Believer

Chapter Four

            Garroth stares at the sleeping woman in his arms, a smiles stretch on his lips at the relaxed looks on her face. He and the rest of Phoenix Drop life has been improving the moment Athea had come. She works so hard to gather resources and renovating the village. He even heard Dale called her the Lord of Phoenix Drop and she probably has been considered as one by the villagers by now. With their lord deceases, the woman sudden appearance in their village felt like a miracle send by Irene herself. The woman has instantly befriended everyone before deciding to fix what she could in the village. She has fixed their muddy and broken pathway, making it beautiful and adding more lights to the village. He remember seeing the villagers looking at the path with awe show in their eyes. 

        The Head Guard thought the path was all the woman planning to do. But she surprise him again, by building the Guard Barracks. He remember doing his usual rounds when he saw the new path was leading to a clearing and he immediately saw the sign the woman has placed there. He remember the shock that enter his heart before follow by unknown warmth. Then, Athea had appeared, shocked to see him there before chasing him away, telling him to return to his duties. He had turn around momentarily and saw the young woman pulls out a journal from nowhere and began mumbling to herself. And if he kept on dropping to check on her when or after she had finished their barracks was something he has the right to keep to himself.

      However, it was Donna later that told him that the brunette had been working non-stop. At first, he had thought to drop by her house to tell her to rest but then she took a break. Thinking that she finally realize her own body need to rest, he had left her be, only for Emma to inform him that Athea build Emmalyn a library conjoined with her own living quarters at the second floor. He immediately seeks out the young woman, only to catch her walking around the village, covered in dust and dirt, slumped over and limping slightly as she walks. He approaches her, tapping her gently on the shoulder, only for her to spun around with fire burning in her eyes, hackles raised as if she was expecting an attack. It was safe to says he was shocked by the sudden changes in her exterior. 

      After realizing it was just him, Athea had sighs in relief, placing a calming hand over her chest, glaring slightly at him.

 "Garroth! You scared me!" 

She exclaim. He immediately asks her to rest, only for her to vaguely refused. Garroth had frowned underneath his helm when she listed out her plans to him. She was definitely planning on staying with how much she been improving their village, but was she even planning to rest? Finally had enough, he scooped her into his arms before proceeding to carry her to her home, which he is pretty sure above the hill behind the village. She struggles for a few minutes before giving up, laying limp in his arms and head placed near his heart. He swore his heartbeat fasten and his breath hitched slightly at the soft breathing escaping her now and then. She had fallen asleep, in his arms.

"Garroth?" 

It was Zenix who found him in the situation. The younger man looks amused at the sight before chuckling. 

"Finally get yourself a girl, old man?" 

"Zenix!"

 He growled but immediately quietens when a small displease noise escape the young maiden in his arms. She snuggles closer to him before letting out a sighs. He swore to Irene the heat of his face could melt his helm by then. His apprentice chuckles. 

"Well, I let you two be." 

He said before walking away. Garroth had then proceed to carry her to home, blushing underneath his helm when Dale and Emma had smiled at the sight of him carrying her to her home, like they know something he didn't. 

"Oh my Irene, Garroth!"

It was Donna that approaches him, frowning at the sight of the younger woman in his arms. 

"She must have overworked herself..." 

Donna whispers and Garroth nodded. 

"...She still can't heard us?"

 She whispered, looking at the Head Guard, who nodded. 

"Yes. I tried speaking to her a couple days ago...However I only manage to whispers... Even then I don't think she heard me." 

Donna sighs at that. 

"This world truly is mysterious... Well, you better send her home safely, Garroth." 

He chuckles but nods. 

"Of course. It is my duty to do so." 

The woman smirked. 

"Duty as a guard to the lord or your duty to the woman you fall for?"

 "Donna!" 

The woman laughed loudly. 

"What? It's not like I'm wrong! Everyone can see how you always been watching out after her secretly!" 

        Garroth blushed, sputtering his 'goodbye' in rush before walking away. When he reaches her home, he can't help the frown that plaster on his face when he saw the state of her home. Her home NEEDED renovating itself, it seems. But instead of focusing on that she had been put her efforts on the villager's needs instead. He looks down at young woman in his arms, a fond smiles pulls on his lips. Maybe having the young woman as the Lady of the village is not a bad thing. Besides, she already earned his loyalty and trust by her actions alone... And maybe his heart too. 

(A/N : Hi! Before anyone wondering what happen here, basically what happen is Athea is the first player the world had ever encounter and Athea can't heard them talking which is frustating to the NPCs. The NPCs could hear each other just fine, though. Also, there is a certain time they can act on their own accords, which is rare.)