Christmas is coming and hope to you a special while enjoyable holiday.

Welp, it seems like this story has really shown improvement on my part of marks as I manage to score way higher in English than before :P

Though I still need to focus on the other languages...

Anyhow, today is a short chapter and please enjoy :D

Enjoy Reading

Kioni's POV

Right now, I'm currently eating breakfast with Yin and Leth which takes place not in the house but outside.

I have just awoken not so long ago, while I still feel bothered from what happened last night from encountering that crimson haired woman.

'Am I really a fake?...' - My thoughts

While I was in the middle of my thoughts, Yin asked me if the food which I'm eating is not to my satisfaction.

This made me stop my thinking and looked to her while replying back stating that its delicious.

Also I apologized to them as I was having a headache.

I didn't want to tell them about what happened yesterday because who knows what that woman from before would do to me and I'm still not sure if it was even real or just a dream.

The sandwich that Yin prepared for breakfast was really delicious and I mean it as to how the tomatoes, lettuce, sliced chicken and cucumber was utterly fresh while also giving its full potential of flavor.

Orange juice were served for drinks and bowls of hot porridge which were sweetened nicely while not having the slightest hint of strong scent.

Me, Yin and Leth were sitting on yew chairs which surround a oval shaped table made out of what seemed to be willow but colored with a tinge of maroon.

I managed to overhear the conversation between both of them and they were talking about something related to magic portals being strange around the world.

There was no point in getting my nose stuck to someone else subject and so I heeded to my own.

It was a pleasant morning, and I've been wondering if Saladin is doing well with Sherah as they tend to fight a lot, I just hope he actually makes her some food even if it has to be boiled leafs.

Should I consider Sherah as my rival for Saladin?..., Nah. My gosh, I'm thinking too much on that subject.

Besides, how in the world are they able to get along with each other even if they managed to become a couple?, and so with that thought, it gave me some hope from knowing that Saladin is still not taken... yet.

Some time has passed when I took breakfast and now I am currently behind the house of Yin and Leth while sitting in a lotus position on a chalked circle with a star covering its inner part.

They asked me to relax while thinking nothing which was quite hard until I managed to do it.

This training purpose was so that I can awaken my inner affinity as mine is dormant inside me still.

My mind felt light as I breath and exhale the fresh air while hearing the breeze and swaying of the grass nearby.

I could feel my body getting lighter while also noticing that it is becoming dark outside as I could only see pitch black.

The more I concentrate on relaxing, the more I feel this strong sensation of familiarity.

Then suddenly, fast images came flying through my thoughts which didn't make sense while also noticing it was related to my past.

I saw an image of me wearing a black gown and darkened bronze tiara with a red gem stuck to it on the front.

I can barely see my face but I noticed my red eyes which spooked me entirely as it gets closer to me.

The eyes were normal like any human but it is just that the iris is red like that woman from before but isn't slit.

This freaked me out and so it broke the training process.

Cold sweat could be felt in my back and forehead while I pant for air.

Leth asked me on what happened which I told him the details and so he just surveyed me slightly until he told me to repeat the training.

It was really weird, and it almost made me want to quit entirely this plan on making me useful as to how I fear that image popping in my head but I brushed that thought away from remembering the reason I did this in the first place.

I just hope that Saladin at least thinks about me while i'm gone but I highly doubt it...

Saladin's POV

Right now I am currently swinging my sword in a repetitive way while only using my left arm.

I also switch between horizontal and vertical slices while also not leaving out my lunges.

Though you might be expecting that I'm just still but I really wish I am as it is quite tiring fallowing this movement with your feet training.

My sword has became quite light weighted ever since I started training from before which kind of annoyed me as I hate weapons that resembles feathers.

Sherah was practicing with her bow by targeting a tree not so far from here.

I stopped on what am I doing to observe on what she is going to pull off.

There was a board stuck to the tree which has a small paint dot on it.

Her accuracy was really refined as she is able to hit the dot continuously.

After some shots, she noticed on how I observe her and then asked if I want to try hitting the dot.

I tried refusing but she kept on insisting while also making a bet with me if I manage to hit the dot twice in a row, I can ask anything from her.

Though I really didn't want to do it, I am afraid that I have no choice as to how she kept on taunting me.

I was offered the bow by Sherah but I refused and instead I pulled out the two remaining throwing knives from my bag while still noticing that Qino is still asleep.

As I prepare my stance while aiming the knives at the tree, Sherah was beside me standing while crossing her arms and observing on how I'm going to throw.

Obviously I'll fail as to how bad I am at aiming and I really don't want her to laugh at my incompetence.

I then threw the first knife which... actually hit the dot.

This made Sherah shook her head while repeatedly blinking her eyes as she stares at the knife on the tree.

Then I threw the second one while thinking that it is too good to be true... but I was wrong as I managed to not only hit once but twice as well.

I then heeded towards Sherah and told her that I won the bet while also having the same expression as she has.

She was speechless while she looks at me and then suddenly I notice redness appear in her cheeks as she says to me quietly

"You won and it was quite unbelievable..., but-but please don't ask for... anything indecent to me..." - Sherah

"Of course I won't but I think I'll save it for later as I can't think of anything good right now..., actually scratch what I just said and i want you to cook for dinner today." - Me

She then told me if that is all I requested while having a dumbfounded face and so I replied back by saying

"So... you want something else? as I can think of many ways to embarrass you" - Me

Sherah then shook her head immediately and said

"No!, the cooking is fine! and how did you actually managed to hit the dot?" - Sherah

I replied back by saying

"Trust me, it is all due to luck" - Me

After a short survey of her looking at me, she then continued with her training and so I joined her until it became dusk which was unbelievably long.

Both me and Sherah were completely drenched in sweat while being out of air as we pant rapidly.

My arms were really sore from swinging the sword, my leg bones felt as if they are going break and my body is so tired that I felt like falling down any time.

While I was training with Sherah, we were joking with each other while also teasing lightly.

I enjoy her company more than before while also starting to see her as someone... likable.

Me and Sherah are currently laying down on the ground covered in grass while being exhausted completely.

I turn to look at her and noticed the smile she has as she looks up into the sky.

She then look at me and said

"Today was different than usual, don't you think?" - Sherah

Her glazed black eyes were really... enchanting and I got to admit that her beauty seems to improve the more I look at her.

She really does remember me of someone... but I can't remember.

I replied saying

"Yeah... it is, as I think something changed in me" - Me

Sherah looked at my eyes and then blushed slightly.

She then averted her eyes and got up while trying to conceal that she just blushed.

Her personality is truly cute.

Some time later, we returned back to our room barely as to how we had to limp slightly while enduring our exhausted body.

I was so tired that I didn't notice on how I joined Sherah into the bathroom while she doesn't even care.

Though she immediately went out as she return to her senses after she saw me topless while I am about to pull down my pants.

I'm really tired that I didn't really reacted that much when she darted out the bathroom as I prepare myself a hot bath.

Sherah's POV

'Crud, I almost seen something that isn't to be seen by any girl, though I wonder why I didn't notice that I entered the bathroom with Saladin' - My thoughts

My body is really aching while it being really hard to change clothes but at least I managed to remove them.

I covered my body with a towel and placed my used sweaty clothes on a basket which contains a lot of things that needs cleaning.

My bow was placed with its quiver under my bed while I make sure that the arrows were having no dirt on them.

Though the thought of his back being filled with scars and especially his shoulder was making me quite sad.

I made sure that my bed is cleaned and also.. for Saladin...

It was as if I'm acting like his wife which really made flustered as I slap myself for having that thought.

The wooden floor was quite chilling due to the wind blowing it from the window being opened and so I decided to shut it.

While I clean his bed, there was this temptation again to try and smell the scent but luckily I brushed away that thought or else I would have labeled myself as a pervert.

It was getting real dark soon and so I lit the chandeliers.

Before I do anything else, I made sure that the clothes in the basket are nicely folded but it was quite embarrassing as I get to also see Saladin's clothes that he doesn't show anyone.

After I did that, I awaited for Saladin to exit the bathroom while I think over as to why I notice that he seems to look at me more than usual and what is up with him being kind if I would do anything for him

I don't know what to do if he says something like 'Bear my child', maybe I would hit him or pass out from what he said...

My bangs are growing longer each day and before I knew it, it reached near my eye level.

I was playing with my hair as I twirl them around, just to pass time due to who knows how long will Saladin stay in there.

To tell the truth, I didn't expected it at all when it comes to him aiming but he truly surprised me.

Finally the door opened and Saladin came out while wearing his sleeping get up.

He then looked at me for a short while until he averted his eyes while having reddened cheeks.

I looked at my body as to why would he be flustered from what... and I from the looks of it, I am wearing nothing but a towel in front of him...

This made me completely embarrassed as I surge through the bathroom door while not heeding mind to my aching legs.

I then shut the doors behind him loudly.

'There is something wrong with me today', I thought that through my head as I cover my face and feel the hotness in it.

This might be the only time that he seen me with the most skin than ever..., but I never knew that he would blush for someone like me..., does it mean that I still have a chance.

The more I stay with him, the more I feel closer to death as if his sapping my life energy...

I made a sigh then moved on to clean myself.

Saladin's POV

After some time later, me and Sherah ate dinner which she made.

The taste of the food was normal and nothing special but it still gave me this familiar vibe.

It consisted of bread and small slices of jade sardines which were nicely cooked while I could feel the spices in it.

I talked with Sherah about what happened to the scars behind my back after she asked me about it.

We laughed and teased each other for quite the while.

It was... enjoyable while really comfortable from the everlasting nightmare through my head as to what happened before.

Simply specifying on how was today, than I can just say one word and that is 'Fun'.

Though I still don't understand as to why she blushes quite a lot when she looks at me and I was also thinking that she might already fall in love but I just brushed that thought.

When I poked her cheek recently to tease her, I was expecting to get hurt but instead she didn't do anything but remained with a face similar to a red apple.

Once in a while, she would get closer to me physically which was quite cute and I couldn't restrain myself but tease her if she has already sunken deep enough to fall in love with me.

Personally, I don't really like this type of stuff as I prefer reading something that will give me knowledge but it would not hurt me to try once in a while.

Everyday that passes by, the more would I forget what is the purpose of me venturing around this world.

What is the thing that made me leave my village, stuck in the mines, gain the power of soul catching, survive things that I should be dead, encounter friends and especially my changes.

As I think about that, I am currently washing the dishes with Sherah as you might forget that I only have one arm.

I'm not imagining it anymore as Sherah was really close to me than before which made it possible for me to experience her scent.

Ever since I told her about my story, she really gotten closer to me which... I really don't mind.

I wonder what makes me special, is it my jokes..., nah I doubt that as even my mother before payed me to stop making those horrible puns of mine.

Is it my drive..., if that's the case than at this moment I would be trying to solve on why do I have those dreams every once in a while.

Speaking about those dreams, what do they really mean and I can't seem to forget them as they are something that is supposed to be remembered.

After we cleaned the dishes, me and Sherah returned back to the room and were preparing to sleep until something hit my head really hard.

I fall to my knees as I scream from the pain in my head as if needles are poking my brains while having a eternally painful headache.

Sherah was confused as to what happened as she tries to help me out by calming me down but that didn't help as it got worser the pain.

Then suddenly, I could see an image in my head, a person which I thought that I can never see again and that is my uncle...

He then told me carefully

"Saladin, it must have been a hard journey and believe me this is just the start of it. I am really sorry child that I made you to be one of the ones that will suffer the most while having the greatest fear than others but believe me, this is something only you can do. There is going to be a feudal war between continents and at that moment when there are in mess. The Vandraxian would strike causing an utter chaos to our world. Just remember Saladin, venture north-east and find the holy city of humans which will give you one more clue as to what you have to do"

The headache was paining but I still managed to hear the words of my uncle but how does he know where for me to go...

Eventually the pain ended and left me with cold sweat in my entire body as I feel the chill wooden floors in all fours.

Sherah was trying to calm me down by caressing my back ever so slowly while having a panicked face from what happened to me.

I then told her that I'm alright which made her hands stop the movement and then she started blushing from me witnessing on what she did for me.

Oh how she really looks like a rose maybe... I should start calling her the ever changing rose, meh that sounds bad.

I gave her my thanks for trying to calm me down and I came closer to her face which made her confused until I did something for a first time in my life.

I kissed her on the cheek then get up and moved my way towards my bed while still having the thought as to why would my uncle tell me that now.

He mentioned about heading north-west and there is going to be a war in this very continent.

How can I stop something as large scale like that!

I'm not some sort of authentic hero which everyone can hear out!, and why it has to be me out of all people, always... has to be me.

Sherah was still frozen in place while touching the cheek I kissed on, her face suddenly became red as always and she then started complaining towards me while stating that she is not going to be fazed from what I done.

Mindlessly I did the kiss as I really am fond on her recent caring behavior to tell the truth, even if she is acting like some repeated personality of any books I read.

Well you know what they say, there can never be something original and so that is why I don't really mind liking someone like her.

Still it bothers me tons from the thought of my uncle appearing out of no where in my mind while telling me what to do even though my purpose so far was to find him.

It seems like my goal will alter greatly then...

THANKS FOR READING, and I really appreciate telling your doubts and criticizes on this story of mine :D