"We met in the market on a day when I was going to buy bread to eat and she– for whatever reason, always came to buy cake.
I don't even remember how or why we talked to each other. But I just know that from that day, I started anticipating going to the market to buy bread just so I could meet her. We became close, she became my only friend. And then she suggested that I become a maid in the Flameworths household where she worked so we could see each other every day and she recommended me to the head maid."
Her emotions in her tone fluctuate. From nostalgia, to anger, to sadness and to... happiness.
"And I got the job!"
I just wanted to know why you followed me, I didn't ask for your life history!
"You know what Alice said to me?"
She's giggling now, I think she's gone mad.
"She said that, in this life 'if there is a will, there is a way.'"
My eyes widen as I hear that quote and I feel... Uneasy.
"I was sooooo motivated, I started searching for ways to break through to my next circle, I started doing all kinds of research that I still do today."
"Wait. Can you repeat what you said she told you again?"
I ask her, my voice filled with uneasiness and layered with curiosity.
"Uh, sure. She said, where there's a will, there's a way."
"M–marcelle."
A drop of tears rolls down my left eye.
My heart sinks to my stomach and once again, I'm reminded of my everything.
Marcelle always told me that. That was the exact thing she said to me that made me jump out of my depression, it became her motto, the thing she'd always say to me when I felt like all hope was lost.
I clean the tears that rolled out my left eye.
"Uh, are you okay back there?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, what you said just reminded me of something."
She keeps quiet, making no sound.
"That name, Marcelle, you always call it."
I frown and offer no response to her.
"Even when you just started learning how to talk. Sometimes, you even call the name in your sleep and on other days, it was the first thing you said when you woke up from sleep. And anytime you call that name, you look and sound... Sad."
I nod my head, She has always been quick to catch on to these little things about me.
I don't make any excuses, I don't lie, I just sit quietly in the wagon.
"Well, that's that. As I was saying..."
Shit.
"That was how we became friends, until that Man– Alexander, seduced her, I don't know how he seduced my poor and innocent friend, but he did and she got pregnant with you– causing her death. But before she died, she made me promise to take care of you in that house full of people that'll surely want to kill you– a halfling."
I nod my head in understanding, I'm only starting to understand her motives now.
"So that's what I want you to know, that though you may not understand what it means to me– the promise I made to my friend means a lot to me, and I'll keep it till death. And that's why, Young Master Charles, no matter how strong you become or how smart you are– I'll still be there with you, I'll still follow you, even if you don't like it, because of the promise I made to your mother, and because I, myself see you as my son."
Bullshit! You're barely thirty! I'm older than you!
"Plus, I resigned from my duty as a maid as the Patriarch told me to follow you, he said he knows that I'm the one who cares the most about you, and though he never spoke about it, he also knows of my second circle and the fact that I'll be able to protect you."
She shrugs.
"That man! I knew it!"
She laughs.
"Although it may sound stupid, but that man cares about you."
I contort my face.
The memories of the time I first met him and when he pushed me into the mana pool and the creepy faces he always made while grinning flashed through my mind.
And I shiver slightly.
"Yeah, sure. Care, he cares about me."
I speak in a sarcastic tone.
I feel like washing my tongue and bleaching it for speaking such blasphemy.
"I understand your position and your intentions now Jennette. So you are with me, not as my maid– but as my guardian."
I stand up.
"You just have to understand something if you're going to follow me– My path is not going to be easy, at all. Bare that in mind."
She should know... That I'm going to do anything.. literally anything to fulfill my goal. And I don't mind whatever that is. I've warned her, and if she still wants to follow me after knowing that, then she can.
She nods her head.
"I understand."
I walk toward her, where she's riding the horse and where the opening that I can come in and out of the wagon is.
"So where are we now?"
"We've gone way out of the Flameworth territory. We're in 'Loks path' a straight road that leads to Ludia, although we might have to pay a passing toll to some bandits on the way."
I furrow my brows as I hear her statement.
"We're not paying anything."
She raises her head to look at me with her brown eyes and she smiles.
"That's also what I thought."
"How long do you think it's gonna take us to get to Ludia?"
"At the pace we're going, it's gonna take two days."
"Ugh, shit, I hate this type of stuff."
She frowns.
"Have you traveled before?"
I ignore her.
"I've been in an estate all my life."
"Then enjoy the beauty of traveling."
I sigh. In a way she is right.
But the problem is, there's nothing to enjoy here, there's only sand, a lonely, narrow foot and carriage path etched in the sand, more sand, some rocks, some hills and four giant, pig-like monsters.
...
"Wait!" I tap Jennette's shoulder.
"There are monsters on the road!"
She chuckles.
"Pirantrophs, a rare sight."