For Repentance

"I...I didn't mean that," I answer back softly, the light feeling in my body getting to me. It's drowning me internally, as the hazy feeling in my mind never seemed to subside. "I meant that I want to rest my head on you," I correct myself, blushing slightly.

...and for some reason, Druvis understands what I'm feeling. She's being all ditzy and making teasing gibberish sounds.

Rosalina blinks at me again, covering her mouth with her hand and chuckling. "Apologies, I misunderstood."

She then brings out her hands to my face, caressing my cheek with her fingers...all while offering a subtle smile at me.

"You are free to rest your head on me." She claims, petting my hair. "I'm not as adept with the terms that your peole use...as I am with affection,"

I want to tell her that she misunderstood it wrong again.

That I'm not asking her for affectionate acts against her will.

...but she doesn't show any hesiance nor resistance.

She's composed and calm, looking at me calmly as if she didn't strike me in the heart through her careful touches.

"Mmm," I utter a pleased sound, leaning into her touch and then slowly resting my head on her shoulder.

Druvis stops leaping, already understanding what is happening between us.

"Do you truly not kind what's happening?" I ask, digging my head straight on her shoulders as she lets out a murmured chuckle.

"This is part of my duty...the bare minimum that a woman vowed to a man can do," She answers back, making me feel frustrutated.

She shouldn't be doing this.

This would be against her will...even if it is indeed a type of "duty".

I back away from her, but she grips my arm from the side and keeps me in place.

"Don't act so rashly. The turbulence in your mind wishes to be quelled. Seek forth your salvation," She speaks out, forcing me to stay in position.

In a position that should have been normally something that she would despise.

After all, isn't that what I've been used to seeing from her for the two whole weeks that I've spent playing this game?

Why the sudden change?

I want to move away...to give her the freedom that she rightfully deserves, but...

Her question stops me from doing so.

"Why do you feel remorse for me?" She says with a certain tinge of genuinity that hits me right in the head.

...that's right.

Why do I care so much about her getting her freedom?

"I..." I pause for a second, my voice muffled from my head being planted on her shoulder. "Isn't that what everybody deserves? Freedom? The choice to live as do as they want?"

And now, she's the silent one.

Heck, even Druvis was silent!

"Such a privilege only exists for those in power," She answers back, her voice containing a glimmer of sorrow.

It makes me feel conscious. Conscious enough to move back and give her her space.

Yet again...she's here to keep me in place.

"Move no further. I do not mind offering you a simple request such as this," She stays sternly...and I'm left to nod and agree with what she wants.

"It is one of the many acts of repentance that must be fulfilled," She says solemnly, causing me to smile inwardly. "All those who have acted against their place will be dealt with thoroughly and will go through proceedings that befit them."

I'm left bewitched for a second...until the words she said dawns on me.

"I appreciate your care...and I will take your offer on that," I chuckle.

"Yes. It has already been done," She answers.

...and this time, I successfully back away from her.

I give her a look of confusion, and she stares at me with a serious expression on her face. Nope. She's not joking.

"Rosalina..." I whisper seriously, causing shivers to Druvis who is now resting close to my neck.

"What has already been done?" I ask.

She only smiles proudly, the solemnity in her eyes never fading out.

Her mouth opens up...and the words that come after it only leave me bewildered.

"Alvana will be shunned into some dungeon for isolation training for a month."

...what?

Master is going to train for a month into someplace I have no idea about?!

How am I going to train then?!

~~~

...the sun, which remains as bright as ever meets the eyes of an old lady and an astute young man.

It was only 1 pm in the afternoon...and yet, the heat was unbearable.

The humid weather was definitely a different experience for the man beside the old lady...whereas, the elderly one amongst them both didn't seem to mind much.

...these two were none other than Shun Cailworth and Felicia, Rodrick's mother. They were both walking on a pathway that lead to village that settled in the Aplery Swamps.

As for what happened before they did that?

Well...let's just say that Felicia scurried them off and told them that she was tending to a situation. Amanda was of course disappointed and wanted to help...but Ash stopped her from going any further and just let her stay put in the market.

"We're getting closer, hang in there!" Felicia motivates, holding unto herself much better than Shun, who was already panting from exhaustion.

It's even more impressive considering how she was relying on a cane!

Shun only perserveres...until finally, they arrive to some house near the swamps that was shabby, but well-kept.

They both come inside the house...which was somehow hotter than it was outside.

"Make yourself at home," Felicia smiles, offering the sofa to Shun, whereas Shun responds with a friendly smile.

He looked rather awry, but he dared not show it...he was annoyed at everything going wrong in his trip.

He just practically lost his Koenigsegg CCXR...and the wort part? That he was dealing with a stuffy shirt that had dried mango juice spilled all over it.

Felicia, as observant as ever, decides to first turn on the electric fans and get a shirt inside Rodrick's room.

She did so quickly, as to not disturb Rodrick, who was playing in his VR equipment...and Shun, who was patiently waiting for an extra shirt.

As soon as Shun gets the shirt, he immediately feels a bit better...finally finding salvation after this messy trip of his.

"Thank you Miss Felicia," he thanks warmly, going to the comfort room and carefully putting on the shirt after he takes off his suit jacket.

He comes back wearing a white shirt with a cartoon print of a Pomekon. He didn't seem to mind it one bit and sat right back.

Felicia then decides to go to the fridge and start to make some drinks for him. Whilst doing so, she chatters with him and asks. "What brings you to the market? I never seen you around there,"

Shun looks at her earnestly...well, at least faking it, and replies. "I was looking for imported Strawberries from Japan," He answers, and Felicia only chuckles.

She doesn't really know why her friends, or even other people in the market, knew of him...but she didn't take it to heart and only dealt with his situation accordingly.

"Imported strawberries? That's something that you won't find in Sunny's Market," She answers, smiling at him warmly.

But her smile bothers her.

"Wouldn't it be better if you got something local and homemade? There's nothing that tastes better than home," She states with joy, but he only looked annoyed.

In fact, even more bothered than he was earlier.

She then offers him a drink on her hand. "Why don't you take a drink of this cucumber juice to cool off?"

And now?

He's even more bothered.

He doesn't plan on saying anything rude, or hurtful...but when he lets his mouth out, he says something that could be typically classified as such.

"Homemade foods do not hold any value...their only striking feature is the concept of warmth and familiarity," He says, as the critic side of him starts to let out.

"In fact...I believe there is nothing tasteful about them in the slightest,"