AKAYA: Kingdom Come (Untold Stories 3)

12

Prince Caius might wander around the palace walls at this time of day. Thus, talking to Greta would not be a good decision right now. It's risky and I'm not so certain about how I should address this with her.

My mind has been tangled these days. How unfortunate. I should be in the grip of my skills for the eliminations but as a day passes by, another load of confusion wraps the entirety of my ability to think.

The night was cold and silent unlike how the past nights were. Most of the apprentices have gone off to sleep as weariness has come to manipulate their systems. Yes, I am tired as well but I cannot somehow dismiss my thoughts that easily.

It's strange but I'd rather gamble with my own prepositions rather than sleep and have my mind forget those I fear I strive to conquer. Should I ask Greta first? Or talk about my uncertainty with the General himself? Well, I'd hate to have both of them despise me because of these delusions of mine.

Another day, another round of training. The last day of preparation has finally come. Tomorrow, we'll be determining those who can proceed and those who cannot. We were given the whole day to train individually.

The General believes that we know our own abilities and skills better than how someone claims to have adequate knowledge of honing them. Demielle begins her training by managing the dagger, Jane and her fellow kid-minded lasses are laughing as they watch each other fall to their feet.

I have no problem with the male contenders. They became quiet and stopped bugging me to be exact. I sit under a tree that grows naturally white leaves and beside me is an owl with white streaks along its head.

My fingers were busy tying a knot as to no significance to the training itself. I just find it somehow bothersome to look at it not having the same amount of parsimony just like the other. After I got satisfied with my own trouble, I pick up a dagger from a bunch of four that lays on the ground.

I walk to the far side and bend my knee to encircle a hole that I dug minutes ago. Then, I direct myself back to where I sat down. The moment I position myself comfortably, the owl's large and elongated eyes met mine. 

I was surprised to see it looking at me fairly and I mouthed a 'what' as it tilts its head as if it was questioning why I'm here sitting and wasting my strength. And so I say. "Don't look at me like that. You can't blame me for having not enough strength to waste at this time of day,"

Some would call me crazy for befriending an owl. Well, it's some sort of a mutual matter. It lingered with me first, I did not call an owl or searched for one to have as a friend. They just came to me, just like how I came close to them.

Even I would wonder sometimes. Why would owls like my company? It's not that I'm fun or have anything to offer. I don't even feed them but they'd still prefer being by my side. I would call myself lucky in cases like this.

I decided to amuse myself, threw the daggers into the hole, and pick it up again. It was no challenge, actually. I don't know why I kept on doing that, neglecting the task that I'm told to do.