Chapter 6

Two adults and two kids entered a medieval tailor shop with a touch of modern designs, four staffs inside of the store greeted them while bowing their back slightly as a show of welcoming their customers warmly.

"Good morning, how may we help you?" – staff one

"We're here to buy uniforms for these two kids, and pack four normal elementary uniforms each with PE uniforms too." – Alfredo

"Of course, sir." – staff two

One of the staff takes Kim's measurement as the other one listed his measurement, it's also the same for Ariella. After a few minutes of taking their measurement, the two staff that wrote their measurements immediately walk towards a door that led into their storage room for uniforms. When they came back, they are holding four same uniforms and PE elementary uniforms each, and they also held out sample elementary uniforms for boys and girls to showcase to their dear customers how to wear them properly and neatly.

The normal uniforms for girls is a mixture of blue, and white as the main color, the inner layer of the uniform is a plain white dress that shapes its skirt like a blossoming flower, and on top of that is a blue collared-blazer with a circular open chest to emphasizes the waist and to close it to put together the two buttons to each side. A white lining near the edge of the blue blazer circulates the whole blazer until it ends to the back as a sharp v-cut appeared. And last but not least is the striped blue and white medium-size ribbon at the very center of the neck.

As for the boys, it only consists of white-collared, long sleeve, and a button-up shirt, the edge of its sleeved has a lining of blue. At the left side of the upper chest has a small pouch with an embroider of their school's logo, and a striped blue and white time in the middle covering the buttons. As for the lower part is simple navy blue trouser pants with two wide pouches on each side and a belt holder in its waistline. The PE uniforms consist of one white t-shirt with a printed school logo and blue jogging pants that is stretchable with two striped, white linings on one side of the two legs.

The days continue with them buying school materials and food supplies that will last for a month. Kim enjoyed their school shopping as it's her first time buying things for herself freely and has high quality. Ariella sometimes glances at her big brother while their hands are connected and gently swaying by their side.

"Arie, what would you like this notebook with barbie design or hello kitty design?" – Kim asked holding two books right in front of Ariella, which she wishes she could give her brother a deadpanned look but because of her child form, she must act like one.

"I'll choose those; the flowery designs are cuter than Barbie and Hello Kitty." – Ariella

Why the hell I'm treated like this? How long I'm… I'll survive acting like a kid. Ariella thought wryly but still grin happily at Kim thinking; Just smile and enjoy the moment as a child, Ariella.

The other guards that disguise themselves as normal citizens or tourist couldn't help but snicker and one of their fists are covering their mouth. Their shoulders tremble slightly thinking how adorable their General (has promoted from Major General to a General) is, one of them sneakily capture the moment as he is the closest of them all.

"Oh, how cute… our Little General is just so cute…"

"I wanna pinch her chubby and soft cheeks."

"We can't… she is the moon of our military; we can't reach her but only surround her like stars. Our job is to protect her and light up her path, like stars."

Ariella looks around for some interesting to do or buy that catch her child's hobbies, like those racquets that caught her eyes. Before the apocalypse happened at the original timeline, she was a great badminton player, Ariella's eyes sparkle in excitement then turn around to Grace pointing at the sports section.

"Ninang, can I go there and look around?" – Grace looks at the place Ariella pointing at and smile softly

"Sure, but don't go too far from us and don't talk to strangers no matter what. We'll wait for you here."

At those words, Ariella ran towards the sports section without looking back, her face is totally like a child that has seen their favorite toy and ready to persuade their parents to buy it. However, when she's halfway to her target destination, a much more desirable object traps her sight, Ariella's eyes are locked on the target like a missile she darted to it. Grace and Alfredo couldn't help but laugh at her antics and was also glad that Ariella is still the child they've known.

"She sure is excited to see something there. Hey Kim, what do you think Ariella got excited for?" – Alfredo

"Must be those badminton racquets, we watched a badminton tournament some time ago after dinner. Arie fell in love at first sight, she even cheered and yelled like she is watching basketball games." – Kim chuckles choosing random notebooks with flowery design on them, Arie needs five notebooks for each subject, then she might need this…

"Kim, don't just choose for Ariella, also choose for yourselves." – Grace

"Ah, I'll do that after I finish for her… are those pandas?" – Kim

"hmm…" – Alfredo

The couple looked up looking for the said panda that is displayed close to them, Ariella who is supposed to be in the sports section is walking towards them cutely holding two big panda plushies and one medium size. A big childlike smile is plastered on her face as her eyes are sparkling uncontrollably.

"Ninang! Ninong! Please!" – Ariella

"How much?" – Alfredo

Ariella drops all of those plushies into their shopping cart while Grace and Alfredo check the prices of each plushie, their eyes bulge out of its socket from shock.

"Ehem… cough… Ariella, are you sure you want these three panda plushies?" – Alfredo

"Yes!" – Ariella

"Fine, but we will deduct this to your monthly allowance." – Grace

"That's fine by me, then I will go to the sports section now, see you later."

Ariella arrived at the sports section; she immediately walks calmly at the badminton racquets racks quite excited to see what the latest stocks are they have. A boy around her age is standing in front of the racquet's racks looking up intently as he grabs one of the Yonex racquets, he observes its weights and flexibility like a player would do. He is wearing summer pants and a collar blue shirt, he's a thick shapely eyebrow and sharp but gentle eyes, and the small scar on his left eyebrow made Ariella tremble.

It can't be, I don't remember meeting him in here… however, there's a lot of changes I made since I've arrived…

"Hey, do you know how to play badminton?" – Ariella asked catching the attention of the boy, he turns his head to look at her. Ariella only smiles a little.

"Did not your parents taught you not to talk to strangers?" – the said boy backfired Ariella with questions, an imaginary arrow struck Ariella's heart that causes her lips to twitch and an imaginary angry mark appeared on her forehead.

"I'm Ariella, what's your name?"

"Denise, and yes."

"Is that Yonex Carbonex 35 – Ariella

"You know about it? Do you also play badminton like me? What school you play at or team are you in?" – Denise's eyes sparkles in excitement and wonder of a child seeing a potential friend with the same interest as him.

"Yes, I do know about it but sadly, I don't know how to play it properly, yet. I just watched badminton games on tv and searched various information about the sport, so I learned the rules, description for certain racquets, shoes, etc." – Ariella said with a sad expression, for her, it's been years since she had held a racquet, hit a shuttlecock, and played on the court. Before the only fear she felt is when she loses a score from the opponent when she played or when her mother goes dragon wrath on her. Then the apocalypse happened, she loses all of her family in the survival war one by one for the greater good of her.

I miss it, the feeling of fast wind and the exhilaration of standing on thin ice to whether win or lose the game.

Ariella and Denise talked about the racquet's brands, shoe brands, the rules, few techniques that professional players do in the game just to hit the shuttlecock, or how precise their hit was and fast their hands were. They've talked happily without a mind in the world, some salesmen and saleswomen stand by on the side stealing glancing once in a while. It was their first time hearing such profounds information about badminton, two young kids, who are around five or six years old are talking excitedly to each other. These two are smarter than us, they all thought while eavesdropping and stealing glances at them.

"Ariella, we have to go." – Kim

"Coming!" – Ariella

"Bye-bye Denise, I hope we see each other again then let's be officially friends. Promise?" – Ariella

"Pinky promise." – Denise

The two kids held each pinky fingers then sealed it as their thumbs touch, Denise felt exhilarated having his first friend ever, he hopes deep within his heart that they'll meet again someday and hopefully soon as he can't wait to see her smile and hear her laugh again.

"Pinky promise." – Ariella grins widely then waved her farewell while running towards her cousin.

~Nighttime~

Ariella rises from her bed widening the space of her sense looking for the source of murderous intent she felt earlier. She knows that the guards may not be able to sense such hidden killing intent towards her because their senses are still not enhanced like her. The killing intent she felt can only be distinguished by an assassin or the same kind of people, the kind of people that tasted of death with no remorse.

She raised from the bed walking towards the window overlooking the vast farm field, warm breeze and crickets echoed through the breeze, Ariella raises her right hand towards her neck at the left side then slide it to the right.