He saw the shock registered on her face. A small smile played on his lips as he patted her shoulder to comfort her.

“Why now?” Eireen face paled hearing the news he brought, “the Goddess' event just in two more days. H-how could they send you to the front line?!”

The early morning sun was already well risen and the spring grass shone like it had its own gentle glow from within. She was doing her usual duty at the stables when Z showed up and told her that he had been assigned to the front line and would leave in a couple of hours.

“Well, an order is an order,” he shrugged with the same aloof smile.

“I know,” she sighed defeated.

Z glanced at the pink haired girl, her emotion was not easily hidden on her innocent face. Her fear and worries were evident in the crease of her lovely brow and down-curve of her full lips.

“How long has it been?” he asked curiously.

“Hmm? For?”

“Since you are assigned to go to the battlefield?”

The question actually stroke a reality in her, the last time she was on a battlefield was before her demotion. She didn’t realize it until Zeke asked her the question, she enjoyed her peaceful life inside the fortress, and never question the reason why she was never sent to the war.

Her inability to answer his question was enough as the answer for him. He had heard the rumors that have been going on ever since he arrived in the compound and even though he didn’t actually believe it; especially after knowing her in person. But he couldn’t help to notice how she had been treated secretly by the higher officer. It seemed like she’s living in an invisible golden cage that she didn’t even realize it herself. Her duty was never been overbearing, the higher officer hardly gave her task that might endanger her life and how they treated her as if they have been tasked to watch on her every move.

‘Is she truly the king’s comfort woman?’ he thought to himself but then he quickly shook the thought off. He couldn’t see someone as innocent as her to actually be a comfort girl. Those nasty rumors must have been coming from jealous people.

“Anyway, I better get going, I just came to say my goodbye,” Zeke finally said breaking the stillness.

“Yeah, okay,” she stammered as if someone just shook her awake from her daydreaming, “be safe and please come back alive?”

“I will. I promise you that,” He bared his wide grin, “I always keep my promise remember?’

“I know,” she tried to reply his grin with a positive smile, but deep down they both know that in the battlefield there was no such thing as a guarantee. Your life would always be at stake at every second at every blink of an eye and you would never know when would it be the time to accept your fate.

Both of them went quiet again and didn’t move from their spot even though they had said their goodbye to each other; solemnly thought of the situation; neither ready to actually say goodbyes.

Zeke glanced her once more. Eireen had a kind of understated beauty, perhaps it was because she was so disarmingly unaware of her prettiness. Her peach beige skin was completely flawless, her pink hair framing her beautiful mesmerizing deep rosy eyes. She was all about simplicity, helping those around her to breath in a relaxing atmosphere, her air always making people be happy with what they have. When she smiled and laughed he couldn’t help but to smile along too; he quietly admits that he has fallen for her. Zeke noticed his feeling for her for quite some time already, though he wasn’t really sure that it’s okay to make a move on her. He treasured their relationship as best friends more than anything. To actually tried to take a step further to be more, felt like a big risk that he wasn’t ready to take.

Zeke inhaled sharp. He was anxious about being sent to the frontline, not about his own life but more about her. Who would took care and protected her from those men who tried to proof the bad rumors that have been spreading about her? There were quite a few men that he has taught some lessons when he heard what they said and planned to do with her; all those dark intentions. Even though he has no doubt at her ability to protect herself, still she could be so ignorant and clueless at times.

The awkward silence between them was really heavy, even the weather outside the stable started to go gloom. The air was chilly, the scent of rain hung in the air as the sky grew darker and the blue sky was overtaken by the grayness. Roll of thunder growled threateningly and it didn’t take long until the first drop of rain splattered the roof of the stable.

They stood side by side in silence. She wished she knew what to say to him. It was his first time to be sent to the front-line and everyone knew the chance of coming back was almost zero.

’be safe… come back alive… I wish those words are easily done as they are easily said.’

Eireen glanced at him, his eyes were glistening with determination. He was the second closest person she has. He was always there for her, even when he was deployed to the battlefield he would always come back with his roaring laugh. She knew things that he has done for her, protecting her, defending her quietly behind her back and she couldn’t be more grateful for his presence. He watched over her like a hawk and took care of her like what a brother would do. The idea of him leaving and thinking that this could be her last time to see his wide grin killed her.

“… Z—“ “Eiree…”

Both of them called each other at the same time and stopped at the same time.

“Okay you first,” he scratched his head clumsily.

Eireen shook her head and smiled sheepishly, “no, you should go first.”

He gazed at her, his brow gathered in a crease as if he was thinking hard. Eireen stared back at him curiously; waiting for him to speak up his mind.

'Zeke--- Zeke Valdez, I trust you to have my true name,' he said in a telepath. Eireen face went to bright pink realizing what he just did.

“Ee-eh--?! What?!! but I am not your lov—,“ she stammered.

A light chop on her head stopped her words.

“Who said you are?!” he refuted with an obvious blush on his tan skin, “That is not something that only can be shared between lovers, best friends are allowed too you know! Are you my best friend or not?”

“…yes I am,” Eireen replied listlessly while rubbing her stinging head.

“It’s fine to not give me yours. I am giving it just in case you wanted to reach me somehow,” he explained.

“Besides... it's not like you could actually overpower me and took control of my mind,” he teasingly added.

Eireen hit him playfully on his shoulder as a reply, but he caught it even before it actually touched him. He held her hand and gazed deeply at her eyes.

'I am worried to leave you alone. Promise me to telepath me every day? Could you promise me that?' Zeke words rang on her head severely once more. Her eyes couldn’t look away from his. She was breathless in the intensity of his gaze.

“Promise me Eireen!” He repeated, this time with his voice. The severity of the words was still the same as if he could see what kind of future may hold for her.

Speechless – all she could do was just nodding as her promise for him.