CHAPTER 19: Sweet Bonds

While they are touring inside, Karisha separates herself from the group to relieve herself. After walking out of the comfort room, she bumped into a defender about one foot taller than her.

"I'm sorry sir," she immediately apologized and looked at him.

"Mm," he just said and hurriedly walked away.

Karisha started to walk away when she felt something off from him. Aside from the noticeable bruises on his face that he tried to hide with his messy hair; she also caught a glimpse of his bruised wrist.

Adrenaline suddenly kicked in inside her and hurriedly followed him towards the stairs. As soon as she saw him, she jumped from stairs to stairs. As soon as she walked past him, she suddenly stopped and turned towards him, bumping into him.

"What's your problem? Get out of my way!" he said and pushed her.

Before he could walk away from her, she grabbed his robes from behind and pulled him back towards her.

"You're not a defender, are you sir?"

"Insolence! How can you speak like that to a defender? If you don't get away from me, be prepared to be sent to jail."

"Sir, Are you stupid or what? Defenders have shortened hair with an undercut. Yours is long."

"You are the one who is stupid. I am an officer, thus I have longer hair."

"But you don't have an undercut sir, and your hair was not braided."

"It's because it's stressful these days. I can't believe this? Why am I even explaining myself? Move!"

"You have a bruised face and wrist. I can't even see a defender pin on you. Plus, you say you are an officer but your robes are for a defender. You are a prisoner who just escaped, right?" she said and she readied herself for a fight.

"I can't believe this. How can a little girl threaten me?!"

He suddenly punched at her but she was able to evade it. She then struck his throat with her right hand and kicked his knee with her left foot. These sent him stumbling backwards.

"Oh, you've learned some moves."

He then pulled a knife from his boots.

"Now, let's see if you can still make it out alive."

XXX

Meanwhile, Ka-el and his companions have already arrived at their office and were halfway to finishing their tea and yet, Karisha still hasn't arrived.

"What's taking her so long?" Sol muttered.

"Maybe, she has a problem relieving herself," Haelas said, jokingly.

"Hey, don't make fun of your friend when he is here," Sol whispered to Haelas and glanced at Dorn.

"My bad."

"I'll go and check on her," Dorn said and walked out.

Sol and Haelas looked at each other with a wide grin.

XXX

When chance came to her, Karisha immediately grabbed his right hand holding the knife and extended it away from her. She then suddenly twisted it back while holding his wrist and applying pressure on his knuckles. She then kicked his groin, sending him intense pain. However, he was able to pull another knife from his boots and struck her, on her arm. Karisha was able to take the knife on his right hand and was going to move away from him when he struck her. She moved back from him and threw away the knife that she took from him.

A bell suddenly rang rapidly signaling an emergency. As the man was distracted and panicky, she immediately grabbed his left hand holding the knife, twisting his left arm and then turning towards him as if wrapping herself in him. As soon as he was behind her, she struck his head with hers. With the excruciating pain, he let go of the knife. She threw it again away from them. She then went towards him and gave him a powerful kick on the chest, sending him to fall on his back. She then flipped him over and pulled his hands towards his back. She then removed her belt and tied it around his wrists.

A lot of footsteps could be heard echoing on the stairs.

"Aspirant Grasi!" a baritone shouted from the upper stairs.

Karisha looked up and saw Dorn hurriedly approaching them.

"What happened?" he asked as soon as he comes across Karisha who's holding the man's tied wrists together while her knee is resting on his lower back. He also noticed her bleeding arm.

"I caught an escapee Sir."

One by one, the guards from the Interrogation Room arrived. Dorn then pulled Karisha away from the prisoner. The guards then took the prisoner away after expressing their thanks to Karisha. Then, Ka-el and the others also found them. Curious because of the rapid ringing of the bell, which means that a prisoner has escaped, they immediately left the office to try to help catch the escapee.

Dorn pulled his dagger and tore a part of his robes. He then gently reached for Karisha's bleeding arm. He then wrapped around the cloth on her arm to temporarily hold the bleeding.

"Hop on my back," Dorn said to Karisha.

"Oh. Why sir?"

"We're going to the Healer's Center."

"Oh, I can walk sir. This is nothing. I am a strong woman."

"Whether you are a strong woman or not. Hop on my back," Dorn said and kneeled down, offering his back.

"Aspirant Grasi, it's okay. Just hop on his back," Ka-el said as he got tired of watching them from afar. They're about to walk down the stairs and approached them when Sol and Haelas stopped them, saying that they shouldn't ruin that moment. Thus, they just watched from upstairs.

"Yes, so that we could treat that wound of yours," Haelas said as well with a sly grin.

Karisha looked up and glared at Haelas. She then hopped on Dorn's back.

"Try to put on more cloth from your sleeves to your wound in order to help block the bleeding," Dorn said.

"Yes, Sir," she said as she wrapped her arms around Dorn's neck reaching for her bleeding hand.

As she held her bleeding hand, she stared at Dorn's face. It's the first time that she hopped on a man's back aside from her father. His back felt strong and warm.

Ka-el, Tobias, Haelas and Sol followed them closely with the two aspirants grinning.

"Is there something I don't know?" Ka-el asked as he turned towards Haelas.

"Um. You see sir, the real purpose that we are here is because our friend wanted to see Sir Allegros," Haelas whispered to Ka-el.

Sol gave him a firm tap on the back, "Haelas, why are you revealing our friend's secret?"

"It's okay. Matters about that, I can keep my mouth shut. I can even help her," Ka-el said.

"Oh, you see. It's not a bad thing to reveal it," Haelas said to Sol.

Sol just raised an eyebrow on him and gently pushed him.

XXX

At the Healer's Center, after the healer-in-charge cleaned and put medication on her wound, he then bandaged it carefully.

"What really happened there? We only heard that an escapee was caught by a woman," Ka-el said.

"Well, I bumped into him Sir and there were things that didn't add up. That's why I suspected him. Then, I followed him and got into a fight. Fortunately, I was able to take him down."

"That's very brave of you," Tobias said.

"Thank you, Captain."

"Next time, you should still ask for help, Yes?" Dorn gently asked her.

"Uh. Yes Sir," she said as she stared at those gentle and sharp monolid eyes.

Dorn smiled at her when he noticed that she's still looking at him. She immediately looked away after he saw his sweet smile.

Ka-el, Haelas and Sol couldn't help grinning watching the two while Tobias looked confused when they saw them grinning.

"By the way, I am bringing Captain Karsh and Sir Allegros to my family's house for dinner. Would you like to join us?" Ka-el asked as he glanced from one aspirant to the other.

"Yes Sir, Of course," Haelas said as he clapped his hands in excitement.

"Then let's get going," Ka-el said.

"Yes, sir," Haelas said and purposely pulled Sol out, leaving Karisha from behind.

"Hey!" she shouted at them.

Ka-el just grinned and walked out.

"Sir Allegros, Take care of her," Tobias said to Dorn and followed suit.

Dorn and Karisha glanced at each other awkwardly.

"I can't believe my own friends abandoned me," Karisha complained with a shy smile.

"It's okay. I'm here," Dorn said and reached out his hand, "hold on to me."

"Oh. Okay sir," she said and reached his hand. He then helped her to stand. They then started walking towards the stable. When they arrived, every one of them was already high up on their steed.

"Sir Allegros, our aspirant is injured. You're the only one who can ride the steed gently. Take her with you," Ka-el said to Dorn, trying hard to be as serious as he could.

"It's okay sir, I can ride on my own," Karisha said.

"Aspirant Grasi, just go with him. He will take care of you," Tobias said.

"But I don't wanna bother-"

"You won't. Come here," Dorn said, cutting her off. He then helped her climb on his steed. He then followed suit.

"Let's go," Ka-el said and led the way. Tobias followed him. Sol and Haelas also followed suit after winking at Karisha who just glared at him.

The steed then started moving. Karisha can feel the warm chest behind her and the firm arms on her side.

"Are you alright Aspirant Grasi? Tell me if I'm going too fast," Dorn said.

"I'm alright sir."

Silence came.

"I heard that you can play the lyre harp," Dorn said after long minutes of silence.

"Just a bit sir."

"Do you want me to help you master it?"

"Oh. I don't want to bother your Sir."

"It's alright. I'll visit you at your training camp from time to time."

"Then, I would really be honored to be taught by you sir."

Can you also tell me how to stop my heart from beating too fast? I can already feel my cheeks flushing so hard.

"Mm."

XXX

The group finally arrived at Braegen's abode just after dusk. Captain Braegen who's waiting for them challenged his son for a duel since it's been a long time since they fought together. Everytime, Ka-el comes home, he would duel with his father. Mrs. Braegen then invited the guests to rest inside but they preferred to watch the duel.

The father and son started the duel with the guests watching nearby as they sipped their tea. The light from the bonfire and from the lamp made the duel look intense yet warm.

Sol's memories suddenly popped. She remembered what Serga and Reicha told her just after her special training with Captain Karsh. They have just some bits of mixed martial arts from their training. On that particular evening, they've been trying to clinch each other. Clinch refers to how you hold your opponent in order for you to launch your attack. As violent as it looks, Serga and Reicha said that it seemed like they were dancing.

Well it really might have looked like we're dancing because even myself, I felt like everything was going in slow motion. The way Captain fights is so graceful when you focus your eyes on it. Even when Captain repeatedly took me down and I struggled to get away from his hold, his stares would always pull me towards him trying to win against him.

This has been going on for days.

"Sol, what's going on? Why are you smiling weirdly?" Haelas asked when he noticed her smiling and as if she's absorbed in her own world.

"Oh. When did I smile?" Sol asked as she glanced at Tobias who's focused on the duel.

"You are smiling like the spring. Did something happen that I don't know about?" Karisha asked.

"How do you smile like the spring? That's absurd," she said as she smiled shyly.

"Mm. Sooner or later, I will find out who's making you smile like the spring."

"You should just concern yourself about him," Sol said as she glanced at Dorn, "You don't need to include me."

"I will and I will not," she said as she grinned at her.

TUGGG! A sword fell down.

"I won again!" Captain Braegen said as he raised his arm and sword, "Tonight, I will open our most expensive wine. Come on inside."

Captain Braegen then walked towards the dining hall. Ka-el just smiled as he watched his father go inside.

"You let your father win?" Tobias asked him.

"Is it obvious?"

"I think your father knew it. He is just feigning ignorance. He looked so happy. He must be proud that you are getting better and better," Dorn commented.

Ka-el smiled warmly.

"Then, let's get inside. I know that you are all hungry. Don't worry you will have your fill tonight. My mother is an awesome cook."

His friends and the aspirants then followed him inside towards the dining hall. The dining table is filled with steamed whole chicken, smoked fishes, Pork and Liver Stew, Vegetable Salad and a variety of fruits.

They then took a seat and Mrs. Braegen invited them to start eating. Tobias reached for the Pork and Liver Stew. This dish is braised in tangy and savory soy-sauce-vinegar mixture along with spices such as garlic, onion, bay leaves. He put a spoonful of it inside his mouth. As soon as he savored it, he was suddenly enveloped by cold sweat.

He has been tasting pork and liver stew from every restaurant that the dish is available, it is just now with Mrs. Braegen's pork and liver stew that he felt a familiar taste. It tasted the same with his late mother's recipe.

"Auntie, if I may ask…this pork and liver stew, is this your own recipe?" he asked her with a hint of trembling voice.

Mrs. Braegen asked to be called 'Auntie' as well.

"Oh. Actually, this recipe is from my mother. She passed it to me. Did you like it dear?"

"Very much, Auntie."

"Then, if you crave it, you are always welcome here. I will cook it for you."

"Mother, don't spoil him that much. He might come and live here," Ka-el said jokingly.

"Well, what's wrong with that? Oh by the way, I forgot to ask your other friends' names."

"Auntie, actually we are still aspirants. My name is Sol Moraii."

"I'm Karisha Grasi."

"And I am Haelas Aris. I hope you remember me, Auntie."

"Oh. Lovely to meet you all. Of course, I remember you Haelas. Among my son's friends when he is younger, you are the closest."

"Really, Auntie."

"Yes. I remember the time he's so worried about your bruised face and I remember the times when he's angry because those bullies wouldn't stop bothering you. He once said that he'll be a defender and send all those bullies to prison."

As they started chattering, Sol glanced at Tobias who became silent. He seems fine as he eats the pork and liver stew heartily. As she looked away, she noticed Tobias' trembling hand on his lap. She finally noticed the redness on his eyes and the trembling corners of his mouth.

Instinctively, Sol reached his trembling hand and grasped it. Tobias suddenly turned towards her. Sol just smiled at him and looked away. She then used her other hand to scoop for the food as her other hand continued to grasp Tobias trembling hand.

XXX

As they were eating desserts, Haelas noticed a harp beside a bamboo flute displayed near the wall.

"Oh, Auntie, you still play the harp?" he asked. He has seen her playing it when he used to visit their house in the South.

"Yes, dear. Would you want me to play it?"

"If you're okay with it Auntie."

Mrs. Braegen just smiled and asked her husband to bring the harp. She then started playing Endless Love. It is a piece about love and longing. When she started playing it, Tobias went to get the bamboo flute. He then joined her during the chorus part.

Now tightly hold my hands and close your eyes

Please remember about the times when we were deeply in love

We loved each other too much that it's painful

That we can't even say the words 'I love You'.

-Endless Love, Jackie Chan and Kim Hee Sun

As each one of them listened to the piece, they couldn't help but felt the love and the pain tugging at their hearts. It was a beautiful piece of how much two people loved each other so much and also shows the pain of their separation and longing to see each other again.

As the piece came to an end, Sol stared at Tobias who is currently playing the bamboo flute.

Let our love bloom like a flower forever…

Only true love can live through endless time and space

After the piece, the listeners gave them a loud applause. Captain Braegen even came to give his wife a tight hug.

"That was beautiful, Auntie," Dorn said, and turned towards Tobias, "and yours as well, Captain."

"Auntie, I really tried to not let my tears fall. That was so beautiful, Auntie. By the way auntie, would it be okay if my friend Karisha will try to play it. She has learned it during the summer."

"Yes, no problem."

"What? Haelas I'm still not confident with it. Plus, I learned the lyre harp. It's quite different from the harp," Karisha said to Haelas, scolding him.

"It's okay dear, if you are not comfortable with the harp. I have a lyre harp for you to play," Mrs. Braegen said and asked her husband to bring the lyre harp from her room.

"But I'm still not really good with it."

"It's okay dear. I will help you."

"Mother, my friend, Sir Allegros, is good with lyre harp and can play the harp as well. Let him teach her," Ka-el said as he sent signals to his mother.

Mrs. Braegen let out a smile and called Dorn to take charge with the harp. Dorn then immediately walked towards the harp. Haelas and Sol then pushed Karisha to sit beside Dorn.

After several minutes, Captain Braegen returned with the lyre harp. He then gave it to Karisha.

"So Aspirant Grasi, what piece do you know?" Dorn asked her.

"Um. Auntie taught us the 'Can't help falling in love', sir. It's the piece that I can quite play well."

"Okay then," he said and started playing the first notes. He then looked at Karisha as a signal for her to start playing.

Take my hand

Take my whole life too

For I can't help falling in love with you.

-Can't help falling in Love by Elvis Presley

As they played the sweet piece, the shy stares that they gave each other couldn't escape from the eagle-eyed listeners. Sol and Haelas kept grinning while Tobias and Ka-el chose to look away. Meanwhile, Mrs. Braegen is gently nestled in her husband's arms.

That night was certainly full of sweet notes and will remain a sweet memory.

XXX

The next morning, after having breakfast with the Braegens, each one of them went on their way. Haelas, Karisha and Tobias continued to the South while Sol went back to the Capital and Dorn continued to the West. Before Tobias left, he gave a note to Sol.

I live on a hill covered with Cosmos. If the Young Miss is free, it would be a pleasure if you grace our abode.

The note says.

Sol let out a smile as she entered the Manse. She immediately went to find her father but she only saw Commander Remus.

"Your father won't be here to celebrate the new year with you , Young Miss. He has a very important state matter that he should settle in the South," the Commander said, "Actually, I am on my way to assist him."

"Mm. When will he be back?"

"He will try to get back here Young Miss before you go back to your training."

"Mm," she just said and sluggishly went to her room to rest.

When she woke up, it was already evening and the helper came to serve her dinner. After eating some, she decided to take a walk in the garden. As she stood by the gazebo, she slowly remembered the time when Captain Karsh was with her.

I bravely started this one sided love thinking that it will soon pass. But now, I think I'm gonna like him for a long time.

XXX

One night in the South.

Commander Remus kicked open a door at an inn. A shocked older man was seen as he was currently pacing back and forth then. Commander Remus unsheathed his sword and walked in large strides towards that man.

"Who really are you? Why are you following us?!" Commander Remus asked as he held his sword against Probitas, pushing him against the wall.

When he journeyed with the Supremo to the South, Commander Remus sensed that they were being followed. Thus, while the Supremo is having his rest at the inn; he went to find the person following them. It turns out, it was the person named Probitas.

"What do you mean following you Commander? It was just a coincidence," Probitas nervously said as he raised his hands in surrender.

"Do not try to fool me. Because of Senior Historian Gracias, I'm letting you go unscathed. But, I'm warning you. Do not show up again nor visit the Manse. When you do, I will surely seize your breath!" he said and walked away.

Probitas crumbled to the ground. His eyes trembled in fear. His breaths were heavy as he narrowly escaped death.

I thought that I hid very well. How was he able to see me?