A/N: Outside the old Inn :D

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That was the time when Zoe noticed that only Reonan was eating the cake. Without having any breakfast, her stomach struggled for its survival. She stared at her share of the heavenly dessert, its layers of yellow cake and rosy filling with bits of red fruits made her mouth water like a river. She could already taste its soft and creamy-white icing, balanced by the nuttiness of chopped, roasted almonds on its top.

She picked up her share of the cake and took a small slice.

Suddenly, she longed for the company of the lavatory.

She had no idea how could Reonan eat almost half of the whole cake. It tasted nothing compared to how it looks like.

Its icing was way too sweet with a kick of saltiness and a punch of bitterness. The cake itself was dry that she feared of almost choking two times in one day. But those didn't make her wish to be in the nearest restroom. It was the horrible taste, as though the cake had the flavor of all the vegetables she could list down.

Was it a vegetarian cake?

Zoe quickly put down her plate and swallowed her food, pushing it with the help of tea. Good thing it washed away most of the gruesome taste, leaving a hint of lemon and ginger in her mouth. She saw Ty and Nox gaping at her with such awe and respect that she couldn't help gape back at them.

She felt Reonan stirred beside her and a shiver ran down her spine. She glanced at the older man and her stomach almost dropped on the floor. He was grinning with eyes twinkling much brighter than the stars as though waiting for her to finish her cake.

"To discuss the matters of her stay," Darcy said, getting everyone's attention, and Zoe mentally thanked him.

Then his words rendered meaning.

Her alarm bells instantly rang in her head like a hyperventilating cow. "Who's staying?"

For what seemed like a long time, their eyes met, causing her heart to squeal in her stead or maybe for both their sake. Although his expression was impassive, something inside her twisted in pain when she saw the plain melancholy in his eyes. The warmth that used to somehow comfort her was now replaced with a certain degree of coldness. At the deepest part of her mind, there was a small voice that started to whisper, to wish, and to hope to see his irritating smile again.

"We can't take you to the Academy," he explained, bringing her back to reality. "It would be dangerous if anyone finds out about your origin. In the mean time, you'll train under Uncle Dilinjer." He paused as if calculating his next words. "But I'll make sure to visit you once every week."

Zoe wasn't sure how she should feel.

Should she look dejected or optimistic?

Either way, a smile made it to her lips and all his words were washed away the moment she heard 'training'. Although she felt like an ungrateful vagrant, in a way, she was thankful to be miles and miles away from Krista. Remembering her desire to befriend her summoned all her goosebumps.

Being aware of her own naivety invited a great sense of fear inside her - the fear to be betrayed, to be toyed, and to be swallowed by the vast world she knew nothing of.

However, she must keep moving forward.

"A combat training?" she asked hopefully, making Reonan snort.

"No." Darcy shook his head, his hair brushing on his thick lashes. "You'll practice taking control of your presence, both light, and darkness. After that, you'll train to become a healer."

"Wait, what?!" Zoe blinked furiously, inviting a frown to her face. "And who told you to decide for me?"

She heard Reonan started humming a happy tune and fought the urge to shove the remaining cake in his mouth.

"You can't wander with your soul wide open," the young Prince explained. "You're like a walking beacon. For now, it would be best if you learn to tame that huge energy. Healers--"

"--are much vulnerable in battle!" Her voice hit a soprano as she threw him a stare heavy with violence. "They are meant for support and couldn't even fight! I want to be in a position where I could protect myself and save other people. I want to learn the path of swords."

Dilinjer cleared his throat, and the group turned his way. His all white attire made him stood out from the group, as though he was part of the clouds that decided to hang out with them.

"You just said the magic word," Reonan drawled in a singsong voice. For her sake, she dared not push the fork in his mouth.

"I don't know anything about your realm," the healer started, a hint of superiority laced his deep voice. "But in this world, healers are not mere supporters. They are on par with knights and can support themselves in battle. They are also warriors capable of standing their own ground and protecting the people around them."

"I- I'm sorry . . . I didn't know," Zoe said, shrinking in her seat as she pitied and cursed her stupidity. "But even so, I wanna learn how to fight using a sword."

"I understand. Nonetheless, being able to wield a sword does not always meant protection. It is a tool that brings the promise to save, but also to destroy."

"Yes, it is a tool," Zoe countered, "which means every decision rest on the shoulders of the bearer, whether to use it in saving or destroying."

"And how do you actually save using a sword? It would be tainted in blood, one way or another. Unless you propose to hit your enemy with its flat side 'til they became unconscious."

Ty and Reonan stifled a laugh, but Zoe paid them no attention. She simply added their names on her revenge list.

"And what about the healers," she continued, controlling herself not to croak. "You can't deny the fact that their hands were also smeared with blood. You can't simply wash away that blood by saving people through your healing powers. They're just the same!"

"They're not."

"And why is that?"

"Because we burn our enemies to dust as if they never existed."

"What? I don't mean it literally!"

"That's enough, Zoe," Darcy interrupted. Her heart jumped to her throat at the mention of her name, but she decided to scowl at him. "You are not to learn the path of swords and that's final."

"Fine!"

I'll just find another way, she thought.

"I'll become a Healer and I'm gonna be so great that your whole jaw would drop!" She crossed her arm and directed her attention towards the colorful fruits, muttering to herself, "I'll just busy myself with my project."

His eyes narrowed, almost hiding them beneath his hair. "What project?"

She mentally strangled herself for her habit and replied, "It's none of your business. And even if you force me, I'll never tell you even if pigs started flying!"

"What's a pig?" Ty asked and received a shrug from Nox and Hubert.

"You are completely my responsibility," Darcy said, his voice colder than winter. "All--"

"Responsibility?" Zoe faced him, giving him a loathsome expression. "You must be using a different dictionary! Do you call this being responsible? By leaving me here you're clearly passing that responsibility!"

He remained silent, his face as still as the water, which fueled her irritation.

"Just admit it, I'm nothing more than a burden! Especially when you found out that I'm not the Heroine!" Her voice began to falter as she fought back the sob dangerously lingering in her throat.

However, Darcy settled on keeping his words to himself.

"If this about you, being my bodyguard, then you're fired!" She paused, staring at his mask of indifference. "So go help yourself and buy another responsibility!"

Yet no answer.

"So this is how you wanna play it? Or your brain finally found some sense?" She shook her head and threw him a sympathetic look. "I forgot . . . you're a slug!"

A murderous gaze flashed on his face, quickly hiding underneath his facade. "Are you done throwing a tantrum?" he asked but didn't wait for her response. "You're in Mamoria and I know it way better than you. So whether you like it or not, you'll follow my rules."

"I know nothing of this world and that is already given, but don't think so little of me!" Zoe chuckled, forcing herself to keep it together. She knew better than to be insolent. She owed Darcy a lot for saving her life, but at the end of the day, she didn't want to be tied on the same shackles that prevented her from spreading her wings. "Go eat your rules! This is my life! I am allowed to do what I want and be who I want! If you don't like what I do with my life then there's something wrong with yours, not mine!"

Finally, a frown made it to his face, causing her innards to lurch forward.

"Lovers these days," Reonan blurted and met daggers from both sides.

"Can you two bitches stop it?! What do you think of this? A drama?! You're making me puke!" Krista shouted, her sharp eye pierced through them like a spear. "I'm gonna knock your heads together so hard that you'll forget which face is yours! Just get to the fucking important parts and get this over with! You're not the only one with a life, you know!"

The young Prince released a defeated sigh. "Let's just end it here for now," he said, drawing his attention away from Zoe. "All your basic necessities are already covered, but I'll leave money for your other expenses. We'll just discuss this further when I visit."

"There." Krista threw her hands in the air. "And we skipped all the bullshits!"

The group got on their feet as Darcy and his friends prepared to leave. Zoe remained pinned in her place, eyeing the young bodyguard as he exchanged words with Dilinjer as if warning him of the headaches to come.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up, meeting Reonan's azure eyes. His grip tightened as he tipped his head towards the young Prince. She glanced at Darcy and back at him.

For a moment, they communicated through wriggling brows, and Zoe couldn't help but smother her giggles. It was weird, yet she understood his message. Somehow, her anger subsided and all her actions, her words, flooded her with yet another guilt and regret.

Was it wrong to voice out her concern?

Was it wrong to fight for her own right?

Was it wrong to stand for her freedom?

Why did everything had to be so complicated?

She wanted to approach Darcy, to say sorry and things like that. To make him understand that they stand on equal grounds. However, her guts left her in such a crucial time. Maybe, it had more brain than her, thinking that apologizing now was for the mere satisfaction of appeasing her pang of conscience, for the mere display of proper decorum, and for the mere assurance of absolution.

But what would it change? 

She doubted it would make them both feel comfortable or even solve their conflicts.

Perhaps I should reflect on this a little more, she thought.

Right there, Zoe stood, watching as Darcy turned his back and walked down the stairs, wishing him to give her a last glance and to see how sorry she was. 

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Dedicated to KatchamaRen

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XOXO