A Mother's Determination System

Chapter 22:

N/A: What about this sort of pace? >:D

Elizabeth's ropes cuffed her wrists like a viper,  the prickling surface prodding her skin such as a father's beard would do. Looking plainly on the ground, she thought of nothing. Nothing in particular, nothing in general. All she did was look blankly around her, becoming slightly aware of her own situation. The blue hanfu she wore was tarnished with dirt, and it no longer flushed with the same, prideful blue peony hue. She could barely breathe properly. Every single time she expected to fill her lungs with refreshing, citrus air, Elizabeth felt the warmth sink into her bones in sticky, dull chunks. 

"You better not stop." 

I want to stop...

The man in charge of her forcefully drew the line, Elizabeth lagging behind with a doll's, inanimate weight. Her body felt tired, and the sweat from the incandescing sun made it no better. Her muscles ached with a sagging, dull, yet sharp throb, and her bones felt bruised. The wooden sandals Elizabeth's mother commissioned few months ago, clapped against her heel with a numbing tickle, as she moved her toes in boredom. If she truly wanted to, and felt no certain culpability, then she would have dropped onto the sandy, dusted unpaved road right there. 

It's been 7 hours... 

Elizabeth knew she had no choice, or even considering that her opinions were no less than invalid, it seemed to be out of the question. For now, all she had to do, was kneel on the floor, just for a little longer. That was the only way to get back to the mountain, and Neo, of course. Elizabeth knew this, so in spite of the blazing sun threatening to crisp her skin, and the tall loaming redwood throne in front of her, she would not let her knees buckle.

Where is Neo? 

"... How... Many hours do... We... Have left?" Elizabeth hoarsely asked, fatigued by the rays that she couldn't bother to lift her head up too high. There was no saliva left in her mouth and throat. She wanted to conserve her energy for the trip back home. Yet, the heat multiplying on the back of her head appeared to have a different plan. And maybe if she was a sunflower, she would have seen the gashing star behind her well, much like how a student admires a teacher. But, she was not, so she in fact, started to silently curse the sun, though she was aware that her own lacking of wit had brought her to this cliché punishment. 

A boy, perhaps 17, and maybe a little bit younger, sat casually on the red sandalwood chair. With a leg swung over his other, the decorum swallowed his entire aura. Precisely, he seemed to be half putting on a show for the remaining of onlookers, and half for himself. The attention gathered, as you would expect, didn't amount to anything but a few occasional glances, or short glares. It judged to be nothing of importance, and the boy let out a belittling, but overly charming smile as he felt the eyes drill into himself. He flipped the pages of his book in leisure, and in great concentration too. 

Elizabeth felt her throat shrivel with an abiding thirst. Her knees were swollen with blood, while the time seemed to go on forever. The undistinguishable heat, and coldness of the blanching. 

"I knew knew I'd meet you here Gilbert. I thought you'd be dead after that lashing... It's a surprise to both of us isn't it?.. How you've grown lately." Elizabeth's eyebrows gestured for the boy, or otherwise, Su Long,  to start paying attention to her. Not that he wasn't, he just seemed to be putting on a façade of a cool-headed, aloof master. 

"Gilbert? She's truly gotten mad." Su Long muttered, resting his face on his fist as he gazed on her through his glasses in an amusement. He waved his hand to his attendant, who, very difficultly ran from the boy's side, to towards a teahouse. For he was to fetch the doctor, who had tended to Elizabeth a while ago, but was reluctant to leave too far. Chance offered to buy him a space in the building, and so there he stayed.
The attendant clumsily stumbled on a pebble,  but was yet to spill the items onto the floor. His tray of master's miscellanies with him, just moved a bit though he seemed to be surprised; as marked by the little pink on his cheeks. 

A few grumbles and shifts paused the little errand, and the attendant handed the tray to soldier's care, before he tiptoed looking for the doctor. The sounds of the attendant's, already soft footsteps dissipated into the far away chatter. The talks of people still far away from Elizabeth's courtly appearance, and whom did not have context. 

Su Long folded his book, and placed it on his lap. His eyes squinted cunningly behind his glasses, and with a smirk, he had one of his men grab Elizabeth up. He made the soldier with the tray come along, and took the tea cup which he drank some time ago, but did not care to finish. 

"..." His lips touched the edge, and before any defiant action happened, the tea was poured onto the floor. He tilted the cup, and the the sound of small stream rejuvenated Elizabeth's metaphorical soul. The ground drank it up greedily, leaving nothing behind but a stain. Su Long looked at the soldier with a look, that told you everything you needed to know, but also nothing. He was an odd boy, quite odd. 

"A-Ah." The soldier, a man well into his forties gently blushed. In embarrassment, or in ingratiation, he stammered. The man picked up the pot with one hand, leaving the wooden embroidered plate of things in his other palm. 

"..." Su Long rotated his cup, or flick, still exhibiting the same casual, playful cheer but modesty. He waited for the man to finish pouring, then brought it to his mouth. He blew, but kept his eyes on Elizabeth. 

"Are you thirsty?" He swirled the tea in front of her, like a modern cup of wine. 

... 

You might be wondering what exactly got me here... And me too. 

I'm completely lost as to how I got here. 

...

<Few hours ago>

"What a pity... I would've first bought my grandpa a vest before I'd go to see him. Could we really, really not go? I promise I won't do anything. I know we're in a slight predicament, but I'd absolutely pay you for this trip... I can pay... Double of what an average seater offers on the wagon." Elizabeth looked at Chance. She didn't give any pleading tone, but she genuinely meant her words. It was just that there was not desperation hinted in her voice. 

Chance looked at her, and shrugged. 

"Why not?"