Rin

I managed to find a secluded area away from everyone. The events of that day fill my head; I grab my head and groan before falling to my knees. I sob softly as the events replay in my head. Suddenly I feel someone come up behind me and they wrap their arms around me enveloping me in a tight hug. I try to get away but whoever it is won't let me.

"It's okay." It's Zero. With tears in my eyes I look up at him and he gives me a small smile. He hugs me tighter before getting up; he stretches his hand out for me but I refuse. He rolls his eyes in frustrations before picking me up.

"Hey, put me down you, jerk!"

"Only if you promise to stop crying."

I scoff at his words and he puts me down so I'm standing.

"How'd you find me?"

"I saw you leave the church, you didn't seem well so I figured I'd follow you."

"First you end the marriage proposal now you're stalking me? What's your deal?"

He doesn't say anything instead he looks at me with sadness and worry. His emerald green eyes usually have happiness and joy in them, but now all I see is sadness.

I always thought Zero to be the most attractive person I've ever met. His jet black hair is short, a bit past his ears and it's parted to the left usually always a bit clean but messy. He's tall probably a couple feet taller than I was, as we started training and he joined the knights he bulked up. He's muscular and well-toned; I can tell he still works out.

He grabs my face and looks me in the eyes. "This is how you acted when you killed Jacob. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I start to walk away but Zero grabs my arm.

"I'm sorry about what happened, about everything."

I pull my arm away and leave him standing there alone. I appreciate that he tried to comfort me, but that doesn't excuse the fact that I'm still mad at him.

Zach and Austin run up to me worried asking if I'm okay and if I need help with anything I tell them no, then they lecture me because I need to take it easy and not push myself.

"Relax you two all I did was answer a few questions. I have to get home though and wait for the letter, then I'll know if I need to go to the capital for the combat test or not."

"Why do you need to do a combat test, we already know you'll make it in." As if on cue the guys smile at the same time. "Rin is supposed to be coming to help clean up, you should stay it's been awhile since you two have seen each other."

I think it over for a moment and nod. "It would be great to see him."

As I help everyone clean up around the village, the gates open and everyone stops what they're doing to see what's going on. A tall figure walks past the guards; people in knight uniforms are following the person. Could it be? Zach and Austin walk up to him and they start talking, shortly after, the three of them look over in my direction.

Zach and Austin walk up to me with big smiles. "Rin is here."

He approaches me and takes of his hooded cloak. His strawberry blonde hair is messy ending just above his shoulders I notice some hair covering part of his grey eyes; they have a hint of sadness to them. He's a bit taller than Zero but just as muscular. This can't be the whiny kid from ten years ago, he's changed so much.

He grabs my hands and looks me up and down. "It's nice to see you after so long."

The sound of his voice makes me weak, deep and husky with a gentle tone... "You too."

Rin offers to help me with the wounded so we can catch up. He tells me how he became a knight then a captain of one. He didn't want to be a captain, but because he was second in command he had to once his captain got too sick to do anything. He explains that his training instructor was brutal and wouldn't let him quit. At first he hated his instructor but then grew to like and thank them. Training for the knights is a long and hard process; it changes a lot of people.

It's getting late, the villagers start heading to their homes including Zach and Austin. One of the victims of the attack was the woman who's been training me the past few months, I went to where she was buried and laid some flowers there.

There were big tents scattered everywhere for the knights to stay in until they leave. Rin was nice enough to let me stay at his house; it was the same as it was when we were children. Two bedrooms and baths, we had our separate areas.

"Would you like the master bed?"

"Oh no I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Okay." He leaves me standing in the door way and goes to I presume his room. I decide to go to the other bedroom feeling tired after the events of the day.

There's a loud noise and it wakes me up from my sleep, I rub my eyes and notice that the sun is shining through the window. After getting ready for the day I walk around the house looking for Rin, but can't find him.

I decide to go outside after packing my things; I should probably start heading home today. The recruiter didn't say when to expect the letter so it could arrive at any time.

As soon as I go outside there's people huddled into a big circle shouting. What's going on? I decide to find out and manage to squeeze past people and see Austin and Rin in the middle fighting.

They're both laughing and making stupid jokes so it's safe to assume they're not fighting to hurt each other. They used to do this all the time when we were kids, Zach, Austin, Rin, and some of the other boys would fight and a bunch of people would gather around. Rin would always lose, but he had fun that's probably the only reason he fought.

While I'm lost in thought I notice Austin and Rin get knocked down to the ground at the same time, Zach had joined the fight and managed to get them both out.

All three of them have grown up and had gotten stronger, the trouble makers are now guards to their home and the whiny kid is a captain to a division.

Rin comes up to me and I notice his lip and nose is bleeding. "Do you-"

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah. Should I-"

"I'm glad; do you have anything planned for the day?"

"Stop interrupting. I'm going to be heading home."

He looks at me with sadness. "Oh, where do you live?"

"A few days away I live in Torrine."

"I've passed through there a few times; I can take you if you want. The horses are always ready so whenever you want to leave just let me know."

"Oh ok, I'd like to leave as soon as possible." I go to his house and get my bag and swords. After a few minutes of making sure I have everything I leave the house, Rin is already on his horse and he has his hooded cloak back on.

All captains where cloaks to distinguish themselves apart from everyone else in the division. They usually wear it at all times unless they're on a mission or at a meeting with the king and the other captains. Zero told me shortly after he joined, he also said he had to escort his captain everywhere because escapees will try to assassinate them.

Rin snaps his fingers and I notice my bag is on one of the horses with someone. "It's okay; he's one of the escorts. He and a few other people will be joining us." The man looks down at me from his horse and nods assuring my things will be safe with him.

I get helped onto the horse, I ride with Rin and everyone from the village swarms around us as they say their goodbyes. Zach and Austin run up and give us some supplies for our trip.

I wave at everyone back in the village as the horses gallop further and further away from it. I hold onto Rin, my first time riding a horse, it feels exhilarating.

"It should only take a couple days for us to get to your village." I nod into his back as I think about the letter.

I can't wait to get home and receive it.