After that night, Clive and I made our way to the Kingdom of Spears. On the way there we met with our fair share of problems, but after that it was smooth sailing. We decided to live in a secluded village under the alias Julia Fem and Rick Dou. The story we presented to the villagers was that we were orphans of war. Our village neared the border of the Kingdom of Spears and the Kingdom of Key was destroyed in a skirmish and we lost both our parents. Just like the villagers in Clear View, everyone in this village were very kind, even to strangers.

During the first few weeks in the village we lived within one of the barns and helped with miscellaneous tasks. But eventually one of the villagers wanted to adopt us. It came as a surprised to both Clive and I, because we had decided to keep our distance from the villagers.

The person who wanted to adopt us was a woman named Jill Smith. She was a woman in her early forties and she wasn’t married. Similarly to us, Jill wasn’t a native to this village. She had settled in this village during her late twenties.

We already somewhat knew who she was during our first few weeks in the village because she would always bring us snacks to eat during our miscellaneous jobs. She was a very kind and caring person. So when she asked us if we wanted to be adopted by her, we refused. We didn’t want to bother her or anyone in this village more than we had too. We just needed to live in this village for a year before leaving.

“It’s fine if both of you don’t want to be adopted, but why don’t the both of you start living with me. I’m sure that it’s uncomfortable living in that barn.”

“Thank you ma’am but we have to refuse your offer. The barn is good enough for us. Letting us live in the barn is already a blessing from the villagers. We wouldn’t want to impose on any of you more than we already have.”

“It may be fine for you, young boy. But have you thought about the young lady by your side. Have you thought how uncomfortable it must be for her to live in a barn surrounded by animal feces and sleeping on hay. How mentally straining it must on a young girl in this new uncomfortable environment.”

“I-I...”

Clive was stunned. I know that Clive had good intentions when he wanted to stay secluded in the barn. He wanted us to stay inconspicuous so he could protect me, but at that time living in a barn was too much for me to handle. Before this I had been living a pampered life. I had the finest bed, the finest pillow, and the cleanest environment to live in. Living in a barn was taking its toll on me.

“So how do you feel about your situation, young lady. Are you fine with it?”

“Y-yeah, whatever Cl-R-Rick has decided is good.”

“I see.”

“Wait, Miss Jill. We’ll take you up on that offer. I’m sorry, Julia. I haven’t been thinking about your feelings at all. I’ve been such a selfish idiot! I’m sorry.”

“Good, I would have kicked you out if you didn’t reconsider your answer. I don’t know what you two have been through, but you guys can only depend on each other from now on. No matter what, you must listen to each other, you must care for each other. This is the only way you two can survive in this world.”

Clive and I were surprised. We barely even knew this person, but she was trying to teach us life lessons. She was trying to strengthen Clive and my relationship.

“T-thank you.”

“Yes, thank you very much, Miss. I don’t think I would have realized how selfish I’ve been until you pointed it out. But I have a question, why are you helping us out so much?”

“Well, I can see both of your potential as locksmiths.”

Clive grabbed me and bursted out of the house. He carried me towards the forest as fast as he could. He didn’t want to risk another second being within Jill’s house. We didn’t know whether Jill had good intentions or bad intentions, but Clive didn’t want to risk it being the latter. On our journey here, there had been have few risky situations where a person seemed good, but actually had bad intentions.

“Claire, do you sense her.”

“No, I don’t, but I feel like we’re still being followed.”

“Shit. Claire if worse comes to worst, i’ll try and hold her back while you run away.”

“That’s if you can hold me back.”

“W-what?!”

Clive’s entire body stopped moving. An immense pressure was holding both of us in place. Clive was carrying me and I was prepared to counter any attack, but I couldn’t do anything.

“Good reflexes, young boy. The moment you felt that there was any chance of danger, you immediately fled. But you need to be better at reading people. You fled even though I didn’t have any ill intentions towards you.”

“W-w-who are you?”

“Don’t interrupt me, young boy! I am not done speaking!”

Clive immediately fell down to his knees like a mountain was suddenly placed on his back. He couldn’t do anything to resist.

“Now what about you young lady. Are you fine with this? This young boy was willing to risk his life for you and are you just going to accept that? Without even trying to fight back or even trying to convince him to run with you, you’re just going to let him die.”

“I-I-I…”

I didn’t want that. I didn’t want Clive to die, but what can I do. No matter what I do, would I be able to save him? I couldn’t save my father, I couldn’t save Tristan, I couldn’t save Lance, I couldn’t save the kingdom, and I probably can’t save Clive even if I wanted to.

“Let me tell it to you straight, young lady. STOP BEING SUCH A SPOILED LITTLE BRAT!!! What you’re doing is waiting for a change to happen. You aren’t even trying a tiny bit to change your future. All you do is wait for someone else to help you. The only person who can change the future is yourself.”

“I-I-I. WHAT CAN I DO!!! I can’t do anything!! I’m just a weak little girl!! I’m useless, weak!! I can’t save anyone at all!!! What do you want me to do about it!!! Just a year ago I was living a normal life, but everything is all fucked up!!! I didn’t want any of this to happen!! I just wanted to live a happy normal life!! Why can’t everything just go back to normal!!!! I-I-I… UWWAAAA!!!”

I began to cry my heart out. All the feelings that I had bottled up started gushing out. I had never let Clive see any of these feelings within me because I didn’t want to bother him, but now I couldn’t hold anything back.

“What if I could give you the power to change your future? What would you do?”

“What?”

“I can give you strength. Do you want it?”

“I-I want strength.”

“Good, then from this day forth, the both of you are now my apprentices.”

……

After that day we were forcibly turned into apprentices, the following months would consist of harsh training everyday. The kind and caring woman turned into a harsh instructor that worked us to the bone.

Jill had the strength to back up her strictness. She is the only person I know that trained as a combat locksmith and mage locksmith. Most people didn’t have the talent or dedication to become a mage locksmith and combat locksmith because it was extremely difficult. Even those who did attempt it, they were either idiots or geniuses. Jill was the later. She was extremely strong to the point that Clive believed that even Jonathan would struggle against her in a battle.

Most of the techniques that I learned as a mage locksmith came from Jill. Before meeting Jill, I had already began training as a mage locksmith so my foundation was stable. Jill opened my world up of being a real mage locksmith. All the techniques and lessons she taught me was always exciting and fascinating to learn. Many of techniques were unlike anything I had read in the library.

During our entire year in that village, Jill never asked about our circumstances. I’m sure that she knew that the two of us were hiding secrets from her, but she didn’t bother to ask us about it. She had already distance herself from the Kingdom of Key, and didn’t want anything to do with it.

Eventually a year passed by. It was finally time for us to go back to the Kingdom of Key. But deciding to go back was not an easy decision for Clive and I. We were still so weak, but under the tutelage of Jill, we were slowly becoming stronger. Clive and I finally made the decision to train under Jill for another year before going back to the village of Clear View. We still needed to become stronger.

…....

“During these two years that you have been training under me, you both have improved tremendously. The moment I first met you two, I knew that the both of you had immense talent.”

““Thank you master.””

“From this day onwards, the two of you are no longer my students. If you decided to stay longer, I could have taught the both of you more, but you have your own lives to follow. So journey forth into the world and continue to learn.”

“Thank you for everything during these past two years, Master.”

“Master Jill, if there ever comes the chance, I will come back and win against you in a fight.”

“Hahaha, farewell my students.”

It was a brief farewell, but the two years with Jill were irreplaceable. I arrived at the village when I was 10 years old and left as a 12 year old girl. During these two years all I had to think about was becoming stronger, but now that we were leaving, I was reminded of my burdens.

The journey to Clear View took a month and was longer than the journey to the Kingdom of Spears, but it was significantly safer. There were no enemies trying to kill us at every corner. It was like the person named Princess Claire never existed in the Kingdom of Key.

On the way to Clear View, we learned about the current situation within the kingdom. In the capital, tensions were high. Half of the military sided with the nobles and the royalty while the other half sided with the citizens. Those who sided with the citizens were being led by Clive’s father. The tensions were so high that the kingdom was on the verge of a civil war.

The closer we got to Clear View the more we learned about the events that happened during the past two years. One day we heard a rumor that the body of Princess Claire was found about a year ago. The thing that surprised me the most was that Clive was not as surprised as I was about this news.

Just from seeing his expression, I knew that Jonathan had probably done something to keep Uncle Phillis attention away from me. I could only hope that the body that was found wasn’t a real girl. I feel guilty just thinking that some innocent girl could have been sacrificed to keep me safe.

More time passed and our journey finally came to its final destination. After 2 years, we finally arrived at the village of Clear View.