Yes, but it is late

Again, I feel like staying in bed. To just lie here and waste my life away. Why face a life that is already ruined. But as I think about how I got here, it makes me remember all those sacrifices I have made. I made them so Darx and i could be closer together. It are those same sacrefices which have caused Darx to be pulled away from me. I sigh. If only I could turn back time and undo everything. No, I chose to do these things. Now I have to live with the consequences of my actions.

I sluggishly get out of bed and make my way to the village. On my way there I look at the sky. It is getting pretty dark about now. The festival should be in full swing.

When I reach the village outskirts, I can see two people at the entrance. They are looking at a wagon that is departing. Are those … Darx and Mia?

I keep close to the trees so they won’t see me. What are they doing here all alone? Then I see Mia hang close to Darx and … they kiss. And Darx accepts. I hide behind a tree. At least their love is innocent. As for me. Gods, I am such a …

I take a few deep breaths and calm myself. When I look again, I see them heading back to the village, hand in hand. Well, at least Darx is happy. I guess that’s what counts. I just … really really wish he would have been happy with me instead.

I take a few more moments and then I continue to the festival. Maybe some of the snacks there can cheer me up. I’ve barely eaten anything today and I am starving.

I stop at the first stall, buy some food there and start eating. I’m so hungry I don’t even care about the taste.

As I am finishing my snack, I suddenly hear a woman screaming. It is a scream which chills me to the bone. Did someone get hurt? I push myself through the crowds in the direction of the scream. Maybe I can use my healing magic to … oh no.

I find Mr. Enzo lying on the ground. The sleeve on his right arm has been sliced open and his arm has a huge gash. In front of Mr. Enzo is one of his maids and she has got a bloody dagger in her hands. But I don’t think she is the one who stabbed Mr. Enzo. She has her back turned to him. In front of the maid however lies Noah. He too has a knife in his hand and there is a red spot on his shirt which keeps getting bigger. Kneeling next to Noah is a woman his age. Someone I have seen in the mansion while I was there when studying with Kase.

“Noah! Noah, speak to me!” The woman begs desperately. “No, no, no, no, no. Don’t do this to me, Noah.”

The maid gets closer to the older woman and says, “Keep your distance, miss. He’s dangerous.”

But the woman snaps at the maid. “Get away from me! You’ve already caused enough harm!”

Then she returns her attention to the dying Noah. Yes, with a chest wound like that, even I know he is dying. Even with all of the improved healing I got, this is way too much even for me. No, this is what I was afraid of. I didn’t want to be unable to help. All my studying with Kase was supposed to prevent me from being this weak. What was it all for?

“See, I knew the Enzo’s weren’t any good!” Someone in the crowd yells. “First his kid tries to kill Ilene’s son, now his maid kills Noah!”

“Master Enzo was being attacked!” The maid defends herself. “I had ****!”

“You could have kicked the knife out of his hands!” Someone replies.

“He’s a drunk! You easily could have pushed him to the ground!” Another villager yells.

“A stab in Noah’s arm or leg would have been enough! There was no need to stab him in the chest!” A third villager yells.

This is bad. If nobody stops them, this could turn into a riot. Mr. Enzo seems to realize it as well. He gets up and then looks at me.

“Amelia! Go get Kase! Hurry!” Mr. Enzo implores me.

Kase. Yes. He’s good at fighting. He can help.

Without thinking, I run off in the direction of the mansion. Once I get inside, I get the attention of the other maids by yelling, “Mr. Enzo has been attacked! He sent me to find Kase! Does anyone know where he is?”

“Attacked?” One of the maids asks.

“Where?” Another maid asks me.

“On the festival grounds.” I say. “Hurry, he needs help.”

Several of the maids rush out of the mansion, leaving me practically alone. I take this moment to rush up to the second floor. After all the days coming to his room to study, I know my way around by now.

I bust into Kase’s room and yell, “Kase, your father has been …”

But his room is empty. Nobody is here. Where could he have gone?

Then I think back of what I saw the night after the bandit attack and I scowl. Alice.

I was about to turn away and leave again, but just then my eye falls on Kase’s desk. There is a book on it. Could it be? I walk up close and flip through some of its pages. Yes, this is the last book I was studying from. One I could never finish because …

I look around. None of the maids has come to find me. And I don’t hear any in the hallway. I look outside the window. It leads to the back of the mansion. Nobody is there. They must all be in the front.

I open the window and I let the book fall outside. After all that Kase has done to ruin my life, taking this book for myself is only a small price for him to pay. I then grab another book from his room, one that looks a bit similar, and place it on the desk. Maybe it’ll fool him long enough.

After that, I run back into the hall, down the stairs and outside. At the front of the mansion I find that Mr Enzo has arrived. There is a huge crowd of angry people yelling at him. Luckily, he is being protected by his maids and I think Ilene is there as well.

“Amelia. Where’s Kase?” Mr Enzo asks.

“I don’t know.” I say. “He wasn’t in his room.”

“Dammit.” Mr. Enzo curses. “Go find him. He needs to return home this instant.”

I nod and then run off. Not in search of Kase, but to the back of the mansion. I search for an open window on the second floor. There is only one. It’s the window to Kase’s room which I left open. I search underneath it and find the book. I quickly shove the book underneath my clothes and then I start running again. Straight home.

Finally! I have a study book that I can read at my own pace and I won’t have to owe Kase any more favors. I keep on running. Afraid that if I were to stop, someone would grab me and take the book from me. Only when I am in my room do I finally feel safe.

I take the study book from underneath my clothes. Looking at it like this makes me feel victorious.

I light a candle and start reading. When I am a few pages in I start to wonder. What if Kase finds out the books is gone? Won’t I be the first person he’ll suspect? In the case …

I go find myself a pen and some paper. Then whenever I find something interesting in the book, I write it down. Even if Kase ends up taking this book back from me, at least I’ll keep the important parts.

I spend the rest of the night studying. Whatever is happening in the village, Mr. Enzo and Kase will have to deal with it themselves.