LUCEM
Chapter XXXIII's

The morning began with small talk and Mary's cheerful laughter at breakfast. Until finally changed with tension repeatedly when my training session began.

Maria had repeated seizures and pain, and my body also did not escape from the strangely painful sensations.

Until noon came, I saw Mary, shifting so slowly. At every pause he made some distance from me and tried desperately to sit beside Marbella—Marbella who was still kneeling in front of the open stretch of old sheet of paper, bending forward, bending forward, his mouth commits to reciting the writing for the sake of the writing listed. Sometimes his eyes closed to concentrate.

When Marbella asked me to move as she instructed while she recited a few sentences from a stretch of paper on the ground, Maria had a seizure for the umpteenth time that I could no longer remember, his body turned blue and his movements uncontrollable.

I would lie if I said I wasn't scared.

I could see his expression, and it wasn't good. I don't know if Maria was hurt, so I don't know how far and what we're dealing with. But the girl always returned with a face full of smiles as her hands were busy drying her sweat at the end of training on a tiring day.

My whole body is crumbling and Maria doesn't look better than me. Marbella smeared him with some herbs that she cultivated herself. Some of Mary's exposed body parts show many scratches and bruises here and there. It made me wonder if Maria would survive.

Darkness enveloped the forest, the sounds of owls and unpretentious crickets filled the night. It is hard to move every part of my body. I've only been lying down since today's practice ended. The compulsion to urinate made me strengthen my legs to step out of the tent, past the big tree I found the shadow of someone sitting there. Slowly I approached. Maria's alone.

After I was finally close enough, Maria looked up.

He seems to be dumbfounded.

It occurred to me that he had just seen me, after all my personal activities, he only realized I was here. A glimmer of relief flashed in his eyes.

And then he said two words, two words that I never expected would inspire him to say:

"Hug me."

The sentence was carried by the wind, but the suffering in his eyes remained. And from this point of view, I finally understood the depth of what he was going through. At first I thought Maria was just holding her, under Marbella's claws, trying to support her.

I'm mistaken.

A clear thread flowed down from his eyes, I could still see clearly between the dark.

"What's wrong?" My toot.

Maria just shook her head.

I dare not approach him. I don't know what I'm supposed to do for her.

"W-Do you want me to call Marbi here?" i offered.

"No, there's no need. It's late, rest, you must be tired" he replied.

"Alright, then I go back to the tent" I said.

Maria smile.

"Call me if you need anything.I'm— I'm here in my tent,”.

Maria nodded. "Okay, I'll see you in the morning" he waved his hand.

"See you," I said as I walked towards my tent.

Before actually entering the tent I stuck out my neck to catch a glimpse of Maria there, she was still sitting quietly in her place.

*******

"If you need someone right now, it's me" Marbella said with emphasis.

Mary is bowed in. "I'm sorry, Marbella."

Marbella takes a seat next to Maria, looking out for a view of Ahem from a height. Two cups of hot chocolate accompanied them against the cold of the night.

*******

"Good morning, Mars!" greet the cheerful voice of Mary.

"Congratulations," I said.

There was no trace of sadness last night on his face. I tried to observe it twice. Shrugged my shoulders, I don't know.

Marbella brought a plate full of cassava chips and put it down. Take some and start chewing it boisterously.

"Owh, Marbi.." I complained.

Marbella laughs.

"It's a barbeque taste," he said excitedly.

"Oh, nice choice of taste," I nodded.

"Mmmmm..mmmm..mmm...y..rouugh....ooghh."

Now I have to shake my head. I glanced at Maria. "Luckily the city girl does not eat cassava chips—...,"

"In the morning before breakfast" sambar Maria.

I gawk.

"I'll join in for barbeque-flavored cassava chips after we have breakfast, leaving a lot for me, Marbella," exclaimed Maria.

"Mmmmm..mmmm..mmm...y..rouugh....ooghh." Marbella nodded her head.

I took one piece of cassava chips on the plate, put it in my mouth and stepped towards the big tree.

The first two steps stopped.

Set...!

A plate of barbeque-flavored cassava chips has been in my hands, it's time to take a thousand steps.

YO!!!

MARS!!.....

"It's Africa, I'm the lion that wakes up the morning" I said as I ran away from two roiled lionesses.