“Should we be doing this?” I asked nervously. Fidgeting all the while, I also kept glancing behind me in this narrow alley that only fit a single person’s frame. Even the sun struggled to reach this alley.

“No.” Vira replied. “But we’ll be fine.”

I couldn’t believe this is happening.

“Then why are we doing this?” I couldn’t help but ask. “What if we get caught?”

“We have the entire to ourselves. We are not neglecting our responsibilities. The punishment would probably be light.”

“But what about you, Vira? You’re a knight. What happens if you get caught?”

“Well…. Since I’m a Knight, I will probably have my remaining days off taken away.” Vira answered dryly.

It was odd. The usual stoic Vira would never do something like this. This was unlike her.

While a part of me find it appalling on knowing such a side of her, another part of me made me fell for her even more. It made her empathetic. A side of someone you like that no one knew about, it made me feel just a little bit special.

“Are you okay with that?”

To my genuine concern, Vira merely shrugged.

We were defying the rules of the temple. We weren’t supposed to leave the temple grounds without permission even if it was a free day but here we are.

After turning a few more corners into narrow and shady alleys to avoid patrol of familiar faces, we finally made it to the parts far enough where the patrols wouldn’t recognize our face.

“We should be in the clear now,” she told me.

At a glance, this all seemed juvenile but to manage to avoid tens of patrol guards in broad daylight was no easy feat. It was only possible because it was Vira.

As we passed by some guards, Vira exchanged obligatory nods with them. The guards nodded back with perplexity. One of them even blushed.

We walked down rows of stall, crossed streets, and passed by more soldiers but none knew of our true identities. We were in plain clothing as oppose to our usual temple robes. It seems my fear of being recognized from our faces alone was unfounded.

Still, how long has it been since the last time we were in town not for duty reasons?

Just as I was about to ask Vira on how much further we were going, a boy sitting beside a fruit stall three houses away from where we are, was waving at us while chewing on an apple.

I recognized the black hair and the face of a Medivian and Xin anywhere. It was rare to see this mix of ethnicity.

It was Hyx but why was he here?

“That was fast,” he remarked. Contrary to his lively tone, he had an expression that was simmered in boredom.

“If we were considered fast then what are you?”

“Oh me? I was here since last night.” He responded nonchalantly.

“Last night?” Vira questioned. “You mean you didn’t go back to your rooms last night ever since they sent you out on an errand yesterday evening?”

“Yeah. Without the night as my veil, I’ll be caught within few meters away from the gate. I don’t think I can slip out in the day.”

“You could just come with me.”

“Aye but you moved well when you’re alone.”

“Unbelievable.” Vira said with a disbelief expression but her tone held no animosity.

“Yeah…. I’m probably up for some unheard punishment after this….”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Vira was chatting with the exiled Valerius boy so intimately like they have known each other for years. At most, they probably have known each other for one year.

From what I heard in the rumors, Vira found Hyx vexing and disagreeable but the truth that was laid bare before me, couldn’t be more wrong.

“You know--”

Hyx seemed to finally notice me.

“—I didn’t actually expect you to bring someone else along.”

With her usual compose face with a vague smile, Vira retorted “you said I could bring a friend along with me.”

A friend, huh…. I was only a friend to her…..

“Well…. I was joking. I never expect you to actually have friends. After all, everyone seems to avoid you like the plague.”

I caught a slight twitch on Vira’s compose smile, something I had never expected to see.

I cleared my throat to announce my ever lingering presence which was ignored which had been ignored the next second after being acknowledged.

“My name is Iluna. An Elf of Avelin Forest” I introduced myself, a hand on my left chest with a slight bow, the customary greeting. “Please to meet you.”

“Yeah, I know. You’re the only Elf in the whole drab temple. Please to meet you too.”

The greeting that was returned to me was tasteless in etiquette sense.

“Do not blame the absence of good taste on the design itself.” Vira reproved Hyx who insulted her beloved temple. Vira really does treasure the temple.

“Sorry.”

Hyx was quick to apologize. I expected him to butt heads with her at least before giving in.

“Well, she seems dubious on hopping on board.”

At Hyx’s words, Vira turned to me. “Are you?”

“I trust your judgment, Vira.” I gave my honest thought.

Hyx stifled a laugh which Vira noticed.

“Do you disapprove of my judgment?”

“No offense but you don’t make the best choices when you’re around me.”

I was shocked and appalled by Hyx’s words layered with various meanings.

“I’m starting to understand why you were exiled.”

Vira was as calm as ever in her response.

“Yeah, I understand too you know. God, I’m a terrible person.”

Hyx was very conscious of what kind of person he was, contrary to the rumors.

“I mean, look at me. I’m conscripting you two on an excursion that had probably broke a few precepts of the Temple. But I’m sure you two are no fool on the consequences?”

“You were a very persuasive and bad influence.” Vira retorted.

It was rare to see Vira spending some effort in a conversation. She wasn’t the most taciturn person but she was concise when it comes to conversations. This wasn’t the case when she was conversing with Hyx.

What was this feeling of defeat?

“Or maybe you are just very fond of me?”

WHAT?!

Even though it was just a jest but a jest at a prodigy knight having a degree of feelings towards an initiate is simply too much to be just a jest.

I looked towards Vira. I expected Vira’s expression to be distorted with fury. I believed everyone has their limits and Vira wasn’t exempted. At least, I anticipated some degree of revulsion but it was still her usual calm and compose expression.

In fact, her smiled looked a little bit broader.

“I am,” was her response to Hyx’s jest.

I wasn’t the only one left speechless. Hyx was too.

“That was very sly…..” He muttered under his breath as he looked away, although I still heard it clearly.

It couldn’t be…. Does Vira really likes Hyx? That can’t be, right?

“Anyways….” Hyx faked a cough. “Shall we move on?”

“I wonder?” said Vira, teasingly.

Not good. This couldn’t be happening. Is my beloved Vira truly enraptured by this sort of person?

“Luna, you coming?”

I snapped out of my dazed when Vira called out to me.

Just like that, I found myself following hesitatingly behind the two.

I didn’t know where we were going and neither did Vira. Asking Hyx seemed like an exercise in futility. Vira had asked him once but the answer was,

“You’ll know when we get there.”

This kind of person wasn’t one in a million. The girls from the temples, including me were approached by this sort of peoples with the intention of courting us. If it wasn’t for Vira, we would still be approached by such peoples till this day.

But now…. Vira was conversing intimately with such a person.

Has the Iron Maiden finally fell prey to the grasp of the demon?

“So, how was the ham sandwich?” asked Hyx with an abrupt and odd question.

“The what?” Vira blinked.

“Your breakfast, I mean. You did have ham sandwich, right?”

We did have ham sandwich for breakfast. Our meals were the same for everyone in the temple. Same meal, same portion. No one was special. However—Hyx wasn’t there for breakfast, he didn’t even made it back to the temple last night. He was here since then.

Then how did he know?

Contrary to my frozen and surprised expression, Vira was as calm as ever. “How did you know?”

“I won’t even know where to start. There are too many things that gave it away but the obvious one would be your face?”

“My face?”

“You looked delighted. When breakfast was just plain bread or vegetable, you always looked solemn after that. The only times when you looked a little bit satisfied was when there’s meat present in breakfast. The only meal they served with meat for breakfast has always been ham sandwich.”

I was stunned and appalled at his explanation.

He looked to me and said, “Yeah, I know. I’m weird.”

Vira inched closer to me. “Don’t worry,” she told me. “He’s just very observant and curious.” Vira seemed to have gotten used to his antics.

“So, how was it? Good?”

“It could use a little bit more seasoning.”

“Did you saved some for me this time?”

“No and I don’t think I have ever saved some for you.”

“Oh right, I was thinking of someone else.”

Words couldn’t even began to describe the amount of abhorrence I have for this person. It was unthinking to be this rude to a Templar Knight.

Vira on the other hand, simply rolled her eyes.

“We’re here.”

While I was off in my not-so far-fetched delusions, we had reached our destination.

“Okay…. What in the Nines is this supposed to mean?” asked Vira without hiding her displeasure.

Has he finally crossed the line with his antics?

“What’s wrong with this?”

He asked, almost entirely with innocence.

There wasn’t nothing wrong or out of place but the sight was-- unexpected, to say the least. It was simply baffling.

“There’s nothing here,” I spoke out.

I was given a blinking glance. “What do you mean?” he asked. “There’s people here preparing for the festival, no?”

The festival Hyx was talking about is the Blood Moon Festival in about a month’s time.

Vira’s glare was cold and amused by Hyx looked unbothered.

“Yes, there is but why are we here for this? I had a different idea in mind when you said we would be seeing something different and fascinating. Are we to volunteer for assistance? Are we here for their entertainment? Are we here to provide beverages and foods?”

“No?” answered Hyx towards Vira’s condemning question. “I just thought it was nice to witness the preparation of a grand event. It’s like food. The joy of witnessing the process of the cooking sometimes triumphs over the taste of the cooked food itself.”

He even had a face like he said something profound.

Vira was sighing while rubbing her temple. It was another rare side of the usually stoic Vira.

Even with those enlightenment, Vira and I were still bemused by the joy that was to be found among the preparations of a grand festival, supposedly.

Hyx himself was frolicking all over, gazing here and there with sparkling eyes at the people working hard with the preparations. He was truly finding joy in all these. His eyes held respect and curiosity for these workers.

One of the rumors were right after all, he was eccentric.

His smile began to fade when he realize we who were lacking behind with sullen faces.

“You two are definitely not liking this.”

I was compelled to nod.

“Oh, not at all. I actually find myself enjoying it.” Vira said something astonishing.

“Really?” Hyx raised the corner of his eye.

“Yes, it is a joy to witness a new side of you, seeing you skipping around like a little girl on her first outing.”

I was trying to be tactful but Vira was blunt with her observations. She said all those with a smug that wasn’t meant to be a smug.

“I was skipping?”

“Like a little girl.”

His face drained of colors. He began walking normally after that.

My mood returned, seeing as how we got our well-deserve revenge on Hyx for making a fool out of us for breaking the rules for something so meager and meaningless.

“Sorry, Luna. I dragged you out here all for nothing.”

Vira apologized but I assured her it was nothing.

To me, strolling in a town beside her wasn’t all for nothing and I also got to see some rare sides of her.

We decided to head back after the toll bell for noon rang.

Before we turned into the corner when we came from, Hyx stopped in his tracks which almost made us bump into him.

“Say, isn’t that Sophia?”

I followed his finger which was pointing at a young lady with golden braided hair.

“It’s Sister Sophia to you.” Vira dropped a fist on Hyx who was shorter than her. “And yes, that’s her.”

Out of all things, this was what made Vira acted with violence.

“Who’s that man she’s with?” I asked.

There was a man walking alongside Sister Sophia. An unfamiliar man that was rough around the edges. Seems like he was a man of physical labor. He was significantly older than Sister Sophia but the way he held her as they walked, told us enough about their relationship.

Of course, we weren’t prohibited from commitments but Sister Sophia was definitely breaking the rules like us for being out here without permission or good reasons. We were in no position to reprimand her.

“Let’s just go before she sees us too, okay?”

“Considering we just snuck out, I think that will be the best.” Vira agreed with me. “Come on, Hyx. Let’s--” Vira paused, her eyes on Hyx who was glancing at Sister Sophia with his head tilted.

“Fine, let’s go.” Hyx walked on but stopped and turned when he realized Vira wasn’t following. “What?”

“Something wrong?”

“Was that question directed at me or yourself?” asked Hyx, having the same riddled expression as me.

“I saw your face just now.”

“Of course, you did? I was standing right in front of you, no?”

“You looked like you realized something’s off about them. What is it?”

“Can we just go?”

Vira sighed and slammed the wall behind Hyx. “What did you realized?”

“Nothing. It was just a brief moment, how would I realized anything?”

“Ham sandwich for breakfast,” said Vira and that was all it took for Hyx to relent.

“His ring finger of his right hand,” answered Hyx. “There was no ring but there is a mark of one.”

“He could be a widower,” I said.

“On one hand, he’s getting touchy and feely with So—Sister Sophia,” Hyx changed his way of addressing mid-way when he noticed Vira’s glare. “On the other hand, he hasn’t stop touching his pocket which I wagered is where his ring is.”

“What if it wasn’t a ring?” I asked.

“Then all is well, I think? But look at the man’s face and tell me that doesn’t look like someone being unfaithful.”

Vira’s intense glare at Hyx looked it could burn a hole through him.

“I’m trusting you on this one,” she told us, cracking her knuckles.

“What chu’ bout to do?” asked Hyx, in a strange manner.

I couldn’t understand what he asked but Vira did. “That man needs to learn some restraint,” answered Vira. “You two, stay hidden.” She said and disappeared from our sight, leaving a split second after image.

“Oh God…. Please don’t tell me--”

Before Hyx’s words came through, the next moment, groans of a man and screams of a woman could be heard.

“Good Gods…. That self-righteous bi--” Getting pierced by my gaze, he changed his words “—woman. Why can’t she just let it go for once? This is going to get real ugly soon. I would suggest we get our scraggy bottom out of here.”

I ignored his choice of words but not the intent behind it. “You’re just going to leave?” I asked Hyx who was walking towards the opposite way from the scene that Vira had just created.

“Yeah?”

“You’re just going to leave her? You brought us here in the first place.”

“I did,” he answered. “If we get caught during our way back, I will assume responsibilities but not this. She knows full well of what is going to happen if she made a scene now. She’s doing this on her own volition. I’m no saint.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“Aren’t you her friend?”

“I am, nothing more nothing less. She’ll have to be more than that if I’m going throw my head into the fire along with her.”

“Is that really it? A friend? Nothing more?” I asked, hoping for something.

“Do you want us to be something more?”

I froze.

“I am only but her friend, for now that is. The door is still open for you.”

My mouth opened but there was no voice. I couldn’t retort to him who had seen through me.

“But don’t worry. If you ever come to terms with whatever is that you’re feeling, I’ll make way.”

Just like that, he ran down the streets until he vanished into an alley. My eyes trailed after his shadow long after he disappeared from my sights.

I was left dazed by his words.

I didn’t understand his implications at that time but during the festival, his words were made clear then.