Evy could remember the time she first had receives someone’s present.   It wasn’t anything shiny.   It wasn’t expensive.   It wasn’t food.   And it wasn’t an object.   Her first-ever gift was actually a knife wound.   As grave, as she puts it, it was actually her most treasure one. Back when she was in the streets, pulling up cans and metal wire just to sell, and having to run errands to make small changes, she met a splendid crazy old man.   He looked sleazy with his get-up, a checker brown suit, his open hairy chest, and his hair that was receding like the new dawn. Manner-wise, he was eccentric and unreliable... and deadly.   But Evy owed it to him that she survived to where she was. That much she can say.   That was why she wanted to do the same with Lady Francine.   She w

Evy had snuck her way back to her lady's chambers. She was afraid that either Lord Rose would familiarize her voice and get her lady in trouble or the duke would notice her. It was her priority not to let any of those happen. That was why, even with all the eyes of strangers following her. She had to play it by ear and get out of there as fast as possible.   Thankfully, she did. As she was walking in the hallway and spotted a small servant's door, she entered it.   One of the perks of having worked for the Rose family is that there's a lot of entries and passageways of servants to quickly get them from point A to point B. After a month working for them, she's memorized almost all of these secret doors and tunnels. That was how she found her way to her lady's room to change her clothes before someone spotted her.   She was near her lady's room when she noticed that the door was open. Evy was sure that all personnel, even

The room was ablaze, the dusks flying in the air. Sticking to her skin were the remnants of wood built across the ground from before the town was built. She was trapped, in all this suffocating smoke, digging to her lungs like nails on a board.    Then the coughing would start. A female voice uttering her name.    A rhythm made of inconsistent ends.   She would stare at the ceiling, watching the fire swallowing everything frame per frame. Her body would rise before she would see someone on the bed, hands outstretched, and voice so hoarse.    She wouldn't go near her. No.   She'd rather sit there, staring as the fire would worse...   ...And she'd be buried with it.   Evy woke up from her dream, her chest heaving as felt her skin clamp up from sweat. Her body qui

Evy had been beaten every time she and Dune spar. Which was a given.    Dune had been doing this longer than she has in a few weeks. She can't put a finger on why she can't hit back though. When they start and Dune would close his gap on her, she'd either freeze up or be too bothered to guard herself.   Now that was days ago. She's still keeping up with the regimen that Dune had made her do, push-ups, squats, and running are the key points to his drills.    They were back in the forest again.   "What am I doing wrong?" Evy asked all of a sudden. "I know I'm a bit stronger and faster but I can't seem to even hit you?"   They were taking a break from another strength exercise. Her teacher was drinking by the riverside and was minding his own business when she asked.    Dune faced Evy. "Well for one, you're still slow. Another is that you're scare

Evy heard someone coming to her room and the first thing she did was pretend to be asleep... on the couch.... with a book on her lap... snoring heavily.   The person who came in cleared her throat. "Oh. Are my lessons not up to your excitement, Lady Evelyn?" Evy opened her eyes to see Felius-sensei smiling at her.   Embarrassed, she sat up from the couch and began bowing. "I'm sorry, sensei. I was resting and didn't notice that I'd fallen asleep."   "I understand but I do need you awake and alert for my class. Can you do that for me, Lady Evelyn?"   "Of course."    They heard a knock on the door. Maj came in and looked around the two pensively.    "Is there anything wrong?" Felius' sensei was the one who manage to ask the question.   Evy's face was stoic as she lets Maj keep staring at her. After a tense minute, he smiled at Fel