40 Chapter 11: Banquet 3 (2/2)

I can hear him shuffle around.

I suddenly feel embarrassed.

Just behind this divider, Eriol is out there changing, I repeated to myself.

”Aeron did great back there, huh?”

He changed the topic, I noted.

I smiled. ”Yeah, he's amazing. I'm proud of him”

”People outside can't stop talking about it. Lightning magic is not a common element, y'see. It's a celestial element. Added to the fact that his capability as a Wielder is surprisingly rare. Who knew he would be able to summon multitude of swords at his will”

I sat down the floor, my back facing the divider. ”A wielder huh?” I pulled my knees close to me.

But if he's suppose to be the priestess' Familiar, he should have been a Transmuter.

So if he's not going to be the chosen one then who is?

Hm.

But he can summon swords so... would that count?

”He really improved, far from the first time I met you guys. He can barely parry before! And a bull headed kid that keeps declaring he will protect his sister when he can't even defend himself.” Eriol chuckles.

Yeah. Aeron has changed.

”You're both doing well.” he says now.

I clasped at my skirt.

Both?

How can he say that?

I don't even have an element.

Compared to Aeron, its starting to show who's the weaker twin.

”I actually wasn't able to detect you're even back there all along. And so close to me too. It takes a lot of training to mask your presence! You're like an assassin.”

But that's all I can do.

Mask my presence, sense people around me, and jump high.

What else?

I'm just basically able to flee.

I mean, compared to my brother I...

”Nora is right. You're both going to be so interesting to watch grow up. You may be twins but you have your own differences so... in my opinion, comparing is impossible although inevitable.”

I loosen my fists.

Nora...

Oh. That's right, two weeks from now, it's going to be Nora's death anniversary.

I huddled my knees closer and laid my head down on my folded arms.

I can hear Eriol's footsteps going closer.

”If she's here, she'll scold you if she sees you sulking!”

And then the footsteps reaches me.

I felt a hand gently caressing my head.

I look up and saw Eriol on his one knee, smiling at me. ”You promised me you won't cry anymore.”

”Idiot. You're the one who opened the topic!” I murmured, he grins in response.

”And I'm not crying!” I frowned at him.

”I figured its better to open the topic now. One way or another you're bound to hear some nasty stuff later. And I don't want to see you gluttonously devouring all the feast just because you're upset.”

I shook my head, ”I'm not going to be affected even if people compares me to my brother!” I said but I was rather declaring it to myself as if hoping the effect would wear. ”I can handle myself!”

”Right! But you can't handle closing your own gown. Stand up a sec.”

I stood up and gathered my hair in a bundle, clearing it up from my back.

I can feel his fingers working to close my dress from behind. Blood began to rush to my cheeks.

I need to talk. Ask anything.

The silence is making me restless.

”How did you learn how to open and close these type of gowns, Eri?” I ask.

I felt him stopping for a moment before resuming, ”Part of the job as a mercenary.” he answered.

”And what job was that?”

Suddenly, he spoke directly to my ear, ”Are you sure you want to know?”

I abruptly moved away and turned to find his eyes steadily focused at me.

And found him smiling teasingly, his dimples amplifying that ridiculous charming face.

I veered my eyes away. ”I guess not.”

Ah.

But he really did got my dress closed.

”Thanks, Eri”

He threw his hands to his waist, ”Well, we're both done changing. Let's head back to the banquet halls.”

I nodded.

I watch him turn about and began to walk towards the door. The view of his back facing me suddenly made me recall when he visited me earlier just to comfort me from my nightmare.

He can sense when I'm in distress and even more so if I'm in danger because I'm his Meister. He hates being referred to as a knight-in-shining armor yet he's the first one to rush to my side just to save me. But I'm destined to become the fallen one so...

”Eri, if I... do something unthinkable. Will you still stand by my side?”

He turns to face me again, stopping. ”Unthinkable?” He raises a brow. ”The answer is obvious. Of course, I will.”

”Even if I become evil?” I studied his reaction, he didn't even flinch. He just matched my gaze as if trying to read my thoughts.

”Are we... going to cut the throats of your guests later?”

”What?! Cut throa... No!”

”Let me just get this straight, you said you can handle it when some guests compare you. And by handling, you mean we'll go in a frenzy later and cut them?”

”NO!!!” I said frantically

”Sounds fun” he sneers

”Stop it! No!!! We'll not cut anybody's throats!”

”I'm just kidding,” he snickered, patting my head. ”So tell me what's the matter?”

”Forget what I ask. Let's just go”

I tried to walk away but he blocks, ”Is it about the nightmare? You can tell me anything. You trust me after all, don't you?”

”Yes, I do.” His earnest gaze met my weary ones, ”I do trust you.”

No turning backs now, I told myself. Even if he laughs at me or thinks I'm over imaginative, I need to at least warn him.

”Eri... do you...” I hemmed and hawed. ”Do you believe in Legends?”

”Yes.”

And the reply ends there. I was expecting for an explanation of sort but I guess it's not really the question and he knows that too. He waited patiently for my response.

”When I...” I paused and glance at the door. I can sense people coming. ”Let's talk about it some other time”

Someone knocks at the door.

Eriol just kept his eyes on me. ”No, let's talk about it now.”

”No, it's okay. I can wait”

”I don't.” He grins profoundly and scoops me off my feet. ”Let's get some fresh air for a bit, shall we?”

Even before I could have reacted, he dashes towards the windows. And when I saw them closed, I instinctively wrapped my arms around him, burrowing my head to his shoulder and braced myself for impact with my eyes shut.

I can hear crushing sounds of broken glass but I never felt anything, soon I can feel wind blowing around us. I slowly opened my eyes and saw the two moons.

We were flying high in midair.

———end of Chapter 11———