The Challenge of the Masters

⊱⊰ 2: Empathy [New] ⊱⊰

The young woman placed her hands on her hips as her expression displayed disappointment.

"What do you mean, what are you doing here?" she said, walking towards him and bending over a little. "Aren't you happy to see me, En?"

En distanced his back a little as the young woman approached her round face close to him. Her bright blue eyes that had shades of yellow on their contours could be hardly seen as she narrowed them while gazing at him.

"Sorry," he said, looking away. "I wasn't expecting to see you here, Miria. It's not every day you visit Celestia. When was the last time you set foot here?"

Miria's long brownish red hair, that was tied in a ponytail, whipped through the warm breeze as she had a seat on the grassy ground.

"Last year," she replied looking back at him. "I usually visit Celestia once and sometimes twice a year; I have to check how dad does his job sometimes. After all, I'll be the next King's right-hand man—I mean woman."

A quick chuckle joined the atmosphere as Miria winked at him.

"Is that a chuckle I'm hearing?" Miria's eyes widened. "Since when does my cousin display an emotion other than seriousness?"

En raised a brow at her joke. Despite being taught not to show any kind of weak emotions to people, En always thought that it would be okay to show his cousins how he really felt. Even though most of the time he would hide his feelings, he didn't mind showing positive emotions to them. He would always laugh and joke with them; Miria knew that very well.

"It's strange." En folded his arms, changing the subject. "How come I never saw you around the castle during your visits?"

Miria shrugged. "For some reason, you were nowhere to be found, whenever I wanted to see you. I would end up spending the day trying to strengthen my bond with Shaula, but it seems I always ended up ruining her day. After she became a Guardian she became even more arrogant."

"Is that so?" En glanced sideways, trying to avoid talking about his other cousin.

As he grabbed the grass on the green ground, he concluded that Miria might have shown up in the castle during the time he was free. A time he would mostly spend with the ones who once were his friends.

Something tightened in his chest as he thought of them.

"Oh," said Miria, her tone curious. "Who's this girl?"

En glanced by his shoulder. "Hm?"

Miria showed him his art book, displaying the page exhibiting a girl looking over her shoulder with a smile. His heart skipped and he quickly grasped the book from his cousin's fingers.

"No one. It's just a random girl I drew," he said, closing the book.

For a few seconds, Miria gazed at En suspiciously. 

"Your skills have evolved throughout the years," she said with a smile. "Aunt Yueli would be so proud."

En's lips formed a small smile. He wondered how his mother would critique his artworks if she was still alive. Judging by the works she left behind, he still had a long way to go to reach her level.

"By the way," said Miria, breaking the brief silence. "Dad asked me for a favor when I asked him where I could find you. He asked me to train you in his behalf."

En raised a brow. "You training me? How come?"

En knew that his cousin training him, meant a friendly spar to see who was the best. But he couldn't help but wonder why Kraden wouldn't be there to watch them. Even when he wouldn't train him personally, he would still be around to check En's flaws as he sparred with a soldier.