CHAPTER 11: A Weak Wishbone

At the Supremo's Manse, Commander Remus informed the Supremo about the arrival of the Head Astronomer.

"Let him come in," the Supremo ordered.

The head Astronomer came in. His trembling feet managed to keep his balance as he walked towards the Supremo.

"G-Good e-evening, S-supremo," he greeted the Supremo, stuttering.

"What's wrong? Can't you speak normally, Head Astronomer?"

"Revered Supremo, we made a grave mistake. Have mercy on us," he begged.

"Just tell me what grave mistake you made."

"We predicted the wrong date for the Blue Moon-"

"What?!"

"But Supremo, the stars are aligning just right. Please give us more time to observe it. We'll update you as soon as possible."

"Make sure that your information is reliable before you give it to me…or else, I will relieve you from your position."

"Yes, Supremo."

"Then, if you have nothing else to say, leave now."

"Yes, Supremo."

The Head Astronomer then ran away from the Supremo, almost tripping along the way.

XXX

Back at the training camp, early in the morning, Sol felt something wrong with her stomach. She suddenly felt the urge to relieve herself (the no.2), so she woke up with a start and hastily ran to the comfort room. For some reason, all of the comfort rooms are being used.

Well, it's the rush hour. Since everyone finally knew that Captain Karsh stays true in punishing whoever is late; every aspirant has been waking up early to prepare themselves.

Sol decided to go out of their building. Thinking of going to the second building that houses the other half of the aspirants, she hesitated.

It must be full as well.

Then, the administration building caught her eyes.

Maybe, it's possible there.

As she was about to enter the building, a middle-aged female helper stopped her from her tracks.

"Young lady, can I ask you a favor?" she asked.

"Yes, Auntie. What is it?"

"Could you please drop this at the second-floor comfort room?" she said as she extended her arm, showing the wooden plate that contains soap and some flower petals.

Sol took the plate.

"Yes, Auntie."

"And, could you please scatter these flowers on the bath tub while you're at it?"

"Yes, Auntie no problem."

"Thank you dear, then I'll be on my way. We're quite busy with the meals. Thank you once again, young lady," she said and hurriedly went away.

Sol looked at the plate and smiled.

Now, I have a reason to visit the administration building, if someone asks.

Sol then took a step and more until she reached the comfort room. She opened the door, and it revealed a wide bath tub at the center. She saw faint smoke going up from the water on the bathtub.

Oh, that tub must contain hot water.

She then approached the tub and started scattering the flowers on it. Not able to resist the warm water in front of her, she extended her arm into the water.

Oh, that's so heavenly, it's like magic healing all the fatigue inside my body.

While immersed in the warm water, someone entered that room and locked the door. Panicking, Sol decided to hide behind the tub. The tub is elevated; thus, it could hide a person.

Who might be waking up at this hour?

Sol decided to peek.

Her vision revealed a tall man with a well-built body. His dark tresses were let loose and he's just standing there facing the wall.

Sol lowered her head.

What is he doing?

Sol decided to peek again. Now, the man is patting his tresses..No, the man is putting something on his scalp. Then, she noticed that the top part of his tresses were of cosmos-white color. When that man applied that dark paste, his silver colored hair roots turned dark.

How's that possible? How can you turn your silver colored tresses into black?

Forgetting the reason for searching a comfort room, her body suddenly reminded her with an air coming loudly out of her body.

PRRRTTT!

Tobias, who's unsuspecting of any intruders while applying the hair dye on his hair roots, turned around looking for the owner of that sound. He saw the shape of a person behind the tub.

"Show yourself now before I make you bleed!" he shouted.

The person showed herself with a lowered head.

"Come here!" Tobias ordered.

The person who's holding a plate with soap and still not raising her head, walked very slowly towards him.

"Faster!" he roared.

The person ran towards him, barely stopping herself in front of him and nearly bumping him. Tobias reached for her neck, tightly gripping it.

"How much did you see?!"

"Uh..a-alm-most e-every-thinggg s-sirr," she said, barely making sense.

Tobias tightened his grip. The person who's choking and can't endure his grip finally raised her head.

"Aspirant Moraii!?" Tobias exclaimed, stunned. He then released Sol from his grip.

"C-Captain Karsh?" Sol exclaimed after coughing for a bit.

"What are you doing here?"

"Uh, the helper sent me here, Captain," she said and hurriedly laid the plate on the table near the wall.

She was about to run towards the door when Tobias caught her arm.

"Where are you going?" Tobias asked while directly looking at her eyes.

"Uh, to my quarters, Captain."

"You DIDN't see anything. If I hear anything about today, I will really make you bleed."

Sol reached her quarters sweating. Forget about relieving. That encounter with the Captain scared the hell out of her. 

XXX

Back to the comfort room, Tobias finally washed off the debris of the dye on his tresses, now his silver roots were darkened. After tying his tresses, he removed his clothes, revealing his well-toned body. It also revealed several scars marked on it. He then stepped inside the tub and soaked himself.

He then slowly closed his eyes.

That aspirant saw my vulnerable side and saw one of secrets. Is it even wise to keep her alive? But why couldn't I bring myself to make her bleed? What is this familiar feeling binding me? I am sure that I didn't know her before facing her at the tavern. So, why does she feel familiar like I've known her for a long time?

Tobias started reminiscing about how Sol looked.

I can't possibly forget those expressive eyes with edges curving up and with those pouty lips; she has the most nonchalant face among the people I've seen. In contrast, she unbelievably smiles a lot. To think of it, I also used to smile a lot back when I was a child. People even called me the 'sunshine of Largus'. Now, even a smile is a luxury to me. I have no right to smile when my parents are crying for justice.

Tobias shut his eyes tighter.

Tobias, don't be emotional. Freeze your heart. Feel nothing.

XXX

The training resumed…

"Aspirant Davos, step forward," Tobias ordered , to which Latras obliged.

Tobias demonstrated the next lesson, starting with the groin kick. He ordered the aspirants again to pair up.

"Bring your knee up, bring your hip forward, Kick! Lean back, gather the power on your feet!"

"Raise your dominant arm, twist your body to remove the hold, and strike the neck of your opponent with your elbow!" he instructed, teaching them how to defend themselves from a choke hold.

XXX

Sol just finished washing the sweat and dirt from her body when the bathroom door opened. Several aspirants came inside- four wishbones and 2 Pure-Blooded Aspirants. On their hands were cups and liquor. There were three men and three ladies.

Sol tried to get out, but a strong arm held her back.

"Hey Sol, have a taste first," the voice said. His breath smells like wine.

Sol turned around to see who's holding her arm. It was Aries. He was one of the strongest aspirants and he is the one who beat her earlier.

"I do not really like drinking."

"Come on, now. You're embarrassing me again. I'll let you go after you have a taste of it."

"But—"

Sol wanted to protest but she felt the grip of Aries tightened on her arm.

"We'll be severely punished if someone sees us."

One of Aries' companions went to lock the door.

"If someone sees us."

Aries then pulled Sol to one of the benches near the wall. He then poured the wine on the cup and gave it to Sol.

"I- I really don't like drinking."

"Hey, don't you know that wine is the language of the defenders? Negotiation and making allies are decided over wine," Aries said. Their companions then poured the wine on their own cup and jugged all the contents. Aries turned to Sol who's still holding her cup of wine.

"Drink that before I'll shove it in your mouth. I'm not kidding."

Aries stared at Sol who had no choice but to down all that wine.

The group continued drinking, minutes later a drunk Aries let Sol go. Leaving her soiled clothes behind, Sol walked out barely managing her balance. She walked and walked. She walked for so long that she even left their building and entered another. She continued walking until she arrived in a well-lit room. She knocked on the door.

"Who's that?" a deep voice came.

"It's me Ss-Sol. L-let me in, I'm sleeeyypey," Sol said, barely making sense.

The door opened. She was about to enter when someone grabbed her arm, making her face that 'someone'.

"Ca-Captain? W-what are you doing in my room?"

Tobias was rather surprised to see a drunk aspirant, even mistaking his room to be hers.

"How unbelievable," Tobias uttered in anger. He wanted to scold her but it's no use to scold a drunk person.

Tobias pulled Sol and seated her.

After making Sol sit, Tobias went to prepare a green tea to relieve her drunkenness. As Tobias is walking her, Sol starts walking towards him as well, missing a few steps from the stairs. Tobias rushed to her and was able to catch her before she fell. 

With the impact, the tea spilled on the floor and on his hand, burning it. Sol's face hit Tobias' cheek at the same time the Captain looked at his burnt hand. Tobias then turns to face Sol, and doesn't expect to brush Sol' lips with how close their faces were.

"Aspirant Moraii!" he exclaimed at her trying to bring her to her consciousness.

As Sol's weight is fully giving in to the Captain , her face fell closer to Tobias, having her lips touching and entering Tobias parted lips.

That moment seemed to stop. The moon seemed to shine brightly through the window. As a soft breeze seemed to brush by them.

Tobias unconsciously felt Sol's lips on his.

A person's lips could be soft and sweet like this? It tasted like honeydew.

But the scent of alcohol woke Tobias from his thoughts.

Sol's head slowly fell on Tobias' shoulders with her lips brushing from the corners of Tobias' lips to his cheeks, ears and neck.

The soft touch from her lips is both warm and wet, sending Tobias with weird sensations.

Tobias calmed himself down.

"Aspirant Moraii..." he shook her.

"Ughh," Sol groaned.

Tobias harshly sighed.

"Aspirant Moraii! Get a hold of yourself!" he exclaimed, shaking Sol only to hear the sound of snoring.

"Unbelievable."

Tobias effortlessly picked Sol. He then went to the table and put the cup on top of it. He then made way to the Aspirant's quarters.

Sol's sleeping quarter mates even woke up to the sound of the opening door. They half-awake greeted Tobias who just nodded at them in return. When they realized that it was the Captain, they all suddenly got up from their beds and lined up before him.

Tobias then laid Sol on her bed and covered her with her blanket, while the other aspirants watched his every move with full attention.

"I'll see you in the morning," Tobias said and left the quarters.

"Sol is no doubt drunk right?" Reicha asked.

"She is," Serga replied.

"Then she is in big trouble."

"She totally is," Reicha said, shaking her head.

XXX

As Tobias hastily left Sol's quarters, he passed by the bathroom. He heard crazy laughters and drunk talks. He opened the door, revealing Aries and his companions who are already dead drunk.

"Oh, It's Captain Karsh," Aries exclaimed, grinning, " Come and have a drink with us."

"The audacity…"

Tobias clenched his fist and walked out of that room fuming with rage.

The audacity to taunt the rules. I will show you the price of breaking the rules.

XXX

Tobias finally arrived at his room, barely calming down. He downed a cup full of water and sat down beside the table. He then noticed the cup with little tea on it.

The image of Sol falling on him effortlessly flashed before his eyes. It flashed in slow motion. He shut his eyes at the moment Sol's lips crashed into his. Tobias reached for his lips and tried to touch it. He felt something painful.

Unbelievable. It even left a mark.

XX

Early in the morning, Sol was woken up with the sound of chatter. It's her quarter mates preparing for the morning call. As she opened her eyes, she felt the stinging pain on her head. Slowly, she sat down on her bed. She smells something similar to wine. It is coming from her.

"HAAAAAAAA!" she exclaimed, shocking her quarter mates.

"You were drunk last night. Captain Karsh personally brought you in," Reicha said.

Sol held her cheeks and tried to recall what happened. From the bathroom to the Administration Building to the room of Captain Karsh; towards her tripping…and to… and to…

"HAAAAA!" she exclaimed again, making her quarter mates shake their heads.

…and to kissing him.

Sol trembled. She started talking to herself while crying in silence.

"No, no no. That's not exactly kissing. It's an accident. You didn't mean to. But why are his lips so soft and warm and wet? And his body, it's so big, warm and firm. Aghhhh, Sol, get a hold of yourself. How can you face him again? No, no ,no. It's alright Sol. You are drunk. You don't remember anything. Yes, you don't."

"He must have gone crazy. He kept spouting gibberish words," Reicha commented, shaking her head once again, "Hey, Cheer up! It's only a punishment, you'll live!" 

Sol fell back on her bed and faced the wall.

How can I cheer up when I… when I..k-kissed the Captain?

Nevertheless, Sol conditioned her mind. She clenched her fist and cemented in her mind that she doesn't remember anything.

XXX

Early in the morning, after the jog , the aspirants would perform several exercises; but this time, the repetitions tripled. Every one of the aspirants knew that something was up.

"At ease!" Tobias shouted, "Even though I always reiterate that I implement rules strictly, some of you still think that I'm joking. Several aspirants were brave enough to break one rule last night. Since, the sin of one is the sin of all. Those who broke the rule last night, watch carefully what it cost your fellow aspirants because of your selfish desires."

He then looked at each of the aspirants.

"Attention! Give me 500 good repetitions of our dozen basic exercises, now!"

The innocent aspirants had no choice but to perform the punishment. The sun already rose mid-sky and the aspirants are barely nearing the end of the punishment. Abundant supply of sweat started dropping from their grunted flushed faces towards the ground while also wetting their training robes. With hunger playing a role, Tobias noticed their trembling bodies.

After an hour, the aspirants completed the punishment.

"Attention!"

Tobias then called out all of those aspirants he saw drinking that night.

"The rest of you, have your breakfast, have a rest, Fall out!"

Seven trembling defenders were left standing in front of Tobias.

The captain looked at Aries sternly.

"Aspirant Aries Alkus, you are one of the strongest of your batch. You should be a role model but you turned out to be the instigator of breaking the rules. If you continue to be like that, do me a favor and get out of my training camp!"

Aries lowered his head. He couldn't meet the Captain's eyes. The look on his eyes is enough to seize your breath.

Tobias then continued scolding each one of them until he arrived in front of Sol.

"Aspirant Moraii, you are one of the weakest among your brothers; instead of training yourself more you decided to have a drink with them instead. I am disappointed."

The voice of Captain Karsh was calm yet it seemed to pierce right into Sol's heart.

Sol has this seemingly rude and somehow braveness in how she talks because she believed that even if she is the weakest, she wouldn't let anyone belittle her. Because if she will let them, she would be betraying herself.

Moreover, she is used to the taunting; but, it hits differently when she hears it from someone she kinda looked up to.

I never wanted you to be disappointed in me, Captain!

She wanted to say this and she wanted to explain herself like she usually does, but the look on the Captain's face made her to just keep mute.

"Attention! Give me 100 good repetitions of full laps around our training grounds, now!" Tobias ordered.

As soon as the order came, the aspirants started jogging around the training grounds. Midway through the punishment, the aspirants started vomiting.

"Continue!" Tobias shouted at them.

TUGGG!

The sound of someone falling down made the Aspirants who were watching gasped. Tobias turned around to see Sol on the ground. Adrenaline immediately crept right into his consciousness. He rushed towards her. He picked her up. He looked at Aries and his companions stopping by to see what happened.

"Finish the punishment. I'll have someone to check on you!" Tobias shouted at them as he hastily walked towards the Healer's Center.

A healer quickly attended Sol. When he saw Sol' exhausted condition, he didn't try to wake her up and decided to just let her rest.

"Her body is weak and wasn't able to take that kind of exhaustion that's why she fainted," the healer said.

"How can a Wishbone be as weak as her? She is as weak as a Pure-Blood."

"It puzzles me as well, Captain. Naturally, a Wishbone should have greater endurance."

"Is it because she's mixed?...No, No. She should still be a lot stronger."

Tobias thought that Sol is mixed because she has a foreigner father and that she has a Largusan and Wishbone features; that means her mom is a Wishbone.

"This is a rare case, Captain. I think Chief Healer Sapiensa could answer it."

Captain Karsh harshly sighed.

"I know that it's not my place but I think you should tone it down a bit, Captain."

Tobias looked at the healer, squinting his eyes as if saying that the healer made the wrong statement.

"I can't tone down. They are going to defend our land. They should know discipline. I wouldn't produce lame defenders. That would mean that I failed as their training officer."

Even though I'm just here for a different agenda, I should still take my job seriously.

The healer looked away from Tobias' raging gaze.

"Right, Captain."

" So, does she need to take any medicine?" Tobias asked, referring to Sol.

"I will give her an invigorating soup once she wakes up. For now, she should rest."

"Then, if there's no more, you can go back to what you're doing."

"Yes, Captain," he said and walked away, leaving Tobias and Sol alone.

Tobias stared at Sol's exhausted body. She could even feel the warmth escaping from her body. Something pinched his heart. His usually ferocious eyes started to warm up. Every time his eyes warms up, it's like seeing a heart-tugging sunset.

Why is she still so weak compared to her brothers who are not Wishbones?

He also observed it during the challenge duel during their leveling up. Obviously, the Pure-Blooded is stronger and more agile than her. Luckily, she has learned some skills that saved her on that day.

Also, when they dueled together, Tobias really felt her weakness; but because she is quite skilled, he indirectly taught her some simple deceptive moves. If Sol has the normal strength and agility of a Wishbone, she would be the strongest of them all.

Or is she just a Pure-Blooded Largusan pretending to be a Wishbone?

Tobias, reached out to Sol's purple tresses, touching it, investigating it.

This doesn't seem to be a hair dye. Yes, I am the only one who knows about dyeing the hair. So, it's impossible that she dyed hers. Then, what is it? She has been training hard like everyone else… but, still why?

Tobias is currently lost in his thoughts when an aspirant came to inform him that the punishment was done. He then reached for Sol' shoulders and tapped it before walking out towards the training grounds. Six exhausted defenders with vomit on their robes were trembling in attention, waiting for Tobias.

Tobias warned them again and dismissed them so that they could clean themselves, eat and rest.