They both went back and forth, insulting my virgin, non-consensual, immature and inconsiderate actions. I learnt a lot of new words in the past few minutes. Yuna especially recoiled in disgust every time she recalled one of my antics towards Maya. She really paid attention.
Siri wasn't happy to be there; he got dragged. Remen, well, he was rooting for me. What a guy.
"Well, at the end of the day, the mission was complete. Although it happened rather forcibly," Yuna leaned back on her chair and waved for me to leave. "You are excused."
I'd happily leave after hearing everything they had to say about me. But–
"What about Maya…"
"What about her?" Siri replied with a vicious gaze.
"I-i.." Speak, c'mon, "I want to know what happens to her from her. I need to know."
Siri closed his eyes, pulled back his chair and left. "It is not my place to say."
What a weird guy. What was that just now?
I left my seat for Siri's, right next to Yuna. Then leaned in.
"Ew, I told you not to get close."
I pulled back sharply. "Ah, sorry, sorry."
Yuna sighed, resting her head on her right arm. "Why do you want to know anyway?"
After all the scolding about how that's none of my business and I should do my job. Why do I still want to know?
Because it's her. My first connection outside of Bella. I enjoyed what we shared, and I want to keep it.
"She is important to me."
"Sorry, Nero," Yuna mutters softly, "she's gone."
What did she say….
Yuna looked at me, then out the window. "She is being sent away to fulfill her political duties."
She continued.
"Maya Zen Shadee is to go over to Solomon city. There she will rule over the land as their lord and fulfill her political duties, for now."
"For now?"
"Because that is all I know."
"Oh…"
"In the near or far future, she might have to return to Neon Republic, but for now, she will start her duties here in Cestaf."
So she is leaving, I figured that would be the case. I still don't like it, though, not one bit. Her political duties, what does that even mean?
A heavy sigh escaped my mouth as my gaze slowly fell to my feet.
"In three days, Maya will depart. See her before then."
I perked up. "She's still her?? Can I!? I mean, would they let me?"
Slowly, Yuna left her seat, carrying the chicken head with her. "No harm in trying," she said before leaving the room.
"However, you have to fix the window first," she said as her head popped out the corner of the door.
"Will do"
PASSING TIME:
For the next three days, I spent my days trying to fix the window and my nights daydreaming about my kiss with Maya. Sometimes it kept me up at night. My lower member is a hard fellow to please when he's active, but forget that.
I have one goal and one obstacle; it should be easy.
I went to buy the supplies at the market, a very hard find, and I had a few dealers bring over a window I hoped was the same size. After the first day, I realized I had no idea what I was doing. What do I look like, a carpenter? Do they even fix windows? Who does that anyway?
I racked my brain, but after almost bleeding out from my many cuts, I decided to give up and go to bed.
Day two. No one was gonna help me. In fact, no one knew how to fix a window. Wow, who would have thought, but when it comes to murder and destroying lives, they'd be the most knowledgeable.
Now that I think about it, I don't really know Yuna, Siri, or Remen too well. Since I arrived, I've been preoccupied with Maya, but I haven't been here long. Only been a few days. I need to spend more time with them. Occasionally, they would come by to see how I was doing.
First was remen. He didn't really care about the window.
"Still fixing this thing, give it a rest already, would ya. Some things are beyond us, it's okay to live life knowing that"
He hung his arm around my neck and pulled me in. "I saw your moves the other day, no wasting time with you, huh?"
"No, no. I just um…"
"It's okay. Next time, just say words like 'I love you' and 'you shine like the night sky'. Some don't even need that, and they'd let you in, but those aristocrats like to feel respected, so they act tough."
What is he saying to me? Why am I liking what he is saying to me?
"You think it will work?"
"Hmph." Remen grinned and pulled me closer. "In my eyes, she really liked ya. Some perseverance would finish the job. Some aristocrats liked that sort of thing from us commoners…you know what I'm trying to say."
Like a commoner and noble secret relationship?
"She could get me killed if I tried anymore, though." She wasn't joking when she said that; those knights were one move away from ending my life. Maya i'm grateful for your magnanimous favour.
"It's fine, it's fine. That's what they want you to think. It's a test!" Remen said with a wide grin.
He promised to take me out and show me how it's done later. What an interesting guy. Is that why Siri said we are alike? Well, his words sound like music to my ears.
I look forward to it.
After him, Yuna came by. She sat on one of the chairs with a book in hand, sipping her usual delicious brown drink, and reading. I hammered away at the window, trying and failing to fix it. Every so often, I'd smash a finger, and she'd heal it. I wonder how she does that.
Eventually, I got tired and sat next to her.
Smelling the delicious aroma coming from that drink, I was unconsciously but consciously drawn to her, "Yes?" Yuna said with her usual deadpan expression.
"Can I taste?"
"Please go get your own," she said, recoiling in disgust.
"I don't know howww. I am still a stranger here, barely know where anything is, getting food is hard enough."
The kitchen is right next to this room, thankfully. But I don't know how to cook, and if I go around touching things, I fear Siri will cut me in two. He is always in the kitchen and always with his sword.
Sadly, I can only take what he gives me; I feel like a dog.
Yuna ignored me, focused on her book, but I didn't give up. I will use my charms. I made several cute faces and stared at Yuna as closely as I could.
"Pleaseee, just a little. It smells so good."
Yuna looked away.
"I can't with you," Yuna said, leaving for the door, but she left her drink too, which was almost empty. "Have the rest. It won't satisfy you, but please clean it when you're done."
"Yuna! Thank you so much," I said with a beaming smile!
She blushed a little. "Please do not thank me," she said as she left.
Yuna is tough, but she seems to have a soft side. As the leader, I can exploit her; fun times ahead. Anyways…
I grabbed her cup and swiftly drank the brown drink in one gulp.
"Fuck…what is this—ITS SO GOOD!"
I licked the cup thoroughly. Every last drop. It's so sweet, and it has a taste I have never had before.
SWEET!
I need more!
"Yeah, this window can wait. I need more–"
For the last member, Siri. He stood at the door with his sheathed sword in hand, looking like he saw all of that. I might die.
His face is neutral. I wonder what he's thinking.
Siri turned his back on me, saying, "Leave any dishes, and you're dead."
"I won't."
"Disgusting," he said with a glare before leaving.
What? I did nothing wrong.
I waited for a while after he left. Just in case, then I let out a breath, "I still need more."
Day three. This time, I went to ask the one guy I know outside the faction and Maya for help.
"Yeah, I know a guy!" Joe yelled with joy. "It's me! I can help you, easy as eating cake and not that kind of cake."
"Haha, thanks joe. You're a lifesaver."
"But you gotta bend your head," he said, pointing at me, "you're not a noble, just a guy. So when you ask your elders for help, you have to bend your head."
"Is that a thing people do here?" I said as I partially attempted it.
"Well, duh, don't do it to the wrong and you can lose your head. I almost did, HAAA!" he slapped his knee in a heap of laughter.
Ah, this old man. I might have had the wrong impression of you. He's a fun guy.
"Will do."
Can I bring Joe over to the faction base? I don't see any harm, not like we hide it, right?
So I brought Joe over to the faction base, and no one really cared. Well, no one was home. Joe replaced it in a matter of minutes. It would have taken me a year; I have even more appreciation for this old man.
"You know, one time I had to fix the king's window. Just like this one, everyone was so afraid to try, but I wasn't, haa!"
Of course you weren't.
"He is a nice guy, I tell you," Joe went on and on even after he finished fixing the window. This guy doesn't stop talking.
However, I couldn't pay him. Money, I forgot I didn't have that. This bastard didn't tell me he was charging me. I had to look for Yuna, well, not look specifically, she was the only one I could find.
"Nero, why are you so much trouble?" she said, holding her head.
"Please, Yunaaa!"
After begging and crying, she paid him, but I am now indebted to her. She said she'd let me know how I can pay her back later. Too irritated to face me.
And with that, I fixed the window. I can see Maya off tomorrow. These past three days have gone by rather quickly. I did everything with Maya on my mind, but the interactions were enjoyable. Still, I want to see her, I really do.
I lay in my bed that night, daydreaming of my time with her. The time we had before and what we will have tomorrow. It kept me up for almost the whole night. I think I forgot to sleep.
Yuna said she'd be leaving from the Great Lakes Bridge first thing in the morning. So I think it's fine if I don't sleep, I will get there before she does.
And see her again.
Maya Zen Shadee…I will see you again.