Alves River

Clack*

As I turned the doorknob, my eyes met with an unfamiliar figure. In the shaded light of sunlight, a silhouette emerged—raven-black hair framing a face adorned with earrings, a tattoo on the neck, and a black jacket in attire with black gloves adorning his hands. His sharp jawline hinted at a strength that matched his vein-filled physique. And there was a cross chain hanging from his neck.

In the past 11 months, I've never seen anyone here, as I and Master are the only ones who live here. So, who is this stranger?

"Hey there." He said this, waving his hand with a warm smile on his face.

I was on my toes by his appearance, but it all vanished away in a second, looking at that friendly gesture.

"Ah- yeah, -Hey." I said, stuttering.

"Umm..You are a student of Master Marthanda?" he asked.

"Yeah, I am."

"That's so great." He said. "I used to be one of his students too. But then, sadly, he stopped taking any further."

"Yes, he told me once."

"May I come in?" he asked.

His words were charming and very polite, as by the fact that he was a master's student. I didn't feel hostile.

"Yeah, Sure."

As he came into my room, I gestured towards the table, inviting him to take a seat.

"Please, have a seat," I said, hoping to divert attention from the mess that surrounded us.

"Thank you so much," he replied, sitting with one leg on top of the other, like a gentleman.

"Would you like to have some tea?" I offered.

"Yeah, sure," he replied with a smile.

I went into the kitchen to make tea for him. Despite his warm and polite attitude, a lingering sense of doubt lingered within me, prompting me to surreptitiously keep one eye fixed on him through the kitchen marble's reflection while I was preparing the tea.

"So what brought you to the master's place again?" I asked from inside the kitchen.

"I came to Keral for some work," he answered. "Then, after completing that, I thought I should see him once again."

"I see."

Holding the plate with the teapot and two cups on it, I went outside.

"Actually, I came here to meet Master, but it seems like he is in between his prayers," he said. "So I thought I shouldn't disturb him and walked around the place and came here."

Oh, so he did visit the shrine before coming to my room.

"Yeah, and maybe he is not in a good mood today." I said with a faint smile, placing the cup in front of him.

"Ahh," he gestured. "Why? You did something to him?" he asked with a bright smile on his face.

"What? No, obviously no." I said, laughing along. "He went to town yesterday, and since the time he has returned, he is like that." I said, pouring the tea, side-flicking my hairs on my ears.

"I see..."

As the tea was being dropped from the teapot's spout, I sensed a strong gaze that seemed to caress the nape of my neck. Raising my eyes, I found myself ensnared by his stare, as though time itself had stopped for our silent exchange. It kind of crept over me, tinged with curiosity and a hint of unease, as I started wondering why he was staring and why it felt like I was being pulled into it continuously, but then he broke his silence.

"Thank you for the tea." He said this, picking up his cup.

"Ye- I mean, no problem." I said.

Coming back to my senses, I turned away and sat on my chair in front of him.

—What was that? I got lost in the zone for a second there.

I questioned myself.

Slurps*

"Umm..It's good," he said, enjoying the sip. "Really good."

"Thank you," I said.

"I was dead tired from all that travelling," he said. "Ahh, I needed this."

"Hehe, I see."

I had noticed it earlier, but as it went with his appearance, I didn't find it odd. His voice is very heavy. It's rare to see boys around my age with that manly voice.

"I didn't catch your name, by the way." I asked.

"Oh yeah, I am sorry." He said. "It's River. Alves River."

"I see," I said. "That's a cool name."

"Hehe," he said. "What about you? What's your good name?"

"It's Eleanor. Eleanor j'Arc. My friends and family called me Elea in short."

"That's a very unique and pretty name, Eleanor." He said it with compassion, looking me in the eyes.

"Thank you," I said.

I smiled and sipped my tea, ignoring his stare as it felt zoning out to me.

"Ahh- why does it feel like I have heard that name before too?" River said,, scratching his head and trying to recall something.

"Eleanor?" I said. "That's a common name, I think."

"No, no that." He said. "I mean, your second name, J'Arc. I think I've heard it somewhere before too."

As soon as he said that, I got a little bit shaken, as it's out of the question, as that's my family's name, inherited by my father, the J'Arc family. And I am from a kingdom unknown to this kingdom, so it cannot exist for them.

"That's not possible, I guess." I said.

"Umm? Why?"

"Because today is the first time, we are meeting." I said, trying my best to smile and brush away the topic.

"Yeah, you are right. Haha, sorry for that."

"It's okay."

Sigh* I shouldn't ask him more personal questions. If this goes on, I might end up saying things I shouldn't.

"So Eleanor," he called, placing his tea cup in front. It seems like he is done drinking. He drank it very fast.

"Yes?" I said.

"What made the master take you as his student again?" He asked with curiosity.

Oh my god, I can't answer everything. I must think over it properly.

As I was thinking about how I should respond to him, an eerie chill tingled down my spine. With a slow glance, I turned to my left. I caught sight of the shadows of two or three crows cast on the glass of the window by the light outside. I just realised that they've been cawing for a while now.

"Elea."

The crows flock away, and I come back to my senses.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Ye- Yeah, I am." I said, "Sorry, I got zoned out. What was your question again?"

What is happening to me?

"I asked what made Master take you in as a student." He asked. "I mean, that's like he broke his oath especially for you."

"Yeah, actually, I was training to become a knight at the palace, and Queen thought it'd be better if I trained under Sir Marthanda, so Queen personally requested him for it." I said.

"Ahh, that's why. Makes sense." He said. "Only the Queen's words can change his master's mind." He said, laughing.

"Yep." I carried along.

*Sigh* That was hard to answer. I must change the topic asap before things get out of hand.

"So River." I called him, sipping my almost-done tea.

"Yes?"

"What about your other batch-mates?" I asked, "You guys not meet each other? I mean, you guys can plan to come and meet Master once in a while. He seems very lonely to me sometimes." I said it with laughter.

"..."

A silent few seconds passed by, and no response came from him. I found it odd. Puzzled, I raised my eyes towards him.

"River?"

"The other students..." He said, His gaze starred into his empty cup, a silent contemplation etched upon his features, while his fingers tapped upon his crossed arms.

"They can't make it."

"I see; they must be living very far away, I guess." I replied casually.

"Nope," he said. "They don't live far. They've gone so far that they cannot return anymore."

"....."

Unable to understand those words, I felt weird and out of the loop of the conversation. So to confirm.

"Means?" I asked. "I didn't get it."

"I killed them," he said.

"....."

"My batchmates—that's why they can't make it here anymore."

TAP* *SPILLS*

The delicate teacup slipped from my grasp, cascading onto the table with a clatter. Its contents dispersed, but that was less of a worry anymore.

"What the fuck did you say?" I asked him with an awkward yet creeped-out expression. Still, unable to grasp his words.

Is he joking or something? What is he trying to portray here exactly?

"AAAAAAAARRRGGGHHHHHHHH—"

The piercing scream tore through the stillness of the atmosphere, a haunting despair echoing into the vast expanse as though it were the final moment of a soul.

Spooked, I instantly turned my face in the direction of the door as that familiar voice came from towards the shrine.

THUD*

The table crashed to the ground with a resounding thud as I fiercely stood straight in my position.

"Master.." I said.

My gaze shifted towards River, and there he was, with a smile on his lips as if he were enjoying the master's scream.

"Oof—he still can't resist his Dosa, can he?" he said.

Dosa? He mixed something in the master's food?

Step* Step*

Observing him, comprehension dawned upon me, and without hesitation, I instantly dashed away towards the shrine, my heart pounding with urgency.

"MASTER!!" I said, running towards the shrine, "ARE YOU OKAY? MASTER!!"

THUD*

Pushing open the creaking door, a chilling sight awaited me, sending shivers down my soul.

"HUhhh?!!"

There lay my master, sprawled upon the floor, his outstretched arms reaching desperately towards me in a silent plea, seeking help. Blood trickled from his lips, coughing out at instances, staining the once pristine surroundings, while a shattered soup bowl and scattered crumbs of Dosa littered the ground, a grim sight of chaos and despair.

"Master!!" I said, running towards him.

I picked him up in my arms and wiped out his blood from the mouth.

"Master, are you okay?" I said. "What happened?"

"-hind- yo- u" said the master.

"Huh?" I said. "What are you trying to say?"

In a sheer panic situation, I couldn't grasp his words for what he was exactly trying to say, but when I looked at his eye closely, I realised that it was asking me to look behind me. Master's intense glare towards the door as if he is seeing a ghost behind me.

Crack* Chrrrrrrr*

A sound of lightning pierced the shrine from behind me, and in an instant, I jumped on the side, holding Master with me.

Boom! The lightning struck the wall in front.

Huff*

I exhaled and saw the wall, and I realised that if I hadn't jumped, it would've been game over for Master and me.

With blood-filled anger, I turned my face towards the source of that attack, and there it is. River is standing with a crow on his shoulder and the lightning that is sparking all over his body.

"Ahh, I missed." He said it with a menacing smile on his face.

As the foe of my master loomed before me, threatening to extinguish the light of his existence, I stood resolute, for I shall not allow anyone in life to die ever again in front of me.