"You do know that once I recover I will be kicking your ass?"
Celestinia spoke as she dwindled on the side of the hidden figure, her body just like a sack of potatoes thrown to the shoulder, as the person holding her kept moving through the jungle, using stealth, to avoid the truly dangerous beasts that could cause them harm,
"You forced my hand, then you will at least have to go with my arrangements"
The figure replied, its hoarse voice filling Celestinia's ears, she planned to move after a two-day rest, desiring to have the poison effects removed from her before the journey began, yet she wasn't even given a chance to protest as the person lifted her threw her to its shoulder and began moving, for the first time she was treated so badly, it was infuriating yet novel,
"So, what are your hobbies?"
Since she was laying on its shoulder Celestinia began to question this mysterious figure, hoping to pass the time as she got used to the distress she was feeling,
"Stay quiet"
Sadly she was quickly turned down, no sympathy was given as it kept moving around, sometimes the leaves hitting her face, increasing her discomfort, for a moment she began to think that the person was doing it on purpose,
"You seemed to hold your grudge very highly"
She spoke while dangling around, thankfully the veil she was wearing was more like a protection, that keeps her face covered, be it wind or movements it would keep hiding her face in a white illusion and unless she wills it, nothing about her true face could be seen or understood, while it looked like a veil, it was more of an artifact that hid the true details of her features, even her body,
"That's true"
A positive reply finally came from the person, as he slowed his speed down, his hand moved to his sheath as his sword appeared out, holding it tight, just as he did a roar came from the side as a tiger-like beast jumped upon them, a wave-like motion hitting them, confusion their mind but this time the beast trick had no effect as the figure waved its sword up, a single uppercut, dividing the best into two,
"Good reactions"
A comment left Celestinia who could not even gaze at the danger,
"Comfortable princess?"
The figure asked in a sarcastic voice as it kept moving, each time it would face some sort of danger or some traps that would attack it, yet every single time the figure would react protecting Celestinia, making sure she wasn't hurt, seeing this she had turned silent, while she was being annoyed she wasn't one to disturb a person who was trying its earnest to make sure that she's not hurt.
This was truly the first for her, all her life she never had this feeling of being weaker and to be truthful it felt very bitter and agonizing for her, to have her entire safety upon an another was more than she could imagine, it had somehow made her understand how much she had relied on her powers,
"Thank you"
Earnest gratitude left Celestinia's mouth as she gazed at the figure who was once again sipping on a soup, this time they were unlucky to find a much smaller cave when night descended, leaving not many options to cook,
"That's new, princess"
The figure spoke with a chuckle as it sipped on the soup,
"Celes"
"Um?"
Confused about the response the figure turned to Celestinia who was now looking at the hidden figure with a hardened gaze,
"You can call me Celes, only people I acknowledge can call me that and I now truly wish to be your friend
Celestinia wasn't totally ungrateful, she knew how to pay back her debts, she had seen how much the figure had tried and worked hard to keep her safe, even taking injuries, hence she had accepted the person as her 'family',
"See this small necklace on me?"
She asked to which the figure nodded,
"This is a pendant that helps me tell lies from the truth and since we will be together for some months, why don't we get to know each other a little?"
"Sure"
The figure readily agreed, to which Clestinia asked the first round of questions,
"Are you a boy or a girl?"
"Boy"
The figure truthfully replied, making something flash deep within Clestinia's eyes,
"Age?"
"Sixteen"
To that reply, a smile came to her face, while an unknown certain relief filled her heart,
"That makes me older! so call me big sis!"
She spoke,
"Nope"
To which she was readily denied, making her chuckle, her beautiful voice calming within the blazing fire,
"You must be a super prodigy"
She spoke, now her eyes peering, trying to get to know more,
"You could say that"
His reply was tinged with a hint of pride,
"hehe.....as expected of my little brother"
"Not happening"
He once again decided,
"My...my embarrassed are we?'
She asked now opening up a bit of herself to the one in front of her, whom she was coming to recognize, sadly this time he didn't reply as he just turned his head sideways,
'Don't worry I will surely know more about you'
She planned as a sly smile came up her face, and hence in such a manner they spent the night with Celestinia trying to open up the boy in front of her, making small progress, the next day at sunrise they once again set off, this time the dangerous sky high, while she hated it, she had to be protected for one more day, her hunger too was reaching its limit, she would soon need to feast and drink.
Once again the boy breathed danger to protect her, getting hurt in the process, soon another day passed as night descended,
"This is good!"
Celestinia genuinely complimented as she feasted upon the food, her etiquette, and manner out of the window as she kept eating to her heart's content, filling up her hunger, the effects of the poison had left her, finally granting her the mobility she so desires,
"You might choke up, eat slowly"
The boy replied, to which she gave off a cheeky reply,
"Worrying about me now, are we?"
"Yes"
He earnestly replied taking her back, a small blush rising on her face due to such an honest admission,
"Sigh.....don't you think you can show me your face now?"
She asked,
"Will you show me yours?"
He asked taking her back, while she had become much more relaxed she hadn't reached a level with him where she was comfortable with her true figure being seen, that was pressed for the truly important people in her life that had reached a high level of importance for her, the number of people that truly know her figure can be counted in one hand,
"The day you show me your face, that day you will know me"
He spoke, as he focused on his food, Celestinia didn't force it as she too focused on hers, the night fading away, as she tried to know more about this mysterious boy and thus from the next day onwards their true journey began, one that will affect Celestinia the most, a journey that will make her feel emotions that she didn't know.
A journey that will change her....
