How dare they make something this hard, look so easy? How dare no one tell her what she would face when being a Squire?

This is what went through Delyth's mind for four days. She knows being a Squire isn't going to be easy but this is insane. This is worse than what she had to do when she was training to be a Guard. This comes with more responsibilities.

The first questions she was asked by Cillian and the others before they started were: Can you read and write? Yes. Can you do math? Not really. Everyday since then, they would give her simple arithmetic problems to figure out where she was having difficulty.

In the morning until the sun is directly overhead at noon, she practises arithmetic. In the evening, she lifts and carries heavy equipment to help build up her strength. While she drags a big boulder, someone announces that mail arrived. She releases the rope and stretches the kinks and aches from her wrists and shoulder before walking over to the message boy.

She wipes the sweat from her forehead while she waits for him to hand her her letter—that is, if Soo Min and Othmar manage to write to her. She tries not to let it get to her much but she can't help but feel a little abandoned or perturbed. She fears that there will come a time where the letters will stop coming and he is forgotten by them, forcing her to forget every moment they've spent together.

However, she does get a letter, lighting a spark in her. She brushes her hand across the parchment paper to wipe away the dust while she stands there and reads the words, she laughs as if she can hear Soo's excitement and Othmar's protest to not include him in the letter. She goes to the Keep to get an extra leaf and a quill pen for herself to write back. Having long forgotten her fear about their friendship ending.

Completing her response, she rolls the paper close with a smile on her face thinking about the amounts of trouble they could be causing to others or each other.

"Must be someone special for you to have that smile on your face." Delyth's heart jumped at the sudden sound of the voice. Her head spins in the direction and comes face to face with the ever-glowing Captain, who is wearing a warm smile on his face. Little does she know that he feels his stomach twisting little at the sight of the brightest smiles he's ever seen her wear. He doesn't know what to make of what he's feeling so he ignores it.

"Yes, two very special people. My friends Soo Min and Othmar from Esadom," she replies, wrapping the string around the paper and standing to her feet. She makes note of the way he stands a safe distance in front of her in his usual stance. His hands folded together behind his back. His chest isn't puffed out nor is his chin jutted upwards in the way it would when he is at his post; he is more relaxed.

"I don't mean to intrude. I wanted to check on you but I couldn't find you. Filip told me where he saw you run off to. Do you miss them?" There was something about knowing that he was looking for her that did something to her. It could be in a platonic way but the delusional side of her was trying to convince that it may be for a different reason.

"Tremendously." She responds yes with a dip of her chin while walking towards him. "I don't think I would've made it this far without them."

Tiarnan extends his hand toward the door, allowing her to leave first. Delyth's first thought is to do cartwheels down a slope in sheer happiness because she has never met someone like him. So gentle yet strong. So kind and charming. His beauty starts from within his pure soul and shines even brighter on his exterior.

He is divine.

They walk back together in search of the Private messenger, neither noticing that they are standing extremely close to each other to the point where their shoulders are merely brushing against each other.

"What was it like in Esadom?"

She takes a deep breath through her nose, her shoulder slowly rising and the song of the birds chirping in the air. "Challenging and fun." She summarizes her twelve month stay in Esadom. It is longer than a summary but Tiarnan doesn't mind hearing her voice. It has a little rasp while also being a pleasant sound which balances out to be neutral.

He could hear her go on and on about anything and he wouldn't care because she sounds very appealing to him.

Is it weird to be attracted to someone's voice? he muses while staring into her eyes that sparkled as she talks about her friends and Hias Gaisser.

It's almost strange to hear that she wormed her way into Hias' heart. The man is known to be matter-of-factly. He isn't cruel; quite the opposite. Everything he does is to ensure his people are safe, fed and sheltered. He never lost compassion like King Silas and Ruadhan. A lot of people expected him to, especially since he lost his daughter and wife the same night.

He shut himself from the world, even his people. They were close to being like Naelund until one day he crawled out of his whole and stepped up and became a better Ruler than he was before.

For him to show this much care towards Delyth and help her to be at the best of her capabilities is admirable. It is easy to assume that he might have seen her as his daughter but who knows.

The good thing about it, is that she's here in Swuybia with him and he is grateful to her friends and Hias for not giving up on her. He's especially glad that she didn't give up on herself. Despite complaining every step of the way, she still went forward.

"We're glad you're back home to us, Delyth?" He smiles down at her and her heart does that thumping thing that is foreign to her. At the same time, she feels guilty emulating as a fellow Swuybian. She hopes that a day will come when she feels confident that she can tell him the truth without having to worry it will backfire on her.

"Has anyone bothered you still?" He asks as she hands the letter to the Private messenger and offers a smile.

"No. I mean, I can feel their eyes filled with envy and hatred burning into my skull but other than that, no one has approached me yet. Thank you, by the way." Tiarnan's eyes drop to her lips that have a small smile on it.

Her smile. He swoons in his head. He almost feels dizzy at how refreshing her smile is.

It is something he doesn't see often. She is usually so focused on her revenge, it is almost like she doesn't have time for anything else. Though when she does smile, it lights up her entire face. He notices that depending on the joke, she would run a finger across her eyebrow in a way he found cute and a tiny dimple on one side of her cheek would peek out.

Like right now. She is standing at an angle where the sun is shining on one half of her face. In his eyes, she looks perfect as the sun highlights how smooth her skin is. His hand twitches at his side, a sudden urge to use the tip of his finger and trace every feature and every corner of her face.

She is a work of art.

"No need to thank me." I would do anything for you. Even if it meant to risk my life crossing Devil's Run. I would do it without a second thought.

The words etch in his mind to confess to her. He doesn't understand it because he hardly knows her but he is starting to feel an unusual affection for her. The only affection he's ever felt in his life was towards his mother and sister but that is familial. This type of affection moved him on a deeper and more intimate level. Most men would run from this feeling but Tiarnan wants to explore it and see where it takes him.

"Aiken!" The two jolt apart at the sound of the intrusion, now realizing how close their bodies are. They look in the direction of the voice and spot Cillian making his way towards them.

"Captain, what are you doing with my Squire?" He narrows his eyes at Tiarnan, trying to mentally send him a message to let him understand how close he and Delyth looked. Understanding the message in his eyes and the way his eyebrows raised for a second, Tiarnan nods his head once.

"Ensuring she's alright, Commander. You can have her back." Tiarnan's hand snakes its way around the middle of her back and gently pushes her to him. She gives her a look and he only smiles at her. She can see that they are having a private conversation with their eyes which leaves her confused as to why they can't speak aloud.

"Aiken, go back to the others. Michal will be training you in the methods of sparring." Delyth nods and leaves the gentlemen to themselves. As soon as she is out of hearing range, Cillian stares Tiarnan directly in the eyes with a knowing look on his face.

"Something you need, Cillian?" He keeps a passive expression in order not to give away anything. The two have known each other since they were wee boys. They've mastered the art of knowing what both were thinking with just a simple look.

"Be careful, Holian. I get that she is unique but she doesn't need the distraction right now."

"It's not like that," Tiarnan averts his eyes and walks away but Cillian follows behind him. It is exactly like that and they both know it.

"Really? From where I was standing, it looks to me like you were fighting with yourself to not pull her into your chest and kiss the breath from her body." Cillian makes note of the subtle clench in his friend's jaw.

"It is not like that. I don't—she doesn't feel that sort of way for me." Tiarnan's eyes glance over at Cillian for a quick second before his steps become hastened.

"She does, mate. Trust me, she does. Or at least she's beginning to and is just as confused as you are. You both shared a look that spoke words only the two of you will understand one day. You can pursue her but not right now. Not when everything she's worked for is on the line. Do not mess this up for her or she will hate you." Tiarna runs his tongue against his cheek and ruffles his hair with his hand.

His intent was to go back to his guards and check on their progress but somehow he finds himself standing a way back where he is observing Delyth and Michal with their board shaped swords. Michal is giving her tips on what to do and what not to do. She tries her best to catch on to his teaching but whenever she doesn't, she gets infuriated with herself. Thankfully, it doesn't stop her from trying, it pushes her to try harder. One of the things he admires about her.

He is also grateful that whenever she messes up and gets frustrated, Michal and the others turn it into something fun which boosts her a lot. She still feels discouraged a little but she smiles with them and doesn't give up.

Cillian looks over at his friend who lets out a sigh and his head sinks to the ground. "What are you doing here, Holian?" Tiarnan doesn't have an answer so he shakes his head. Cillian pats his friend's back once realizing that he didn't mean to come here. His feet and heart led him there. "Your soul is drawn to hers. Fight it a little longer, friend."

He looks back in Delyth's direction and sees her staring at them. More specifically, Tiarnan. He looks between the two and realizes just how hard it will be to keep them apart. What they have is extremely rare. Right now, it is a small thing and the longer they gaze into each other's eyes, the deeper the connection between them grows. It is as though their souls are greeting each other. The moment they smile at each other, is the moment he comprehends that their souls just got familiar and discover that they are supposed to be one.

30/03/22

Au revoir...

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