The next day was especially hot. The sun's rays were scorching all who stood within it for too long, the air was heavy with salt and sweat, and there was a heat lamp ave so extreme that it was hard to breathe. On days like these, it was torturous to be a farmer or to be training in combat. They would all be drenched head to toe in sweat, their skin was almost burnt, and their throats desperate for a cool drink. Luckily though, on days like these, Wendy and her servants would bring jugs of fresh water to the hard workers. Giving them a drink and washing away all the sweat and mud. It was a tradition her father had started to show his appreciation and care for all his subjects.

"How did you get mud in your ears?" Romeo's father Macao asked as he they were taking a break in order to drink and clean up. "Son we farm with our hands and feet, not our heads."

"Father stop!" The boy complained as he was getting his ears scrubbed. "You're messing up my hair."

"Your hair is full of dirt, it was already messed up."

"I'm sure it's not that bad."

Suddenly a whole jug of water was poured on top of him.

"Hey! Who did that?!"

The answer came in the form of Jellal chuckling.

"There, all clean." He declared with a smirk.

Romeo glared at him.

"Alright boys, take fifteen minutes to rest under a tree and then it's back to work." Macao said.

"But Father I've been working since sun up." Romeo whined. "If I work anymore, I'll die of heat stroke. Can't I call it quits for today?"

"Yes please." Wendy said. "Today would be perfect for a swim in the water hole. Can we go Grandeeney, please? I've finished all my lessons and training."

"Hmm..." The giantess thought before looking up at Romeo's father. "What do you think Macao? Have these children earned the privilege of goofing off for the afternoon."

"Well...It is pretty hot and Romeo has worked hard this morning. I guess it's alright with me."

Wendy and Romeo cheered excitedly.

"As long as Jellal goes with you."

And then their excitement came crashing down.

"No, not Jellal." Romeo complained. "Why does he always have to go with us?"

"Because as your older brother." Jellal said to the boy and then turned to the girl. "And as your bodyguard, it's my sworn duty to keep you both out of trouble."

"He can't go with us Grandeeney." Wendy insisted to her nurse. "He only boss us around and ruin our fun like he always does."

"Now Wendy." Grandeeney said gently. "I know Jellal can be a little arrogant in regards to his position."

"Arrogant?" Jellal said. "I most certainly am not."

Macao thumped Jellal on the head.

"Ow!"

"Don't lie boy, you most certainly are." His father scolded. "You're duty is to keep these children safe, not order them about. Keep it up, and I'll ask Grandeeney to replace you."

"Anyway." Grandeeney continued. "He can be arrogant but he's very loyal and caring. Always has been. There's no one else I trust more with your protection, and you may not be able to see it now, but someday you'll recognize that he's your greatest ally."

"Thank you Grandeeney." Jellal said respectfully.

But Wendy wasn't so convinced. From what she had seen so far, he was a serious, pompous, know-it all who really enjoyed spoiling everything for her and Romeo. He probably did it because he was mad about getting saddled with a babysitting job instead of a great and heroic solider who could fight in battle. That's what he was supposed to be rewarded with when he won the annual games years ago, but the death of Wendy's father had demoted him to watching over the orphaned heir. In other words, he felt that he was wasting his talents with this position and took his frustrations out on her.

"You really think that's why Jellal acts so bossy?" Romeo asked when Wendy voiced her beliefs during the walk to the watering hole.

"That's what Uncle Faust says." Wendy replied. "He says that Jellal is a proud, social climber and glory hog, and he resents having to keep me safe all the time."

"I don't know about all that." Romeo said. "I mean I know he can be a jerk, but I think he really does want to keep us safe. He's my brother, he loves me."

"Okay so maybe he really does want to keep you safe, but I doubt he could care any less about what happens to me. Uncle Faust says I shouldn't trust him."

"Your uncle gives me the creeps. He always has that crazy look in his eye."

"What crazy look?"

"I don't know how to describe it exactly, but it's kind of like whenever a hyena sees fresh meat."

"Romeo you're afraid of hyenas. You've never gotten close enough to look one in the eye, how would you know?"

"Well...I'm afraid of hyenas and I'm afraid of your uncle so I feel like there's something off about both of them."

Wendy laughed, Romeo laughed with her. Jellal who was leading the way, looked back and the sight of them laughing together made him smile.

"Just look at you two. Little seeds of romance blossoming in the savannah. Father and Grandeeney will be thrilled. What with your being betrothed and all."

"Be-what?" Romeo asked.

"Betrothed. Intended. Affianced."

Wendy and Romeo looked at him utterly confused.

"Meaning?" Wendy inquired.

"One day you two are going to be married." Jellal explained.

Romeo and Wendy slowly turned to face each other.

"I'm gonna marry her?" Romeo asked.

"No, a rhino. Yes her! You chuckleheaded little oik!"

"Yuck!" Romeo spat.

"Eww!" Wendy gagged.

"I can't marry her. She's my friend."

"It would be too weird." Wendy added. "When did this happen?"

"It's been arranged since Romeo was one and you were a baby. After seeing how remarkably gifted I was physically and mentally, your father thought it would be wise to bring some of that talent into the family. So he decided that you and my brother would make a perfect pair."

"Why me? You're the oldest." Romeo argued.

"Well I was considered, but you were closer in age and I'm supposed to join the tribe's army once Wendy reaches adulthood. I won't have the time to be a husband or a chief. You were clearly the better option." Jellal said. "Besides, I'm not into younger brides."

"Forget it Jellal!" Wendy said. "Romeo and I don't have to get married if we don't want to."

"Right!" Romeo nodded.

"Well sorry to burst your bubble but you two turtle doves, have no choice. It's a tradition going back generations." Jellal said. "Nearly everyone in the tribe is betrothed to someone."

"Then how come you're not?" Romeo asked.

"Men who prepare to one day go into battle like myself, try to avoid marriage if possible, in order to prevent leaving behind a wife and children."

"And Father just allows this?"

"Indeed he does. We talked about it years ago, I told Father that I felt it best I not marry because I wanted to devote my life to protecting the tribe. He understood my reasons and accepted my choice."

"Then he'll do the same for me."

"I don't think so. You're not going into the army. You have chosen to stay here and continue the family business of hunting and farming. Therefore a wife, is a must for you. And to be honest, you have the best deal there is. You're engaged to the future chieftess. That means, someday you'll be chief."

"Can't I be chief without marrying her?"

"Of course not, dodo. We don't have the right bloodline. She does."

"This doesn't make sense, why do I even have to marry anyway?" Wendy asked.

Why indeed. The Kiwanja Tribe was one of the very few civilizations that didn't require a male leader. A man or a woman could rule the tribe as long as he or she was the first born child of the former ruler. However heirs were essential to any monarchy and Wendy was not going to live forever, when the time was right, she would need someone to produce an heir with.

"I don't think I should be the one to answer that question." Jellal said. "Talk to Grandeeney about it and I think it would be best if we dropped this conversation now. Before it leads to something very awkward."

Again, the children didn't understand what Jellal meant but they were more than happy to get off this subject.

When they finally reached the watering hole, Wendy and Romeo went diving right into the cool waters. It was the best relief they could have had all day. Truly, there was nothing in the world like swimming in a refreshing pool on a boiling hot day. Then after cooling off, the childeren decided to engage in water themed games like splashing wars and back flips. Jellal just stood and watched them vigilantly, making sure that no danger could occur.

"Let up with the splashing Romeo! I don't think my hair can take much more!" Wendy said. 

"Nit until I am declared the winner!" The boy insisted.

"Okay, okay, you win! Now stop!"

Romeo ceased splashing and Wendy took this time to take a break water. She came out of the pool and began to wring out her hair. Then suddenly, a noise filled the air. A pained squeal. It sounded like an animal in distress, and it was coming from deep within the savanna. Wendy quickly went to investigate. 

"Wendy come back here!" Jellal called, but Wendy didn't hear him.  He started to go after her but then he heard a scream.

"Jellal help!"  He turned around and saw Romeo splashing and failing around in a panic. Something had grabbed hold of him from down below and was trying to pull him underwater. He fought against what had grabbed him but he wasn't strong enough and soon he went under.

"Romeo!" Jellal dropped everything and threw himself into the water, swimming to rescue his little brother. 

...

Wendy had followed the squeal into the center of the tall grass and discovered that the source of it was a baby wild pig caught in a trap. 

"Hello there little piggy." She told him with compassionate tone.

When the piglet saw her, it squealed even louder and struggled even more, assuming that she had come to do him harm.

"Don't be afraid. I won't harm you."

She carefully untied him from the trap and carefully placed him down on the ground. The baby pig ran off into the grass, most likely never to be seen again. But before Wendy could return to the water hole, someone with a cloak and a wooden mask of a jackal came out of the grass and grabbed her. She tried to scream but he covered her mouth, she fought him but was only ever to tear off a piece of his cloak. In the end he managed to drag her off into the wild without anyone seeing.