Chapter 122 Stay Close

Chapter 122 Stay Close
"Uhm. Do you want to get off me now?" Azi asked when I didn't move.

I groaned and slowly pulled myself up. I brushed the dirt off myself, even though I wasn't the one who had gotten dirty. Azi was the one who had hit the ground and caught me.

"Your horse never listens to me!" I complained to Azi, who was currently brushing dirt off his black jacket. I glanced over at Sigrid, who had stopped a short distance away and was casually grazing on some grass. "She did the exact same thing the last time I rode her! She doesn't like me."

"Now you're shifting the blame onto an innocent animal who was also a victim of your recklessness." Azi shook his head. "I'll ride Sigrid from now on. Next time, we might actually end up going over a cliff."

I stayed silent. If only he knew that he was the reason I lost my concentration. Why would he hug me all of a sudden? It startled the shit out of me!

At the same time, it frustrated me.

Azi walked over to Sigrid while I stayed put. He inspected her body, looking for any injuries from the fall.

"She's not hurt," he said.

I almost rolled my eyes. Thank God! How about me? Isn't he going to check on me, too?

Damn. Here I am again.

Calm down...

I cleared my throat as I walked over to them. "Okay. Fine! I'm sorry, Master Azi. Yeah, yeah. I'm not that skilled at riding a horse yet."

"Can we walk for a while?" Azi looked at me, appearing completely fed up with me. "She's not hurt, just kind of startled."

Now... you're being sympathetic toward an animal. I nodded. "It's fine."

Azi held Sigrid’s reins as we walked side by side. We were both quiet. Azi was staring off into the distance, and I couldn't tell if he was deep in thought or what.

I suddenly remembered what had happened back inside the Mansion... the things I had found out. I knew I shouldn't, but... I felt a wave of sadness for Azi. How did everything end up like this?

From what I understood, Keegan was also part of the original Junior Squad. He was under the Gemini Squad, which was led by Nikolai. That was why he called Nikolai 'leader.' But... what happened?

"Keegan was your friend, too, right?" I asked Azi.

I didn't get an answer from Azi, just as I expected. But I didn't let that stop me.

"Emris mentioned something to me about Aries." I felt a sudden spike of nervousness mentioning it, but Azi still had no reaction. "You were the leader of that squad, right? While the other squad, Gemini, was led by Nikolai."

I gasped when Azi suddenly shoved me aside. Right at that exact second, an arrow whizzed past and embedded itself deep into a tree trunk. I hit the ground, sitting in the dirt, completely stunned.

"Get up," Azi ordered.

I was just about to push myself up when Azi suddenly appeared right beside me. He instantly snatched another arrow out of thin air that was heading straight for my chest. Only then did he pull me up onto my feet.

"A-are we being targeted?" I asked, tense.

Oh, God. Is this the start of the mission? Does this mean we've already entered Vlanchard Clan territory?

"Let's keep walking," Azi said casually, as if nothing had happened. "What was your question again?"

I clung even closer to Azi out of sheer fear.

I swallowed hard. "H-huh? Was I asking something?"

"Yes."

I winced as I tried to recall it. "I can't remember. It doesn't matter anyway. I'm nervous. Are we in Vlanchard Clan territory now? Are they targeting us?"

"No," he simply replied.

That meant entirely different vampires were attacking us. My heart was pounding frantically against my chest, but Azi just kept walking calmly.

"Azi... are they bad vampires?" I whispered softly.

He let out a laugh. "Do you really think whispering will keep them from hearing you?"

"They can hear me?" I whispered back.

"Loud and clear." He exhaled. "Don't worry. I can only sense one vampire. I don't think he's stupid enough to show up right in front of me. He's just going to target us from a distance. So... stay close to me."

I immediately grabbed hold of the fabric of Azi’s jacket, just as he told me to. I jumped in shock when he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"I don't think I'm the target, Shekina. Stay close to me now," he whispered.

My knees were trembling now. I had never been in a real fight before, so how was I supposed to handle this? We were being targeted with arrows. I didn't even know how to use a bow, let alone dodge an incoming shot.

"Wait..." My voice grew fainter and fainter. "What do you mean, Azi? I'm the only target? Not you? How did that happen? I don't have any enemies."

"Uhm. Pretty much. They usually target the most vulnerable one first. And he knows you're not just vulnerable, you're even below that."

"Stop teasing me! But... you're going to save me, right?" I was starting to panic now. "Right, Azi? You won't just leave me to die, right?"

"I haven't slept yet. You even ruined my nap earlier," he said before letting out a sigh. "I'm running low on energy. I'm sorry, Shekina. Looks like this is as far as you go."

I pinched his side hard, making him flinch. "Stop playing around! Don't you feel any pity for me? I haven't even been arguing with you, have I? I'm being an obedient slave to you!"

"Really?" He turned to look at me, raising an eyebrow. "If that's the case, why can't I feel it?"

"Azi, come on!" I stomped my foot like a frustrated kid, but he just laughed at me. "Fine. Whatever. I'm not leaving your side."