"We met in the market. It was a normal day.. I went to buy bread to eat. And she— for whatever reason, always bought cakes.
You know, I don't even remember how or why we talked to each other.
But what I do know is that from that day on, I started anticipating my little trips to the market to buy bread.. just so I could meet her, just so I could talk with her.
And like that, we became close, really close. She became my first, and only friend. And you know what? She suggested that I should become a maid in the Flameworths household where she herself worked.
All so we could see and talk to each other every day, for as long as we want. And that's when she recommended me to the head maid." Her voice is low, shaky, and.. it's actually fluctuating— the emotions. Oh, now it's balanced.. it's happiness.
"And.. and I- I got the job!"
I just wanted to know why you followed me, I didn't ask for your life history.. but.. but..
"Do you know what Alice said to me?" She asks in between giggles. As if I was there when they talked. "She told me that.. In this life 'If there is a will, then there is a way.'"
Huh?
My eyes widen, her words hitting weird spots in my chest. I feel uneasy. An electric sensation vibrates throughout my chest, my body, and my heart.
"I was sooooo motivated.. I started searching for new ways to break through to my next circle, I started making all kinds of researchs, researchs that I still make till this day. But I can't find the enlightenment I need to bre—"
"Wait. Can.. can you repeat.. can you repeat what you said she told you, again?" My voice shakes as I ask her, my heart constricting, as if being squeezed. It must be my imagination. But, if it's my imagination, then.. then why does it feel so real?
"Uh, sure. I said I still make research until t—"
"No. No.. not that one."
"Hmmm, you mean. If there's a will, then there's a way?" She asks, her head tilted.
"M–marcelle." I whisper, clutching my chest tight. And a single drop of tear roll from my left eye down my cheek.
My heart.. why does it bitter me so? I thought I'd gotten over this feeling. This painful feeling. This dreadful feeling. This.. this!
Marcelle— she always told me that.
That was the exact thing she said to me on that day.
Now I understand why Jennette's story resonated with me.. it's exactly the same.
Those were the same words Marcelle told me. 'If there's a will, then there's a way.'
she was the only one who saw something in me. She was the only one who believed that I could still rise even after I had fallen to a sunken state that left death as my only option.
She gave me life.
She gave me love..
She gave me a family...
She gave me... she... she... she's not here.
That's right. I'm doing all this to go back to her. To Margie my daughter. To Dustin my son.
That's right. So clean your tears Edward. Man up. Don't let a single sentence bring down your morale.
Sniffling hard— I wipe the single tear rolling down my cheek.
"Uh, are you okay back there?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. That stuff you said just reminded me of something."
She goes quiet. Making no sound, and for a moment, the clumps of the horse's hooves colliding with the ground is all I hear.
"That name; Marcelle. you always call that name."
My brows furrow into a frown, and I offer her no response.
"The times when you started learning how to talk, you called that name. Somedays, you even call the name when you sleep. And on other days, it's the first thing you say when you wake up.
And anytime you call that name, you look, and your voice sounds so.. so so... Sad."
I nod. She has always been quick to catch on to these little things about me.
I don't want to make any excuses, and I don't feel like lying also. I just sit. Quietly watching her as the shaky wagon continues it's movement.
"Well, if you don't want to reply me. Then that's... that. As I was saying..."
Shit.
"That was how we became friends. And it was all smooth until that man— Alexander; I don't know how but he seduced her. I don't know how he seduced my poor and innocent Alice, but he did.
And because of that.. she got pregnant, conceiving you. And that causing her death. But before she died, she made me promise her that I'd take care of you who was born into that house full of people that'll surely want to kill you— a halfling born of commoner blood."
I nod. I'm starting to understand her motives.
"So, that's all I want you to know. And although you may not understand what it means to me.. but the promise I made to my friend— I intend to keep it till death. So that's the reason, Young Master Charles, no matter how strong you become or how big you grow; I'll still be there with you.
I'll still follow you— even when you don't want it. Because of the promise I made to your mother, and because I myself, see you as my son."
What bullshit! You're barely thirty! I'm older than you!
"Plus," she shrugs, "I resigned from my job as a maid, because the Patriarch— He told me to follow you. He said something about me being the only one who's truly cared about you since the beginning. If he hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known that you were leaving. And although he never spoke about it, or even acted like he knew— I could tell— he knows of my ability as a second circle mage, and I don't know how. But one thing is for sure though— the fact that I'll be able to protect you. For now at least."
"That man! I knew it!"
She chokes with a soft laugh.
"I know this might sound stupid, but.. that man cares about you."
Bullshit!
The memories of the time I first met him, and the moment he pushed me into the mana pool, and even the creepy faces he always made with that wide toothy grin flashes through my mind. And I shiver slightly.
"Yeah, sure. Care, he cares about me."I speak, my tone dripping with sarcasm.
I want to wash and bleach my tongue for speaking of such blasphemy.
"Ahem! I understand your position, and your intentions now, Jennette. So you walk with me, not as my maid— but as my guardian."
And slowly I stand up. My head barely touching the roof of the wagon.
"You just have to understand something if you're determined about following me. My path— it's not going to be an easy one. At all. So, bare that in mind."
She should know... that I'm going to do anything.. literally anything to fulfill my goal. And I don't mind whatever that is. I've warned her. If she still wants to follow me after knowing this, then she can go ahead.
She nods, "I understand."
And I walk toward her— where she's riding the horse, and the area leading outside the wagon. "So, where are we now?"
"We've gone away.. far from the Flameworth territory. We're in 'Loks path' now. A straight road that leads to Ludia, and we may have to pay a passing toll to bandits on the way."
"Yeah, we're not paying anything."
She turns her neck, and her brown, shimmering eyes lock with mine, and she smiles brightly. "That's also what I thought."
Totally not because I didn't bring any sort of cash with me. Yeah. Totally not that.
"How long do you think it'll take us to get to Ludia?"
"At the pace we're going? It's gonna take two days."
"Ugh, shit, I hate this type of stuff." I grimace, sighing bitterly.
She frowns, her eyes still locked with mine, but her cheeks normal, "have you traveled before?"
"I've been trapped in an estate all my life." I reply.
"Then enjoy the beauty of traveling."
Another sigh leaves my mouth.
"You should really stop sighing. It's becoming a habit."
I ignore her, and another sigh leaves my mouth.
She's right about me enjoying the beauty of traveling. But the problem is, there's nothing to enjoy here.
There's only sand, a lonely, narrow foot-and-carriage path etched in the sand, more sand, some rocks, some hills, and four black, giant, pig-like monsters.
...
"Wait!" My voice rises with urgency as I tap Jennette's shoulder.
"There are monsters on the road!"
She just lets out a soft chuckle, "pirantrophs, a rare sight."