Chapter 15

I could feel my mouth dry up as I tried to remain calm. How did he get this paper? Was he going through my belongings while I was unconscious?

But I couldn't show that or even acknowledge the fact that I knew what that was.

"I don't know. What is this?" I asked as I tried to muster a curious look on my face.

"You tell me. It dropped when I was arranging your belongings on the shelves." He said.

"I don't know either. Those things aren't exactly mine. I borrowed them from someone. And did you actually go through my things?" My reply made him arch his eyebrows and look at me curiously.

"You're lying. And no, they fell down when Amizi was stacking your clothes on the shelf." Damnit!

"Ok fine. I stole them. I was trying to run away and this helped me to disguise myself. But why are you asking me so many questions just for a piece of paper? What's written in it?" I tried to act dumb.

"Nothing" he replied as he folded the piece of paper and put it in his woolen pouch.

I needed that piece of paper. It was the only proof of the conspiracy.

"So, Raven. Can I ask you something?"

"That depends on the question but go ahead." I replied.

"What are ... or rather were you running away from?" This question caught me off-guard. " Earlier today you mentioned you were running away from a lot of things. So, I was just curious. What made a strong girl like you run away?" I couldn't tell him. I really wanted to though. But would he have understood?

"My mother died when I was young and I had siblings to take care of. I tried. I tried everything I possibly could so that they didn't feel her absence. He really loved my mother. Everybody did. When she went away it felt like the life of the family, the joy, the will to believe ..... everything went away. My brother got busy with his reckless friends and my sister lived in her own world. I was the only one left to support father , actually all of them. So I did. Even though it killed a part of me everyday. A part that wanted to be reckless and free. And one day my father decided to get married again. And that's when I snapped. I ran away from home. Nobody can replace her. Especially not father's new wife."

I didn't realize that tears were rolling down my cheeks at this point. It was when Lycargos wiped them off that I realized- even though I didn't mean to, even though I shouldn't have I told him everything. And he just stood there and listened.

"No wonder you reacted that way at dinner, when we were discussing about the Nydalidian king." He continued after a short pause" My mother meant the world to me. She died when I was young so I know what you feel. But my story is a little different though. My father never loved my mother or me. He treated her in the worst possible ways imaginable. But she was always my shield. She always protected me from him. I wasn't the brightest child you see. Neither was I the strongest. But once she went away I had to protect myself. I had to be tough and strong. But I never misused my strength. It would have been what she would have wanted. And I think that's what your mother would have wanted too."

"For me to be tough and strong?" I asked.

"No, for you to be happy. For your father to be happy. So stop burdening yourself. Learn to be a little selfish Raven. You can't only live for the people you love. You need to live for yourself too. As for your father, if you have supported him like this, do it once more. He would only do what was best for you right?" He had a point.

"You know you are pretty smart for an Astmathian. I can't believe an Astmathian actually made a valid point. No, wait. I can't believe that Lycargos made a valid point. Maybe that poison was really strong!" I chuckled. So did he.

"So that is what you think of me? I might look like and act carefree but deep down I'm really wise you know. I'm St. Lycargos after all!" I laughed as he made a saint like innocent face.

"The moon looks pretty today", he said as he looked at the moon and then he suggested something I wouldn't normally do.

"Have you ever been in a stream on a full moon night?" He asked.

"No. I'm neither crazy nor a fish!" I replied.

"Fine. We could at least walk by the stream." he said.

"Fine."

We started walking towards the stream and then along the banks of the stream.

"You're really a coward aren't you. You aren't reckless and carefree! If you were you would have been in the stream by now." he was clearly provoking me.

"No it's not that." I replied.

"Then? Do you not know how to swim?" he asked.

"I can beat you any day in that".

"Then why wait for any other day?" he said.

"Bec-" and then I felt a hard push. The next thing I knew I was in the stream.

"Oh you are so dead Lycargos!" I yelled as I shivered.

"I would happily die in your arms anyday." He said as he sat on the banks with a grin on his face.

"Could you at least help me out?" I said as I stretched my hands towards him, gesturing him to pull me out while trying to make a cute face that screamed 'Damsel in distress'. As soon as he grabbed my hand I pulled him in. I really don't think he saw that coming. And his hysteric fall made me laugh even harder.

"You are EVIL Raven! Pure Evil! Take this!" He said as he splashed water towards me. He started coming closer with each such splash and I kept receding back. I kept going nearer to the banks and then suddenly as I touched my feet on the ground while I was still in water my foot slipped. I would have definitely fallen but it wouldn't have hurt. It was just water, right?

But to my surprise as I prepared myself to fall a strong pair of hand caught me.

"Could you be a little careful? There might be sharp rocks in there. " he said as he looked at me with concern in his eyes. And then that concerned turned into something much softer. Something that made my heart my heart swing. We stood so close with him still holding me. We gazed into each other's eyes but it felt like he was gazing into my soul. And then his eyes shifted. from my eyes to my lips. And I couldn't help but do the same. There was something between us. Something that shouldn't be. Something that was wrong. And then he started moving closer while holding his gaze on my lips.