Martia left the house, feeling blank, and then found herself completely lost as to where to go and who to talk to, as she knew that none of the people whom she had met before would treat her the same anymore.
She decided to go to Arigue to talk, but she knew he would hate to talkto her after seeing her kill that assassin.
Martia still went to Arigue’s house. Seeing him reading a book, she
went and sat in front of him, not knowing what to say.
Arigue closed his book and kept it on the table and said without
looking at her, “So, what is your plan now? Seeing your lover one last time from far away and saying a final goodbye to him in your thoughts?”
Martia, being lost in thought, didn’t reply to him.
Arigue continued, “Or do you plan to tell him that you miss him all
the time but killing people is your priority, so you might not be able to be with him?”
On hearing this, Martia was enraged and said, “That assassin tried to
kill me first.”
Arigue, frustrated with Martia, yelled angrily, “And you saved yourself, didn’t you? But you still decided to kill him. You couldn’t handle the fact that he dared to kill you. So, according to you, he deserved to be punished by giving up his life. You, Martia, no matter what I say or teach, will only end up doing what Promanthae planned for you. He is not only your parent but also your teacher. You never needed me, nor will you ever do so. Just leave my place and go wherever you want, like always. I will choose not to care about it.”
He took her by her hand and pushed her out of his house and closed the door.
She felt heartbroken at Arigue’s behavior. She looked around at the rest of the village.
She saw Minver entering his home and thought of talking to him.
When she went to Minver’s house, on seeing her, all the family
members, along with Minver, stood up attentively and greeted her.
Martia greeted them back, bowing her neck a little, then said in a
humble voice, “Minver, are you free? Let’s visit the city and spend the coming day leisurely.”
Minver, unable to respond, was looking at the bloodstains on Martia’s hand. Following his eyes, Martia saw her hands and clothes stained with blood and remembered that she had forgotten to wash it off or change her clothes.
Hiding her hand behind her, she said, “He was a rebel, so he deserved to die. No need to feel sad for him. You always considered me as your friend, didn’t you? Aren’t you going to celebrate your friend’s success today, winning a fight?”
Minver still didn’t say anything. He looked confused.
Martia politely asked, “Minver, can you be my friend first and my
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follower after that?”
Hearing this, Minver smiled and relaxed. He said, “I thought you don’t want to be my friend anymore. But since I have gotten your permission, then I will be your friend again.”
Martia happily replied, “Let’s go to the city, eat at a restaurant, and buy something.”
Minver smiled and said, “Okay, but you change first.”
Martia bathed and then applied some medicines on the injuries she had got from the fight. She wore a black gown with knives hidden all over her clothes. She also took some essential medicines with her.
She untied her hair and let it fall till her waist and some of it just above her eyes.
While going towards the gate, she heard Arigue calling her.
Annoyed, she went into Arigue’s home.
He hung a crossbody bag on her. Surprised, she opened it and saw the bag was full of currency. She was shocked to see so much money with an individual in the village as all the money was controlled by Promanthae and none were allowed to keep much currency or indulge in luxury.
Martia said, “Always teaching me to rebel and now hoarding this much currency. This kind of behavior from you always makes me take a step back from trusting you. You do realize I am going to be the leader now?
And the moment I am designated, I will have to search your whole place and make your life and your meeting with people more restrictive.” She then continued, smiling suspiciously, “Who knows, you will then teach someone else to rebel against me and give them this much currency again and tell them to run in defiance?”
She then laughed, finding it funny.
Arigue emotionlessly said, “Do you think this will bother me? I have seen my whole family get ruined, and still I have decided to live with this memory, and you think restrictions will bother me?”
Feeling sad at his answer, Martia asked him, “What do you want from me, Arigue? Each and every day, I see a new version of you.”
Arigue came forward and held her hand and urged, “This is my
last request to you, Martia. Don’t take this path. You will become
completely inhuman, and you will be the loneliest person in this world. Save yourself. Take this money and go somewhere far away and live an ordinary life. Find a way to be happy. Surround yourself with people who love you and care about you. Don’t live a lonely life.” He embraced her and said, “My dear child, a life without love is a waste. Run away from this hell.” Arigue then let go of her and went into his other room.
Martia stood there lost for a moment. When she heard Minver’s call, she left Arigue’s place.
She then met Minver, Acastius, and Ari, and they all went to the city in a carriage.
Martia’s mind was in chaos throughout the journey, and she couldn’t actually hear what they all were talking, but seeing them laugh and excited made her feel a little peaceful.
It was almost night when they reached the city. They went into the city market. Everyone was excited to look around, and Martia just went along with them.
She then saw a delicately woven red gown, and it caught her attention.
She bought the dress.
They then went to a restaurant. Martia was not hungry. This surprised her as she never missed meals and hated to be hungry. But she somehowate whatever her friends ordered.
Placing some cash on the table, she got up and told them, “Order
something sweet to eat. I will come back after some time.” And she left.
