::Panics:: GAH I AM SO SORRY EVERYONE FOR NOT UPDATING IN FOREVER!!!!!! I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT A MONDAY BUT I FEEL SO BAD FOR LEAVING THIS ON HIATUS!!! T.T

Really… there were a lot of things that have kept me side-tracked all this time. I did mean it that I will get this story done… it's… just that I don't know how long… that'll be…

And as I've noticed, It's been a year (and one and a half months) since the first chapter was posted!

About this chapter: This whole chapter is in the past between Caden and Bayle. Usually I would put Caden's past in italics, but since I'm telling you right now that this chapter is in the past, I don't have to do that.

So now that that's done, on with the story!

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Chapter 15: A Moment in Time

"There are two ways to get into Sacae; one way is faster than the other. The first way is to head northeast straight into Sacae, and the other way is to head southeast into Lycia, and then work our way through to get into Sacae. There is a slight mountain range if we go northeast though."

"It wouldn't be very fun if we just headed northeast. Boy, you sure know your way around this area. Have you been traveling a lot?"

"No. My father has a map of Elibe. Before I left, I studied the map as best as I could."

"Wow, you have a good memory. Maybe I should rely on you when I'm ever confused about something."

"I wouldn't say I'm good. I am just starting to train to become a tactician. Anyways, why go through Lycia?"

"Either way we take, we'll still end up in Sacae. Does it matter which route to take?"

"Yes, one is faster than the other."

"What's so bad about going through Lycia?" he asked as he raised an eyebrow.

"From Lycia, if we head north, we'll be traveling through a mountain range. There are a lot of bandits there, and I don't want to face them. But… why do you want to go to Lycia so badly?"

"I want to go back to Thria for a while. I don't feel like I've improved enough to travel further."

Caden sighed. She thought, "So he went on this journey unprepared? That's very unwise for someone to do that." A giggle emitted from her mouth.

"So, what do you think? I'm asking you… do you want to go to Lycia?"

"It does not matter to me where we go. I'm just a traveler, so the more places we go, the better."

"Alright then, it's settled. We're going to Thria!"

What was going through his mind? She had no idea. The only things she could think of are that he was homesick, or he thought of that on a whim. "Lycia, the closest nation to us would be Ostia. If I remember correctly, Thria is just east of Ostia. I've learned little of Lycia, so it will be an interesting travel for me."

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I've really learned a lot about Bayle as we were walking. He has a very cheerful personality, not ashamed to admit his mistakes. But when he needs to be serious, he can be, and when he wanted an answer, he wouldn't constantly ask the question, but persuade and intimidate the other to do so. It was a personality that I envied… a personality that I wanted to have. But I guess the person who I liked so much having that kind of personality, I didn't mind… I actually liked that even more.

After walking for so long, we have finally made it into Thria's land. How long has it been since we've reached Lycia? Two weeks? Three at most? Anyways, Bayle said that we're almost at his village. It's been two months since he left Thria; the villagers welcomed him back with open arms.

"Bayle-nii!" I heard a high-pitched voice around the corner, sounding like it was coming from a child. I found out soon after that I was correct. The girl looked about the age of 5 or 6.

"Hey, Mina!" Bayle picked up the girl that ran towards her and hugged her as if she was a stuffed animal. The girl seemed like she was doing the same. "Oh yeah! Caden, this is my sister, Mina. Mina, this is my friend, Caden."

Sister? I've been traveling with him for all this time and he had never mentioned that he had a sister! I nodded to Mina, not knowing how to interact with children. I lightly smiled and greeted, "Hello, Mina." She replied back shyly, almost looking at me with a hint of envy for being around Bayle in his recent "shenanigans."

"How 'bout we talk inside? As much as I want to show you around, I need to sit down for a while."

"That's fine with me."

We went inside, being greeted with open arms; his parents looking at me as if he picked a good one, haha. Blushing at the comment, I took a slight step behind him in hiding. He escorted me to a free chair, and he sat in the one opposite of that.

After some general conversation, Mina had walked up to us again, climbing onto her brother's lap. "Hey, Bayle-nii," his sister yelled with delight, "I thought you were going and I wouldn't see you for a long time."

"Oh I see how it is. You don't want me here," he said sarcastically, "Well then, I guess I should leave." He moved Mina to his side and started to stand up. Mina then grabbed his robe before he left, clinging onto him, acting like an anchor.

"No! You can't go, Bayle-nii! You just got here!"

Bayle chuckled. "I was just joking, Mina. I'm not going to leave until a couple of days."

"That's good. Hey, do you like anybody?"

He smiled and let out an airy laugh, sitting back in the chair, placing Mina in his lap again. "Huh? When'd you think of that question? You're too young to ask me!"

"Brother! I wanna know! Plus, I'm not too young to ask that question! I'm five!"

"Haha! Fine, fine. Hm… let's see…" He looked up and tapped his chin. "Yes, I do like someone, and I really like her."

Mina looked very interested in her brother's words, leaning closer to him. "Does she like you?"

"Well, I don't know that. Why don't you ask her?" he said pointing at me.

My heart skipped a beat. Ha, very clever, Bayle. After Mina had looked over to me, she slid off of her brother's lap and walked up to me.

"Caden, do you like Bayle-nii?"

… I knew this was coming, and now I can't deny it. Just thinking about confessing that I like Bayle made me laugh. Maybe it was because I'm confessing it to her sister when Bayle was in earshot? Either way, I smiled at Mina, not wanting to lie to kids.

"Yes, I really like Bayle. I like him a lot."

I looked at Bayle to see his expression on his face. When my eyes met his, he smiled sweetly at me…

… Trickster…

"It would be nice having you as a sister, Caden!"

I looked surprised and shifted in my seat. Chuckling, I answered, "Mina, I don't know if that is going to happen. That's going a little too far into the future for me."

She pouted, "Alright then."

I looked at Mina and smiled, patting her head so that she could remain in her high spirit. She smiled back at me.

"Hey, Mina, why don't you go out and hang out with some of your friends? I see them out there, and they're probably going to get you to come out soon."

"Um... okay!"

Once Mina had walked out of the room, Bayle glanced over to me, with a suspicious look in his eyes. "So…" He crossed his arms and put one leg over the other. He stayed quiet, leaving his word open-ended. I already knew why, he already knew why. I turned my head a little to avoid eye contact, feigning ignorance, "... Yes?"

"Oh don't play dumb with me. Just say it." There was seriousness in his voice, but it wasn't too harsh that it was intimidating. I wouldn't fall for his persuasion as I've seen his patterns.

Somehow, I just felt like going around in circles because I didn't want to say the words he wanted to hear… yet. "Say what, exactly?" I questioned.

He closed his eyes and chuckled as he flipped his hair. "So we're playing that game now, aren't we?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "If it seems that way, then yes." I smiled slyly at him, eyes looking innocent.

He uncrossed his arms and legs, standing up from the chair and coming towards me. He leaned down, extending an arm and placing a hand on the back of the seat I was sitting in. Our faces were only a foot apart. He looked at me with a dissatisfied expression, smiling, not buying my innocence. "Well then, if you're going to be stubborn about it, shall I show you?"

Provoking him, I leaned forward. "Fine then… show me what I'm supposed to be saying to you."

He smiled at me, eyes narrowing. "That's what I wanted to hear." He started leaning in further. I closed my eyes, soon after feeling his lips upon mines.

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End of Chapter 15: A Moment of Time

Author's Note:

I haven't mentioned Bayle in a while, so I figured that this should make up for him not being there.

This chapter is TOO SHORT and probably sounds too fast paced of a chapter for a long break. I felt so bad for doing this, you get a second chapter:D (plus, I might add more to this one when I think of it)