RAIN

CHAPTER EIGHT:🌘

"Good morning, good morning to you too! How do you do?" Shi-Xarian's wife replied to my greetings, her warm smile a lovely way to start the day.

"Let's have some breakfast, shall we?" she suggested, gesturing to the table.

I walked over to the table, where the same group of people Shi-Xarian attempted to steal from me with day before were already seated. The woman who had been a bit chilly towards me yesterday looked up and said, "Hello again," sarcastically, but I didn't reply her.

"So, today you finally meet our boss," Shi-Xarian said, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Don't forget what you've promised us."

I met his gaze steadily. "I am a woman of my word," I replied, my voice firm.

As we sat down to eat, the woman couldn't help but make a snide comment. "Well, well, well, look who's eating with us today," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "The little princess who thinks she's above everyone else."

I felt a surge of annoyance at her tone, but I bit my tongue and ignored her. I wasn't going to let her ruin my breakfast.

Shi-Xarian's wife, however, seemed to sense the tension and quickly intervened. "Now, now, let's not be rude," she said, shooting the woman a warning glance. "We're all guests here, and we should treat each other with respect."

The woman muttered under her breath, but said nothing more. The rest of the breakfast was eaten in an uncomfortable silence, with the woman's hostility hanging in the air like a challenge.

As we ate, the conversation was polite but strained. The woman who had been cold towards me yesterday seemed to be watching my every move, her eyes narrowing slightly as if daring me to slip up.

Shi-Xarian, on the other hand, seemed relaxed, chatting with his wife and the others as if we were all old friends. I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy, wondering what lay ahead and what this meeting with their boss would entail.

Just as we were finishing up, Shi-Xarian pushed back his chair and stood up. "Well, it's time," he said, his eyes glinting with a hint of excitement. "Let's go meet our boss."

I nodded, feeling a surge of anticipation mixed with a little fear. What would this meeting be like? Would I be able to convince their boss to help me?.

As we were about to leave, I quickly covered my face with a cloth mask, making sure to conceal my identity. Shi-Xarian nodded in approval, and together we left the house, following the same group of people from earlier.

As we walked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The streets were narrow and winding, with tall buildings looming overhead. We moved swiftly, dodging market stalls and pedestrians along the way.

I glanced around, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling city. Everywhere I looked, I saw people going about their daily lives, oblivious to the danger that lurked in the shadows.

Shi-Xarian seemed to sense my unease, and he placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry," he whispered. "We'll get you to Lord Louis safely."

I nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude towards him. But as we turned a corner, I caught sight of a group of royal guardsmen patrolling the streets. My heart skipped a beat as I quickly looked away, hoping that I hadn't been recognized.

We then walked down a long corridor, the walls lined with ornate tapestries and the floor creaking beneath our feet.

Finally, we came to a large wooden door, adorned with intricate carvings and a heavy iron knocker in the shape of a lion's head. Shi-Xarian raised his hand and knocked three times, the sound echoing through the corridor.

The door creaked open, and a tall, imposing figure stood before us. "Ah, Shi-Xarian," he said, his voice deep and commanding. "You've brought our guest. Excellent."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I met the gaze of our host. I instantly recognized him.

"Lord..... lord Louis is Jea," I whispered, my voice barely audible. I quickly turned my eyes away from him, my heart racing with anger and hatred.

I stormed out of the room in anger and disappointment, my mind racing with frustration. "Why did it have to be him?" I thought to myself, bitterness welling up inside me.

Of all the people in the world, why did it have to be Jea, one of my biggest enemies? Someone who hated me with a passion, and whom I also . The irony was almost too much to bear.

The lady followed me, her face flushed with anger. "Why did you do that?" she demanded, her voice low and menacing. "Do you know that you've just disrespected our boss?"

She grabbed my arm, spinning me around to face her. Her eyes blazed with fury, and I could see the tension coiled in her body. "You're going to regret this," she hissed. "lord doesn't take kindly to disrespect."

The only thought that crossed my mind was: why would normal people serve someone as ruthless and cunning as Jea? What could he possibly offer them that would make them willing to overlook his cruel nature?

I looked at the lady, searching for answers. She seemed like an ordinary person, not someone who would typically be drawn to a life of servitude to a man like Jea. But as I gazed into her eyes, I saw something there that chilled me to the bone - a fierce loyalty, a devotion that went beyond reason.

Shi-Xarian emerged from the office, a look of concern etched on his face. "What's going on here?" he asked, his eyes darting between me and the lady.

"Why did you run out like that?" he asked me, his voice calm but curious. "The boss has asked for your name, but none of us seem to know it."

He turned to the lady, who shook her head. "I don't know what came over her," she said. "She just stormed out of the office."

Shi-Xarian's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he studied me. "You need to tell us your name," he said. "The boss won't be pleased if we don't have an answer for him."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself to face Jea once again. But as I turned to head back inside, doubts began to creep into my mind. Was I really going to put my trust in someone who had wronged me in the past?

What if Jea was playing me? What if he was secretly working with my grandfather or the Queen? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. And what if he knew about the power of GOOD that lay within me? Was he planning to kill me and steal my powers for himself?

My mind was racing with questions and fears. How could I possibly trust Jea? And how on earth would he know where the witch was? Was he somehow connected to her?

I stood there, frozen with uncertainty, as the lady and Shi-Xarian watched me with curious eyes.

I strode back into the room, my eyes locked on Jea's. The air was thick with tension as I approached him. Shi-Xarian and the lady watched with bated breath, sensing the animosity between us.

"Well, well, well," Jea said, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Look what we have here. The mysterious stranger returns."

I ignored his jibe, my focus solely on the task at hand. "Let's get down to business, Lord Louis," I said, my voice firm and commanding. "I need your help, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get it."

Jea's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, I'm shaking in my boots," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But very well, let's hear what you have to say. What could you possibly offer me that would make me want to help you?"

"In exchange for your aid in locating the elusive Milar witch, I propose a generous reward: 10,000 gold coins, instruction in my finest sword techniques, and a grant of land. Will you accept this offer and join me on this perilous quest?"