Chapter 18

Finding a good place where we could train with swords made by ice without anyone noticing wasn't a small task. The weekend after we made our plan, we took a walk in the forest with Noriko and Arild, and although they looked a little suspicious in the beginning, they forgot all about it when we met Chopa there. They probably misunderstood that I was looking for him and that was my reason for the sudden walk. In the end we didn't find a good place in that area, but the forest was pretty big and we agreed to check another time as well.

On the same weekend I invited Aaliyah to have some tea with my cousin and me. She was delighted to be able to finally speak with him. I found out after he left a deep impression last year when he dueled with a hated guy who once actually picked on her. She was now even more infatuated with him. Well, I'm glad that she's at least happy for now. Just don't actually fall in love with him!

During the following week we didn't find anything good either. Both Damon and I would sometimes find excuses to come later for lunch or finish earlier to go and check some rooms that might not be used. But neither of us had luck. And the school wasn't such a good idea. There were always people passing by each place we found. The forest was a better place. We just had to keep looking.

Our classes continued as usual and the next Friday, Rhys made his first attack. Verbally, of course. Earlier that week his group was bullying another commoner laughing at his clothes saying that such fine materials weren't meant for such low born people and other dum stuff like that. Arild and myself were walking towards them when they suddenly turned 180 degrees and went away. They didn't want to confront us at all and the single act we could do was cheer up the boy who was a little flushed. Although Rhys wasn't the one who usually started the bullying, he didn't stop his friends either. He was just passively watching them, slightly uncomfortable. Maybe he didn't actually like bullying others, but why did he tag along with the others then?

Whether or not he liked bullying wasn't clear, but one thing was, he hated me. Everytime our eyes met he would glare at me before turning his head angrily. What had I ever done to him? And on that Friday he actually attacked me directly, commenting how 'fighting isn't for everybody' when I fell again on my butt after Aaliyah defeated me again. I fixed him down with my eyes, but he just seemed to smile it off. Later, at dinner, he commented again about how disgracious some ladies are who just eat too much food and how those ladies are too gluttonous and are a shame to all nobles. Dammit, I accepted similar words from my friends, but that guy was too much. I wanted to smack his head, just once! But it wasn't a good idea as he was actually taller than me.

I also noticed that in the past week he had a new friend who seemed to agree with him, a girl from my own class. She started appearing from nowhere everytime he was making rude remarks towards me. The girl's name was Reika and had a sour face which would become very soft each time she looked at Rhys. Hm… maybe I should say 'her Rhys'. I started laughing and choked on my food at that thought. My friends glanced worried looks at me, before I assured them I was fine, still with tears in my eyes. I should behave myself or that bully might become right about being a disgrace, not that I would ever agree.

After I finished eating, my plan was to search for a new place before going to the dorm, but as I was heading to the cafeteria door our eyes met again and I was just fed up with him. But instead of walking there to smack him, I thought better of it and went directly to the dorm. Right outside, there was Chopa hidden in a bush so that no one could see him. He jumped out when I was passing by and started wiggling his tail. I petter his head, but he ran towards the forest. He went a few steps in that direction and then back again. After some time, I understood that he wanted me to follow him.

We went into the forest, but not too far away, just a 10 minutes fast walk to a slope which wasn't too high, maybe double my height, but still dangerous if someone were to fall. Chopa spinned a little, being very content with himself, but I didn't understand what he meant. He then run parallel with the edge of the slope to some stairs made of rocks which allowed us to go down. As I followed him I realized that the rocky ground was making a roof above us. It wasn't too wide, but enough to get cover just in case it started raining. It might have looked impressive if you were into nature, but I started freezing because I hadn't planned a promenade in the forest so I only had my blazer over my blouse and it was chilly in November.

"Beautiful place you found, Chopa, but we have to return now. I'm freezing." I turned and started walking back when he ran in front of me and started barking and pointing at the rock wall. "I don't know what you want, but I'm sure we can find out in the warmth of our room, back at the dorm." But he didn't let me go and pointed again at the wall and the little roof the rocks made. It was a good shelter from rain, but not from cold. Maybe if we were to get stuck here no one would find us. It was a good hiding place.

"A good hiding place! You're a genius, Chopa!" I smiled while taking him into my arms. He relaxed now that I understood what he meant and let me take him back. Here we can train! I had to find Damon to let him know. "How did you know I was looking for such a place? What kind of wolf are you?" I asked him, knowing he wouldn't respond. "Let's see if you can find Damon now." I challenged him and he just jumped from my arms and started running back to the dorms. I ran after him, but lost in terms of speed. When I arrived at the dorm, I was panting. Damon was on the same bank he stayed last week, with the only difference being Chopa wiggling his tail energetic on his lap.

"Your little wolf brought me here. Is there something you need to talk about?" he asked me.

I looked at them with my mouth opened again, but reminded myself that I have to close it quickly. What kind of wolf was him? I pushed that thought in a corner of my mind and smiled brightly at Damon.

"I found the perfect place. Or, actually, Chopa found it." I said to him.

"Really? Let's go see it." He stood up with my wolf in his arms and headed towards me, waiting for me to show the way. I almost started walking when I realized that it was almost dark.

"We have to go tomorrow. It's getting dark now. Tomorrow after breakfast. We should go eat earlier so that we have time to check the place out before Noriko has time to wake up and finish her own meal." I started planning. The cafeteria opened at 7 and closed at 9 for breakfast. We usually went there around 8 or even 8.30 so we had maybe an hour to get there and back before 9.

"Maybe it's better to wake up earlier and go there first thing in the morning and then to eat." Damon suggested. "That way we'll be eating together with the rest and they won't suspect anything."

"Hm… good idea! Let's meet tomorrow at 6.30 here." I said.

"Here?" Damon asked "It's already kinda embarrassing to wait here for you. What will people say if I'm always sitting outside the girl's dorm?" He blushed.

"That you're a stalker." I teased him. "Alright, let's meet there tomorrow." I pointed to the place where I just existed in the forest."See you tomorrow!"

"See you!"