Chapter 5

"THANK YOU. You really do not have to," I told them, patting their heads while I received their flowers with glee. I nodded as a bid of farewell when Hurisa held my shoulders. 

"That was nothing big compared to what you do for us, Miss. If not for you, all of us may have been suffering up until now just to have little food to survive on a daily basis." The oldest of the children aged eight as she spoke to me and I wondered a bit because she did not speak that way when I last saw her.

"You are too young to speak of something like that. You were supposed to just play and enjoy life. Do not think of anything that is not of your concern," I said with a smile on my lips. They just nodded as if they understood what I just said.

"That is just fine, I guess. Let them be aware of the things that are happening around them," Adrina said, springing like a wild sprout beside me. I wanted to hit her in the head because of what she uttered but I just glared at her hoping she would get it. This kid, it has just been two days since we arrived. She is getting comfortable and knows the things in here.

"Are you the one who taught them such full-grown remarks, Adrina?" I said as I squinted my eyes towards her.

"I just told them the truth. This world is not what they think it is. This is an ugly one. Unfair and unjust. Life is not only about playing tag with your friends. It is not always laughter and smiles," she said in an unfeeling manner. 

I just sighed at her and gently pulled her in my embrace. "Go and play again with the other kids. And thanks for the flowers again. I appreciate it." I sweetly smiled at them as I stayed there for a while as they smiled at me back while running away.

"You should not have said that to them, Adrina. They are too young to understand and process the awareness you want them to have. Reality in this world is not that important for a child, like you " I calmly said and she just stared at me for a full minute so I just shook my head. Too stubborn. I put my arms to her shoulders and ask, "Did you know that you are too serious, Adrina? You should still be joining them to play just like your sister." I pointed to her sister who is now trying to interact with the other children and play with them.

"I am not a child to play with them," she said, smirking at me, causing my brows to knot.

"And how old are you, Miss?" I mockingly asked her. 

"I am ten, Aliara. I am not that young. Do not treat me like a child," she said in all seriousness while looking at her sister in the not so far distance away from us. 

"But ten is far too young for me, Adrina!" I said with a slight horror evident in my voice. I want her to understand what I just said but she is just too serious for my liking. Or perhaps, everyone here, too, thinks like I do. I wanted to laugh and tease her but I changed my mind. Her stare is not helping either. I thought she was just seven or eight because she is much smaller than the children I know at her age. 

"For me, my age is not that young anymore, Aliara. I'm ten," she said with conviction and finality. I cannot help but just shake my head.

"Lady Aliara, you are too gorgeous," one girl said as she approached me from behind. I think she aged four judging from her appearance. Looks like she is looking at me in awe long enough until she could not contain it anymore, I noticed just now.

I removed my arms from Adrina's shoulder and faced the girl, sat afront her at eye level.

"I have no right to compete with how pretty you are more than me," I said as I gently caressed her face, get a flower from the ones they gave me earlier, cut the stem shorter and placed it on her left ear. 

"Really, Lady Aliara?" she asked with sparkling eyes as she held the flower I put in her ear.

"Yes. You are the prettiest among all the kids in here," I said, giving her my brightest smile. By that, her eyes almost reflected the luminance of the afternoon sun that is above us and smiled.

"I will tell it to my playmates!" she quickly landed a peck on my cheek and excitedly ran away to the other kids. I looked at her as I watched her eagerly telling the news to them. 

"I am slowly learning that your heart is really pure, Aliara," Adrina said that it gained my attention back to her.

"And I will prove to you too that ten is too young." I stood and patted her head but she just smirk at me and dodge it. 

"Will you be able to prove it if I cook your favorite bird?" she said.

"Do not lay a hand on Vivi or I will…" I trailed as I looked at her unwavering eyes. "Vivi!" I called him. He was chilling at some tree nearby. He immediately landed on my shoulder. 

"My lovely lady! My lovely lady!" 

I intently glared at Adrina for some good seconds until I surrendered because she still had her unwavering look on her eyes. This is going nowhere. I rolled my eyes on her and just walked away after to go in my quarters and rest.

THE CLINKING of my sword was heard in the area as it landed on Matias' arm, my sparring partner for today as part of our daily training.

"Cheater!" I said with my eyes squinting in disappointment.

We agreed to not use any ability while practicing but he used his. Having his arm turned into a rock to dodge my attack. This is cheating. Unfair! That is his ability, he can turn any part or his whole body into a solid rock at any given time he wants it. This is what made him victorious with his fights with the enemy.

"It is just fair. You dare to use your speed against me," he said smirking as he charged towards me.

My eyes glared at him and using my speed, I quickly managed in his back and had my sword glaring at his neck.

"If I used my ability, this fight would have been long done and you know it, Matias," I hissed at him and tightened my hold to my sword making its sharp edge nearer his neck. He tried to move and make his neck into rock so he did not have a single scratch even though my sword is sharp and at its finest.

He darted using his sword to mine that is why it swerved its target, him. My jaw tightened at his cockiness with me. I charged again and he ducked. He attacked me after and all we could hear was the clinking of our swords.

"Your fight is going nowhere. Stop it. Both of you. I have been watching since you started but none of you two is winning against each other. It was all attacking and dodging each other. Might as well rest for now."

We looked at where the voice was coming from at the same time. It is Adrina, she is watching from the sides. She looked at us with full seriousness, both hands behind her back. Some of the men around us laughed because of her remarks but immediately get back to what they were doing when I looked at them.

Matias and I looked at each other, both shaking our heads and both yielding our swords. This kid, really. She is getting used to taking matters with the adults. But I do not think of it as a problem, for now.