The sunlight from the window woke me up in the morning as it slapped over my face. I get off to bed with my eyes half-opened. I slowly went towards the window and glanced at the calm scenery outside. It was quiet with only few children playing outside. The houses looked elegant with their simple yet satisfying designs. Compared to what we have in my previous homeland, these houses were the most modest. I cannot say that the village they have here is old nor futuristic. I guess I was living in a middle time environment. Oh well, I did not even know the way back home then.
I shook my head and smiled, trying to forget what I have before.
"Ah, the rain has stopped. The sun looks lovely today, isn't it, Sophia?~" The cute, enthusiastic voice of Flora, which made me recognized her immediately, entered this humble room with only a bed, small table, and old-wooden chair. When I glanced at her, she was smiling while putting food above the table just beside the bed.
And suddenly, my eyes went wide open as I realized that I was supposed to attend the Agila assembly today! What the hell! It seemed that I had a beautiful dream last night. I gasped and accidentally made the chair fell to the ground because of my clumsiness. Flora's reflexes were fast as she stood up and arranged the chair without waiting for it to fall on the floor completely.
"Oh, I am sorry for-"
"It's okay!" She cut off my words in wittiness while shrugging her shoulders. "You don't need to hurry. Hanaele said that you don't have to attend the assembly today since you woke up late." She added as she sat beside the bedsheets.
I went nearer to her and sat on her side. Phew, I was glad that Hanaele was considerate right now. "That's pretty good news."
"Well, yes. But do not take advantage of it, Hanaele is kind right now since you have no background about everything that is happening in Pag-asa." She warned while curving her lips at the end. After those small encounters I have with Flora, I was seldom wondering if she has any problems in life. The way she speaks and her presence makes anyone feel positive.
But speaking of which, it made me realized something. Flora was right. It was too random for two people to fetch me out of nowhere, then brought me here all of a sudden by just a blink of their intention. Then asked me to join a military squad without giving me full information about the reasons and its origin. Ah, this made me skeptical but at the same time fun to think of.
"Hanaele did not even communicate with you about the recruitment," Flora added. At this point, she sounded serious.
"Y-yeah..."
"And you did not even bother to ask them?" I was caught on guard because of her question. At this point, I suddenly remembered our first encounter.
"I was about to, but they injected something at my neck which made me feel unconscious, and my sight completely went black. When I woke up, I was riding on a horse with them, and the world I saw was different." I told her the things I went through while looking towards the window.
"That was surprising. You did not ponder with them, not even an inch of intention to hurt them. Hanaele and Cassius did not get through any difficulties in getting you. That's great!~" She clapped her hands for a second and stood up in excitement for something that I did not know. The bed even bounced a bit when she went off. Also, what's with that small celebration of hers?
I looked at her, giving a staggering expression. She stood right in front of me while I was still sitting down. I raised one of my eyebrows in confusion. "Huh?"
She lifted her shoulders like she was asking a question in a non-verbal way. Her face was in complete amusement. A few seconds later, she spoke. "W-well! Those freaking commanders were impatient sometimes that if you don't follow immediately to what they are asking you to do, they would easily kill you at no time!" She described. She was like narrating a story to me base on her gestures and facial expressions.
Going back to what she had said, I felt nervous and at the same time worried about my situation right now. Hanaele and Cassius were the ones who brought me here so most probably they will surely keep an eye on me. Damn! What if I'll do something inappropriate for their eyes? Given that I am still not used to this society yet.
"Oh... I-I am sorry, Sophia. I did not mean to scare you..." Flora sincerely apologized. Her voice was low as she looked down. But her apology did not bother me this time. I was more concerned about my state. I even became more curious to know not just Hanaele and Cassius's intention to recruit me, but also this hidden society.
There was a minute or two of silence between us before I spoke back. At this point, I became vocal about my thoughts towards her, especially the location of this place. "Why is this place so isolated?"
She stilled, but later on, went back to her clever face. "Ever since the-" She suddenly paused like she realized something in between.
"Any problem?"
"I almost have forgotten that I am not allowed to spill that information to you as Hanaele has told me. I think you should ask or at least wait for your squad leader to share the history with you." She discussed while pointing her right cheek using her left pointy finger. Basing on what she just said, she has a point in there. Knowing that Hanaele's attitude as what she claimed, refusing to drop the facts to me is reasonable.
I have no other choice but to ask Larch about it. I hope I will get closer to him, anyway.
I nodded my head as a form of understanding. "No need to feel bad, I understand." I convinced her worried face while trying to give a smile.
Her eyes lightened. "Phew! I thought you're going to beat me off to death just for me to reveal it!" Wait, what?
"Eh? I am not like that!"
After I breathed a deep air, she held my wrist and grabbed me outside. "Yay! Join me then!~" She laughed. I felt more perplexed now. Why is she acting like this? Ugh! Nevermind.
When we were finally outside from her grandmother's house-yes, I slept in their house-she ran a few feet away from me while turning herself around. The breeze of the humid air made her look like a fairy dancing in the wind. Her hair was covering her face as she was dancing around on a tiptoe. Her dress collided with the wind's direction, making her look like floating. As I looked at the sun rising in the sky, I realized how peaceful this environment is.
"Wii!" I heard her smiling, enjoying the day's welcoming scenery.
I walked towards her when I remembered that she is also part of the military. I was wondering why she has not attended today. "By the way, aren't you showing your presence in the Agila squad today?"
She almost lost her balance when she stopped and faced me, but she was able to manage it anyway. She wasn't surprised of what I said in the first place, so I guess she already knew what she did.
"Nah! Cassius asked me to look for you since he does not want to wake you up." She replied while jumping in place. Oh my, who would have thought that this cute, babyface, happy-go-lucky girl here is a soldier.
I shook my head and stop admiring her positivity and focused on what she was actually saying. The last time I remembered I had the last conversation before I slept was Cassius. Ah, he was the one who asked Flora to stay at her grandmother's place. I can't believe how tired I was by thinking too much that I almost have forgotten what I did last night.
Anyway, I think I don't have to worry about a punishment this time. Hanaele and Cassius knew that I wasn't awake, but did not remind me to wake up early. So, it was not just my fault. I guess.
I caught Flora's attention once again by grabbing her right arm. She was polite that she quickly stopped playing around, and bowed her head a little. I was about to ask a question about what time I slept last night, but there was someone who interrupted from our back. I fixed myself and faced that direction.
It was Larch.
Oh, wait. Why is he here? I looked at him, full of questions circulating in my head. I was surprised to see him here.
"The sun looks beautiful, isn't it?" He said as a form of greeting us this morning. He slowly walked in our direction, wearing with him a military formal suit with its signature Agila color, white. He has a blue eye with the same hairstyle as the first time I met him.
When he finally arrived two feet away from us, Flora bowed half-way in respect. I felt awkward when she did that. Like, what am I supposed to do? I just nodded a little, feeling unsettled while avoiding eye contact with everyone. Damn. I wanted to ask him why is he here. I mean, he just came here to greet?
As soon as Flora got back to her position, Larch spoke immediately and staring at me like he was observing me properly. "I am hoping to see you by tomorrow then." He said in a formal voice. After which, he turned around and stepped away from us.
But suddenly, he stopped after completing two to three steps forward. What now?