Suspicions

Edygil 's shop early in the morning. Kairo opened the windows, letting in the fresh Haamagel air , while I finished my plate in silence, hearing only the low creak of the shelves.

— Today we're going to open the store and help Edygil make a profit — said Kairo excitedly.

Koharu raised her eyebrow.

— Okay… but do you really have the knowledge for this? — Koharu asked.

— Yes, I do. And you? — Kairo turned to Max.

— I'll help — Max replied shortly.

"Okay. I'll go upstairs and get some equipment to show you." Kairo took the stairs two at a time.

Koharu , Max, and I sat in the main room. I gazed at the displays, trying not to think too much about the previous day.

— Hey, Koharu , can I ask you something? — Max broke the silence.

— You can. — Koharu replied.

“Would you be willing to have an affair with me… now?” Max asked.

Koharu froze.

— What? — Koharu was speechless.

— One of the rooms. Real quick. What do you think? — Max asked.

Koharu took a deep, controlled breath.

— I'm going to pretend you're not okay because of what happened and that you spoke without thinking. I wouldn't have any reason to accept such madness. — he replied Koharu irritated.

"I have reasons. Yesterday Kairo said that you, he, and I slept here... but Fujimoto , Shana , Cassandra, and Edygil slept in a forest. " Max insisted.

—I still don't understand your point. — he said . Koharu .

— Weren't you worried about Fujimoto and Shana traveling without you around? — Max asked.

Koharu 's stomach seemed to sink.

— I trust Fujimoto . — Koharu replied.

"You can even trust him. But do you trust Shana … and that Fujimoto won't fall for her 'charms'?" Max asked.

Max continued, biting the corner of his lip:

"Let's do it like this: if Shana and Fujimoto did something yesterday, we'll come up with a plan to kick her out of the group," Max said.

"He should be expelled," Koharu replied harshly.

"And what's more, you're helping me become leader. Fujimoto can't decide. You saw what happened," Max said firmly and maliciously.

“Even if he accepted, Cassandra and Kairo would be suspicious,” Koharu said , narrowing her eyes.

"So you become my 'channel': whatever he decides, you tell me. I'll give you the right idea, and you convince him. No one will suspect," Max said with a smile.

— I won't accept anything if "that" didn't happen between him and Shana — Koharu cut in .

Max smiled… and suddenly stole a kiss. Koharu was startled and backed away.

"What was that?!" Koharu asked with a blush.

— To seal the deal. — Max said.

“No deal,” she said coldly.

The stairs creaked as Kairo came down with a pile of parts.

—Look at this! — he shouted. Kairo excited.

Tooled leather armor, reinforced mesh, sturdy buckles. Max whistled.

"They look good," Max said.

—They are from the great craftsman Edygil ! — Kairo said proudly.

“You really admire the guy,” Koharu commented .

— One of the best I've ever seen. — he said . Kairo with a sparkle in his eyes.

— Shall we learn to sell? — he asked. Koharu .

—Actually, these are for delivery. We can't let criminals get their hands on them— Kairo explained .

— Understood — Max replied.

Koharu , Kairo , and Max left to make deliveries. Hours later, Shana , Cassandra, and Edygil arrived at the store and went to lunch. Minutes later, Koharu , Kairo , and Max arrived.

— Hey, guys, come eat soon! — I waved .

Edygil came down, wiping his hands on his apron.

— They took a while, — Edygil said.

"Aren't you going to ask if the deliveries went well?" Kairo teased.

"I trust you. Sit down and eat," Edygil said , laughing.

We had lunch. Between one bite and another.

"So you guys got the items?" Koharu asked.

Shana replied simply.

—Your equipment will be ready tomorrow. My whim. — he said . Edygil .

Cassandra smiled eagerly.

—I can't wait, — said Cassandra happily.

Night fell quickly. Edygil opened the door to the men's room without knocking.

— Hey, guys, don't leave here to go to the girls' room, understood? — he said Edygil .

— Understood — said Max.

— Understood — Kairo repeated .

— Where's the other boy? — Edygil looked for me.

Kairo scratched the back of his neck.

— He went down to talk to a friend in the living room. — Kairo replied.

— Hm. Okay. Good night. — Edygil said and left.

—Why did you call me? — I asked , coming closer.

She didn't look at me right away.

"I wanted to ask you something," Koharu said.

—Ask whatever you want, — I said.

"Did something happen between you and Shana yesterday in the forest?" Koharu asked.

My heart skipped a beat. Did Shana speak?

— Why do you ask? — I wanted to know the reason for this question.

" Shana is untrustworthy. I suspect she might hit on you to manipulate you," Koharu replied.

She tried… but not to manipulate me.

“You haven’t asked the whole question yet,” I said calmly.

"Did something happen? " Koharu asked.

I breathed.

"If I tell you, do you promise not to tell anyone?" I said.

— I promise. — Koharu promised.

— Shana … kissed me. — I revealed the kiss Shana gave me.

Koharu pursed her lips.

— Kick her out of the group. Someone like that can't be around. — he said . Koharu irritated.

"I'm not going to expel you. I believe we can resolve this by talking," I retorted.

She clenched her fist.

"You're stupid, aren't you?" Koharu asked me with irony and anger.

— I don't understand… — I was saying, but Koharu interrupted me.

Koharu 's eyes shone with anger and... hurt.

So close… yet so far.

I realized that, for today, I wouldn't reach her with words.

"I'm going to sleep. It's late. Good night, Koharu ." I said with a sad look.

I climbed the stairs slowly, feeling the weight of the day on my shoulders. When I entered the room, Max was pretending to be asleep. Kairo was already snoring. I lay down.

I'm not a good leader... but I can still be a good friend. Tomorrow, the new armor. Then, Omeron . And, in the midst of it all, find a way to not lose anyone else.

I closed my eyes and heard, in the distance, the soft creak of the girls' bedroom door. Maybe it was just the wind. Maybe it was restlessness. Either way, the night would be long.

The sun rose over Haamagel , tinting the sky orange and gold.

The sound of Edygil 's hammer echoed through the workshop as he finished the last details.

— There you go! Your equipment is complete. — he announced proudly.

Cassandra was the first to approach.

"I like my outfit. It's elegant and light," Cassandra said .

Shana lifted the staff she had been given, testing its weight.

"My clothes are comfortable... and this staff has great balance ," Shana said.

Koharu rotated her arms, testing the flexible fabric.

"Mine helps a lot with mobility," Koharu said.

I looked at mine.

"It's simple, but it has a great sword stand. And that blade... looks well made ," I said, admiring the equipment.

Max checked his own movements.

"My outfit helps with getting around, very practical," Max said.

Kairo twirled his new sword and smiled in satisfaction.

—Mine is perfect for agility. Edygil , you are truly a great craftsman. — Kairo said.

The blacksmith let out a proud laugh.

" Hahaha ! I'm glad you liked it. And to really test it, I want you to practice this morning, afternoon, and evening." Edygil said with a smile.

— Okay. — we agreed .

—But to make it fair, we'll draw a pair for each period. And yes, you can use the same partner again. — he continued Edygil .

He placed small folded papers inside a jar.

I was the first to draw.

— I went with Kairo . — I said as I read the name on the paper .

Koharu was next.

— Cassandra. — he said. Koharu read the name on the paper.

—Then that leaves Shana and Max. — Edygil concluded .

We remained silent. The atmosphere grew heavy.

“ Shana and Max… will this work ?”

Koharu crossed her arms.

Cassandra took a deep breath.

Kairo scratched the back of his neck.

But Shana sighed and broke the ice:

"Don't worry. Max and I know how to separate things. This is just practice, okay?" he said . Shana .

Max nodded.

— Okay. — Max said.

He looked at us, noticing our tense expressions.

— You can relax. Nothing will happen. — Max said.

Edygil clapped his hands.

"Perfect! Now that everything is settled, I need to explain something else," Edygil said.

— What? — he asked. Kairo .

—I've prepared training points in the Cacadel forest.— Edygil revealed.

Cassandra arched her eyebrow.

“The same forest as yesterday?” Cassandra asked.

— Exactly. I marked three points: A, B and C. — confirmed Edygil .

Koharu quickly understood.

— So you will divide the groups between these points. — he said Koharu .

— That's right. Fujimoto and Kairo , point A. Koharu and Cassandra, point B. Shana and Max, point C. — Edygil smiled.

— Understood. — we replied .

— Calm down, no leaving yet! — Edygil raised his finger.

— Huh ? Why? — Kairo turned around.

— Because first you're going to have breakfast, of course . — he said Edygil laughing.

“Fair enough,” I muttered , with a tired smile.

As we ate, Kairo raised his hand.

"And how will we know when our next meals will be?" Kairo asked.

"I'll call you myself. Now, finish up and rest for ten minutes," Edygil replied.

After coffee, Edygil personally took us to the training points.

Cacadel forest was dense and humid. The wind whistled through the leaves.

Kairo drew his sword and looked at me.

"Do you know how to handle a sword?" Kairo asked me.

“Only in games… but never in real life.”

— Not much. Can you teach me? — I replied.

"Of course. Posture, breathing, balance. It all starts there. " He smiled and began demonstrating basic movements.

I imitated what he did, but the result was… disastrous.

The blade almost slipped from my hand.

“What do you think?” I asked , trying to sound confident.

Kairo scratched his chin.

"With all due respect... you need to improve a lot. You can't even fight a wild rabbit like this , " Kairo said, laughing.

I laughed awkwardly.

— It doesn't matter, I won't give up. — I said confidently.

He looked at me, surprised.

"That determination is what separates a warrior from a coward. Let's continue," Kairo said.