Beyond Eternity

DAY 12, DAWN

“So, shall we continue?” Lucas said.

Claudia, who had just awakened, let out a frightened scream and threw the pillow at him.

“Why are you here?!” She said.

“Never mind that—”

“Don’t ‘never mind that’ me! You know how creepy it is for a guy to barge in a girl’s room and just stand there, waking her up like nothing happened?!”

“About as creepy as sending a guy anonymous letters bringing him to questionable locations?”

“Okay, fair enough… No wait, that’s not the point!”

“Well, I apologize for suddenly entering and waking you up like that.”

“You’d better be.”

Lucas just laughed. “I am, I am.”

Claudia gave him a sigh and then continued to speak. “The sun hasn’t even risen yet you know? Don’t you suppose we should prepare ourselves some food? The ones we had ran out last night.”

“Then, I suppose we should set out and hunt for game right?”

Claudia noticed that Lucas already had a quiver and some arrows ready.

“When did you?” She asked.

“Just before I entered here.” He replied. “Now then, shall we?”

“You are so pushy, fine, fine, I’ll get myself ready.”

Just as the first ray of sun appeared in the horizon, the pair finished preparing and set out, armed with bows and arrows along with a knife.

Just as the eager Lucas was about to set his first step outside. Claudia clapped thrice.

“Just wait awhile, this won’t take long.” She said.

Soon enough, a small flock of birds gathered around her. “Food.” She continued. The birds scattered and flew in every direction.

“So, what did you just do?” Lucas asked.

“Show off my ability to tame birds I guess?” She replied. “I had them look for a potential meal, that way, we wouldn’t have to go through the trouble.”

“That’s incredibly convenient.” Said Lucas.

“Impressed?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Just so you know, every bird I command is different from the last, more often, I meet them for the first time.”

“That just strengthens my theory that you do have some special power.” Lucas replied.

“What’s a theory?” Claudia asked.

“I don’t think I can explain it so properly, but it’s something similar to an assumption.”

“Ah, I see. Then perhaps I really do have some power!” She said proudly.

A few of the birds from earlier returned and made some noises, then all flew in the same direction.

“I guess that means we’ve found our meal.” Claudia remarked. “Let’s go, try and keep up.”

The excited Lucas began to run at the same direction the birds were heading, he was very happy to be hunting I took him some time and distance from the castle to realize he was the only one around.

“Claudia?!” He shouted. “Did I leave her by accident.”

“No, I did!”

Lucas turned towards the familiar voice in front of him, far ahead of him was Claudia, waving her hands.

“You’re so slow!” She said.

“Wait, what? How?” The amazed Lucas couldn’t say anything more. He gave chase and reached her location.

“You’re… So fast.” He said.

“Well, yeah, but I wasn’t always like this, this wouldn’t be the first time I had to hunt my own game, so of course my legs would be strong.”

“Huh…”

“We aren’t even a quarter of the way you know?” She exclaimed.

“Oh.” He was all he could reply with.

“Now, ready, get set… Go!” She said and the pair kept running.

Claudia was darting through the plains far surpassing the speed and stamina her seemingly frail body implied, which greatly amazed Lucas.

When they arrived at their destination, Lucas was greatly exhausted. “I don’t think I go on with the hunt, Claudia.” He said.

“Well, aren’t you a wimp? The Elk here seems like it would be a nice catch.” She replied. “Well, I suppose extra we’re lucky today.

“So there are Elks here, and why are we lucky? The Elk’s quality?”

“Yes, and also because maybe we didn’t need to bring our bows after all.” She continued and began whistling.

“And what did you call in this time?” Asked Lucas.

“You’ll see.”

In a short moment, a pack of wolves entered the scene and pounced on the lone Elk, bringing it down in less than a minute. Lucas recognized the Wolves to be the same ones from before.

“Hey, its… What’s its name? Lo?”

“Yep.”

The two approached the scene, Claudia went up to the alpha and rubbed its head. “Good work today.” She said.

“Oh so, this place happens to be nearby where these guys live then?” Lucas asked.

“Indeed.” Replied Claudia. “Well, now that that’s over with, I’ll have you help me bring this back.”

Lucas began grumbling.

“Look, would you really let a girl such as poor little me to carry a large Elk all the way back to the castle on my own?”

“I… Suppose not.” He said and lifted the Elk with Claudia. She gave him a triumphant smile.

The pair brought back the Elk to the castle after a long while, the tired Lucas dropped on the floor at his first step within the walls.

“We made it.” He said. “I can’t move another step.”

“Oh? Can’t move can you? It can’t be helped, just take your rest and I’ll prepare the meat as to not spoil it.”

“Thanks.” He replied. “And you’re far stronger than you seem Claudia.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment, thanks.” She said as she brought the Elk into the kitchen.

The tired boy’s legs were in pain, enough so he couldn’t think properly, his face expressed only a look of exhaustion and pain. But it changed the moment he smelled the cooking from the other room.

Claudia cut up the meat, setting most apart and preserving them with salt and roasted what remained. It took some time but eventually she brought in two plates of meat along with some cut vegetables by the main hall, where Lucas remained.

“Here.” She said and handed him a plate.

“You are so divine.” He said, not realizing the words that which he spoke.

“I know.” Claudia answered with a smile. “Let’s eat.”

The two began digging in, right then and there, at the benches of the castle’s main hall.

“Well, the hunt took some time, and you seem to be very tired.” Said Claudia as she was chewing.

“I’m surprised you’re not.” He answered. At this, Claudia stuck out her tongue to him.

“My story will have to wait then I guess? You were so excited this morning but it seems you’re in no condition to listen properly right now.” She continued.

“Right.” Replied Lucas. As he said that, it dawned upon him just what he did that morning, that is, the way he suddenly woke Claudia up. He also realized what words he said just a moment ago. This realization caused him embarrassment.

“What’s wrong? You suddenly turned all red, are you okay?” Claudia asked upon noticing.

“I’m fine, I’m fine… By the way Claudia.”

“Yes?”

“Did I properly apologize to you about this morning?” He asked in a fearful tone.

“Hmm, well, you did apologize, but I honestly do wonder about its sincerity.” She replied.

As he heard this, Lucas suddenly bowed deeply which surprised Claudia.

“Um, what are you—”

“I’m sorry!” Lucas suddenly said. “I didn’t fully realize what I had done up until now! Forgive me!”

“Look, it’s okay now, you properly apologized, come one, stand up.”

“R-really?” asked Lucas, his voice showing anxiety. “I’m also sorry about just now, I spoke about you being divine and all—”

“Yes, really.” Claudia said as she pushed his chin upwards. “Now, consume your food, it’ll grow cold, and don’t worry about just now, it was a nice complement.”

“Thank you…” Said Lucas as he began heartily eating his meal, nearly crying.

“You need not overreact like that, I assure you I don’t mind anymore. Okay?”

Lucas nodded his head in confirmation.

Claudia, noticing the current vulnerability of Lucas’s mind, decided to take advantage of the situation, hiding her mischievous smile, she began asking him some questions.

“Is the food good?”

“mmm.” Was the only sound the boy let out while nodding up and down.

“Was the hunt fun?”

“mmm”

“Was today magical?”

“mmm”

“Do you like the sight of the birds?”

“mmm”

“Do you find the wolves to be cool?”

“mmm”

“Do you think I’m pretty?”

There was a short pause which mildly irritated Claudia.

“mmm.” Replied the boy, just in the nick of time.

“Do you think I’m kind?”

“mmm.”

“Am I someone you’re glad to meet.”

“mmm.”

The boy just kept responding the same way but noticed the shift with the topic of the questions.

“Do you not mind me being around?”

“mmm.”

“Am I someone you think is worth treasuring?”

“mmm.”

“Am I special to you?”

“mmm.”

“Do you love me?”

Lucas choked on his food and coughed. Claudia kept smiling but this time, it had a sinister touch added to it.

“I’m kidding, you don’t have to answer that if you have to.” She said. “Although the way you reacted to the questions really stings you know?”

“I’m… Sorry.” Said Lucas after clearing his throat.

“Well, regardless, I’m also to blame for asking you such questions.”

Suddenly averting her eyes, she continued, in a whispering tone.

“Although one of these days, I’ll make you answer that.”

“Wait what?” Lucas asked.

“Nothing, nothing.” Claudia replied as she smiled once more.

The boy did not hear her last words and was skeptic but decided to let the matter go. Eventually, the pair had consumed their food. They cleaned up and later, sat back to where they were.

“I think it’s about time we resume my story don’t you think?”

“mmm.”