Broken Tower Saga: The First Swordsman

              The atmosphere in the room was stiffer than usual as three people together were staring at Byul. This was what she had feared most, to be confronted by her own friends and worse, she could not even utter a word of the secrets to them.

            After a few in and out from her, Wrik and Anton, everyone could guess something was going on, though fortunately enough, they had not followed them as she had done in the first place. Or they did not have the skills to do it as Anton was quite great at hiding his tracks.

            "Are you going to open your mouth or do I have to use my method?" Michelle asked her, impersonating a threatening tone.

            "I don't know what you are talking about," she answered and looked away from the three of Michelle, Jacob, and Kevin. they all had one complaint with her. If she was doing something interesting together, why she or they did not let them in?

            It had been a couple of weeks since she had been sneaking out and, most of the time, she went to the other place where she was newly recruited with Wrik and Anton. Though her role was not fixed yet, she moved in between the two places on account that she had nothing to do.

            The others were like that had nothing to do together than training and attending the occasional balls. Though the balls seemed fun for a while, none of them seemed to have thought them as it was. Coupling with the stiff weather of gala, having nothing to do was a luxury that most people did not want to have.

            "Looks like you would not open your mouth now," Michelle said and walked her way towards where she was sitting. She came just before her and looked straight into her eyes. She gave a smug smile to her and said, "Do you want me to spill some of your secrets to everyone else?"

            Her face turned uglier, and she recalled something. "You would not dare or I will spill yours," she said, returning the smug smile.

            Michelle did not leave her eye contact with Byul. The resolve of Byul in hiding the matter seemed to even broaden her curiosity in the matter. While the two boys were looking at the two of them with curious eyes, not knowing what they were talking about.

            "Let's compromise a little now," Michelle said, as she did not want others to hear her embracing secrets, though it might have been fun if she was only spilling others. "Just answer a few questions from me."

            Byul wanted to decline, but she knew Michelle would not leave her if she did not answer any of the questions. In the end, she could only wait for her to ask the question.

            "You don't have to tell me where you're going, but you have to tell who you are with?" Michelle asked. "Is Wrik with you there and that stupid stalker?"

            Byul nodded. there appeared to have already guess that so there was no point denying it.

            Michelle gave her a knowing smile. "You seemed to have bonded well after you two went through the attack," she commented. "But my question is why can't you let me and the others in?"

            A troubled expression held in Byul's exterior. If it was dependent on her, will she have been so secretive? even Wrik did not have much say in the matter.

            "I have no say in this matter," was all she could say. After all, she was not even in the team from the beginning, they just let her in because there was no way to stop her other than imprisoning her as she could find Wrik through the bond, and she could help Wrik in some ways that others could not.

            "Are you asking me to talk to Wrik?" Michelle asked, raising a brow. 

            "I said nothing," Byul said, trying to transfer the load to Wrik. "But you can try, I reckon he is still here. Go for it."

            "That won't do," Jacob added from the sides while Kevin was still the same. "I already talked to both Ton and Wrik, but they did not let me in. All they said was some bullshit."

            Just then, they heard the others calling for them. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Byul stood up first and responded to the call. The others followed and went to the drawing-room. Tanya and Davin were already there, but the other figure who greeted them took all their attention. 

            "I see everyone is doing well," said the guest with striking golden hair. It was a tall woman with a long leg and curvaceous body. Even though she was wearing thick business attire—it could not hide her attractiveness. It was a woman in her prime of age and carrier, and most importantly, she was their teacher, Sophia, who taught them the first lesson in the trial sanctuary.

            Even though Tanya and Michelle were equally pretty or more, but none of them could compare with her attractiveness, even though she was not dressed in her thick shirt and overcoat.

            "Big sis," Michelle said and jumped there to hug the blonde lady. Sophia was a little startled, but she welcomed her in.

            Everyone else welcomed her while Tanya stood at the side with a troubled expression. Her sister came quite earlier than she would and that means she had even less time now. Unconsciously, her eyes drifted towards the closed door across there.

            "Nobody changed much in these few days," Sophia said. "But it appears you all have grown a little. Where are the other two?"

            Just as she said it, a door opened, and Anton peeked out of it. But then he closed the door again. In that short moment his eyes seemed to have met Sophia's.

            "That stupid guy," Michelle snorted, and the others laughed.

            About ten seconds later, the door opened again and Anton came in. He was wearing the usual clothing, but they were more organised now while the hair was combed properly. The other three boys seemed to not notice a thing, but the girls were too good at noticing the small difference.

            Anton walked towards them and greeted Sophia like a proper gentleman. Michelle could not help but sneer.

            "Where is the other one?" Sophia asked, raising her eyebrows.

            "He should be meditating now," Anton answered. "Let me call him." He left to call Wrik after that.

            Sophia took a seat on the couch while the others seated as well. On her both sides were Michelle and Tanya while the boys were in the different one. Byul took an empty one.

            "How long will you be here?" Tanya asked hesitantly.

            "Don't worry, I'll be here for a week. I managed to get the break earlier, so decided to come before the date I gave you," the blonde lady said. She looked at others as if discerning the problems and hardship they went through. "So, how's everyone's life going here?"

            "Everything is alright," Michelle said. "Though I get bored a lot and I will be even more if Tanya leaves."

            The room turned silent, and everyone looked towards Tanya. Then Anton came in, behind him was Wrik in his usual dishevelled appearances. The long hair did not seem to be taken care of in the last few days while slight beard had grown on his cheeks, but the eyes were still the same as the first time Sophia saw it. Darker than the night.

            "I thought there was still a few days before I will meet you again," Wrik said, greeting. "Nonetheless, welcome. Your help in the test is much appreciated. If not for that, I did not know where I would have been."

            "You are welcome, though I did not help for only your own sake. I will still take it," Sophia said. Then she glared at him as if he had done the greatest sin for her. "But it appears you have not fulfilled your end of the promise."

            Wrik had to think for a couple of seconds to recall what promise Sophia was talking about.

            "Look at Tanya," she said with a piercing gaze. "Look at how pale and depressed she had gotten. You promised you will take care of her."

            Wrik bit his lips and looked towards Tanya, who was looking down. He did not know what he should say in this situation.

            "It's not his fault," Tanya said, clasping her sister's palm. "My old alignment is the reason for it."

            Sophia wetted her lips and glared at Wrik. She did not say anything, just looked at Tanya. She very well knew what was the cause of it just by taking a glance at Tanya, but seeing her like that, she could not help but blame Wrik.

            'In essence, the two of them were quite alike,' she thought, 'even though their way of thinking are quite opposite. I thought they would compliment each other and help them solve their problem, but seeing the appearance of both of them, I'm not sure anymore.'