Chapter 9

I walked towards Mr. Wolkin. While getting closer, I heard Sandra and Relm shouted "good luck." I silently smiled.


He handed me the bow and arrow, which I gladly accepted. I positioned myself. I made sure that my back was steady, my hands were ready, and my eyes were fixed on the dummies. I carefully examined them and released the arrows one by one. I smiled with satisfaction until I didn't notice that I was already in 350m dummies, which means I out perform them all.


I continued to shoot, focusing my attention on the moving dummies. Wait m-moving? I looked at Mr. Wolkin. He was carrying a remote and he raised it to indicate that he was responsible for this.


I shrugged. I instantly released my arrow while still looking at him. When I looked at the dummy, his mouth was agape. I smirked. I was about to get another arrow when he spoke.


"T-that's enough, you did great, Meliora!" He complimented me. I smile in return.


I returned the bow and the remaining arrow to him and quietly walked back to my seat. I even saw Relm's eyes almost spit while Elara stared at me. Sandra was smiling widely while the Princess gazed intently at me. Copelan and Vandel were, as usual, silent.


When I sat down, Sandra immediately spoke to me. "That was intense, Meliora. You did great!" She complimented.

"Thank you, Sandra." I replied.

She pouted. "I thought I was the best of us girls. I hope so!"

I just laughed.


Mr. Wolkin suddenly walked towards the center table. "All of you did great, but as our rules were, Elara, you should take the punishment." He stated.


"I think we should not do it, Mr. Wolkin," the princess suddenly said.


I scoffed. "You were the one who suggested it, but now you are the one who said not to do it! Be true to your words. " I said to her.


She gritted her teeth. What did she think? What would I be afraid of? She should be grateful that I haven't made any moves yet.


"Meliora was right, Princess, it is in our rules." Mr. Wolkin stated.


Elara suddenly stood up. "It's okay, Kara," she said, then started running.


Sandra, on the other hand, seems quiet, as if she is thinking deeply.

We were silently watching Elara run. When she finished, they chose to go to the cafeteria. I chose not to. I chose to follow Sandra. She left without them even noticing. She said goodbye to the Princess, but she was talking to Elara. She's really worried about her.


My eyes searched for Sandra again. She was walking back to the dorm with her head down. I ran towards her, but she didn't even notice me. I sighed.


"Sandra?" I called her. She is still bent.


I held her shoulder. "Are you okay?" I asked.


She looked at me. Her eyes narrowed. What's her problem? She was okay earlier.


I held her hands and smiled. "Let's go, you can talk to me." I sincerely said.


We made our way back in silence. This is not the Sandra I used to know. She's really great, happy, although she keeps rolling her eyes, she's kind.


When we got to the dorm, she was still quiet. "Sandra, come to the kitchen; I'll bake." I told her. She nodded her head three times and followed me. I sighed.

"What do you want to eat?" I asked.

She looked at me. "C-cookies," she replied.


I just smiled at her and prepared the ingredients as well as the other materials. She sat on the first chair and looked at what I was doing.

"Meliora, do you feel out of place?" she suddenly asked.

A smile formed on my lips. "Not really. I've been alone for years, but I'm used to it. Also, you don't feel me out of place. " I sincerely respond.


Well, it's true. In my first day here at Elite. Sandra is one of those who is happy to know that they have a new member. Indeed, she doesn't feel like I'm out of place.

She was quiet and seemed to be deep in thought. I just focused on what I was doing. I will make chocolate chip cookies. I separate the dry and liquid ingredients before I combine them together. I kept mixing it when Sandra spoke.

"You know what, Meliora, Elara and I were so close before. We were the first ones to arrive and be students here. We were twelve years old at the time. We were inseparable, we were glued to each other, " she stated.

I only listened to her intently. The cookies were in the oven, baking.

"When we turned fourteen years old, all the boys came: Vandel, Copelan, and Relm. We're friends, we're always happy, we do reckless things, but we're still laughing. " She smiled. "Not until the princess comes, everything changes. Our bond, our friendship, our task, our mission. We were tasked to take care of her, to protect her at all cost because she's the princess, that's what they always said. "

She smiled sadly. "Elara and I became distant, and she and the princess became close, and I became invisible." She looked up as if she was in deep thought. "Until now, it's always been repeating in my mind how Elara got mad at me. I-I didn't mean it." She said it in a weak statement.

"Why ? What happened, Sandra?" I asked.

She sighed. "I made her faint, Meliora. I was alone in the dorm, because the Princess and Elara left to go for a walk, but because the Princess's safety must be ensured, the boys must be with them. I didn't go because I felt bad, as if something wanted to come out of me. Because I didn't know what I was really feeling at the time, I chose to go out to the garden to rest. I was almost writhing in pain, almost crying with my eyes closed because of pain. I screamed loudly and something came out. A force came out. When I opened my eyes, I saw the princess lying. She flew almost a few meters because of me. Elara was very angry, even though I didn't mean to. "

I stroked its back. She's right. If I were in that situation, you really can't stop the power that wants to come out of you.

"Don't worry, Sandra, I believed you. Because even I experienced the same thing. It's alright. " I said, comforting her.

She looks at me very delicately. I can see the tears flowing in her eyes. "M-meliora, why is that? I chose to stay with them even though they could no longer see me . I smiled at them. I laughed along with them. But why is something missing? When the Princess has a problem, I'm always there by her side. When Elara is sad, I'm still by her side, but when I'm the one with the problem, not even one of them approaches. "

I sighed. "Sandra, they are people who don't appreciate our actions. You comfort people with the same words you want to hear from them, you treat them with the actions you hope they'd do to you. What you don't have is the one you give to others, because you know. You know what it feels like to not be listened to? " I smiled. "You can share your burdens with me. I will listen." I added.

She looked at me. "Really?"

I rolled my eyes. "Definitely."

She laughed. "Don't imitate me, Meliora!" she rolled her eyes.

I laughed. And finally, she's back. The oven rang just in time; the cookies were ready. I served it to the table and she instantly ate it.

"Why do you cook so well, Meliora?" She seemed to look at me dazed.

"I was alone for years. I needed to do basic chores." I replied.

"You were alone? "Do have any family?" she curiously asked.

"I don't have, yet," I said, but I whispered the last words.

"Sorry," she apologized.

I laughed. "No, it's okay, I'm used to it."

"Finish your food, they might be looking for us." I added.

She swallowed her food. "Don't worry, Meliora, they will come back soon." She said, then eat again. I smiled.

"Do you want?" She offered me some cookies.

I shook my head. "No, that's not enough for you!"

She snorted. "It's delicious!"

I laughed. I stared at Sandra. Why did Elara treat her like that? They were friends, best friends to be exact, before. They have memories and moments with each other.

However, what should I do next? We were so close, yet she was distant from me. How should I do this if all of them are always around with her?

To be honest, I don't have any issues with them. I don't want to harm them or betray them. After all, I belong here. I just need to finish my mission. Besides, being their comrades was part of it. But, before I make a move, I should know who my enemy is.

Suddenly, the door opened. "The headmistress called us." Copelan said, seriously.