CHAPTER 9: Naqeera
Today was yet another bright day.
The sun hung high in the sky, looking down at the world beneath it.
The sunrays were traveling in the air and falling upon each and every figure that came into its range of view, whether a plant, human or animal, conquering them all.
Under the towering located at the heart of Nysia.
Different types of birds were singing every now and then in a melodious way.
A woman wearing a black robe was pressing her back against the with an apple in her right hand.
She took a large bite from it, her gaze locked in the person standing before her. Her left hand's fingers drifted through black strands, weaving shadows into her hair.
At this moment, her blue eyes shone brightly, lips curved into a mischievous grin.
She chuckled softly and stood up, without adjusting the robe properly she approached the person before her with light steps and leaned her face on his right, just beside his. Then placed her petal-like lips near his right ear, resting a strand of black hair on the person's right shoulder, she whispered in a teasing tone,
The person shivered.
This woman in black was Naqeera.
…
One day ago.
Naqeera's eyelashes slightly trembled as her eyelids slowly opened, revealing two deep-blue eyes.
Bright sunlight came to reach them but Naqeera's right hand was lifted around her face as she protected them against the sunray.
"M-my head, my b-back, my whole b-body hurts", she cried out in pain.
A leaf fell from the enormous on her forehead.
"...”
A young man saw the scene before him with gentleness in his eyes. His lips were curved into a slight smile.
But the next moment his complexion darkened as a very memory flickered in his mind.
Sighing lightly, he went somewhere near the and picked up a small bamboo-basket.
…
With the support of a tree branch, Naqeera slowly stood up while gritting her teeth and–
She cried in pain.
When she just moved her right leg, an excruciating pain washed over her as she trembled violently for a second.
‘This… Even a single movement is causing pain.What just happened? I can't remember anything after… the old man grinned weirdly.', she thought while pursing her lips, her eyebrows furrowing together.
A sound of footsteps caught her by surprise as she slowly turned her head to her left and saw–
A slender but solid-built, pale young man wearing ragged clothes, slowly decreasing the distance between them. He had a crude bone-knife hanging on his left waist and a small bamboo-basket containing some fresh fruits- on his left hand. From the corners of his right shoulder, a sword-like tip was peeking out from time to time.
The sun revealed his pale face, but Naqeera couldn't see it clearly from her point of view.
The youth put the basket down three-feet from her, took half of the fruits from it. And turned his back on her, intending to leave.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Naqeera tried to reach for him instinctively, but the extreme pain forced her to stop as she saw the youth slowly leaving her sight.
Then she suddenly flinched as she remembered something.
‘No…it c-couldn't be r-right?’
Swallowing hard, she started to sweat profusely as her heart skipped a beat. Her pupils dilated-facial muscles twitched and eyelashes trembling, she bit her lips. Her hands clenched into fists, lowering her head slowly, she tried to take a look at herself
After spending a few seconds to herself, her fists loosened as she let out a shaky breath of relief.
By this time, she was already drenched in cold sweat.
As if sensing something, the young man's footsteps came to a pause.
Then he said in a deep-clear voice,
“If I wanted to you, you have been able to right now.”
After that, he was about to continue his walk.
Due to some unknown reasons, hearing these words, Naqeera’s cheeks flushed red as she subconsciously felt her nose-to-ear area warming up. She shouted,
"Speak!”, the boy replied immediately.
“...",
Naqreera was caught off guard by the instant reply.
"...”, the youth remained silent.
She let out a fake cough to break out of the awkward silence and pretended to clear her throat.
Then,
“No need to be alarmed. I bought those fruits with your money, for us both. I had no other choice, since I'm... broke.”, the youth spoke.
By the end of the speech, Naqeera stiffened, her right hand slowly rustled inside the robe, but came out empty handed as she
“Where did you get my purse? And how did you find me? It was already way past midnight, when did you arrive?"
Hearing the word the youth subconsciously gulped, eyebrows twitched slightly, he replied,
“You were already unconscious when I first found you… alone, just a bit later after midnight. Your purse was next to your-um waist area. However, the scene before the was a bit off, as if someone was standing right before you not-too-long ago."
Naqeera slowly took a deep breath and said,
“I'm hungry… but I can't reach the basket.”
Then,
She sat down nearing the door and kept staring at the youth before her for a bit. Then with a pair of shining blue eyes she shouted,
The youth’s facial muscles twitched at the sight before him as he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
…
Naqeera took a large bite from the apple in her right hand, her eyes locked to the ground, a thoughtful expression on her face.
“It to be she said while frowning with a faint hint of anger in her otherwise-melodious voice.
The youth turned his back against Naqeera after the apple and looked at the before him, wisdom shining in his eyes.
A few moments passed, and Naqeera emptied the basket.
They were both silent.
A gentle breeze passed through them.
Naqeera’s long-silky black hair fluttered with the wind and a dark strand gently touched the youth's back.
The youth trembled a bit. A strange but warm feeling filled his heart, causing him to be dazed for a while.
After contemplating on a few things, Naqeera said softly,
"I'm Thank you very much for me earlier.”
"...”, the youth offered no reply.
Naqeera didn't dwell on the lack of response as she continued her speech from before–
"I'm from Nyx..."
After mentioning her origin, she described the meeting with a grey-robed old man and the events that followed.
The young man listened to all of it with great interest.
"...!” He was silent at first but a bit later his eyebrows perked up as he seemingly came to a conclusion.
Then he began to speak in a clear-voice,
“Naqeera, I thi—” He stopped before finishing, struck by a sudden realization. In the short span of a year’s worth of memories, this was only the second time he had called someone by name so casually, the first being Aveon. In fact, it is the very first time he is having a with someone when nothing is at stake.
His gaze sharpened, a cold reality came to mind,
‘Of course… It's because I have to lose… since I truly had anything at all…’
“Yes…? You were saying..?”, Naqeera, who couldn't see his facial expression at that moment, urged him to continue.
“Mhm… So, as I was saying. I think I know where this person comes from, but I'm not one-hundred percent sure about it.”, he replied.
Hearing this, Naqeera was stunned. Her eyes widening in surprise, she stood up and hurriedly went before the young man and asked,
“What!? You know him!? How!? Do the both of you come from the same place!?”
Listening to Naqeera’s questions, he shook his head and said,
“I don't know anything about him. However, I'm more than ninety percent sure that he came from the top of this
Naqeera was dumbfounded. She held her breath, her right eye twitching she asked with a shaky voice,
"H-huh? W-what did you just say? From top of the I don't think I follow, but why do you believe that the old man came from top of the
The youth was confused for a bit at Naqeera’s overreaction, but soon he replied with furrowed brows–
“Because I was the when I first arrived here and inside that hall, I could smell a unique scent. And when I came here through the a very similar scent was lingering near that
Naqeera's head was spinning as she fell to the ground. She was thoroughly flabbergasted this time.
Thebefore her was someone who arrived at this base through the from the
She didn't want to believe what she had just heard but that mysterious youth's every action by far proved that he wasn't joking at all.
It took her quite a while to regain her composure. She decided to put the matter of the old man aside for now. Then she stood up, with a calm voice, she said,
“Okay. For now, I'll believe you since you saved my life. Now, if you don't mind, I have more questions to ask you.”
The youth nodded slightly, hinting a sign of approval.
Then.
Naqeera asked her first question,
“Why did you flinch when I mentioned my purse?”
"B-because… I actually had to s-search your body a bit to find the purse", he replied hesitantly, his eyes darting around, he scratched the back of his head with his left hand.
Hearing the reply with such a scene, Naqeera smiled wryly.
Then.
She asked her second question, her deep blue eyes shining with a curious light–
“What is your name? I've already told you mine, but you didn't. It bothers me. Like I'm talking to a slave or something. It's weir-”, her words died in her throat, she gulped and went a step back instinctively, her eyes widened.
Hearing the word the youth’s left eyebrow twitched for a second. His lips curved into a smirk.
Then.
He closed his eyes and tilted his head skyward. And started to speak with a clear-deep voice,
“Ah…myhuh. You see,.. I'm not used to being called by a name. From the very first moment of my memories till now, I've always been addressed as— slave, bastard, useless thing, worthless, dog, trash etc…”— He took a pause and opened his eyes as he saw the seemingly borderless sky.
But soon, the clear sky turned gloomy.
The air started flowing faster than normal. All the birds on the let out cries of panic and flew away from the area.
Naqeera held her breath as she noticed the changes around her. But she didn't panic this time as if she knew the person before her would never cause her any harm.
The youth shifted his gaze towards her and saw her unwavering state.
He smiled mysteriously and continued–
“And besides, it hasn't even been an entire day since I got to know my from…
By this point, countless whirling vortexes of wind had gathered around the as though forming a barrier that sealed off the area from the outside world. The lightning was flickering from time to time.
He slowly closed the gap between them, standing right before her.
Then leaned his head on her left, his face just beside hers.
Naqeera could feel his breath touching her neck.
Her heartbeat quickened and a burning heat spread across her body. Suddenly a very memory flickered in her mind as she started sweating, subconsciously gulped, her cheeks reddened a bit.
He paused for a moment, clearly enjoying the scene.
Then chuckling lightly he decided to finish his
A loud thunder echoed encompassing the area as he uttered the last word while placing his lips closer to her left ear, a strand of her black hair silently touching his cheek—
Naqeera trembled violently as a shiver ran through her very being.