Trapped In Hisstory

Niro looked at his partner, curious as to why she wanted to talk with Alec. Just recently he saw them together with Sherin wearing a grim expression, they surely had a fight, Niro thought. 

But now Sherin wants to talk to him, 'Is it related to what they were talking about the last time?' Niro asked inside his head.

Sherin stared at the Valorian knight, waiting for his response. Alec turned to Niro then glanced at Sherin, "Are you not going to bring your partner with you?" he asked with narrowed eyes.

Sherin knew that Alec just wanted her to take Niro with him so that he would have a reason not to answer any of her questions.

Niro looked at Sherin and their gazes met, Niro looked at her expectantly, telling her to say yes to bringing him.

The female aide shook her head, "No." she answered. Sherin looked at Niro and pointed at the door, "Stay here and guard, we cannot leave the two princes without a knight."

Niro sighed and nodded his head, "All right." he said but he looked obviously upset and averted his gaze away from them. 

Sherin approached him and held his arm, "I apologize, it will be quick." Sherin said but Niro did not say anything, "The questions are personal, I hope you understand." Sherin spoke again and Niro glanced at her and slowly nodded.

The female aide looked at the Valorian, "Let us go." 

Sherin was walking while Alec followed behind her in silence. 'I guess she became too curious, she is finally going to ask me.' Alec thought.

He already has an idea about why Sherin wanted to have a private conversation with him and what she wanted to know, it was about time she asked. 

Sherin took the path that would lead outside but it was still near the wing of the room of their masters. Sherim stopped and Alex stopped as well, staring at the back of the female aide.

The female aide turned around and faced him. "What is it that you want to ask?" he asked, staring at her blankly.

Sherin crossed her arms, "I think you already have an idea of what I am going to talk to you about." she said.

Alec just looked at her in silence before he answered, "No, I do not. That is why I am asking you what it is." he responded.

Sherin knew that he was still going to pretend that he does not know why she called him here so she gave up and went straight to the point. "Reveal your identity now." she ordered which caused Alec to snort, "Why are you laughing? I do not think I said something funny."

Alec waved his hand to say that was not it, "No, you are the one that is funny." he said. "You did not even bother asking me, but went ahead and commanded me." 

"It is pointless to ask you if you could tell me how you know about me and my family, so I will have you tell me who you are instead." the female aide said.

Up until now she was still thinking about Aranea. If only the Antares knight did not ask her about why she left, if only he did not mention Summa Octo, then she would not be thinking so hard about them and recall all the things they did to her. 

In all the years she was serving the royal family, Stein, she tried not to think about them again and just focus on her duty as the royal aide. She thought it would be fine as long as she does not look back at the past but everything kept being a mess ever since she met Alec Valorian.

Alec took a step closer to Sherin and lowered his gaze, "You might now be the royal aide that has control over the knights in Canopus, but do keep in mind that you are in Antares." he said, "I am the one who has the commands."

Sherin almost forgot that Alec was not only the personal knight of the Crown Prince, Charles Howard, but also the Captain of First Squad and the Commander of the knights of Antares. Sherin swallowed and did not let his words scare her, and her hand made its way to the grip of her sword.

Alec put his hand on his chin and remained still as he watched Sherin preparing to pull out her sword, "Oh, you would like to continue? A rematch? You already won though?" he said but every word that came out of his mouth seemed like mockery to Sherin.

Sherin let out a snort and smirked, "I hope it would not come to that point." she said, "So tell me who you are."

"I am Alec."

"I have no time for jokes."

"I am not making a joke, it is really my name."

Sherin pulled out her sword and the tip of the sword touched his neck but Alec did not pull out his sword and remained still, unbothered. It reminded Sherin at the time where Alec did not want to use his sword against her. "I meant your identity, not just your name! How did you know Summa Octo? How did you know I was Fera?" she asked and pushed the sword closer but Alec did not even take a step back.

"I feel a bit hurt that you do not remember me. From the day we first met in Canopus, I already knew you," he said, "Yet Phoneutria Fera does not even remember me." he whispered.

Sherin looked at him in confusion not knowing what he was talking about. No matter how hard she tried to think, she does not remember who he was. She spent her life almost imprisoned inside Summa Octo's lair and punishment circle, she never had the chance to have friends or acquaint herself with others.

"Fera, you really do not remember me as I expected."

Alec always trained to be stronger, stronger than his brothers, and enough to make his family acknowledge him. But no matter how he trains, his father always sees it as great and that he did a good job. Maybe if he was lazing around, it would not matter to his family. They were far too kind. The total opposite of the family of the spiders. 'Would that bunch even be called family?' he thought.

He would have made friends easily if he tried, but he was not interested in spending time with them. He only had his family and his best friend, Aloy, and a girl he just met recently.

Aloy came running towards him with worry, "What is wrong?" Alec asked, seeing that the usual grin he has on his face was not there.

"Hmm, I am just thinking about that little spider. Do you really think she can come?" Aloy asked.

"Why not? It is her birthday."

"You know her family, I bet they will not let her."

Alec believed that even though her family was strict, they would let her go once since it is her own day. It is her birthday, surely they will let her. He decided to sneak out and tail Fera, without being caught by any Araneans.

"Mother! Mother!" 

That voice was definitely Sherin's, Alec thought. He saw her coming inside and saw her approaching Phoneutria Boliviensis who was resting on the mat. "There you are, mother!" 

Alec could see the annoyance in her face as she heard Fera's voice, "You are so loud, can you not see I am resting?" she said.

"Is father not here?" Fera asked.

Boliviensis shook his head as she wore an emotionless expression on her face. "No, all leaders of the clan within the Animalia tribe are in a meeting."

Alec remembered that his father was also not around, he must have also attended the meeting. He noticed the relieved look on Fera's face, 'She must be really scared of Bahiensis.' Alec thought.

"Mother, I am here to get your permission."

She raised her brow upon hearing her words, "Permission for what?"

Her hands gripped the hems of her dress, she looked obviously nervous. Fera could feel that she would be mad, but she wanted to try and see her luck. Just for a day. "I-I want to ask for your permission...to play with the children in Lynx—

She stood up from her lying position and slammed her hand, "What are you talking about? You cannot play with them!" 

"B-but mother…"

"No! Playing with the lynxes? Ha!" she exclaimed with a snort, finding it ridiculous.

Alec snorted, seeing how much the Phoneutria hate the lynxes.

"You will not play with others and just stay here. It is good that I am the one you asked, if you asked your father instead, he will punish you for trying to get near Lyncas!" 

"Just one day, mother! Just this day!" 

"No. Do not ask again, you know what my answer will be." she said.

Alec was wrong when he thought that they might give her a chance. He realized that they did not even know that it was her birthday, seeing Fera together with her mother already sickened Alec, but what happened after angered him even more.

'Something like that is not family. It will never be,' he thought.

He felt bad, he pitied Fera, and he also felt guilty for not being able to help her since it was an issue within their tribe. He tried not to look as they punished the child like they did not have a heart inside the punishment circle.

But he knows that everything that was happening to Fera will help her in the future, to become stronger. 

In the future, they might even fight each other.