Rhea's pov
I checked a few hospitals thinking I might see him in at least one of them but my luck as always wasn't with me. So I decided to go back and start anew tomorrow, the roads looked quite dark during nights, and it was difficult to see, but somehow stumbling here and there I reached my room.
I was greeted with an unusual site, someone was waiting there on my doorsteps, at first my heart raced I thought it was him, but this time I controlled myself, it wasn't him- again but an officer who worked with him, one who asked me questions that night and told me there will be an officer to take my statement. But he didn't said anything about that officer would be he, himself. I was so busy looking for him that this thought casually slipped my mind that I could actually ask the officer about his Whereabouts. I'm such an idiot truly, wandering here n there instead of going to police.
But why were they so late it's third night already since the incident, looks like people here liked to slack off. The officer greeted me on sight. I nodded. He eyed me up and down, like he was watching a mental patient, and said after sighing :"miss anya, I'm here to take your statement on regards of the incident, but may I be nosy enough to enquire where are you coming from at this hour? "
:"I was just travelling, that's all!, I wasn't trying to run away I swear! ".i replied, my voice shaky.
:" Oh look at me, I'm sorry if I gave that expression, first can we go inside, it's quite chilly out here, don't you think? "
I looked at him, looked at myself, I was shivering, so I nodded and opened the door for him, entered after him. This one roomed house looked even gloomier with just one candlelight in the middle. He sat on an old chair, I sat on another. He took out his pen and paper, started writing something and asked :"miss, can you recall everything that happened on the scene? "
:"yess, I can"
"So, can you tell me what happened, like what did you heard that made you go inside? "
:"I was nearby when I heard noises of two people, shouting at each other. At first I thought it must be something normal when I heard one of them laughing hysterically, It was terrifying, so I entered the building to look if there was a fight, and I saw that one was ready to strik on other with a knife and before I knew it I shouted at him to stop. " I said, my tone calm.
:"okay I understand, and where were you going exactly to take such a route that's not visited by any! "
:"I was trying to find my way to night market, as I'm new to this place, I don't really know about which routes I should take. "
:" Ohh, were are you from then? "
:"I'm from West, just came here few days ago. I heard I might be able to make some living here as West is quite expensive. "
:"yeah you're right, it indeed is!, but seriously if you're from West then are you good in magic? I heard people there have quite good core, almost all the mages are from West. "
:"I do have a magical foundation, but I can't say I'm good in it... " I said my eyes trailing.. "By the way officer how is the officer that saved me that night doing, is he alright? "
:"ohh, you don't need to worry. he woke up today and is doing quite
Alright, you can even expect to see him in a few days.. "He said enthusiastically.
:" Why would I see him, though?, aren't you already here to take my statement? Or do I need to say more? "
:"oh no no I've already asked what I wanted to ask, but it looks like my friend also has some things he wish to ask to you! "
'What things' I thought, of course I couldn't ask that, maybe he wanted to confront me about our first encounter as that was why I was running away from him till now. But not anymore, I know I should stay away from him, but running doesn't solve anything so I should see him, I'll make up lies if he corners me again, simple...
:"oh is that so.. Then I can't refuse him I guess... "I smiled at him.
:" One more thing miss, I know you haven't said a word about that incident but still you should sign this document stating that you will keep absolute silent about this matter. "
:"oh okay.. "I signed the papers, and he asked some more irrelevant questions and noted everything down. And said.
:" Ok miss, I should take my leave now, I was pretty concerned when I didn't see you here the time I arrived and so I waited for you, otherwise I wouldn't have taken your statement so late "
:"oh it's fine, I was just out for something irrelevant and lost track of time ".i said my voice low.
:" If anything happens call us and don't wander around in night. "
:"I'll keep that in mind, thank you"
With that he left. It really was late, almost midnight.. I changed my clothes and looked into the blurry mirror, I looked tired, hideous and quite ugly. As if I was a different person now, I couldn't stare at my face no longer so I extinguished the candle and leapt onto the makeshift bed I'd arranged. It was many sticks stacked together to give it a bed like look. It wasn't fancy but enough to lie down on occasionally.
Maybe because I was tired and finally got a good news that he was alright, so my mind relaxed and I slept soundly after so long.
I woke up in the middle of the day by the sounds of someone's knocking. It might be the old lady I thought as she always frequented my house with food. So I got up from bed fixed my appearance a bit and opened the door. I was sleepy just a moment ago but my eyes went wide by what they saw before them. .
It was him. Jiang xi was here, looking like his usual self. Eyes brown and calculating, with his usual jacket, hands inside his pockets. He was watching me, amused.. He eyed me up and down and said after a while" I think I should've come later"
His voice snapped me out of my trance, I looked at him all dressed looking like he came after solving a case, and then I looked at myself, disheveled clothes, unkempt hair, messy appearance, truly a disaster. I slammed the door in his face and said just loud enough so he could hear me"wait, give me five minutes, I just woke up that's why I'm looking like this..just wait okay, don't go anywhere and stand there "
:"if that's what you want, okay then, although I don't mind your appearance.... Ok I'll wait here! "He said , his voice carrying the usual calm.
I hurriedly changed my clothes, washed up a bit, did a messy bun, and opened the door again, inviting him inside. He came inside, I closed the door, he took the same chair the officer took last night.
:" So miss anya right " He asked, I nodded. "You might have guessed why I'm here" He asked.
:"the officer said you had some questions. "I said and then remembered something, his injury. " Wait are you alright the officer said you just woke up yesterday, in that case shouldn't you be resting right now in the hospital instead of visiting someone, questions can wait, can't they? "I asked him concerned.
:" I'm feeling quite alright, and I couldn't let you run away again so I came as soon as possible"
:"why would I run away? I got nothing to run away from. "I said denying him.
:" Nothing to run away from huh! Then why did you run away the first time we met in that bookstore? You did quite something there didn't you? "He said his voice mocking, " Now tell me properly who are you, and don't give me the I'm from West crap! I'm asking what were you doing before you came here,? "
:"I didn't run away, okay, you think I wanted to run away? I was just terrified!"
He looked into my eyes, trying to find something.
:"okay it's my fault I lashed out like that, I shouldn't have, I agree but one thing I can say for sure is that you're not ordinary.! Either a runway mage or a slave with high magical affinity, otherwise I can't explain the way you sensed those books, they've never been sensed by any person in my watch, but you did, not only you sensed them, you connected with them too, otherwise you couldn't have chosen those specific books to throw on the ground! "He said without taking any breadth.
:" Wait, okay listen to me I'll tell you" I said, now panicked.
:"if you're a mage that explains your behavior but if you're not then I fear you're someone I don't want you to be! "He said looking at me.
Wait what did he say, someone he doesn't want me to be, what's that supposed to mean, I thought but couldn't wrap my head around it. So I accepted.
:" Yess, I'm a mage, a runaway one, you guessed that right too. But my magic is highly restricted, I can't do anything with magic I can only sense it. Maybe that's why I sensed your books, but I swear I didn't know the importance of those books I threw onto you" I replied,breaking eye contact.
:"so they weren't planned? "He enquired.
:" No, how could I when I can't even use magic "I said to him.
:" So you were discarded by the kingdom? "
:"yess, I can't tell you the exact reason but officials were disappointed with me on something and stripped me off of my title and banished me, I had nowhere to go so I came here while I was traveling trying to find a place to settle"
:" Okay and What's the name of the city that banished you? If I may ask? "
:"even if I tell you, you won't know the place so leave it. "I said.
:" Lady, I didn't studied my way into being a detective without geography so of course I'll know if you tell me the name.. " He said, clearly annoyed.
:"I can't, I don't wish to go back, if that's why you're fishing for the name and even if I could, my memories are hazy so I'm not sure what's real Or not! "I explained to him.
After listening intently he said:" I see so you don't wish to go back, in that case I can't force you, also I wanted to ask why you were so scared when you first came to my bookstore, if someone's threatening you, you can always tell me, I'll help you"
:"thanks for saying that, but I don't really remember what happened before I found myself in front of that bookstore, that's why I'm not sure about someone threatening me.. "
:" Also, what you did that night was really dangerous, you shouldn't jump between men with weapons, you could've died if I was slow by a second ",he said in a nagging tone.
:" I'm sorry, I'll make sure something like this never happens again. "I said to him.
:" I'm sorry too for disturbing your beauty sleep, looks like you were really tired, but still you should eat something " He took out a packet from his coat placing it in my hands, "they're still warm, eat them, and don't skip meals"he said.
I can't figure out his tone, I watched him dumbfounded, only to see that he left the chair and was ready to go.
:" Wait, that's all you had to ask? "
:"yess, should I ask more? Is there something else or do you want me to stay longer? "He said, mocking again.
I flushed and said :" No, no just leave! "I pushed him out, he resisted a bit but eventually left.
I took out the steamed buns he left and munched on them, thinking about our conversations, I lied to him, about my existence, but what could I do, I couldn't tell him that I'm his creator. Before I knew it, my eyes became moist again....