19: Just One More Day

"So far, we have 20 candidates for the new group of the Royal Guard. 10 will be reporting directly to The Crown Prince, while the other 10 will be working with the Royal Guard until further instructions by the kingdom," said Yara.

Everyone who present in the meeting took a chance to check the profile of the new candidates for the Royal Guard. These men will be their collegues within 3 months. Knowing their background will be helpful so much.

"Al Ivory..." Prince Hadrian smiled. He took out the profile sheet and checked it out.

"Yeah, he failed to come during the selection. But, the King had bestow him with the royal seal. So, he is now among the other candidates as well," Yara explained.

"Good. I've been looking for him all this time. He's too hard to find, at least according to Aden. Even his friend has trouble in seeking him, let alone us. Thank God, he is here!" Prince Hadrian voiced out his relief.

"But there's not much information about him, except for his abilities," said Finx.

"He's an orphan since he was a child. He named Tori Ivory as his guardian. Perhaps he never met his parents at all," Prince Hadrian explained.

"From the internal resource, they said Al lives like a nomad, living in a tribe that constantly move around. His parents were the victims of black plague. Like a disease that spreads through the air," said Yara.

"No wonder why he always hanging around at the forest," Prince Hadrian nodded.

"Seems like a choice to be chosen as the Royal Guard. He gets a roof to shield, enough food to live and friends."

Prince Hadrian stared at the profile sheet. He couldn't help but form a smile on his face. Al's soft feature danced in his mind, something that he couldn't forget ever since the first time they met.

"Your Highness, when shall we start the training?" asked Kamui.

No answer.

"Your Highness?"

Silent.

"Your Highness!"

"Ha?" Hadrian jumped a bit.

Everyone was staring at him.

"Yes?" Hadrian fixed his voice and pretending that he was focusing on the meeting and the profile sheet.

"When shall we start the training?" Kamui asked Hadrian one more time. He did realized that the crown prince was drifting a bit from the meeting. But, who dares to point that out? He's The Crown Prince anyway!

"I was thinking maybe we can start in three days," said Hadrian. Kamui stared at him with a stone face. He looked calm on surface, but inside, he rattled like crazy.

This is bad... Kamui sighed.

:::

"Three days?!"

"Yes. Three days."

Aden glared at the room where Ayleth is. The girl soaked herself in a wooden barrel filled with some herbs and ice. She was doing a treatment for her injuries.

"She's recovering. But, not in a whole," said Aden.

"What do you mean?"

Aden sighed heavily. He dragged a chair and asked Kamui to sit. The man took a sit facing Aden.

"Her shoulder was injured quite badly. I did some treatment with the wound. But, for her torn muscles, she should restrained herself from work load for another one week. How can she start the training before she could heal completely?" Aden inquired.

Kamui sighed. He thought that Ayleth's condition was not severe. But, looks like the lady really do need some time to heal.

"I can do it..." Ayleth's voice chimed from the treatment room. She rose up from the barrel, grabbed a towel and a robe from the cloth hanger just next to the door.

"Ayleth..."

"Told you to call me Al," she glared at Aden. The man frowned, eyes gaze on her. She's in a brown rope, her hair fell onto her shouder. Ayleth got a short hair now, not too short but she looked different from the last time Kamui met her.

"You're adapting..."

"Is it bad?" she asked Kamui.

"It's... Doable and acceptable," the man answered.

Aden grabbed the towel from Ayleth's hand. He rubbed her hair in vigorous move before continued divided her hair in segmented.

"You should dry your hair fast, or you'll caught a cold," said Aden. Ayleth apologized to Aden softly. The man nodded. His eyes look dearly at her, but at the same time she could see a faintly worry coming from his sight.

"You need to report yourself in three days," Kamui got back to business. Ayleth nodded in faint.

"I know. I heard your conversation,"

"Can you make it?"

Ayleth halted. She looked at Aden before he sight shifted back to Kamui.

"No one is ready for their future. Even thought I'm under prepared, I have to take my first step. Or else, my family's death will be meaningless," answered Ayleth.

Kamui nodded, silently agreed with her. No matter how much we assumed that we are prepared for the future; good or worst, no one in this world were knew what will happen, unless if they take a first step into the world.

"So, it's done. You'll be there in three days," said Kamui. He handed an appointed letter to Ayleth before leaving the herb store.

"Can we talk?" asked Aden. Ayleth looked at the floor before giving him a tiny nod. Aden then ushered her to the nearest resting area. They took their seat, facing each other.

"Are you sure you'll be just fine?" asked Aden. He grabbed Ayleth's palm tight. Her injuries were not a joke. The most concerned part was on her shoulder. To be a good archer, a person needs to have a strong upper body.

"I rest for too long. I guess I should take my first step," said Ayleth. For the sale of her family and herself, she had no choice but to move forward.

"I'm still worry about your shoulder..."

"I'll be just fine. If I'm in pain, I know to whom I can rely on..." Ayleth smiled, brushing Aden's red cheek with her other hand.

"I'm glad to be your saviour..."

"What do you mean?"

"You told me, you can rely on me if you're in pain," Aden stared at Ayleth in confused mind.

"Did I mentioned your name?"

"No... But, your gesture-"

"It can be Lilith, you know. She's a huge baby bear. She can be my shield and bed. I can rely on her," Ayleth smirked. Watching Aden pissed off seemed like a good comedy at this hour.

"Ah... Right... Lilith The Baby Cub Bear... She's the one who is taking care of you, feeding you food and medicine, tuck you on bed, doing exercise with you... Sure..." Aden let go of Ayleth's hand and rose up from his chair.

Ayleth laughed as she yanked his hand closer to her.

"I'm kidding..."

"No, you hurt my feelings now..."

"I'm sorry, okay?"

"Forget it..."

"Do you still want to be my extra shoulder than I can lean on? Hmm?" Ayleth playfully asked Aden. The man glared at her. Slowly, he sat back on the chair.

"Do you still wanna be my extra shoulder?" Ayleth asked him one more time. This timez she leaned closer to Aden.

The more Aden stared at Ayleth, the more he got struck by her beauty. His feeling couldn't be conceal behind his skin anymore. He did falling for her, unconciously while taking care of this lady. He imagined how Ayleth's life will gonna be after this.

Is he ready to let her go?

"Like I always told you, I'll always gonna be by your side," Aden answered with a smile stamped on his face. He carressed Ayleth's cheek softly. Staring deep into her eyes.

"Thank you. You'll always by my side no matter what..."

"I'll do everything for you,"

"So, you don't mind emptied the barrel for me, right?" Ayleth chuckled. Aden swatted her with his side eyes.

"Excuse me, we're in a romantic mode, but now I became your maid??"

"You told me you'll do anything for me!" Ayleth showcased her fake whine. Aden snorted as he stood up and walking into the room.

"Thank you! Love you!"

"Stop using that word against me, you manipulative woman!"

Ayleth laughed hard while watching Aden stomped his feet in and out of the room. Slowly, the laugh faded from her. She looked outside the window, watching leaves fall from the tree in front of the herb store.

It's time to leave, huh? She asked herself.

Ayleth glanced back at Aden. The man gave a lot to her, nurtured and treated her all this time. His love and care over her was unconditionally. Leaving means she might not be able to see him again. That's the fact that made her felt sad.

Even just for one more day, I want to be by your side... I wish I could have more time with you... But I guess, it's time to let you go.

Ayleth wiped her tears away.