''yes, I am'' I answered with no doubt.
''than, we are asking you, because its you and this village we will be protecting next not the queen,'' Armani replied. Now that statement is cornering me. What if I say a wrong thing and my mom finds out and gets angry?
I sighed, rummaging through my brain for the right words,
''listen, I am worried as you are, but not mostly about the tittle but about our home. Honestly, I will not stand here and act as if I give a damn about it. I do not but I have responsibility towards it and that is why we need this training; this training will keep us fit and ready for whatever to happen. No Armani and the rest, there are no answers yet but I assure you that my Queen and the elders are on top of it, but our duty right now, is to prepare for the future or what ever that is next, I believe for long you have been training and no fights or anything has happened to this village, believe it or not, I thought this village is the safest in our planet but I guess I was wrong. I was blind. Not anymore, so instead of waiting for the instructor to train us, let us begin, prepare for anything, let us be the next to save our village and our older warriors instead.'' Then was silence, I was hoping they would turn deaf ears, of what I was saying but instead they hummed in agreement.''you heard the princess, let us begin,'' Armani exclaimed. The circle formed against me broke, they scattered and I noticed them speaking among each other as they warmed up. But Armani was still standing next to me. I smiled.
''so can you train me, I know we have an instructor but I need someone to help me elevate fast and go to the next stage.'' I asked.
''it would be an honour my princes, follow me.'' He beckoned as he started to walk and I tailed him.
***
To be honest, this stage or level was more stressing than any, hard and challenging, most of what we dealt with was with water, fighting in it, cold as it is it was a must, Armani had enjoyed beating the shit out of me, but it is what it was.
''well, I do not think we need an instructor, we seem to be doing good on our own.'' Armani said as he stood up after we took a break and ate. It was time to go home and an instructor never showed up. I agree with Armani.
''are you coming, we can come back early and tidy up here, before he arrives.'' He spoke.
I shook my head.
''no, you can go, I want to be alone and besides I know the way back home.'' I spoke.
''my princess, what if that rain falls and you have no one to come to your aid.'' He was worried.
''Armani, I survived the first, besides save yourselves, I am human like you guys, tittle or not your lives matter too, besides I won't be long, let's not use the tittle command for you to obey now,'' I reasoned with him. He sighed in defeat than he nodded his head. And I watched everyone go aas they start disappearing to the forest of trees.
It was becoming dark, but I was done with tidying up, I should be home now, my mom would be worried, so I walked towards the forest, all alone but it was a full moon, it lit up my way, not satisfying but it does the trick.
''Patina…..'' I halted, I heard someone whisper name but I was not sure where,
''patina,'' It called out again when I had decided to not mind it, because I thought it was all in my head but instead I have feeling I was not crazy, no one was in my village, so I hope I am not the starters.
''whose there?'' I asked not turning around this time.
Instead, I continued my journey, with a question asked and I was not answered I entered the forest.
I felt twigs break under my feet, but not only from where I was walking, I felt the other twigs break behind me, I was being followed, it is dark and I do not want to run and loose my way home so instead I walked in my usual pace.''Do not look back,'' the whisper came again, I was sure that whoever he was, he was far away from me but he sounded near, the forest was eerily quiet and owls were making their sounds after a long time.
So, I walked like there was no one, hoping that he could tell me what he wants and who is he.
''Vox, that is my name.'' he said. He had a bass that could sooth your being but also could crumble the grounds if he could be angry, it held too much authority.
''what you want?'' I whispered, hoping he could hear me.
''to keep your mouth shut,'' he said. But I was confused.
''about what?'' I asked.
''everything you see and hear,'' he said.
''what I see is nothing but darkness and I really want to see who you are,'' I said.
''you need to trust me.'' Vox said.
I scoffed involuntarily.
''you must be mad if, I have to trust you, whereas you cannot trust me enough to see your face, you know my name and I do not. So yes, I will tell the truth to the queen unless you give good reason why I should not.'' I said…fighting hard not to look back.
''I have all the answers about the rain and more that will come.'' He spoke.
I halted in my steps, I turned around, shocked enough that I want to see this person who is blabbering lies to me. But he had disappeared into thin air.
I cursed under my breath. I mean what the fuck, they must be pooling a prank on me and I am falling for it. I would be damned if they played with my mind, so instead I raced home, panicking that maybe this person will kill me or something.
***
PATELA'S POINT OF VIEW:
When I saw my kid running towards the search party, of which we were searching for her, since all the training mates were home, some passed by and I recognized them, with the ink, I waited for her to show up, but she did not, with all fear hanging like clouds on our village, it did not sit well with me, secondly, she missed the second meeting hoping that she will soon come back and attend it. She had wasted some of the time, I had held a bit late, late enough for her to see her safe at home.
So, I asked few village members, with warriors moving round about close to my shelter to accompany me to look for her, loosing Erix, would mean the end of the village and this comes with serious consequences.
After a long search, making our way to where her training is, we finally saw her running towards us, when she got closer, she halted her, the full moon illuminating on her face, I could catch a glimpse of her, looking rather disturbed, it was not time to deal with her, but I had to find out what is wrong too,
I grabbed her by the neck, squeezing it, making it hard for to breath,
''you seem have to forget what is at stake, now, you coming with me, you wasted my time,'' than I let her go, as she coughed, her eyes teary and red, I swear I will kill this kid.
''Mama, I can explain,'' she said, in between her coughs, while she also followed me as I was going back to the circle, a long walk that would be her punishment, I hope she did train coz this will drain the shit out of her.
***We arrived after few turns, narrows and steep paths.
Luckily the elders were still there, but I could tell that they were mad, they will think I am abusing the tittle, but the child I bore is the problem,
''let's sit and begin, then after you can reprimand me about my late coming but I do apologize.'' I said shooting daggers to Patina.
''what is the update with search of the ruined land?'' I asked.
''we found nothing at all..ash and ash and black. Tree trunks and branches are still standing my queen.''
One of the elders announced,
''I believe If we could take this to the other side, Erix's acquaintance could help us, the king once said they owe him some few favours and they will always be in debt.'' The same elder spoke up.
''no. no one is living the village it is too risky,'' I added,
''as much it is a risk, we have an unsolved problem, that we cannot predict without answers.'' He argued,
''Elder, Zuk, I said no. we will find an alternative.'' I said, voicing my authority.
He shook his head in disappointment of which I did not care.