Chapter 05: Choices

"I BELIEVE in sincere gratitude that resides in every living being."

Pisces Code - 1:3

Dawn had just made its way up above when a shrill woke up the two ladies sleeping soundly on the cold hard ground with only tattered garbs as their mats. As they were stretching their bodies simultaneously, Danis ran towards another bulbous man that had a hard look on his face. He reported, "Li…lieutenant Tjardis-'' his voice was shaking, obviously from fear, "-the… three wolves are coming this way."

Bien heard his shivering pleading tone, so he approached them to hear what he had seen.

Danis bowed in his presence before he repeated his report.

Bien beckoned Kale, sitting on the fire camp, that immediately presented himself in obeisance.

Bien ordered, "Find anything that can be used as weapons." He looked back towards the two ladies hovering around the burnt fire, and a man silently watching the two.

"I'll get that man," they don't have any weapons yet, so any manpower was needed even if it meant the hands of his enemy. Well, surviving was not a choice for Hoven as he thought except if he will be selfish and let the others become baits. Running was not an option for them all because wolves have a sensitive sense of smell. They will find them even how far they ran, and inside the forest that was the wolves' haven was disadvantage itself.

Hoven didn't bother about them. He stubbornly sat there oblivious to their freaking thoughts.

"Go," Bien released his men to search for weapons. He approached Hoven and admitted, "You people will not act even if it causes harm to the people-" he eyed the two ladies, "-who save you, are you?"

Hover squinted; clearly a sign of his confusion.

Bien felt satisfaction at it, "My men spotted three wolves coming this way." Tjardis approached him and presented a crude truncheon to his master. Bien threw it to Hoven who caught it in one hand, "You can fight with us or abandon us."

He turned back leaving him alone. He approached the two ladies to warn them about the danger and ran ahead of them, when they found them walking towards the direction of the wolves!

His eyes grew wide in fear for the two. He shouted over his lungs and ordered, "MEN!" He pointed to the two ladies, indicating to them to stop the two. Dale managed to run ahead of the two ladies as he besought them to stop advancing which the two adhered but miens' expressed doubts.

Bien ran towards them with Tjardis at his side. He was going to open his mouth but howls made him paused. Three wolves promenaded towards them. The warriors immediately made a formation securing the two ladies; crude truncheon tightly held on their hands ready to swing. They fear the wolves but they were veterans of hiding it.

Soon, Hoven joined them holding the crude truncheon.

"We can only hold them for seconds, so you better run as fast as you can, ladies." Bien shivered when the wolves roared violently and in any moment, he knew that they would pounce to tear them open. The middle wolf that seemed the leader among them has a peculiar cut on its right ear.

Hoven nodded at them.

Instead of hearing shivering shrieks, the soldiers heard laughter from behind. They looked back to check if their ears weren't playing them and then, they saw an unexpected event.

Sophia couldn't contain her laughter. It wasn't because of their great approach to the wolves but because she remembered how frightened she was when she saw the wolves too. It was frightening enough that left her a deep impression of incredulity.

They dazed off leaving Clio to do what she intended to do. Her diminutive statue passed through the attention of those warriors whose faces were twisted by Sophia's incredulous action. She strode confronting the incoming beast as if welcoming them.

When Hoven and Bien snapped out, they noticed the absence of Clio in the circle. Their eyes searched for her and they saw her approaching the wolves! They were frantic and panicked-stricken seeing her like that. They were going to rescue her but Sophia stopped them saying, "It's okay. She will be okay."

The two seemed not to believe her as they took another step believing they were doing the right thing. Sophia just let them be. No argument will succeed against those soldiers trained against danger. Well, the danger was clear in front of them.

Bien authoritatively held Clio's arm and dragged her behind them which irritated Clio a little. Hover formed a defense stance protecting the two. The wolves roared furiously as if mad of impeding Clio. Sharp teeth were grating. They slowly but irritably took steps.

Bien and Hoven were going to engage in a fight, but Clio would not allow it. She tapped their shoulders' saying, "I will be fine."

Her accent was like a native highlander that surprised Sophia, 'How many accents can she speak?'

She stepped out of their defense line. This time, they let her be but alert in case something went wrong.

Hoven held her arm but didn't say a word. His eyes told her all, "He was worried!"

Clio brushed him off and repeated, "I'll be okay." Eyes were cold as before but somehow, Hoven felt secured.

Hoven finally let her off. Bien felt indignant to just let her walk to her death. He thought of stopping her but was stopped by Hoven who held his shoulder, deprived of his words again.

Hoven shook his head, "Let's watch first."

Bien squinted - caught between indecision. His instinct told him to trust him but his conscious mind told him what he had thought from being a warrior. Finally, he rolled his eyes and held his urge of stopping Clio.

When Bien didn't argue, Hoven held his truncheon tightly, ready to rescue. He let her do her bidding but if things went worse, he will turn a deaf ear to do his bidding.

Bien understood his action. He did the same. They let her go but they will not lower their guard and limp their rescue plan.

They watched her and the wolves making their way to her. The wolves unexpectedly calmed down a little from their furious howl, but eyes were wary towards them until Clio reached a certain distance near them.

The next scene left them amused and dumbfounded. The wolves excitedly advanced towards her as they wagged their tails. She halted, letting them approach her. When they did, they started licking her, which seemed to eat her small head with three beasts, but it wasn't the case at all. They seemed to miss her so much like they always do whenever they came back after hunting their foods.

The warriors absentmindedly trailed off her movements who walked towards the carriage. She clutched the wolves who obviously like being there.

Sophia helped her out. The wolves seemed to grow fond of her too and she liked it.

After some time, the warriors finally snapped out from their dazes. Bien's men admiringly watched the two ladies as if engrossed in fantasy books.

Sophia read their minds. She waved her hand inviting them. The three timidly advanced. She taught them friendly gestures towards the wolves as what Clio taught her. Surprisingly, they learnt quickly. Well, she learnt it quickly too. It shouldn't be a surprise as they were soldiers but she couldn't help but admire their bravery.

"This is Cut-" she brushed off the fur of the wolf with a peculiar cut at his ear, "-as you can tell, he is the leader. And this is Eft and Rig." Sophia introduced the wolves to them.

Clio found it amusing and she watched them from the side. They looked quite cute to watch but her face betrayed her gleeful feelings inside that she couldn't define.

Bein and Hoven joined them, admiring the wolves too, forgetting their origin. Sophia taught them the same care they needed to know for wolves.

Minutes had passed. Clio excused, "Sorry to interrupt you all, but we need to move."

That moment, Hoven and Bien, who seemed friendly to each other, snapped out of that fantasy and distanced themselves from each other, not having any signs of speaking.

Hoven was in no hurry as well as Sophia, but not Bien's group. Bien's appearance in the city will reveal something horrible to the whole kingdom and he wanted that to happen as soon as possible. Not for his own sake but for the kingdom's sake. He wouldn't sit idly, letting those terrible people do their bidding in the dark.

Clio let Bien's men drive in switch. She sat next to the mouth of the carriage enjoying the art of nature. She didn't let the opportunity of acquiring information slip on her hands, so she asked them, with the local accent of the High Kingdom, the situation of the mundane world, "I have not seen mythical creatures all these times? What happened to them?"

Everyone froze and was unable to digest her questions. It seemed to them that she was asking questions with far-fetch answers.

Bien hesitantly answered, "If you're asking about the legends, I don't think they truly exist."

Clio swiftly looked at him, "How many years had passed after the desolation brought by outsiders?"

Bien felt stunned, as well as everyone in the carriage, unable to find his words. He was not into history, only has paltriness of it.

Sophia was the one to answer, "Legend says it happened four thousand years ago, delivered through mouths not until a group of people decided to write it centuries ago. Some books told about monstrous beasts wiping out humanity but saved by the Almighties who personally went down, some tales say that it was just a trifling idea to wipe out the true intentions of those in power in colonizing the other lands. No one knows the real story and if it's real or not."

Clio leaned, pensively looking out of the window.

Sophia who sat next to her broke the silence by asking, "Young miss, where we are going? ...If you don't mind me asking." She felt close to her for the time they had spent together, like she was her disciple.

Bien and Hoven perked up. They too were curious.

Clio shrugged that earned hopelessness to the two to gather information from her. She too doesn't know that place anymore, but she pointed westward. She could feel the faint energy of celestial stone there. Her stone should be at her inhabited island, so she wasn't sure how it ended up there or if it was hers.

Everyone's attention was caught by it but they have no idea where it led. They secretly lampooned.

Now she thought about her destination, she has no idea if they want to accompany her or they have some different business to do. So, she stated, "I will not hold you back if you want to part away. I know you all have some personal things to do." She intentionally eyed Bien.

Hoven and Sophia simultaneously eyed him too, waiting for enlightenment. Tjardis seemed to have a little understanding. He remained still and quiet next to Bien.

Bien has no idea what direction she pointed out. They don't have a compass to guide them and he doesn't know where they are. Her glance at him snapped a question. He asked, perplexed. "What do you mean?"

Before Clio could reply, their carriage stopped. Danis, who was sitting on the coach, hopped out, went to the back of the carriage, and reported to Bien, "We discovered smoke rising from the north young master. I am waiting for your command to scout it."

Sophia glared in dissatisfaction at him that he seemed not to notice.

Bien's wide eyes hinted to him about Clio's presence. She was the owner of the carriage after all, so being asked like that seemed disrespectful to her.

Unknown to them, Clio wasn't bothered at all.

The man understood Bien's gesture. He immediately apologized, "Sorry for the sudden halt young lady. I didn't mean to disrespect you. I wish for your forgiveness." He bowed, blushing. He admitted that he hadn't thought of considering the others, only thinking about his young master which was a great disrespect to the one who saved them and carried them all the way here. He was abashed.

"It's okay," Clio simply said but her cold eyes betrayed her words as it seemed to coldly pierce through Danis who secretly gulped.

Bien sighed in relief oblivious to Danis sudden involuntary fear. He admitted that his man has been rude, so he apologized too, "I also want to apologize." He bowed his head that surprised his men.

As his subordinate, Tjardis did the same as Kale who left his post just to bow his head.

Sophia admired their etiquette. She saw lots of dying men murmuring about changing themselves into a 'Good Samaritan' if they survive, but most of them were just sham. Hoven was also surprised by their actions. He always thought that they were just barbarians, killing to colonize people.

Meanwhile Clio felt a headache tending to their humans' characters. She wanted to be alone. Well, human beings are bound to each other's needs and now that she is in a human body, she has no right to fret.

Hoven just quietly sat there.

"It's okay and my earlier words are always on the table. You can go on your way. Don't be bothered by what I did. It is an act of clemency." She was talking about the clemency of humanity who deserves it but she was too lazy to elaborate her words.

Clemency?

Everyone fell into deep thoughts but Bien composed himself. Their current location was his priority. He hesitantly asked, "Young lady, is it okay to wait a little longer? I am thinking of asking these folks about our location."

Clio simply nodded. It wouldn't hurt her to wait and it was better to know their location.

Bien secretly sighed in relief. He nodded at Tjardis saying, "Go."

As there was nothing to do, Sophia hopped out and examined the plants nearby wishing to discover anything useful. An exotic one caught her attention and she immediately plucked it up, and paced towards Clio, but she halted on a certain distance seeing the distant look of Clio's eyes looking at the horizon. She hadn't asked much about her life because she thought it was inappropriate for them as strangers. Instead of bothering Clio, she squatted down and observed it for herself. There was neither paper nor a pen. She was using a kind of wide leaves and a stick to take notes. It will only last a week but it was enough to memorize it.

A moment later, Tjardis came back holding bread and bottles of milk. He presented it to Bien as he gleefully reported, "We are at the eastern village young master, just 10 miles away from the city!"

Bien's group gleamed. After that hopeless moment of their life, they couldn't contain themselves that they were going home.

On the other hand, Sophia and Hoven were dejected.

Sophia was feeling uneasy. She has no idea if Clio will leave her if they arrive there. Though Hoven was there, she didn't want to be parted from Clio as she grew fond of her.

Meanwhile, Hoven was feeling uneasy because he couldn't trust Bien's group. There is a possibility that they will report them and hand them to their officers to be incarcerated. He scanned his surrounding planning of escape. He planned on asking permission from Clio though for she was his benefactor after all.

Clio noticed their indifference. She asked Bien as Tjardis handed over food to the others including Sophia who he grew fond of and Hoven who he didn't trust much, "Are you going to repay what I did for saving your life?"

Bien was caught off guard to her question. No human asked that kind of question. It was only natural to the person that has been saved to repay it to their savior. They didn't plainly ask for it though. They will look desperate.

Tjardis handed the same kind of food to Clio who she examined, not for poison or any of that sorts but she was curious to how humans cultivate their foods.

He eventually nodded, "Of course young miss, whatever you desire as long as it's not beyond my reach." He emphasized his and his family's power of granting demands. He might be a son of a highlord, but it doesn't mean he can grant things more than they own.

Clio nodded, eyes stealing glances to Kale who opened the bottle of his milk. They have been eating wild fruits, but never such food with strange tools. She eyed Hoven and Sophia, "I request you to take them under your wings."

Silence came.

Everyone was stunned and dumbfounded at her request.

She means one thing, no harm for the both of them, but they interpreted more than that.

Bien was expecting more than that. She can ask for land of her own, a position in their government or worse, if she was greedy, a power to command certain people under her.

It was not an easy feat to let indicted criminals or prisoners to be pardoned, but not impossible. Hoven and Sophia weren't proven guilty yet. Staying silent about the matter will do, but letting them stay under him was another story. They were the enemy and that was the biggest point. Just travelling with them made him feel uneasy, what's more if he himself took care of both of them, but his respect for Clio prevented him from alienating the two, and he thought that was enough. He was wrong.

His moment of silence made Clio realize the hardest part of accepting her request, "Forget about that." Her hand imitated the action of Kale opening the bottle but none seemed to care of how sloppy she did that. "Just don't tell anyone about them. That will do."

She looked at Hoven and Sophia not minding the incredulous look of Bien from her simple request. "You two have two choices, either to come with me or part away. I am warning you of the first choice because I am not good at taking care of humans. You can do what you want to do but never ever do things that will harm others."

'How could one be this selfless to this extent?' Bien contemplated his previous action and found it beneath her magnanimity. For all he surmised, none of them knew her. Basically, she was indebted to none of them. So, how could one be so kind to strangers that might be her nemesis?

Tjardis, Danis, and Kale just stood still silently eating their parts of the food but ears were listening attentively, sometimes twitching, and eyes that sometimes perked.

She didn't need to change her facial expression just to let them know the burden that came to whatever choice they choose. Her cold eyes that seemed to pierce through them were enough.

Sophia hugged her tight which Clio received in surprise as she almost jumped in her seat. She was surprised but didn't push her back.

"I thought-" her voice was shivering near her ear, "-I thought you would just leave me alone." Tears fell on her cheeks as she audibly cried in her arms.

Clio patted her back as she observed humans' actions who wanted to comfort one another. She was going to, soon but she has no idea how she will start that conversation. She knew one thing, 'Not now.'

Hoven clasped his fist, "Please, have patience on us."

Clio assent with a nod.

⨳ ⨳ ⨳

Dwayne trudged out to the hallway making his way to the male students lodging whilst pushing a cart filled with books. His simple white gown was now stained with webs and dust from all day's miscellaneous job given by the son of his highlord. He stopped on a lofty front door that obviously didn't belong to him.

He knocked three times before someone opened it and a face he disdained the most greeted him. His façade smile that he practiced not to be easily distinguished by a genuine one, decorated his face as he reported, "Young master Jamil-" he gently pushed the cart towards the man on the door, "-the books you ought to find are all here as you ordered."

He caught a glimpse to the visitors of the young master that he could vaguely remember but their familiar black robes with red linen told him that they were the same faculty as his young master.

The young man didn't bother to check it out as he waved his hand ordering, "I don't need them anymore. Return it."

Dwayne clenched his fists under his sleeves but his facade smile didn't subside, "As your order, young master."

He pulled the cart hardly containing his fury that at any moment was going to burst. Fortunately, the young master seemed satisfied with just going that far and didn't bother him as he walked farther away.

Behind, Dwayne's ears heard sardonic laughter before the door closed, but he meekly walked further and further away from their derisory sight.

The darkness slowly cascading from the sky did nothing to change the ambiance of the tower as it was lit with engineered lamps that made the tower bright as if the day hadn't ceased to exist.

It was not yet time for the curfew, so Dwayne made his way to the library to return the books for he has no use for it too.

The librarian was an old lady but he hadn't failed to show his decorum. The end of the class was just the beginning of the cleaning of the messy library and Dwayne realized that the old lady was the only one present inside. He slowly put the books to its original place whilst stealing glances at the librarian who paced slowly, walking to and fro to organize the books laid on the table by those students who failed to do so.

'It will take her all night to organize it," he was hesitant to help as he thought he might offend her by taking her old age lightly. After returning all those books in his cart, he approached the old lady and with utmost respect, he said, "If you wish ma'am…uhm…" he gestured his hand, asking for her name.

"Miss Sha," the librarian initiated.

"If you wish Miss Sha, I can use my small hands to assist you."

Sha chuckled lightly and he had no idea how to interpret it. Is he laughing at my strength or my too much esteem with my words? Whatever it was, he could only show a smile.

Miss Sha replied with her low and aged voice, "Thank you young master. It will be my pleasure."

Dwayne rubbed the back of his forehead and forced a chuckle, "Sorry to fail you Miss Sha, but I am no young master."

Miss Sha brushed his negative idea and replied with optimism, "I assure you, your good nature will be requited in due time."

Dwayne helped her carry the book through his cart as he humbly stated, "It is my will to help you Miss Sha. I expected no reward."