"I first came here Two Years ago, under the direct order of Sir Aosomus that I depart as soon as possible."
Sophia paused, interpreting his words before she replied;
"Two years ago..? Which..date exactly?"
Earning her another smile from Jankor.
"Sixteenth of the First Spring."
...
Sophia paused for a short while before her eyes quickly bursted into a widened state.
"When..When the stampedes..peaked..!?"
"..Heh." - Jankor scoffed.
"As sharp as ever I see."
————
"..Hm.." - Sophia broke off her concentration and pondered for a minute.
"I see now." - She whispered, closing her eyes;
"I don't know Appa's intentions.. But I can tell you weren't deployed for..shrewd reasons at least.." - She muttered, earning her a large smile from Jankor.
"Rest assured Countess, unlike most individuals born of noble ancestry; Sir Aosomus, though cunning; isn't a vile man."
— Sophia nodded exuding out a soft smile from her porcelain-like countenance.
"That's Appa for you..!"
"Uh Huh! I was lucky that he was the first noble I met.. He was kind enough to offer me and my Father a job..!" - Jankor lit up, a contented smile appearing on his lips as he recalled a distant memory.
"I think I remember that..You looked like a really pitiful child back then..! The snot flowing out of your nostrils are just..!" - Sophia remarked before unleashing a suppressed chuckle that caused Jankor's smile to become devoid of happiness.
"I..I think some things are better left unsaid.. Miss Countess.." - Jankor slumped before he quietly whispered.
"..But that reminds me, I don't know much about your story.." - Sophia looked over to him with curiousity-laced irises.
...
— Jankor just calmly flashed her a solemn smile before he diverted his eyes away. —
"Someday Countess. It is not of significance at the moment." - Jankor then released a dry laugh—
"..?"
—Which made the Countess tilt her head slightly to the side while an eyebrow of hers rose.
— "NO..!!!" - "SPARE MY DAUG—" - "PLEASE..!! STAY— AWAY KYA..!!" - "HELP..!!" - "..NO..!! YOU MONSTERSS...!!" —
*crack..*
"if..you say so." - Sophia softly muttered.
————
"That's..horrible..!" - Yenna exclaimed while she covered her mouth, eyes widened as a tear was exuded out from her left eyelid before sliding down on her cheek.
Foryan released a dry chuckle before she assumed a countenance depicting that of a small, solemn smile.
"Hamilvan's been that way ever since."
- Foryan continued;
"He started out as just a cold, serious individual but it all changed when that..Noble got too involved with him." - Foryan's voice gradually evolved into a low growl.
"...so..so that's why.." - Yenna diverted her eyes away before she shakily inquired;
"Is..is that why.. Sis. Salpha covers..on-one part of her fa-face wit-with her brown hair..?" - To which Foryan scoffed at;
"You never noticed the burn mark on her face before?" - To which Yenna softly shook her head at before adding;
"no..no..she..she hid it too well.."
Earning her a shrug from Foryan;
"She always does."
- Before the Female Commander's eyes drifted off to the side.
.
.
.
"erm..comm—sis..Foryan..?" - Yenna muttered, pulling out the Commander from the daze with a blink.
"Oh..! Uh..! Ehem..!" - Foryan then cleared her throat before she assumed her normal disposition.
"Sorry, got a bit carried away there." - She chuckled out;
But Yenna wasn't reciprocating the humor she desperately tried to exude in order to lighten the heaviness that was creeping out of the barrier she erected.
.
.
.
"..."
"...?"
"..??"
"...????????????????????????????"
—
Foryan found herself sweating bullets as Yenna gazed at her with undying vigour, her smile dissolving to that of a soft lip clench as she scrambled her brain for a possible comedic relief. —
"A-anyway..! Ehem!" - Foryan cleared her throat again, but this time with an increase in volume which brought the lass out from her laser focus.
"No need..to stare so intensely..!" - Foryan remarked, voice breaking as she found herself pushed on edge with the lass'es previous gaze.
"I'm sorry!" - Yenna bowed, before she added;
"I..I was just left wondering.." - Then trailing off afterwards, sending an eyebrow on Foryan's face to ascend.
"Left wondering..? About what exactly..?" - Foryan tilted her head to the side.
Yenna then quickly straightened her posture before opening her mouth which went agape as if her voice was hesitating to exude itself out.
————
"I wonder.." - Sophia mumbled as she studied Jankor's smiling disposition, sending the young adult to an uncomfortable spot.
"..what..what is it..Miss Countess?"
Sophia paused for a moment before speaking once more;
"You..always described..my Appa in an analogous manner..
Comparing him to other nobles;
You revered to him as kind, welcoming and compassionate..
'unlike' other individuals of similar status..."
- Sophia trailed off with her eyes narrowing as if glowing under the obscurity of her bangs.
"Which makes me wonder.." - Sophia trailed off, taking another moment to study the young adult whom exuded out bullets of sweat around his slightly troubled smile.
————
Then in a fateful occurence, did Yenna
and Sophia inquired in unison, with similar intentions yet their question varied in intonation.
—
"What.. do..you think about Sir Sanum..!?"
"What.. are your opinions on Sanum Bal Osidal?"
—
With Yenna's forcibly raised intonation, determined expression and furrowed eyebrows did she ask the dumbfounded Foryan.
While Sophia inquired with a solemn intonation as she narrowed her chilling irises towards the troubled Jankor whose sweat repeatedly slid down his countenance.
————
"What do I think..?" - Foryan repeated before she looked away to ponder a little.
"My..my..my opinion on..Sir Osidal..?" - WhileJankor clarified with a stutter.
"Well considering how he had Operated the entire Town ever since he was stationed here.."
- A set of memories resurfaced on Foryan's mind that switched her curious expression to a serious countenance, her irises ridding themselves of emotions as she furrowed her eyebrows.
"..Based on my experiences..." - Voices of screams, yells coupled with an ever resonant nonchalant response echoed repeatedly inside of Jankor's mind, sending his once troubled eyes into a pity-filled downcasted gaze.
"There is no uncertainty laced to it." - Foryan muttered, her eyes lightening up again as she shook the memory off her head.
"With.." - He trailed off, gritting his teeth a little "The horrors I've witnessed.." - Jankor stated before he looked away.
- Meanwhile; In the basement of the chambers did Sanum remained undisturbed in, refusing to let go of his grasp over the photograph.
Then, With Foryan finally concurring up a response did her mouth went agape and so did Jankor's, as the mouth faltered for a moment before it returned more determined than before;
"That man.." - As they replied though at the same time; they remained not in the same location. Yenna gulped down a saliva while Sophia's seemingly glowing eyes narrowed even further.
"Is Undoubtedly Evil."
— They commented, whilst on the other side of the encampment there stood a Sanum whose lips remained planted on a small, dusty photograph depicting a middle-aged woman and a young girl. His heart dancing tirelessly with a barrage of emotions all coalescing together to form a profound, abyss-like solemnity on his eyes. —
"Wait for me, I'll save you soon."
————
ACT 36. Fin!