Strena The Lost Princess Arc Part Four

Apprentice

When Strena woke the next day she felt better than ever. All her wounds were healed and her energy and strength. She thought about yesterday and the events . She knew that she could no longer be the innocent Arielsa. No, she was going to become Strena, the dog of her parents killer. At that she felt lonely and scared. She felt her tears fall. She instinctively tried to stop herself fearing that Zaryb would come in at any moment.

She felt her heart race as she tried to wipe away the tears but, to her dismay they just kept on coming. As the door opened wider she could feel her heart sink and her tears choked her tighter. She even felt her cheeks become saw as the door became full open. She flinched as she felt a hand on her cheek. She felt a woman's hand wipe away her tears.

She looked up to see Nigica. She smiled.

She helped clean her and after she held her. She turned to her.

“Now listen, for some missions Zaryb'll take you on will sometimes will take weeks, 'n' I ain' gonna be around 'em so, remember how I cleaned you. 'N' you won't always 'ave a towel so you're gonna just have to make do with what you've got.” she explained.

She then gave her a pair of black leather pants and a black peasant shirt. Looking at herself she could see that her skin was paler and with the dangerous darkened eyes, she looked even more so. She even started to look like the pale people of this land.

“I picked them out for you when you left.” she said as she guided her to her wardrobe. “I even was able to gather all the clothes that I had when I was your age.”

She smiled and nodded.

“Thank you.”

“Don' mention it.” she said as she followed her down stairs. Strena collected Orion on the way out.. She then walked over to where Zaryb was, drinking yet another mug or beer. He slammed down a coin made of emerald.

“Two sausages, bacon, beans and toast for the girl.” he said without even looking at her.

“Thank you Master mother killer.” she said under her breath.

“'Master Mother killer'? Aren't we getting a bit cocky?” he observed with a smile.

“Oh, sorry. Would Master Zaryb be better for you?” she asked mockingly.

“It'll do.” he said. “For that, Yuyam! Give her an extra piece of bacon for that will you?”

He smiled with a chuckle.

She looked at her food.

So, this is the food of this land. She thought. She picked up a knife and spoon and dug in. To her surprise, she enjoyed the food more than the food at home. Suddenly she felt that her new life would and could be more bearable if this was the food that she was going to have. He then gave her a light chuckle.

“I loved the food too.” he admitted.

“Thank you!” she said.

He cleared his throat.

“Master Zaryb.” she finished.

Wow! I have never forgot my manners until today! She thought.

After that they walked out of the inn. They walked on a path that led to an open field. She had never seen such a place. She placed her hand on the grass, it was soft and wet.

He then threw a wooden sword at her.

“Strena catch!” he called. She turned back and tried to catch the sword but ended up whacking it down. She then picked it up. Zaryb looked at how she was holding it and then walked up to her and corrected her position. He then returned to his.

“Ready?” he asked.

She nodded even-though she was far from it. He ran up to her and hit her. She felt pain ripple throughout her body. She felt herself fall on her back, but, even-though her body was shaking, she knew that, if she was going to get through this, she got up. She felt her body threaten to vomit, however she knew that she could no longer have the luxury of focusing on that. She looked at Zaryb and as he came back up to her. She tried to block but was too small and was on the ground again. Again she got up and as her eye caught Zaryb again, and again she tried to block, but she got closer this time. She got up again, but even though she was knocked on the floor again, she smiled at the small victory that she blocked.

“What? You haven't hit me.” he commented.

“But I did block you master Zaryb.” she pointed out.

“So that you did.” he said with salty praise. He then raised his wooden sword. “Bout can you hit me. I will make this even more sweeter for you, if you have hit me within the hour, I will buy you some cake. However if you can't then you're going into that ditch over there. If you can't get it out then you will have no lunch.”

“Done.” she said.

She then ran but was back on her behind. She then got back up and spotted that he came back to her. She tried to jump over it but her shins still got hit. She drove the wooden blade down but he griped her wrist and hit her away. She screamed out in pain as she scraped her side on the ground below. She spun and when she got up her vision blurred and then she passed out.

She woke up in the ditch. Zaryb was above her. It was shallow, however, for a five year old girl, it was deep.

“Now, get up from that.” he said.

“How?” she asked helplessly.

She looked around and could see that there was nothing for her to hold onto. She looked up at his cruel face.

“I'm sure that your will be able to get out. If not, then you'll miss your lunch.” he said.

She felt fear sink in, knowing that he was far from joking. She felt the walls of he ditch. The moment that she did she pressed she then spotted crimson tiny dots coming from the walls. Remembering the ants back at home she knew that bugs of that colour were dangerous. She ran back as they came to her. She didn't get that far and soon she came to the other wall. She turned and spotted that the small group were at her feet. She jumped over them and she then spotted that they continued and went into the other wall.

This gave her an idea. She then kicked the side that the bugs came from. More came and chased her. She jumped and they went into the other side. She ran over and did this again and again until there were no more bugs coming out for the other side. She then dug her fingers in, seeing that it was safe she then reached the other side and dug them in the other side. She then lifted herself up again and again until she was at the top.

“Well done!” he said. “Now come.”

She followed him to her lunch. She dug in.

“Now, Nigica! Get her cleaned up!” she said as she finished. “She needs to be clean for this afternoon.”

She smiled and came up to them.

“So is she gonna say 'er vows than?” she asked.

“Yes, the sooner that she gets them over the better.” he said.

“And how do ya feel about that?” she asked.

“Looks like I don't have a choice.” she admitted.

She cocked her eyebrow at that, knowing that it was true.

They then walked and they spent more time getting her clean, after all she didn't have any dirt under her fingers the last time. She then attended to her wounds and she was done. She dressed in a black dress with crimson lace. She then plat her hair back and ended at the top, interweaving the stems of crimson roses and lilies in the plat.

She then took her small hands into her big hands and then she pained them black. She then went up to her and then when her nails were dry, they then walked down and soon she was at the bar. She walked out and there underneath a statue of the woman eating at the top of the door. But she was different, she was wearing armour and held a bow and arrow, no a sword.

She then walked up to Yuyam with a book in his hands. The Ages Of The Gods it read and it was very thick and it was on the page with the name Strena on.

“Put your hand on the name.” he said.

She obayed.

“Strena Az, do you vow to live your life as a bounty hunter?” he asked.

She looked over to Zaryb and he nodded.

“Yes, I do.”

“Strena Az, do you agree to hunt for and have your name collected by Strena?” he asked.

“I-I do.” she said, even-though she knew deep down that she wanted to do nothing of the sort.

“And finally for you, should have you hunt with out the right venom, or betray your hunting brothers and sisters, we shall let you die by Strenas' hand.” he said.

Strena concealed her fear, anger, and upset and looked down and nodded.

“Now, who is your hunting teacher?”

“M-Master Zaryb-” she looked over at him wishing to know his last name.

“Demoncarrier.” he finished.

“And should he be incapable who should be his substitute?” he asked.

She looked over to Zaryb and then Nigica. They nodded.

“Nigica Sala.” she said.

“Well congratulations, you shall be known after your five hunts, you shall be known as Bounty Hunter Strena Az.” he said as he placed a hand on hers. “And in return may Strena ever be your shadow.”