"SCREW OFF..!! BOTH OF YOU..!"
- With a freshly recorded memory replaying inside of her head, she focused her attention once more on Bakzeu, who is nearly unconscious.
"Okay.. then. Hamilvan..!" - She yelled out in an internal rebuttal.
"Don't..! Fight off the desire to drift off..!! You'll never wake up..!"
- She raised her voice as Bakzeu continued to twitch and contort his facial muscles; pushing his hardest to remain awake.
————
"Hey Jankor.." - The blonde-haired young lass uttered as she walked beside a tall, dark-skinned, armoured man who seemed to be in his mid twenties.
"Something troubling you perhaps? Countess?" - Jankor, whom was; the dark-skinned young man diverted a raised brow towards the countess.
"..." - The Countess quietly sustained a sour expression as she paused, causing a sweat to slide down Jankor's smiling cheek.
"Did I do..something wrong again..?" - He thought to himself.
The Countess remained unresponsive as a pouty expression colourated her face; however just after a few more short moments, she surrendered and her shoulders slumped before releasing an exasperated sigh.
— Which caused the puzzled Jankor to slightly flinch : "'Crap. I did something terrible, did I?"
"No you didn't." - The countess replied.
—"Hieek..!" - Jankor subtly jerked upwards before a certain notion overtook his mind; "She can..hear what I'm thinking..!?"
"Count..Countess.." - Jankor muttered, wearing a troubled smile. - "..If..perhaps I committed some—"
Then, the Countess'es eyes drifted off to the horizon before she once again opened her lips;
"It appears that—KYA!"
— Jankor leaped up into the air.
"I'M SORRY!"
— Before he landed on a perfect kowtowing position towards the Countess.
"!!!?"
— Sophia's face quickly became an unclear blend of shock, fear and confusion all etched unto a single puzzled expression.
"Wha..what are you doing..!?" - The Countess exclaimed as Jankor's forehead kissed the grassy patch they stood on.
"I'm owning up to my unknown sins..!"
"Wha..!?"
"Perhaps I did something terrible without knowing again..!" - Jankor yelled, voice filled with conviction.
"..what..? No get up!"
*whisper* *whisper* *crackle*
A set of muffled voices slowly filled the air as more and more idle militias took glance at the charade the young Jankor pulled the dumbfounded Sophia in, whom upon seeing the unwanted attention befall on her; found a slight blush creeping on her countenance.
"I won't get punished..!?" - Jankor's head quickly tilted upwards and faced the Countess with an appalled expression.
"Unacceptable..! Countess.. Rulebreakers like me must be hanged over a tree in Death Valley just a centimeter before the Hellhounds rip my innards out..!"
— As Jankor yelled out with primal conviction, Sophia's face quickly went pale as her eyes widened unto its limits and froze.
"Hieek..!"
"That's horrible..!"
"The..countess..! engages..in..!"
- The pale face of the countess was abruptly seized by a pinkish colouration as the shock overtaking her heart was suddenly replaced with jittery nervousness.
"I..Idi..Idiot..!! I.." - With the heat assuming dominion over ther cheeks, the Countesss yelped out a response with a tinge of wail.
"I don't do that..!!!"
— Overwhelmed by embarrassment, the Countess could only flee to the outskirts as the heat on her face became too much to bear;
With a surprised Jankor tailing her, the armour repeatedly bouncing up and down on his stature
"Wait a minute countess..!" —
————
Just in the outskirts of the encampment there lied a silent Sophia remaining under the canopy of the rustling leaves delivered by the large tree on which bared the makeshift, trunk-like bench which Jankor and she sat on.
"mmmphhf..." - The Countess has been exuding out a growl-like pout as she tried to repeatedly catch her breath contrasting Jankor's refreshed expression as if he just bathed.
"That was quite the marathon, Countess.." - Jankor uttered, dusting off his armour.
"Grr.." - Sophia continued in mock-annoyance.
"You enjoy putting me on the spot.." - She muttered, eyes furrowed.
"Apologies Countess, my passion of serving the Aosomus lineage sometimes..
usurps the power of my reason and social decency."
- Jankor explained, an index finger raised up: Making the Countess raise an eyebrow with a tinge of discomfort.
"What's..with this man..?" -Sophia pondered, seeing Jankor's face looking rejuvenated as opposed to her, barely being able to breathe after she sprinted outside the encampment just to escape the shenanigan she was dragged to.
"But hey..It's just a part of who I am..! Ever since day one..!" - Jankor added, voice rising up in a triumphant proclaimation.
- With the final word echoing free from his mouth, Sophia couldn't help but space out a little as it resonated inside of her mind.
"ever since day one..hm?"
...
"..That reminds me..Jankor.." - Sophia whispered, before she diverted her eyes towards the curious man. - "..Why are you.. here anyway..?" - She inquired, gaze unfaltering.
To which Jankor sustained for a short second before breaking off the gaze and focusing it on the view in front of them, a slight smile on his countenance.
- He then opened his mouth to respond;
"..Sir Aosumus..
stationed me here."
- Which caused The countess to slightly flinch before her eyes widened.
"Wha..what..?"
- She muttered.
"..A..Appa..did?"
— After a few moments of unbreaking silence with Sophia's mind desperately trying to digest the information that was suddenly thrown at her; She blinked before her mouth went agape. —
"..Why..why would Appa task you..
of all people to guard Azulunu?" -
Sophia's eyes narrowed as she responded with a slight lace of mockery, sending a drop of sweat to slide down Jankor's smiling lip.
"Ouch.. That..that stings Countess." - He replied, before he heaved a sigh and smiled.
"Also I thought of the same thing when Sir Aosomus called me in his private office and gave me that command—"
He weaved before the Countess abruptly sneaked in.
"For what reason?"
"For reasons rather..Undisclosed, Miss Countess." - To which Jankor flashed her a smirk that earned him a raise of a brow.
"...." - Sophia sustained her piercing gaze on Jankor after he had preferred to conceal the reason he was sent.
Though only lasting for a few short moments, Sophia broke first and then slouched in her stature after releasing a pent-up exhale.
"..Come on.. Appa always leaving me out of the important details.." - She mumbled.
Jankor's smirk transitioned into a soft smile before he opened it once more.
"Reasons are to remain hidden.. But I suppose I could tell you this much at least.." - Jankor shrugged off his shoulders before a sigh of resignation escaped his smile, which caused a teary Sophia to look over.
"I first came here Two Years ago, under the direct order of Sir Aosomus that I depart as soon as possible."
Sophia paused, interpreting his words before she replied;
"Two years ago..? Which..date exactly?"
Earning her another smile from Jankor.
"Sixteenth of the First Spring."
...
Sophia paused for a short while before her eyes quickly bursted into a widened state.
"When..When the stampedes..peaked..!?"
"..Heh." - Jankor scoffed.
"As sharp as ever I see."
————
ACT 35 FIN!