PART
I

Sunlight began to fill the sky with pure scattered light; its hue ambitiously illuminating each crevice of the land. Sparrows yet didn't chirp their morning canticles, so the trees took the transient opportunity to enjoy the golden crowns that the arising sun gifted. But the growing grandeur of the village's forest would eventually disrupt when Adrian stepped on the slender woody shoots that laid across the graveyard of brown and yellow leaves.

Flora gave her a whimper of annoyance as a consequence of, proceeding to cross her arms. With their significant height difference and the undeniable truth that Adrian really didn't care about her existence made her complain entirely inconsequential. Yet, she did cause her to shake her head and wear some sort of a wicked grin.

"Don't act like I can't see that," said Flora, referring to her uncomfortable smile.

The young adult shrugged her shoulders, the metal plates upon them giving off somewhat of an intimidating look. However, with her scale armor—now a sombre color thanks to years of usage, deluge and sunlight—dark brown sleeves and wrist-length gauntlets, she was, rather, breathtaking. A woman dressed in male attire was something incredibly rare; powerful, even. But it wasn't like Adrian was a lass to revere. She had too little of feminine morals to begin with, and with her broad and muscular body, she was able to prompt any matron to leave their husbands in exchange of her hand. Well, if they were fooled enough.

          Flora finally suppressed a laugh by pursing her lips, eyeing Adrian's greasy and dark brown hair. It was clear that the young adult didn't really pay attention to her hygiene, but it wasn't like she stunk as bad as a skunk. In the contrary, it was something like a tolerable scent of sweat and burnt metal. Flora couldn't blame her, nevertheless. Adrian's livelihood seemed nonstop.

          "Hey," the smaller girl then called, trotting her way closer to Adrian's taller figure. "You haven't slept at all, haven't you?"

          And again: Adrian replied with an inattentive shrug of her shoulders. She wasn't up to chit-chatting with the breathing creature that was beside her. In a way, Adrian was disappointed of how she's been handling the situations presented before her, so her vapid mind was currently obstructive; with an ocean of heavy thoughts that would eventually help her get rid of Flora and, at the same time, receive that mysterious treasure she had promised her.

The small one glared, but she nevertheless continued with the small talk, mumbling: "I hardly slept... My mind's everywhere. Having this constant feeling of fear—of uneasiness; it just isn't fun."

          Of course did Adrian understand this struggle. She was not born able to cope with every threat. She had to force herself to do so and, somehow, she successfully got rid of many benevolent traits. So, in some way, she could be considered like a monster. But, in reality, weren't monsters really human? She sighed in devastation.

"I know it isn't," spoke Adrian, finally. She owned a clear and smooth voice, considering she hadn't opened her mouth even before meeting up with Flora at the site they had agreed on.

          Baffled, Flora covered her cheeks in her hands; furrowing her brows as she let her gaze go above her crown, meeting up with Adrian's risqué gander that hovered above herself. The girl found herself heating up, but she made sure not to let the sexually suggestive look faze her bratty attitude, so in return, she scoffed in belittle.

Adrian then and nevertheless continued with a smirk, saying: "Why, anyways? You have the Adrian Tancock for a bodyguard, so relax."

Misleadingly upset, Flora screeched and jumped onto Adrian's pant leg; clawing her small nails into her baggy pants for a better grip and, using her left hand, began to strike one of her two metal kneepads with a solid fist.

"You're such a churl, Tancock!" yelled the one throwing the tantrum. "I thought you were going to give me an example on how to conquer those feelings; I thought you were going to be nice! Don't mess with me like that!"

Adrian quickly wore a bland expression, coming to a complete stop. She rose both of her thick brows, unimpressed, and proceeded to grab her sword's leather-bound hilt. Clutching, she briskly retrieved the long blade from its sheath, providing the air with a sudden and piercing sound that rapidly perforated the female's ears. The sun—now completely revealed—released a few white and bright rays that went past branches and breathing leaves, just to cause the sword's dying color to flash over their eyes.

          Like a bug, Flora's eyes grew large at the sudden hit of light; most likely dumbfounded at the sight. But the way she continued to stare caused Adrian's skin to crawl with discomfort. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion, and looked at the fine point of her weapon. Her pumping, red heart increased each second; faster, stronger. All of those dawning thoughts she was experiencing before vanished at once, and she began to wonder how far the other village she originally was supposed to visit was. Maybe they were willing to gift a similar treasure like Flora's if they had a Helheim for her to kill? Her veins tingled with the excitement of getting rid of the smaller being. Her breathing quickened, her throat clenched, her conscious silenced and she swore to have seen the blur of her blade.

          ...

Adrian hit Flora's forehead with the hilt of her sword, making her snap from her trance and hold onto the raging spot.

"Scite!" She screamed, falling onto her bum. The weapon was heavy, so it'd definitely hurt milleniums.

"You had no need to jump on my leg like that, firstly," the other started, returning the sword to its place. "Secondly, you're making me deadly suspicious, and thirdly... I'm simply just very close to getting rid of you, dear."

          Flora grimaced and stood firm on her feet, patting down the back of her dress, saying: "But our deal back at the tavern... You promised..."

          "Don't worry, I remember," Adrian grinned, wholeheartedly. "You help me find the headman's kid, I become your bodyguard against any evil, and I receive eternal treasure in return; and that better be something one can see and touch. But... Even so... I don't really remember promising if I'd kill you or not. Silly, huh?"

          Flora clenched her jaw and nodded her head once, twiddling her tubby thumbs. She couldn't help the clawing fear inside her small heart, even if Adrian didn't really mean her words. But then again, in her confidential black treatise, it's famous for the headmasters and few headmistresses to write that she really can kill anyone if desired—and if it'd do her any good, at that. At least she killed in justice... Did she?

          "Ah... You're r-right," she reassured her bodyguard, that in a nervous giggle.

          Son of a Bauchi.

          Adrian gave off an egoistic smile and prosecuted to look around. They had almost subconsciously arrived to the clearing where she had faced the village's Helheim. The grass still wore the red of that day, but the scattered organs had disappeared from their corresponding places. Clearly had some carnivorous animal dined them in the meantime.

          To be in good grounds with Adrian—or so it seemed—Flora decided to look around the area as well. She took a special interest on the trees that wished to caress the bright skies, mainly for the fact they had helped her come up with a plan. Truthfully, though, it was undeniably foolish. She glanced at Adrian, whom had begun to walk north and into the herd of shadowy and verdant grounds.

          "Adrian!" She yelled, her voice creating a small echo in the songs of silence.

          Adrian stopped, but did not turn around. Perhaps in case if anything attacked her, she had somewhat of an averagely good excuse to give for her unexpected death.

          Flora did wait for her to face her, but some part of her knew that it'd never happen. With a childish growl, she decided to just point at the trees, adding to her call: "Lift me!"

          Adrian groaned, defeated, and rubbed her neck in frustration. She turned around on her heel and walked towards Flora with a nonchalant look in her lazy eyes.

          "Lift you? Are you going to be jumping from tree to tree?"

          "In a way," she replied, hopping once to be exactly in front of Adrian. She darted her arms up. "We don't really have a plan, right? I think it's easier that way. I'll be yelling out hello and maybe we'll receive a response in the distance. And if we do, I'll tell you from where it came from."

          "I had a plan... The kid was stupid enough to have sex out here so he might've just stayed hidden somewhere in a bush," Adrian sarcastically mumbled, pouting. "Anyways, let's just hope that he isn't dead—and that whoever replies to you is no one else but the kid himself."

          Flora nodded her head in agreement, deciding not to mind what she had first spoken; wiggling her wrists a little too impatient. Making a face, Adrian lowered herself and gripped Flora's sides, lifting her off the ground. She didn't hold her against herself like a mother would to her child, however. Instead, she simply hung her in front of her as she made way towards the most comfortable tree to set her on.

          Flora smiled at Adrian during the transport, curling her knees and placing her hands on both of her prominent forearms. There really was no doubt that she was an adorable girl—or older woman. Whatever she was, really. With such perfectly round face, naturally rosed cheeks and small, plump lips, Adrian almost found herself holding back from pressing her lips all across the little's face. But oh how she hated showing affection. Finally, she plopped the girl on a single branch she was able to reach.

          They both gave each other a set of affirming glances which, after Flora wrapped her arms and legs around the tree trunk, meant almost nothing to Adrian. The girl ascended to the top with the other offshoots in an awfully swift manner, which even Adrian greatly questioned. If she had such ability, why did she even ask her to place her on one of the trees? Adrian massaged her temples. Everything of Flora was just catching her off guard, and she didn't have the patience to clear it all.

Running a hand through her thick locks, she began to walk by the trees that Flora would eventually hop upon, listening to her echoing hellos, which were carried by the currents of air and brought about the forest. But, something caused her to halt; abruptly, at that. Her eyes fixated upon a throng of large footprints, which did definitely not exist back with the Helheim, and which definitely were not supposed to exist at the moment. They were too familiar; too familiar. A feeling of fear conquered her every energy. She went pale; felt lightheaded even, as she looked up at the trees in torment.

Royal guards.

"Flora!" Adrian yelled, peepers surveying the trees as her hand subconsciously reached out for her weapon. "Jump d—"

A small grunt echoed with the starting canticles of the soothing birds, and Flora's limp body dropped from the tree she was to leave behind.

Hello! It's the author, Alani.

If you enjoyed this third chapter, please vote and comment down your thoughts. I find them very precious and, without them, I will most likely not improve—and that's what I strive to do. Thank you for reading though, and I really hope you stick around for more!

Dedicated to yizhongt for being my second supporter. He's honestly one of my favorite writers on Wattpad. The works I'm currently reading of his, Tales of a Relic Hunter: Constantine Tan and The Tome of Thoth and the Journal of a Teenage Wizard: Year 1, are amazingly written and truly deserve every read, so go on and check them out!

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