled in the musicians' wagon. Since Marno's school was not even a day's march away, they chose to take a footpath for the return journey. It led them through rough forest terrain, far from any roads and potential embarrassing encounters for Alina.

It was enough for her that Ero saw her like this, just like the musicians did. She didn't even want to think about the two robbers who were more likely to be dragged along behind the horses than to obediently follow.

The girl remained naked in their memory until her death. Just that alone made Alina wish she could die of shame.

Why did she do it anyway? She was a pretty girl who could have found a good husband long ago. Someone who would cherish her and give her everything she wanted. A kind farmer or young nobleman. Certainly not Ero, as many hoped! Including her father, who had established a school for sword fighting.

And there lay her problem! Although the number of students had increased lately, mainly children of simple farmers enrolled. Only a few nobles had found their way to them. Among them was her comrade Ero, with the honorable judge as his father. But that didn't mean things were going well. The aging knight simply didn't have what it took to lead them well; instead, he preferred to let his daughter work to provide training materials for them and enough gold to feed all the students and the old father.

For her father, this school was his pride and joy, but for Alina, it meant toil. There were moments when the old knight himself bought something, but this was a truly rare occurrence. She had to continue hunting down dark characters—robbers and criminals. They only rarely received a donation from their king, Ylias, King of Miro.

Some of their trained students found a permanent place in the army, which the king graciously acknowledged with thanks. Her father's strict principles dictated that his students had to reach a certain age before training began. In his opinion, women and children didn't belong to the weapon.

It was somewhat different for the boy Ero. He was just twenty, two years older than the youngest student, but he had completed his training several years ago, so now he taught himself when he wasn't tied to a mission.

An exception just like her. Alina wasn't Marno's biological daughter. He treated her no differently from his students, if not a little harder, but with the gentle hand of a real father. Her training began at the tender age of four with initially rather playful exercises, with a wooden sword. The girl quickly showed talent, not only in that. So he felt more obliged to teach her properly later on.

Ero found his way to them at the age of ten, the spoiled brat of the chief judge of Ylora. Initially, Marno resisted accepting the boy, whom many experienced swordsmen surely courted. Ultimately, Beldor prevailed. He revealed himself to be an excellent persuader.

Since that day, Marno—although it was actually Alina who complained—simply couldn't get rid of the boy. Marno sent Beldor several messengers that his son's education was complete and he could no longer teach him, but he just wouldn't bring him home. He much preferred to see him alongside a girl of humble origins. For years, he had set his mind on seeing the two of them married someday.

Ero and Alina, of all people, who couldn't stand each other from the first day they met. A relationship that had hardly improved to this day. Although Alina had to admit that amidst all their differences, a strong bond of friendship had grown.

Without their little jabs, a day in her life would be dull. Just like now, where he had been throwing her occasional glances the whole time.

"What?" she demanded sharply from her friend. She brought him to a halt by simply not moving any further.

A broad grin spread across his face. "I'm impatiently waiting for a wind to blow away that hint of nothingness," came his unabashed reply.

What else could she expect from this boy? Only a snort came from her in response. What could she do when her hands were busy holding the fabric up all the time? So she just continued forward, knowing full well that she had escaped a bunch of hungry wolves only to be on her way to another.

Some of the students greeted her politely and kindly, while others competed to see who could win her over.

Alina felt the boy's hand heavily on her shoulder. She looked back into a face that no longer held the mockery from before. Just genuine friendship and sympathy. Quite rare amidst their usual teasing and arguments.

What confused her even more was that he took off his shirt. Immediately, the girl averted her gaze, even though she had grown accustomed to boys at the school who were sometimes very open and saw the girl as comrades.

"I know our students," Ero said with a charming smile. She was the only girl there, and sometimes she wished there weren't those certain physical differences. Just like those moments when the boys tried to sneak up on her or get too close. Which such an appearance practically invited.

He draped the thin fabric over her blonde locks. Fragrant honey blossoms—that's how one could describe that color. Dark and golden.

She didn't need to say or do anything; the boy pulled his shirt over her so that it covered her body down to her buttocks.

"So you have less to hide. And I don't want my future fiancée attracting everyone's attention," he said, his loving words adorned with a sharp remark. After all, he shared as little as she did in their fathers' marriage plans.

"Thank you," she responded to his gesture.

He gestured into the woods. "Go!" he instructed. "There's a stream up ahead. Wash up. I'll water the horses further up."

She didn't leave immediately but watched him for a while. In the ten years they had known each other, the spoiled boy had turned into a handsome young man. Even Alina found it increasingly difficult not to look at him when he cooled off at the well, sweaty from training. Or like now, standing shirtless in front of her.

Despite everything, he was just a friend to her, not the beloved one her two fathers hoped for. She continued on the path he directed her towards.