Chapter 38

"A senior knight will train us beginning this week," Yjhan stated. "I'm not sure who it is, so respect that senior knight."

"Is there a reason why?" Idris asked. "The training is becoming increasingly difficult compared to previous years."

"It is considerably easier to prepare before becoming an Imperial knight," Aeries explained.

...

"Aidan!" Nash knocked on his door. Aidan immediately opened it.

"Why?" Aidan asked, drowsily.

"Let's go outside! It's snowing!" She said with a wide smile of excitement.

Snow has already piled up in front of their inn due to heavy snowfall.

"What the hell? It's midnight already."

"Well, because I waited for the snow to pile up," she explained. "Let's go! It'll be fun!"

"I can't. I have to leave early tomorrow to visit my family."

"Are they alright?" Nash asked, concerned.

Aidan responded with a nod.

"Okay, goodnight. Let's just play outside when you get back."

Nash went back to her room to sleep.

...

3 days later...

"Oh! You're back!"

After going to the market to buy fruits, Nash was shocked to meet Aidan.

"Gosh, it's freezing outside," she added. She set the bag of fruits down and washed one apple.

"How is your family doing?" She inquired, taking a mouthful of the luscious apple. "Wow, this is delicious. Do you want some? "

He took a piece of Nash's apple and said, "Just certain things that are easy to deal with."

'It is sweet.'

Nash is staring at Aidan as he eats.

"What? You miss me that much?" Nash shook her head.

'Why is his expression looks... sad and bothered?'

"Are you sure everything is okay?"

"Huh? Of course? Why would I be here if not?" He finished the apple and stood up. He ate the apple and stood up. "I'll take the day off. Don't wake me up unless it's an emergency."

"Can't we build a snowman tonight? That's important."

Aidan looked at her blankly. "What are you? A 5 year old?"

Nash pouted and watched Aidan's departing figure.

'Something is seriously wrong.'

...

"Make sure to respect the senior knight, I repeat. Nash." Yjhan said.

"What? Why me? I'm a respectful person!"

"Yeah right," Kane commented. Nash glared at him, but Kane didn't care.

"Let's go."

They arrived at the training site and noticed a knight standing in the distance.

"Woah! Take a look at those broad shoulders! " Nash can't help but notice the senior's stature.

"Nash," Yjhan warned.

"What? I was just amazed," Nash pouted.

"Oh... you're here"

The squad 15 saluted the senior knight.

"We apologize for being late," Yjhan said.

"No... You've arrived just in time. I was the one that arrived early."

Nash's admiration for the senior knight is undeniable. He exudes the cool and manly demeanor that Nash desires.

Aidan elbowed Nash when he noticed the senior knight looking at her.

"I had no idea there was a lady in your squad," grinned the senior knight.

"I am Nash, senior"

"Oh! How rude of me. I forgot to say my name. I am Thed, a member of the white knights. Nice to meet you."

Before beginning their training, Squad 15 takes turns introducing themselves.

"Now that you introduced yourself, let's start the training, shall we?"

They began with a strenuous exercise. They didn't take a break for hours.

They ran around the training grounds, some knights and magic knights mocked them, saying how unlucky they were to choose such a tough senior knight.

Following the tough training comes the combat between them, and Thed was one of them.

Those who witnessed squad 15 can't help but be grateful to their senior knight.

"Put force!"

"Straighten your body!"

"I said force!"

"Okay that's enough!"

Squad 15 lies down on the grass, breathing deeply as they gaze up at the sky. Because of the no-rest training, they even forgot about the frigid weather.

"This is fun," Nash exclaimed in between breaths.

"Rest is over! Come here!"

They went with that routine for the whole day until the sun went down.

"I will just wash my face!" Nash said. Others are gathering around a bonfire and preparing meals.

"Yeah, you should go. Your face matches the ground," Kane teased.

Nash's face is coated in dirt from being tossed in the middle of a battle.

There are no mercy in training whether you're a girl or a boy.

"I'll go with you. Let's go," Aidan said. Nash followed him and looked at Aidan's back.

'There's something wrong with him these past few days... I'm sure of it.'

"Why do you look like you've done something wrong?" Nash asked which made Aidan halt.

"W...what?"

Nash frowned, 'Why is he stuttering?'

"I mean, you seem like you've had a lot on your mind these past few days since you returned."

"What do you mean? It's nothing. Let's go."

They washed their faces at the nearby stream.

"Nash..."

Nash looked back and saw Aidan looking at him with a sad expression.

"Why? Are you hurt somewhere?" Nash inspects Aidan.

"No... Can you? Could you just join me for a moment? "

"Sure. Let's go."

Nash finds that strange but continues to follow Aidan till they arrive at a house.

'Why is there a house here?'

"Do you know someone who lives there?" Nash asked.

"Huh? Ah... yes."

"I see,"

'Maybe this is where he usually goes?'

"Wait here," Aidan said as he entered the home, then went out to accompany Nash inside.

"He...llo?" Nash was taken aback by the presence of a few men. Except for one of them, Nash was unfamiliar with their appearance.

'What is this guy's name again? The one who tried to hit on me during the knight entrance?

"We met again... I'm not sure if you remember me, but I am Steven Mhurt," says the person Nash recognizes.

'Oh right! Mhurt! The one who's full of himself.'

"What are we doing here?" Nash asked, feeling uneasy.

"I'm sorry..." Aidan whispered.

Suddenly, a few of Mhurt's friends hold Nash.

As Nash yelled, Aidan began to walk towards the door. "Hey! Aidan! What are you doing? Are you going to leave me here? No! Wait! Please do not touch me!"

Nash tears started to fall as she felt molested. Aidan closed the door as he left.

He moves a few steps between the houses, still hearing Nash's yell.

"Ahhhh!" Aidan loses strength in her legs and holds his head.

"Why am I doing this..."

"Stopp! Please! Don't! " These are the phrases Aidan continuously yells.

Aidan looked around the house and realized what he had just done. He punched himself in the face to wake himself up. He can't hear Nash's shouts at that point.

'No.. did they kill her?'

[blag]

A loud noise was heard inside.

'What was that!?'

Aidan rushed towards the door and slammed it open, "Stop!"

Aidan looked at the surroundings and his eyes grew wide in shock.