Chapter 3
The hours she spent with Agnès passed too quickly, and soon came the day the wind vestal had to return to Ancheim. The nights that followed their parting were filled with nightmares.
This is not the happy ending we deserved, she thought, not for the first time, after awakening from a dream in which she had to battle Gigas Lich again, but this time without her friends. Alone she didn't stand a chance against the monster. The moment she was devoured by darkness was the moment she finally woke up. Sweat covered her body; her nightgown that reached down to her knees clung to her back. Her hair was a mess, her breath heavy. Only hot chocolate could help in this situation, she decided and tapped out of her room. She intended to head for the kitchen when she heard footsteps coming closer. Intuitively she pressed herself against the cold stones of the wall and carefully peered around the corner.
Her breath paused, and for a moment she thought she was still dreaming. The fact that the person, dressed in black pyjama trousers, was walking over to the room closest to her own meant he was her guard. That was the only thing she was able to logically explain. From the distance she couldn't identify details of his face, but even in the dim light of the corridor she could tell that his hair was of a pale blond colour. It was rather messy, though the shape of a pompadour was recognizable.
If this was a joke, it was the worst she had ever heard. Hot tears began to burn in her blue eyes, but she fought them off. Silently she turned around, but instead of going to the kitchen she went for the training hall. Only practicing with a sword had the chance to help her clear her mind.
Why did he come back?, she thought, biting her lip. Even if it was him, his trying to deceive her by hiding his identity was unforgivable. "Just call me Guard" he had said. Thinking of it made her slap her forehead. She should have known who he was from the very beginning. No sane man would dare to comment on the Bravo Bikini the way he did. If he really decoyed her the whole time, he would immidiately be put on the 'black as the hole that replaces Ouroboros' heart list'. And there was no way to get off of that list.
It was relieving she didn't need protection inside Central Command's walls. She trained until noon, then her muscles began to ache and her stomach started protesting since she skipped breakfast. Another reason for her to leave the training room as fast as possible was that Barras and Holly bursted through the door, being caught up in a senseless squarrel as usual.
"You can't train this Ancheim boy how to use the monk asterisk", Holly said, determined. "He's afraid of punching people, becoming a good monk is impossible for him. I should teach him how to use white magic, instead."
"What a feeble excuse!", Barras roared. Both of them didn't seem to have noticed Edea yet. "I noticed the way you look at that lad. Just admit it! You want to have him for yourself!"
"That is the most idiotic thing you said in a long time, blockhead. You should know I'm not interested in young boys like him. It's the older, stronger, louder men I like." Holly snuggled against Barras' chest, purring like a cat. Edea didn't want to see anything more.
"Geez. Go get a room." She stomped her foot on the ground. "And please turn down the volume. Your bickering is annoying as hell."
"What are you doing here?" Barras turned around in surprise. "And why are you still in your sleeping clothes?"
"Did you sleep in here?" Holly narrowed her eyes. "The Grand Marshal already got mad about you eating cake, he won't be happy about this."
"Then don't tell him." Edea marched out of the room. Overhearing Holly's and Barras' previous converastion got her an idea.
Later that day, she was rummaging around her cosmetics. She was wearing her casual clothes and her trademark red bow tie, and a soft, white woolen coat with a furred hood was lying on the stool beside her. Her eyes, looking back at her from the mirror, were already huge from mascara and eye liner. The only thing left to do was to put on some lipstick.
"There it is." Triumphantly she grabbed the lipstick she was looking for. It had a deep red colour and she never thought she would use it one day. After painting her lips, she took one last glance into the mirror. Pleased with her work she took her coat and opened her room's door. Her guard was waiting outside, arms folded.
"Where are you going?", he wanted to know. Despite his helmet she knew he was examining her.
"I'm on my way to the town. Please don't follow me, that would be too embarassing." Time for some drama. She didn't train with the Performer asterisk many times but she had a feeling her acting skills weren't that bad. After all she managed to trick the red, old man back in Florem - before he used his creepy parfume on her.
"Embarassing? Why?" The guard moved closer, still watching her.
"You know, it's some sort of a personal matter. Please promise you won't tell Father. I'm going to town for a date", she lied, disappointed she couldn't see his face behind the helmet.
"A date? With another man?" He sounded pourly horrified, just as she had expected. Oh, sweet revenge, she hummed inside of her head.
"No, with a penguin. Of course with a man. We're going to have a nice dinner in an expensive restaurant. I wonder what kind of dessert they serve ..." Don't overdo it, she had to tell herself.
"You can't go", he simply said and took another step towards her which forced her to move backwards, back into her room. She didn't object when he closed the door behind them. There was no date for her to miss, anyways.
"And who are you to stop me?", she asked, putting her hands to her hips.
"Your guard. And I say it's too dangerous outside for you to go on your own. It will be dark long before you can get back here."
"In that case I am sure I can stay in town. Maybe my date invites me to his house after dinner."
"This is utterly out of the question. You will not get past me - and don't think about climbing out of that window. If it's good dishes you want, I can ask Holly to cook something. Or I can take you to whatever restaurant you want, but you will not go with some-"
"That's it?", she interrupted him. "Do you really think I've waited five damn months for the day you'd come back and ask me out? Why would I let someone take me to a restaurant who once left without any parting words, anyway?"
"I ... have no idea what you are talking about." He stumbled backwards, away from her angry glare. All the rage she managed to surpress last night now rushed back into her heart, her head, her whole body.
"You can stop this charade now", she told him, having troubles keeping her voice low. "I saw you last night, Ringabel." When he said nothing, she continued: "You are not denying it, then?"
"You have to understand-", he started, his voice pleading. She cut him off again: "Take off your helmet."
He slowly obeyed. Suddenly seeing his face caused her heart to ache. There was no doubt. Ringabel had been her guard all the time. How could he deceive her like this?
"Why?" Her voice was shaking to bady, she didn't dare to say any more words.
"I can explain-" But she didn't want to hear any explanation. Seeing him all of the sudden hurt too much. Without thinking, she reached out and slapped him across the face, so hard that a bolt of pain shot through her hand. Before she walked past him to leave the room, she could see the shocked expression on his face. He didn't try to stop her.
