Never Let Me Go Chapter 2
Sheba carefully pulled her hair ties out as she untangled the wet strands with her fingers. Arba sat on Sheba's bed, watching in silence. A few minutes passed before Sheba looked up at herself in the mirror. She had taken several steps to prepare herself for the moment Solomon would see her as someone to be taken seriously. Instead, he found her dripping wet in front of a crowd of refugees. Sheba remembered how Solomon pulled her to his chest. He smelled like the gardens, fresh with blooming flowers and wild grasses.
Oddly, Sheba didn't feel upset. She didn't regret helping that boy, and she wished she could've done more for him.
"Let me help you out of those clothes," Arba said as she stood. Sheba nodded wordlessly as she peeled off the fabrics. Her gold and ruby jewels were placed on the vanity and she found a towel to dry herself. Arba went back to sit on the edge of bed.
"You did a good thing, Sheba. You shouldn't regret it."
"I know," Sheba grabbed her white dress from the trunk and slipped it on. "I have no regrets. I..."
There was a knock on the door.
"Are you, like, okay, aru?" Falan called out from behind the door. Sheba hurried over and opened the door.
"I'm okay!" Sheba smiled sheepishly.
"I heard that you tripped on the, like, fountain, aru? Are you sure you're okay, aru?" Falan placed her hand on Sheba's forehead.
"I'm not a baby anymore!" Sheba's cheeks turned a fade of pink as she tried to push Falan's hand away. Arba and Falan laughed.
"Us women have to stick together," Arba stood up from the bed and approached them with light footsteps. "And we'll always worry about you, Sheba."
"You're, like, our baby, aru. Not including Tess." Falan said.
"Where is Tess, Falan?" Arba arched an eyebrow.
"Sleeping with his papa, aru. Now my breasts can, like, take a break, aru."
Sheba smiled and wondered if she'd be a good mother like Falan. Even though it wasn't a top priority, she did fancy the idea of having a child.
"Those are cute, aru," Falan pointed out the flowers that were on Sheba's bedside table.
"Yeah.. Solomon gave them to me."
"He did, aru?"
"He has good tastes," Arba added. "I honestly didn't expect him to take the time to find them."
Sheba blushed. She didn't think too much into the flowers, mostly so she didn't get her hopes too high. But if the gesture wasn't a normal occurrence, maybe she was special in his eyes. Sheba wondered if Solomon regretted it now. No, don't think like that! I need to wait to meet with him.
Solomon walked through the busy streets of the base. His eyes searched the crowd, looking for that particular old woman. Sheba had done her part to protect a boy while offering to pay back to the vendor. Solomon smiled to himself. Sheba had grown from a frightened, selfish, cruel being to a mature, selfless, nurturing woman. How did he wait this long to finally admit that to himself?
Eventually, Solomon found the elder sitting front of a wooden table. Despite her age, she had firm muscles from her waist up. From the walking cane beside her, however, Solomon wondered if she sustained an injury in her legs that weakened her lower half.
"Lord Solomon!" The old woman bowed her head as she prepared to stand.
"Please, stay seated." Solomon reached out and gently pushed the woman back down. "I am here to return payment for the potatoes that were stolen. I'm sure Sheba had mentioned it to you, but she's not feeling well right now. I came here in her stead."
"I was worried when she fell into that fountain. But you don't need to pay back," The old woman smiled, but her gaze showed a history of sadness and pain. "My children have fought with you, Lord Solomon, and they are very proud. And if it wasn't for Lady Sheba, my daughter would've died in the most recent mission she went on. I owe it to her, and of course to you for training her."
"Sheba trained herself," Solomon crossed his arms. "I may have guided her, but she created the magic she uses in battle. She trained and studied day in, day out. When everyone is asleep, she is in the training room fighting invisible enemies in front of her. She rightfully earned her nickname as Eight Headed Defensive Wall magician."
The old woman smiled. "Lady Sheba is an incredible magician."
"She is." Solomon paused. "I have a proposition, elder. I hope you listen to it well."
"You can do better than that!" Arba called out as Sheba swung her staff at her. They clashed and Arba was pushed back a few inches. Sheba clenched her jaw as she entered a barrage of attacks towards Arba, but the other dodged nimbly. Suddenly, Sheba was on the ground and Arba stood above her. She slammed the end of her staff only inches beside Sheba's face.
"You're distracted." Arba held her hand out. Sheba blew a strand of hair out of her face as she took Arba's hand.
"I'm just worried about Solomon. He hasn't came back yet. Where could he be, anyway?" Sheba huffed. "Maybe I really did ruin it."
Arba smiled and pulled Sheba up. "Come, lets go another round."
Sheba twirled her staff and prepared herself when both women saw Ugo come inside. He blinked, startled at the serious expression Arba and Sheba had on.
"Am I-"
Arba was the first to soften her expression. "Do you need anything Ugo?"
"Oh, yes, I was looking for you, Arba. I wanted to go over something for your mission tomorrow."
"You're leaving?" Sheba relaxed, secretly relieved that she could take a break from sparring.
"I am. I'm taking squadron six and eight with me to one of the territories the church has domination over."
Sheba nodded as Ugo and Arba left together. She wondered if Solomon had been busy getting briefed for missions that he had forgotten to meet with her. Several hours had passed since the incident at the plaza, so it wouldn't be out of the ordinary. Sheba inhaled deeply, held it in for a second, and exhaled through her nose. Alright, I'm ready.
Sheba focused and felt a familiar power grow inside her. With her staff held in front of her, she pulled on the threads of power until she was making a weave of magic. Her borg surrounded her and then-
She gasped and opened her eyes. Her borg shattered before her and Sheba fell on her knees. No, I didn't do it right. I missed that step. I have to feel it or else it just won't work!
Sheba clenched her jaw and stood back up. She held her staff with both hands. If the others were getting stronger, she needed to catch up. An image of Solomon popped in her mind and she found her resolve.
"I must get stronger," She told herself.
"You do." Solomon was leaning against the doorway. Sheba pointed her staff at him, startled.
"You need to stop doing that!"
"You need to learn to sense someone's presence instead of getting startled all the time."
"How long have you been here?"
"A few minutes."
Sheba puffed out her cheeks, embarrassed that he had seen her. Solomon approached her and took her hand.
"You must be tired. Let's get dinner."
"Us? As in... You and..." Sheba's face turned an apple red. "T-That would be great! Let's go!"
Solomon smiled and he led the way out of the training room.