Chapter 20

The Sekanian Scribes' Association invited students from Yagn-Sho to train together. The information came just a week before Confession Day, which was almost tangible proof for the young apprentices that destiny forces them to take a step forward in their lives.

Confession Day took place three months before the final exam and was an opportunity for people to settle various matters among themselves or get free from an embarrassing secret. It was believed that everything would end well if someone decided to confess that day because the good ghosts would help solve the matter successfully.

Kalena had nothing to confess anymore. Her affection towards Galaspiael was much weaker than before. She began to doubt if she had ever really loved him. She still liked him a lot and considered a best friend. The girl tried to forget about the incident between them, but she thought all love was an illusion. The dream of a never-loved child who had experienced kindness for the first time.

Galaspiael grew silent and thoughtful day by day. He constantly mentioned the impending coronation.

"I'll have to leave you soon," he said as his student poured boiling water over the tea and put two cups on the table. "I'm sorry."

"I will be alright," she replied, "I won't let you down, rest assured."

"I know," he replied, "but remember that if something goes wrong, nothing will happen either. The exam is not fair. Luck and self-control are more important than knowledge and skills.

The girl looked at him with undisguised surprise.

"What do you mean?"

"There will be only one task for each subject. You might forget about one of your most-needed moves or words, but you'll remember all the others. It wouldn't matter. But do not worry. Remember, I've been here for two years." He nudged her and smiled.

She smiled back, and Galaspiael began to play with the crumpled piece of paper. He folded it, trying to get some shape, but it did not go well.

"I'd like to offer you a job," he added suddenly. "I need more people for my Silver Guard."

"Me?" She asked incredulously.

"You would be good. You could grow, improving your skills under the eye of the best warriors in Kagolania. You will remain close to Yagn-Sho, so you keep in touch with the Association. The Silver Guard is a squad only on my orders, so sometimes I would entrust you with a task when I am locked in a golden cage.

"It would be an honor, but I don't think I am fit for the palace," she answered after a moment's thought. "Are there any free slaves in the Silver Guard?"

"These people are my loyal friends. Some of them served my father. They are talented warriors. Believe me, no one dares ask my guards about their origin... what is this?" Galaspiael paused because the book slid off her bed to the floor. He tolerated the mess in her room, so many things lay on the bed or under it. Kalena smiled and handed him the book.

"I finished recently. Herbs lexicon and instructions for their use. I think about giving it to Zarkin as a gift, he has recently become very interested in such things."

"Very legible," he said, watching her work with interest. "You managed to do it, although you have so many classes. Amazing. You can give it to him if he'll find it useful."

Kalena finished her tea and began rewriting her essays for Sekanian and Madegaldian. She took the key from the training room and set it on the desk. Galaspiael sat on his bed and re-opened the book he had read.

"We must test dynamite before the coronation. I just wonder where this could be done."

"Maybe in the Forbidden Zone?" she proposed, imagining how they finally take revenge on Gyeul and destroy his city.

"No. He would kill us if we entered his area with a weapon that caused him to lost the war. But maybe during the training in Sekania? Would you be able to disappear for a few hours?"

"There should be an opportunity to slip away." Kalena glanced at her master. "What?"

"Nothing. 'To sneak out', Great Ancestors, how will I miss it!"

*

Before visiting Zarkin, Kalena had to finish rewriting the essays. She carefully drew signs in Madegal, wondering if on her page was any that even the emperor did not know. This was possible because the Madegaldian language was complicated. A man wasn't able to learn all the signs, even for a hundred years. Even Seth (who, although he had the opportunity, did not give up learning his native language) sometimes experienced problems with understanding the texts that Master Aymon gave them, although he still achieved the best results among the whole group. Mizar was good, but Jin-Si completely outdoes him in writing. She had an amazing memory that everyone envied her.

Later Kalena decided that she would quickly revise the new phrases for Sekanian lessons. Finally, after that, she decided to take a break and went to Zarkin.

She found him busy with the task of bills, but he quickly abandoned them when he learned what she came with.

"Will it be useful for you?" Kalena asked, seeing that reading completely absorbed the boy. He didn't look up at her until he finished the page.

"It's interesting," he admitted, "I like poisonous herbs, but also ordinary ones. For now, I only deal with easily available ingredients."

"I won't eat anything when you're on a call in the kitchen."

"That's bad. Poisoning food and drinks is old-fashioned. I'm heading toward poisoning arrowheads." He smiled mysteriously.

"Oh." Kalena glanced at the arch leaning against the wall. "I understand. Have you made any mixture yet?"

"I tried," Zarkin took a bottle from his pocket and handed it to her. "Not exactly what I wanted, but still good. When it gets into the wound, it hurts so much that you wouldn't stand it. If I had it during the duel with Mizar, it would have gone much faster."

"You couldn't have a weapon," she reminded.

"I wouldn't necessarily need to have a weapon to hurt him."

Kalena smiled, but more out of politeness than honestly. She felt sorry for Mizar and his humiliating defeat, but couldn't say it openly at Zarkin's presence. She preferred to wait for their conflict to end. Seeing that the boy was completely absorbed in reading, she said goodbye.

"Fight with me at the next training," he asked. "You are good. I need to check how good."

"You've got one fight stuck."

Immediately after Kalena left the room, Mei came inside. Fatigue was visible on her face, she hadn't slept well lately. Zarkin even began to give her a self-sleeping sleep remedy. She claimed that she felt better after it, but as soon as she stopped taking it, insomnia returned.

"Do you have an order for me?" She asked quietly. "If it's not a problem, I'd like to go to bed a little earlier."

"You can go now," Zarkin answered. "I don't need anything from you."

Mei sighed with relief and stretched out on the bed. The boy glanced at her briefly. He remembered that he had to finish the task from the bills, but the new book was, however, too interesting.

"How is your Confession Day, master?"

"It's all right," he muttered, "nobody confessed to me. I don't celebrate such holidays."

"And if someone decided to confess to you, would you care?"

"You wanted to sleep a while ago." He slipped a piece of nutshell into the book and set it aside. - I don't understand why people had to create a holiday to deal with important matters among themselves. As if it couldn't be done on a normal day."

"Well…"

"What?"

"Someone may not have the courage to confess on a normal day," she explained, "and this holiday may give an excuse to do that. In my opinion, it's quite an interesting festival. There is no such thing in Madegald."

"Madegaldians are wise. If someone is a coward, he will not become brave overnight, it is ridiculous."

The girl closed her eyes and turned aside.

"Maybe it's true? Do you still have that sleeping potion master?"

"You should not drink it too often. Try to sleep without the potion."

*

Galaspiael came back in a great mood. He hugged Kalena tightly, as if they had not seen each other for a long time, and sat down next to her, waiting for the girl to ask about the reason for his unusual joy.

"I found something I need!" He finally explained. "It can help us get rid of Gyeul from the Forbidden Zone. I didn't know a book like this still existed. Too bad it is still in possession of the Righteous Conspiracy and we will have to think about how to get it, but I'm already working on it. I also want to implement another project for which I will need a good architect. I don't know if what I have in my plans is possible to build, but if so, I will reward this man generously."

"When do you want to get this book from the Oath?" Kalena already started planning their secret, dangerous mission and was very excited.

"I don't know yet. First I want to finish everything with dynamite, and then... I don't think I have enough time."

"I can do it for you. If you wouldn't make it to the coronation, you can send me."

"We'll think about it. Maybe I would go with you. But if you don't, you will have to be very, very careful, do you understand? This is a priceless book, it took a long time to locate it."

When Kalena nodded, Galaspiael looked for something in his pockets. Finally, he took out a small bundle and hesitated a long time before slipping it into her hand.

"It's a present for you."

"What is it?" Kalena tried to open the package carefully, to not destroy it, but it was impossible, so eventually, she ripped the paper. "How beautiful!" She picked up the silver necklace that had fallen from the package. "That's so nice, thank you."

"Put it on," he asked. "I want to see how it will look like on you."

A pendant with a green eye on a silver chain. Kalena liked it very much. She wasn't worried that she would have to pull it off during training because it wasn't too long.

"It's jade," Galaspiael tapped his finger on the green stone. "I didn't know if you'd like it, some women don't."

"It's beautiful," she admitted, "why are you giving this to me?"

"Because today is Confession Day, and I have something important to say." Galaspiael took a deep breath. "You have no idea how happy I am to have you in my life. This training here, watching you change... has helped me a lot. I am eternally grateful to you."

"Ah," Kalena thought back to his journal. "We're both helping each other."

"Exactly." He leaned closer and put his arm around her. "Besides, I love spending time with you. You build me. No matter how exhausted or angry I am, I regain strength and peace whenever I'm with you. I feel that we were created for each other and our meeting wasn't accidental." He smiled, thinking she had guessed his intentions. Indeed, she knew what he was up to, but something told her that she may be wrong.

"You are also a very good friend. The best I've ever had."

"I'd like to be more than just a friend to you," he said, taking her face in his hands. "I love you, I really love you Kalena."

She froze when he wanted to kiss her. It was a completely different feeling than she had expected. And she knew why.

"Stop it!" the girl put her hand between them. "Please don't do that."

"I won't hurt you."

"It's not that... I just don't feel the same to you anymore," she confessed.

This time he moved away from her.

"Anymore... You mean, you felt before?" Galaspiael looked at her questioningly.

"After what happened... believe me, I asked myself why it is so, but I can't find the answer. I don't understand my feelings.

As if he got punched in the face. He stared at her for a moment, completely stunned, then snorted softly and fixed his eyes on the floor.

"You mean, you haven't forgiven me yet? To this day?"

"I have! Of course, I have forgiven, it's just that feeling has expired. I do not know why It doesn't mean that I stopped liking or respecting you, I just... I'm sorry!" She choked out seeing his expression. She slipped the necklace back into his hand. "I shouldn't take it."

"I wanted to give it to you anyway," he replied, putting it back on her bed and sat on his own. "It's yours, don't feel obliged to me because of that. But why you didn't tell me before?"

"Because this love was ridiculous. I was afraid of your reaction. I was sure you would laugh or reject me right away. Prince and slave... what is this idea? Remember when I told you one night that I hit Zarkin? I wanted to confess something else then."

"For so long?" Galaspiael laughed in extortion. "And I didn't notice. I'm an idiot."

Before she could say anything, he jumped up.

"I'm ashamed," he said quietly, "I've ruined your mood with that confession. I'll go for a walk."

"Stop it..."

"Should I bring you something from the kitchen?" He smiled sourly. "Please, let's pretend it never happened. Forgive me, I did wrong. And I need to be alone now."

"But don't do anything…" she paused, "anything stupid. You are my master and friend. I need you."

He winced slightly at her last words.

"Don't worry. I promise I'll be back in a better mood."