Spear Of Retribution

Entering the town, the colorful flags decorated at the entrance and flowers scattered at the ground surprised Geraldine, as if they're waiting for someone to come.

Riding the horse she got from Pol, Geraldine makes her way towards the horse dealer and sells the horse for any amount, as it doesn't really matter to her. She only wants to throw away any evidence of what happened that night. 

Walking towards their home, Geraldine hides her suitcase in the basement as well as the money she got from her father.

Changing her clothes once again, Geraldine went to the living room and waited for them to arrive, and then the green-colored butterfly appeared and whispered to her.

"They are here."

As soon as the butterfly relays the information, a knock on the door startled Geraldine.

"Who is it?" She asked but knows who they are outside.

"Master, we've arrived," Alexjin's excited voice chirped outside and Aurelie's giggle.

Geraldine opened the door, and Alexjin immediately hugged her without noticing, making her freeze on the spot.

"Master, I've won the competition!" He yelled happily while hugging her tighter.

Geraldine patted his back softly, "Yes, yes, I'm proud of you," she smiled and looked at Aurelie, whose eyes are squinting with a knowing look.

"Oh, sorry, Master, I didn't mean it. I'm just excited to tell you the news that I forgot my place, once again I apologize," Alexjin stepped back and scratched the back of his head as embarrassment driven him to avoid his gaze to connect to hers.

"It's fine Alexjin, I know you are just excited and happy about the achievement you get," She smiled and let them enter the house and hugged Aurelie.

"Did you have a good time?" Geraldine whispered in her ears.

"Yes, I did, thank you," Aurelie giggled, and both women stepped back with a smile.

Geraldine's eyes shifted outside, an old carriage is parked in front of the house that seemed like it would collapse in one hit.

"Now that I think about it, how did you manage to come here without the crowd noticing?" Geraldine asked as her eyes furrowing at them.

Alexjin and Aurelie both pointed their hair and chuckled, "That black wig really works on letting your real self from the public," Aurelie takes out the black wig from her bag and shows it to Geraldine.

"I didn't even notice that both of you are not wearing that wig," She chuckled and they went to the living room while Aurelie went to the kitchen and makes some tea from the fresh herbs she bought from Zuron.

"Alexjin, tell me what happened?" Geraldine said with an innocent look as she wanted to know if he will tell her the truth or not.

"Nothing much happened master, though the battle is aggressive and intense, I survived and become the winner," Alexjin said while fidgeting on his fingers, "I - I didn't know what wish to ask from the Emperor as I didn't think about that wish beforehand so I just told him what I had in mind that time."

"And that is?" Geraldine couldn't help but be intrigued by his wish. After all, she didn't know a thing.

"Well, I remembered master is practicing healing magic and saw that you are collecting different types of plants. So, I asked the Emperor to give me all the rare plants he has in the palace." Alexjin instantly stands up and jogged outside and took out multiple boxes from the carriage.

"Those boxes contain rare plants you've wished?" Geraldine looked at the boxes in disbelief, "The plants will die if it's placed there inside!"

"No master," Alexjin grabbed one box and opened it, "It's seeds."

Alexjin gives the open box to Geraldine, who was speechless at what she saw. It makes him smile that he's able to make Geraldine happy with the gifts he gave her.

"Alexjin, I am happy that you've thought of me and decided to get these seeds but you should have wished for something that you can use as well." Geraldine put down the box and crossed her hands in her chest. She thought Alexjin would get something for himself, but she's actually surprised that he thought about her needs than of his own.

"I need nothing, master. I'm contented with what I have now and I'm happy to be here at your side and serve you with all my life.," Alexjin's cheeks started to have a pink hue as he said those words.

Geraldine still looked at him with softness and patted his head, "I'm happy to hear that you're willing to stay at my side. Now, that answered my question, why you didn't wish for riches and escaped these master and apprentice titles between us."

"I don't want to leave you, master," Alexjin slightly bowed his head to give Geraldine full access to his head.

Hearing that sentence makes Geraldine shivered in delight at how loyal her puppet is to her but at the same time, a distinct feeling builds inside the corner of her emotions. It's the feeling that she didn't want to acknowledge, it's Fear.

All Geraldine wants is to inflict fear on her enemies with a smile, but she is scared by feeling Fear.

"I understand. Now take a rest. I know that both of you are tired from your travel," Geraldine smiled and was about to go back to the seat when Alexjin reached out and pull her hair.

"Sorry master for pulling your hair as I saw something on your locks," He said and grabbed it using her thumb and index finger and showed it to Geraldine.

A dark red dried blood is sitting on Alexjin's finger and upon seeing it, Geraldine's eyes bulge, knowing what it's made of.

"Ah, must have been from the forest when I looked for medicinal herbs," Geraldine giggled nervously and turned around.

"Master, there are many tiny dots of red in your hair," Alexjin continued and was about to grab Geraldine's hair again when she dashed away from him.

"I need a bath."

Alexjin could only look at Geraldine's back as he shrugged and picked up the boxes again and put those in front of her room.

"The tea is done," Aurelie placed the cups on the table and look at Alexjin, "Where's Geraldine?"

"She took a bath," Alexjin replied awkwardly and went to drink his tea.

"The people in this town are expecting you to arrive, a man who wins from the competition," Aurelie looked at his son's troubled face.

"Mother, I don't want to go out and act like some sort of hero. I only want peace without thinking whether I'll be nice to those who talked to me." he sighs and leans back while remembering what Kadon did to him.

"Nobles suck mother. They think so highly of themselves as always," Alexjin huffed and rolled his eyes.

"Hmm," Aurelie said nothing else as she doesn't want to add the fuel of the burning feeling of his son especially when she knows he has both royal and noble blood running in his veins.

"Good thing, the master is not noble," he said out of the blue, causing Aurelie to choke on the tea she's drinking.

"Ho - hot!"

Alexjin went to his mother's side and massaged her back, "Mother, do you still feel unwell these days? I observed that your skin is paler than usual."

"I'm just tired, my dear son. I'll go rest for now and you should rest early as well." She instantly went away in a hurry and locked her bedroom door.

Alexjin remained alone in the living room, feeling dumb folded, and just went and drink his tea when he noticed the dust forming on the table.

Using his finger, he slides it on the surface and was surprised by the amount of dust sticking on his finger.

Looking around, he noticed that there's dust all over the place as well, as if nobody lived in that house for a while. Knowing Geraldine, she didn't want a speck of dust to be seen, yet their house is quite dusty.

"Alexjin, you're still here. Go to your room and rest till you get your energy back," Geraldine came out from the bath and is drying her hair with a cloth.

"Yes, master." Alexjin took his and her mother's cup and placed it on the sink before going into his room.

Geraldine went to grab her tea when she saw the line drawn by Alexjin's finger, which makes her head snapped towards his room.

"Ah, I forgot to clean the house," she whispered but didn't mind it much, as she enjoyed her fresh tea.

Geraldine didn't know that Alexjin has seen her in the arena and is doubting whether it is really her or just someone with a similar figure as herself but because he noticed the dust on the table. It increases the side of Alexjin's brain that convinces him that she was there, watching him from afar with the nobles.