Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

I couldn't process everything all at once. They were arguing over each other while also appraising those who share the same ideas and sentiments. It was amusing on one side, but to be honest, seeing them acting like this was concerning. It makes it more obvious that I’m the source of drama and conflict. It's not a good feeling, honestly.

Klaus didn’t think so, he was combing through the group and hearing each separate huddle as he did, trying to exchange reason and it is hard to hear who from who apart because their overlapping voices were hard to filter out. Not to mention they’re not letting themselves be drowned out, so they’re intentionally speaking loudly to make themselves heard. Basically, he looked like the group leader in a class project that was falling apart.

Just chaos in general. Still, everything reaches a conclusion, and for this one, it took painfully long to achieve.

Still, Klaus waved his hands up signaling them to settle down, like a teacher in a kindergarten before taking a deep breath, “I’ve heard your reasons…” he trailed off, looking at me then looking at them, “but I still think we should keep her,” he finished, cueing the groans of those who oppose and the approving nods of those who are in favor to the idea.

I can’t help but shy away because I could hear more disapproval than agreement. It's a very nerve-wracking position to stand witness to this. Klaus took note of this and clenched his jaw, “SHUT UP!” he roared, scanning the crowd they slowly hushed out, if not for the whispering murmurs, “Why are you so against bringing one more member to our team?” he trailed off, “You were all in her spot before! You guys of all people should know!” he spat, and a heavy stillness passed among the crowd.

‘I'm a grown woman. Please don’t guilt-trip them into adopting me—’

“Aren’t you guilty of leaving her out here?! I welcomed each and every one of you in my group during the worse times of your life,” he followed,

‘Darn it—’

I watched the crestfallen expressions on their faces and tapped Klaus on the shoulder, hoping to tell him to not bother with it and leave me along my merry way, but he just took the opportunity to grab me by the shoulders making us stand side to side, “Now, again… I ask you, would you be okay to leave this frail woman all alone against her powerful, cheating husband, or…” he paused, “Should we keep her under our care?” he haggled,

Now, after a change of heart brought by shame and guilt, they all agreed to the second option, nodding along to each other, this time Klaus beamed as he looked at me, “See, now you're one of us, introduce yourself,” he urged,

I stammered, “N-No, Klaus it’s—”

“Don’t be shy, go on!” he cheered,

He stepped away, waiting for me to do my thing as the others watched with more welcoming smiles. I cleared my throat, “I–haha… you know, I don’t want to be—”

“Oh, don’t back out now,” Seth groaned,

“H-Hey, I’m not the one who guilted you into accepting me,” I reasoned and they rolled their eyes, scoffing as I went on,

“Alright, would you like to be violently trapped by others who are also working for your husband instead?” one voice called out and everyone darted their eyes to me.

‘Crap, I hate that they’re making a valid point.’

“I’m Pelomina Vaustero,” I began, and just by that, the smiles were wiped off their faces,

“Wait… you said ‘Vaustero’, as ‘Lykus Vaustero’?” Klaus interrupted, his tone now more frightened compared to his easy-going demeanor earlier. I furrowed my brows at him as well as the others. Wasn’t it Lykus that asked them to do this, otherwise why would they be looking for me?

“Y-Yes… did you not know?” I asked again, and their silence and confusion was an answer by itself. Now I’m worried if not Lykus… who else would be searching for me? There can't be anyone else, right?

“Well, we weren’t given any details either, could it be that we just received the order from a member of his court?” one voice reasoned, and I gulped. Perhaps. Maybe that was the case. I doubt he would actually scour the streets for help from these people. If he was going to ask people for help personally, it’d be a given that they’d be more vicious compared to these guys.

"H-How did the person look?" I asked, out of curiosity,

"Well... just big, intimidating, with shiny hair," he answered,

Must've been a knight. I nodded, “Y-yes, that might be the case,” I agreed and they exchanged looks as they nodded to themselves again.

“True, everyone in that castle looked like a big, scary man with relatively shiny hair, so we honestly wouldn’t have known,” Seth agreed. The others also seconded that statement. It seems to me that they have a very biased opinion of the Vaustero castle, but I’ll be honest, considering how Lykus held himself, plus how he leads the knights, I would probably also think that.

Klaus sighed, “All the more reason you should stay with us, having that beast as a husband is bad enough…” he noted, and while I would disagree and say that he did change after a while, I but my tongue, he wasn’t exactly the nicest when I first saw him, I’ve seen what he was, he looks like a good man… but I suppose people would always change.

“Either way, cheers for Pelomina!” Klaus yelled and with that, a chorus of cheering erupted and I am just stumped. What sort of people are they? One minute they’re yelling over each other over a dispute in opinions, then after a little sentimental guilt-tripping, they finally came to an agreeable decision.

They fear the same things, and they’re quick to voice out their own opinions to, somewhat, bring comfort to the rest, and simply affirming said opinions would immediately flood them with relief. So, again, what sort of group are they? They didn’t look nor dressed too lenient to look like a random band of strangers that hung around each other.

Considering what Klaus said, it looks like he started the group and just picked these people up in their time of need. They looked too rough to be considered normal civilians, but they were not so crass and fearsome to appear dangerous. Unlike those male bounty hunters from Jak-Horne.

They just… they just look like thieves, who are rather strong. And virtuous against their looks.

They dispersed once that was over and Seth walked over to me, seeing his bandaged-up face closer as he did make me gulp. It made him look mysterious, too bad him being completely topless wiped that mystery right off. “Wait! Wait! One last thing!” he announced, and the others stopped in their tracks,

“We can’t be calling her by her name now, can we? What if some of that demon’s men hear us calling her by her name,” he pointed out, and the others nodded long, whispering ‘he’s right’ and ‘didn’t expect him to think about that’ but he ignored the less flattering agreements and sighed,

“So I’m thinking we call her something else, right?” he said, and the others cheered in agreement,

Klaus stepped in, “Yeah, how about… you know, a nickname, just ‘Mina’ right?” he suggested, Seth scoffed.

“Mina? From Pelomina? lame… how about this, ‘Lomi’ like ‘loam-ee’, right?” Seth suggested and even I had to shake my head no, and so did the others. Groaning after hearing that name.

Lomi? Really? In my country, Lomi means egg noodles in thick soup, and I am not going to respond to the name Lomi, not on my pride.

“Lomi? You—Seth, you’re not serious, you actually think that sounds good?” Klaus asked,

“Yeah… doesn’t it? I mean—”

“It’s a terrible name, Seth,”

“Okay… but if it grows on—”

“No, it’s just ugly, Seth,”

“Mhmm… no it’s just… I thought it'd be cool if I ... you know,” Seth trailed off, his voice turning into mumbled as he stepped back. Now I felt bad. Still, Lomi is an ugly name, though.

“S-Seth? It’s Seth, right? I think Mina would be a better choice for this matter,” I began, “I mean—Lomi sounds cool, but I think it’d be more practical if we went with a more common-sounding name,” I proposed and he nodded with a shrug,

“Yeah, I guess that works, Mina, that’s fine, uh… that's that then,” he mumbled as he walked away, and so did everyone once that issue was dealt with, in the meantime, Klaus returned to my side and sighed as he watched everyone starting to mind their business.

“Sorry I had to force you to join us,” he whispered with a sheepish smile, ‘So he knew that we didn’t have to go through all of this,’ He’s not even looking at me as he continued to nod to the other members,

“If you knew I was against it, why did you still put me in this spot,” I whispered back and he scoffed,

Shaking his head he chuckled, “Like hell I’ll have it on my conscience if that demon catches you, who knows what that wretched man would do,” he said, tilting his head at me, gesturing at me to follow him, while we walked I could see the pitched tents they have all around the area, did they make this after or after catching me?

But what he said made me bite my lip, I’m sure Lykus won’t hurt me, but for them to have such an impression of him, I wonder what kind of stories they heard of Lykus, but before that, I have a few more important question, “W-What are you guys, exactly? Why are there… so many of you?” I asked, looking around because wherever I looked, there were people.

He pursed his lip and furrowed his brow deep in thought, “Ugh… where should I begin, at first it’s just me and Seth, you would be familiar with the same old story, poor orphans who steal for food,” he began with a nonchalant shrug and I glanced at Seth once again, who is busy interrogating someone if the mushroom he’s holding is edible,

“Then?” I pressed,

“Then, we met another child who needed help, someone who is essentially on the brink of death and we helped him out, and the next thing we knew we did that for every poor soil we’ve come across,” he explained, “After a while, just stealing hasn't fed all of these stomachs, therefore we’ve taken on jobs… all kinds, as long as it’s within reason that is,” he followed and I hummed.

He also said that phrase earlier, “What’s going to happen to all of you now?” I asked,

He frowned, “What do you mean?” he asked,

“Well… you didn’t finish your job this time,” I replied, gesturing to myself and he chuckled,

Rolling his shoulders, “We find new jobs, so in turn, you better build some muscle or you won’t be of any use,” he suggested. He has a point, that is, if I’m going to be roped into this 'organization'. I didn’t mean to throw away their goodwill, but I can’t stay with them. I had more pressing matters to deal with,

Like how I’ll be able to go home for one, and I’ve already pushed my agendas and priorities as further than I could. Things are starting to take a turn for the worst, I need to move quickly.

“Klaus, I’m very grateful that you’d take me in, but I can’t stay here, I have things to do,” I explained and he nodded at me,

“And you’ll be doing that, but think about this, do you think you can move around easily with hunters at your tail?” he asked, and at that, I paused.

Before I could reply he went on, “He’ll catch you,” he warned, “you know he will, so use our group for cover, try to build some muscle, as I said,” he cut off pointing a finger at me, “and if I think you’re strong enough to carry yourself out there, we’ll prepare food for you as you leave,” he bargained.

‘Crap… that's a really good deal too,’

“That sounds great and all but…” I trailed off, sighing as I looked around again, “Alright, but I can’t be much help for now,” I said and he hummed, smirking at me,

“Obviously,” he quipped, looking at me up and down, “For now, just acquaint yourself with everyone, we’re your temporary family, for now, so play nice,” instructed, tapping my shoulder before walking away to talk to someone.

Great… Now I have to keep track of all thirty-plus people, some of which don’t even like the fact that I’m here. How is this even going to work out? I hope I don’t get held back by this group. I really need to focus on my main goal from this point on,