38 Future Fears

Naomi had locked the door and stood beside an occupied bed. For the last few days, she found Arnacia's face a little different. The difference so minute that she couldn't point out exactly what. Perhaps such unclear oddities came along with memory loss.

But who cares! The sleeping face right now aligned with all her memories. Pure and strong, just like the ocean's color that soaks everything inside, unchanging. She couldn't control a feeling surging up inside.

It was just her and Arnacia and all the Arnacia she could have.

It was just her, and Arnacia and all of Arnacia she could have.

It might have been the silence or just her imagination, but she could hear Arnacia's breath. Warmth was all that she could feel. And slowing it climbed up to her head.

Suddenly, a shirt was flung up in the air. She couldn't bear it any longer and dived into the blanket. Ah, yes, this is how tonight was meant to be.

Inside the covers, she proceeded with great caution. It would spoil the mood if Arnacia were to freak out. Thus, her movements were very slow.

One of her hands gently invaded Arnacia's shirt while feeling every inch of the skin on its way. While her other hand untied her pant's cloth belt. Her breathing was rough as she took a long lick at the sleepy girl's neck up to the ear.

"Arnacia," she whispered and nibbled Arnacia's ear.

In her dream, Arnacia was exploring a wooden hut. A gentle breeze invaded through the window and hit her skin. But instead of cold, she felt a cozy sensation.

The scene suddenly changed, and she was lying on the lap of a lady. She couldn't make out the face, but vaguely she could make out that her mother had messy hair. Gently, her mother rubbed her belly.

In the next moment, she was running to find the bathroom inside the shabby, yet cozy hut. But suddenly, a centipede crawled up her neck and tried to enter her ear.

"Ahhh." She struggled to get up with half-closed eyes. She tried to lift her hand but something was directly blocking her body.

"Naomi, what the hell!" She felt a bare hand in the deepest part of her upper undergarment.

Moreover, she could tell that Naomi wasn't wearing pants, nor a shirt. She knew something like this would happen, but she never guessed that it would still happen now that she changed the room. Frustration mixed with embarrassment and anger flared up.

"Get away from me. Is this how you treat your friend?" She pushed Naomi away. "You don't consider if I am comfortable or not. You are just-" She took a deep breath and forced herself to stop. Someone she could feel Naomi breaking down.

"Naomi," she sighed. "I am not ready, okay? I am not the same person you know. There are still many gaps in my memory." She pushed herself back to lean on the upper side of the bed.

No words were spoken for some time and both girls stayed still. But after a while, Arnacia could vaguely hear Naomi's suppressed sob. Third time now, she couldn't help but crawl towards her friend.

"Don't cry now. I still remember how we met." She hugged Naomi. She could feel Naomi's hands on her stomach, as if they were rejecting her hug.

But eventually, Naomi's hands accepted the hug and fell asleep just like that.

***

Arnacia was wide awake in the early hours of the morning, but she didn't get up from bed. One of the reasons was sleeping soundly beside her. The other was a cool early morning breeze invading inside through the broken window. In the cozy bed, she felt the touch of Naomi's bare skin grasping her arm.

Luckily it was all hidden behind a blanket and Arnacia didn't mind it much (as she was theoretically sleeping with her childhood friend). Further, she had bigger concerns - her family in this world.

She knew a bit about her house and the village, thanks to that mysterious dream by the Evermore river. Additionally, she had asked a few questions to Naomi in the carriage yesterday. But due to motion sickness, the talk didn't last much and the green-haired pervert went off to narrate about their time together.

'My family is broke and I am essentially returning home jobless.' Arnacia thought while staring at the ceiling. It was just like in her previous life. Students traveled away from home to study in better colleges.

Returning home jobless was one of the worst-case scenarios. She didn't think this would happen, not even in that demoralizing school counseling session.

The ideal path now that magic was discovered was to learn it. But for Arnacia, this wasn't a safe choice. And she had given up on it.

The second best would be to learn medicine. Arnacia remembered Lulu, the Knight with glasses. That girl was most likely Queen Afeefa's best Medical Knight. However, this was an expensive choice.

Plus, she had a little brother (according to Naomi). And her brother was receiving an expensive education. But even if she didn't have a brother, it was highly unlikely that they would have enough money for medical study.

One other way was to live her life as a farmer. She shook her head at the thought. This was too little for her appetite. Especially because she knew many secrets hidden inside Lanceworth Castle.

BUT! It was dangerous for her to approach the castle. Even if she disguised herself, it would be difficult to enter those secret places.

'I could possibly become a Knight with a different identity.' She thought, but for that qualifying, the Enter - Knight exam was a must. To do so, she needed physical prowess. And for that, she needed time.

How much time? She wasn't sure.

Another problem. Her family was expecting her to be a maid in Lanceworth Castle.

Thus, her worries shifted to the attitude of her parents. If they were distant and strict, they would force her to Lanceworth Castle.

If they were loving and close, they would easily suspect that something was wrong with their daughter.

'What should I do? What can I do?' Arnacia's worries were building up. She tried to turn around in the bed and there was Naomi.

Naomi?

'I can crash at her place.' Wasn't the best choice as she thought of the incident from last night. Also, there were clear indications that her family was ostracized by the villagers.

She racked her brains about anything from the novel that could help, but they were all inside Lanceworth Castle, far, far away.

Contact the Queen? How was an ordinary village girl supposed to do that?!

Contact Rosalia? No, the witch's motives were unclear.

'Over thinking won't help me much.' Arnacia massaged her cheeks with both hands and slapped them gently. 'Whatever I do, I will keep on living!' She flung the blanket over and stood up on the bed.

"Arnacia, marry me." By her side, Naomi mumbled in sleep.