Layla leaned her back against the city's huge defensive walls, built out of cobblestone, looking at Electra and Orion as they filled out some documents that a member of the Order of Knights had given them.
Now clad in light armor, Orion pointed at Layla, saying something to the Knight. The Knight nodded, handing him another document to fill out.
"They are talking about me... idiots...! They didn't even tell me that we are leaving the city! I had no time to prepare! Idiots! Idiots!" She pouted, kicking the wall in frustration.
Electra looked at the documents over Orion's shoulder, frowning, clearly displeased.
Orion gave the documents back to the Knight. The Knight scanned the documents precisely and then nodded, saying something.
He then waved his hand towards the gates, and a huge, expensive-looking carriage slowly approached, two healthy white horses pulling it.
Orion looked at Layla and gestured for her to come.
"Finally! It's so stupid to wait like a stupid kid!" She walked up to him, muttering the word 'stupid' a few more times.
Electra moved out of the way, and the carriage stopped. The door opener,d and a man stepped out of it.
He seemed to be in his 40s. He had tousled brown hair that fell past his ears, bright yellow eyes, and a short, trimmed beard. He wore a golden-trimmed dark blue tunic, a dark cloak with a golden brooch with a crimson gem in the middle of it, black pants, and black leather shoes.
Electra walked up to him, bowing her head slightly and shaking his hand. "We are at your service, Sir." She said softly, gesturing at Layla and Orion.
The two walked up to the man, Orion bowed slightly, and Layla was just staring at him.
"Who the hell is that?" She asked curiously, tilting her her to the side.
Orion smacked her head softly. "Pay some respect! That man is a lot higher than us!"
The man smiled, shaking his head. "Don't worry, young man. She's just a young girl, I'm not getting mad over such small things." He laughed softly, reaching his hand out to Layla. "Layla, right? My name is Alaric Caer, nice to meet you."
Layla stared at his hand for an uncomfortable amount of time until Orion pulled her hand into Alaric's, making them shake hands.
"Layla, you should really learn some etiquette..." He sighed softly.
Electra didn't even bother joining in, clearly bothered by something. She got on the carriage, sitting in the driver's box.
"Come on! We don't have the whole day for this!" She yelled, waving her hand for them to enter the carriage.
There were a girl and a boy in the carriage, both around Layla's age. The boy was asleep, and the girl looked at Layla with curiosity.
The girl had long blonde hair that reached her calves and soft yellow eyes. She was clad in a long white dress and wore two white high-heeled shoes. She had a lot of jewelry- golden earrings, ring,s and a necklace.
The boy had messy shoulder-length brown hair. He was clad in a white tunic, brown pants, and he had gray leather shoes.
Alric sat down next to his kids, gesturing for Layla and Orion to sit down on the opposite side of the carriage.
The little girl stared at Layla with her big, innocent eyes. She was amazed.
Alric smiled. "Those two are my kids- Elaine and Lancelot." He patted Elaine's head. "Elaine is an angel... but Lancelot... let's say that you prefer him asleep..."
Orion gave Elaine a kind smile. "Nice to meet you, Lady. My name is Orion, I'm an adventurer sent from the guild to escort you, your brother, and your father with my team members." He said softly.
Elaine shook her head. "No need for 'Lady', Orion. Just call me Elaine." Her voice was really sweet and kind.
Layla immediately went on the defensive, shifting closer to Orion and frowning, not even looking at Elaine. "Layla! That's my name!" She pouted.
Electra opened the small window that's behind Alric. "Okay! I hope everyone's ready!" She yelled, and the carriage started moving.
Alric took out a book from a drawer that was under the seats.
Elaine stared at Layla with amazement, but Layla avoided eye contact, looking down at her shoes.
Elaine stood up and walked up to her, sitting down on the seat right on her left. "You're very beautiful..." She smiled. "I've never seen anyone with both their eyes and hair black, and your figure is also amazing... Are you a Noble, Layla? Where are you from?" She asked kindly.
Layla scowled. "Not your business!" She pouted again.
And now Orion has had enough, he pulled her ear softly, an annoyed look on his face. "Layla! Why are you so mean to the girl? She just wants to talk with you, and here you are, pouting like a child the whole day!"
"Huuh?! You don't know why?" She gritted her teeth, clearly furious. "You left the bed at night, you didn't tell me that we've gotten a job, and now you're surprised that I'm fed up with all that? If yes then you're stupid, Orion! You can't be sweet one day to just return to how it used to be- to treating me like a child!" She shook her head. "I'm done! I want you to treat me as an equal! As a woman!"
Alric looked at them and laughed to himself. "Reminds me of how I used to argue with Aurelia. Sweet old days." He smiled, returning to reading his book.
"Fine! Fine! I'm sorry! I was down today! I needed to listen to Electra's stupid stories the whole night!" He groaned.
Elaine caressed Layla's hair softly. "It's so nice! So soft! Please tell me! What country are you from?! You cannot be from Fiverford!"
Layla snapped, looking at the girl, the most annoyed she ever was. "I am from Fiverford! I am from the Greyhollow slums! I am an adventurer and I'm not a foreigner! So leave me-..." Her eyes widened as she realized how beautiful the girl was. Now it wasn't only annoyance, she was now afraid and jealous. So many girls were suddenly around, she just imagined how each of them could steal Orion away from her.
Elaine smiled. "Is something wrong? You just stopped speaking so suddenly!" She was worried, taking Layla's hand into her own. "You know, Layla... I always wanted a sister! I wanted someone that I could talk to about the stuff I like! I mean, I have my awesome maids, but it's not the same! They're too scared to disagree with me! It's so boring!" She leaned in closer, locking Layla's arm in hers. "So, will you be my friend? My sister? At least for the time being? I can teach you anything in return!"
At first, Layla wanted to reject her, but the word 'anything' changed everything.
Layla thought to herself how Orion has always read her books. "She can teach me how to write and read... He's always been reading... maybe if I start reading to him... he will get addicted to it and finally say that he loves me?!" She smiled proudly, hearts in her eyes.
She then shook her head and smirked at the girl. "Fine! We have a deal!"
Elaine's smile widened, and she hugged Layla out of happiness. "Yay! Finally!"
Orion stood up, walking over to the door.
"Hey! Where are you going, dummy?! We are not done yet!" Layla pouted furiously.
"I'm going to help Electra watch the surroundings, two pairs of eyes better than one, don't you think~?" He laughed, opening the door.
He climbed up the roof and softly jumped down onto the driver's box, sitting down next to Electra.
"He's always like that! Running away from responsibilities! Idiot! Bastard!" She hugged herself. "Why... why can't I ever get his attention?!"
Elaine patted Layla's back. "Well, Layla. My mother has always taught me that when you want to have a boy's attention," She paused dramatically, putting a finger to her thin lips. "Then you need to go straight to the point, or else it will be too late and your boy will no longer be yours!"
Alric shook his head in amusement, flipping a page.
"This is also about you, Father. Mother told me that you were so hard to get that she needed to start with the bed to claim you, Father~" She said with a smug look on her face.
He raised his hands mockingly. "I give up." He laughed.
Layla just listened to everything, making sure to remember it.
"So, Layla, how far are you two? Kissed already? Or maybe even explored each other?" She asked, her face straight, no hint of sarcasm or mockery whatsoever.
Layla blushed, shaking her head in denial. "No! I don't... I don't feel anything towards him! Orion is just... uhh... he's..." She stared at Elaine, lost in thought. "I don't know what he is... or what we are..."
Elaine shifted closer to her, taking her hand and gripping it softly. "Come on. Tell me everything you've done together, Layla." She said kindly.
Layla hesitated, but in the end she nodded nervously. "We've been living together for like eleven years. Ten of which we spent in the Greyhollow slums. Unlike me, Orion can read, so he was always reading me some books, and still is... but not so often like back then."
Elaine shook her head softly. "No. That's not what I'm talking about," She placed her finger on Layla's lips, darkening her blush. "I want to know how many intimate things you two have done."
Layla looked away, placing her hands on her lap nervously. "We hugged and we also held hands..." She smiled to herself.
"Wait... really?" Elaine was stunned. She sighed softly, pressing a hand to her chest and caressing Layla's shoulder. "I guess I will need to teach you many, many things... you're green." She paused, a pitiful look on her face. "So green that you don't even realize it, you poor thing..."