There… that's more like it. It's been a couple days since I went out. My head felt lighter, and my heart was starting to go back to normal.
I took out the dresses Melinda had put in my clothes rack. First and foremost, I replaced them with the dress shirts I bought. Yes, that's much better.
White and black, the white dress shirts were on the left and the other I don't need to explain.
As for my outfit today… a black dress shirt, shorts and a pair of tights. Don't question it, alright?
The tights were to hide my leg scarring. I already get stared at enough. Paired with the shorts, it felt appropriate. And no, I'll never wear a skirt.
Alas, the dress shirt since my ears are sensitive.
… And I look depressed. I thought when I saw myself in the mirror. My hair was black, and everything… I wonder how I'll look in the future. This is such an emo look. Nothing I can do though.
But that is something to worry about later… At least I look good. And surprisingly these tights felt comfy.
Anyways.. James wanted to take me somewhere today. Apparently to help me get used to fighting.
Hopefully it isn't too bad…
"Hm?" When I opened my door a pink haired girl stood in front of me. Horns branched out of the top of her head.
"Looks like I was too late." The pink haired girl proclaimed. "You are Miss Yukina, correct?"
"Uh… Yeah?"
Is she with Shen? Despite seeing so many people I have never seen someone with pink hair. It seemed appropriate to assume it was someone from Shen, given that everyone that she seems to be associated with is special in some way. Then… she smelled different.
Uzuki had the scent of an ocean; salty and breezy. Close to someone who stayed clean. This one had a weird, eerie scent. A mixture of blood and wood radiated off her.
"From master to you."
"Shen?"
"Yes, Miss Shen wanted me to deliver this to you."
The girl dropped the letter in my hands then walked off. Do they just sneak in here…? I'm at my bedroom…
This is the second of Shen's students… And she's been having them come everyday at this point! I'm already getting a pile of her notes…
I stuffed Shen's letter in my pocket and went to the dining room.
Inside, everyone was sitting around the dining table chatting. Eh? He's here too?
Shaun was sitting at the furthest end of the table. He had his chin on his palm whilst focusing mindlessly on his plate.
That's good at least…. My heart became warm as I took my seat.
"That's something new…" Melinda commented when looking at me. …Why are you checking me out…? I just wanted to wear shorts without being stared at! "Did you find someone you like during your trip?"
"No?" I replied after a moment of silence.
"Not even Allisa wears tights…"
I turned my head and felt my face become warm.
"Like them?" Melinda leaned forward, with what I could assume a smile. "Looks like it, I'll keep that in mind~"
"..."
I felt my entire back tingle by her words. My gut was starting to churn, did she have some kind of evil plot? Why is she giving me that smile-
"Honey, she wore that because we're going to the guard's training yard."
"I know, I know. Just something I was not expecting."
Is there something wrong with it…?
Eventually the energy died down— Melinda kept glancing at me, and James had to calm her down. Sometimes he grabbed her hand, or verbally said it.
Shaun barely touched his plate, he had only taken a couple bites. Hopefully he starts eating more.
After cleaning up he retired to his room. James and I made it to the front door.
"You ready?" James held the door open whilst turning to me. "You don't have to come with."
If it's training… My heart was already picking up. "I'll… be fine."
"Last chance."
"I'll be fine-"
James asked once more… By that time my nails started to dig into my hands.
I'm not some helpless girl… Everyone… Everyone sees me as one… But I'm not.
Before he could ask me yet again, the second last chance I rushed through the door.
"Let's get going then…" James mumbled with his mouth dropped.
For a few moments I had to stay there until he started walking.
He said guard training yard…What guards…? The only ones I saw were protecting the gates…
…
Before my head could swim, James held his hand behind me. There were so many people in the home district. He flapped his hand towards me, and I took it.
… His hand was warm. My head didn't want to panic, my heart felt calm. Even when the same voices entered my ears, it didn't stab into my head.
"Until you're ready, you won't be leaving by yourself." I could hear him say under his breath. His hand tightened on mine, then he continued. "You need to learn to shut the voices out. You're rare, people will stare."
How rare.. to make people stare?
It was as if he could read my mind. His words sent an electrocuting feel down my back.
"Yukina, there aren't many wolfkins. From… Miss Shen's words, there are less than two thousand of them left." James fell quiet, I could see his head lower. "That's why Melinda and I want to prepare you for the future.
When Shaun told us you started to have a panic attack, it broke us. You're our precious daughter, like Allisa. You need to be prepared for people."
I know… I felt my hands ball.
The crowds seemed to worsen— if James let go of my hands I would lose him immediately.
We seemed to walk for half an hour— our destination was nowhere in sight. And… it seemed with him I got people to stare at me less.
I did feel a few here and there— occasionally get a comment. Throughout… James held his head up, watching him.. it caused my heart to stay normal.
Even when the crowds started to disperse, and he let go of my hand. Next, we started nearing the front gate. Two guards waved us off.
The outside was frigid, and Jamee kept me close. My bones felt like they were going to lock up, the mist that exhaled from my breath was frozen in mid air.
"We just have to stick to the wall, okay?"
"O-Okay…"
Just west of the gate, a yard per se was seen. Men of various sizes were whacking at each other.
Just outside the field was a lady and man; both were middle aged, especially the man. His head was bald and looked to be in his late forties or early fifties. The lady looked to be in her early thirties.
In addition to them, dummies made of straw lined the yard. Many had "slices" of battle. Is it a good idea for them to do this outside the gates…?
Ard's safe but not… entirely. Especially since all the guards here are wearing casual outfits; the only way to tell they are? The wooden swords on their hips.
"Do monsters come close to Ard?" I couldn't help but question.
"No."
"What about other kingdoms?"
"They wouldn't want to attack a kingdom with two demi-gods." James answered pretty quickly. It made some sense, and didn't cause my head to tilt.
The guards didn't stop their talks when we got closer; on the other hand the middle aged duo strolled up to us and shook James' hand.
"This is your daughter you talked about?" The middle aged man inquired whilst eyeing me.
"Correct."
"Pretty tall for a fourteen year old… How's she with a sword?"
"..."
I need a lot of work.
"Alright, Mister James, you'll be teaching her the basics."
… I can barely only use the basics currently… and I'm trying. My body can't understand anything further.
"Well, alright." James twisted his body and flashed me a smile. "You ready?"