141 Trus (1/2)
Beatrice and the other members of her rebel group did spend the night before in the Teria airs.h.i.+p. However, that morning, they all came to the dining hall as well after Jessie invited them.
At first, I was skeptical. I initially thought the dining hall itself was small; though, I never actually stepped inside it before that day.
”Isn't this dining area too big?” I said.
”Probably.”
There were chairs lining up the edge of a long, dining table. Sofeea pulled one of it quick. ”Mer Ava. Here.”
”Thanks.”
I proceeded to pull the chair on my right for Sofeea. I took my own seat after that. ”I wonder what we will have for breakfast? I'm hungry. Though, I could just go back to the airs.h.i.+p and eat there.”
Sofeea was frozen for a moment before she sat down too. ”The leader of The People's Light invited us to join him for this feast. He said something about deepening the Lutalo's relations.h.i.+p with his organization.”
”Hmm.”
Caesar and the rest arrived later, with Hope being the last one. It didn't seem like him to wake up late. I could only guess he had a hard time going to sleep.
Not long after that, all kinds of food were served on the dining table. It was like a buffet early in the morning.
Caesar looked at Evgeny, who sat alone at one side of the table. ”I appreciate what you are trying to do, but isn't this too much?”
”Wait, Caesar.” I waved at him for my seat.
”Yes, Lady Ava?”
”I don't mind actually having these . . . foods.”
Sofeea coughed. ”Um, you are drooling right now.”
Jessie and Hope looked at each other. Hope was sitting next to her. A moment later, Evgeny let us all ate, and I didn't waste any time. My hands grabbed what it could and stuffed everything at once into my mouth. When I felt like choking, Sofeea handed me a gla.s.s of water.
”Thanks!”
Of course, I continued to eat.
And eat.
And eat.
”Hmmm! You get my seal of approval,” I said to Freya who was pouring an orange juice for me.
”You eat a lot, don't you?” she asked.
”Ogh coss. I'm angry.”
”You mean, hungry, Mer Ava.” Sofeea used a tissue to wipe a stain on my Uniform.
The rest looked worried about me, especially Hope. He didn't say a thing to me, and it remained that way until we had finished our breakfast. I was full, so I took a nap back in my room. Usually, such a feast would only be held by Gheele in his palace. Though, he must be in a good mood for it to happen.
His birthday celebration was one event that I couldn't miss. The foods that his servants served on that day were too delicious for me to pa.s.s on.
”Ugh. I can't move . . . Aegis,” I said after I woke up at noon.
”Theoretically speaking, your movement should not be hindered whatsoever,” replied Aegis in my head.
”Ugh . . . I'm going outside.”
Walking down the streets, everything my eyes gazed upon still felt new to me. The metal pipes protruding out of the stone buildings blocked my view more often than I would've liked. The blue sky far up was actually a video displayed and would change accordingly. When night fell, it would display a full moon paired with little dots of stars.
”Achoo!”
I rubbed my nose.
”Hmm?”
There was a crowd of people on the right side of the street I was walking. From the looks of it, they were talking about something.
”Are you serious?” a woman asked.
”Do I look like I'm joking to you? Hm?” A man that was carrying the conversation crossed his arms.
”Still, to think that Lutalo is here . . . Won't the C.U found out about this underground city? I'm sure the news about Lutalo had spread like wildfire.”
The man sighed. ”I heard from Freya that the military forces outside of Saratov had moved on. It didn't seem like they noticed any members of The People's Light on the surface. They had captured a few of us in the other cities like Kamys.h.i.+n.”
”Kamys.h.i.+n is close. You sure they have moved on and continued their search for us elsewhere?” asked the woman.
”Oh, come on. I already said that they are no longer on the outskirts of Saratov. You can ask Freya for confirmation.”
”Look, that young girl. Poor her.”
The crowd focused their attention on me, who was just ten feet away from them. Each one looked at me sympathetically.
”d.a.m.n. They even got a kid tangled up in this mess.”
”Poor girl. She must have been forced by Gheele Folami. I heard that slavery is a thing in Neo Africa.”
A woman that had a red scarf around her neck approached me. Her dark hair was tied into a braid. ”h.e.l.lo.”
I smiled at her. ”Hi, miss!”
Her eyes drooped and she patted me in the head. ”You must have gone through a lot.”
The rest behind her nodded.
”How old are you?” the woman asked.
”I'm fourteen.”
”Oh . . .” The woman sniffed and tears started to pour out of her eyes.
”Poor girl. Being forced to be a User at such an early age,” said an old man from the crowd.
More people started to appear out of nowhere, whispering to each other. Also, they were talking about me. Their eyes glanced at me from time to time.
”Uh . . . I should go, I guess,” I muttered.
”Ava.”
I turned to face the voice and found Freya standing behind me. She suggested that I should go back to the mansion, and I did just that. She accompanied me along the way.
To be honest, I didn't really know much about Freya aside from the fact that she was Hope's friend when he was still a member of The People's Light. Right then, Hope felt indifferent towards her, so both of them were still on good terms. At least, that was how I interpreted it.
”Ava,” called Freya.
We arrived at the mansion's front gate when she talked to me.
”Yes?”
”Um, is there anything you want to ask me? I feel like you have something to say the whole time we were walking.”
”Oh.”
I didn't really have anything particular in my mind. Though, the fight back at Khovd when I first met her somehow popped up.
”How do you escaped when the Pillars attacked Khovd a year ago?” I asked her.
”Ah. There were still a few of us back in Khovd. So, they rescued me as they were about to get to safety,” replied Freya.
Her eyes didn't portray much warmth when she answered. I could only say she hated me for some reason.