The moment Lucas stepped out of the room, he noticed Valen staring deep into the clouds, he walked slowly and brushed his shoulders with her.
"What are you thinking about?" He calmly said shaking her from her thoughts.
"Huh? Um, nothing," she calmly said, her thoughts were fully clouded with what had happened earlier.
"It's definitely something but if you don't want to talk, I definitely can't force you," he replied then he slowly turned and faced her, he noticed a petal on her hair and the moment he was about to take it, she retreated back.
He folded his hand and let out a small smile, "guess we still need to build up our relationship right."
Valen let out a small awkward chuckle, "I guess so."
"Don't worry I'm not going to hurt you," he moved back completely and was about to leave, "just so you know there's a petal on your head, I tried removing it."
Valen quickly patted her head but nothing fell until Lucas reached out and took the petal off her hair, "cute..." he muttered under his breath but Valen heard him.
"Thank you," she finally said, "I need to go, since the king wants to be alone for now."
Lucas held her hand the moment she wanted to quickly dash away, "why don't you stick around with me for a while?"
Valen slowly removed her hand from his, placing an awkward smile on her face, "I have things to do, I apologize."
Lucas knew she was lying but left her regardless, "no problem but do remember that you still owe me something."
Valen could only nod and quickly dashed away before her heart would burst, firstly she had Georgia to worry about, then the king slowly showed his true colors and worse even kissed her and now Lucas.
"Moon Goddess...help me," she muttered under her breath as she aimlessly walked through the palace halls.
Valen was about to walk into one of the pillar when someone pulled her away, "watch where you're heading to else I would start tending to your wounds again."
She snapped out from her trance and saw Georgia smiling holding some bottles in her hand.
Valen smiled gently, "oh, don't mind me, my head is caught up in so many situations right now that I forgot where I was heading to."
"Hmmm," Georgia hummed, "since you're not doing anything much, can you accompany me to the forest, I need to tap from some trees swap for a new potion the healers are making."
Valen didn't think much, "sure, as long as we don't waste time there."
"No we won't," Georgia grabbed her and they strolled together but Valen kept her distance a bit, remembering the King's warning.
Georgia noticed it but didn't say anything, she didn't want to build any tension between them, so she decided to just break the silence, "this is my first field work in a long time."
Valen looked at her calmly, "really? Why?"
"I don't think really do field work because I'm scared of attacks from anybody, either wolves, witches or human."
Valen furrowed her brows, "but witches nor humans barely reach theses regions, wolves probably."
Georgia stopped midst their track and check the tree right in front of them, bringing out a small dagger to check the bark.
"It kind of happened few years back when I first joined the healers wing, we were to find some herds to help with the late king and anyone who found the whole herbs needed for the medicine would get their wish granted, I was young, naive better still stupid, I walked deep into the woods, fun fact, it was still day time like now but I was attacked by some humans who thought I was a wolf or witch."
She took a deep breath, Valen wanted to comfort her but could barely bring herself to do it.
"Luckily the palace guards were around and helped me just in time but it was honestly a terrible experience."
She turned and faced Valen, "since that day until now, I've never had the courage to do any field work."
"So glad that you are finally overcoming the fear," Valen tried to comfort her with her words.
"I don't think so, I'm just glad that you kind of followed me, heavens know I would have lied to the elder healers that I couldn't find anything."
They both burst out into a crazy laugh, "you're lucky I wasn't doing much else they would have scolded you badly."
"I rather take the scolding," she replied with a calm smile.
They returned back to silence while Georgia did her work, Valen on the other hand was keen on their tracks, making sure they would not get entagled with any other being.
"And we're done..." she exhaled deeply while placing the last bottle in her basket, "thanks for being here with me."
"It's fine," Valen calmly said but curiosity rushing through her veins, "umm, Georgia, I wanted to ask what the potions are for?"
Georgia shrugged, "I absolutely do not have any idea, one of the elders instructed me to just get the sap from the trees but I do know that most times, it's for a calming potion."
"Calming potion?" Valen furrowed her brows trying to understand what she just heard.
Georgia nodded, "yes, the last time saps from trees were collected in bulk was during the last red moon to calm the king down
but he didn't use it because he was always indoor, I wonder why they need it now."
"Is it the period when the king goes..." she couldn't bring herself to complete the sentence.
"You guessed right, hopefully he actually stays indoor again because it goes really brutal, rumors says he always goes on a killing spree, so most times they chain him up."
Georgia genuinely looked scared but still managed to our a calm smile on her face.
"I don't think he would go out into the public, maybe the healers are trying to be on stand by in case anything happens."
Georgia suddenly stopped in her tracks, "if anything happens whatsoever please do go into his chambers during that time," she held my hands firmly with fear written all over her face.
Valen removed her hands gently from her, "if truly he would be locked in his chambers during the red moon, it means I won't be the only one stationed outside, so you don't need to worry."
Georgia nodded calmly but Valen knew that she would definitely worry much so they continued to walk in silence.
"Stop..." Valen suddenly said quietly.
Georgia flickered her eyes, fear gripping her immediately, "what happened? Is there something wrong?"
"Someone or something is here," she whispered then she leaned into Georgia's ear, "I don't want you over reacting, just be calm and follow my steps gently."
Georgia nodded and calmly followed Valen, she couldn't believe that history was about to repeat herself, she held Valen arm firmly refusing to let go.
Then an arrow was shot immediately but Valen was quick to help Georgia bend, "stay down," she said.
Valen raised her up and drew our her sword, her eyes darted from every angle but found no one, she wanted to sure that truly nobody was there so she invoked her wolf's sight and the person had truly vanished.
Valen walked up to tree that the arrow was shot and noticed there was a small paper, she opened it and her eyes were filled with shock.
"Do not let the king come for the festival, else he dies."
She looked around again but found nothing, thoughts rushed through her head, which festival were they talking about and who was warning her?