Chapter 19

The next morning, I started my training with Uruk. Of course, I didn’t expect that a few lessons would make me into a sword master, but it was better than nothing, and I enjoyed moving my body again. Even though we used to walk for days when we travelled, this felt different and reminded me of my time in the gym and the kickboxing I had done.

“Not bad for the first time”, Uruk said afterwards, as I washed my face in the fountain in the courtyard. “Give me a few years and I will make you skilled with the sword”

I smiled as he waved goodbye. It was fun doing something with Uruk. Listening to Karim was also entertaining, even if by now, I had forgotten most of what he told me. But the next thing coming up… I sighed. I wished I didn’t have to do it, but it was probably the most useful skill I could try to learn. Horse riding.

I looked around and saw Selene walking into the courtyard.

“Ready?”, she smiled as she halted next to me, and I shrugged.

“Yeah…”

I still remember riding to Akka with her. Being on horseback felt like being on a bike without brakes, so it wasn't something I wanted to repeat, but it was too late now. I followed her to the stables, having a bad feeling about it.

“You know, I don’t mind walking...”, I tried as she led a horse from the stable.

Maybe I was imagining, but it didn’t look happy about the prospect of having someone sitting on its back. I didn’t blame it, I wouldn’t have wanted it either if I were the horse.

“Relax”

Selene put a hand on me and smiled.

“Trust her, and she will trust you”

I took a deep breath, put my hands on the saddle, and tried to climb up. The horse moved, and I slipped and almost fell. Selene chuckled, and I gave her a mean look.

“Sorry..”, she giggled.

In the end, I managed to get on it, and Selene took hold of the reins and led us around. It was as bad as I had expected, but at least I didn’t fall off or get bitten, so I considered it a success and I called it a day, and she led me back to the stables.

“Are you okay?”, she asked as I climbed off.

“Yeah…”

Now, with the immediate danger gone and with solid ground under my feet, I began to relax.

“You are doing well”

She patted my back, and I shrugged.

“Yeah, sure.”

I walked over to the fountain, drank some water, and then sat down on the ground, resting my back against the stone. It wasn’t even midday, but I was already tired, and in a few days, we would be on our way again. Selene sat down next to me, reached into her bag, and pulled out a handful of small green fruits, handing me one. I sniffed it carefully before taking a bite. They were okay.

She chuckled, watching me examining my food.

“Do you like it?”

I shrugged.

“Food is food. You eat what you have, or you go hungry…”

“You are funny”, she giggled.

I ignored her comment and ate another one.

“Rina.. Are you still angry with me?”, she asked suddenly.

I almost choked. We were getting along perfectly fine. Why did she have to complicate things and ask that now?

“No, I am not”, I said without looking at her.

At that moment, Karim walked into the courtyard with a big grin.

“Aki is awake”, he announced.

Selene smiled and got up, offering me a hand. I stood up, and we followed him back to the castle.

“How is she?”, Selene asked as we entered through the gates.

“Tired and hungry, but fine”, Karim smiled.

He led us through the hallway, halting before her door, and Selene nodded, and we stepped inside. Her room was different from ours, with plants climbing up the walls, almost completely covering them. Aki sat on the bed as we walked in, eating from a bowl full of fruits. She looked up as she heard us, and her eyes went wide.

“You came!”

Selene rushed over and hugged her.

“How do you feel?”

“Hungry.”, Aki giggled. “I need to catch up for all the time when I’ve been asleep. They’ve given me so much food. I can eat as much as I want, they’ve said, and everyone is so kind and…”

She continued to babble until she noticed me standing by the door. She stared at me, dropping the fruit she was eating. Despite my different clothes, she must have recognised me, and I suddenly felt uneasy. Did she still believe I was the Goddess?

I tried to smile.

“I am happy you’re feeling better”

She swiftly put the bowl to the side, pulled off the duvet and started to climb out of bed to greet me. I rushed over to her, trying to stop her.

“It’s okay. You need to rest.”

She turned away her gaze, embarrassed.

“I am sorry”, she whispered.

She gave me a quick glance and then looked down again. I sighed. So it seemed like she did still believe I was the Goddess. I glanced at Selene, but I couldn’t read her expression. I turned back to Aki and caught her looking at me, but she looked away as soon as she noticed my glance.

“How are you feeling?”, I tried, putting my hand on her shoulder.

I didn’t like touching strangers, but helping her on our way made me feel oddly responsible for her. She shuddered under my touch and burst into tears.

“You came…to save us…”, she choked through the tears.

She took hold of my hand, and I resisted the urge to pull it away. She was like Altea, but worse. I wasn’t who she hoped me to be, but I couldn’t find a way to tell her that. Selene put her hand on Aki and gently pushed her away, saving me from the growing embarrassment.

“You should rest, you are still weak.”

“Sleep and eat”, Karim chuckled. “If you want, I can tell you what happened when you were asleep.”

Selene nodded to me, and we quietly left, letting Karim stay with her. The doors closed behind us, and I took a deep breath.

“I am sorry, I didn't know she would react like this,” Selene said, leaning against the wall.

“It’s okay”

“You don’t look okay,” she said, concerned.

She took hold of my hand, and I looked at her with a frown.

“What are you doing?”

She held my gaze.

“I’m trying to avoid making the same mistake again…”

I tried to shrug, but I couldn’t make myself shake off her hand.

“Don’t worry, I will not run...”, I muttered.

She locked fingers with me, and for some weird reason, I let her do it. It felt comforting, and I guess I was too busy with other things going on to care about it. At least that’s what I told myself.

“I know, but there is a difference between not running away and wanting to stay”, she said softly.