Chapter 23: How to talk to a six years old

We are now sitting around a bonfire while eating a tasteless meat, since we didn't have anything to season it with. The stupid me did not bring any from the slave town.

"So how were you captured?" I asked while looking at Tafi, I knew the story of the two men so I only asked tafi

"Tiger folks live in solitary, so I used to only live with my Mom, but then hunters came and killed my mother ... they even skinned her in front of me and then they took me instead of killing me." He said as he look straight on the fire without actually seeing it, he had this far look in his eyes, he also looked angry and sad to the point where the hand that is holding the stick containing the tasteless meat tremble.

"I'm sorry for that" I said and looked at the other men

"I was tricked, I was supposed to go to this house, a noble house in the eastern continent to do my service but then someone knocked me unconscious. When I woke up, I'm in a store room with a lot of people" Elliot said, which I knew already. The eastern continent must be in panic right now, the last black mage suddenly went missing but why wont he just go back? Hmm, I can't seem to recall the reason behind his actions, It was too long ago and I even feel like my memory about the novel got jumbled up with the other stories I read.

"I ... I don't want to talk about it" Zain said which brought me back to reality and bowed his head, focusing on the food in his plate.

I managed to get plates, cutlery and cups but not seasoning, how stupid.

We ate in silence then, only the sound of chewing and cutlery can be heard.

"How about you ... Lady Anya? Where did you come from?" It was the dirty face Tafi who broke the silence

"me? I used to live in the empire, I was travelling for a long time and now, I'm going back home" I said while looking at my plate. I don't know if I could still call it home given the fact that the people I am looking forward to meet might actually be permanently gone. What is home without the people you love?

"So we are going directly to the empire from now on? I heard that there is a flood of monster in the desert" Elliot said

"There is, we will have to go somewhere first before the empire and hopefully, by the time we get back, everything is calmer than it is now." I said

There really is somewhere I needed to go first. Zain is supposed to meet this person after all. I can't just ruin the story altogether, so I have to at least let him meet his second master.

The master of all weapons, who lives in seclusion in the eastern mountain, We are now in the eastern forest so if things did not drastically change like that desert, We should be able to reach the mountain by 6 days travel on this carriage or 2 weeks on foot, It might even be faster without the monsters roaming around.

On that note, the monster craze is still a mystery, should I try solving the problem? hmm, If I happen to stumble on the answer I might as well help but given that the situation is more of an advantage to us, I guess I can just not put too much effort on it.

My teachers words suddenly crossed my mind as I think.

It is the duty of the royal family and the nobles to protect the citizens of the empire

I am not neglecting my duties as a royalty, I already said that I would help if I happen to stumble on the answer.

I can't help but sigh at my thoughts, I guess being trapped in the seal for more than a thousand years can really affect ones brain, I mean look at me, I'm talking to myself and even reasoning out to my conscience. And now I am even explaining myself to myself!

I sighed once again

"... Lady Anya, if you don't know how to wash the dishes, I can just do it" It was Tafi who was helping me gather the dirty plates and other stuff we used during dinner. I got lost in thought again.

"No, I'm fine, we already established rotations on chores and guard duties so I should at the very least do my duties and don't worry, I can wash dishes" I said

"Instead of minding that why don't you go inside the carriage with the others and find clothes to change with, you might find something in there" I added before walking towards the river which I spotted after using the Dragon eyes.

Tafi shook his head

"I will help Lady Anya" He said and walked ahead of me while holding the dishes he gathered himself.

I looked at the small frame of the tiger cub and remembered what he said about his mother. It must have been traumatizing.

"Tafi, how old are you?" I asked while following him

"I'm 6 years old" he said

Six? he looked taller than his age. I guess its normal for beast folks to be tall.

"How about you Lady Anya?" Tafi asked

"So how old were you when you were caught?" I asked hoping to change the subject.

"I was 4 and Mother said to me before, that when I turn 6, I will have to be on my own, since Tiger folks are solitary in nature. She even taught me how to hunt and how to make a place of my own" Tafi said while smiling

"So at 6 years old, tiger folks are considered adults?" I asked

"Adult? what's that?" Tafi asked

"Its something like you said, when children moves out of their parent's home and live on their own" I explained

"Whats a parent? Is it another term for mother?" Tafi asked

I fell in thought at his question, isn't it too early for me to talk about the birds and the bees to a six years old? But he's a beast folk? Hmm, I don't know at what age is it appropriate to talk to them about it. Hmm, I should probably just follow human traditions and wait until he become a teenager.

" ... Something like that" I just said after averting my gaze