They feet kept moving forward, carrying a bundle of sharp sticks on Their back as They walked through trees and bushes in the forest. Trying to forget what had happened, not wanting to burden Their mind there was something more important than dwelling on it.
In the middle of the path, a hand suddenly touched Their right shoulder.
"Master, you let your guard down."
Hearing that familiar voice, They stopped and turned to the right-
"Swushh!"
A metal staff swung straight toward They face.
Before it hit, They caught the blunt end with Their right hand. Their eyes turned to the attacker. A figure in a white mask and a black cloak with red patterns, covering the entire body. The appearance was anonymous, but that voice... They knew exactly who it was.
"At least act surprised and panicked, Master. Because this time, I'll win."
The attacker pulled back the staff and thrust it quickly toward They stomach.
They calmly stepped to the left, dodging it. The attacker kept thrusting rapidly, forcing They to retreat further, until-
"Crack"
The bundle of sharp sticks on Their back hit a massive banyan tree.
They glanced behind. They realize that theres no escape.
The masked figure stopped infront They and pointed the staff at They face.
"Hmm... This turned out boring" Say the person while lowered the iron rod
"I surrender. You win, Miyori" They said calmly, admitting defeat.
The figure pulled back the hood and removed the mask. Short brown hair and a floral-patterned headband revealed her identity, it was Miyori.
"Forgive me for attacking so suddenly, Master" she said gracefully, bowing her head.
"Dont mind it. Anyway, Let's back" They said as They walked past her.
Miyori raised her head and walked beside They, eyeing the sticks on Their back.
"That's a lot of sticks, u did it so fast. Seems like you're in a hurry, Master" She commented while walking at They side.
They looked up at the sky. The sun was almost directly overhead, it was nearly noon.
"The day's getting hotter. I need to go before that happens" They said, quickening Their pace back to Grandma's house.
Miyori smiled and sped up to match They stride.
"The heat is a fate we can't control. But you've never rushed just because of that. Is there something important today, Master?" She asked with a warm smile.
"We need to get to Grandma's house first," They replied calmly, breaking into a run.
"Very well, Master," Miyori nodded and started running beside Them.
//
The sun blazed higher. It was almost noon. They had returned to Grandma's house. They placed the bundle of sharp sticks against the wall. A large backpack was strapped to Their back, ready for departure. Meanwhile Miyori feeding her horse near forest.
Grandma stepped out, walking toward Them with a coconut shell filled with fresh coconut water in hand.
"Vi... Drink this before you go. It'll refresh you," Grandma said with a smile, offering the coconut.
They took it, drank, and returned the shell.
"Thank you, Grandma. I made small spears from the sticks. For emergency weapons," They said, pointing to the bundle of sharpened sticks.
Grandma looked at the sticks and walked over to them.
"Haha... Khila and I could've made those ourselves. You always go out of your way for us, Vi," she said with a frail but happy tone, picking up one of the sharp sticks and smiling.
Hearing Khila's name, They suddenly realized she wasn't around. They glanced around the front yard.
"By the way, Grandma, where's Khila?" They asked, eyes scanning the area.
Grandma looked at Them, closed her eyes, and chuckled lightly.
"Haha... Khila's inside, in her room," she said softly.
They removed Their backpack and placed it near the door, then walked into the house and entered the room. Khila was lying on the bed, facing the wall. They saw her back and approached quietly.
"Khila, are you asleep?" They asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Khila didn't respond. Thinking she was asleep, They picked up a blanket from the nearby chair to cover her. As the blanket touched her body, she grabbed and hold it with her hand.
"Vi... will we see each other again?" she whispered.
Realizing she was still awake, They pulled the blanket back and placed it on the chair.
"Khila, it's rude to talk with your back turned," They said gently while staring at her back.
"Just answer the question," Khila replied, voice low and a bit shaky.
"If you don't want to listen, I won't answer," They said firmly.
Khila went silence for a seconds. Then Khila sat up slowly, turning around, her eyes cast down, doesnt want to look at They. Her expression was sad, her cheeks were wet with tears.
They knew, Khila always cried when she felt alone. They presence had changed her lot. They were aware of that. But there was no other choice.
"Khila, do you remember everything I taught you?" They asked.
Khila nodded. Tears start fell from her eyes. Her hands clenched the bed tightly.
"Then you must remember what I said the very first time I trained you, right?" They continued, They hand gently wiping away her tears on her cheeks.
She nodded again, her eyes still avoiding to meet They.
"You can cry, you can what, Khila?" Ask They with low and soft tone
"... Y... You can run... You can scream..." Say Khila with low tone, almost wishper through sobs.
"But?"
"But... hiks... You... Never ever... give up hiks..." Her voice trembled completely now.
They sit closer to her and patted her head.
"Exactly. You've grown so much because you never gave up. I didn't change you. Khila, you changed yourself. You're stronger than you think."
Khila buried her face in the bed, both hands covering her eyes. The dam of her sadness has broke. Tears streamed down like a waterfall.
"Hiks... Hwaa... hiks... hwaaa..." She wept a bit loudly now. Their touch made her feel comfortable, made her letting go everything in her heart.
They still sat beside her, stroking her head. Khila had cried before, but this was different. Deeper. Raw.
\\\
After some time, she lifted her head. Her eyes looked at They, still wet from tears earlier. She wiped her cheeks and smiled weakly.
"Sorry, Vi. I'm always so emotional around you," she said, voice trembling.
Seeing Khila had calmed down, They lowered They hand from Khila's head.
"Cry when you're sad. Scream when you're mad. Don't bottle it up, okay?" They replied calmly.
Khila nodded and stood up.
"Haha... You're so weird, Vi. Come on, or you'll be late."
She walked out of the room. They stood up and followed her. Outside, They grabbed They backpack near the door.
They walked toward Grandma Shila and Miyori, who were chatting near the horse. Hearing footsteps, Miyori looked up and smiled.
"Time to go, Master?" Say Miyori with her smile on her face
They and Khila stopped in front of Miyori dan Grandma Shila. They nodded at Miyori.
"So... where are you heading this time, Vi?" Grandma asked softly.
For a second They get silent. The plan was They will go to the mountains, but now They had to visit the city, to investigate what object Khila had found from earlier.
"I'm going to Solgrave City, Grandma. Haven't been there in a while," They said, gently and politely.
They had wanted to ask Grandma about the crystal-like object, but They know that the object was not ordinary. They didn't want to worry her.
"Oh, to Solgrave? Then we're headed in the same direction," Miyori said while stroking her horse body.
They blinked, a bit confused after hear that. Miyori lived in the city, but not Solgrave. She lived in Orun, which was the opposite direction.
"Where are you going exactly?" They asked.
"Hmm... Just some business. But if you'd like, we can ride together to the city, Master" She replied, folding her arms.
This was a stroke of luck. They wouldn't have to waste time or energy walking through the forest.
They nodded and approached Miyori's horse.
Khila, watching They prepare to leave, felt sadness creeping back in. Nearly a year with They had changed her. They taught her so much. But remembering Their words from earlier. She understood. She had to grow. To live on her own. Not always live happily
They glanced at Khila and saw her still not smiling like usual. They looked her in the eyes.
"Khila, if someday I can't come back... then I want you to be the one to find me. So be strong, and become the adventurer who'll walk beside me."
Khila smiled, eyes lighting up. Hear They word make her sadness eased slowly.
"Yeah. You should take care, Vi. Khila will grow stronger, just wait and see." Say Khila with smile on her face. Her eyes filled with spirit
Miyori walked up to They, carrying a cloak and a mask in her hands she used earlier.
"Master, here's the cloak and mask you requested yesterday" She said, offering cloak and mask to They.
They lowered the backpack from Their shoulders and set it on the ground. Then They took the cloak and mask from Miyori, putting on the cloak to cover Their entire body, and the mask to hide Their face. Once ready, They slung the backpack back over Their shoulders.
Miyori and They climbed onto the horse. They waved at Grandma Shila and Khila.
"Take care, Vi!" Khila called, waving her hand.
"Don't go speeding... you two!" Grandma shouted, waving her hand too
They nodded. Miyori tugged the reins, and the horse started into a gentle run.