Bab 13: Chapter 3: "Midnight" Part 8
Currently inside the cage after Jade departed; Henry was double checking the inhabitants of the two cages just in case, he knew he had done so thoroughly the first time but… He had to make sure.
But alas he did not see her familiar face. His heart felt heavy but he endured, just as he had been doing for the past ten days, he could not allow himself to be swallowed up by despair.
[I need to question Baron Loui; he probably knows where they took her.]
Henry thought to himself whilst staggering to a spot besides Apollo which was a bit clean or rather it was free from excrement.
The side effects from concealing his Ki presence still lingered and taking a toll on his body, he felt strength leaving his legs S he balanced himself on the thick cage bars.
He finally reached his destination and sat next to the bulky and bald adolescent.
He momentarily glanced at Micah who was trying to wake Mimi, though his vision was a bit blurry he could still see them, he felt a sharp pain on his chest every time he moved even slightly.
He had been trying to tough it out since earlier but even he has limits.
[I should avoid doing that again in the future.] Henry thought to himself.
Apollo glanced down at Henry, even though they were both sitting down Apollo still towered over Henry.
"Are you alright?"
Apollo asked with his eyes full of concern, worried that he may not be fit to participate in the raid that was to occur in less than 24 hours.
"… I am alright, I just need to rest."
Henry replied in a lethargic tone and drowsy eyes.
The only thing that prevented him from passing out and falling asleep on the spot was the stench that kept terrorizing his nostrils, but alas he soon got used to it or rather he was too fatigued to even care.
The burst of Ki that he released earlier had drained him.
He felt his eyes get heavy with every breath that he took, he glanced at Mimi who had just woken up and was screaming her lungs out and Micah who was trying to comfort her; he could not even make out what he was saying with how drowsy he was.
He tried to stay awake only to finally succumb to his fatigue shortly after, his head fell on Apollo's upper arm unbeknownst to him as he was already dreaming at that point.
Apollo glanced down at him and sighed.
[I wonder if everything is really going to be alright.]
////
Jade had been tossing and turning on her large, soft bed for the past hour or so. She was feeling extremely anxious knowing that in a few hours she would have to rebel against her father.
Just thinking about it made her heart beat faster and her insides twist.
It was already past 3 a.m. and she would usually be asleep at this time .
She laid there staring up at her ceiling, then she glanced over at her sword which was hanging on the wall, its white sheath was engraved in rose patterns and it was nothing short of exquisite.
The moonlight piercing through her window and reflecting on the scabbard only served to amplify its beauty.
As she was looking at its glowing beauty, Jade felt like it was calling to her.
She kicked the blankets that were covering her and quickly got up to grab the sword, she got out of her sleepwear and dressed in her training gear consisting of a leather armour jacket, leather boots, pants as well as gloves.
She made her way towards the training grounds.
She passed by a few soldiers who were on night duty, their eyes went wide with shock seeing her out so early since she usually does not come out before the sun rises but none of them dared to question her for it.
How could they possibly question the young Lady of this territory? so they just bowed obediently and greeted her as she walked past them.
She reached her destination; The center of the wide training grounds.
She took a deep breath and unsheathed her sword elegantly whilst taking the proper stance.
She exhaled and started swinging her sword so fast that it tore through the air and she recalled the sword techniques that she had learned from her teacher.
It was so well choreographed that it almost seemed as if she was dancing, the moonlight bouncing on the blade of her fast-moving sword added some dazzle to her performance.
She continued practicing fully immersed for approximately twenty five minutes.
As soon as she stopped, she heard a round of applause coming from her left side, she looked in the direction and saw a middle-aged woman with faint wrinkles on her forehead, a sword strapped to her waist and wearing similar clothing to her, she put on a gentle smile as soon as Jade's eyes fell on her.
The woman was her sword teacher and next to her was a maid carrying freshly squeezed orange juice on a silver tray and a fresh white towel resting on her forearm.
Jade put on a bitter smile and wondered how long they had been watching her, feeling a little embarrassed.
Her teacher's name was Katrina and she used to be a mercenary but now she was retired and her full-time job was teaching Jade the sword and she was getting paid good money for it!
Katrina and the maid approached Jade both with gentle smiles on their faces.
"Well done young Lady! Your talent continues to astonish me, though your footwork could do with a little improvement."
Katrina said, praising Jade with a little bit of criticism.
"You two…" Jade said with a worried expression.
She added on:
"You did not have to come out so early, I would have preferred if you just continued sleeping."
"What are you saying young Lady, it is my duty to attend to you whenever and wherever regardless of the time. Nothing brings me more happiness than to serve you."
The maid said with a bright smile on her face.
She was around the same age as Jade and was her personal maid, she had been serving Jade for almost all her life, her mother was one of the maids that served Baron Loui and her father was probably one of the soldiers.
Jade got along with her quite well, she considered the maid her one and only friend.
But alas the difference in their status prevented their friendship from truly blossoming but Jade appreciated it nonetheless.
Katrina nodded in agreement at the maid's words.
"Thank you so much Linda."
Jade said, smiling brightly.
She drank the glass of orange juice and wiped the sweat off her face using the towel.
[Kyaa! She looks even more beautiful under the moonlight. I can now die peacefully after seeing this sight!]
The maid cried inwardly, imprinting the sight of Jade to her memory.
Jade glanced over at Katrina and asker her a question.
"How did you know I was here teacher?"
Katrina maintained the gentle smile on her face and answered.
"I sensed your Ki presence young lady so of course I had to come right away; It would bring me shame as your teacher to sleep whilst you were training."
She was lying.
She was snoring by the time Jade went to the training grounds and had no idea whatsoever that Jade had come here, one of the soldiers that saw Jade rushed to her living quarters to wake her up.
"Ah I see. Thank you so much teacher."
Jade said in a grateful tone.
"No need to thank me young Lady."
Katrina said with her hand on her waist.
Despite her age Katrina had a body that was quite pleasing to the eye. With curves in all the right places.
Contrary to her pleasant exterior her inner thoughts were not at all pleasant.
[Why the hell are you up so early you little bitch!? I need my beauty sleep you know!?]
She threw a tantrum inwardly but still maintained her expression on the outside flawlessly.
"Now that you are here… do you mind if we spar?"
"Of course, young Lady I would be delighted."
[AAAAHHHH!!] Katrina cried inwardly.
The maid brought them two wooden swords and the two of them began sparring.
Which continued for well over an hour. Linda remained as a spectator and her face was full of awe.
////
Morning came and Cain woke up by abruptly sitting up and sweating profusely like he always does.
[How long will I keep havi'n this damn nightmare?] Cain mused.
He glanced at the shabby table next to his equally shabby bed and saw food on a wooden plate.
A piece of bread, dry meat and dry fruits with a side of eggs and a cup of water which he immediately gulped down, all that sweating in his sleep had dehydrated him.
He glanced to the corner of the room and saw the familiar face of the girl who was a year younger than him carrying a bucket of water and a towel.
She looked a bit scared.
Cain knew that he probably shouted something in his sleep which is probably why she was a little agitated.
Cain began scarfing down the food in front of him not paying anymore attention to the girl.
After he was done the girl approached with the bucket and towel.
"Stop." Cain said suddenly.
"Leave it there." Cain said pointing at the floor.
She would usually wash Cain's upper body and face every morning so she was surprised by his words.
"Ya can get goin' now." Cain said waiving his hand.
She wondered if she had done something wrong, everyone here had a role to play and hers was serving as Cain's maid so if she did not do her role properly, she was afraid she would get exiled.
The thought of her having to live outside again in the slums filled her heart with dread.
But she would not dare to ask, so she just left and hoped for the best.
Cain grabbed the towel and washed his face and afterwards he stood up, exposing his chiseled abdomen and chest.
He walked to the cracked mirror in front of him and stroked the scar across his eye, which had been throbbing since he woke but was gradually getting better now.
In reality, the scar was not actually throbbing, it was a psychological phenomena he experienced, without even being aware of it.
He glanced to his side and saw chainmail armor and some boots which reminded him that today was the day of the raid.
He took a deep breath and put on the armor and boots and soon after stepped out of his shack, and not too far away from him there was group of people gathered in front of a pedestal of sorts, and on top of it Marcel stood before them.
[He must be briefi'n them about the raid.] Cain mused as he approached.
He walked charismatically with his shoulders swaying; The epitome of swagger.
They noticed him approach and quickly averted their gaze, Marcel was the only one who kept his gaze fixed on him.
"Good morning, Cain."
Marcel said, with his scarlet eyes fixed on Cain.
"Yeah, yeah."
Cain replied nonchalantly whilst running his fingers through his brunette hair.
"Did that kiddo successfully infiltrate?"
Cain asked whilst yawning.
Marcel replied:
"Yes, he was able to get on the carriage. He should have arrived by now."
"I see…"
Cain smirked, and his gaze fell on the group of rankers gathered.
"I'm sure Marcel has already told ya the gist of everythi'n."
Cain said unsheathing his sword and stabbing the ground with it, his hands resting on its tilt.
His pupils dilated and a stern expression adorned his face.
"We raidi'n that fat Loui's mansion today! Remember our lives are dependi'n on the success of this raid. We won't survive this winter otherwise, so don't worry about dyi'n on this raid today! If we don't raid, we die from hunger anyway that's just how our lives are!"
Cain shouted and lifted his sword up and continued.
"Let's go take everythi'n that rich bastard is hoardi'n to himself so we can survive this winter!"
"YEAH!!"
All the rankers present unsheathed their swords and pointed them in the sky and shouted in unison.
They would leave for Baron Loui's mansion by sunset, and the raid would commence as soon as the auction started.
Hadiah
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