Yeah, sorry for such a late chapter...school and work leave me with little free time ;o;
Chapter 5: Trust
Nightfall brought a very welcome darkness to Rune Midgard, especially for a certain member of the Guards of Honor.
Alister sat on one of the branches of the tall oak that resided in the center of the Pronteran cemetery. One might think that he, being an assassin, would feel right at home in a place like this, either that or he would be frightened as hell, considering that ghosts of murdered people often seek revenge. Strangely, the assassin felt neither, almost as if it were just like any other place in the capital city.
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze fixed on a closed window on the second floor of the sanctuary. He was glad that he didn't have to stay in the sanctuary for the night, but he still felt he had to remain nearby.
The sound of a twig snapping broke him out of his self-imposed trance. Reaching for his dagger, he glanced downwards to see what was approaching, only to find that it was already scaling the tree.
He recognized the figure immediately, even though its choice of clothing, a heavy hooded cloak, wasn't what one might normally expect. He grasped the gloved hand of the mysterious creature and hoisted it up onto the limb upon which he was perched. Angrily, he pulled back the hood and was greeted by a pair of surprise filled eyes of deep violet.
"Just what do you think you're doing out here, kid?"
The acolyte knocked the assassin's arm away, nearly sending herself freefalling. She had Alister's quick reflexes to thank for her safety, as he had helped her to regain her balance.
"So you knew it was me."
"Of course I did. You're the only one in a fifty mile radius with feet that heavy. Now what are you doing out here?"
"Kinda strange for you to be asking me that, isn't it?"
"Hey, at least I'm not running around like some nightwalker."
The two sat there in silence for what seemed like several minutes before the quiet was broken by the acolyte's sigh.
"Thank you..."
"Pardon?"
"I said 'thank you for saving me.'"
Alister smirked at the girl, who had a slight bit of pink staining her cheeks.
"Wow, none of my charges have ever thanked me before...I'm touched!"
Meral wished so much that she could wipe that idiotic grin off his face. She really didn't need to, for in a few seconds he sobered up.
"You're serious, aren't you, kid?"
"Yes...and don't call me 'kid,' I'm almost seventeen."
"Well, you're still a kid to me."
"Why? How old are you?"
"You don't need to know that."
"Yes I do."
"No, you don't."
"Just tell me."
"No."
"Please? I'll shut up if you do."
"Tempting...but no."
The acolyte puffed out her cheeks, a look of annoyance on her face, kind of like a child who was about to throw a tantrum because her mother wouldn't buy her the poring doll she wanted so badly.
"Hey, I told you how old I am."
"I never asked though."
"It doesn't matter!"
Alister sighed. She was a persistent little brat, and he knew he would eventually lose. He never was any good at dealing with children.
"Alright, if you must know, I'll be turning twenty-three next spring."
"You're not that much older than me."
The assassin grinned and ruffled the girl's hair.
"Maybe not, but you're still a kid to me."
"Hey, cut it out!!!"
After a short battle of an acolyte trying to keep a joking assassin at bay, the two sat in silence for a few more moments. Something suddenly began to nag Alister, something he couldn't ignore.
"Why did you have to come out here just to thank me? Don't tell me Aka never risked her life for you."
"That's different, Aka's a woman."
"So you're saying that it's just because I'm a guy?"
"Kinda..."
"Kid, are you developing a crush on me or something? That's not healthy, you know."
"No!"
Meral looked down, her face completely red. How could he even dare asking her something as absurd as that?
Looking at him, it was obvious that he didn't believe her sudden outburst. Who would? After all, she was acting like a schoolgirl in puppy-love.
"It's nothing like that, alright? I...just have a hard time trusting males, that's all."
"But you trust me."
"Of course I do, you saved my life."
The snowy haired assassin cocked an eyebrow.
"Look Alister, don't read too much into it. I...I just don't trust anyone who can't prove themselves to be worthy of my trust."
Alister suddenly began to realize what she meant. He knew it was something that had nothing to do with love, and he hoped to Odin that his hunch was wrong.
"Someone hurt you in the past, didn't they?"
"Yes..."
"And it's not exactly something that you could easily forgive, huh?"
Meral nodded, a tear in her eye.
"I'm sorry Meral...I didn't mean to bring up any painful memories."
"No...it's alright. I'm tired of running from my past...from my fears."
Meral looked up at the assassin, her eyes filled with crystalline liquid.
"If you really want to tell me, I'm all ears."
"Thank you..."
The acolyte took a deep breath, trying her best to calm herself. Clasping her hands together, she began her story.