Chapter 18 : Morning Nightmares

Nightmares are not always a bad thing. It's true, nightmares always haunt us in our sleep, often leaving us gasping for air during sleep and ending up exhausted when we wake up. But I try to look at it from another perspective, my perspective.

Sometimes, nightmares can be an effective alarm. It's not often that I wake up early due to a nightmare, like this time. When I wake up breathless and with the feelings of the dream still lingering, I try to recall all the information from the dream so that I can remember it longer.

The last thing I remembered when I woke up was someone saying that two people, my roommates, were brothers. If that's true, then how wretched I am.

As usual, when I woke up, Gerard wasn't in his bed and the sun hadn't even risen yet. While Sam was still deeply asleep on the edge of the bed, almost falling out of it. Silently, I tried to get out of the room to see what it was like at dawn. It was quite cold, but apparently not as dark as I had imagined.

I looked down, and there was Gerard jogging by himself on a circular track on the side of the field. I watched him while resting on my hands. There were many thoughts that popped into my head as I watched him.

Why is he so tough?

Does he never have fun?

How was his life before he came here?

Why can he be so annoying and so charming at the same time?

Why are the words that come out of his mouth always so sharp?

Has he never said anything nice before?

And there were dozens of other questions, I decided to stop at the question 'when will he return my silver dagger?'

I forgot one important thing even though it was one of the purposes of being here. Many things have happened since I came here, which made me forget many important things. Including my family. Usually every night, I would talk to the stars in the sky, telling them things as if they were my family.

It wasn't uncommon for me to cry, saying I missed my mom, asking her to come back. But the crying didn't last long. Because I remember reading in one of the books I found in the library, that if a star fell to earth then it could be the end of the world. I didn't intend to bear all the sins of the people on earth, if that happened.

Gerard came back when I had just finished washing his clothes. Yes, I did. I obeyed him! He looked at me at the top of the stairs, as I was drying his clothes on the balcony. I suddenly felt so embarrassed, like I was a thief caught in the act. It was still quite dark, so I couldn't really see Gerard's facial expression.

"Wait, this isn't what you think it is!" I snapped, didn't want Gerard to take advantage of me any more than this.

"What? About you washing my clothes?" , he asked walking over.

"No, but yes-- you're right. I did wash your clothes. But that was only so you could return the silver dagger I left you! That's it! So don't assume I really want to obey you."

"Oh well, about your dagger, come with me and put your shoes on." Gerard said and walked out of the room.

The first thing I thought was that he probably had it in his hideout outside. Because I had searched the whole room and found it nowhere, not even in his wardrobe or under his bed. I followed him happily without any suspicion. Our steps stopped right in front of the stables.

"So this is where you hid it all this time? Where I spent my afternoon yesterday?", I commented with a sad laugh.

"You, wait here." , he said and he stepped inside and disappeared into the darkness.

While waiting, I took a look around. The atmosphere was so calm. The sound of birds chirping from the forest sounded so beautiful, plus the yellow light from the room in the watchtower that never turned off looked like a lantern in the fog. There were only a few officers crossing the field, walking leisurely while occasionally laughing. It was very peaceful.

Two troopers in their uniforms who had just come out of the watchtower, noticed my presence. They turned to each other, looking confused by my presence. I had tried to throw a friendly smile at them as they looked at me, but it seemed to have confused them even more until finally the two decided to approach me.

"What are you doing here, junior?" one of them asked. The clatter of their weapons and shoes rang more clearly in my ears than their questions.

Immediately, I saluted them with a firm voice, "Salute, sir!"

They saluted back rather lazily and silently. There were only hand gestures.

"Looks like the wake-up call siren hasn't sounded yet. Who let you out of the room? You know what the rules are, don't you, miss?" they asked with a teasing tone at the end of their sentence and then their laughter burst out.

I looked back at the stable and saw no sign of Gerard coming back soon, "I was asked to come here by Gerard, he was getting something over there."

"Aah, captain Gerard. Show a little respect for your captain, girl. Just because you're a woman, there are no exceptions. Nothing special, all the same. Uh wait, sorry I was wrong. You are special." The others chimed in and their laughter resumed, but this time they held back a bit.

"That's right. He's the special soldier that Mr. Wymond mentioned last time, right?"

" Salute." Gerard, who was suddenly beside me, said.

He saluted so casually, without a loud voice. He got the same response from the two soldiers, but the look in his eyes was very different from the one they both gave me.

"You're very hard working Gerard. Getting up early in the morning just to train her. You are truly a role model." praised one of them, giving Gerard a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"I can't help it. I was given the responsibility to watch over her."

"You also need to teach her some manners. It seems like she really doesn't know anything, you should try harder to mold her."

"That's already my duty as her captain and watcher."

"Alright, we'll enjoy a cup of coffee. I heard that this breakfast has some meat. You don't have to rush, I'll ask Charlie to save some for you."

Gerard smiled, "I appreciate it. Enjoy your breakfast." , he said and saluted again.

The two soldiers patted Gerard on the shoulder a few times in return and just smiled at me. Not a friendly smile, but a condescending smile.

Although their mouths could curve a friendly smile as a false mask, the look in their eyes couldn't lie to me. They could talk about me like that because they only lived in comfort. Being in the watchtower all day long, without fear of being attacked or destroyed, with plenty of food and snacks to enjoy. It's no surprise that they can easily look down on others.

"Is your position really that great? It seems like they respect you. You're still a trooper just like everyone else, right?" I asked Gerard without taking my attention away from the two troops.

Gerard put his hands on his waist, "I don't know how high you imagine, but it's true that I'm several levels above you guys. Especially, you." He said, "Now get into the riding arena."

"Me? No, no. I don't want to get another warning."

"Do you want to get your silver dagger back or not? I'm not in a good mood because of last night. So you better not piss me off." Gerard tilted his head towards the riding arena to reassure me.

I stared at him as my heart and mind clashed. Mr. Wymond's warning kept haunting me while Gerard who was now standing in front of me kept pressuring me.

"I'd like to ask you one question before going in there," I said. Seeing that he didn't comment, I assumed he was giving his permission for me to continue, "I had a strange dream last night. Is it true that Mr. Wymond is your father?"

Gerard looked at me seriously for a few moments, "How long have you been here? Two days huh? Quite sooner than I expected," he said, "Your dream was true. Mr. Wymond is my father. Are you satisfied? Now get in there."

I opened my mouth, gaping as I nodded, "Then I don't have to worry about getting a final warning and being expelled. Because the one who told me to is his own son." , I muttered as I passed through the one and a half meter high iron fence by climbing over it.

After I jumped to the ground, I didn't find Gerard anywhere when I turned around. I looked around and realized I was alone. But not long after, I heard the whinnying of a horse and then the sound of horseshoes tapping on the dry ground.

A brown, black-haired horse appeared. On it was already Gerard sitting tall riding it, looking at me seriously.

"Is the place you hid my dagger so far away that you have to ride a horse? I've already told you that I can't ride, haven't I? You saw with your own eyes what happened yesterday, what a mess! So maybe I'll just wait here, you can go on your own." I said resignedly.

"You know I never play around, right?" , he asked, scaring me a bit.

"Yeah. I've never even seen you smile."

Unexpectedly, Sam directed his horse to run towards the stables and they jumped over the fence so easily. I unconsciously walked backwards, mesmerized. In less than five seconds they were standing in front of me.

"Your silver dagger, it's with me. If you want it back, you must first avoid Order. He never hesitates to step on a rabbit or a human who gets in his way." , he explained from the horse.

"Wh-what? You mean I should avoid your horse? But, why, what for?!"

"Looks like your shoelaces are tied tight. Are you ready?", asked Gerard, ignoring my question.

"W-wait, you have to explain it to me first!", I urged as I walked away from him. He's completely insane!

"Ready? One, two, three!" , he said and stomped on the reins and yelled, making his horse lift both front legs and start running towards me.

"You've completely lost your mind, Gerard!"