---------
"Look at the stars," she whispered in my ear as I held her from behind. "Aren't they beautiful and majestic?"
"Yeah, they're beautiful... so are you," I whispered back into her ear, gently tilting her chin to face me.
And then I kissed her.
The cold night wind blew from the east, brushing past us, lifting her long black silky hair. A sweet scent filled my nose as I kissed her.
"Puah," she gasped for air as I pulled away. "..."
She stared at me, trying to hide her blushing face.
"That was so sudden," she said, flustered. "I-I wasn't ready for that."
"I acted on impulse," I admitted as the realization hit me. That was embarrassing. I probably looked like some desperate playboy just then.
"But… I don't mind if it's you." Her eyes darted away as she said it.
"You know, Perency… I love you."
"Denis… I don't like being called by my full name. It doesn't sound nice. But… I'll forgive you this time—since you said that. Me too… I love you."
She opened her arms and hugged me tightly. We stayed like that for a minute.
Tinggg. Tinggg. Tinggg...
The sound of a bell broke our embrace.
"How many times did it ring?" she asked.
"Ten. So it must be 10 PM. You'd better head to your dorm soon—before lights-out," I said.
She got up from my lap slowly, looking at it one last time like she didn't want to leave.
I stood up as well.
"Let's head down. I'll escort you to the steps near your dorm. I promised your friends I would."
She protested, "But you'll be late for your own lights-out."
"I'm a boy. It's fine. The dorm master is pretty lenient—he'll understand," I reassured her.
As we walked down the hill, our hands brushed again and again until I realized what she was doing. So I took her hand and held it until we reached the steps leading to her dormitory.
"You said you love me, didn't you? Then be prepared—I'm not easy to please. You'd better give me everything," she said with a huge smile before turning and disappearing into the dorm.
Little did I know... that would be the last time I ever saw her face of my first girlfriend and up to till now.
----------
"Haaa…"
It was a dream. I sat up slowly, propping myself up with my left hand—and felt something wet.
Tears.
"Shoot…"
That was ten years ago. I hadn't dreamt of her in almost two years.
They say time heals—but that only works for breakups. Not for people like me.
"Mmm… you're awake?"
I turned my head to the right. There was a silver-haired woman beside me—Siasha.
Right… I remembered what happened over the past three days.
After that drunken incident went around, the first batch of borers confronted the chief and me. They demanded we fulfill what they came here for.
After intense persuasion from the chief and the elders, I agreed to take two borers each week.
For the first week, I chose Siasha and a northern woman named Samsi. She was a few years older than Siasha, and they were familiar with each other.
But unlike Siasha, Samsi had incredible stamina—and it was tough on my body. If not for the supplements Meliss gave me and the strict diet, I'd have collapsed by now.
During the day, I practiced archery and tinkered with weapons. At night, I did my "work." It was exhausting.
For the past three days, I hadn't seen the chief or my guards. Instead, I was accompanied by Siasha and Samsi, both separated from their own groups who were busy hunting and exploring.
They weren't allowed to venture more than two miles from the village. Scouts reported that enemy soldiers were nearby.
I really hoped I'd never have to use my archery against real people. But I would, without hesitation, if they threatened this place. I'd grown fond of it.
Not everyone liked me—probably—and there were many I hadn't even met yet. The village was large.
But my fears came true when a messenger arrived with news: an army had set up camp in the valley, just 25 kilometers away.
The chief's observers reported about seven hundred soldiers, accompanied by a marquis and his elite knights.
It was the fifth night since Siasha and Samsi began staying with me when the messenger came, demanding to speak with the chief.
I joined out of curiosity—I wanted to see a human from this world up close.
She was shorter than the women in this village, but average compared to Earth's men. She wore chainmail beneath a long white robe that reached her knees, an iron helmet on her head, and a small banner displaying a black serpent coiling around the letter "K."
"I bring word from Her Majesty, Queen Helda of the Drakunis Kingdom—ruler of the Four Kingdoms," she declared, full of pomp.
"Her Majesty has learned that the people of the mountains have kidnapped a human from the eastern Drakunis territories. She demands the release of this captive—or she will come for them herself. You have four days to prepare."
Silence. You could hear a drop of water fall.
"Tell your Queen to come and take him from us. We'll show her who the real rulers are here," Dani growled.
"Well, you've heard our answer. Run along now," Meliss added calmly.
As soon as the messenger left the chief's house, Dani gathered the elders. A meeting was called in the big tent atop the great stone.
----------