I jerked my eyes open. I looked around anxiously. Tried to move legs but couldn't. Only the sound of heaves and grunts punctuated the night. That's when I noticed the boy. Wearing a sparkling white cloak, short in stature and relentlessly swinging his sword.
(Charge formation)
I don't know from what depths that name came from but I recognized the technique. Intimately so. However, the sword was too big for the boy and it would always slightly drag the boy every time he swung it causing him to lose balance, trip over rocks and outright collapse onto the floor revealing his face properly. White hair, jewel blue eyes. I jerked.
(Damn it!) I could even hear my???? his thoughts.
He just couldn't get it. Even though he had watched people do it multiple times he still had no grasp on the technique. Not to mention it was the basic foundational technique of the Imperial Sword Arts. He had clearly mastered the horrendously named 'Sturdy Footwork' that accompanied the sword art within two nights, something infinitely more complex and yet his mind couldn't comprehend 'swoosh the sword!'. It was infuriating. He got up, pouting and stared at the sword. Maybe it was because the sword was too big. He groaned. Enischy just had to break the memento she gave him. He sat there for a moment. Abruptly he turned and stared at me. My eyes widened.
"Weird." He said standing up while I was still on edge.
He tried again but this time he'd break some rules. The Sturdy Footwork was a technique of increasing stability by a variety of stances that rooted one to the ground to deliver an appropriately strong blow like pulling back a firmly rooted branch and then releasing it. However, he could no longer ignore his body. He was what people would kindly say 'compact'. His frame was nowhere big enough to imitate those he was observing. As he begun his sword motions he modified the footwork from the sturdy inflexible that asserted control over the motions to one where he would simply have to maintain a balance with them. It worked! Kinda. Sure he wasn't able to fully perform the entire formation but it was far more progress than he had seen in the past Decle! He nearly shouted for joy before forcing his mouth shut. He didn't want to come off as a witch. He smiled and continued, losing himself in the process, until he realized dawn was just around the corner.
He returned the sword to its rack and booked it back home. He sneakily entered into the tools room and got all he needed. He put the bucket to collect some water and got to work weeding the entire garden, tilled the bits of land that were to be used for planting some vegetables and watered the trees and other growing plants before quickly returning everything. The sun was about to rise. It's rays were just piercing the horizon as of the moment and glimmering on the vast ocean waters.
"...I've had worse days"
Abruptly, he had that weird feeling again only this time much sharper. He looked up at the roof. Finaria was looking at him with her usual nonchalant sass but her eyes were struggling to remain half open. He leapt up and grabbed the edge of the roof, his arms wailing from the intense training before, barely pulling himself up and kissed her on the head. She jerked her head back and purred then started licking me.
"Sleep tight."
She tried acting tough by looking away and curling up on the roof. He laughed.
"Love you," he said as he watched her squirm a bit trying to sleep.
After bullying her, he opened the window using a small gap to enter the bedroom as he swiftly closed it. He went to the bathroom first and prepared some boiling water, put his clean cloak away then got into bed. It'd cool off by the time they woke up. As he got into bed Fina woke up. She looked up at me, puzzled and yet a mischievious smile playing on her face.
"Sssh" he said stroking her head. She nodded and her smile grew, dimples shining, as if she was in on a secret.
She snuggled up against Ergon as he hugged her. They quickly found
I was staring at him confusedly. I didn't recall ever training in my life let alone swordsmanship. I looked at Enischy. I didn't even remember the last time Enischy was anything but bulky. I shifted my gaze to Fina swallowed within the blankets. Tightly wrapped against Ergon's arm, a smile playing on her face and the dimples just made her blindingly cute. I sighed.
{Maybe I cursed myself?}
Besides that, I wondered how she even heard me if Enischy didn't. Before I could ponder any further, Enischy soon got up and he gently shook Fina.
"Fina, it's time to wake up. The sun's up,"
She coiled her arms around Ergon's and crumpled up in the blankets, "Nooo."
He frowned. It was always a war to get her to get up, she'd thrush around and tightly hold onto him pinning him to the bed, or that was how the story was supposed to go. Nowadays, it was different. She had gotten surprisingly close to him. He scowled. Nonetheless, he managed to get her out of the blankets despite her utter opposition and grabbed some of her clothes from the cabinet. She was pouting as they left the room and he went to bathe he but she kept looking back to his annoyance. There he found an already prepared bucket of water.
{When does mother have time for this?}
He washed and clothed her before going to the dining table to get prepared for breakfast. Their parents walked in and greeted them.
"Is he still sleeping? At this hour?" Strox asked, already getting annoyed.
Enischy smirked, "I'll go wake him up."
"Maybe he's sick," Veralia said.
"Doubt it. Wake him up. "
Enischy nodded. He barged into the room and looked down at his little brother in anger. He raised his hand and slapped him across the face. The slap reverberated throughout the house. Ergon shot up startled. This angered Enischy even more and he landed another right across his face. He clicked his tongue
"Lazy bastard,"
Ergon looked up at Enischy. Enischy felt the anger bubble right up to his throat.
{Cocky bastard!} he thought as he raised his hand.
"That's enough Enischy," Veralia called from the room over, "Ergon wake up and come for breakfast."
Enischy clicked his tongue.
He stormed out of the room. Ergon got out of bed and realized he had gotten into it with his dirty clothes still on. He quickly patted the bed and tried removing as much dust as he could.
"Welp. Going to get scolded again."
He grabbed a clean tunic from his clothe pile on the floor, wore it and got out of the room. By then, Veralia had finished cooking and was serving the family. His father and Enischy were glaring at him. Fina nervously shot glances at him and her big brother before waving at him from under the table. He smiled and quickly sat down next to her. He played with her hands a bit under the table making her giggle softly. Enischy shot her a glare and she quickly went silent. He shifted her away from me and sat her between Strox and him. He continued glaring at me. Just as Veralia was serving him, Strox spoke up.
"A small serving should suffice. We shouldn't waste food around here,"
Veralia looked up and hesitated. She stared at him and he stared back, "Yes darling."
Soup and a chunk of meat was all he received. "Chunk" was an overstatement but he preferred to at least be a bit positive about things. He was extremely hungry anyways, he wouldn't judge. Bone or meat, food is food. He bit off the chunks of meat ravenously and drank all the soup. Fina laughed at me.
"Woloc!" she said. We both found that precious. She could only speak on word sentences at this point.
Strox clicked his tongue. Enischy rushed to shut Fina up. Perhaps I had let my hunger control me a bit too much.
"Could you have some decorum? Who told you to eat? Goodness just where did we drag an overblown child like you?"
"..."
"Why can't you be more like your brother. Earnestly improving his power as a man should instead of just frolicking around with the village girls! He even tills the garden and takes care of his sister!"
Enischy raised his head proudly.
"..."
"Look at him! You get an overblown ego just because Taiwhur hangs around you? You shouldn't even go near her, she'd catch your disease," Enischy snickered.
Ergon shot a glance at Enischy. He was a bit baffled to the extent at which he was going to.
"Don't glare at your brother, that's not good!" Veralia quickly chimed in.
He sighed and lowered his head. (I wasn't even glaring...)
"Your disrespecting your mother now?!" Strox bellowed, "Enischy go get one."
Enischy snickered and quickly blazed off.
"Get on the floor now!" Strox commanded.
He got off his seat but Strox landed a powerful slap right across his face and he crashed right into the ground. Enischy arrived with a slender green and elastic vine. Strox grabbed it.
"Can't even obey simple commands!" He said as he lifted his arm.
The vine crackled through the air and whipped me across my back tearing off some blood. He grunted and whimpered but he wouldn't cry. He felt a deep gash open. Somehow, he could feel his father's anger worsening. Strox forcefully stepped on his head while Enischy chimed in and held his legs to prevent him from moving.
"This'll teach you to be disrespectful to your mother!" He said as he whipped him again.
He whipped him again. He held it in. He knew his father well. He wouldn't let him. He wouldn't let him remark that he was acting like a woman. He knew it would end quickly if he caved in and that's how it used to roll. It was different now. He had to be a tad bit stronger. She was strong and that's why he had to become stronger. Plus, he glanced at Fina. She was trembling, tears cascading down her cheeks yet she made no sound. He bit his tongue and held it in. His back inflamed, profusely bleeding and his body wailing and begging him to give up but he wouldn't. Strox was getting even angrier and using even more force. Enischy was cheering him on. Strox gripped his vine tighter and his muscles bulged and flexed. Abruptly, to my, his and Ergon's surprise, Veralia grabbed his arm.
"That's enough," she said.
Now that I could properly look at her and I wasn't on the floor, she looked a bit distraught.
"What?! If we don't punish him he'll grow up even more useless!"
She glared at Strox. They locked eyes for a moment before he sighed.
"Be glad. Next time, I won't have mercy!"
Ergon was silent.
He clicked his tongue, "Have you forgotten what to say?"
"..."
"See?! He hasn't learned his lesson!" Enischy instigated.
"Enough." Veralia was not having it.
Enischy was taken aback. He whispered, "...always taking his side."
A vein popped off on Strox's face. He clicked and started heading outside. He mumbled something. Ergon didn't hear it neither did Veralia but I did.
"...not even ours."
It bothered me. The implication was something I knew Veralia was incapable of. At least to my knowledge. Enischy followed him but not before kicking me right across the face, "Know your place!"
They banged the door as they left. He tried getting up but collapsed onto the ground again. The pain was unfathomable. It had even traveled down all they way to his legs but he was happy. He was a tad bit stronger. Fina rushed down and tried helping him up. He patted her head.
"Why are you smiling?" Veralia asked as she offered her hand.
"....sorry," he said, looking away.
She flinched. She slowly retracted her hand and walked up to where the serving bowl was.
"Get up and sit," she said.
He tried to his best of his abilities to walk but his legs wobbled and he constantly collapsed onto the ground. Fina's adorable whimpering as she tried her best offering morale. He dragged himself to the chair and sat down, careful not to let the chair come into contact with his bruises. She served him up some meat stew and some mashed tubers and diced up salad at the side. He stared at the meal. I could tell he wanted to eat it right away but he couldn't. He looked at her but quickly looked away. He didn't want to come off as disrespectful. She buried her face into her hand and sighed.
"You can eat," she said as she got up.
Veralia picked up Fina and headed out. Fina waved goodbye as the door closed. He stayed still for a moment. He took a deep breath and quickly wolfed down the meal with a barbaric efficiency. For the first time in a few weeks he was full. He basked in the afterglow of the sensation then got off the chair. This time he had enough strength to at least stand and walk a bit. He collected the bowls and started cleaning quickly. He then got to washing the house. He had to quickly get it done. He used the rag and with all his strength zoomed all over the place: scrubbing the walls, floor, scooping the excess faeces out of the latrine to use as manure and cleaned the little hidden corners no one saw except for one room. It was painfully dreadful and tiring especially with the painful lashing he had gotten. After washing his hands, he looked at the fire plant. Rimache told him that little villains invisible to the eye couldn't be gotten rid off with water alone. So he improvised. He grabbed his cloak and put it around him. He activated the fire plant and blasted his hands with the flames. The cooling effect of the cloak was immense but the flames still hurt a little but it was all good as it didn't last long.
"Maybe I should learn some alchemy," he said examining his cloak.
He took it off and put it on a chair next to the door. He looked at his parent's room. He sighed.
"Be damned if I do, be damned if I don't,"
After quickly finishing cleaning their room, he put on his cloak and headed out. The moment he stepped outside, Finaria dropped down from the roof. She was clearly angry. He pet her as he scratched her chin.
"Not for long,"
She pushed and nuzzled her head into my chest.
"I mean it,"
She purred. He smiled and got onto her back and rushed down to the village. He looked up at the sun.
"Not time yet."
Fina was moving a bit too fast for his liking but then again she doesn't like him being yoinked off her back. It was far too common for her liking. She pushed open the gate and instantly heat crashed straight into them. Shimari's forge was on full blast.
"Oh kiddo! Back again today I see,"
He nodded, "Is there a war or something?"
"No? Why?"
Finaria laid down and he sat next to her sinking into her fur, "You're always making something so I thought the village asked for some weapons,"
She burst out laughing so hard she had to put down her hammer.
"???"
"You really think I'm that good?"
He looked over to the stockpiles of weapons and equipment she had made. They glistened in the sun, the shields were sturdy, the arrow points well designed and the swords and spears tips looked sharp enough to pierce him from that distance. He nodded his head.
She chuckled again, "Like father like son, does flattery run in your bloodline?"
He got visibly upset by that.
"Ahem, the village doesn't work like that kiddo. This is a man's work not a woman's,"
"Dang right it is! You're a few steps away from becoming one!" a distant voice replied
"Watch your tongue before I cave your skull in!" she brandished her hammer at him.
"See that kiddo?!" Rimache said patting his head, "what kind of woman does that to his brother?"
She stared daggers into his soul.
"What kind of man is weaker than a woman?"
"Oi ,oi ,oi , oi! That hurts my feelings," he said dramatizing his poses.
"....you always do this..."
He got closer and smacked her right in the bum. It wasn't a *jiggle jiggle* kind of sound but thwack! kind of sound. She flinched.
"Not in front of the kid!"
"I've seen plenty," Ergon replied instantly.
"He has Strox of all people for a father!"
She bonked him on the head.
"..L-later." her voice starkly meek and a slight blush across her face.
Rimache grinned and happily skipped off. Ergon knew that was all he wanted. It wasn't his first rodeo here. However, it was the first time he was so brazen about it. So much so that she was still stun-locked unable to continue her work.
"The metal slab is gonna deform,"
"!"
Instantly she reheated it and started slamming at it. Careful to completely ignore my gaze. The temptation to tease her was mounting by the second but that train of thought was interrupted. Somebody had jumped onto me from the back. The pain flared for a moment but I contained myself.
"Jerk! Why are you hiding from me?" Shantel whined
"I'm not~"
She leaned in and rested her head on my neck, "...we never play anymore."
Her soft voice trembled as she spoke those words. She was right. He had been spending less and less time with her nowadays. His father and brother had become increasingly belligerent. Especially his brother. The tasks he had to do were directly proportional to his moods thus siphoning all the time they usually spent together. However, he had no idea she was that hurt by that. To him it was an inconvenience which was why it puzzled him why she was hurt. It was noon.
"Sorry, I've been helping out around the house and farm lately,"
Shimeri glanced at me.
"Already?!" Shantel said.
He got smug instantly, "I'm no child"
"We're the same size," she said rubbing her index finger into his cheek. It was around this moment he realised it was time.
"Alright then," he said standing up and turning to her, "I promise tomorrow I'll be there."
She crossed her arms and pouted, "Why not today?"
He got close to her and cupped her face in his hands, "I promise."
A furious blush ran rampant across her face. She turned and was about to storm out but she glanced back while holding the door, "....promise?"
He smiled at her and nodded. She quickly ran out and slammed the door behind her. I turned to say goodbye to Shimeria but she was giving me the 'googly eyes'. He didn't get it but I did, painfully so. I was bamboozled, flabbergasted, embezzled, lollygagaged mayhaps even discombobulated. Even two seasons later I had never even caught onto this, it was to be expected though. She changed. I didn't know why.
Ergon walked out of the compound(change this scene to the Breccia tree outside the village). Fina followed him and they headed to the small mound that overlooked the training grounds under an Oringatang tree. The training grounds reeked of sweat. Initiates were busy getting drilled with the basic formations of the Imperial Sword Arts and apprentices were being trained by the village warriors. He cackled at the sight of some of them fumbling over the first formation while the instructor yelled at them to not let go of their swords. It was weirdly satisfying. Whether it was because he'd just recently had a breakthrough or that he was forced to have a breakthrough did not matter. All he knew was that misery loves company. Aside from them there were a select few who had already passed the training process and were busy dueling. Among them was quite a peculiar sight. A duel was raging on between an apprentice and a girl half his frame.
They were exchanging a barrage of clashes. The symphony of sword clashes was near deafening. However, it wasn't equal. The apprentice was just a tad stronger than her. Each time they clashed, she got pushed back. After a few more blows, the apprentice got more aggressive. He overextended himself . He got cocky or annoyed. Like a fisherman, she started reeling him in. Purposefully dodging, sidestepping and leaping away. Then it came. He lunged forward and swung his sword right at her neck. Instantly, her speed and power doubled for a moment. His sword was pulverized by her thunderous sword slash. His balance was completely offset. One leg sweep would grace his face with the earth yet she hesitated. That was all he needed. He immediately tackled her to the ground and it was narrowly his win.
"Damn! That was close," he said.
"Still your win though," she said smiling and laughing.
"Get off her ya prick!" Ergon yelled.
"Oh!" He got off and helped her up. Some people laughed.
Ergon could see a slight bulge.
(Castration isn't too inhumane...)
On seeing me there, she rushed up to me.
"You're always here on my losing streak!" she said as she smiled. The smile didn't reach her eyes.
"No, you did good,"
She got comfy on an angsty Finaria and snuggled with me, "Of course you'd say that."
Ergon got slightly irritated, "Yeah you're right! You did worse than that other woman! She beat him up good!"
She gently pat my head, "Your joke is not appreciated."
"Who said I cared?"
BONK!
"Hey! You don't talk to a lady like that!"
"A lady reeks like you?"
She was shell shocked for a moment before pouting, "I'll chuck you into the ocean!"
I sighed and looked up at her. I pushed aside her golden hair as I caressed her cheek, "It's plenty."
She jumped a bit before smiling meekly as she leaned into his touch, "What a bully~"
She liked it. She didn't know why but she did.
"DON'T TOUCH HER!" someone yelled.
Enischy was climbing up the mound fuming.
"Why?" Ergon asked.
"She doesn't like it. She's nearly in tears!"
I was stunned for a moment. I looked up and she was equally as confused.
"She should decide that, no?"
His face crumpled and his brows furrowed. He approached, grabbed me and yanked me out of her embrace.
"Just because you're effeminate doesn't mea-"
Finaria growled and was about to get up when Taiwhur stood up and snatched me away from him. She held me tightly within her bossom.
"That's a cruel thing to say to your brother," she said, staring at him.
He grit his teeth, "He does nothing all day! What kind of man is that?!"
She sighed, "You may leave then,"
His eyes widened. He was utterly speechless. He clenched his fists and glared at me as if I had brainwashed her or something. She held me tighter.
"Leave,"
With a click of the tongue, he turned and left. She stared at him for a while before turning to me.
"Are you okay?"
"....No,"
"Don't take his words to hea-"
"I don't like being passed around like a toy,"
She laughed, "Don't tease me like that!"
"Taiwhur! It's your turn!" A man shouted from across the field.
"Oh, guess I shou-"
She stopped, a mischievous smirk developed on her plump lips and she got closer to my ears, "You'll help me wash up, right?"
"Huh?"
He found himself in the community baths with Taiwhur. Honestly, he had no idea how she even snuck him in. I guess she couldn't just bathe with all the other warriors but the unexpected priviledge was quite alluring.
(Now what if...I was born a...)
He shook his head. That was a thought not to have. She had changed into the bath clothes provided to her by Kungatha. More straps than clothes. The skirt was menacingly short. Seeing her this nude got my heart pumping and my head feeling fuzzy.
(Damn!)
She smiled. She leaned over and blew into my ear. Immediately I pushed her into the water.
"Kyah!"
The shock still had her sinking in the water. Good. All the time I needed to compose myself. She surfaced. The view was absolutely astonishing. She was cheekily smiling and laughing, her clothes wet, I could visibly see how her abs tapered out to bulging hips that swayed seductively as she walked up to me. It was his fault for looking but hers for showing! I quickly got to it. If I was there I might as well finish this quickly. I took of the cloak and turned to hang it up on the wall. When I turned again, her face had grown solemn.
"What happened!" she said instantly turning me around to get a closer look at the wounds.
(WELP!)
"....training accidents?"
"On your back?!"
"..."
"..."
BONK!
"Don't bring down the mood!"
She was shocked for a moment then pouted and splashed water on my face, "Fine have it your way!"
Despite that she sat me down next to the bath and knelt behind me. She gently washed my back with some hot water then got some herbal paste and applied it on my back . I also helped with her back but no further than that. I wasn't ready nor was I her fiance.
After that we got out and we headed out to the Baruni spring near our village to fetch some water. Well she did. She was still a woman of course. He followed nonetheless. It was important that he did. As they were approaching the spring she started slowing down before coming to an abrupt halt. I could see her tremble so much so that she nearly dropped the pot she was carrying. He had to try his best.
I held her hand. She jumped a bit and looked at me. I looked straight ahead and squeezed her hand gently. She took a deep breathe before resuming. We got to the spring and there were a bunch of other women there. Some fetching water, others looking for jewels that sometimes bubble up from the earth and others, mostly young girls, just enjoying the waters as they waited for their mothers. However, there were also many warriors around. They didn't want a repeat of last time.
"Ergy!" Nyakoi shouted as she leapt at me.
I tried catching her but last night's training caught up with me and we ended up falling into the water. I felt a surge of pain tear across my back causing him to grit his teeth and soon the pain subsided.
"I-I'm okay," Nyakio said, a furious blush across her face.
I had unconsciously wrapped my arm tightly around her. Whether it was the pain or the fall, no clue!
"UuuuuUuuuu~," some girls and women sang amidst laughter.
I quickly let her go and she quickly sat up. However, she froze for a moment. Her hands lay on my chest for support but she soon started massaging them a bit. I locked eyes with her hazel eyes for a brief moment before she quickly averted her eyes .
"Yo-you've grown! That's good!" she said getting off me and helping me up.
I looked at my body a bit and was surprised that it hit me now. Four decles of training really did pay off. A splash of water to the face quickly snapped me out of my thoughts. One of Nyakio's friends had made her way over.
"Come on let's play!"
Well, my cloak and tunic were already wet. I quickly picked up a bulbous succulent purple fruit, a baruni, from a baruni reed that grows in those shallow waters. Without hesitation, I threw it at Nyakio and it burst splashing water on her. A war quickly erupted, baruni fruits flew and whizzed in all directions. Even some of the older women joined in. Of course, they always ganged up on me. I always made an effort to dodge because sometimes when the fruits hit me it felt like rocks just slammed into my body. Farming made these women far too strong. Most of the time, I usually outmaneuvered them so it was never a big issue but today it was different. I had pushed myself too much last night. I was assailed, assaulted and molested ultimately leading to me yielding.
"We won!" they celebrated.
"How does it feel to lose to a bunch of girls!" Nyakio exclaimed.
I shot her a coy smile. She jerked a bit, averted her eyes, and started playing with her braids. He was about to say something but abruptly stopped.
In the distant corner of the Baruni spring, Taiwhur had curled up, trembling and barely able to keep hold of the pot she was holding. Nyakio and the rest followed my eyes.
(CRAP!)
I quickly made my way to Taiwhur, leaped onto her back, and put her into a chokehold. The surprise chokehold made her cough and wheeze terribly.
"Taiwhur?! Are you okay?" I exclaimed. She was puzzled but didn't look at me.
"Ergon that's not nice!" One of the women rebuked.
"Sorry aunty, I'll help her."
(SUCCESS!)
I quickly helped her up and escorted her closer to the waterfall nearby and slightly into the dense surrounding jungle, a hidden spot far from the rest of them.
"....thank you..." Taiwhur said, her voice a coarse whisper.
A few tears rolled down her cheeks yet her face tried desperately to keep her smile. Her eyes were dim.
"..sorr-"
I hugged her and gently stroked her head intertwining my fingers with her golden hair. At that point, she couldn't help herself. She wrapped her hands tightly around me. She whimpered yet no torrent of tears came. Only a trickle. The rest were stuck. Stuck in her throat, her mind, her heart.
She couldn't understand. She should've healed. Just like everyone else but she couldn't. She should've listened. It was her fault. When she and Onihsmas were leisurely enjoying their afternoon in the calm waters of Baruni Spring, a few of Mucungwa's followers attacked. Onihsmas quickly took action, being the only man and therefore warrior around, it was his duty to buy time for the women and girls to escape. Yet she decided to be stubborn. She foolishly decided to act like those fantastical women. Ati, she'd die with him. Foolish. He ended up distracted, concerning himself with her safety and that's when he slipped. The Wolocs immediately swarmed him, biting, ripping, and tearing away at his flesh. She could vividly remember his wails of agony as she just looked on. Scared stiff. She was unfortunate to be rescued in the nick of time just so that she could loathe herself for it.
She dug her nails into him. She wished desperately to right her wrong. She curled up further. If only she wasn't ali-
"It's okay," he whispered.
He continued stroking her hair. She locked eyes with him. He smiled at her. She buried her head into his chest again.
"....but It's my fault!"
"Would he tell you that?"
"...", I could feel some tears cascade down my chest.
"Do you feel guilty?"
She was silent. She weakly nodded her head.
"What have you done about it?"
"...trained."
"It's plenty."
She shook her head. She knew it wasn't. Despite all the effort she put in, she had nothing to show for it. She kept losing duels, her comprehension was lackluster and her progress was slow. Too slow. She shed more tears.
"...no..it's not," she whimpered.
"It's not? I don't recall any other woman being able to climb to warrior status,"
She remained silent.
"Was learning the Ki spike technique not plenty? Or even being the second person after Gathron Kitam to be able to use Ki kinesis?"
She was still silent.
" In death, we remember the good yet the-"
"-living forget" she whispered.
I smiled and continued stroking her head, "It's okay."
"...really?" she was trembling, her nails digging deeper, desperately clinging.
I kissed her forehead, "It's plenty."
She coughed, wheezed, and finally, she cried letting all her tears out in a wild torrent. We stayed in that position for a while as I continued stroking her hair. After she had calmed down she looked up and we locked eyes again. They were brighter. Much brighter and I saw her smile.
Abruptly she felt something warm trickle down her fingers. She gasped and retracted her hands only to find them covered in thick red blood. She was stunlocked. She slowly looked back up and found me grinning from ear to ear.
"Let's go back before they start making up lewd stories!" I said bombastically.
Her face lit a flame. She lowered her gaze. She felt her heart flutter a bit.
"...thank you," she whispered.
"My pleasure," I whispered into her ear making her jump.
I cackled for a while before helping her up. We headed back to the spring only to find most had gone home as the sun was setting and those nearby were already going back to the village. Well, only some warriors remained though they were on patrol. Jungle foliage was no joke. I began wading my way to the other side of the spring when she grabbed me. When I looked back, she jolted and quickly let go.
"L-let's fill the pots with water,"
"...you workaholic," I said as I accusingly pointed my finger at her.
"That's what we came here for!" she said while pouting.
I sighed and started helping her fill the pots with water. She kept shooting glances at him. She couldn't understand him. He just popped into her life two seasons ago. She had been told to get over it. It happened to everyone. And she tried. Desparately so and yet the more she did the more she sunk but he came around. The way he smiled at her, embraced her, gave her headpats and calmed her had healed her far more than any diviner her father brought. It didn't feel unending now, she felt she could actually overcome this but that was why. Even now as she looked at him work, her heart fluttering, she couldn't fathom him. The tears and gashes must've been extremely painful. She knew he had hypersensitivity and that's why he wore that cloak around him and yet this and the training she saw him do at night just baffled her. Besides that, she didn't even know if she had the patience to do what he did and he was five yet thrice as wise as some of her older brothers. She continued staring at him, noting the definitions slowly cropping up on his body. His back, scratched and bruised yet working through it all, seemed wider now. He turned and locked eyes with her. She felt her heart jump.
"H-hey, wanna straddle me home?" she blurted out and he immediately burst out laughing.
"Pervert!"
"That's not what I meant!!"
"How are you even going to carry the pots?" he said amidst my laughter.
She flicked her wrist and all the pots started floating. He went silent.
"Show off,"
She clicked her tongue, picked him up, and carried him on her back. She then started heading back to the village. It wasn't all bad though. In fact, this was brilliant for an opportunist such as himself. He blew some air onto her neck making her squirm and laugh.
"Stop that!"
"No!"
He continued relentlessly bullying her. They laughed and bantered along the way until she got silent.
"Thanks."
"You've already said that,"
"No, you've just done so muc-"
I placed my hand on her cheek and made her face me, our faces close enough for our noses to touch, we could feel each other's breaths on our skin, "You look ugly when you're sad."
I could see the initial shock morph into a smile, "Jerk!"
"And yet you can't help but love me," he said whilst snickering and grinning.
She stopped. A scalding blush pervaded her face and she immediately pulled away her face.
(SERIOUSLY!)
He couldn't believe he had just guessed that.
She turned to me again and stared at me. Her breathing was strained. He could feel slight trembles in her arms. Before he knew it, they locked lips. He could feel her soft and scathing hot lips trying to intimately lock with his. As they parted lips, she stared longingly at him.
He was shell-shocked. He never expected her to be the aggressor type. However, he wasn't about to go down a coward. He got close to her. She closed her eyes and pursed her lips. He only blew her a kiss though. She opened her eyes. She gazed at me lasciviously. She tried kissing him but he pulled away, a teasing smile plastered on his face. Her eyes gazed upon me, she bit her lower lip.
"...please..."
He brushed a strand of hair aside, lingering as he brushed against her skin. He felt her tremble. Her heart fluttered. Everything he did just revved her on more and more. It was unbearable! He leaned in, gently brushing against her soft lips, biting her lower lips. Each action he took stoked her passion and left a trail of fire all across her body. He planted his lips firmly against hers. The floodgates opened. She found herself probing his mouth with her tongue. Swallowing all his saliva desperately as their tongues intertwined. Something had awakened in her. Something feral. She never felt like this. All the while he stroked her flushed cheeks, sending waves of pleasure throughout her body. She never knew being touched could feel good. She wanted to get closer. His lips parted from hers, a bridge of saliva connecting them. Her tongue stuck out in a desperate attempt to continue.
"No~" she whined.
He kissed her cheek, "There's plenty more. Let's get home first."
She nonetheless pursed her lips. He kissed her lips. The jolt of happiness made her sway her hips. She didn't know what he did to her but she liked it. She picked up the pots, one had broken. She didn't care though. Collateral damage. Every step she took had a renewed spring. She swayed her hips as she walked. He thought he had stopped this bad habit of hers. She did this when she got promoted to warrior status. Men couldn't even walk in those days. Looking at her now, though, he couldn't help but like it. Abruptly she stopped as if she had realised something. He could see a blush slowly surface.
"Umm, I'm usually not like that!"
He was confused. She misinterpreted this for disgust. She got scared.
"I'm more ladylike, I promise I wo-"
He kissed her squarely on her lips. She melted into his lips, her mind shutdown. She knew her heart wouldn't survive the trip home. He parted from her. Her breathing, was punctuated by hot shallow gasps and desire. He didn't know but he was switching her on and off like an abusive child with a light switch.
"I liked it,"
"R-really? I heard men don't like it,"
"That's their men," he leaned close to her ear, "not yours."
She felt a tingle of ecstasy tickle her ear.
"Besides...," he looked away from her as he blushed, "can't you feel it."
It was now that she realized that something hard had been poking her back. She blushed.
"?!You can get har-"
"Of course I can!!" I said as I bonked her head.
She giggled and stared at me. The sky was a deep orange. His blue eyes shimmered and took on an orange tinge. Couple that with his smile which always made her heart flutter and worries melt. Her smile.
"Can I really be like that?" her voice trailed off into a whisper.
He kissed her cheek, "You can always be a pervert for me."
She felt a jolt travel down her spine. Somehow, despite the teachings she'd received from her aunties and mother, she liked it. She liked being called a pervert no matter how embarrassing it was. She didn't question it now. If it was him, maybe, maybe things will be different. The village was in sight.
"I'll get off here," he said.
"No,"
"No?"
She nodded.
"People will see,"
"I don't care,"
"You're 13 seasons, I'm 5. Wanna get stoned?"
"That rule was for men!" she said, huffing and raising her head haughtily.
Honestly, I didn't get why this was such a big deal but she did have a point. Whenever the issue of how children -those under 10 seasons old- related with pre-adults(10-15) and adults, it always did imply older men and young girls. Implication is never in hard print though. We were at the gate. The guards were looking at me funny. Me, not her. They were seriously giving me the stank eye. Were they jealous or something? I stuck out my tongue at them. I could visibly see them holding back their anger because they didn't want to ruin their chances with her. She was supposedly up for grabs, just that her father hadn't announced a Chirigara.
(Suckers!)
As we proceeded into the village, most were getting ready for bed others preparing for night duty. Her head was still held up high as if to tell me 'Told you so!'. I scoffed and accepted defeat. She was headed towards Rongai's homestead.
"No, let's go to Rimache,"
"But he's not the village alchemist,"
"Yeah and he isn't a coward," I scowled. I didn't like him one bit.
She didn't question it further and headed for Rimache's. We arrived to find Shimeri trying her hardest to work while Rimache lay down on a hammock next to her massaging her buttocks.
(...he is bold) Taiwhur thought and looked at me.
Rimache turned to them, "Ah what do we owe the visit, jewel of the crescent plains."
She turned away. Honestly, she found that name embarrassing.
"Oi, I'm here too,"
"No one cares,"
He clicked his tongue, got down and showed him the injuries on his back.
"Strange, I had...."
He looked at them again. Looked at her nails. She quickly hid them. A mischievous grin spread on his face. Ergon smirked. They cackled like possessed beasts.
"Hehehehehe meh boy! Just wait I'll go get the potion,"
Taiwhur turned to me confused, Shimeri was still in the corner, too embarrassed to show her face. Rimache came running with two potions in hand. One I recognised and he applied to on my back. The other, however, looked deviant. He forcefully made me drink the other one.
"Alright! He needs a bath, could you bathe with him?" Rimache bluntly asked.
Taiwhur's and Ergon's faces reddened instantly. He was a tease yes but he had limits too. She slowly nodded.
"Great!" he smirked again and stared at him, "have fun!"
They walked to her homestead. The moment she opened it, her father pounced on her and hugged her.
"Where were you, you wo-"
His eyes caught sight of me. I heard a subtle clicking of his tongue. Well, it couldn't be helped. She was his daughter.
"I'm fine!" she said, nuzzling into her father's embrace.
"I heard he-"
"Helped me, yes," she said, firmly pushing him away from her.
He was shocked and immediately glared at me.
(Oi, oi, oi!)
*BONK!*
"Don't glare at a guest!" his wife rebuked.
She turned to me, bent over, and ruffled my hair, "I'm sorry darling, I don't know what's gotten into him."
"It's ok," he said.
Her plump lips curved into a pleasurable smile. Her voluptuous breasts were hanging as she continued feeling my hair. My eyes felt compelled to cop a look. Out of nowhere, Shantel crushed right into him, this time he didn't fall and managed to spin her around and land her on the ground. Honestly, he was glad. Any longer and things would've gotten dangerous. However, that soon landed him in another problem. He could see Shantel's face light up as he placed her on the ground. She locked eyes with him, then lowered her gaze slowly to my arms. Her eyes sparkled. Abruptly, Taiwhur grabbed me.
"We'll be helping ourselves to the baths," she said as she took off.
"Oh, okay don't be long,"
He was a bit stunned. She looked back at him as they rushed across their compound. The lit torches reflected in her eyes. The fires danced in her eyes, her face flushed, she pouted like a spoiled little girl as her grip on his hand tightened. She abruptly turned away and opened the bath house doors which were much bigger than even the common baths down at the village. She abruptly dived straight into the changing rooms. He stood there, stunlocked. He had no idea if she had caught him trying to cop a look. He shook his head and changed out of his attire and got into the baths. He looked at his reflection in the waters. He had bulked up. His chest was more pronounced, arms developed and abs were on their way in. Well, in context to his age mates. He was proud but he didn't quite understand what the excitement was all about. Maybe it had to do with future prospects. People with strong bodies while they're young usually end up super strong. But he wasn't like that. He trained. He wasn't big naturally. Heck, he was more of the slender type and he was sure they were aware. In fact, he was shorter than most of his age mates.
The door creaked. His heart thundered against his chest. In walked Taiwhur, dressed in a skimpy cloth that barely held the weight of her breasts that seemed desperate to just slip off. She tied it in a knot at the front of her chest, the thin fabric barely hiding her erect nipples. She stood there, her eyes stealing glances, hands behind her back, softly swaying her hips from side to side accentuated more by her cinched waist. The bathing toga she tied around her waist followed her movements sensually, sometimes got short enough for me to see her inner thighs. The air was suffocating and it wasn't the steam.
"...can I?" she asked, eyeing me from the side.
"...eh-Sure," he responded.
She slid inside the bath and looked up at me, a seductive smile plastered on her face. He shifted to the side, something was rising. She locked eyes. A desperate frenzy was brewing in there. Her eyes shined with more fervor than I'd ever seen. She approached me on all fours, her breasts swaying. She got close and looked up into my eyes.
"...are they enough?" she asked, the knot holding on for dear life.
He held his breath. The heat was nearly unbearable. She kissed my chest. I felt her plump lips caress my chest before I felt her hot fleshy tongue lick all across. She was driving me mad. She worked up to my collarbone and started sucking as if a delicious nectar. I placed my hand on the nape of her neck and caressed it. She curved into my touch, jiggling her butt and sucked with more fervor. She started licking her way up my neck, sniffing and burying her face into my neck before locking eyes again. We could feel each other's hot breaths.
"...am I?" she whimpered.
Her eyes trembled slightly. I immediately locked lips with her.
"Always have been,"
Her eyes lit up. She embraced me, my face square in her bosom. She paused and looked at me for a moment, pondering something. She got on top of me and slowly lowered her hips to meet mine.
*Squelch*
I could feel it. She moved her hips back and forth the heat from her fleshy softness felt unfathomably good he couldn't continue. He grabbed her hips and stopped her. She looked at me. I could see tears build up as she bit her lower lip and lowered her head. He caressed her cheek.
"No, it's not like that,"
She was a bit startled but nonetheless enjoyed my touch. Despite that she didn't understand. She was vaguely aware that she was the object of fantasy for most men. Yet why did he stop her?
"...that's for marriage"
She was puzzled and then it struck her. She enthusiastically nodded her head as if she understood the assignment. He patted her head and they enjoyed each other's touch for the rest of the bath. Soon, he had left their residence, after heavy resistance, unfortunately. As he walked home, he cringed.
(Marriage?!)
He laughed at myself. He could've come up with a better excuse but that was fine. It did its job. He didn't want to risk her getting stoned to death and even if that was only for men, he knew he wasn't mature nor strong enough to handle the responsibilities that would've come after if they continued.
(Welp. What's done is done.)
He could hear chatter and laughter coming from inside my parent's house. When he opened the door, it all went silent save for Fina's adorable 'hewwo'. They were already having supper. Immediately, Enischy glared at him. He closed the door behind me.
"Where have you been?" Strox asked.
"The Njawa's,"
I could see a vein bulge on Enischy's face.
"Supper's finished, you'll have to do without it," Enischy said.
(Petty)
"Sure," the scent of food was still rich in the pot.
I was full though. I had to fight my way through an all-you-can-eat buffet just to get home. Mothers sure are something else. I eyed Veralia. We locked eyes and then she quickly averted them. Enischy clicked his tongue. He's been getting more and more pissed nowadays. Guess he couldn't make him grovel at his feet these days. He ignored them for now and just went to bed. He needed to get some early morning training. Before he could fully doze off, the door creaked open. He turned and saw Fina sneak in and close the door quietly. She then presented her bowl to me the food only marginally touched.
"FULL!"
Lies. He knew she wasn't full. She was a ravenous little child yet charitable than most. He kissed her on the head as he patted her. He pushed the bowl back to her.
"How about extra cuddles?"
Her bright azure eyes sparkled, "Yes!"
"Go finish your food then,"
She immediately bolted out of the room. He could hear a ruckus in the other room. They were probably trying to slow her down. BOOM! The door flew open as Fina immediately dive bombed onto the bed and into my arms. She was giggling, as she wrapped her small hands around his arm. He placed the blankets over her as they snuggled. Sleep quickly overtook them. Enischy watched, silently cursing his brother.