ORDINARY VISAGE-15

My vague plan was thwarted by Mr.Kaltain who suddenly appeared in front of me. He raised an eyebrow, then told some of his men to leave before finally speaking to me. "Is there something you want to talk to me about?"

I squealed to hear it. "I didn't come to talk to you."

"So?" He muttered under his breath, his eyes glancing at my fat bag. "Where are you going?"

I didn't answer her question, because I heard the faint voices of Aqua and Shiloh heading this way. I hastened my pace, but Mr. Kaltain grabbed the back of my shirt by the collar.

"Let go of me!"

Mr Kaltain shook his head. "Ignoring your teacher's words is not good."

"Your question is not important, so don't answer it."

Mr. Kaltain sighed, he let me go carrying a bag filled with food and all kinds of useless things. The bag was knitted from musty dirty burlap sacks. While I was walking hastily, Mr. Kaltain stepped back only to study my face with his arms crossed. He didn't even pant to keep up with my steps. "To be honest, you're quite the dick, Abby."

I glared at Mr. Kaltain's face which looked fakely disappointed. "I'm happy to teach you the sword, I don't even charge you. How dare you leave like this."

I took a deep breath, trying to control my emotions. My bag was so heavy, it seemed like a really good idea to keep his mouth shut with my potentially unimportant stuff.

"Don't you want me to teach you to death?" he said again, I just stepped up to the exit, looked at him disgusted and said. "Tonight I will die, don't worry."

Mr Kaltain rolled his eyes. "Okay if that's what you say. Looks like half my problem is solved."

I clenched my fists. "If you consider yourself a teacher, then you are the most disgraceful teacher on earth."

"Eh? Who on earth said this?"

I stared at him in disbelief. While Mr. Kaltain just smiled mysteriously while folding his arms in front of his chest. I gripped my bag strap with emotion. "If not on earth, then where is this, Bastard?! I want to go home!"

Several soldiers who happened to be passing by turned their heads, looking alert by holding their swords. Mr. Kaltain quickly raised his hand, signaling that there was nothing dangerous, although I could have strangled him to death. "Where are you from?"

I said nothing. It seems that it is true now that I am not on earth. Then if true, how do I get home?

"How about you? Where are you from?" I asked furiously. Mr Kaltain smiled. "I don't need to tell you, you already know from people yourself, right?"

I rolled my eyes, and without hesitation left the palace area after saying, "Forget about the stupid agreement I made back then, I want permission to die today."

Without having a clear purpose, I walked while carrying my bag, looking at the dark lush trees at the back of the palace. Mr. Kaltain stopped following me, but suddenly the sound of slow footsteps was heard behind me. Looks like he's back in trouble.

"I told you that I have permission to die today, right?"

No answer. Furiously I turned around, jerking myself back a few steps as the King stood before me with a ghastly look in his eyes. I almost fell because of the weight of the bag, so that I didn't realize that I was propping up a low tree branch quickly. I don't want to know that now I'm so presumptuous.

Mr. Kaltain suddenly came from behind, he smiled amused before finally bowing respectfully to the King. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. It's just a small misunderstanding. I'll take care of it."

The king glanced at Lord Kaltain without interest. "I have warned all palace residents not to come out of the royal area. Why doesn't anyone understand?" he said coldly. He then turned to glance at me. "Should I punish you two to understand?"

I looked down, wondering why the King would come down to stop me like this. Why not send other soldiers. This is too extravagant and preposterous. I'm an insignificant person. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I just wanted to step out for a bit, it's my fault."

"With a bag that big?" he asked. Come on. I have nothing to contribute here, so better let me go. "To be honest, I want to get out of here, Your Majesty. I feel like I'm going to die any minute."

"So?" The king crossed his arms, listening to the unclear words that came out of my mouth while Mr. Kaltain just held back his laughter. "I think I might as well just die in my house. So, please let me go."

The king nodded when he heard what I said. "You can't get out until the next awakening day comes."

I knew he would answer this way, but I rolled my eyes and gaped, trying to deceive. "Why should I wait that long, Your Majesty?"

"You are in my territory. Then you must obey me."

"Then, what if I die here? You want to take care of my corpse?"

The king looked at me sharply. Mr. Kaltain quickly dragged me away into the palace area after bowing and asking permission to pass from before him. I felt incredibly irritated that the return home expedition had been thwarted. Mr. Kaltain sat me down in a thick burlap sack filled with smelly chicken feed, he held my shoulder firmly

tight.

"I hope you don't try to escape until the appointed time, Abby." Mr Kaltain said seriously. "The king must obtain the power of the Goddess of the North."

"Then what does that have to do with me?!"

Mr Kaltain put his forefinger to his own lips, signaling to lower his voice. "The king speculates that the Northern Goddess' power was absorbed by someone else who came in the awakening hall. Therefore, the king won't allow anyone out of here."

"What happens when the King finds out the person who absorbed the Northern Goddess' power?" I asked, "Is someone going to be beheaded and sacrificed, is that so?"

"That's the King's policy, I can't guess his way of thinking," said Mr. Kaltain. "You asked me to be your teacher, right? Then I will fulfill your wish."

I'm sick of hearing what he said. "I want us to be mutually beneficial, so we better make a new deal," I said, "what do you want from me?"

Mr. Kaltain stroked his chin, his eyes looking up to the right. "Actually, the reason I want to teach you, is because you have a unique character."

"You mean you're interested in me?" I looked at him emotionally. Mr Kaltain shrugged. "I don't know, I don't agree with your interpretation."

"Listen, sir. I don't want to make an abstract agreement. State clearly the price I will pay for your services."

Mr. Kaltain chuckled, he looked at me for a moment, then put his lips close to my ear. "Throwback the North Goddess' revival plan again. Then I consider everything even."

"Why are you asking that of me?" I asked in surprise.

Mr. Kaltain leaned against the frail wooden wall. "No particular reason. Just do what I want."

"What if I fail? What do I have to do to repay you?"

"You won't fail, Abby. I'll guide you myself. And again, if that fails, I won't charge you any more."

I digested the sentence quickly. Mr. Kaltain looked at me sitting across from him with a smile. The man waited for me to speak again. "Do you agree?"

"What is your aim, sir?" I looked down, chuckling. "You want to betray your own King?"

"I bow down to no one, Abby." Mr. Kaltain raised his voice. He folded his arms in front of his chest. "Do you intend to cancel this agreement?"

I looked up, staring at Mr. Kaltain fiercely. "I have no intention of canceling this agreement. However, if you betray me, I will kill you, sir."

"Wow, your words are like an enemy I often meet," Mr. Kaltain shook his head while giggling. He held out his hand. "I agree."

"One more thing," I said, "you can't kill me. Got it?"

"You can kill yourself, I don't need to interfere."

"Fuck."

I shook his hand, a sign that a new agreement had been made. I could see a bright red glow rising from our stance, then taking root into my arms. I rolled my eyes, heat creeping up my hands. The grip doesn't come off even though I've tried to take it off. Mr. Kaltain just watched me while smiling faintly, as if this wasn't a problem for him.

"What are you doing?!" I stammered.

"I bind our pact," he said calmly. "This way, neither of us will be able to break our promise."

"I've come to the conclusion, it seems that one of us who disobeys will be killed, right?"

Mr Kaltain shook his head. "Going to burn, Abby. You're not quite right."

I laughed stupidly. Staring at Mr. Kaltain with emotion, while I gripped his hand tightly. "You bastard, Kaltain."

Mr Kaltain smiled. I can't believe he's a fraud. I felt my arm turn warm. I looked down at my hands, wishing I could thwart the North Goddess' revival, or else I would die from this stupid deal. []