OBTICEO

Chapter 7: GET TO KNOW

We're currently inside the headquarters. Gio and Caligo are preparing food. While I'm sitting at the dining table with the two other trainees sitting on my right side. Soren is upstairs, I think he did not want to celebrate with us.

"Hi my name is Aes, his name is Chylus" the Kavan trainee who has fair skin introduced. Aes is sitting in between me and Chylus. Me on his left and Chylus on his right. Unlike Aes, Chylus have tan skin and have muscles.

"Nice to meet you! I'm Amadrya Tallis" I said in monotone. I don't know if I'm happy that he is trying to talk to me or I'm irritated because I can sense the dark aura behind his jolly attitude.

"Tallis? Your dad is the king's right hand!" he asked, almost shouting at me.

"Used to be," I said that in a very low voice. I did not want him to hear my answer. But unfortunately, he did.

"What do you mean by that?" Now his attention is focused on me. Curious about my answer. Everyone in the dining area looked at him.

"The king is dead"

"WHAT!" everyone except me and Chylus shouted. Even Caligo and Gio reacted. I looked at Chylus and I saw him looking at me with a glimpse of surprise on his face. He's just not vocal about it. Unlike this three.

"Man! It sucks being here. The news can't travel here. It stays right outside the borders. Are you sure?" Now Caligo is joining the conversation. Gio on the other hand, continued what he was doing a while ago but I can feel that his attention is also in the conversation.

"Very"

Everyone fell silent after hearing my answer. Gio and Caligo continued with what they were doing while Aes and Chylus talked about something. I don't know if they suddenly didn't care about the topic or they are just afraid to put me in bad mood. They probably sense that I didn't want to say more. It's my party anyway.

"Let's eat!" Caligo announced after preparing the table. I didn't want to be rude and help them but the questions threw me off.

"So? How's Elletra?" Aes started a conversation again. I tried acting normal and answered his question.

"Still the sam--" I got cut off when we heard the door open. Everyone looked at the door and saw a boy enter the headquarters. He looks familiar.

"Hey! Your just in time Ry. Join us!" Aes said as cheerful as possible. The boy did not even give Aes a glance which made the latter pout. Is he gay? The boy went straight to the dining table and asked Caligo, What's happening".

"We're having the usual celebration for a newcomer" Caligo simply answered.

"Have you met each other? I bet not! Mady this is Pryor, you can call him Ry, he's the Kavan leader's son" of course Aes has to butt in. He just can't stop talking. I remember him. He is with his parents when they welcomed me to Erebus. So his name is Pryor.

I looked at the boy and our eyes met. I just gave him a sly smile. Jeez. There are so many guys around me. I was about to look away when he extended his hand to me, asking for a shake hand. I did not respond quickly but when I notice that his expression change, I quickly grabbed his hand and shook it.

"Pryor Lorcan"

"Amadrya Tallis"

"So, Mady? How old are you?" Caligo asked so I let go of Ry's hand. I remember him asking me about my age before but Soren interrupted.

"I'm eighteen years old"

"Really? You're the youngest trainee then! Ry and Gio are a year older than you. I and Chylus are two years older and Caligo is three years older" why does he have to do that? Aes keep on telling me things about ALL of them. Is he their spokesperson?

"What brought you here?" I was stunned hearing Chylus voice for the first time. He has this deep manly voice. It sounds good. I was so distracted by his voice that I forgot he was asking a question. I tried to remember what it was and when I did, I suddenly want to walk out of the room. I didn't know how to answer the questions, no, more like I didn't have the guts to answer the question. I am sure of my father's innocence but these people don't know that.

"It's okay if you don't want to answe--"

"He killed the king" I cut Gio's words with my answer. We all fell silent after that. I stared at my food not minding what look they are giving me.

"Did he really do it, though?" I shifted my gaze to Ry when he said those words. He said it like he was doubting the Sesgado's conclusion. I never knew that someone like him will consider my father's innocence.

I just looked him in the eyes, not answering his question. But I felt happy, that maybe someone will believe me if I say that my father is innocent.

"What's the silence all about?" Soren entered the room. Everyone shifted their gaze at him. He showed a bag and walked towards the table.

"I brought you your uniform," he said, talking to me. My uniform? Work Uniform? Training uniform? I already have an idea of what it looks like. But it would still look different on me since I have a slim body, unlike other trainees.

"Here" I extended my arm to reach the bag.

"This day is tiring!" I dramatically said after jumping to my bed.

"We didn't even do anything today! I told you, you are not fit to be a Kavan" Gio is really against me being a Kavan. What's his problem?

"Ugh! Shut up, please!" I heard him sigh.

"About what happened earlier. Aes only wanted to be close to you, they didn't mean to open a sensitive topic" I know! I'm new here, I am the one who's supposed to adjust not them.

"Nah! I'm over it. Besides, I decided to not care if others believe that my father killed the King" Maybe they already stayed here for a long time and they didn't care why people were sent here.

"Good! Do you want to try your uniform on?" Okay? Why? What for? To know if it fits me?

"What?"

"It's our day-off tomorrow and the next day. We work 5 consecutive days and have 2 days off" The Kavan leader, Sian, already told me.

"Yeah, I heard"

"So do you want to try the uniform before we wash it tomorrow?" Well, the uniform didn't look bad. I think it will look good on me. I am tall and slender.

"Oh! Sure!" I suddenly felt excited. I hope the uniform fits me. Soren just handed me the uniform without asking about my size. He's unbelievable.

I stood from my bed and got the bag that Soren gave me.

Inside is five sets of uniforms and a pair of black combat shoes.

I went to the bathroom and changed. The uniform has this white long sleeve polo inside, a dirty white dress-like made of leather with 2 collars, and a hoodie. The dress' skirt is shorter in the front and longer at the back, it goes all the way to the back of my knees. The dress has a short brown and white leather sleeve only on the right arm. You also have to put on the red waist belt, I think it's called a waist belt, I'm not sure, it has a metal thing designed in it that goes around your waist. And we also have this brownish half cape, it only covers from our spine to our left arm, it has garter that you have to put across your back and chest so it will stay in your body. The cape also has this shoulder pad but only on the right shoulder.

At the bottom are brown slacks and black combat shoes.

I thought that was it but I also saw this glove which I think is worn in the right hand and a metal thing that you put in your arm. It goes from your left wrist to your elbow. I saw this with the other trainees.

After I am satisfied with how I looked, I already went out of the bathroom to show Gio.

"You look good," he said as soon as he saw me.

"I thought so too! Thank You!" I said with a cheerful voice. But as minutes pass by and he didn't say anything else, I felt annoyed.

"So? What now?"

"Go change!" That's it? One look and that's it. It was really hard to put it on!

"That's it?" I had to ask him again.

"What do you expect?" He said rolling his eyes. Tsk! I shouldn't have tried it on.

"Fine! Can I borrow your clothes?" My clothes aren't here yet. I thought it will be sent today?

"Do I have a choice?" he got up from his bed and get clothes from his closet.

I went to the bathroom after he handed me the clothes. It's a simple black shirt and white boxers.

"Gio?" while having dinner I decided to start a conversation.

"What?" he asked without looking at me.

"What brought you here?"

"My dad"

"Hmm?"

"He stole food"

"Why?"

"Were not like you! We don't have regular work that feeds us. We are beggars"

"Oh! I'm sorry. Where are your family now?"

"Mom died after giving birth to my youngest sibling. Dad died because a Kavan accidentally shoot him while he was being chased by them" he explained giving emphasis to accidentally. I wanted to laugh because of his sarcasm but the topic is serious so I stopped myself.

"As if!" I scoffed! "Accidentally pulled the trigger? What is that Kavan, an i***t? Why would he hold a gun while he was running if he did not intend to shoot? Bunch if craps!" There are really some people who think death is a joke! People suffer because of their actions. Like how Gio's family suffered from their father's death and how my father suffered after being blamed as the King's killer.

"Wait! Your mom died too? How about your siblings?"

"I don't know," he said in a low voice. I looked him in the eyes and saw sadness, worry, and pain. Like how I feel after leaving my father alone.

"Before I came here, I feel less worried because there is this person that always give my sisters food. My two younger sisters always approach that person and she will always give them food. But something happened and my sisters couldn't find her for three days and got hungry, so my father stole food. Before I was sent here I saw my sisters outside her house, she went outside and saw my sisters, she invited them inside her house. I went to Erebus less worried for my sisters because I know she would help them. But.."

"But?" why did he have to stop! He should have said it all at once.

"After months of staying here. I saw her"

"Who? Your sister?" her sister is also here? For what reason?

"No! The one who gives them food. I am worried that they aren't eating anymore"

"Oh! That's really bad. I wish they are fine. How long have you stayed here?"

"Two months" we continued eating after that. The atmosphere became gloomy after the talk which I somehow regret but I got to know him, lets look on the bright side.

Though it's really hard to find the 'bright side' in this dark place. What a joke! So where do we look now? On the less dark side? I chuckled at my own thought. I'm slowly getting crazy.

"Check it!" Gio commanded after we heard knocks on the door. Who could it be?

I went to the door to check who it was. I opened the door and saw Ry.

What the hell is he doing here? I saw him check my clothes. I get it! I look dumb wearing an oversized shirt and a boxer. I don't have a choice, I have no clothes yet.

"Here" he was looking at me with dark eyes, it was so uncomfortable. I shifted my gaze to his hands carrying four large bags.

"Take it," he said giving me the bags. I gave him a confused look but I still grab it from him. It looks heavy.

"Those are your clothes," he said and turned his back at me. Okay! That was rude! But nonetheless, I have clothes now! I wanted to change but it will be too much work, besides, I still need to wash these clothes.

"Who was that? What's with the bags?" it was Gio.

"It was Ry and he gave me my clothes," I said as I close the door with my feet. My hands are full.

Gio helped me carry the bags to the bedroom. We put it near the closets.

"Would you change?" Gio said with a hint of hopefulness in his voice. Did he want me to change?

"No! We haven't washed those yet"

"Okay" I think I heard it wrong when he sighed in relief. I thought he wanted me to change.

After talking about his siblings, we decided to sleep. Gio turned off the lights and lay down on his bed. It's so dark. There are no lamps in here. There are no side tables either. Gash! I am really a prisoner now huh?

I fixed my blanket and close my eyes.

"Thank You" I was startled hearing Gio's voice.

"Me? For what?" I sleepily answered.

"Giving my sisters, food"