Epitome of a Hero

All this time

All this time I have been alone.

I cried after cleaning the stables, soaked in cold water and mud due to the horses’ dirt. It was soon after I was sent to be a page by my own Father. As a child who just lost someone important, I was still grieving. Not only because I lost Julla, but because the love I could clung onto right now from my own father was never given but instead, it had been replaced by something cold and cruel.

He said that a weakling can never inherit the throne…

And because I am a girl who had no power, incapable of ruling.

And so I did cry, and I did alone because people were so afraid to help me for the sake of their own security.

Most people knew that Julla did nothing wrong… But they were afraid of the King and so did nothing as well.

Days, weeks and month passed by and still I had no one. My handler, a soldier only gave me his left overs from the food they eat. And whenever I get some coin for cleaning their armors, their weapons and their horses--- t’was the only time that I can get myself a decent meal.

It was the life I lived until Uncle Lumiere found me training by my own. From there on, my fate changed a bit but it was better than before. Not because I qm able to eat enough meals nor live some place away from the streets but because after Julla, my Uncle was the other one to stood up for me.

And that happened as soon as he came into the Kingdom from a long war of the North.

It was also because of him that I am able to gain my strength and to survive more but the dead feeling inside of me remained, that I was never able to tell the people dear to me how they important they are until the day they are gone.

I cried once again when I received the news that Uncle Lumiere was killed by the rebels. After he announced that I will be the next commandant, Uncle gave me his sword and left.

And after that, the news was delivered.

I poured all my heart out as I pound the wooden table with my fist, bruising them both.

It was also the time when Duke barged into my room to stop me and maybe even comfort my woes…

But I shoved him away…

“I don’t need you! Leave me alone! I don’t need anyone!”

Now, as I think about all of it.

Thoughts kept rushing into my mind and it kept making me realize some things.

I was always alone my whole life but maybe it was because I chose to be or…

I believed I was…

****

A week had passed.

I went to the school early all because I have seen a track and field behind the building and my mind recalled that it was used for school programs.

I ran and ran even though this body looks like it cannot handle too much. But her mind was very strong that it can withstand the pressure.

It was still dark since dawn was just approaching but the wind, the morning breeze that flows with me as I sprinted away kept me feeling peaceful than when I am still.

I have been doing well for this past week.

I remembered how I topped up on the quizzes and recitation after studying the entire nights. Fei and Sheene also did a great job during the classes and I kind of made a friend of my classmates— few of them, at least.

I smiled as I heaved, slowing down on my tracks as one particular memory came into me.

Kyle’s warmth and the soothing howl of the wind as he kept me on his arms.

I grinned and just sat down the ground, sweaty and hot upon my rest.

Nothing special happened after that since my only reason why I told him to let me stay on his chest for a second was only because it made me feel--- alive.

I can feel my cheeks warming up more as I recalled the feeling and flowers kept blooming on my chest. Its nice to feel something new despite of everything that happened.

Borrowed time or not, I’m glad I am able to feel it and I will be more glad to help you on whatever struggles you are having, Tricia.

“Come to think of it… I wonder how he is. We haven’t spoke after that since…. I avoided him all the time! All because this body kept running away!” I groaned as I remembered running away being flustered and ll nervous whenever I saw him.

“Stop being like this, Triz…” I laughed. Being in this world is fun but since I am not the one entirely in control, it is still hard.  

I stayed there and watched the sunrise then head straight to the building so I could change into my uniform for the class.

“Good morning Ms. Caprius,” A man greeted and it was Mr. Jonathan. I gave him a nod and greeted back before passing him but a sudden chill ran down my spine as I did.

What was that…?

I stopped walking and turned to the man who also walked past me.

Do you have a problem with that man…?

I tried very hard to access any of her memories but nothing comes out of it that was any sort of related to him.

I shook my head and gathered my wits together and head straight to the classroom.

“Hey Triz! Good morning,” Adrian greeted and I grinned at him.

“Hey man.” I put my bag on my chair and smiled at the other student who waved their hands at me. Smiling made me feel out of ordinary but it is fun… especially when its genuine.

Adrian showed me a picture and it was a painting of a woman in a boat which was on the river. The color palettes were all vintage theme and it was very splendid.

“That is awesome…” I wowed, feeling amazed by how talented he was.

“Thanks!” He laughed and I noticed that he was wearing an unusalt thing on his head today. A bonnet? It caught my eye and now I want something like it. I laughed at the back of my head.

“I like your hat,” I muttered and he chuckled.

“What do you mean hat? This one?” he removed the bonnet on his head and showed it to me, it was knitted firmly and the yarn used was dark green. “This is a bonnet, I made it out of stress,” he joked and I stared at him. Damn, he creates something beautiful out of stress. All I made was broken tables and shattered hays when I am stressed.

“Make me one, I’ll pay for it,” I suggested and he blinked at me.

“Nah nah, I can’t make good ones, I’m still a noob at this,” he complained and I just rolled my eyes off him.

“Shhh, what kind of noob makes this? It’s cool!” I still continued staring at it and stretching it to see if its durable enough for long use and it is. “I’ll pay for it, it’ll be awesome cause you’re awesome.”

He shook his head in disagreement but laughed afterwards. “Fine, fine. What color would you like?”

What color would I like? I complained to myself internally because I cannot think of any color.

“Anything you’d think would suit me,” I said and he nodded, wearing his bonnet back on his head once again.

We continued talking for some creative topics before Sheene came then Fei. I think I could help Adrian sell some of those bonnets if I already get mine. Such a wonderful idea, indeed. I saw the group of mean girls’ who stopped pestering me for a couple of days and thought of selling them some as well. Hm.

Adrian joined in our girl’s talk but was seated right when our first teacher came.

When the morning classes ended, the two girls along with me went to the school canteen to eat our lunch. Students come in and go on the place and we started lining up together with the other kids to get some food.

As we did, the waitress inside greeted us as they gave our orders and we carried our trays just to find a table for us to seat in.

“There!” Sheene pointed at the empty table at the corner on the other side of the crowded hall and so we walked towards that direction until someone bumped into me, hardly that my order fell off my tray.

The other students looked at me when the sound of falling plates echoed to the hall. And when I turned to the one who purposely bumped me, it was the same boy who I threw the punch at the first time I got here.

Andrei.

My teeth gritted as I watched him walk away and as I caught his friends laughing at what happened.

“Triz.” Fei called me, holding my arm to calm me down, it seemed. I never took my eyes off of him and the steam just kept coming off my head. “We’ll just get you another one…” she added with a nervous smile.

Fei’s touch and Sheene’s tensed state was enough to control the anger that was building up on me and so I decided to walk away and grabbed another food.

“Coward!” Andrei shouted at me as he walked, laughing along with his stupid friends who had the same reaction.

The rage in me just continued to rise even more making me grin before holding the tray like it was a dagger before throwing it directly on his head.

He grunted in pain when the edge of the tray hit his forehead and everyone just gasped at what happened. Andrei decided to rush into me and so I moved away swiftly from the girls to not get them involved.

“THAT IS A d**k MOVE, CAPRIUS!”

He yelled aloud, his eyes bulging in anger and I just looked at him, more with pity than pure rage.

I waited for him to hit me just so I can give him the counter attack which can give him a sense of his own foolishness but before his hand even landed, I heard Kyle shouted my name all the way back behind Andrei causing me to lose focus as I watched him rush towards us.

Oh no.

I took a step back to avoid his first punch but prepared to shield myself by crossing my arms together since I got destructed by Kyle's presence.

I expected a huge blow from Andrei’s fist but everyone remained dead silent when someone grabbed his wrist and threw him off the ground, causing him to cry in pain.

My eyes widened at the event and when I turned to look back at the guy who did it, a guy with emerald eyes stared back gravely at me.