Aksaberyl
Sleeping Flower

..."In the name of my family and my pride, I will stay with you. Even though I know what your past is like and what will happen to me if they find out I'm protecting you. So, can you trust me?"...

...~ Olaya El Agave ~...

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The color of the sky has changed since I got here as Wasa requested. It was still sunny until I walked out of the red-masted tavern but when I got near the Oak Tree the weather turned cloudy, it might soon rain.

I'm waiting for Wasa to come as promised, 30 minutes I think I've been waiting for him here. I sat on one of the Oak Tree sticks that touched the ground, tired if I waited standing up. I thought Wasa would arrive once I got here, it must be unfinished.

My body is still here but my mind bares at what happened at the red-masted tavern. At one time I felt a lot of feelings, still vividly remembered in my mind how the wrong dagger threw it almost hit my right face until I was offered a job.

As for the offer, should I accept it?

I knew that the old man who owned the tavern seriously said to give me a job and would not repeat his offer twice but it was suspicious anyway.

How did he know I needed money? where did he see me doing my job? and the weirdest thing about this offer is that it owes me a debt on the terms it put forward for the information I wanted to know from the two men who were fighting earlier.

Even so he had already informed me and I agreed to owe on those terms, should I tell Wasa later?

No, he'll ban me. That's for sure, especially he knows the market is dangerous but if I don't tell you later instead—

Aahh .. I can't disappoint anyone else.

About the mysterious man I met at the festival yesterday, who exactly is he? then what the old man who owned the shop said was that the person who helped me was actually told, is that true? and the strange person I accidentally bumped into while walking earlier is also suspicious.

I don't want to think like this but I feel like they're the same person. I don't know why I can think like this, the evidence just doesn't exist.

No, not really what I'm thinking about. They can't be the same person, right?

Suddenly one drop two drops of water fell on my hand, I looked up as it started raining. I packed up the groceries I bought earlier and saw if there was a place for me to take shelter. But there was nothing near me, only a towering Oak Tree with many trunks on its sides.

How can I take shelter, look at the rain will fall heavily and Wasa is still not coming. Did I just leave without waiting for Wasa? no-no .. I don't know the way home. If through the first place I know the way but if back again also free. So, I decided to keep waiting for him here even though it was raining, there was no other choice.

I go and close my body on one side of the Oak Tree whose leaves are quite lush, at least I can still feel warm with the robe that Wasa gave me.

Right I guess, the rain is getting heavier. The rain that fell to the ground made it bouncy and hit my robe, the more the clapper the wetter the robe around my feet.

Cold ... when is Wasa coming? will I have to wait for him for a long time?

I started rubbing my palms together and putting them on my face. The rain continued for the past 15 minutes after coming down and I was still faithfully waiting for Wasa to pick me up.

If I had a horse and knew the way would have come quickly, if I had to wait for Wasa maybe I would have had as much patience as last night. Even so, his job must be far more important than mine.

I hid my face under the cloak, trying to count 1 to 100 to shift my focus waiting for Wasa to also make the air around my face warm up because of my breath. I repeatedly counted until the 10th try at 100 someone patted me on the shoulder.

"Shy!!"

My mouth immediately said the name of someone I was waiting for and it turned out to be him. His clothes and face were wet with rain, the black hair was glittering at first glance.

"I'm sorry Beryl .. I was late and made you wait in the middle of this heavy rain" he said.

Hearing him talk like that why makes me want to prick him. "So if it doesn't rain you'll be late?" my joke.

His face was shocked and made him feel even more guilty. "That's not what I mean, of course I won't let you wait" he said.

Seeing her feel guilty makes me laugh, it's funny. His confused face saw me laughing.

"I joke like that, you have a lot of tasks to complete immediately" I said to calm him down, I don't want to be as upset as I was last night because I didn't know he was on duty that night.

"But you must be cold .." - She said.

"Yes, I'm cold, let's just go" take me.

Wasa nodded in agreement, I immediately packed up the groceries I bought earlier and rode onto his horse. "Swipe back again Beryl," said Wasa.

"To the back? you mean what?" ask those who don't understand.

"You'll get wet, so instead of you getting wet it's better to go back and cover your body with my front robe. Come on, we'll get there fast," he told me.

Is this guy not thinking like-minded when I step back? Wouldn't it hit her chest if I wrapped myself in a robe in front of her? My face flushed when I thought of this.

"Is it okay?" ask me carefully.

"It's okay, come on." she replied casually.

Hesitating I retreated backwards and pressed my back against his chest, his hand holding the vestments began to cover myself. Under these circumstances I felt the heat on my face and her chest.... Her chest is warm.

The horse I rode started moving fast, the food was in my hand and I held it tight. I tried to shift the focus from my current position to something else. But I can't focus, I failed to focus because of him!

I tried many ways to shift my focus, but his chest did feel real. Warm and formed, surely because he continued to train and build muscles to become a knight. If in my real world what's his name?? Abs or torn bread, yes he has it.

"We've reached Beryl" she said suddenly, really? That's fast.

Not fast but my mind was too focused on him to not feel the horse had stopped.

"Yes." I replied briefly.

I got off the horse and went straight into this old house, saving my face is my top priority right now.

Before entering the bath I took some clothes and towels of course then after his body cleaning.

"Haha... It could be my chest deg-deg right." said I slowly.

I finished the bath quickly, because the rain had made my body cold and wet plus the bath water is also cold. After this I will dry the body in the fireplace.

I think Wasa's gone yet, she's still here. Wasa lit the fire in the fireplace and sat there quietly, I looked at her and noticed her wet clothes.

I looked for clothes that fit her in my clothes storage box but a few seconds later I stopped, wasn't there a dress that fit her body? Moreover, my clothes only fit for my size.

"Are you ready to take a shower ?" her question surprised me, I just nodded.

"Replace, I'll take a shower too. It's so sticky." said he stepped in to the bath but I prevented it.

"What about your change of clothes?" ask me.

"If I'm not mistaken before you go to Arieta Forest, I put one of my clothes here because I look after your house when I leave. Where yaa.." said his looking clothes he meant.

I was stunned to hear what was spoken, meaning the owner of this body and Wasa was already very close? Even until Wasa wants to take care of this old house.

"Well, here it is, I take a bath." she continued and went to the bath.

I put her clothes that she found next to the door of the bath so she could wear them right away. After that I went straight to the fireplace to warm my body. Slowly my body warmed up but my eyes began to feel heavy and unconscious I had fallen asleep in front of the fireplace.

Something touched my back, the warmth and comfort I felt at the same time made me smile. Something greeted my sense of touch, a middle hand stroking my head gently over and over. But the rubble on my head stopped when I held that hand, it was wrinkled like a grandmother's hand.

Wait, wrinkles? Grandma?

"Grandma!!" I hugged her, the warm one I liked.

"Son, forgive grandma.." said the listless grandmother.

I loosened my embrace and looked at her old face, grandmother looking lethargic coupled with her eyes that did not emit light.

"What does grandma mean" I asked.

"Grandmother made your life difficult, I'm sorry it was grandma who left you first at the wrong time." she continued, hearing him say it made my eyes heat up.

"What does grandma mean? I don't understand Grandma." I said, although I didn't understand but the feeling of sadness in my chest started to rise and made my eyes ready to shed tears.

"She should have protected you from the dangers that are after you, but God wills otherwise. Son, where were you?" ask grandma to switch the conversation.

I know Grandma's diverting course, I'm not gonna force her to talk about what she means further. I'm just afraid to meet grandma for a little bit like last time.

"I went to the market to buy groceries" I replied.

"Did you meet an old man?" she asked, surprised to hear her question. But isn't that natural? Why am I surprised by that?

"Yes Grandma, I met an old man there." I answered honestly.

"Son, trust him." said Grandma.

"Why should I believe her, Grandma? I just met her earlier and I don't know her name or her nature." I'm confused.

"He's a good man, trust Grandma. What he offers you better accept it, he has no intention to harm you son." he continued.

I'm more confused by what Grandma said, how can grandma say such a thing?

"But grandma I can't trust anyone carelessly. Grandma knows I'm a very careful person to trust others. And regarding the offer I have not been able to accept it directly like grandma said. I have to think about it, whether it's good or bad for me." I answered.

Grandma just kept quiet and did not answer or refute my words. He just looked at me deeply and made me feel guilty for refuting his words, but I tried to answer honestly as he taught me.

The comfortable and warm bed had suddenly disappeared from my vision as if I was moving. And now I'm in an empty room where there's only me and my grandmother here without a single item decorating this room.

"Son.." said grandma, I turned to her.

"One day you'll believe what Grandma said." she continued, but I just kept quiet and didn't answer.

"Ortpe" he said.

One word that my grandmother said made me surprised to hear it.

"Grandma know that name?" I asked curiously, how my curiosity had risen sharply.

"Yes grandma knows and knows her." she replied.

"Grandmother please tell me about Ortpe. Last night when I came to the Laister Festival I accidentally took a handkerchief with a sign that said Ortpe under it and met an old man who gave me a warning about the handkerchief" I said enthusiastically.

Grandma laughed listening to my enthusiasm, although I was surprised to see grandma laughing but also happy because she saw her laughing. I haven't seen her like this in a long time.

"Alright, grandma will tell me." she said, I fixed my seat and got ready to listen to her story.

"Two members of the Ortpe family were friends of your grandmother and mother in the academy first. Your grandmother and mother knew them very well and were attentive. As long as your grandmother and mother knew them, we never felt disappointed or angry with them, my dear grandmother and my grandmother's friend and your mother. Your mother's friend told your mother that one day after she finished studying at the academy, she told your mother that she was getting married to a man of her parents' choice. The man was of a higher rank than anyone in this kingdom except the King who was at that time leading. At first she did not accept the marriage but for the sake of saving her family she sacrificed herself. Until finally he died in his sacrifice and his family was destroyed because of the selfishness in power." he continued.

I carefully listened to Grandma's story but no matter why the taste of her grandmother's story was similar to that of the previous Queen of the Ortpe family.

Wait, what does grandma mean ....

I shut my mouth in disbelief, is this really what I'm thinking?

"What you think is true. Your grandmother and mother were friends with both of them for quite a long time" she replied.

"If grandmother and mother are friends with two Ortpe families, then grandma and mother know why their families were slaughtered? I heard from Wasa that their families were slaughtered because they were thought to be the masterminds behind the Queen's murder. Is that true grandma?" ask me, but grandma looks sad to hear my question.

"Your grandmother and mother don't know, the first time you heard the news made your mother fall ill." replied the grieving grandmother.

My heart just ditched, the feelings of mother and grandmother at that time must be very sad.

"Grandmother I want to ask." I said, I deliberately diverted the conversation so as not to dissolve in sadness, even so such a thing cannot be changed because it must have been destined.

"What, son?" ask her.

"Do you know why I am in this world? I mean, why can I move? Then the body that I'm in is also the same name as mine." I asked, I actually don't want to ask this but there's nothing else I can think of besides this.

"Grandmother will answer her but not all of her." she replied, I do not understand the meaning of the words of this grandmother but maybe the opportunity will not be repeated the second time so I nodded my head in agreement.

"The body you now occupy is your own body. You who are in the past with the present are the same. Your body and soul are the same but for some reason you have to move on to your past." he continued.

My heart beats 2 times faster to hear this. Really, I don't understand what Grandma meant but the one thing I found out is that the one I'm with the one I was with in the past was one person.

"Do you know why I'm like this?" ask me but it's a pity that grandma has disappeared and left me alone.

Again the end of the dream of meeting a grandmother like this. What is the meaning of all this God??

Not long after I woke up from my dream, my initial blurred vision was now able to see clearly something in front of me.

Wasa's face?

"Thank God you wake up." said his relief.

I tried to sit from my lying position but Wasa held my hand.

"Slept aja Beryl." said again and I obeyed his words.

"What's wrong with me? Why was your face so worried ?" ask me.

She looked at me gently, her sparkling eyes making me misbehave.

"You passed out in front of the fireplace, I found you after you finished your bath. I thought you were sleeping but when I moved into bed you were hot." she replied, My reflexes were holding my forehead and hot.

"I'm sorry I was bothering you but now that you're home, I've been quiet." I said, I tried to sit back to prove to her that I really had been light-headed even though I felt a little dizzy when I woke up.

"Yes my plan was so, after all it was morning." he said.

"Morning? So you were here all night?" I said in shock, really this man in front of me waited for me all night?

"Yes... Because you don't wake up and I'm here. Afraid there's nothing with you later." said her softly, oh my God!! This guy really is watching me.

Suddenly I didn't know what to say, I was misbehaving. Even though we said friends but isn't this excessive? No-no, not him but me. I was too carried away by feelings.

"Te.. Thank you for keeping me up all night, you better leave quickly. Don't you have a lot of work in the palace?" ask me nervous.

"All right.... Heals quickly yes. Food I've made you just eat, later I come again." said his sincere.

Wasa packed wet clothes last night and walked towards the door. But suddenly he stopped and turned towards me, with a smile on his face he rubbed the tip of my head gently and went towards his horse.

I was silent about his treatment. My face is suddenly hot, this must be due to fever. Yes, because fever is not because of him !!!

That's how I resisted this strange feeling.