Morning came and our time together in peace was cut. Albel quickly gathered supplies in town, loading them onto the horses.
"Princess, if you have time to stand around looking like a fool, then you have time to work," the young man growled. I glared at him, but did as I was told. Albel looked completely fine…the medicine really did its wonders.
"How do you feel?" I asked him while stuffing an extra blanket into a sack. Albel simply grunted, which made me a bit angry.
"You are so insolent!" I snapped, with my fists balled and my eyes narrow.
"And you are annoying," he countered automatically. Forget it…I'm not going to try to deal with him. I stuffed the rest of the supplies into the bags and walked off, ignoring Albel's objections. Why can't he understand my concerns? Why can't he understand my feelings? Even though I vehemently told myself not to get emotional, tears welled up in my eyes. I quickly entered the Peterny church before they broke.
"Why am I so weak?!" I screamed within my mind while wiping away the stray tears. Silently, I sat down on one of the benches, praying silently to Apris. The danger augmented in this journey…I'm afraid to think of what kind of people are waiting to disembowel us.
"Maybe I'm just worrying too much…" I sighed. The priest noticed my presence and smiled solemnly. He motioned me to come forward, much to my reluctance.
"Lady Nel…you have quite a destiny to fulfill," the priest chuckled merrily. I forced on a smile. What is my destiny? Is it to give myself up as a slave to the Glyphians? I cannot bear this.
"Beware Airyglyph my lady…the sky has been dark of late, full of darkness, ready for the prophecy of the underworld," the priest warned. Prophesy? What is this man talking about? "What is there to fear?" I asked him.
"A growing darkness within Airyglyph in which you cannot run away from. My princess, hold your daggers tight and may Apris watch over you," he bowed. I stood there, dumb-struck. I wanted to know what more this old man had to say…but I decided not to since the conversation ended. I lingered in front of the man a little longer before leaving his presence to sit back down on the bench. I watched the elderly man carefully, but all he did was continuing to read the scriptures set before him with an unreadable expression. Why…why am I afraid of his words? Oh Apris…
"…Are you still angry?" Albel muttered when I walked up to him.
"…No…" I answered quietly, with my expression grave. The young man cocked his eyebrow, but didn't question my mood.
"Are you ready then?" Albel asked.
"Mmm, I'm ready," I replied half-heartedly. I could tell that Albel was disturbed by my sudden change in behavior. Not that it really mattered…my problems shouldn't concern him. I jumped onto my horse and fastened my belongings to the sacks.
"Our next destination…we'll be in Arias by sunset if we go a quicker pace than usual my lord," the subordinate explained.
"That'll be good enough," the mercenary grunted and rode past the gates with Nel matching his stride. Instead of a thick and ominous forest, they strode through large plains of thick green grass. Life sprouted from all direction, flowers, trees, animals. Even the local monsters seem to be content with their surroundings. Nel couldn't help but slow down just to savor the beauty.
"Hey, stop holding us back princess! We don't have time to loiter around! Don't you remember that we have enemies from both sides coming after us?" Albel hissed. Before I could give a retort, a pounding force collided with my back, flinging me off the horse and into the ground with a loud thud. Stars danced around in my vision, making it difficult for me to concentrate.
"Nel, NEL!" Albel cried out to me, shaking my body to get my senses back together.
"Lord Albel, the enemy!" the subordinate pointed out frantically.
"Damn it! You look after the princess. I'll deal with the worms!" Wait…Albel…not alone…don't go alone! I struggled to focus once more, dropping into the darkness occasionally.
"Lord Albel, watch out!"
"Aaaaah!"
"ALBEL!" I screamed, jolting up from unconsciousness. Splotches of blood flowed freely from Albel's back, staining his black clothes. My eyes widened with fear. Immediately I grabbed my daggers and rushed to his side, ignoring the pain in my back.
"Lady Nel, come back!" the subordinate called out.
"What are you doing?! You're injured, go back!" the young man hissed.
"No! I can't leave you here!" I panted. With the daggers tightly in my hands, I darted in between two Airyglyph soldiers, crossing my blades at their sides. Shocked cries erupted from their throats and a stinging pain rippled across my back. I fought to keep my focus. My breathing grew shallow and my legs grew weak. I flinched as another ripple ran through my back.
"Well…despite being injured you took down two men. That's quite an accomplishment," Albel sneered. I scoffed and looked around for more opponents….only to find that they've all been taken care of.
"Well princess, let me examine that wound," the young man stated and sheathed his blade.
"No, you're the one that's mortally wounded."
"And you're the one that got knocked out from a single firebolt."
In the end, I lost against him. We took refuge under a large tree with a small pond alongside it.
"Now, take off your shirt," the mercenary commanded. A blush crept up my face. Even though his intentions are pure…I couldn't help but hear the other context of his command.
"Stop thinking dirty thoughts and take off that shirt!" Albel snapped, growing a bit flustered in spite of himself. I turned my back to him and took off my garment. He ran his long slender fingers along my spine slowly to check if there was any damage. My face heated up and sweat trickled down my face. My hands trembled at his touch that wasn't meant to be sensual. I let out a pretend 'annoyed sigh' so that he wouldn't get any ideas.
"Are you done yet?" I murmured.
"Shut up. Your wound isn't that serious. You should be fine while riding the rest of the way to Arias. We'll rest then." Albel stated before wrapping the injury with bandages….with help from me of course. Once he finished, I quickly put on my shirt and turned to him.
"Now it's your turn," I smirked. Albel grunted and rolled his eyes. He tossed away his shirt and turned his back to me. I grimaced at the sight. The wound itself didn't seem so severe, but it was the blood the amount of blood that flowed from his gash. I grabbed a towel and soaked it in the pond's water and gently wiped away most of the crimson liquid.
"You're not obligated to tend to my wounds. I have my subordinate you know," Albel sniffed.
"But your subordinate isn't here," I pointed out.
"What?!" the mercenary looked around for his lackey, but to no avail.
"Stop moving would you! You're reopening the wound!" Nel hissed and pressed lightly on the gash. Albel groaned quietly.
"Well…he's always gone…if you haven't noticed. What does he do anyway?" I asked.
"Who knows…probably hiding again…Ugh…I just wish that they've given me-"
"They? Who's they?" I questioned. Even though I could not see his face, I could tell that he was glaring.
"None of your business," he growled. I sighed and began to wrap a bandage around him.
"…Back in Peterny…" Albel began.
"Hmm? What is it?" Is he asking about my mood?
"Back in Peterny…that man. Is he really your fiancé?" Albel asked. I growled under my breath and quickly tied the knot to his bandage.
"Not anymore. Ever since I've been betrothed to the prince of Airyglyph our wedding was cancelled," I explained with restrained vehemence.
"Was that engagement forced?"
"With Aide? Yes, it was forced. I never cared for him. He is the son of the highest noble family in Aquios and that made an attractive partner in my father's eyes,"
"…Do you hate your father?" "….Maybe…a little perhaps. The rest is indifference. An inferior ruler such as he…doesn't deserve much respect," I whispered.
"But…I suppose I can…respect his concern for my well-being…even if it was artificial. I can thank him for giving my protection…I suppose," I sighed and dropped my head on Albel's back.
"I just…want…someone who could really care…for me…"
"…Nel…" Albel whispered. An awkward silence filled the air in which I did nothing to break. My mind was lost in memories of my dear home. Selfishly I used Albel for comfort without asking how he felt. So stupid of me…so spoiled of me. I lifted up my head and placed my hands on his wound. Lights swirled around my hands as I casted Healing upon him.
"Y-you know Runology?" Albel questioned in surprise.
"Well…yes. I've been teaching myself. Though…I'm only an expert on attack spells, not healing. Last time I wasn't able to heal your wounds because they were too fatal," I explained before turning to the pond to wash my hands. Albel got up and slipped into his shirt.
"Hmph…you don't need anyone," he grunted. I froze with my hands still in the water. I don't need…anyone?
"…You've gotten stronger…stronger than that pathetic spoiled princess you were back at the castle," he muttered, turning red. I stared at him questionably.
"But…I'm still the same rotten child…aren't I?"
"If you weren't, I wouldn't be frustrated at you," he frowned. I fumed and splashed water at his face.
"H-hey!" "And you are the same insolent man! If you weren't, I would be so furious by your words!" I countered angrily. While we bickered, the sun began to set. We weren't concerned with reaching Arias now…I think, more than anything, we just wanted to foolishly squabble before it all ended.
Sorry to all of my readers. I finally got another chapter up! I assure you that this fic is not dead...I just needed some time to organize my ideas.